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FIFA has hinted that U.S. President Donald Trump will have the authority to strip cities of 2026 World Cup hosting rights if they are considered to pose too much of a safety risk. A global gathering of elite sporting talent is due to take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer. As things stand, 11 venues across the USA are due to welcome fans from around the globe to their front door.

Real Madrid are expected to receive numerous offers for wonderkid Gonzalo Garcia in the upcoming January transfer window. However, head coach Xabi Alonso is set to block any potential departure, as he trusts the Spain Under 21 star to be an important rotational piece. Gonzalo was the top scorer at the Club World Cup, but has made just one start in the 2025-26 season.

The Glamour Boys resume their CAF inter-club journey this weekend with a tricky trip to Lubumbashi where they will play the Congolese outfit in the first leg of the second preliminary round. This will be a massive game for either side in their bid to make the group stage of the annual competition and will go a long way towards whether their seasons are considered a success.

Jamie Vardy will star in a new TV documentary, Danny Simpson has confirmed to GOAL during an exclusive interview, with the Leicester City legend embracing a new professional challenge in Italy. After linking up with Cremonese, a “great character” is being backed to entertain audiences alongside wife Rebekah - with Vardy’s remarkable career following a Hollywood script.

Manchester City are eyeing a move to sign a certain "Brazilian Erling Haaland" with a £87 million ($117m) release clause as Pep Guardiola's side look to the future. His name is Wendeson Wanderley Santos de Melo, better known simply as Dell. Just 17, the striker from Bahia is already being whispered about as Brazil’s next superstar, but he has plenty of time to reach his potential.

Wilfried Zaha has launched a scathing attack on Jean-Phillipe Mateta, branding claims from his former Crystal Palace team-mate “disgusting”. The Ivory Coast international has not taken kindly to seeing a French forward that he once shared a dressing room with make comments that could be interpreted as him being a “bully”, with Zaha eager to get his side of the story across.

Roma forward Mattias Soule has opened up about his relationship with Italian coach Massimiliano Allegri during their time together at Juventus. Soule admitted that while Allegri gives freedom in attacking areas, he reacts strongly to tactical mistakes. The attacker also shared an anecdote in which Allegri, as a disciplinary measure, insisted that he cut his long hair.

The matter involving the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder threatened to block South Africa from qualifying for the global football competition. That left the player himself, SAFA and the team manager under sharp criticism for the way they handled the issue which almost put to waste the work done by Hugo Broos' side.

Lamine Yamal may be Barcelona’s brightest star, but not everyone believes he understands the true weight he carries. Former Barca defender Inigo Martinez, who once served as a “father figure” in the dressing room, has warned that the teenage prodigy’s brilliance might mask the immense expectations placed on him. From shared moments on the pitch to candid insights, Martinez offers a blunt view of the club’s growing dependence on its youngest hope.

Birmingham City signing Marvin Ducksch revealed the impact of 'GOAT' Tom Brady on his summer transfer. The 31-year-old German striker, once a darling of Werder Bremen fans, stunned many when he swapped the glamour of top-flight football for a Championship rebuild project.

The Glamour Boys made 11 new signings in the most recent transfer window, but some have not yet made their debut for the Soweto giants. This weekend, that might change as Amakhosi tackle the Democratic Republic of Congo outfit in their first leg CAF inter-club outing.

Gianluigi Donnarumma highlighted the major difference between the style of play in Serie A and Premier League. Having spent six years in the Italian top-flight with AC Milan, the Italy national team captain made a summer switch to Manchester City, taking his goalkeeping talents to the English first division. Donnarumma firmly believes that Italian football is "no less than the others."

Atletico Madrid's Marcos Llorente has found himself at the centre of controversy after defending his use of tinted glasses. His detailed Instagram post about light exposure, melatonin, and “protecting biology” sparked online debate. However, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has surprisingly come to his defence, showing support for his views.

There was more than just a hint of excitement in the air as the final stages of the match at Liberty Stadium approached in January 2013. The score was 0-0 between the home team Swansea City and Champions League holders Chelsea. But with the Swans having won the first leg of their League Cup semi-final 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, they were within touching distance of preparing for a final appearance at Wembley.

Juventus are interested in Al-Ahli midfielder Frank Kessie. The former AC Milan player's contract is set to expire in 2026 and Al-Ahli would rather sell the midfielder than lose him for free. Juventus, who were interested in the player in the summer, are set to launch a new bid in January with the Ivorian international interested in a return to Europe.

