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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

Mexico witnessed the arrival of a new star in Gilberto Mora and celebrated the career of a legend in Guillermo Ochoa as they secured a 3-0 win over Czechia. For the first time, El Tri finished a World Cup group stage with nine points, and Javier “Vasco” Aguirre now has his team in the best possible shape heading into the knockout rounds.

With first place secured and the U.S. exercising caution over yellow cards and injuries, Mauricio Pochettino is expected to rotate. Here is who GOAL thinks should start.

Vinicius Junior's brace pushed Scotland to the brink of a World Cup exit as Brazil ruthlessly capitalised on their errors in Miami on Wednesday. While the Selecao wrapped up top spot in Group C, the 3-0 defeat means the Scots are unlikely to be one of the best third-placed finishers in their bid to reach the last 32.

The American winger has been training with his teammates this week after watching the last game-and-a-half from the sidelines with a calf injury.

Canada are headed to the knockouts, but a costly loss to Switzerland closed their home World Cup run as Promise David impressed and Alphonso Davies worries grew.

From surfing musings to a wall of handwritten quotes, Mauricio Pochettino explains the belief powering the USMNT's World Cup dream: Why not us?

Austin Franklin and Kevin Akoto were selected to watch every single World Cup match from a glass cube in New York City. It's not as easy as you might think.

One year out from the 2027 Women's World Cup, five storylines are already shaping Brazil’s big moment, the USWNT’s title hopes and the chasing pack.

There was still more than half an hour to play in Toronto, but Germany's fans had seen enough. With their team trailing 1-0 to Ivory Coast, and struggling terribly to break down The Elephants, they began chanting Deniz Undav's name. In their eyes, it was clearly time for Germany's super-sub - and Julian Nagelsmann agreed. In the 60th minute of an absorbing World Cup Group E encounter, the coach threw on Undav, Nadiem Amiri and Jamie Leweling. Less than eight minutes later, Amiri whipped over a delightful cross from the right wing that Undav volleyed home emphatically.

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. Will a Manchester cub break the £100 million barrier to land Elliot Anderson? Could Michael Olise end up at Real Madrid? Track all the biggest trades right here throughout the summer!

Khadija Shaw is one of the best centre-forwards in the women's game, if not the best. Winner of three successive Women's Super League Golden Boots, and scorer of more goals than any other player in Europe's top five leagues since her move to Manchester City in 2021, it's no wonder that Chelsea were trying to bring her to west London as her contract neared its expiry this summer. But as it became apparent that the Blues were going to miss out on Shaw, it says a lot about Felicia Schroder that the Swedish teenager was next on their wish list.

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.

The first two rounds of 2026 World Cup group-stage fixtures are in the books, and the tournament continues to provide plenty of thrilling moments. Despite a lack of eye-catching fixtures on paper in the new, expanded format, there has been drama aplenty, with all the big names showing up for their respective countries on football's biggest stage.

After England's opening 4-2 win over Croatia, the vibes surrounding the Three Lions' World Cup hopes were pretty good. England played fun attacking football in Dallas and looked pretty assured in doing so, even if there were some question marks about their defending. Tuesday's goalless draw with Ghana, however, has changed the narrative once again

England came back down to earth at the World Cup as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Ghana on Tuesday. Unlike against Croatia in their opening game, Thomas Tuchel's side were unable to produce in the final third against the Black Stars, and thus missed the chance to potentially wrap up top spot in Group L with a match to spare.

GOAL takes a look at the big storylines and takeaways in the latest installment of the USMNT notebook.