World Cup news

The possible return of the experienced gaffer to Chloorkop has been quite a hot topic over the recent weeks. With Miguel Cardoso struggling to steady the ship, reports have linked the former Al Ahly tactician to his former club. The three-time CAF Champions League winner has responded to the rumours and revealed the team he would like to coach next.

South Africa return to the world stage at the global football competition, having last featured in the 2010 edition which they hosted. This time, they head to North America determined to make history beyond merely participating but progressing past the group stage for the first time in their history at the tournament.

With fewer than four months until the 2026 World Cup kicks off, uncertainty surrounds matches scheduled for Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Town officials say they will not issue FIFA the required entertainment license until a dispute over roughly $7.8 million in public safety funding is resolved, ESPN reported.

Jude Bellingham has handed England a pre-World Cup selection headache, with it reported that the Real Madrid superstar’s hamstring injury is worse than first feared. It is being suggested that the 22-year-old midfielder will sit out the Three Lions’ final camp before Thomas Tuchel settles on his 26-man squad for a shot at global glory in North America this summer.

Pep Guardiola has told Phil Foden to just relax amid his latest slump in form, but that is easier said than done, given his place in the Manchester City line-up is less certain than ever while his status in the England squad also at risk. Foden appeared to have put last season's struggles behind him towards the end of 2025, but he now appears to be suffering another dip at the worst possible time.

This is Legacy, GOAL’s feature and podcast series that counts down to the 2026 World Cup. Each week, we explore the stories and the spirit behind the nations that define the world’s game. This week, we travel through the most emotional legacy in football history: Argentina’s journey from wounds to glory. From the heartbreak of lost finals to the joy of Qatar, this is the story of a team that turned suffering into strength, and passion into destiny. A nation that doesn’t just play the World Cup - it feels it.

With just weeks until Mexico face Portugal in a high-profile friendly, Portuguese media report growing concern over renovation delays at Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca, now renamed Estadio Banorte. While organizers insist the venue will be ready for March 28, uncertainty has sparked speculation about a potential change of site for the match - and even future World Cup fixtures.

Athletic Club have been rocked by a major fitness blow as star winger Nico Williams has been sidelined indefinitely to deal with a persistent pubalgia issue. The Euro 2024 hero has been struggling with the abdominal problem since the start of the season. Despite attempts to manage the injury through a combination of tailored training and match minutes, the club finally decided to pull the 23-year-old out of action following the recent match against Real Oviedo.

Oleksandr Zinchenko has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a serious injury on his first home appearance for Dutch giants Ajax. Zinchenko was named in the starting XI for the Eredivisie side for the first time since his arrival from Arsenal at the start of February but his full debut was cut short as he was forced off with just minutes on the clock.

Wayne Rooney has outlined how Thomas Tuchel’s new England contract, which is due to take him through to the summer of 2028, will impact international stars such as Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden. The former Three Lions captain believes that the demanding German tactician is now less likely to make contentious decisions in his World Cup squad selection.

Ivan Toney has sent a World Cup message to England manager Thomas Tuchel, reminding the German tactician that he is still “hungry” for goals and international recognition after leaving the Premier League for a stint in the Saudi Pro League. The former Brentford striker has been competing with Portuguese GOAT Cristiano Ronaldo for Golden Boot honours in the Middle East.

Tottenham have been warned that bringing Mauricio Pochettino back to north London may not be the best option this summer, with the USMNT disrupting the plans of the Premier League strugglers. Spurs are in the market for a new head coach after sacking Thomas Frank, with Bobby Zamora in an interview with GOAL about what happens next.

Aymeric Laporte admits that “everyone is afraid” of Spain international team-mate Lamine Yamal, with the Barcelona wonderkid having rivals running scared. At just 18 years of age, the teen sensation continues to see his stock soar. He has earned another comparison to Argentine GOAT Lionel Messi, with their dribbling ability considered to occupy a similar talent pool.

England and Scotland games at the 2026 World Cup are under threat, with Gillette Stadium in Foxborough yet to be granted the license required to stage FIFA fixtures. The iconic venue on the outskirts of Boston, which is home to the New England Patriots franchise in NFL circles, is due to host seven matches at this summer’s global showpiece.

Although much has been expected from the 22-year-old, he has ended up attracting more criticism than praise. After wasting quite a number of chances against Stellenbosch in a Nedbank Cup encounter, his performance was again negatively scrutinised. But there is hope for the South African star; he has been tipped to become a top goal scorer and even a dependable Bafana asset.

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez believes Cristiano Ronaldo could play "on and on and on" if he wanted to, as questions over the 41-year-old's future in the game intensify with each passing day. Ronaldo is almost certain to lead his country at the 2026 World Cup this summer in what is likely to be his international swansong, but it's still unclear when he will retire from the game entirely.

If it wasn't already clear, Jude Bellingham is the new face of adidas in men's football - taking on the mantle from Lionel Messi as he follows the path trodden by the likes of David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane to become a true icon of the Three Stripes. Like those former greats, his relationship with the German sportswear giant looks certain to stretch well beyond his playing days.