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Only half of the 26 places appear nailed-on and some players benefited from missing the Uruguay and Japan games Jordan Pickford remains the undisputed No 1. Harry Kane is irreplaceable up front. Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson look certain to start in midfield, nobody has emerged as a realistic challenger to Bukayo Saka on the right and Jude Bellingham’s hopes of grabbing the No 10 spot were done a world of good by other challengers failing to impress against Japan and Uruguay.

The smattering of Japanese fans who witnessed a huge victory for their nation earnt further credit by tidying up the away section before leaving Wembley and heading into London.

Italian celebrity chef Aldo Zilli has labelled the national team as a bunch ‘mummy’s boys’. Italy became the first former winners to miss out on three consecutive World Cups havin…

Facing Italy in Toronto to open the World Cup would have presented challenges. The cohosts have new marching orders now – but a same goal

We ask the Brazilian to assess the potential of his midfield partner.

The man himself explains the inspiration behind his reaction to finding the net.

No team worked harder to reach this summer's tournament – and they were ready to cherish the moment

Despite a camp-opening message daring the U.S. to dream big this summer, two European powers delivered harsh lessons just days apart

BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty picks his 26-man England World Cup squad - do you agree?

Cristiano Ronaldo will lead Portugal into the 2026 World Cup this summer in what will be his final tournament. The 41-year-old footballing icon has achieved almost everything there is to achieve i…

If you entertain the possibility that the U.S. can go on an unprecedented run, this is what it will look like

Mexico are hosts of what will be their ninth straight World Cup appearance this summer, in what will be a proud moment. The North American side are hoping to be pushing for glory in their home tour…

Adam Lallana insists there is ‘not even a doubt’ in his mind Roberto De Zerbi will keep Tottenham in the Premier League. The Italian was confirmed as Spurs’ new manager on Tuesday…

In a mixed night elsewhere for the Reds, one former player ended a 52-year wait for his nation.

Pochettino plans to name his World Cup roster on May 26, shortly before the USMNT's final pre-tournament friendlies against Senegal and Germany

Spain are one of the most iconic international teams and they will be eyeing their second World Cup title this summer. Their distinctive red shirts and beautiful football are a key part of the icon…

TARA ANSON-WALSH AT CARROW ROAD: A driving force in the centre of midfield, there have been times when he has looked the only person on the pitch capable of arresting Spurs' slide.

Italy’s World Cup Drought: Why Haven’t the Azzurri Played at the World Cup Since 2014? Footiehound Italy are one of the most successful teams in the history of the World Cup. When Fabio Grosso swept home from the penalty spot to defeat France in Berlin back in 2006, he brought the… The post Italy’s World Cup Drought: Why Haven’t the Azzurri Played at the World Cup Since 2014? appeared first on Footiehound. Written By Ken Anucha

Bosnia shock the four-time champions – but how significant is that result? And who will the USMNT and Canada now face this summer?

The final six nations have qualified for the 2026 World Cup - this is your essential lowdown on the expanded edition of the tournament.

Everything you need to know from TV details and tickets to host cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico

Jesse Marsch might have been hoping for more from his team against Iceland and Tunisia, but they put up a decent fight in both matches, and gave plenty of fringe players a chance to stake their claim for the World Cup. This team have been hit by so many injuries over the past few months and that will leave a ton of questions for Marsch to answer within his squad composition for the summer tournament. After consecutive draws with Iceland and Tunisia, here are the looming questions still needing to be answered before the summer.

Could holders Argentina be a letdown? Does 41-year-old Ronaldo have a real shot at the Golden Boot? And who are our writers backing to win?

Pulisic has now gone eight straight U.S. matches without a goal and endured a frustrating March window

After a dismal run in the qualifiers, Viktor Gyokores and Sweden finally clicked in the play-offs to reach the finals this summer

Qualifying for football's biggest tournament will bring a 'little dose of joy' to a nation where life is challenging for many

Fans in Australia adore the Matildas and Socceroos - but they've been given good reason to drop off the sport when there isn't a World Cup on.

