World Cup news

Former United States star Alexi Lalas has weighed in on the psychological makeup of Christian Pulisic after the AC Milan forward was labelled "sensitive" by his club manager. As the USMNT prepares for a historic home World Cup under Mauricio Pochettino, the debate over the talisman's temperament has taken center stage.

The 'Legend of the Windmills' reveals his predictions for the 2026 World Cup

Alan Shearer suggests Harry Kane could secure the Ballon d’Or this year regardless of England’s World Cup success following a record-breaking campaign with Bayern Munich. The legendary striker believes the chemistry between Kane, Luis Diaz, and Michael Olise mirrors the iconic 'MSN' partnership that once dominated European football at Barcelona.

The Buccaneers' youth product has been warned that his place in the Bafana setup for the upcoming World Cup is far from guaranteed. After a difficult domestic campaign that saw Burnley relegated from the Premier League, a former national team boss believes the striker must prove himself all over again.

Neymar has once again sidelined himself for a major fixture due to his long-standing and vocal opposition to artificial playing surfaces. The Brazilian icon sat out Santos’ high-profile derby against Palmeiras to avoid the synthetic pitch at the Allianz Parque, a decision that comes at a critical time as he fights to prove his fitness to Carlo Ancelotti.

Struggling to find his flow and still battling fitness issues at the end of an injury-plagued season, Cole Palmer will on Monday go head to head with the player who poses an existential threat to his World Cup dream in Morgan Gibbs-White. The Chelsea talisman and the resurgent Nottingham Forest star form part of an intense fight for the No.10 shirt in Thomas Tuchel's England squad.

The Babina Noko midfielder has issued a firm warning regarding the future of South African football, insisting that the country must do more to retain its top coaching talent. The PSL veteran highlighted a worrying trend of local tactical experts seeking opportunities abroad rather than staying to develop the next generation of domestic stars.

The Buccaneers forward has revealed that standing for the Soweto giants on the global stage is his ultimate ambition, as he aspires to secure a place with the All Whites for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 29-year-old, who joined the club in January, is hoping to carry his club domestic form into the international arena as his national team prepares for a challenging group stage in North America.

The South African side's head coach has laid down a formidable challenge for his defenders as the race for places in the global showpiece squad intensifies. With a wealth of options at his disposal, the Belgian tactician has lifted the lid on the non-negotiable physical attributes required to thrive at the highest level of international football.

Katlego Mphela has turned up the heat regarding the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach's future, claiming South African football is losing its spark without the iconic tactician in the dugout. He believes that a return for the serial winner is essential to restore the entertainment factor to the domestic landscape.

The 27-year-old's extraordinary season in Denmark reached new heights this week as the wing-back produced another standout performance in a high-stakes title clash but, despite his domestic dominance, the former Cape Town City man remains on the outside of the South Africa national team.

Find out everything you need to know about how FIFA World Cup groups are decided ahead of this summer's big kick-off in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

Antony has expressed his immense admiration for Neymar, describing the Santos forward as the most gifted individual he has ever witnessed on a football pitch. Now enjoying a career resurgence with Real Betis, the former Manchester United winger is hopeful that both he and his "extraordinary" compatriot can secure their places in Brazil's squad for the upcoming World Cup.

The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture is facing a social media backlash following his latest announcement regarding South Africa's presence at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. While Bafana Bafana prepare for their trip to North America, the Minister has confirmed plans to send 20 local musicians to perform at the global showpiece with no room for superfan Mama Joy who clashed with the minister over funding for her proposed trip to the finals.

Kylian Mbappe has been told he lacks the technical brilliance of Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele as questions arise over his suitability as France’s primary leader. Despite his prolific goalscoring record for Les Bleus, former international Jerome Rothen believes the Real Madrid star should no longer be considered the technical focal point of Didier Deschamps' side.

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has hinted that Lamine Yamal could be utilised as a high-impact substitute during the 2026 World Cup. The Barcelona sensation is currently sidelined for the remainder of the domestic season with a hamstring injury, forcing the national team to reconsider his workload for this summer's tournament in North America.