Lionel Messi made amends for missing a second penalty at the 2026 World Cup by inspiring the most dramatic of comebacks, as Argentina came from 2-0 down with just over 10 minutes remaining to beat a heroic Egypt side 3-2 in a last-16 clash for the ages in Atlanta. Lionel Scaloni's side started as sluggishly as they had performed in their lucky win over Cape Verde by the same scoreline, and Egypt took advantage, with an unmarked Yasser Ibrahim burying a cross from Marwan Attia past Emiliano Martinez with just 15 minutes gone.
Ruben Vargas slotted home the decisive spot-kick as Switzerland defeated Colombia 4-3 on penalties to progress to the quarter-finals of the World Cup after one of the worst games of the tournament so far had unsurprisingly finished scoreless. A tight and tense encounter had been expected in Vancouver, given how both sides had performed on their respective runs to the last 16.
The inquest into Brazil's disastrous World Cup exit is well underway after the five-time winners were unceremoniously dumped out of the tournament at the hands of dark horses Norway and the goals of Erling Haaland. In truth, the Selecao never really got going in North America - hamstrung by an ageing, rag-tag squad that was yet to gel as they often relied on Vinicius Jr to deliver the goods.
The USMNT had a chance to change perceptions on home soil, but a 4-1 loss to Belgium instead raised familiar questions about progress, pressure and missed opportunity.
Last week was really quite something for Tottenham Hotspur. Despite finishing 17th in each of the past two Premier League seasons, the north Londoners have signed two of the most coveted midfielders presently operating in England, Matheus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali. Spurs may have overpaid for both, but the club's long-suffering supporters are nonetheless delighted after seeing their transfer record broken twice in a matter of days, given former executive chairman Daniel Levy repeatedly refused to push the boat out to sign top talent.
U.S. Soccer says that the federation will reengage in conversations about Mauricio Pochettino's future after a period of rest and reflection following the U.S. men's national team's World Cup exit. The USMNT lost 4-1 to Belgium on Monday, ending the team's World Cup run and, potentially, ending Pochettino's time in charge of the team.
Belgium’s World Cup dream has been hit by a devastating setback after midfielder Amadou Onana was ruled out with a serious knee injury. The Aston Villa star suffered the blow during the Red Devils' round-of-16 victory over the United States, leaving Rudi Garcia with a major selection headache ahead of their quarter-final against Spain.
Pierluigi Collina has issued a firm rebuttal to United States President Donald Trump following explosive comments regarding the integrity of World Cup match officials. The legendary former referee, now serving as FIFA's Referees Committee Chairman, moved quickly to protect the reputation of the tournament's officiating staff after personal attacks were directed at Brazilian referee Raphael Claus.
With the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly presumably disappearing into the rearview mirror, the battle for the Ballon d'Or hasn't felt so open for the best part of 20 years, with countless players now beginning each campaign believing they have a chance of claiming the most prestigious individual prize football has to offer. Ousmane Dembele emerged from a career plagued by injuries and inconsistencies to win the Golden Ball in 2025, and he is among a crowded field of contenders again in 2026.
The final 20 minutes of England's dramatic, round-of-16 win over Mexico suited Jordan Pickford down to the ground. The Three Lions were down to 10 men, and Thomas Tuchel made the remit clear: To bunker in and keep the ball as far away from goal as possible. Pickford performed his task to a tee.
With the transfer window having opened for many of Europe's top leagues, GOAL, in association with eToro, is your go-to resource for all the biggest done deals. Who will win the race for Ayyoub Bouaddi? Could Michael Olise end up at Real Madrid? Track all the biggest trades right here throughout the summer!
Wayne Rooney described Cristiano Ronaldo's final appearance at a World Cup as "a sad day for football". It wasn't, though. Not really. Ronaldo may be one of the most iconic figures in sporting history, but Spain's victory over an insipid Portugal side, taken in conjunction with Belgium battering the United States, actually made July 6, 2026 a pretty good day for the game.
Wojciech Szczesny has sensationally revealed the physical agony that has plagued his career since an injury suffered at Arsenal over a decade ago. The Barcelona goalkeeper admits that every save he makes is accompanied by pain, a reality that nearly saw him hang up his gloves for good before the call from Catalonia came.
Nottingham Forest have “money to burn” following their record-breaking £116 million ($155m) sale of Elliot Anderson to Manchester City, but Reds legend Des Walker has told GOAL why cash in the bank can pose recruitment problems. The former centre-half has also explained why the City Ground faithful have a crucial role to play in ambitious future plans.
Newly-appointed Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa is wasting no time in reshaping his squad, with the Spaniard reportedly eyeing a triple raid on former club Real Madrid. The former full-back is looking to leverage his deep connections at the Santiago Bernabeu to bring some of the world's most exciting young talents to west London.
Michael Carrick has laid down a significant marker for his first full season at Manchester United, insisting the club has what it takes to sweep every available trophy. After transforming the team's fortunes as an interim boss, the new permanent manager is now targeting a sustained assault on the Premier League and Champions League.
Mason Greenwood has reportedly given his definitive "yes" to joining Roma this summer, prioritising a move to the Stadio Olimpico over a lucrative offer from Turkish giants Fenerbahce. The former Manchester United forward has entered into a "silent pact" with Giallorossi boss Gian Piero Gasperini after a series of secret phone calls convinced him of the move to Serie A.
Real Madrid icon Ivan Zamorano has urged the Spanish giants to secure the signing of Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise to complete a devastating attacking trio at the Santiago Bernabeu. The legendary former striker believes the French international is the perfect profile to take Los Blancos to the next level following a disappointing period without major silverware.
Arsenal are reportedly set to complete a surprise move for former Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier, with the Frenchman set to arrive at the Emirates Stadium on a free transfer. The 26-year-old is expected to undergo a medical shortly as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his goalkeeping department following the player's departure from Elland Road.
Victor Osimhen has enjoyed a spectacular campaign at Galatasaray, but the prolific Nigerian forward has been warned that a high-profile move to Barcelona is highly unlikely to materialise. A former Super Lig rival believes that while Osimhen is an incredibly gifted goalscorer, he lacks the refined technical ability required to fit into the tactical system at Camp Nou.
Chelsea have secured the long-term future of one of English football's brightest talents after Aggie Beever-Jones signed a new contract at Stamford Bridge. The homegrown forward, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the club's ranks, has committed her future to the Blues until 2030.
Lionesses star Georgia Stanway has opened up on her decision to join Arsenal, after the Gunners' announced her arrival on Friday morning. It's a move that ends Stanway's four-year spell in Germany with Bayern Munich and she has now explained why she wanted to return to England and what made her choose Arsenal, amid interest from both Chelsea and Lyon.
Barcelona are pushing to complete a deal for Brazil international forward Kerolin which would represent a club-record transfer. The reigning European champions have already had two bids rejected by Manchester City but the two clubs are working to finalise the move, with Kerolin reported to be open to the transfer and City having no objection to selling the 26-year-old.
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 several stars on the move. There are also plenty of deals that have been rumoured and reported for some time, with only the official announcements seemingly left to be done, while there will be some shocks along the way, too, as always.