It’s hard to contest the idea that France boast the strongest squad in international football. Yet guiding a team packed with stars is rarely straightforward. Plenty of clubs have shown how easily talent-rich sides can falter under the weight of big personalities and sky-high expectations. Since taking charge in 2012, Didier Deschamps has repeatedly refreshed...

Available for more than a year Steve Crossman teams up with ESPN’s Julien Laurens, Guillem Balague & Nedum Onuoha to unpack England’s semi-final loss to Argentina. They assess Tuchel’s second-half tactics and substitutions, debate his future as England head coach, and consider whether this might have been Harry Kane’s final World Cup in an England...

Ecuador entered World Cup qualifying already carrying a three-point penalty imposed in 2022 for selecting Colombia-born Byron Castillo, whom Chile argued was ineligible for Qatar’s qualifiers. Félix Sánchez began the 2026 campaign, winning three of six matches, but he was dismissed in July 2024 immediately after a Copa América quarter-final defeat to Argentina. “They lost...

Lionel Messi’s father is dealing with a health issue, the family announced in a statement on Thursday. “At this time, he is under medical supervision, recovering and progressing favourably within the condition he is experiencing,” the statement said. Messi was in tears after scoring his first goal in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria in their...

Tuchel’s decision to choose Konsa over Guehi surprised some, but a look at his selections since replacing Sir Gareth Southgate shows it wasn’t unexpected. Across England’s 15 games under Tuchel, Konsa has started 10—behind only Pickford and Harry Kane, who have 12 each. He’s also third for minutes with 933, after Pickford (1,008) and Kane...

Tottenham have announced the arrival of Netherlands international midfielder Victoria Pelova after her departure from Arsenal. The 27-year-old joins on a free transfer following three seasons with Spurs’ Women’s Super League rivals. Pelova was part of the Arsenal squad that lifted the Women’s Champions League in 2025 and also won two League Cups and the...

This World Cup has made clear that both players handle the pressure of a major tournament without flinching. Despite the spotlight on Messi, it seems only a matter of time before Mbappe catches him at the top of the World Cup scoring charts. The Frenchman is just two behind the 39-year-old, having scored 16 in...

Daizen Maeda put Japan in front with a clever finish, but Anthony Elanga equalised from range as Sweden rallied to secure a 1-1 draw, sending both teams into the World Cup knockout rounds. Match report: Japan 1-1 Sweden – Group F For UK users only.

Germany’s football association is exploring discussions with Jurgen Klopp about taking over as men’s national team coach following Julian Nagelsmann’s resignation. Nagelsmann asked to be released from his role on Thursday after the team’s early World Cup exit. The German FA (DFB) accepted his request and immediately ended its contract with the 38-year-old former Bayern...

Manchester United’s senior players have reported back to Carrington for the start of pre-season under new head coach Michael Carrick. The group that gathered on Thursday is only a partial version of the squad expected to face Hull City in the Premier League opener on 22 August. None of the World Cup players have returned...

Tue 14–Wed 15 July 2026: First qualifying round, second legs Mon 20 July 2026: Third qualifying round draw Tue 21–Wed 22 July 2026: Second qualifying round, first legs Tue 28–Wed 29 July 2026: Second qualifying round, second legs Mon 3 Aug 2026: Play-off qualifying round draw Tue 4–Wed 5 Aug 2026: Third qualifying round, first...