Lists

With the USMNT set to kick off their first match of the November break this Saturday, GOAL's writers discuss the biggest storylines revolving around the team.

Chelsea skipper Reece James has sent a warning to FIFA ahead of the 2026 World Cup as he urged the football’s governing body to rethink kick-off times to protect players from potentially "dangerous" heat conditions. The 25-year-old defender, who lifted the Club World Cup with Chelsea in the United States earlier this year, described the sweltering temperatures during the tournament as "super difficult" and believes that matches played in similar conditions next summer could put players’ health at risk.

Ederson have revealed the reasons behind his Manchester City exit as the goalkeeper insisted that he "needed this change". The Brazilian became one of Pep Guardiola’s most trusted lieutenants and a cornerstone of City’s domestic dominance during his eight-year stay in Manchester. However, he brought his time at the Etihad to an end this summer. His farewell closed a chapter filled with silverware, which included six Premier League titles, five domestic cups, and the crowning glory in City’s first-ever Champions League triumph.

After taking time to consider his stinging comments, Wayne Rooney has conceded he was wrong to claim Virgil van Dijk had "downed tools" after signing a new deal at Liverpool. The row had threatened to boil over as the pair clashed live on TV, but the former England and Manchester United star has moved to cool the disagreement and also offered Van Dijk advice on how to get the champions' faltering season back on track.

Real Madrid are close to finalising a loan move for out-of-favour striker Endrick as rumoured suitors Manchester United fall behind in the pursuit of the Brazilian wonderkid. The 19-year-old has struggled to find minutes under Xabi Alonso, and a temporary transfer has been arranged to relaunch his career after a frustrating few months at the Spanish capital.

U.S. international Walker Zimmerman, a cornerstone of Nashville SC since its inaugural MLS season, is set to leave the club this winter when his contract expires, according to The Athletic. The two-time MLS Defender of the Year and team captain’s departure will close a six-year chapter in Nashville as he heads into free agency.

Thomas Tuchel faces some tough decisions ahead of next year’s World Cup, with the England boss revealing some players will be omitted as they won’t all fit into his playing system. The Three Lions head coach has warned a big-name trio they can’t start a game together as he puts the final touches to his plans ahead of the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Barcelona centre-back Andreas Christensen addressed his future at the club, claiming that he doesn't "have a Plan B" in case he doesn't receive a contract extension from the reigning La Liga champions. Persistent struggles with injuries have prevented the defender from becoming a vital player for Hansi Flick, with the club reportedly wanting him to leave as a free agent next summer.

Columbus Crew manager Wilfried Nancy is reportedly being considered for the vacant Celtic FC job following Brendan Rodgers’ departure last month. The Scottish club has appointed Martin O’Neill as interim boss but is expected to move quickly to secure a permanent head coach. Nancy, who has led Columbus since 2023, is among the names on their shortlist.

A prominent German journalist has launched an impassioned defence of struggling Liverpool signing Florian Wirtz, and taken aim at jealous ex-Manchester United stars for their perceived unjust criticism. The Reds' blockbuster summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen has also been tipped to become the biggest star in the Premier League despite his slow start at Anfield.

Wolves could reportedly swoop in for Wrexham star Conor Coady as new manager Rob Edwards is keen to reunite with the defender. The Molineux club have turned to a familiar face in a desperate bid to rescue their season by bringing Edwards in on a three-and-a-half-year deal following the sacking of Vitor Pereira. The former Luton and Middlesbrough boss now inherits a team who are sitting rock bottom of the Premier League table with just two points from 11 games, and are staring relegation squarely in the face.

Nico Schlotterbeck’s future at Borussia Dortmund is up in the air. With Bayern Munich and Liverpool both pushing to sign the defender and contract talks at Dortmund stalling, his Germany teammate Jonathan Tah has stepped in, offering advice and support as the 25-year-old weighs a crucial decision about his next move.

Former Bayern Munich and veteran Bundesliga head coach Felix Magath has issued a warning to Die Roten boss Vincent Kompany and striker Harry Kane, claiming that Jamal Musiala's imminent return from injury could become "problematic". The 22-year-old is nearing recovery from the fractured fibula injury he suffered against Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup.

Barcelona presidential hopeful Xavier Vilajoana has accused Joan Laporta’s board of “lying” about the club’s financial situation and called for transparency over Lionel Messi’s 2021 exit. A new independent report commissioned by the former board member claims that Barca’s debt has ballooned to €4.12 billion, sparking questions about the club’s claims of economic recovery and whether Messi’s departure was really driven by finances at all.

