Ousmane Dembele has leapt to the defence of Kylian Mbappe, claiming criticism of the France captain has become excessive. The Paris Saint-Germain forward argued that scrutiny surrounding his international team-mate often goes beyond football and overlooks the pressure that comes with being one of the game's biggest stars.
The former Premier Soccer League coach has launched a scathing assessment of South Africa’s opening performance at the global showpiece. Following a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Mexico, the ex-Kaizer Chiefs tactician questioned the very identity of the national side under Hugo Broos.
South Africa’s long-awaited return to the global stage ended in heartbreak and tactical scrutiny as Broos’ side slumped to a 2-0 defeat against Mexico. The 2026 FIFA World Cup opener was marred by red cards and a conservative setup that has drawn sharp criticism from a former Mamelodi Sundowns coach.
The South Africa head coach has come to the defence of his tactical approach after a 2-0 loss in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener. Even with the setback of finishing the match with nine men, the Belgian tactician insisted his side displayed enough quality to compete at the highest level.
The 67-year-old tactician hasn't held back in his assessment of the co-host nation's opening encounter, sensationally claiming South Africa were lucky to escape the Estadio Azteca with just a 2-0 defeat. The El Tri coach was adamant that his side’s dominance should have reflected a far more emphatic scoreline as they kicked off their campaign in style.
South Africa's return to the world stage was ruined on Thursday night as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat against World Cup co-hosts Mexico at the iconic Azteca Stadium. Despite the backlash regarding a perceived negative tactical setup, the captain has jumped to the defence of the Belgian coach.
Tottenham-bound defender Marcos Senesi has been officially drafted into Argentina's final 26-man World Cup squad as a late replacement for the injured Leonardo Balerdi. The versatile centre-back is heading to the United States to join Lionel Messi and the rest of the squad at their base camp, marking the end of a whirlwind week for the player.
Violent clashes erupted outside the Estadio Azteca on Thursday night, marring the opening match of the 2026 World Cup in Mexico City. Riot police deployed tear gas after coming under attack from projectiles, overshadowing co-hosts Mexico's subsequent victory on the pitch as long-standing local political tensions spilled over into the tournament's security perimeter.
Kylian Mbappe has urged Didier Deschamps to bow out of international football on a high rather than take charge of another national team after the 2026 World Cup. The France captain admitted he is trying to influence his manager's future plans and described a potential move to Italy as "awful" as Les Bleus prepare for one final campaign under their long-serving coach.
For England, the time for talk is almost over. Soon, all that will matter is the task at hand: Winning the 2026 World Cup. The Football Association (FA) and manager Thomas Tuchel have spoken forthrightly about that being their only objective in North America, and as the days tick down to the Three Lions getting their campaign underway, there is no reason to believe that they can't achieve their ultimate goal.
There were just seconds to go in Liverpool's 1-0 win over Manchester City at Anfield on October 16, 2022 when Diogo Jota pulled up with a muscular problem that left the Portuguese in agony. Jurgen Klopp feared the worst right away: "If Diogo stays down it is never good." And it wasn't. Jota had sustained a calf injury that would sideline him for months, rather than weeks, thus ruling him out of Portugal's 2022 World Cup campaign.
Mexico made history in their World Cup opener, but Cesar Montes’ red card left a sour note. GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from El Tri’s 2-0 win.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has hailed the impact of Carlo Ancelotti since his arrival as Brazil head coach, claiming the Italian has completely "transformed" the atmosphere in the dressing room. Ahead of their World Cup opener, the Selecao No.1 admitted the squad had endured a testing time before the former Real Madrid boss took the reins.
The stage was set at a packed Mexico City stadium, where Hugo Broos' men were handed the opportunity to turn World Cup dreams into reality. However, what promised to be a historic occasion quickly turned into a sobering one for Bafana Bafana, as they fell short against an inspired El Tri side that seized control of the spectacle and fed off the energy of their passionate home support.
England boss Thomas Tuchel has urged Elliot Anderson to "stay humble" as the Nottingham Forest star continues to be linked with a British record move to Manchester City. The 23-year-old is expected to be a cornerstone of the Three Lions' midfield when they begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia next week, and Tuchel doesn't want him to be distracted by transfer noise.
Mexico made the perfect start to their 2026 World Cup campaign as the co-hosts ran out 2-0 winners over South Africa in the opening game of the tournament on Thursday. Goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez ensured a routine victory for the Group A favourites in a game that featured three red cards in the second half.
Spain have received a significant fitness boost ahead of their 2026 World Cup opener, with Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams returning to full training. The dynamic duo had been major doubts for the group clash with Cape Verde, but their presence at the team's base camp suggests they are ready for the big stage.
The wait is over. Christian Pulisic and the USMNT open their home World Cup vs Paraguay on Friday, with Chris Richards' fitness and key decisions in focus.
German football icon Lothar Matthaus has mapped out two distinct paths that could see national team manager Julian Nagelsmann exit his post early despite holding a contract until 2028. Speaking ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the 1990 World Cup winner insisted that the 38-year-old's future hinges entirely on performance, outlining both an immediate dismissal in the event of a group-stage disaster and a voluntary departure to club football should Germany lift the trophy.
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