FIFA World Cup 2026

Crocker hired Emma Hayes and Mauricio Pochettino Sporting director duties to be split in the meantime US Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker is leaving his post with less than two months to go until the 2026 World Cup, US Soccer announced on Tuesday. The Guardian can also confirm Fox Sports’ earlier reporting that Crocker is taking up a similar role with the Saudi Arabia football federation. US Soccer said Crocker’s duties will be shared by chief operating officer Dan Helfrich, assistant sporting director Oguchi Onyewu, women’s youth national team head of development Tracey Kevins, and “the broader sporting leadership team.”

Il 30 aprile si avvicina, la FIFA si pronuncerà sulla questione Iran: vediamo cosa succederà e perché gli Azzurri sperano ancora.

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a new episode of State of the Union! The show starts with the breaking news that U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker is leaving his current post to move to work with the Saudi Arabian football federation. Alexi and Mosse break down the implications of this as we rapidly approach the World Cup before moving on to U.S. Abroad where Flo Balogun and Ricardo Pepi found the back of the net for Monaco and PSV. Weston McKennie was suspended due to yellow card accumulation and Christian Pulisic’s scoring drought reached 16 games for club and country. Next, Alexi and Mosse preview the midweek quarterfinals in both the Champions League where Real Madrid and Barcelona are looking for 2nd leg turnarounds and the CONCACAF Champions Cup where LAFC is the only MLS side to take a lead into the 2nd leg. The pair roundup the weekend action from MLS before getting into the most difficult groups in the coming World Cup in #AskAlexi. Finally, in One for the Road, Alexi discusses the Americanization of soccer and what is the American soccer identity is. Presented by Zillow #zillow Chapters: (0:00) Intro (1:39) U.S. Sporting Director Matt Crocker leaves for Saudi Arabia (4:46) U.S. Abroad: Pulisic slump, Balogun & Pepi score (10:23) Emma Hayes as USMNT coach? (21:53) MLS Recap: Sebastian Berhalter bags another assist (25:49) #AskAlexi: Group of Death Rankings (36:27) One For The Road: American Soccer Identity #StateOfTheUnion #Soccer #Pulisic Subscribe to get the latest from Alexi Lalas' State of the Union: http://sprtspod.fox/SUBSCRIBEtoSOTU Listen to Alexi Lalas' State of the Union on Apple Podcasts: http://sprtspod.fox/sotu Follow SOTU on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SOTUWithAlexi Follow SOTU on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sotuwithalexi/ Follow SOTU on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sotuwithalexi Like SOTU on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SOTUWithAlexi About Alexi Lalas' State of the Union Podcast: U.S. Soccer legend Alexi Lalas discusses the biggest stories in the world of soccer from an American perspective. Join Alexi and soccer guru David Mosse, as they break down the USMNT, USWNT, MLS, Bundesliga, Premier League, World Cup & everything in between. BREAKING NEWS: U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker heads to Saudi Arabia, Pulisic slump www.youtube.com/@StateOfTheUnion

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a new episode of State of the Union! The show starts with the breaking news that U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker is leaving his current post to move to work with the Saudi Arabian football federation. Alexi and Mosse break down the implications of this as we rapidly approach the World Cup before moving on to U.S. Abroad where Flo Balogun and Ricardo Pepi found the back of the net for Monaco and PSV. Weston McKennie was suspended due to yellow card accumulation and Christian Pulisic’s scoring drought reached 16 games for club and country. Next, Alexi and Mosse preview the midweek quarterfinals in both the Champions League where Real Madrid and Barcelona are looking for 2nd leg turnarounds and the CONCACAF Champions Cup where LAFC is the only MLS side to take a lead into the 2nd leg. The pair roundup the weekend action from MLS before getting into the most difficult groups in the coming World Cup in #AskAlexi. Finally, in One for the Road, Alexi discusses the Americanization of soccer and what is the American soccer identity. Presented by Zillow #Zillow (0:00) Intro (1:39) U.S. Sporting Director Matt Crocker leaves for Saudi Arabia (4:46) U.S. Abroad: Pulisic slump, Balogun & Pepi score(10:23) Emma Hayes as USMNT coach?(21:53) MLS Recap: Sebastian Berhalter bags another assist (25:49) #AskAlexi: Group of Death Rankings(36:27) One For The Road: American Soccer Identity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker has stepped down from his role for a new opportunity in Saudi Arabia. Crocker, 50, has left his current role and will take up a similar role with the Saudi Arabia Football Federation, U.S. Soccer announced Tuesday. Assistant sporting director Oguchi Onyewu, head of women’s development Tracey Kevins and ... Read more

