World Cup News

Norway star Jens Petter Hauge discusses his journey from AC Milan to Bodø/Glimt and his confidence heading into the World Cup 2026 as Norway returns to the global stage. We are just two months away from the FIFA World Cup, which will see Norway return to a major tournament for the first time since Euro 2000, and one man who will be looking to play a crucial role for them is Jens Petter Hauge. Born on October 12, 1999, Hauge was raised in Bodø and started off in Bodø/Glimt’s academy at 12 years old, ascending through the ranks before signing a professional contract on April 12, 2016. One day later, he came off the bench in the 64th minute and scored a hat-trick on his senior debut in a 6-0 cup win against IK Start. Following in the footsteps of his idol Eden Hazard, Hauge quickly made a name for himself thanks to his fleet feet and change of direction, becoming the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer in the Eliteserien. Whilst he wasn’t able to prevent them from suffering relegation, he nevertheless excelled in the second division and helped them achieve promotion with 2 goals and 13 assists in 2017. “When I got a little bit older, I started understanding more about football. Eden Hazard was my favorite player when he moved to Chelsea, and the way he was having fun while dribbling and scoring against the best teams in England,” stated Hauge in an exclusive World Soccer Talk interview. “It was special for me, and I wanted to be a player like him, so I would describe myself as an offensive player, good one-on-one, creating chances for my teammates and also myself.” After being loaned out to second-tier Aalesunds FK, Hauge returned with a vengeance and racked up 9 goals and 3 assists in 29 appearances across all competitions. 2020 was even better, with Hauge coming out of the pandemic a stronger player and scoring 14 goals and 10 assists in 18 league appearances, prompting him to be named the Eliteserien Young Player of the Year. Whilst he put them on track to win their maiden league title, he wasn’t able to enjoy the trophy: instead, after scoring a goal and an assist in a Europa League qualifier vs. Milan, he joined Milan for €5 million, signing a five-year contract. Hauge enjoyed a promising start to his Milan tenure, racking up 5 goals and 1 assist in 24 appearances, but he wasn’t able to lock down a starting spot during his time in Italy before eventually deciding to make the move to Eintracht Frankfurt in 2021. Hauge quickly adapted to life in Germany, scoring in two of his first three Bundesliga matches and emerging as a vital cog under Oliver Glasner as Eintracht knocked out Real Betis, Barcelona, and West Ham before defeating Rangers on penalties to win the UEFA Europa League, their first continental trophy in 42 years. But rather than stay put and take part in the UEFA Champions League, Hauge was loaned out to Belgian side Gent shortly after being purchased by Eintracht. He provided five assists in 29 appearances before heading back to Die Adler, where he struggled for regular minutes. Having scored 3 goals and 5 assists in 55 appearances for Die Adler, Hauge decided to head back to Bodø/Glimt on loan in January 2024, where he got off to a sensational start by assisting in his first two matches vs. Ajax and scoring 8 goals and 5 assists in 28 appearances en route to the championship. It was only a matter of time before Bodø decided to finalize the transfer for an initial €3.5 million, signing him to a contract through December 31, 2028. “It was a great start for me. Of course, it was a bit of a punch in the face that we didn’t beat Ajax and go through, but still, I was feeling like my fitness level was good. I also contributed with assists and scoring goals later on, so it was good to get that good start and feel that I’m still a good player, and just kept on working from there.” Hauge continued to build on his momentum in 2024/25, kicking off his UEFA Europa League campaign with a brace and an assist vs. Porto before registering an assist against Olympiacos and Lazio, but he was unable to come up with the goods as the Norwegians lost to eventual winners Tottenham Hotspur in the semifinals. After scoring 11 goals and 11 assists in 52 appearances, Hauge has taken things up a notch this season and established himself as one of the top Scandinavian players in Europe alongside the likes of Jesper Karlström, racking up 7 goals and 7 assists in 18 appearances, including 6 goals and 2 assists in 12 Champions League appearances. This form earned him a recall to the national team after a year out, making his 14th Norway appearance in a friendly against the Netherlands on March 27. And maybe, just maybe, he’ll have a role to play in this summer’s World Cup as Norway take on Iraq, France, and Senegal in Group I. “I can promise you that myself and the rest of the national team and the coaching staff did everything we could to make sure that Norway went to a major tournament again, and now, it’s time for the World Cup in North America. It’s going to be amazing; it’s going to be one of the coolest tournaments. I think everything is up for grabs for us, because the team is so talented, and the young Norwegian players now are playing at the best leagues and in the best teams. We will try our best, but personally, I’m confident.”

