Four nations will make debuts at the 2026 World Cup, with Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan set to grace the grandest stage in international football for the first time. It will be the tournament with the most newcomers since 2006 and all will have ambitions of ending a 16-year wait for a debutant to reach the knockout stages.
We are now just hours away from the start of the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with all 48 teams having made their way to North America with dreams of glory driving them. All of the pre-qualifying favourites made it safely through, including Spain, Brazil, England, France and defending champions Argentina.
Harry Kane has sent a heartfelt message to his former Tottenham team-mate Christian Eriksen following the midfielder's latest on-field health scare. The Denmark international caused widespread concern when he clutched his chest and fell to the ground during a friendly against Ukraine, reminiscent of his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.
Christian Eriksen has broken his silence to reassure supporters that he is recovering at home following a terrifying on-pitch collapse during Denmark’s clash with Ukraine. The 34-year-old midfielder was discharged from the hospital after his internal defibrillator was triggered during the international friendly on Sunday.
Andros Townsend has led calls for Christian Eriksen to consider retiring from professional football after the midfielder suffered a second terrifying in-game collapse. The football world was left in shock on Sunday as the 34-year-old went down during Denmark’s friendly against Ukraine, almost five years since his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.
The football world was plunged into a state of shock on Sunday as Christian Eriksen appeared to collapse during Denmark’s friendly encounter with Ukraine. Fans and players alike feared the worst as the 34-year-old midfielder, who famously suffered a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020, was forced to leave the pitch amid distressing scenes in Odense.
Scott McTominay has revealed he is showing no mercy to Napoli team-mate Rasmus Hojlund following Scotland’s dramatic path to the 2026 World Cup. The midfielder, who has become a cult hero in Italy, admitted he and Billy Gilmour have been relentlessly reminding the Danish striker of the spectacular overhead kick that helped seal Scotland's qualification at Denmark's expense.
Leicester City icon Kasper Schmeichel has officially announced his retirement from professional football following a devastating shoulder injury. The 39-year-old, who currently plays for Scottish giants Celtic, confirmed that medical experts have advised him that a return to top-level competition is no longer feasible.
Arsenal midfielder Christian Norgaard has confirmed his retirement from international football with Denmark. The 32-year-old ends his national team career after the country failed to qualify for the upcoming World Cup. He revealed family priorities and the emergence of new talent influenced his decision.
The Czech Republic went to a penalty shoot-out twice – and both times the team kept their nerve. After two real nail-biters, the team has now qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 20 years.
The final international window before the end of the 2025-26 club season is here. For most of the globe's traditional powerhouses, this month is about finetuning ahead of the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. But not every team has the luxury of such forward planning, with several big-hitters still yet to punch their ticket to the tournament.
Patrick Dorgu's international manager, Brian Reimer, is hopeful that the full-back will be able to play for Denmark during the March international break. The Manchester United left-back is currently injured, and has been out since the clash with Arsenal at the end of January. However, he is now on the recovery trail which will be a boost for Michael Carrick.
The life of a professional footballer is a dream for most people. You get paid handsomely to play the most popular sport in the world. The fame and notoriety are to die for. Yet even this high of highs isn't enough to completely satisfy the one percent who actually make it to the top of the game, and Nicklas Bendtner is walking, talking proof of that.
Italy block the qualification path for Wales and Northern Ireland when it comes to reaching the 2026 World Cup, while the Republic of Ireland will face Czechia in the play-off semi-finals. There are four more places at FIFA’s flagship event up for grabs in the UEFA section, with routes to the United States, Canada and Mexico being mapped out for all of the hopefuls.
Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen has reportedly been told he has a chance of becoming Denmark’s first-choice at the 2026 World Cup if he earns more first-team minutes this season. The Red and Whites still have work to do if they are to qualify for next summer’s tournament but it is understood they are already making plans in the event they book a ticket to North America.
On a historic night for Scottish football that ended what will be come next summer a 28-year absence from the World Cup, Scott McTominay scored the best goal of his career by launching himself into the air to set the tone for a crunch qualifier against Denmark in Glasgow. The Napoli midfielder and reigning Serie A Player of the Year is having the time of his life for both club and country right now.
Scotland are heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Scott McTominay, Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean all scored incredible goals to inspire the Tartan Army to a 4-2 victory over Denmark in Tuesday's do-or-die qualifier. The hosts needed all three points, whereas the Danes would have qualified with a draw. And in a frantic see-saw battle until stoppage time, Scotlan emerged triumphant.
Rasmus Hojlund is relishing his impressive form for Napoli and the Denmark national team following the striker's departure from Manchester United. With six goals in his last five games for club and country, the Dane says his excellent run proves that "goals are like ketchup" as he celebrated his effort in a vital World Cup qualifying win against Greece.
Manchester United were mocked over social media as Rasmus Hojlund continued his fine goalscoring form since leaving the club in the summer. The striker found the back of the net once again in Denmark’s World Cup-qualifying clash with Greece on Sunday evening, having also made a brilliant start to life with Serie A champions Napoli following his departure from Old Trafford in September.