Adidas honours Argentina captain Lionel Messi with another gleaming signature F50 boot

Matt Crocker is leaving his position as U.S. Soccer’s sporting director to take a similar role with Saudi Arabia, multiple sources told me on Monday.

Michael Carrick has defended the form of Manuel Ugarte after Gary Neville said the midfielder has been 'well short' ever since he joined Manchester United.

What are the rules on hair-pulling? Has it happened before? How do other competitions punish it? What will happen in the World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup will be the first with 48 teams. That means there'll be 96 kits on show! Here are all the ones released so far, from worst to first.

FIFA are trying to use Gianni Infantino’s personal relationship with Donald Trump to halt anti-immigrant ICE raids during the World Cup. Zurich bosses have been criticised for Infantino’s decision to get publicly close to the US President. The Fifa head has been spotted at Trump rallies and the launch of his Peace Board, even wearing...

ENGLAND fans will be hit by extortionate parking fees at the World Cup this summer in another huge financial blow. Matchgoing supporters have already been forced to fork out hundreds of pounds on tickets - not including travel and accommodation. And for those looking to drive to each fixture, hundreds more will have to be...

Nearly one in five UK adults plan to place a sports bet in 2026, according to an OLBG survey conducted by YouGov. The FIFA World Cup, kicking off this June across the USA, Canada and Mexico, is the most anticipated sporting event of the year, drawing interest from 34% of the British public. For football […] The post Beyond the Pitch: How Football Fans Are Engaging With the Game Off-Season appeared first on Fan Banter.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has offered an explanation for why Carlos Queiroz was appointed as the new head coach of the Black Stars. The 72-year-old has been confirmed as the new head coach for the senior national team on a short-term deal ahead of the 2026 World Cup.The former Egypt head coach has replaced Otto Addo, who was sacked after Black Stars' inconsistent performances ahead of the Mundial despite guiding the team to qualify for the Mundial slated for this summer in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.Reportedly, Pitso Mosimane, Kwesi Appiah, Paulo Bento, among other coaches, were all linked to the coach.Speaking to Asempa FM, the Communications Director of the GFA, Henry Asante Twum, explained why the former Real Madrid head coach was appointed."Carlos Queiroz provided a detailed analysis of his observations of the Black Stars, from their AFCON qualification failure to World Cup qualification," he said."He showed strong knowledge of the team’s player profiles and outlined how he intends to guide the Black Stars’ progress from the group stage at the World Cup," Asante Twum added.Queiroz will meet the Black Stars squad next month during their international friendly against Mexico, before concluding...

Communications Director of Ghana Football Association (GFA), Henry Asante Twum, has hinted that the FA will review the performance of Carlos Queiroz after the 2026 World Cup. The veteran Portuguese trainer has been appointed on a short-term basis, replacing Otto Addo, who was sacked after the back-to-back defeats against Austria and Germany in a pre-World Cup friendly game.With the former Egypt and Iran head coach set to lead the Black Stars to the Mundial, Asante Twum has revealed that his performance will be reviewed after the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico."Carlos Queiroz to lead the Black Stars until the end of the World Cup. After that, the FA will review how things turn out and decide whether to keep him or part ways," he told Asempa FM.Asante Twum also hinted that the 72-year-old has already started working."Carlos Queiroz has already begun work on the Black Stars and is expected in Ghana in the coming days," Asante Twum added.Queiroz will meet the Black Stars squad next month during their international friendly against Mexico, before concluding preparations with a final tune-up match against Wales on June 2.Ghana, preparing for its fifth World Cup appearance,...

