Sixteen teams will be whittled down to a final eight as the race for English football's most prestigious domestic cup prize heats up - here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about the upcoming draw
Real Madrid have been handed a major boost ahead of their titanic Champions League quarter-final tie against Manchester City, as Kylian Mbappe was spotted back on the grass at Valdebebas. The France international has been away in Paris undergoing conservative treatment on a knee injury, but his return to the club's training base signals a potential turning point for manager Alvaro Arbeloa.
The Soweto giants are seemingly braced to end the 2025/26 campaign without silverware, having ended their decade-long drought barely a year ago with the Nedbank Cup triumph. The Glamour Boys enjoy a massive following in and outside the country. Their struggles are allegedly harming the nation, and something should be done.
Manchester United legend Patrice Evra has called out Theo Walcott, suggesting the former Arsenal winger was "probably drunk" when comparing the current Gunners side to Unitedâs iconic 2007-08 Champions League-winning team. The Frenchman did not mince his words after Walcott suggested Mikel Artetaâs title-chasers could compete with Sir Alex Ferguson's legendary squad, joking that he is a "danger to society" for making the claim.
Manchester United have been told that they made a huge mistake in allowing âphenomenalâ David de Gea to leave the club in 2023. That is the opinion of former Red Devils striker Giuseppe Rossi, who returned to Old Trafford to train alongside De Gea and Co in 2019. He has told GOAL why it has taken so long for Premier League giants to get back on the âright pathâ in the goalkeeping department.
Bayern Munich have received a massive fitness boost ahead of their crucial Champions League knockout stage encounter against Atalanta. Harry Kane, who has been sidelined with a calf issue, was spotted back on the grass on Monday as the German giants completed their final preparations. The 32-year-old striker took part in the full session with the rest of the squad, moving freely and showing no ill effects of the knock that kept him out of domestic action recently.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has delivered a stinging assessment of Xavi Hernandezâs tenure, suggesting the legendary midfielder lacked the winning touch that successor Hansi Flick has already brought to Catalunya. Following an explosive interview where Xavi blamed the hierarchy for various failures, Laporta used a presidential debate to set the record straight on why he opted for a change in the dugout.
Tottenham are hurtling towards disaster. They could be relegated from the Premier League, and at this point of this season from hell, their best hope of staying up may simply be that football can change very quickly. There are still several key players to return from injury for the run-in, but that may prove too little, too late, particularly with the vibes in an almost irreversible tailspin.
The Soweto giants have been struggling for consistency, especially in the final third, where they have not been taking their scoring opportunities. Despite bringing on board players who could help them solve their scoring problems, the Glamour Boys have consistently failed to score more than one goal in most matches this season.
Throwback kings adidas have done it again, delivering a big dose of 90s nostalgia in the form of a new-look Predator. The revival of the German sportswear giant's Equipment franchise, the Predator EQT combines an iconic aesthetic with modern performance innovation.
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has jumped to the defence of Premier League leaders Arsenal, labelling the growing waves of criticism directed at Mikel Artetaâs side as "very unfair." Despite the Gunners sitting seven points clear at the summit following their 1-0 win over Brighton, rival managers and pundits have taken aim at their functional style of play and heavy reliance on set-pieces.
Arsenal will be âannoyedâ at failing to win the Champions League, GOAL has been told, but that does not mean that the Gunners will âsmash upâ Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 of this seasonâs competition. Former âInvinciblesâ squad member Jeremie Aliadiere has warned Mikel Artetaâs side against complacency after being handed a supposedly favourable European draw in 2026.
Former Fulham and Benfica striker Carlos Vinicius managed to turn an already simmering Brazilian derby into a full-blown riot with nothing more than a plastic water bottle. Representing Gremio in the second leg of the Campeonato Gaucho final against arch-rivals Internacional, the Brazilian forward proved he hasn't lost his knack for getting under the skin of his opponents.
Grok, the AI tool available on the X social media platform that is owned by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, is facing action from the UK government after allowing users to generate âsickening and irresponsibleâ posts. The most shocking content relates to the Hillsborough and Heysel tragedies, the death of former Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and the Munich air disaster.
Barcelona talisman Robert Lewandowski has lifted the lid on the drastic lifestyle changes that have allowed him to remain one of the world's most feared strikers at the age of 37. The Polish international, who has scored close to 400 league goals across Europeâs top-five divisions, revealed that he had to cut out sweet treats and specific food groups to maintain his physical edge.
In an explosive tell-all interview, former Barcelona manager Xavi has revealed how the clubâs hierarchy apparently blocked his attempts to sign current Arsenal midfield anchor Martin Zubimendi. The legendary Spaniard, who was sacked in 2024, identified the then-Real Sociedad star as the perfect replacement for Sergio Busquets, only to seemingly see his request flatly rejected by the board during a period of intense financial scrutiny at the Catalan giants.
