World Cup

World Cup news

Kyle Walker England 2025

End of an England era as Walker confirms retirement

After an illustrious international journey spanning 15 years, legendary defender Kyle Walker has officially announced his retirement from the England national team. The 35-year-old Burnley star leaves behind a remarkable legacy of 96 caps, having played a pivotal role in transforming the Three Lions' fortunes across five major tournaments and multiple historic finals.

EnglandK. Walker
Weston McKennie USMNT

McKennie lifts lid on USMNT dressing room characters & leaders

Weston McKennie has told GOAL what leadership means to him, as a captaincy candidate with Juventus and the USMNT, while discussing the kind of characters that he likes to work alongside. The all-action midfielder is enjoying a productive 2026, with a new contract being signed in Turin, and is counting down the days to a home World Cup on American soil.

W. McKennieUSA
Scott McTominay Napoli 2025-26

‘Big surprise’ - McTominay transfer decision still shocks

Manchester United’s decision to sell Scott McTominay in 2024 remains a “big surprise”, with the all-action midfielder thriving in Italy with Napoli. The history books have been rewritten there, with former Scotland international Gary McAllister telling GOAL why a break from tradition by the Red Devils has generated some uncomfortable questions at Old Trafford.

S. McTominayManchester United
Legacy Argelia GFX

LEGACY: Gijon to Porto Alegre - Algeria's World Cup journey

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 time we look back at one of football’s most emotional journeys: Algeria’s road from Gijon to Porto Alegre. From the heartbreak of 1982 to the pride of 2014, it’s the story of a team that turned injustice into identity, and showed the world that, for Algeria, the dream never dies.

LegacyAlgeria
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino Attends US Conference Of Mayors In Washington, DC

Infantino: World Cup will be a ‘total party’

FIFA President Gianni Infantino insists the 2026 World Cup will be a flawless global celebration, brushing aside mounting anxieties over escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Despite the USA and Israel conflict with Iran disrupting football calendars, causing widespread visa chaos, and forcing Iraq to request a delay, FIFA remains solely focused on record ticket sales.

USAFIFA Club World Cup
Santos v Vasco Da Gama - Brasileirao 2026

Ancelotti names Neymar in Brazil squad

Neymar has been included in Brazil's expansive preliminary squad for the upcoming friendlies, giving the Santos star a lifeline ahead of the 2026 World Cup. However, with Carlo Ancelotti watching, the legendary forward faces immense pressure. Missing the next match for load control, he has just one game left to prove his fitness and secure his spot in the final selection.

NeymarBrazil
Iraq-Faces-UAE-In-Basra

Iraq urge FIFA to delay WC play-off amid war

Iraq head coach Graham Arnold has issued an urgent plea to football’s international governing body to postpone his team’s intercontinental qualifier for the World Cup because of disruptions caused by the escalating Iran war. The Lions of Mesopotamia are currently scheduled to face either Suriname or Bolivia in a winner-takes-all play-off on March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico, but the logistical mountain has become too steep to climb.

IraqWorld Cup Qualification Inter-Confederation

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Weston McKennie USMNT

USMNT star McKennie embraces 'pressure' of home World Cup

Weston McKennie admits that the USMNT will be under “pressure” to deliver at a home World Cup, but considers that level of expectation to bring with it “extra motivation”. The United States is counting down the days to another major tournament on American soil, with McKennie explaining to GOAL how Mauricio Pochettino’s squad will handle the demands of heat and travel.

W. McKennieUSA
PSV Eindhoven v FC Bayern München - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8

Dest issues update after limping off injured in latest PSV outing

The United States men’s national team has been handed a significant injury scare just months before the 2026 World Cup, as Sergino Dest was forced off during PSV’s latest Eredivisie victory. The full-back, who has established himself as a vital component of the USMNT's defensive unit, appeared to suffer a hamstring issue during the second half of Saturday’s clash against AZ Alkmaar.

USAS. Dest
Christian Pulisic AC Milan 2025-26

Pulisic's USMNT-themed 'myth' debunked by Milan legend

Christian Pulisic has seen a USMNT-themed “myth” debunked by AC Milan legend Andriy Shevchenko. The United States international has faced accusations of already turning his attention towards a home World Cup this summer, but Shevchenko has refuted those claims and backed Pulisic to rediscover his best form at club level during the 2025-26 run-in.