We’re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps, Major League Soccer, Canadian Premier League, Canadian national team, and World Cup 2026 chat. The Whitecaps headed back to the summit of MLS at the weekend with a workmanlike 2-0 victory over NYCFC. We pick over the bones of the match and the main talking points coming out of it, chat about the importance of the returned from injury Andres Cubas with Jesper Sorensen, and round-up the weekend's MLS action as CF Montreal once again find themselves looking for a new head coach. We also round up the weekend's action the CPL, look at the Canadian men's national team's current injury woes, and chat about some of this week's World Cup 2026 talking points, including more ticket pricing controversy. All of this plus we move onto the letter P in our Canadian Soccer A to Z series, music-wise, Inspiral Carpets continue their residency as our Artists of the Month, The Mackenzies are the latest band to feature in our 40th anniversary tribute year to the C86 movement, and we've an English-themed World Cup song in Wavelength from 1982. Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode: 01.22: Intro chat - proud papa 07.00: Canadian Soccer A to Z - P 24.55: Whitecaps go back top of MLS after NYCFC win 42.00: The importance of Andres Cubas 48.15: What to do with Rayan Elloumi for his best development 54.30: NYCFC head coach Pascal Jansen 59.00: MLS round-up 73.50: The Battle for the Canadian Number One 78.10: CF Montreal looking for yet another new head coach 85.50: CPL round-up and Football Video Support drama 120.00: FIFA 2026 World Cup chat - this week's main talking points! 134.50: Wavelength - Serious Drinking - Spirit of '66

U.S. soccer fans are outraged by FIFA's ticket sale system that included high prices and poor seat locations that were revealed after the purchases were completed.

Sir Alex Ferguson's former assistant has taken on a new job in management ahead of this summer's tournament.

Broos' World Cup record as a player Kick Off

Rangers midfielder Connor Barron is targeting a “perfect” end to the season by winning the Scottish Premiership title and making Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for this summer’s World Cup.

For its World Cup debut, Cabo Verde, a nation of 10 islands off West Africa, will be wearing kits from Capelli Sport. The post Capelli and Cape Verde to make debuts together appeared first on Soccer America.

Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Vice President Fred Pappoe has urged Ghanaians to throw their full support behind newly appointed Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz as the team prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.The experienced Portuguese tactician has been handed a short-term contract to lead Ghana into the global tournament this summer, replacing Otto Addo, who was relieved of his duties following back-to-back defeats to Austria and Germany during the March international window.Addo, who was reappointed in March 2024, exited after a difficult spell that also included failure to guide the Black Stars to AFCON 2025 qualification, despite continued backing from the Ghana Football Association.Speaking in an interview with Adom FM, Pappoe, a former Black Stars Management Committee chairman, stressed the need for unity and collective backing for the new coach."We have limited time for the World Cup, and if you look into the list available and you check our pocket, I believe we have to rally behind whoever has been appointed," he said."We were all clamouring for a respected coach, and someone who can transform the team and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) together with the Sports Ministry has come out with...

Newly appointed Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has expressed admiration for Ghana’s rich football heritage and its long-standing tradition of producing top-class talent.The experienced Portuguese tactician was officially unveiled on Monday evening as Ghana’s new head coach, tasked with leading the team into the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America on a short-term four-month deal.In his first public remarks after signing, Queiroz struck a tone of humility and purpose.“It is with a deep sense of gratitude, responsibility, and humility that I embrace this new chapter with Ghana. This is not just another job; it is a mission.”The former Real Madrid assistant coach and Iran national team manager also praised Ghana’s football identity and potential.“Ghana is a nation of talent, pride, and footballing soul. I arrive with respect for its history and belief in its future.”Queiroz stressed unity and discipline as central pillars of his approach as he begins work with the Black Stars.“Together, with unity, discipline, and ambition, we will work to honour the expectations of a great football nation.”The 71-year-old is expected to begin duties immediately, with initial focus on player assessment, technical staff formation, and tactical preparation ahead...

World Cup kit ranking: Which teams will look best in 2026? espn.in

Only one of England and Spain are guaranteed to qualify for the 2027 World Cup automatically as Wembley stages a rematch of the Euro 2025 final

Which team tops the FIFA World Rankings as Argentina look to defend their crown at World Cup 2026?