The Masandawana chairman has embraced the Downs-Pirates rivalry, revealing that the heated battle in the Premier Soccer League has also fired up their Champions League ambitions. The two teams have been swapping the top spot in the league almost with every kick of the ball in recent weeks and the title race looks like going down to the wire.
Sandro Tonali has been told that he âdeserves to play for a big teamâ, with the Newcastle midfielder reported to be attracting admiring glances from the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea. The Italy international has been at St Jamesâ Park since 2023, with Giuseppe Rossi telling GOAL why big-money bids for a proven Premier League performer could be tabled during the summer transfer window of 2026.
Raheem Sterling was left visibly unimpressed following Feyenoordâs chaotic 3-3 draw with NAC Breda after a reporter appeared to laugh while questioning the winger about a missed scoring opportunity. Making his first start for the Eredivisie giants, Sterling was taken off after 64 minutes and was left baffled when his interviewer asked if he'd rather have stayed on the pitch.
Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney has claimed that a Wrexham match he recently attended was the finest spectacle he has witnessed since hanging up his boots. While the football world was gripped by Inter's extraordinary 7-6 aggregate victory over Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals last year, Rooney suggested that the atmosphere and drama surrounding the Welsh club's FA Cup defeat to Chelsea topped the lot.
Micah Richards has warned Arsenal that 'you haven't won anything yet' despite their dominant form, though he still considers Mikel Artetaâs side the primary candidates to lift the Champions League trophy. The Gunners are currently chasing silverware on multiple fronts, leading the Premier League while preparing for a definitive European knockout run, but Richards believes a reality check is necessary before the red ribbons are ordered at the Emirates.
Jurgen Klopp continues to see a return to management speculated on, and Gary McAllister has told GOAL that a second spell at Liverpool cannot be ruled out. The enigmatic German walked away from Merseyside in the summer of 2024, but questions are being asked of his Anfield successor Arne Slot and an emotional retracing of steps to a spiritual home is being mooted.
The dream of lifting silverware for Usuthu may be over, but for the ambitious coach â10111â, as heâs affectionately known by the fans, thereâs still one last mission to cement the clubâs name among the elite.
Eddie Howe has turned up the heat ahead of Newcastle United's monumental Champions League last-16 first leg against Barcelona, describing it as the "biggest game in the clubâs history". Following a disappointing FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester City, the Magpies boss is determined to ensure his squad does not dwell on domestic setbacks with the eyes of the footballing world turning to St. James' Park on Tuesday.
In one of the most surreal moments witnessed in European football this season, a German second-division clash between Preussen Munster and Hertha Berlin descended into chaos. As referee Felix Bickel was summoned to the pitch-side monitor to review a potential penalty incident at the end of the first half, he was met with a completely blank screen because a supporter had physically intervened to stop the technology from working.
Xavier Vilajoana made headlines during his failed bid to become Barcelona's new president by claiming to have already made "some contact" with Bayern Munich superstar Harry Kane over a move to Camp Nou. In reality, though, the most interesting topic the industrial engineer raised while on the campaign trail centered around another Englishman in Marcus Rashford.
A revelation regarding a new âthree-season storyâ for Ted Lasso has been made ahead of Jason Sudeikis and Co delivering Series 4 of the Emmy Award-winning production. With an initial run coming to a close in 2023, fans across the globe are readying themselves for a return to the world of AFC Richmond. One of the showâs co-creators has hinted at there being many more stories to tell.
Barcelonaâs superstars have swapped the sunshine of Catalonia for the historic charm of Northumberland, and it seems they have found themselves in a wizarding wonderland. Ahead of their massive Champions League last-16 first-leg tie against Newcastle United, Hansi Flickâs squad checked into Matfen Hall, a stunning 200-year-old mansion that left the players convinced they had accidentally boarded the Hogwarts Express rather than a private jet.
Manchester United are ready to raid Nottingham Forest as they step up their efforts to find a long-term successor for Casemiro. The Brazilian veteran has been a pillar of the United midfield, but the club are now transition planning for a post-Casemiro era. In a move that may surprise many fans, recruitment chiefs have reportedly set their sights on Ibrahim Sangare as the man to anchor their engine room.
The former Amakhosi star has raised fresh doubts about the clubâs chances of qualifying for MTN8 following their recent dip in league form. The Naturena-based club have lost their last three league matches, a disappointing run that has dashed their hopes of the league title. The slump has allowed newcomers Durban City to leapfrog them into fourth place, while AmaZulu sit fifth with a one-point advantage over the Glamour Boys.