World Cup news

The Portuguese coach is tipped to take charge of the national team in the coming period

Major teams were eliminated from the qualifiers to their great disappointment

The retired South African defender has urged fans to remain patient with the Bafana head coach, backing his long-term vision despite a disappointing friendly defeat to Panama and expressing confidence that the team is still on the right path towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Iran’s ambiguous stance leaves a sliver of hope for teams that failed to qualify

U21 international striker Nicolo Tresoldi could play for as many as three major footballing nations and is reportedly looking to move clubs again this summer. Which national team manager will be the first to call him? And what’s the situation with BVB?

Kylian Mbappe was only 19 when he turned the 2018 World Cup into his personal announcement to the world - breaking French records and matching feats last seen in Pele’s era, all while powering Les Bleus to a title that felt like the beginning of something historic. For the latest edition of Icons, GOAL's podcast and feature series that revisits the last 10 World Cups through the moments, characters, and controversies that defined them, bringing the spirit of each tournament vividly back to life, we look back on how Mbappe ran the show in Russia for France...

There is controversy surrounding the French coach’s future with the national team

Former Inter defender Andrea Ranocchia has spoken out on the escalating tension between Romelu Lukaku and Napoli, describing the striker's refusal to return to Italy as a "truly strange" situation. As the Partenopei hierarchy weighs up serious disciplinary measures, his former team-mate has called for a deeper look into the Belgian's mental state following a difficult run of injuries.

The French coach is set to leave the Saudi national team

The two teams face each other in the third round of the World Cup group stage

Thomas Tuchel has fired a stark warning to Phil Foden regarding his place in the upcoming World Cup squad. The England manager admitted the Manchester City playmaker is far from a guaranteed selection, raising serious concerns over the midfielder's inability to translate his dazzling club form to the international stage following a disappointing pair of Wembley friendlies.

The insult to Islam has sparked a global outcry

Ricardo Pepi’s role is suddenly unclear, while Auston Trusty headlines a group that took their chance in a telling March window.

French coach linked with departure from Saudi national team ahead of World Cup

Dejan Kulusevski has issued a defiant blast to his international rivals as he enters the final stages of a gruelling rehabilitation process. The Tottenham winger has not featured since May 2025 after suffering a right kneecap injury, but even with his World Cup participation hanging in the balance, he is refusing to lower his expectations for Sweden’s summer campaign.

The European champion has weighed in on the debate surrounding the German World Cup squad – and has recommended a striker to the national coach.