Nike has unveiled its new "Rip the Script" campaign ahead of the 2026 World Cup, bringing together some of football's biggest names and global celebrities. Cole Palmer, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior headline the film, which promotes creativity and instinctive play while showcasing the brand's latest football innovations.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has conceded that winning the Ballon d'Or was never a personal childhood dream because he simply deemed the achievement impossible. The Spain international reflected on his historic individual triumph while tipping international team-mate Lamine Yamal to eventually claim football's ultimate individual accolade.
Brazil forward Endrick has opened up about his testing spell at Real Madrid, revealing how Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold sustained him through regular phone calls. The teenage striker credited their unwavering support for rebuilding his confidence ahead of a transformative six-month loan spell with French outfit Lyon, even though he struggles to understand the pair.
Former England midfielder Nicky Butt has warned Jude Bellingham that manager Thomas Tuchel will ruthlessly ignore player reputations at the upcoming World Cup. Butt believes the Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers possesses the ultimate X-factor and could completely outshine established superstars like Bellingham and Harry Kane on the global stage.
Breel Embolo's World Cup travel uncertainty has finally come to an end after the Switzerland striker received approval to enter the United States. The 29-year-old missed the squad's departure to their training camp in San Diego earlier this week, but is now set to link up with his team-mates ahead of the tournament.
The former national team captain has come out strongly in defence of the Burnley star. The 25-year-old forward has found himself under intense scrutiny from a frustrated South African fanbase after his costly penalty miss against Nicaragua, coupled with a dip in form since the Africa Cup of Nations. However, with the global stage fast approaching, legendary former skipper Khune has dismissed the growing criticism, calling for patience and backing the under-fire striker to rediscover his sharp edge when it matters most.
Here GOAL brings you all the details of the friendly match between Hugo Broos' Bafana Bafana and Rudolph Speid's Reggae Boyz. The last time these sides met was 16 years ago when they played a in South Africa's warm-up for the 2010 global tournament.
"Who else?!" Those were the words of Jude Bellingham as he careened away in celebration after his quite remarkable bicycle kick had drawn England level in the 95th minute of their Euro 2024 round-of-16 game against Slovakia. The Three Lions had been terrible up to that point, but Bellingham’s heroic moment had kept them alive, continuing a season where he had been the difference-maker for Real Madrid again and again.
Masandawana stalwart has set its sights on further continental glory after officially putting pen to paper on a new deal with the Tshwane giants. Despite entering the twilight of his career, the veteran playmaker remains as hungry as ever to cement his legacy at Chloorkop.
The retired South African midfielder has expressed serious concerns regarding the national team's readiness for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The 2010 veteran believes Hugo Broos’ side has been severely underserved by a preparation schedule that lacked high-profile, elite opposition in the final months of the build-up.
The Buccaneers are preparing to shake up their defensive ranks by making Polokwane City right-back a primary transfer target. The Soweto giants are in the midst of a squad restructuring and view the Limpopo-born star as the ideal addition to their backline.
GOAL sat down with Gio Reyna to discuss his reputation, his growth since Qatar and why this World Cup gives him the chance to change the story around him.
Mark Williams has come to the defence of the duo, urging South African supporters to get behind their strikers instead of tearing them down. The 1996 Africa Cup of Nations hero believes that both forwards have the quality to shine on the world stage if given the necessary support.
El Tricolor boss has admitted his side face a significant challenge in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Bafana Bafana. The veteran tactician heaped praise on the technical growth of Hugo Broos’ side, describing their current identity as a unique hybrid on the international stage.
Jordan Pickford has declared himself ready to take a penalty for England if required at the World Cup. The Everton goalkeeper is balancing his goalkeeping duties with penalty practice as the Three Lions prepare for the tournament in the United States, where he hopes to play a decisive role at both ends of the pitch.
FIFA has sparked outrage among supporters after performing a last-minute U-turn on its stadium policy for the 2026 World Cup. Despite previous assurances that spectators would be allowed to carry water bottles into venues across North America, the governing body has now officially scrubbed those permissions from its code of conduct.
Tottenham have submitted an opening bid for Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke as Roberto De Zerbi looks to reunite with a player he helped develop on the south coast. The initial offer reportedly falls below Brighton's valuation, but talks remain ongoing as Spurs continue their summer defensive rebuild.
The coach has played down concerns regarding their delayed travel schedule ahead of the global showpiece. The South African national team saw their plans thrown into disarray following administrative delays, but the Belgian tactician is adamant that the setbacks will not hamper their quest for global glory.
Netherlands suffered a disappointing defeat to Algeria in their World Cup warm-up, prompting a furious response from Ronald Koeman. The Oranje boss criticised his side's lack of aggression and discipline, while Donyell Malen came under scrutiny after missing several clear chances before the visitors struck a late winner.
Legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly was never short of a good quote, but one of his best offered an insight as to how exactly a football team should be run: "A football team is like a piano - you need eight men to carry it and three who can play the damn thing." It’s a punchy line, and in modern-day international football, it rings painfully true.
Erling Haaland has openly embraced his reputation as the footballing equivalent of The Terminator. A few years ago, he even wished all of his followers on social media a 'Happy Haalandween' by sharing an image of himself portrayed as half-man and half-goal-scoring machine. However, to think of Haaland solely as a stone-cold killer in front of goal does a disservice to an emotional and colourful character who has never wanted anything but the best for his native Norway.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has expressed his complete surprise at the club's abrupt decision to sack manager Arne Slot following a highly disappointing campaign. The veteran defender revealed that the hierarchy did not consult him before parting ways with the Dutch tactician, learning about the sudden dismissal only after the news had leaked to the media on Saturday.
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