1. How Portugal wasted a golden shot at World Cup glory

    Wayne Rooney described Cristiano Ronaldo's final appearance at a World Cup as "a sad day for football". It wasn't, though. Not really. Ronaldo may be one of the most iconic figures in sporting history, but Spain's victory over an insipid Portugal side, taken in conjunction with Belgium battering the United States, actually made July 6, 2026 a pretty good day for the game.

  2. Messi is inevitable! GOAT inspires epic win over Egypt

    Lionel Messi made amends for missing a second penalty at the 2026 World Cup by inspiring the most dramatic of comebacks, as Argentina came from 2-0 down with just over 10 minutes remaining to beat a heroic Egypt side 3-2 in a last-16 clash for the ages in Atlanta. Lionel Scaloni's side started as sluggishly as they had performed in their lucky win over Cape Verde by the same scoreline, and Egypt took advantage, with an unmarked Yasser Ibrahim burying a cross from Marwan Attia past Emiliano Martinez with just 15 minutes gone.

  3. Brazil's World Cup nightmare: Why it went so wrong

    The inquest into Brazil's disastrous World Cup exit is well underway after the five-time winners were unceremoniously dumped out of the tournament at the hands of dark horses Norway and the goals of Erling Haaland. In truth, the Selecao never really got going in North America - hamstrung by an ageing, rag-tag squad that was yet to gel as they often relied on Vinicius Jr to deliver the goods.

  4. Balogun scandal removed all credibility from World Cup

    The World Cup was actually becoming somewhat enjoyable. After the almost complete removal of jeopardy from the group stage caused by the tournament's farcical format, the overdue start of knockout football has unsurprisingly provided us with some genuine excitement - so much so, in fact, that you've probably already forgotten how disgracefully Iran were treated by the United States. Or that referee Omar Artan - along with millions of other Africans - wasn't even allowed to attend.

  5. RANKED: Man Utd's midfield options after week of rejections

    Last week was really quite something for Tottenham Hotspur. Despite finishing 17th in each of the past two Premier League seasons, the north Londoners have signed two of the most coveted midfielders presently operating in England, Matheus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali. Spurs may have overpaid for both, but the club's long-suffering supporters are nonetheless delighted after seeing their transfer record broken twice in a matter of days, given former executive chairman Daniel Levy repeatedly refused to push the boat out to sign top talent.

  6. Spurs spending £100m on Tonali shows market has gone mad

    For some football fans, the summer is the part of the calendar that they look forward to the most - and that's not just because it's filled by a World Cup every four years! Rather, it's because the end of the season means only one thing: It's time for transfers! The 2026 window is once again proving to be busy, with some huge names making big-money moves before deadline day on September 1.

  7. RANKED: Top 20 kits at the 2026 World Cup

    There's just a few hours to go until the biggest show on earth gets underway, with the 2026 World Cup kicking off in Mexico City on Thursday. If you haven't already caught a serious case of World Cup fever, what better way to get in the mood than by checking out the very best kits that will be on show in North America this summer.

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Videos

  1. 🎥 | Man City confirm Maresca appointment

    Manchester City have confirmed the appointment of Enzo Maresca on a three-year contract until 2029. The Premier League side confirmed the news on June 29, with former Chelsea boss Maresca returning to the Etihad Stadium to replace Pep Guardiola, having previously served as the Catalan's assistant back in 2022.

  2. WATCH: USMNT icon Donovan joins The Late Run with Chad Ochocinco

    Landon Donovan joins Ocho and Raheem on The Late Run to revisit a career built far from the spotlight. He reflects on leaving home for Bayer Leverkusen at 16, grinding to sell MLS tickets, his 2012 mental-health sabbatical, the Klinsmann World Cup snub, facing Messi and Ronaldo, Beckham’s impact on MLS, the pay-to-play problem threatening U.S. soccer and why a home World Cup could change everything.