Robyn Cowen is joined by Lars Sivertsen, Nicky Bandini and Paul Watson to discuss another dismal night for English football in the Champions League, the end of the road for Bodø/Glimt, Caf’s decision to award the Afcon title to Morocco, and Chelsea’s suspended transfer ban. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypod. Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FootballWeeklyPodcast

Hello Rank Squad! It's the first Champions League Takeaway of the week, looking back at Tuesday's action from the Second Legs of the Round of 16 - where our first four quarter finalists booked their spots in the last eight. We start at the Etihad, where despite a brave performance from 10-man Manchester City following Bernardo Silva's red card, Real Madrid proved too much to handle to see them off 5-1 on aggregate. Some positives for City to take ahead of the Carabao Cup final at the weekend, but perhaps more intriguing is the way Real Madrid look genuinely like they've worked out a system that minimises their weaknesses and gives them a sturdier platform on which the stars can shine. Reigning Champions PSG also had an excellent night at the Bridge, finishing Chelsea off with a 3-0 win on the night in West London, which equalled the Blues' worst aggregate defeat ever in the Champions League - 8-2. This was a chastening night for Chelsea and Liam Rosenior, who never really looked like even beginning a comeback, and the meek nature of the defeat might well have just turned an already angry fanbase into an apathetic one. That's a very, very bad sign. In Part Two we head first to the Emirates, where Arsenal put in a very impressive performance to overcome Leverkusen 2-0, with Ebere Eze and Declan Rice providing two wonderful goals, and we examine their chances of genuinely putting up a fight for a quadruple where they're now favourites in every competition; and finally to Lisbon for the game of the night, where Sporting put together the perfect Champions League comeback to end the Bodø/Glimt fairytale in an absolute avalanche of emotion and attacking football at the Jose Alvalade. It's Ranks! And remember, if you’d like more from the Rank Squad, including extra podcasts every Monday and Friday (including our weekly Postbox taking a look at the whole weekend of football) and access to our brilliant Discord community, then why not join us here on Patreon? (http://patreon.com/ranksfc) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On Thursday's Football Daily, Phil Egan brings you all the fallout from last night's Champions League action, a look ahead to the Irish involvement tonight in Europe, and who could be in with a shout of making the Ireland squad next week. Champions League shock in Madrid – Manchester City suffer a heavy 3–0 defeat away to Real Madrid as Federico Valverde scores a stunning first career hat-trick at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Pep Guardiola admits his side face an “uphill battle” to stay in the tie despite Madrid missing stars like Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé. Holders Paris Saint‑Germain punish Chelsea 5–2 in Paris with goals from Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia despite a spirited fightback from the visitors. Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior takes responsibility for his side’s late collapse but insists there were positives against the reigning European champions. Arsenal rescue a 1–1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen thanks to a dramatic late penalty from Kai Havertz. Mikel Arteta says Arsenal must be more clinical in the second leg as the Champions League knockout stage shows its difficulty. Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt make the most of their Arctic home advantage with a dominant 3–0 win over Sporting CP. Europa League action tonight: Aston Villa host Lille OSC as boss Unai Emery demands a return to their usual structure. Relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest juggle domestic survival with Europe as they face FC Midtjylland at the City Ground. Robbie Keane leads Ferencvárosi TC into a tough Europa League tie against SC Braga in Budapest. Conference League spotlight: Troy Parrott and AZ Alkmaar take on SK Slavia Prague while Crystal Palace face AEK Larnaca. Championship roundup: Coventry City edge closer to promotion with a 3–0 win over Preston North End as the Sky Blues go eight points clear at the top. Ireland striker crisis deepens: veteran forward David McGoldrick could make a shock return to the Republic of Ireland national football team squad ahead of the World Cup play-off with Czech Republic national football team. Become a member and sign up at offtheball.com/join

