South Africa kicked off their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a hard‑fought 2-1 victory over the Palancas Negras in their Group B opener on Monday, December 22. The contest at Stade de Marrakech was fiercely competitive, marked by physical battles and determined challenges, as both sides sought to impose themselves and set the tone for the journey ahead in the tournament.
U.S. men's national team star Weston McKennie says he'd like to stay at Juventus, but his future is in the hands of his agent and the club. The American midfielder's contract expires in June, but having carved out a big role once again in Turin, McKennie is open to staying. Without an extension in place, rumors have been swirling since the summer about McKennie's future.
Lamine Yamal has offered fans an insight into his personal life after giving a tour of his huge mansion on YouTube. The Spain star has also revealed details about his fitness and football routines, interests away from the game and the unusual reason he believes he cannot maintain a relationship. The video has amassed nearly a million views within a few hours of being posted.
There have been changes in several Premier Soccer League matches, especially on coaching department, where those who are seemingly not delivering have been replaced by tacticians who might be having what is needed. With the league set to resume in mid-January after the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) break, some teams will have new faces on the touchline.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has jumped to the defence of Tottenham centre-back Micky van de Ven following his challenge on Alexander Isak during Saturday's Premier League clash at Anfield. Isak could not continue after being injured by the tackle and there are now concerns he has suffered a leg fracture and will be out of action for several months.
Lyon have reached an agreement with Real Madrid over a loan move for Brazil wonderkid Endrick. The Ligue 1 side were seeking a striker following the departures of Alexandre Lacazette and Georges Mikautadze during the summer window, and are set to reinforce their ranks for the second-half of the season with Los Blancos' young forward on his way to France.
Two years after their semi-final run in Ivory Coast, South Africa reignited their pursuit of continental glory in Morocco. Hugo Broos marked his 50th game at the helm as the national team faced the Palancas Negras in their Group B opener on Monday, December 22, at Stade de Marrakech, determined to turn progress into results.
Liverpool have opted against accelerating their interest in Antoine Semenyo, despite holding initial discussions with the player's camp, allowing Manchester United and Manchester City to move into stronger positions in the race for the Bournemouth forward. The Reds were keen to explore a move for the in-form Ghana international, but have now pulled out, simplifying matters for the forward.
The December 2025 FIFA Men’s World Ranking has been released, showing little movement at the top. Spain remain first after overtaking Argentina in September, with the world champions second and France completing an unchanged podium. The United States climbed two spots to 14th, overtaking Mexico to finish 2025 as CONCACAF’s highest-ranked nation.
As the NWSL’s proposed “High Impact Player” rule continues to generate discussion, USWNT and Chelsea forward Cat Macario is reportedly drawing interest from several NWSL clubs. Macario’s contract with Chelsea expires in July, but under FIFA regulations, she will be eligible to sign a pre-contract with a new team beginning in January.
The Glamour Boys are expected to have minimal movement in the forthcoming short window after the massive signings made prior to the beginning of the 2025/26 season, when they brought in 11 players to bolster their squad. While nine have made their debut, Nkanyiso Shinga and Ethan Chislett are waiting to get their chance.
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has defended Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven and Benjamin Sesko following his side’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday. United left Villa Park without a point after Morgan Rogers scored twice to secure a seventh consecutive Premier League win for the hosts. The loss means the Red Devils missed out on the chance to creep closer to the Champions League spots.
Santos and Brazil star Neymar has undergone knee surgery following the end of the season. The forward helped save Santos from relegation, despite struggling with a knee issue in the final weeks of the campaign, but has now gone under the knife. Santos have offered an update on his condition and an update on when he is expected to be fit again has been provided.
The Brazilians once again underline their ambition, moving decisively to strengthen their squad. The club’s relentless pursuit of excellence has become a hallmark of their identity, ensuring that each transfer window brings in players who can elevate both their immediate performance and long‑term standing in the Premier Soccer League and the continent.