C. PulisicUSA
Mauricio Pochettino USMNT HIC

Pochettino: 75-80 players believe they can make USMNT's WC roster

Mauricio Pochettino says that he believes there are between 75 and 80 players who believe they can make the U.S. Men's National Team's World Cup roster. One of the head coach's main priorities has been building out and empowering the player pool, not just the top players, and he believes that the competition for World Cup places is more fierce because of it.

USAM. Pochettino
Kylian Mbappe Thierry Henry France 2026

Has Mbappe eclipsed Henry? ‘Generation’ argument explained

Kylian Mbappe is a World Cup-winning global superstar in his own right, but can the Real Madrid ‘Galactico’ be considered to have eclipsed the legend of fellow Frenchman Thierry Henry? Jeremie Aliadiere - a former Arsenal team-mate of another ‘Invincible’ in north London - has explained why all-time lists will always be influenced by generational favouritism.

K. MbappeFrance
Christian Pulisic Weston McKennie

USMNT brutally told why Pulisic & top stars won't stay in MLS

MLS has been told why retaining home-grown stars such as Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie will remain impossible in the foreseeable future, with “real football” being played in Europe. Giuseppe Rossi - who spent time in England, Italy, Spain and the United States during his playing career - has told GOAL why top American talent will continue to fly the domestic nest.

Major League SoccerUSA
Meet the USMNT

USMNT told talk of winning World Cup 'won't be fair at all'

The United States has been warned that talk of the USMNT winning a home World Cup in 2026 “won’t be fair at all”, with a more realistic example of “huge success” being pointed out. Giuseppe Rossi, who qualified to represent the land of his birth but opted to play for Italy, has - while filling a role as vice-chairman and head of soccer at the New York Cosmos - given GOAL his assessment of the so-called ‘Golden Generation’.

USAC. Pulisic
Panel Discussion with Pierluigi Colina and Johannes Holzmüller at The REACH

Legendary ref Collina compares VAR to 'crisis with your wife'

Pierluigi Collina has delivered a blunt assessment of the current state of VAR, comparing the technology’s recent struggles to a crumbling relationship. As football prepares for a suite of radical changes to how the game is policed, the man who once struck fear into the world’s best players suggests that the initial love affair with technology has hit a rocky patch.

P. CollinaPremier League
Cole Palmer Thomas Tuchel Marcus Rashford England

Tuchel urged to snub Palmer & pick England ‘world-beater’

Thomas Tuchel has been urged to snub the likes of Cole Palmer and Phil Foden by picking “world-beater” Marcus Rashford on the left wing for England at the 2026 World Cup. Former Three Lions star Lee Sharpe has told GOAL the Manchester United academy graduate, who is currently on loan at Barcelona, possesses qualities that his rivals for an international starting berth do not have.

M. RashfordEngland

Frequently asked questions

Los Angeles Galaxy have claimed the MLS title six times, more than any other club in the league's history. They first triumphed in 2002, and later went on to secure victories in 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2024, solidifying their dominance in Major League Soccer.

There are 30 teams in Major League Soccer as of the 2025 season. The league has seen steady expansion since its inception in 1996, when it began with just 10 teams. Over the years, it has added clubs across the US and Canada to reach its current size.

Nick Rimando holds the record for the most MLS appearances, having played 514 matches over the course of his career, which spanned from 2000 to 2019 with clubs like D.C. United, Miami Fusion, and Real Salt Lake.

Chris Wondolowski holds the record as the all-time top scorer in Major League Soccer, with 171 goals to his name. His scoring prowess helped establish him as one of the league's most iconic forwards during his career.

Landon Donovan leads the league's all-time assist charts with 136 assists. His playmaking ability was a key factor in his team's success over the years.

Pat Onstad is the oldest player to have ever featured in Major League Soccer, appearing in the league at the age of 43 years, 2 months, and 22 days. The game was when he featured in goal for DC United.

Cavan Sullivan made history as the youngest-ever player in MLS, debuting for his team at the age of 14 years and 293 days. His introduction to professional football at such a young age has set the stage for a promising future.

Famous players who have played in MLS include stars like David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, Kaka, David Villa, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Andrea Pirlo.

MLS' most famous managers include renowned figures like Bruce Arena, Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, Frank de Boer, and Tata Martino.

The Bank of America Stadium, originally inaugurated as Ericsson Stadium in 1996, stands as the largest venue in Major League Soccer, boasting an impressive capacity of 75,412 seats. It is home to Charlotte FC.

Argentine World Cup-winning attacking midfielder Thiago Almada is the most expensive MLS signing of all-time. Atlanta United bought Almada from Velez Sarsfield for around $16 million, in 2022.

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