Kylian Mbappe has cheekily hinted that his France teammate Dayot Upamecano could find “better teams” than Bayern Munich in a playful invitation to join him at Real Madrid. The defender is out of contract in 2026, and talks with Bayern remain unresolved. With Los Blancos searching for a long-term defensive anchor, Mbappe’s comments have reignited talk of a blockbuster French reunion in Madrid.

With several stars missing for the USMNT, Mexico and Canada, the CONCACAF rankings feature some new faces.

Former Manchester United scout Piotr Sadowski has blasted the Red Devils for letting some top talents leave the club in recent years. The Red Devils have a proud history when it comes to developing young players and bringing them into the first team at Old Trafford, but Sadowski says some bad mistakes have been made and highlighted one player in particular who has been allowed to leave for a small fee.

Florian Wirtz has been compared to Luka Modric, with Liverpool's struggling £116m signing being backed to silence his doubters just as the former Real Madrid midfielder did. Wirtz was considered one of the brightest midfield talents in the world at Bayer Leverkusen, but the Germany international has experienced a major dip in form since moving to the Premier League.

Napoli's head of scouting Maurizio Micheli is reportedly in advanced talks to move to Arsenal to take up a new role with the Premier League side. New sporting director Andrea Berta is continuing to make changes behind the scenes in north London and is keen to bring in the man who signed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for Napoli. The exciting winger has since been sold to Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth £59 million.

Juventus are preparing to make a move for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan as contract talks between the French international and the Rossoneri stall, opening the door for a potential free summer transfer. The Bianconeri see Maignan as the perfect long-term replacement and are ready to challenge Chelsea, who have been tracking the player for months.

Premier League strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers have confirmed the appointment of Rob Edwards as their new manager. The 42-year-old has left Championship high-flyers Middlesbrough to sign a three-and-a-half-year contract with the Molineux club, who sacked Vitor Pereira following a torrid start to the 2025-26 season which has left them winless after 11 league games.

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente revealed that Lamine Yamal was "very sad" to withdraw from the Spanish national team after an invasive radiofrequency therapy this week ruled him out for over a week. The Barcelona youngster has been diagnosed with pubalgia and has struggled with fitness recently, while De la Fuente's latest words add another chapter to the feud between the Catalans and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

Argentina defender Nicolas Tagliafico has admitted “nobody will be ready” for Lionel Messi’s retirement as speculation grows around a romantic Barcelona return. The Lyon full-back, currently on international duty, reflected on Messi’s emotional Camp Nou visit and spoke about Argentina’s World Cup ambitions while hinting at uncertainty over whether the Inter Miami star could play again for the Blaugrana.

MEYBA are back and have cooked up a third collaboration with The Beatles, completing a trilogy which brings together football, music, art and culture. They've already achieved great success together with two previous drops, and for their final act in this series, they have gone all in to bring back the spirit of Yellow Submarine, one of the world's very first cross-platform successes.

Kenan Yildiz’s future at Juventus is in serious doubt, with contract talks between the young Turkish forward and the club put on hold after months of negotiations. Top European giants, including Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid, are now ready to move for the 20-year-old. The German-born, who joined the Old Lady in 2022, is under contract with the Serie A side until 2029.

Kylian Mbappe has hailed Rayan Cherki as a "spectacular talent" after seeing his France team-mate "integrate very well" into Manchester City's team. After starring for Lyon with 13 goals and 21 assists across all competitions in the 2024-25 campaign, Cherki was signed by City in the summer transfer window, while Didier Deschamps handed him his France debut in June.

Harry Kane has reportedly emerged as Barcelona's top target to replace ageing striker Robert Lewandowski at the end of the 2025-26 season. Lewandowski is expected to depart Hansi Flick's side as a free agent when his contract with the Catalan giants expires next summer, with Barca considering triggering the £57m release clause in Kane's contract at Bayern Munich.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed that institutional relations between them and their Clasico rivals Real Madrid "aren't good because they appeared in the Negreira case, presenting irrelevant and inconclusive evidence." The Catalans have been embroiled in legal proceedings over allegations that they paid Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, the former vice-president of the Spanish Referees' Committee (CTA), to influence matches.

Lionesses star Alex Greenwood has put pen to paper on a new contract at Manchester City. The 32-year-old has signed an extension that will keep her at the club until 2027 and says she has "unfinished business" with the Cityzens. Greenwood was into the final year of her existing deal but has now committed her future to the club after a strong start to the new WSL campaign.