A trend appears to have emerged in recent years of managers coming to the Premier League and, despite everyone thinking they should change their system, sticking to their guns. Marcus, Jim & David are here to pick apart the reasons behind the inflexibility of modern managers. Plus, would we back a relegation play-off where the league's worst go head-to-head in a death match? And who should win the Premier League's manager of the season award? Get your Ramble merch HERE. Find us on Bluesky, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: [email protected]. Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Securing tickets to football’s ultimate tournament is notoriously difficult, but your chances just got a whole lot better. For a strictly limited time, fans can knock a massive 12% off the pr…

Lamine Yamal makes his stance clear: Neymar belongs at the 2026 World Cup. Leer

Another reason why Houston will be the best FIFA World Cup host city in 2026: Our music scene and live venues are great options for the World’s football fans when they come to the “H”! #houston2026 #houstonsoccer #houstonmusic #worldcup2026 #soccermatters

United States Men's National Team legends Landon Donovan and Tim Howard analyze the effects of Patrick Agyemang's injury heading into the World Cup. @volkswagen_usa | #HomeOfSoccer

The move comes as the Socceroos gear up to travel to the USA for the World Cup.

Carlos Queiroz succeeds Otto Addo in the Ghana hotseat, who was sacked 72 days out from the tournament

We’re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps, Major League Soccer, Canadian Premier League, Canadian national team, and World Cup 2026 chat.The Whitecaps headed back to the summit of MLS at the weekend with a workmanlike 2-0 victory over NYCFC. We pick over the bones of the match and the main talking points coming out of it, chat about the importance of the returned from injury Andres Cubas with Jesper Sorensen, and round-up the weekend's MLS action as CF Montreal once again find themselves looking for a new head coach.We also round up the weekend's action the CPL, look at the Canadian men's national team's current injury woes, and chat about some of this week's World Cup 2026 talking points, including more ticket pricing controversy.All of this plus we move onto the letter P in our Canadian Soccer A to Z series, music-wise, Inspiral Carpets continue their residency as our Artists of the Month, The Mackenzies are the latest band to feature in our 40th anniversary tribute year to the C86 movement, and we've an English-themed World Cup song in Wavelength from 1982.Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode:01.22: Intro chat - proud papa07.00: Canadian Soccer A to Z - P24.55: Whitecaps go back top of MLS after NYCFC win42.00: The importance of Andres Cubas48.15: What to do with Rayan Elloumi for his best development54.30: NYCFC head coach Pascal Jansen59.00: MLS round-up73.50: The Battle for the Canadian Number One78.10: CF Montreal looking for yet another new head coach85.50: CPL round-up and Football Video Support drama120.00: FIFA 2026 World Cup chat - this week's main talking points!134.50: Wavelength - Serious Drinking - Spirit of '66

Agyemang’s pain may be someone else’s gain. On Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard, we're sharing our thoughts on the unfortunate news of Patrick Agyemang’s season ending Achilles injury and how it could potentially impact the USMNT’s roster for the World Cup. Will strikers like Josh Sargent or Brian White get a look? Could a wildcard like Zavier Gozo break through? Is Diego Luna’s spot now set in stone? Tim and Landon break it all down. Plus, we may be less than 10 matches into MLS’ season, but that’s not too soon for Montreal to make a move at coach. Was Marco Donadel really the problem or do the club’s issues run deeper than that? And what’s to be made of Son Heung-min's quiet goalscoring season? While some may be scratching their heads, Landon explains why it’s a whole lot of nothing! Finally, in the AT&T Mailbag, we're talking Lincoln City’s guaranteed promotion, Tottenham’s potential relegation and the U.S. Men’s “A squad” vs the U.S. Men’s “B squad.” New episodes of Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim drop every Tuesday. Subscribe to the show on YouTube and follow on all your favorite podcast platforms. For bonus content, follow on all social media platforms @UnfilteredSoccer. Send your mailbag questions to [email protected] (https://www.unfilteredsoccer.com). Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard is presented by Volkswagen. Learn more at https://bit.ly/4g8bZG3. Thank you to our additional sponsors: AT&T. Connecting Changes Everything. Visit https://att.com/guarantee to learn more. Coca-Cola and Carnival Cruise Line. Hot Takes, Cold Coke, Open Seas – your Carnival cruise is waiting! Visit Carnival.com/unfiltered and stay tuned for more information on how you could win a Carnival cruise! Coors Light. Choose Chill. Get Coors Light delivered. Go to CoorsLight.com/USLNT FanDuel. Secure your chance to score $100 BUCKS in bonus bets today. Download the FanDuel App to check out today's Soccer Daily Specials betting odds. Walmart. Walmart plays on Saturdays. Who knew? Visit walmart.com/MLS This episode of Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard was edited and mastered by Collin Kushner, Andrew Hartley and Jeremy Steinkamp, with engineering support from Eric Newell. Our producers are Andrew Gundling and Jordan Rizzieri. Our social media lead is Dan Armelli and our social editors are Kyle Curley and Finley Skelton. YouTube Chapters 00:00 Intro 2:38 Patrick Agyemang's injury 13:28 Balogun stays in form 19:03 Montréal fire head coach 26:43 Red Bulls' youth development 28:46 Vancouver to lose Berhalter? 32:41 Arsenal and Tottenham bottling 41:11 Fan Connection Unfiltered Soccer 👉 https://unfilteredsoccer.com/ Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/unfilteredsoccer/ Twitter/X 👉 https://twitter.com/unfilteredsoccr TikTok 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@unfilteredsoccer Facebook 👉 https://www.facebook.com/UnfilteredSoccer/ OTHER PODCASTS YOU MAY LIKE Triple Option - http://tripleoptionshow.com Throwbacks - http://ThrowbacksShow.com Post Moves - http://PostMovesShow.com Cousins - http://vinceandtmac.com

