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How Irvine became the unlikely summer home of the USMNT

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  1. WC26 Power Rankings: Spain stay No.1 as Brazil & U.S. climb

    There really is nothing like the World Cup. Even just qualifying generates a level of nationwide excitement that the club game simply cannot match, which is why we witnessed truly joyous scenes all across the globe as one country after another secured a spot at this summer's festival of football in North America. The final six participants were confirmed in March, with Sweden, Turkiye, Czechia and Bosnia & Herzegovina taking the four remaining slots in Europe, while Iraq and DR Congo came out of the inter-confederation play-offs.

  2. EXCLUSIVE: Inside the mind of Christian Pulisic

    Throughout the last few years, American soccer has routinely pleaded with Christian Pulisic to acknowledge reality. The question has come in different forms, but it has always circled the same idea: Does he feel the weight of being the face of the U.S. men's national team heading into a home World Cup?

  3. Haaland & the World Cup's England-eligible stars

    Thomas Tuchel has no shortage of world-class talent to choose from within England's squad for the 2026 World Cup. But while the presence of players such as Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice mean that the Tuchel's team are among the favourites, it's worth imagining a world where every England-eligible player at the tournament opted to represent the Three Lions.

  4. Kane ready to shoulder almost all of England's World Cup hopes

    Harry Kane will never have a better chance than this. England's captain arrives at what is likely to be his last-ever World Cup in the form of his life, and he will carry the hopes of a nation in North America. After collective and individual heartbreak in 2018 and 2022, respectively, this simply has to be the tournament where he seizes his moment.

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U.S. MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM

  1. Top referee barred from entering USA & will miss World Cup

    Somali match official Omar Artan will miss the upcoming World Cup after being sensationally denied entry into the United States. The referee was turned away by immigration authorities at Miami International Airport, completely ruining his historic opportunity to become the first representative from his country to officiate at the global showpiece.

Expert Opinion & Analysis

  1. James & Stanway shine but Lionesses set for World Cup play-offs

    England will have to navigate the play-offs in order to reach the 2027 Women's World Cup, with Tuesday night's 3-0 win over Ukraine not enough to secure top spot in their qualifying group. The Lionesses went into the game knowing they needed a favour from Iceland against Spain, after La Roja thumped Sarina Wiegman's side on Friday, and they didn't get it, rendering their own victory meaningless in the chase for the sole automatic berth available.

  2. What World Cup play-offs mean for wounded Lionesses

    It was all there for England on Friday, as they faced Spain in Mallorca with automatic qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup on the line. Avoid defeat and the Lionesses would punch their ticket to Brazil, forcing one of their biggest rivals for next summer’s title to have to navigate the play-offs. It was a huge opportunity, but one they spurned in incredible circumstances, suffering a 4-0 loss that stands out as the biggest for this team under Sarina Wiegman.

  3. LEGACY: Messi-mania - How Leo cracked America

    This is Legacy, GOAL’s feature and podcast series that counts down to the 2026 World Cup. Each week, we explore the stories and the spirit behind the nations that define the world’s game. This week, we dive into the rise of the Lionel Messi in the United States, the emotional connection that transformed Miami, his seismic impact on U.S. soccer, and the possibility that the upcoming World Cup might offer him the most fitting stage of his career - one built around comfort, belonging, and a crowd that treats him like their own hero.

Premier League

  1. Man Utd urged to make ‘pretty crazy’ Rooney decision

    Former Manchester United striker Giuseppe Rossi has called for a sensational reunion at Old Trafford, suggesting that the club should bring Wayne Rooney back into the fold. The former Red Devils forward believes the addition of the club's all-time leading goalscorer to the coaching setup would be a masterstroke that the United faithful would embrace.

Major League Soccer

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