World Cup news

England have picked Kansas City as their World Cup base and will share the city with Argentina, who have also resolved to base themselves in the city. The Three Lions will train at Swope Soccer Village, the current home of Sporting Kansas City II, a team in the MLS Next PRO competition.

Former Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman has revealed how he feared he was going to become a national hate symbol after Ronaldinho scored a long-range free-kick goal that helped Brazil knock England out of the 2002 World Cup. Speaking on the Beast Mode On Podcast, Seaman explained how he was concerned that he was going to receive treatment similar to that suffered by David Beckham after his red card for kicking out at Diego Simeone in 1998.

The veteran 73-year-old Belgian did not approve of the former Orlando Pirates defender's move to Major League Soccer, which he felt was a waste. He felt the youngster's agent was driven by greed and naivety as opposed to the player's growth in football. The South Africa coach believes TLB is ripe for Europe owing to his talent.

Thomas Frank insists he is '1,000 per cent' the right man for the Tottenham job despite a toxic atmosphere in north London. Spurs fans openly called for the return of Mauricio Pochettino as their side slumped to a miserable 2-1 defeat against Newcastle on Tuesday, leaving the crisis-hit club hovering dangerously above the relegation zone ahead of the derby match against local rivals Arsenal.

Spain's preparations for the upcoming 2026 World Cup have been dealt a significant blow following a serious injury to striker Samu Aghehowa. The Porto star has scored 20 times in all competitions already this season and looked a safe bet to be included in Luis de la Fuente's squad for the summer tournament. However, a dreaded ACL tear has put paid to his hopes.

The young defender is staying grounded as he approaches what is certainly the biggest moment of his young career

As the Sea Robbers chase domestic trophies on two fronts, players face stiff competition for starting slots. One of the positions that is highly contested in the Buccaneers setup is the creative role behind the strikers, a duty that is considered crucial for any team to function seamlessly. The slot was strengthened in the off-season window, and another top star was added in January, making the contest even tighter.

Although the continental competition took place last year in August, the matter of unpaid bonuses only resurfaced five days ago when Neo Maema revealed they are yet to receive a penny. According to the players' association's top official, they have escalated the matter to the South African Football Association with a view of resolving it once and for all.

It is reportedly expected that Jose Mourinho will be offered the job as Portugal manager after the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) are set to swoop for the current Benfica boss when Roberto Martinez's contract expires at the end of the global tournament.

This is Legacy, GOAL’s podcast and feature series to mark the countdown 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 to Mexico, the only country to host three World Cups. From Pele’s triumph in 1970 to Diego Maradona’s magic in 1986, and now to the celebration set for 2026, it’s the story of a nation where football is not just played, but lived; a land of goals, history, and unending passion.

South Africa are among the teams that will compete in the global competition scheduled for June. Mzansi will represent the continent alongside eight other nations that secured an automatic spot for the tournament. However, the Belgian tactician might have to do without one of his stars, who has suffered a nasty injury.

Mauricio Pochettino has once again indicated that he wants to return to Tottenham as he claimed their recent achievements are "not enough" for a club of that stature. Despite his current commitments with the United States national team, the Argentine said his ultimate ambition is to win the Champions League and Premier League, placing them above achieving World Cup glory in his current role.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been urged to “never stop playing football”, with fellow Real Madrid legend Roberto Carlos telling the Portuguese GOAT that he needs to prolong his career for as long as possible - even if he ends up “with one leg or crawling”. CR7 has passed his 41st birthday without giving any thought to retirement and is expected to grace the 2026 World Cup.

The midfielder finds himself in an Amakhosi side that has struggled to supply players to the South Africa national team, while teammates Inacio Miguel and Glody Lilepo have also lost their places in the Angola and DR Congo teams, respectively. However, the 22-year-old has remained in contention at international level under the watch of Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos.

South Africa are already deep into planning for the global football tournament to be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, lining up key preparation matches to sharpen themselves into a highly competitive outfit. Their choice of opponents could be something that might spark some fierce debate. They will be playing in this tournament for the first time since 2010 when they participated as hosts.

England are set to take on New Zealand in their first World Cup 2026 warm-up match, it has been confirmed. Thomas Tuchel's side will take on the All Whites in Tampa on June 6 ahead of the tournament, and they will then schedule a friendly fixture four days after.

The former Premier League outfit Fulham and Morocco defender has been giving players chances to prove their worth at the Sea Robbers. However, he has also made some daring calls like letting the South Africa international striker leave in the recent transfer window. The 47-year-old tactician has now justified his decision.