It is a packed race for the England winger.

Ghana have appointed Carlos Queiroz as their new head coach ahead of this summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Queiroz takes the reins from Otto Addo, who was sacked just 78 days before they began their campaign in FIFA’s flagship competition after losing to Germany last month. Ghana also failed to […] The post Queiroz appointed as new Ghana boss ahead of World Cup appeared first on Soccer News.

Former Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz is appointed as Ghana's head coach for the upcoming World Cup.

A Manchester United Champions League winner is set to equal a record for coaching teams at five consecutive World Cups after being named the new manager of England's upcoming opponents

Following an impressive debut with Olympique Lyon, Real Madrid have reportedly decided to bring Endrick back, teaming him with Vinícius Jr. and Kylian Mbappé. Consequently, los Blancos might allow another offensive star to depart in an effort to balance the roster. After struggling for playing time under Xabi Alonso, Endrick and Real Madrid have reportedly agreed to a loan move to boost his 2026 World Cup chances with Brazil national team. Seizing this opportunity, the 19-year-old striker has thrived at Olympique Lyon. As a result, Los Blancos reportedly plan to count on his return for the 2026-27 season, joining Vinícius Jr. and Kylian Mbappé in the attacking line. According to Mario Cortegana, via The Athletic, Real Madrid have decided to count on Endrick for the 2026–27 season. With this, the Brazilian would end his loan spell at Olympique Lyon at the end of the season, in order to become part of Los Blancos’ attacking line. Despite this, he may not be an undisputed starter, but instead earn playing time as a backup to Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappé, though with a more prominent role than in his previous spell. With Endrick’s return reportedly decided, Los Blancos have opted not to count on Gonzalo García. Although the Spaniard impressed at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, he has not managed to secure a place in the team’s rotation. In an effort to prioritize his development, Real Madrid would look to sell him so he can gain playing time, while still maintaining control over his future through a buy-back clause, a percentage of any future sale, or a right of first refusal. Unlike Gonzalo García, the Brazilian striker may be compatible with Vinicius and Kylian Mbappé. Having a privileged vision and creative capacity, Endrick could become a wildcard for Real Madrid’s offense. In his Ligue One tenure, he has scored three goals and contributed five assists in eleven games, proving to be differential. For that reason, he could emerge as a solid boost to the offense, as they have battled to perform this season without the Frenchman. Olympique Lyon star Endrick, loaned by Real Madrid. Endrick’s comeback may lead a Real Madrid’s offense rebuild Throughout the 2025-26 season, Real Madrid have experienced quite inconsistent performances from several of their players. Not only Gonzalo García but also Franco Mastantuono and Rodrygo Goes have been relegated to secondary roles. Because of this, Los Blancos could take advantage of Endrick’s return to lead a rebuild of their attack, allowing some players to leave in order to maintain balance. In case Endrick’s arrival is confirmed, Gonzalo García would leave the team permanently, with Como 1907 in Serie A showing interest, along with clubs from England, Germany, Spain, and Portugal, according to Fabrizio Romano. Alongside him, Franco Mastantuono could seek a loan move after losing his place to Brahim Díaz and Federico Valverde in the rotation. Rodrygo Goes seemed destined to leave Real Madrid, as he went from an undisputed starter to a rotational player. However, his ACL injury could complicate his departure, as he may look to fully recover at Los Blancos and then decide his future. Because of this, the team’s reinforcements seem likely to focus on defense and midfield, leaving only Endrick’s return as the main attacking addition for the next season.

