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Former South Africa international Eric Tinkler has issued a stirring call to action for the national team as they prepare to kick off their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. The former midfielder, a key figure in South Africa’s historic 1996 AFCON triumph, believes the current crop must match their technical ability with a fierce mental edge to succeed on the global stage.

Trent Alexander-Arnold will have had “sleepless nights” and the odd regret since his move to Real Madrid, but Danny Murphy has told GOAL that he would be “gobsmacked” to see the Liverpool academy graduate back at Anfield. Questions are being asked of the England international’s future following a tough debut season in Spain and failure to secure a spot in Thomas Tuchel’s 2026 World Cup squad.

Manchester United legend Teddy Sheringham has strongly backed Michael Carrick’s permanent managerial appointment at Old Trafford, fiercely dismissing any lazy comparisons to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's tenure. The former striker insists that the newly-appointed manager possesses the rare tactical acumen required to potentially replicate Pep Guardiola's historic trajectory at Barcelona.

Marcus Rashford would appear to be the perfect replacement for Anthony Gordon at Newcastle, as one England star heads to Barcelona and another potentially departs Catalunya, but Chris Waddle has told GOAL that the Manchester United-owned forward may be done with the Premier League. Questions are being asked of whether the 28-year-old has fallen out of love with top-flight competition in his homeland.

Former England defender Kyle Walker has defended Jude Bellingham's position in Thomas Tuchel's starting line-up amid growing clamour for him to be dropped. While acknowledging the incredible rise of Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers, the veteran full-back believes the Real Madrid star's unique aura remains indispensable for the national team.

There’s a running group that trots through the streets of Toronto on Monday nights, swallowing up sidewalks with expansive crowds, especially when summer temperatures take over the city. On a recent evening, the group passed outside Toronto Stadium, adorned with FIFA's World Cup branding and ready to host six games during the 2026 tournament.

Jamie Vardy has given his assessment of Italian football after his one-season adventure at Serie A side Cremonese came to an end. The ex-Leicester striker has opened up on the gruelling training regimes and the frequent interventions from club presidents as he returns to England.

The South African Football Association president believes the national team’s small contingent of travelling supporters will hold their own against a wall of noise in Mexico City. Despite being vastly outnumbered, Jordaan is confident that the passion of the South African faithful can bridge the gap during the tournament’s curtain-raiser.

Incoming Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho has dramatically altered the race for Bernardo Silva, making the high-profile free agent his primary summer target. The Portuguese midfielder has reportedly halted advanced talks with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid following direct assurances from his compatriot, completely shifting the landscape of La Liga's transfer window.

Jose Mourinho is heading back to Real Madrid, but is he worth the “rubbish” that comes with him and does the ‘Special One’ still guarantee success? Ex-Blancos star Michael Owen has, during an exclusive interview with GOAL, delivered his assessment of a surprise appointment at Santiago Bernabeu and predicted whether the enigmatic Portuguese will last a full season in the most demanding of roles.

Monaco rising star Maghnes Akliouche has officially opened the door to a high-profile move this summer, acknowledging that his time at the Stade Louis II is likely coming to an end. The 24-year-old playmaker has been heavily linked with European heavyweights PSG and Liverpool following a breakout campaign in Ligue 1.

The South Africa international has thrown the gauntlet down to the co-hosts of the global showpiece, insisting that all the pressure lies with El Tri ahead of their opening clash at the Estadio Azteca. The Mamelodi Sundowns midfield general cut a relaxed figure ahead of the tournament opener, dismissing the underdog tag assigned to Hugo Broos’ side.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been warned that his starting berth at Real Madrid is under significant threat ahead of incoming manager Jose Mourinho’s arrival. Former Premier League striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes incoming full-back Denzel Dumfries could dislodge the Englishman if the tactical setup prioritises defensive solidity over attacking flair.

Bukayo Saka has registered just 13 Premier League goals for Arsenal across the last two campaigns, with ex-England winger Chris Waddle telling GOAL where the Gunners forward needs to improve - with Mohamed Salah being held up as inspiration. There has never been any doubting Saka’s creative instincts, but his game could be taken to another level if end product were to be delivered in greater numbers.