Borussia Dortmund are facing the prospect of losing Aaron Anselmino as early as January after details emerged of a clause in his loan agreement with Chelsea. According to reports, Chelsea have the option to recall the 20-year-old defender during the winter window if he has not reached an agreed minimum number of playing minutes for Dortmund.
Former Wrexham star Steven Fletcher has offered some insight into his time at the club and revealed the "craziest thing" about playing for Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac's side. Fletcher said an emotional farewell to Wrexham back in May after two years with the Welsh side, during which he became a firm favourite and helped fire the club into the Championship.
GOAL reviews the top USWNT Abroad performances as Girma helped Chelsea get a big Champions League win, and Yohannes and Tullis-Joyce impressed over the weekend.
Liverpool star Florian Wirtz has been warned patience may be starting to run thin at Anfield after a slow start to his career on Merseyside following his £116m transfer from Bayer Leverkusen. The Germany international is still yet to open his account for the Reds and former midfielder Didi Hamann says he really needs to start coming up with the goods for his new club.
Ruben Dias has made it clear that Manchester City’s recent success will not be allowed to dull their hunger to reclaim their Premier League crown, as the defender sets his sights on chasing down Arsenal in the 2025-26 title race. Pep Guardiola's side have returned to their best form this season, after forfeiting top spot to rivals Liverpool last term.
Bucs' key players dominate the Bafana squad that is in Morocco chasing the Africa Cup of Nations glory. Back home, the two Premier Soccer League giants have shown real intent of winning the league title at the halfway mark. The PSL title race is already taking shape, and when the competition resumes, no one will want to sleep and cede ground.
Premier League legend Emile Heskey has warned England’s established stars that Morgan Rogers is fast becoming impossible to ignore ahead of the 2026 World Cup. After a blistering festive run for Aston Villa, the in-form midfielder has been tipped to force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s starting XI, putting serious pressure on the likes of Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer.
Vinicius Junior has been advised to “not do what Neymar did” when it comes to pushing for a move away from a European superpower. The Brazil international remains tied to Real Madrid for now, but talk of a transfer to the Saudi Pro League being completed refuses to go away. Fellow countryman Sandro believes Vinicius should stay put and compete for future Ballons d’Or.
Former Premier League midfielder Sandro has claimed Manchester United missed a golden opportunity after Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement by failing to appoint Harry Redknapp. Reflecting on the club’s turbulent post-Ferguson era, he insists Redknapp’s authority, man-management and attacking philosophy were exactly what United needed to avoid more than a decade of decline.
After spending big and making several signings at the beginning of the current season, one feels the Soweto giants aren’t a million miles away from becoming solid challengers for the Premier Soccer League title. And that was evident when they started the campaign like a house on fire, putting together a solid run that saw them mentioned among the early contenders.
Harry Kane is being tipped to remain at Bayern Munich for “a long time to come”. If that predication proves to be correct, then transfer talk surrounding the England international striker will quieten quickly. He has seen a return to the Premier League mooted, while also being linked with Barcelona, but is fully focused on events in Germany for the foreseeable future.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has hinted he is ready to offer Gabriel Jesus his first start in almost 12 months. The Brazilian striker has endured a testing 2025 on the fitness front, with knee ligament damage being suffered, but he could have a prominent role to play for the Gunners in their Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with London rivals Crystal Palace.
The former Super Eagles captain walked away from his national team career just as his side was getting ready for the continental football showpiece. It marked the end of the 10 years he was with Nigeria, having established himself as a reliable centre-back and entrusted with a leadership role as the team's skipper. The Buccaneers defender played with him and has taken time to pay tribute.
Wayne Rooney has delivered a timely warning to Arsenal and Manchester City by insisting Liverpool cannot yet be ruled out of the Premier League title race. Despite sitting ten points off the summit at Christmas after a stuttering title defence, the former Manchester United striker believes the defending champions’ recent revival means they could still have a major say.
Mason Greenwood has been applauded for the “against all odds” impact that he has made in French football. World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf, who is a Marseille native, has told GOAL why the former Manchester United forward deserves immense credit for what he has achieved at Stade Velodrome. He has also addressed the transfer talk that Greenwood continues to generate.