Ghana have appointed Carlos Queiroz as head coach of the senior national team ahead of their participation in the 2026 World Cup.

Ghana have appointed Carlos Queiroz as manager for their 2026 World Cup campaign. The Black Stars will face England, Panama and Croatia in group L at this summer’s tournament. Queiroz has bee…

Tottenham have suffered a devastating setback in their fight against relegation with news that captain Cristian Romero will miss the rest of the Premier League campaign.

Ghana hires Carlos Queiroz ahead of World Cup campaign espn.in

Despite his historic season, Ousmane Dembélé’s future at PSG appears quite uncertain, as he is reportedly refusing to renew his contract. As a result, the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner has two potential destinations: the Premier League and the Saudi Pro League. Ousmane Dembélé managed to make history at PSG, leading the club to its first UEFA Champions League title. Following this, the Frenchman won the 2025 Ballon d’Or, achieving a historic milestone for the team. Despite this, his future at the club is not guaranteed, as he is reportedly refusing to extend his contract. With no agreement yet reached, the 28-year-old star already has potential destinations lined up: The Premier League and the Saudi Pro League. According to L’Équipe, PSG and Ousmane Dembélé have decided to pause contract extension talks, making it clear there is still time, as his current deal runs until 2028. Instead, the French side has chosen to prioritize the renewals of Senny Mayulu and Bradley Barcola, whose contracts expire in 2027 and 2028 respectively. In addition, the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner is reportedly not fully accepting the contractual offer on the table. Following his historic season, Paris Saint-Germain acknowledge that Dembélé deserves a salary increase. However, president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has made it clear that the club will not break its wage structure, unlike in the cases of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Neymar. As a result, the French side are open to reassessing his future in the event of an early elimination, or keeping him as a cornerstone if he shines again and helps secure the title reports L’Équipe. Given his uncertain contractual situation, Ousmane Dembélé could be set for a move to the Premier League, with several clubs monitoring a potential transfer. In addition, Saudi Pro League teams have joined the interest, having made multiple approaches throughout the season. However, the Frenchman has decided to pause any renewal or transfer talks until after the 2026 World Cup, where a standout performance could ultimately define his future. Ousmane Dembele lifting the 2025 Ballon d’Or. Dembélé wages could rule out most Premier League clubs Unlike other leagues, Premier League clubs maintain strong investment capacity, allowing them to handle multimillion-dollar transfers. Because of this, the Frenchman could fit into most English top-flight teams. However, Ousmane Dembélé reportedly holds salary expectations above €50 million, which would significantly limit his options to only a very small number of clubs. Over the past few years, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Liverpool have been the only Premier League sides capable of offering salaries above €20 million per season, alongside extremely high transfer fees. For this reason, Dembélé would realistically only fit into these teams, with the Reds and the Red Devils best positioned, as they are set to lose their top earners: Mohamed Salah and Casemiro. Ousmane Dembélé might find his ideal salary in Saudi Arabia Despite the fact that the potential arrival of Ousmane Dembélé represents a major opportunity for several teams, they could struggle to meet his extremely high salary expectations. Nevertheless, the Frenchman could have an ideal solution: Saudi Pro League. As one of the most financially powerful leagues, they could make him a tempting offer to the 2025 Ballon d’Or candidate, reaching up to the €60M per season he is reportedly demanding. Being a well-known Muslim, Dembélé’s potential arrival would have a major cultural impact, becoming a reference point for local fans. In addition, the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo, along with the possible arrival of Mohamed Salah, could further raise the league’s profile, drawing renewed attention from fans. However, they have not yet submitted a formal offer, according to L’Équipe.