Wolves have made the stunning decision to sack head coach Rob Edwards, despite the club recently completing high-profile deals for Kieran Trippier and Raul Jimenez. The move comes as the Midlands club prepares for life in the Championship following a disappointing campaign that saw their eight-year stay in the top flight come to an end.

"Master Chef" is eyeing a fresh start away from the South African top flight after his brief spell with Orlando Pirates came to an end. The gifted midfielder is now a free agent after the Buccaneers chose not to activate an option in his contract to extend his stay in Soweto, leading to much speculation on his next destination.

Toby Alderweireld has told GOAL why Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku is “pure football”, with the tricky forward considered to be a “dangerous” operator that can illuminate the 2026 World Cup with Belgium. Fans across the globe are looking for creative performers of that ilk to get them off their seats as the best players on the planet descend on North America and prepare to compete for ultimate glory.

Former England defender Gary Neville has lauded FIFA for implementing a series of major rule changes ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The Manchester United legend believes the strict new guidelines, designed to eradicate cynical time-wasting and improve on-field transparency, will significantly enhance the viewing experience for match-going fans.

Javier Aguirre has tipped the Orlando Pirates sensation for a major overseas move and admitted he is seeking revenge against Bafana Bafana following a painful AFCON defeat during his time in charge of Egypt.

All the details of the match between Javier Aguirre's El Tri and Hugo Broos' Bafana Bafana in Group A. 16 years ago these two sides played to a 1-1 draw in the opening match of the 2010 tournament in South Africa. Much has changed since then but one thing remains the same, both teams will be looking to start the quadrennial showpiece with a win.

Darren Anderton has told GOAL that Harry Kane “still has a few years left” in him, with England’s record goalscorer bar expected to be set pretty “high” for those that follow in the most illustrious of footsteps. The current Three Lions captain and talismanic No.9 has 79 international efforts to his name at present, and is showing no sign of slowing down.

Bayern Munich are on the verge of completing their first major transfer coup of the summer window after making a significant breakthrough with Eintracht Frankfurt. The Bavarian giants have agreed a deal in principle to sign highly-rated Germany international defender Nathaniel Brown, a player heavily requested by head coach Vincent Kompany.

At the sixth attempt, can Cristiano Ronaldo finally get his hands on the trophy to have alluded him during his illustrious career?

Arsenal forward Noni Madueke became the target of light-hearted mockery online after squandering a glaring open-goal opportunity during England's final public warm-up match. Despite his error, Thomas Tuchel's clinical side coasted to a dominant 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in Orlando to extend their impressive winning streak.

Mlungisi "Professor" Ngubane has offered a scathing assessment of the Buccaneers' latest transfer activity following a busy period of arrivals and departures at the Soweto giants. Despite the team’s recent success on the pitch, the retired midfielder remains unconvinced by the profile of the players being drafted into the squad.

Danny Murphy has explained to GOAL why Liam Rosenior, on the back of his Chelsea flop, would be “too much of a risk” for Fulham to offer the 41-year-old an immediate return to Premier League management. The former Cottagers star has also assessed the chances of Frank Lampard returning to west London following his promotion-winning heroics at Coventry.

The 2026 World Cup is set to be a historic tournament, unlike any that have come before it. Expanded to 48 teams for the first time and spread across three countries - the United States, Canada and Mexico - it promises to be the biggest spectacle in the competition’s near-100-year history.

It's so close you can almost touch it. After years of build-up, the 2026 World Cup will kick-off on Thursday when co-hosts Mexico face off against South Africa in a repeat of the opening game from 2010. Over the next five-and-a-half weeks, records will be broken and legacies rewritten as a number of modern greats do battle to win the most recognisable trophy in all of sport.

The World Cup is now just a few hours away, with teams currently making their final preparations for the tournament in North America. The stage is set for a whole host of players to make themselves national heroes, including some of the most exciting youngsters in the game today.