World Cup news

Erik ten Hag has officially taken his name out of consideration to become the new Netherlands head coach following Ronald Koeman's departure. The former Manchester United manager insisted he remains completely committed to his current project as technical director at FC Twente, leaving the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) to look elsewhere for a saviour.

Erling Haaland has carried the hopes of a nation upon Norway's return to football's biggest stage after a 28-year absence, but while his goals have been vital to their cause, the Manchester City hitman hasn't been shouldering that burden alone. The Scandinavians are back at the World Cup having built a solid team unit that isn't solely reliant on its star striker, and the supporting cast have been showing what they can do in North America.

Kylian Mbappe admitted he lost focus before missing a penalty against Morocco after a lengthy VAR delay caused confusion over whether the spot-kick would stand. The France captain also played down fears over an ankle knock and insisted he will be ready for the World Cup semi-final.

Spain sensation Lamine Yamal has set his sights on a dream World Cup final against defending champions Argentina, revealing his desire to swap shirts with icon Lionel Messi. The Barcelona starlet chose to remain grounded regarding pre-tournament promises, insisting that securing the prestigious trophy is the only objective that truly matters.

John Arne Riise has backed Erling Haaland to inspire Norway to victory over England in the World Cup quarter-finals, describing the Manchester City star as the world's best striker. The former Liverpool defender also believes the Drillos can dream of lifting the trophy if they overcome Thomas Tuchel's side.

Jude Bellingham’s “arrogance” is considered to be a good thing and more productive than similar qualities boasted by Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah, with Danny Murphy explaining to GOAL why criticism of England’s No.10 has been made to look “laughable”. A ‘Galactico’ performer from Real Madrid has been starring at the 2026 World Cup finals.

France manager Didier Deschamps has addressed injury concerns surrounding captain Kylian Mbappe following his late substitution during the World Cup quarter-final victory against Morocco. The Real Madrid forward was withdrawn after picking up an ankle knock, prompting the coaching staff to carefully manage his fitness ahead of the semi-finals.

Jurgen Klopp is set to reshape Germany's coaching staff by bringing trusted former Liverpool assistants Peter Krawietz and Pepijn Lijnders into the national team setup. Senior German Football Association (DFB) officials and Red Bull are due to hold talks over the final details of the manager's move, with an unconventional agreement expected to avoid a costly compensation fee.

England face an anxious wait ahead of their World Cup quarter-final showdown against Norway after a sickness bug hit their camp in Miami. Midfielder Declan Rice has missed two successive training sessions, leaving Thomas Tuchel desperately sweating on his availability while staff battle to prevent the illness from spreading across the squad.

Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has expressed heavy frustration following his side's World Cup quarter-final elimination against France, claiming the opening goal should have been disallowed. The Atlas Lions manager insisted that a handball occurred in the build-up to Kylian Mbappe's strike, which completely disrupted his players' focus during the crucial Boston clash.

Bruno Fernandes has spoken out for the first time since Portugal were knocked out of the World Cup by Spain. The Manchester United captain admitted he was left "sad, frustrated and disillusioned", while thanking his team-mates, coaches, staff and supporters after a campaign that ended earlier than expected.

England need to find the answer to one big question at the 2026 World Cup: How do you keep Erling Haaland quiet? Ex-Three Lions defender Des Walker has attempted to provide a solution during an exclusive interview with GOAL, ahead of Thomas Tuchel’s side taking in an eagerly-anticipated quarter-final clash with Norway at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Saturday.

This is no doubt the biggest selection decision of Thomas Tuchel's England tenure to date. The Three Lions are favourites going into Saturday's World Cup quarter-final clash with Norway in Miami. England really should have too much quality all over the field for their Scandinavian opponents. But that doesn't mean Tuchel has it easy. England have a handful of tricky decisions to make.

The South Africa coach has spoken with Belgian media and confirmed that his record-breaking tenure as the team’s boss has come to an end following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But the 74-year-old did, once again, express his hope that he could still be involved in some sort of part time capacity with the national team.

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has opened up about the club's audacious attempt to sign Kylian Mbappe before his blockbuster transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. Reuniting with the French star at the World Cup, the legendary German coach detailed chartering a five-room private jet for the family during their record "non-transfer" saga.

Comprehensive match preview of Spain vs Belgium at World Cup 2026. We talk tactics, team news and more ahead of this quarter-final clash in Inglewood.

Ousmane Dembele has revealed how Kylian Mbappe’s instructions moments before France’s second goal proved decisive in their World Cup quarter-final victory over Morocco. The winger also reflected on his growing leadership role and insisted Les Bleus remain fully focused on their bid to go all the way.