Lists

Harry Kane will not be paying any attention to the 2026 World Cup exploits of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, Danny Mills has told GOAL, as England’s record goalscorer would “rather be Olivier Giroud”. The prolific Bayern Munich striker has already opened his account in North America, alongside several other household names, but will forever prioritise collective success over any individual accolades.

Dejan Kulusevski has spent more than 12 months stuck on the sidelines at Tottenham, with Danny Murphy telling GOAL that the Swedish forward could end up heading down paths previously trodden by Fernando Torres and Ruud van Nistelrooy. Everyone connected with Spurs hope that the latter of those two Premier League legends will be emulated, with the 2026-27 campaign delivering a clean slate for all concerned.

The Brazilians legend Thabo Nthethe has called on the club to grant the 29-year-old his dream move to Europe following his standout performances on the world stage. The midfielder further enhanced his burgeoning reputation by netting Bafana Bafana’s first goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in a 1-1 draw with the Czechia.

The USMNT's second group game will either guarantee that they have a carefree stroll into the knockouts or make for a nervy third fixture.

Bafana legend has outlined the two critical areas where South Africa must excel to secure a place in the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Following a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Czechia, the former defender believes Hugo Broos' side is finally learning how to handle the unique pressures of the global stage.

Frank Lampard is close to signing a lucrative long-term contract extension with Coventry City following their sensational return to the top flight. The former England midfielder has transformed the West Midlands club since his arrival, successfully ending their painful 25-year absence from the Premier League by securing the Championship title last season.

Nicky Butt believes Manchester United should target Crysencio Summerville as part of a smarter recruitment strategy aimed at strengthening squad depth. The former midfielder praised the Netherlands international's explosive qualities and suggested he has the potential to become a regular starter if he can improve his consistency at the highest level.

The Belgian coach has expressed his frustration over the disciplinary issues plaguing his squad at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Following a hard-fought draw with Czechia, the Mzansi camp is mourning the loss of a key midfield figure for their final group stage showdown.

Harry Kane has hailed England's post-match rendition of Oasis classic 'Wonderwall' after the Three Lions opened their World Cup campaign with a 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas. The captain described the celebration with supporters as one of his favourite moments in an England shirt and believes the song reflects the bond between the squad and its fans.

Jurgen Klopp faces an immediate executive crisis at RB Leipzig following reports that managing director of sport Marcel Schafer is prepared to quit the Bundesliga club. The internal friction has emerged directly from Klopp’s influential role in orchestrating the dismissal of head coach Ole Werner, completely undermining the sporting director's authority.

Amakhosi have been encouraged to make a bold move in the transfer market, but not for a player. Following the appointment of the new head coach, a former Glamour Boys star believes the Frenchman requires a specific club legend by his side to navigate the unique pressures of the Soweto giants.

Juventus have stepped up their efforts to bring Randal Kolo Muani back to Turin, with new CEO Giovanni Carnevali reopening talks with Paris Saint-Germain. The French forward remains a key target as the Bianconeri seek to strengthen their attack, while improved relations between the two clubs could help unlock a deal that previously failed to materialise.

Decorated England icon Mary Earps has officially secured her return to English football by signing a lucrative two-year contract with London City Lionesses. The 33-year-old goalkeeper moves back to the Women's Super League as a free agent following a successful two-year spell in France with Paris Saint-Germain.

The former Watford captain has delivered a scathing assessment of the 1-1 World Cup draw between South Africa and Repre, describing the lack of quality as a poor advertisement for the global showpiece. The former Premier League striker compared the performance of both sides to "kids' football" during a blunt post-match analysis.

Ricardo Pepi is on World Cup duty with the USMNT, putting him in the global shop window, but Kasey Keller has told GOAL why the PSV striker faces a “tricky” decision when it comes to his future and mounting Premier League transfer speculation. The 23-year-old frontman attracted interest from Fulham during the winter, with more approaches from England expected to be made with the summer market of 2026 now open for business.