Hello Rank Squad! It's the second Champions League Takeaway of the week, looking back at Wednesday's action from the First Legs of the Round of 16 - where chaos reigned again and goals flowed freely. We start at the Bernabeu, where Fede Valverde's hat-trick carried Real Madrid to a 3-0 win over Manchester City in by far their best performance under Alvaro Arbeloa, and where Los Blancos went back to looking like a side who could win this competition once again. Reigning Champions PSG also had an excellent night at home, although their 5-2 win over Chelsea was probably a bit of a flattering scoreline for Luis Enrique and co. A back-and-forth encounter gave way to a PSG onslaught in the final stages, with a little help from Chelsea keeper Filip Jörgensen, and some real quality from Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, who came off the bench to bag a brace and give them a significant advantage for the second leg at the Bridge. In Part Two we head first to Germany - where a very impressive Leverkusen were a little bit unlucky in some ways to eventually be pegged back for a 1-1 draw against Arsenal - with former Werkself hero Kai Havertz scoring the late equaliser from the spot on what would have been an emotional evening for him; and also to the Arctic Circle, where Bodø/Glimt's incredible campaign stayed right on course with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Sporting, in a performance which showcased the very best of what Kjetil Knutsen's side are capable off - some breathtaking football again. It's Ranks! And remember, if you’d like more from the Rank Squad, including extra podcasts every Monday and Friday (including our weekly Postbox taking a look at the whole weekend of football) and access to our brilliant Discord community, then why not join us here on Patreon? (http://patreon.com/ranksfc) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, we go inside one of the most fascinating clubs in European football — Bodø/Glimt. Over the past few years, the Norwegian club has built a remarkable culture and player development environment that has helped them compete at the highest levels of the game, including the Champions League. A big thank you to our sponsor Zone14 Coaching. Their NextGen journals help coaches and players plan, reflect, and track progress throughout the season, built on intentional coaching and backed by neuroscience. Modern Soccer Coach listeners can get $5 off with code MODERNSOCCER5 at zone14coaching.com Joining Gary Curneen on this podcast is Olav Øverli, Academy Director at Bodø/Glimt. Olav shares a detailed look into how the club develops players, builds a strong culture, and creates an environment where curiosity, responsibility, and hard work are non-negotiable. He explains why the foundation of their academy begins with something simple but powerful: a love of the ball. We discuss the principles behind Bodø/Glimt’s development model, the importance of aligned leadership throughout the club, how the academy balances joy and professionalism in youth development, and why they prioritize curious, engaged footballers over rigid systems. Topics covered include: • Bodø/Glimt’s academy philosophy and culture • Developing curious and engaged footballers • Why “non-negotiables” are the starting point • Balancing joy and professionalism in youth development • Coaching younger players vs academy age groups • The role of feedback and honest coaching • Technology, data, and the limits of sports science in development • The impact of phones and distractions on young players • Hiring coaches and building a strong academy staff culture If you enjoy these conversations, please subscribe to the channel and check out more coaching breakdowns and interviews here on Modern Soccer Coach.

On this episode of The Cooligans, we break down the wild rumor of Antoine Griezmann potentially joining Orlando City and whether he could seriously challenge Lionel Messi’s MLS throne. Gotham FC defender Mandy Freeman joins the show to discuss the club’s championship run, the pressure of defending a title, her decade-long NWSL journey, her passion for fashion, and why the league’s new High Impact Player rule may not benefit players the way fans expect. Plus, we talk Weston McKennie’s standout Champions League performance despite Juventus falling short, Vinícius Jr.’s statement game against Benfica, and Bodø/Glimt’s shocking result against Inter Milan.

The positive momentum of both Manchester United & Manchester City, the shock exit of Internazionale from the Champions League at the hands or Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt and the improving form of Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres were all discussed on the Tifo football podcast. This episode of the Tifo football podcast is hosted by Joe Devine, features Kaya Kaynak, Thom Harris & Colin Millar and is produced by Steve Hankey. Join the Tifo Discord server - https://discord.gg/az6JGAGq PAUL ELLIS / Contributor / AFP via Getty Images 00:00 - A scented intro 04:35 - Man Utd momentum? 09:24 - Benjamin Šeško starting? 18:35 - Senne Lammens & shower gel 24:17 - Champions League check in, Inter knocked out by brilliant Bodo Glimt! 32:08 - A break 32:10 - THE RONDO 37:28 - Man City momentum 50:50 - Good Gyökeres 57:00 - Colin's warm thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rog and James Horncastle went live following Wednesday’s seismic UEFA Champions League playoff clashes to discuss Bodø/Glimt’s exceptional run after knocking out Inter, Vinicius Jr. scoring again versus Benfica, and what’s wrong with Paris Saint-Germain? Plus, Rog and James take listener calls, discuss Weston McKennie’s role at Juventus and take a look forward at the next round of possible matches. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Sam Dalling, and Nicky Bandini to discuss the Champions League play-off matches, Monday night football and round up the Championship. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypod. Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FootballWeeklyPodcast