  3. 🎥 | No Era Penal - a MUNDIAL film

    MUNDIAL release No Era Penal, a film celebrating the magic and passion of Mexican football fandom. Taking the infamous 'No Era Penal' (It wasn't a penalty) saying from the 2014 World Cup as a starting point, the film delves deep into Mexico's love for the game, the World Cup, and its elusive mission to reach La Quinto Partido, the fifth game of the World Cup. Featuring Raúl Jiménez, Miguel Herrera, Rey Mysterio and more, it's a wild, wild ride!

  4. WATCH: CM Punk joins The Late Run with Ochocinco to talk GOATs

    CM Punk joins The Late Run with the belt and proves he’s a serious football head, talking Celtic loyalty, the Rangers rivalry, why Americans tune in for World Cups and a wild Brazil flag story involving armed men. Plus: Messi over Ronaldo, WWE vs soccer trash talk, Ocho’s WrestleMania entrance and footballers who could make it in WWE.

  5. Jose Mourinho Beast Mode On Podcast

    🎥 | EXCLUSIVE: José Mourinho on Madrid return, Messi & more

    New Real Madrid head coach José Mourinho joins Adebayo Akinfenwa on the Beast Mode On Podcast as he exclusively discusses his sensational return to the Liga giants, the World Cup and whether England can finally end 60 years of hurt, and some of the joyous, and panful, experiences he's had in management to date. Mourinho also chats openly about his time at Tottenham, and the controversial nature of his sacking just days before the League Cup final, among many other intriguing topics in a must-see episode of the award-winning podcast.

FIFA WORLD CUP

  1. 📽️ | Heartbroken Salah & Egypt players receive hero's welcome

    Mohamed Salah and his Egypt team-mates were met with an emotional reception at their team hotel following their crushing World Cup exit at the hands of Argentina. Despite the devastating nature of the defeat, the players stood and applauded the travelling fans who had gathered to show their appreciation for the Pharaohs' historic run.

  2. 'This tournament is FIXED!' - Egypt star Zico goes berserk

    Egypt forward Mostafa Zico has sparked a global firestorm after sensationally claiming the 2026 World Cup is "fixed" following the Pharaohs' dramatic last-16 exit at the hands of Argentina. In one of the most explosive post-match interviews in the tournament's history, the attacker alleged that officials intentionally manipulated the result to ensure Lionel Messi and the reigning world champions remained in the competition.

  3. Mbappe revenge mission! Messi is in France superstar’s head

    Kylian Mbappe is on a Lionel Messi-themed revenge mission at the 2026 World Cup, Louis Saha has told GOAL, with France’s talismanic striker determined to right a few wrongs from Qatar 2022. Final agony - despite scoring a hat-trick against Argentina - was endured in the Middle East, but positive progress has been made through another major competition on North American soil.

Transfers

  1. Osimhen told why Barcelona transfer will never happen

    Victor Osimhen has enjoyed a spectacular campaign at Galatasaray, but the prolific Nigerian forward has been warned that a high-profile move to Barcelona is highly unlikely to materialise. A former Super Lig rival believes that while Osimhen is an incredibly gifted goalscorer, he lacks the refined technical ability required to fit into the tactical system at Camp Nou.

Premier League

  1. Can Forest keep Murillo for 10 years? No need for transfer

    Nottingham Forest will be hoping to see Brazilian defender Murillo spend another decade at the City Ground, with legendary former Reds centre-half Des Walker telling GOAL why the enigmatic South American can hit individual targets without seeking a transfer elsewhere. A long-term contract is ensuring that no sale needs to be considered any time soon.

Must-read opinion and expert analysis

  1. World Cup Golden Boot standings: Messi moves ahead of Mbappe

    The 2026 World Cup is well underway and so is the race for the prestigious Golden Boot - the award given to the tournament's top scorer. There's a long and winding road to be navigated as 48 nations battle for the top prize, but which star will take home the illustrious award? Here, GOAL tracks the tournament's most prolific stars.

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