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  1. Not even Lamine can save Spain from shock draw with Cape Verde

    Cape Verde pulled off the biggest shock of the 2026 World Cup so far by holding Spain to a 0-0 draw in Atalanta on Monday. The tournament debutants weren't given any chance whatsoever against the reigning European champions but 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha achieved instant cult status throughout the footballing world by making one save after another to keep La Roja at bay.

  2. Big Rom to the rescue! Lukaku helps Belgium earn draw with Egypt

    Romelu Lukaku came off the bench to help Belgium avoid defeat in their World Cup opener, with the veteran striker playing a pivotal role in Mohamed Hany putting through his own net to earn the Red Devils a 1-1 draw with Egypt in Seattle. Rudi Garcia's men went into the Group G opener unbeaten in all competitions since March of last year but they looked set to slump to a shock defeat after Emam Ashour's terrific 19th-minute strike from outside the area.

  3. Musiala & Wirtz pull strings as rampant Germany crush Curacao

    Germany made an early statement at the 2026 World Cup as they ran out 7-1 winners over tournament debutants Curacao. A brace from Kai Havertz and goals from Felix Nmecha, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown and Deniz Undav ensured a relatively straightforward introduction to Group E for Die Mannschaft, though they were given something of a shock when Curacao found the net midway through the first half.

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CANADA MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM

  1. World Cup 2026 Golden Boot standings

    The 2026 World Cup is underway and so is the race for the prestigious Golden Boot - the award given to the tournament's top scorer. There's a long road ahead as 48 nations battle for the top prize, but which star will take home the illustrious award? Here are GOAL's predicted candidates for the prize as we keep track of the tournament's most prolific stars

  2. Canada accused of ignoring 'international laws' as Ghana vow to fight over Partey ban

    Ghana’s government has launched a scathing attack on Canadian authorities, accusing them of flouting international laws after Thomas Partey was denied entry into the country due to ongoing legal proceedings over rape charges against him. The Villarreal midfielder was expected to lead his nation in their 2026 World Cup opener against Panama, but he remains stranded at the team's base camp in Boston following a visa rejection stemming from the allegations.

Expert Opinion & Analysis

  1. Cucurella must be instant hit for Madrid after €60m spend

    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 likely to once again be bust, with some huge names set to make big-money moves before deadline day on September 1.

  2. Next England captain? Rice ready to show he's Kane's successor

    After Arsenal lost to Manchester City in April, Declan Rice, perhaps a little inadvertently, went viral. The England midfielder slumped on his heels, sprung to his feet defiantly, and was pictured shouting, "It's not done!" to his Gunners team-mates. At the time, it didn't look good; Arsenal's Premier League lead had shrunk to just three points - and City still had a game in hand.

  3. Yamal can light up the World Cup - but will he be fit enough?

    The 2026 World Cup was supposed to be another waypoint on Lamine Yamal's path to becoming a generation-defining superstar, but there is the genuine threat that an injury could deprive the tournament of one of its biggest names. The Spanish wonderkid made everyone sit up and take notice at Euro 2024, and two years on, the 18-year-old seemed primed to seize the limelight once again. But instead, it may well be a waiting game.

  4. Madness of 'El Loco': Inside Bielsa's 'toxic' Uruguay tenure

    For a coach who's worked in professional football for nearly 40 years, Marcelo Bielsa hasn't won many trophies at the highest level. Pep Guardiola says that doesn't matter, though. "To be loved is this biggest title, bigger than the Champions League or Premier League or whatever," the Catalan once argued. "To be loved is the most important thing, and I think Marcelo has that more than any other manager in the world."

  5. Ballon d'Or No.2 loading? Dembele firing again as France arrive

    Four years ago in Qatar, Lionel Messi ended the GOAT debate by leading Argentina to victory over France in the World Cup final. There was a player on the other team, though, who actually appeared to have sufficient talent to potentially reopen it one day. After all, Kylian Mbappe had actually pipped Messi to the tournament's Golden Boot by outscoring the Argentine No.10 in that epic encounter in Lusail thanks to the first hat-trick in a World Cup final since Sir Geoff Hurst all the way back in 1966.

Premier League

  1. Palace confirm new manager

    Crystal Palace have confirmed the appointment of Pierre Sage as their new first-team manager following his departure from Lens. The Frenchman arrives at Selhurst Park on a three-year contract after a spectacular rise that saw him transform the fortunes of two historical Ligue 1 giants in record time.

  2. Man up! Tonali & Guimaraes told how to act in transfer window

    Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes have been generating plenty of transfer speculation at Newcastle, with Magpies legend Chris Waddle - during an exclusive interview with GOAL - urging the midfield duo to be “man enough” to state their future intentions in public. The likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City are said to be sniffing around a couple of proven Premier League performers.

Major League Soccer

Transfer News

  1. Mourinho wants Germany & Dortmund start at Madrid

    Jose Mourinho has set his sights on Borussia Dortmund’s midfield engine Felix Nmecha as he looks to reconstruct the Real Madrid engine room. The Portuguese tactician is reportedly a huge admirer of the German international, though he faces a significant battle to secure his signature.

  2. Federico Chiesa

    Chiesa 'determined' to stay at Liverpool after Slot exit

    Federico Chiesa is reportedly ready to fight for his future at Liverpool following the departure of Arne Slot. Despite a frustrating spell on Merseyside that saw him marginalised under the previous regime, the Italian international is determined to make his mark under the incoming leadership of Andoni Iraola.

Women's Soccer

  1. Lehmann vows to rebound

    Swiss international forward Alisha Lehmann has reflected on a deeply challenging domestic year at Leicester City, pledging to rebuild her physical fitness following a catastrophic season that culminated in heartbreak for her new club. Despite experiencing minimal match action following a high-profile winter switch, the digital superstar remains entirely committed to engineering a rapid promotion charge back to the top tier.

  2. Kelly, Russo & James among six Lionesses awarded MBEs

    Six stellar members of England’s triumphant UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 squad have been officially awarded MBEs in the King’s Birthday Honours List for 2026. The prestigious royal accolades recognise their magnificent back-to-back European title defence in Switzerland alongside significant contributions to football, capping an incredible cycle of success for the national setup.

  3. Mead adds depth City need to remain in the trophy hunt

    It's here. The 2026 summer transfer window has arrived and it promises to be an extremely eventful one in the women's game, with stars like Alexia Putellas, Sam Kerr and Georgia Stanway all set to be on the move in the coming weeks and months. There are plenty of deals that have been rumoured and reported for some time, with only the official announcements seemingly left to be done, but there will be some shocks along the way too, as always.

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