On Wednesday's Football Daily, Phil Egan brings you all the latest from the Champions League action last night, whilst having a look ahead to events tonight, plus there is Irish action in the English Championship. Norwegian minnows Bodø/Glimt stun Inter at the San Siro to reach the last-16 of the UEFA Champions League, continuing one of the competition’s greatest modern fairytale runs. Irish defender Alex Murphy shines with a full 90-minute performance for Newcastle United, with manager Eddie Howe praising the team’s European progress. Atlético Madrid advance thanks to a hat-trick from Alexander Sørloth, while Bayer Leverkusen also book their spot in the next round. Huge anticipation ahead of Real Madrid vs Benfica, with controversy surrounding allegations involving Vinícius Júnior and reaction from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, while José Mourinho serves a suspension. Holders Paris Saint‑Germain prepare for a decisive clash with Monaco, as defender Achraf Hakimi faces ongoing legal proceedings off the pitch. Major pressure on Juventus after a heavy defeat to Galatasaray, while Borussia Dortmund hold a strong advantage over Atalanta. Relegation fears grow for Tottenham Hotspur, with interim boss Igor Tudor backed to bring discipline, according to Dan Kilpatrick of The Athletic. Republic of Ireland selection questions intensify, with fitness concerns over Evan Ferguson ahead of the World Cup playoff against Czechia, and debate over who could partner Troy Parrott in attack. Off-field headlines as Snoop Dogg energises fans at Swansea City, while West Bromwich Albion sack manager Eric Ramsay after a poor run of results. Irish stars impress in the Championship, with goals and key performances from John Egan, Sammie Szmodics, and Ryan Manning boosting their clubs’ promotion ambitions. Become a member and sign up at offtheball.com/join

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a new episode of State of the Union! The duo starts the show with their preview for the 2026 MLS season and debate if any club can dethrone Inter Miami. After, they dive into the week’s Champions League action, including Folarin Balogun’s brace vs PSG, Juventus losing again despite another McKennie assist and Bodø/Glimt toppling Inter Milan. Then, they break down Christian Pulisic starting on the bench again in Milan’s draw vs Como and Arsenal dropping points to last place Wolves. In #AskAlexi, the question is posed whether or not Jurgen Klinsmann and Gregg Berhalter were good managers just at the wrong time for the USMNT, and to finish in One For The Road, Alexi gives his top 5 MLS jersey power rankings. Intro: (0:00)2026 MLS Season Preview (3:50)UCL Recap: Vini Jr goal overshadowed by racism (16:10)#AskAlexi: U.S. ID & Berhalter vs. Klinsmann (42:34)One For The Road: MLS Jersey Power Rankings (54:55) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jimbo is joined by the Euro crew Tom Williams, James Horncastle, Pol Ballus and Seb Stafford-Bloor to discuss the latest from football across the continent. The Champions League play-offs are here: Tuesday night sees Galatasaray vs Juve, Benfica vs Real Madrid, Dortmund vs Atalanta and Monaco vs PSG + Wednesday is Qarabag vs Newcastle, Bodø/Glimt vs Inter, Brugge vs Atléti + Olympiacos vs Leverkusen. All change at the top of Ligue 1 with managerless Rennes beating PSG 3-1, which meant that Lens go top after racking up their biggest ever league win, 5-0 at Paris FC. It was a big weekend in Italy with Inter edging a chaotic Derby D’Italia and Napoli coming back from two Donyell Malen goals to draw 2-2 with Roma. The top 4 all won in Germany and in Spain, TAA is back and got an assist as Real beat Sociedad 4-1 to make it 8 wins in a row. Plus Vermut/Vermouth and Pol's Barca 'sauce'. Produced by Lucy Oliva and Jesse Howard. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1: Moment of the week (6.24) • PART 1a: Champions League playoffs (15.20) • PART 2a: Serie A review - Inter win Derby D’Italia (24.25) • PART 3a: La Liga review - Barca battered in the Copa Del Rey (37.03) • PART 4a: Ligue 1 review - Lens go top (49.30) • PART 5a: Bundesliga review - Top 4 all win (1.04.00) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Max Rushden is joined by Nick Ames, Nicky Bandini, Lars Sivertsen and Archie Rhind-Tutt to discuss a dramatic end to the Champions League group stage. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypod. Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FootballWeeklyPodcast