What can Tottenham expect from Roberto De Zerbi? Kelly Cates unpicks the reaction to the new head coach at Tottenham Hotspur alongside former Spurs keeper Paul Robinson. BBC Sport's Senior Football Correspondent Sami Mokbel gives news of the detail behind the deal, including the surprising news about the lack of relegation clause. Euro Leagues regular Guillem Balague spoke to De Zerbi while he was at Marseille just a few weeks ago - and drops by to explain what Tottenham can expect, while the BBC's Katie Gornall explains why the new appointment hasn't been universally well received. Meanwhile, England were beaten by Japan in their final game on home soil before the World Cup. Paul Robinson and Ian Dennis unpick the performance, while John Murray speaks to manager Thomas Tuchel, Morgan Rogers and Marc Guehi. Plus, hear from Scotland's Andy Robertson, who were beaten by Ivory Coast at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. TIME CODES: 00:30- Sami Mokbel with the details 02:22 - Paul Robinson reaction 04:30 - Guillem Balague reaction 10:15- Fan reaction 15:13- England reaction 22:54 - Thomas Tuchel interview 29:09 - Marc Guehi interview 33:23 - Morgan Rogers interview 36:12 - Andy Robertson interview 5 Live Commentaries this week: Wednesday 1st April – 8pm – Women’s Champions League Quarter-Finals - Chelsea v Arsenal Saturday 4th April – 5:15pm – Men’s FA Cup Quarter Finals – Chelsea v Port Vale Saturday 4th April – 8pm – Men’s FA Cup Quarter Finals – Southampton v Arsenal Sunday 5th April – 1pm – Women’s FA Cup Quarter Finals – Arsenal v Brighton Sunday 5th April – 4:30pm - Men’s FA Cup Quarter Finals – West Ham v Leeds

Scotland boss Steve Clarke insists he will not allow his contract situation to cast a cloud over Scotland's forthcoming World Cup campaign.

Max Dowman’s excellent solo goal firmly suggests he’s got everything needed to achieve stardom with England. The teenage Arsenal sensation started for his country’s Under-19s side…

Writing a memoir means airing everything, to Landon Donovan, even the unflattering parts about family. The author reveals the challenges of sharing personal stories and facing reactions, but committed to doing it 'right' if doing it at all. #MemoirWriting #AuthorLife #FamilyStories #Vulnerability #LAGalaxy #MLS

The German international joined Liverpool for a club record £116million from Bayer Leverkusen last June, although the fee was later eclipsed when the Reds spent £125m on Alexander Isak.

Arsenal's 16-year-old prodigy served another reminder of his brilliance for England's under-19s in Portugal

TARA ANSON-WALSH: Hanging up on Alyssa Thompson's wall is a picture of her playing football alongside her sister Gisele at Angel City - a time before Chelsea came knocking.

Oliver Glasner has insisted he has no regrets over his emotional outburst in January where he hit out at Crystal Palace’s hierarchy. The Eagles boss, who will leave the club at the end of the seaso…

Landon Donovan shares how therapy, family, and friends were crucial to his career. He's a major advocate for seeking help when needed. #LandonDonovan #MentalHealth #AthleteMentalHealth #CareerAdvice #LAGalaxy #MLS

The fallout from the AFCON final in January continues to rumble on. On Saturday - Senegal paraded the trophy in Paris …. despite having their title stripped and handed to Morocco. So what happens next? And how much has this saga damaged the reputation of AFCON? Host: Ayo Akinwolere Guests: Simon Hughes, Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producers: Mike Stavrou, Nick Thomson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The ongoing international break is giving fans a taste of what is it come at the World Cup this summer and it is just over two months before a ball will be kicked at the iconic event. A whopping 48…

The Story Behind Mohamed Salah’s Rise to Greatness From Didier Drogba to Victor Osimhen to Yaya Touré, we’ve seen quite a few African footballers leave their mark on European football in recent years. But perhaps no African has left a legacy in Europe quite as impressive as Mohamed Salah’s. Born on June 15, 1992, in […] The post “No one could’ve imagined it” – The story behind Mohamed Salah’s rise to Greatness appeared first on anfieldindex.com.