The injured Bafana star has lauded the national team's tenacity following their hard-earned draw on Thursday. Despite being sidelined for the tournament, the Mamelodi Sundowns defender was full of praise for how Hugo Broos' side battled back from an early deficit to keep their knockout stage dreams alive.

Former midfielder Nicky Butt has warned Thomas Tuchel that England must adapt their tactical identity if they are to survive against elite opposition during the knockout stages of the World Cup. Despite an entertaining 4-2 opening victory over Croatia in Group L, the ex-international believes a relentless high-tempo approach will prove unsustainable.

Thomas Muller has tipped Bayern Munich to monitor Switzerland youngster Johan Manzambi after the Freiburg midfielder starred in a World Cup win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The 20-year-old scored twice off the bench and collected the Man of the Match award, further enhancing his growing reputation following an impressive Bundesliga campaign.

The Blues legend has not held back in his assessment of the Repre's World Cup stalemate against South Africa, claiming his nation was far too passive. The former shot-stopper believes that a failure to put Hugo Broos’ men to the sword after taking an early lead was the primary reason they dropped points in Atlanta.

England are considered to miss Harry Maguire, amid defensive concerns at the 2026 World Cup, but Danny Mills has explained to GOAL why the Manchester United centre-half has been snubbed for a second time. He was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s initial 26-man squad and - despite leadership questions being asked - was overlooked again when Tino Livramentio withdrew through injury and a replacement needed to be found.

Folarin Balogun and Christian Pulisic dominated headlines as the USMNT enjoyed a dream start to their 2026 World Cup campaign, but who are the unsung heroes in Mauricio Pochettino’s team? In conversation with GOAL, former keeper Kasey Keller has picked out three players that have a crucial role to play for the co-hosts at FIFA’s flagship event.

Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi has been ordered to stand trial before a French criminal court following a definitive ruling by the Versailles Court of Appeal. The Moroccan international has been under intense judicial scrutiny since early 2023 over allegations of sexual assault, a claim the full-back has consistently and vehemently denied.

Carlo Ancelotti has insisted he will not rush Endrick into Brazil's starting line-up despite growing calls for the teenage forward to feature from the outset. The Selecao boss remains convinced of the striker's immense potential and believes patience is the best approach as Brazil seek a crucial result in Group C.

The South African midfielder reflected on a bittersweet night for the Mzansi side against Czechia, as Hugo Broos’ team continued their push on the international stage, but the Mamelodi Sundowns star now faces a suspension after picking up a costly booking.

Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has strongly defended Rodri after criticism emerged following La Roja's goalless World Cup 2026 opener against Cape Verde. The Manchester City midfielder was accused of slowing Spain's play, but the head coach dismissed those claims and insisted the midfielder remains the best player in the world.

Spain international winger Nico Williams has firmly shut down mounting transfer speculation by expressing an unwavering desire to commit the absolute remainder of his playing career to Athletic Club. The former Barcelona target extended his contract until 2035 last summer but reaffirmed his deep loyalty while away on duty at the 2026 World Cup.

The landscape of African football is shifting as more Southern African stars trade the familiarity of the PSL for the demanding but lucrative leagues of North Africa. From Percy Tau’s trophy-laden spell in Egypt to Thembinkosi Lorch’s recent resurgence in Morocco and Libya, the trend of moving north is becoming impossible to ignore.

The Premier League fixture list for 2026-27 has been released. Arsenal will be looking to defend their title, while the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United have sights locked on the ultimate prize. Coventry are back in the big time after a 25-year absence, while several managerial changes mean that new eras are being ushered in across the division. Here, GOAL picks out the most notable matches from what promises to be another thrilling top-flight campaign.

Newly-appointed permanent managers will be in place at Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City when the 2026-27 campaign gets underway, while Mikel Arteta remains in charge of defending champions Arsenal. With full fixture lists having been released, GOAL takes a look at the respective schedules of teams from London and the North West that will be hoping to savour title glory when another action-packed season comes to a close.