Two frustrating and perhaps somewhat concerning defeats on the bounce means the Blue Moon Podcast has hit the panic button! Time to have some fun (or as much is possible this week) by inviting Joey McCune and Mark Mulvanny from the Noisy Neighbours podcast to join David Mooney and City fan Matt Holland to pick through the losses to Manchester United and Bodø/Glimt.It's Wolves and Galatasaray up next for City... There should, hopefully, be some fresher legs on display on Saturday with the return of Antoine Semenyo and the arrival of Marc Guehi, but then a possible problem in the final Champions League group game as Rodri's suspension might leave a gaping hole in the centre.Dave Azzopardi from Talking Wolves gives his thoughts about the Premier League's bottom club (who are somehow more in-form than City in the league in 2026), while we also discuss the 17 players who have scored for and against City at the Etihad Stadium.Plus, what did you think of Sky sealing some fans in a box, who was the last Roman Emperor of the West, and when did you last have a snowball fight?==========To get more podcasts or to listen without the ads, join our Patreon. It's just £2 per month for all the extra content and you can get a 7-day free trial first: https://www.patreon.com/BlueMoonPodcastAnd why not gift a Patreon subscription to a friend or family member? More details: https://www.patreon.com/BlueMoonPodcast/gift Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Max Rushden is joined by Nicky Bandini, Philippe Auclair and Archie Rhind-Tutt as Manchester City are well beaten by Bodø/Glimt and Spurs get a surprise 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypod. Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FootballWeeklyPodcast

Enjoy your chilled wine and nice food, but leave the football to us lads. The words of Vithushan Ehantharajah, who can - AT LAST - bask in his smugness this season after another impressive Man United performance in Europe. Marcus, Pete and Andy join Vish to hail Harry Maguire's transformation into prime Cafu. Elsewhere, Spurs win but Andy explains why the Bodø/Glimt upset is very much alive. Plus, Cole Palmer's heavy breathing blows his cover and Pete Donaldson promises to print all of you a Europa Conference League winners medal. If you come to Football Ramble: Time Tunnel, of course. Our tour starts NEXT WEEK! Get your tickets now before it's too late: https://footballramblelive.com. 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.

This is Early Kick Off from the Men in Blazers media network and presented by our great friends of the pod STōK Cold Brew Coffee, all your global football stories straight from the back pages of Europe's newspapers in around 10 minutes. SUBSCRIBE TO EARLY KICKOFF HERE On today’s episode: The USWNT beat Colombia 2-0 in the SheBelieves Cup, with goals from Cat Macario and Ally Sentnor; in the Europa League playoffs, AS Roma and Bodø/Glimt progress, as do Ajax and Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe; the dream is over for Ireland’s Shamrock Rovers in the Europa Conference League; we preview this weekend’s Premier League fixtures, including a tasty clash between Manchester City and Liverpool; and James Tarkowski talks us through his last-minute equalizer in the Merseyside Derby. Football don't sleep, and neither do we. This episode was made in the UK for Men In Blazers by… Host: Betty Glover Producer: George Cooper and Sammy James Assistant producer: Elizabeth Barnard Researcher: Jack Collins See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rog and Rory return in our new pod series digging into the history of Champions League ties. Today, the big story is Atletico Madrid, the social history surrounding the club, the mythical Diego Simeone, and more (6:24). Then, an examination of the Lille model that has seen their players become transfer centerpieces time and again and led them to a Ligue 1 title in 2021 before it all fell apart (27:44). A quick look at Rangers and their journey from the lowest of the low to beating Dortmund last week in the first leg of the Europa League (39:09), and finally the football story of the year: Bodø/Glimt (48:34). This podcast is presented by Paramount+. Sign up now at paramountplus.com/mib See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.