South Africa return to the global football stage for the first time since 2010 when they hosted the tournament. But they had successfully passed through a qualification campaign when they made it to the 2002 Korea/Japan edition. They now head to North America, and a former Buccaneers skipper is convinced they have what it takes to conquer the world.

As a lifelong Everton supporter who associates watching the Blues with being stood for 90 minutes in a chilly Gwladys Street end, with only a big coat and chicken pie for warmth, I approached my first premium experience at the Hill Dickinson Stadium with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. This was only my third visit to Goodison Park's replacement after all, having attended the first test event back in February and the Premier League opener against Brighton.

Rangers’ bid to appoint a new manager as successor to Russell Martin is in danger of becoming slightly farcical, with another leading candidate reportedly withdrawing himself from the running. Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard is said to have performed a U-turn after holding initial talks, with former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl seemingly heading in the same direction.

Brazil international Paulo Henrique joked that he is trying to help Vasco da Gama lure Tottenham and Newcastle stars to the Serie A from the Premier League. The 29-year-old winger made the light-hearted confession after Brazil’s embarrassing 3-2 defeat to Japan in Tokyo, a friendly that went from cruise control to complete calamity in the second half.

The Urban Warriors have been in and out of dispute resolution committees seeking compensation from the Glamour Boys for the duo. The Soweto giants have been chasing the players for the last three seasons, and the recent demotion of Spurs to the amateur league meant Amakhosi could get the youngsters without paying a penny.

Following their relegation from the Bundesliga, Bochum are turning to artificial intelligence to rebuild their sporting structure, from signing players to selecting their next sporting director. With instability at the management level and a need to modernise recruitment, the club are reportedly in talks with AI platform Plaier to overhaul how they scout, evaluate and develop football talent.

Manchester United are reportedly confident that deals can be done that will allow them to press ahead with plans to construct a new 100,000-seater stadium. The Red Devils are intending to move out of their current Old Trafford base, but remain on an iconic site as a lavish new ground is built. There are a number of hurdles to clear before that dream becomes a reality.

Matt Jansen, during an exclusive interview with GOAL, has explained why Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac would continue to make ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ in the Premier League. Said documentary has opened up a window to the world for the Red Dragons, with a record-breaking run of three successive promotions being caught on camera. Just one more step up the ladder is required in order to reach the big time.

Manchester United legend Wes Brown gave his verdict on whether Rio Ferdinand was better than Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk ahead of the huge clash between the two rivals this weekend. As anticipation builds for Sunday’s heavyweight showdown at Anfield, the former Red Devils star reignited one of football’s most heated debates by picking a side between two of the greatest Premier League defenders.

The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) has announced the sacking of former Barcelona legend Patrick Kluivert from his role as head coach. The decision follows Indonesia’s 1-0 loss to Iraq, which saw them finish bottom of their World Cup qualifying group and eliminated from contention for next year's competition. Kluivert stepped into the role in January, but has been sacked alongside the rest of his coaching staff.

Inigo Martinez has revealed that he "didn't even dare" tell his former coach Hansi Flick about his decision to leave Barcelona over the summer due to their "exceptional" relationship. After playing a major role in Barca's domestic dominance, the ex-Athletic Club centre-back left for the Saudi Pro League to team up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.

Real Madrid are facing fresh injury concerns ahead of El Clasico as Dean Huijsen’s fitness remains in doubt. The 20-year-old centre-back, who suffered a micro-tear in his left soleus muscle against Villarreal, is racing against time to recover before the high-stakes clash with Barcelona. With key defenders like Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold also sidelined, Madrid’s backline faces a major test in the coming weeks.

Thibaut Courtois is of the opinion that his Real Madrid team-mate Jude Bellingham has to play for England at the 2026 World Cup. A surprising debate has been sparked there, with the all-action midfielder being left out of Thomas Tuchel’s latest Three Lions squad. He is still recovering from injury, but questions have been asked of Bellingham’s character and how he fits into the puzzle being pieced together by a demanding German coach.

The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder has been trending for the last six or so months after being fielded against Lesotho despite being suspended. It almost cost the national team a ticket to compete with the best in the world, but the players fought to ensure it wasn't the case as South Africa eventually topped Group C to get an automatic slot.