The 2025/26 FA Cup final is already on the horizon and the remaining teams will be setting their sights on a trip to Wembley. Last year’s final saw Crystal Palace win their first ever trophy …

England manager Sarina Wiegman explains why she has handed a first senior call-up to 17-year-old midfielder Erica Meg Parkinson for World Cup qualifiers with Spain and Iceland.

Eddie Howe’s future as Newcastle boss has been thrown into doubt by the club’s CEO David Hopkinson amid an underwhelming season. The Magpies have seen their hopes of success spectacularly unr…

Cucurella is one of the most popular players at Stamford Bridge — and that status lends authority to his opinions

Today in TAFC: Chelsea's Marc Cucurella speaks his mind on the club's ownership and an ex-Premier League midfielder shining as a coach

Try The Athletic for FREE for 30 days: https://theathletic.com/tifofootball 📗 Tifo's new book, "How to Watch Football" is now available internationally: https://linktr.ee/tifobook The way groundskeepers mow the grass creates the patterns on the pitch. Join the Tifo Discord Server - https://discord.gg/6nMGtSyyNM Follow Tifo Football by The Athletic: Facebook: http://facebook.com/TifoFootball Instagram: http://instagram.com/TifoFootball_ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tifofootball_ X: https://x.com/TifoFootball_ Listen to the Tifo Football podcast: The Athletic UK: http://bit.ly/TifoPodChannel Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TifoFootPod Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/06QIGhqK31Qw1UvfHzRIDA YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWYJXDKS21OHj085qILmy-O2-yZqFIcuM&si=1tSREkvPh3Gps5NR Watch more Tifo: Tifo Football Podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWYJXDKS21OHj085qILmy-O2-yZqFIcuM&si=1tSREkvPh3Gps5NR Tifo Sports by The Athletic: https://www.youtube.com/@TifoSports About Tifo Football by The Athletic: Tifo loves football. We create In-depth tactical, historical and geopolitical breakdowns of the beautiful game. We know there’s an appetite for thoughtful, intelligent content. For stuff that makes the complicated simple. We provide analysis on the Premier League, Champions League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, World Cup and more. Our podcasts interview some of the game’s leading figures. And our editorial covers football with depth and insight. Founded in 2017 and became a part of The Athletic in 2020. For business inquiries, reach out to [email protected]. Additional footage sourced from freestockfootagearchive.com Music provided by APM Music #Shorts #Football #Soccer

The defender, a sole link between the past and present, is focused on nurturing young talent to help her country realise its 50-year plan “Ranking!?” Saki Kumagai says with a laugh. In the afterglow of her team’s Asian Cup triumph in Australia, the veteran Japan defender is asked about where this trophy sits among the many other titles she has won throughout her staggering 17-year career. But she just smiles and shakes her head. “I never compare my titles,” she says. “Yes, I won some trophies in my career. But this team is from a different generation, so [winning] a trophy in this tournament, that was the really impressive thing for me.

NATHAN SALT: Progress and success are not always linear. Lewis-Skelly has had to take a step backwards at both Arsenal and with England. His mental toughness has been put to the test.

As players and coaches are finding out, there are pros and cons to the mandated breaks that will halt every World Cup game this summer

A fresh theory on why Ben White quit England's camp at the 2022 World Cup has emerged after the Arsenal defender returned to the international fold over the past week.

JAMES SHARPE: A football match was starting in half an hour, but it was already clear who was the main event and what was the sideshow.