GHANA have appointed a new manager just two months before the World Cup. The African nation is in England's group for the tournament with the two facing off in the second game on June 23. The Black Stars were on the hunt for a new boss following the sacking of Otto Addo. It has now...

Carlo Ancelotti revealed Neymar has two months to prove he has what it takes to play in the next World Cup for Brazil. Neymar was left out of Ancelotti’s Selecao squad for the March international break, where they lost friendlies to France and defeated Croatia in the United States. He is Brazil’s all-time top scorer […] The post Neymar has two months to prove World Cup quality, says Ancelotti appeared first on Soccer News.

While hoping for his presence in the 2026 World Cup, Lamine Yamal addressed Neymar's influence on Barcelona's preparation for the comeback in the UEFA Champions League against Atletico Madrid. Lamine Yamal has been the loudest voice coming out of FC Barcelona over the past week as the club gears up for a potential historic comeback against Atletico Madrid in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. With the second leg just one day away, the 18-year-old star drew on the influence of Neymar as a source of inspiration and made a heartfelt plea for the Brazilian to be at the World Cup. Before nodding to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2016 comeback, another landmark reversal closer to Barcelona’s own history was the one engineered by Neymar against PSG in the 2016-17 season. By scoring a brace and delivering the winning assist for Sergi Roberto, the Blaugrana completed one of the most iconic comebacks in sports history, and the scenario Barcelona now face against Atletico carries a strikingly similar feel. At Monday’s press conference, Yamal was asked whether he had revisited that iconic Neymar performance for inspiration, and the young star was effusive in his praise for his idol: “I have seen it many times; I have seen it live as well. Neymar is a player who defined my entire childhood—he is my idol—and I will always be grateful for what he has given to football.“ Yamal then went a step further, expressing his hope that Neymar would be part of the 2026 World Cup. “I believe he inspires us all. He is the kind of player you pay for a ticket to see; three days would pass after a match, and you’d watch it again just to see his plays. I want to thank him for what he has given to the game, and I hope he can be at the World Cup,” he concluded. Lionel Messi and Neymar of Barcelona celebrate against PSG in 2017. Despite frequently drawing comparisons to Lionel Messi due to his playing style, Yamal has consistently been eager to highlight Neymar’s influence on his development. The Spanish teenager had the chance to meet his idol in person back in June 2025, just before the start of the current season. Although Yamal was Barcelona‘s brightest spark in the first leg, Atletico stayed compact and goalkeeper Juan Musso produced a series of outstanding saves to keep him off the scoresheet. Now heading to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, the Blaugrana must wipe out a two-goal deficit from the opening whistle, a challenge Yamal is embracing with the same belief that has fueled some of the great comebacks in the club’s history. Yamal eager to make his mark in the second leg Despite being reduced to ten men for the entire second half of the first leg, Barcelona still dominated possession and created chances, with Yamal often at the center of their most dangerous moments. Far from feeling weighed down by the pressure of being the team’s go-to player, the teenager sees it as fuel. Yamal shared his mindset heading into the match and made clear just how much he is relishing the moment: “I’m very excited. I’ve always said that at the start of the season, my level was questioned a lot because of my pubalgia, and I like it when these moments arrive because this is when the real players show up. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.“ Yamal has already proven he can deliver on the biggest stages, scoring against France and setting up the winner against England in Spain’s triumphant Euro 2024 campaign, and leading Barcelona’s attack in last season’s Champions League semifinal against Inter Milan despite the eventual defeat. With the weight of the occasion on his shoulders at just 18 years old, Yamal appears ready to rise to it once more.

Pulisic has yet to score in 2026, and that's doesn't bode well for his form and confidence ahead of the World Cup

The Ghana Football Association has appointed Carlos Queiroz as head coach of the senior national team, the Black Stars. The former Real Madrid, Manchester United, Portugal, and Iran coach will lead Ghana’s campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Queiroz boasts an extensive World Cup pedigree. He [...] The post Carlos Queiroz appointed Black Stars head coach for 2026 FIFA World Cup first appeared on Sahara Football.