Welcome to Who Am I? — our daily game. Here’s how it works: each day features a new footballer. Your goal is to identify them in as few guesses as possible. Every incorrect guess reveals another clue. The fewer clues you need, the more points you earn. Hitting three is a strong result; four or...

England head coach Thomas Tuchel says he wants to carry on Gareth Southgate’s work of strengthening the bond between supporters and the team after years of disappointing tournaments. Under Southgate, England reached the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and the European Championship finals in 2021 and 2024, with fans rallying behind the side. Kane is one...

Iran’s World Cup campaign has been clouded by uncertainty, tied to the conflict in the Middle East and associated security issues. As tensions persist, Fifa president Gianni Infantino visited the Iran squad in their dressing room after the match against New Zealand. Several “key” members of the backroom staff were refused US entry visas, while...

There’s no question McInnes was good for Hearts, but the benefit ran both ways. Scouting through Jamestown helped him assemble a title-challenging squad and, in turn, burnished his reputation. With him gone, the key question is what comes next for Hearts. The club and its supporters may feel bruised, yet in a few weeks they’ll...

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...

As a youngster, Manzambi played in goal, modeling himself on Germany’s Manuel Neuer. Now he’s a creative midfielder who relishes driving forward. His scoring burst against Bosnia-Herzegovina suggests he could be far more than a late-impact “super-sub” at this World Cup. He broke into Freiburg’s starting XI last season, helping the German side reach the...

Premier League referees will change how they judge hair-pulling next season, after three players were sent off for the offence in 2025-26. While each of those reds followed a VAR review, from next season a hair pull will not automatically result in a dismissal. Instead, officials will place greater weight on the level of force...

The biggest ripple effect is that more teams can now clinch qualification—and even win their group—before matchday three. Previously, a side had to be four points clear after two games to lock up top spot, which was uncommon because it meant both of the other early fixtures had to end in draws. Under the new...

Houston / Tuesday, 23 June / 18:00 I’m covering this match for Radio 5 Live as well, and I’ll be watching Cristiano Ronaldo very closely. Portugal fascinate me. I worked on their draw with DR Congo; they have the tournament’s best midfielders, yet they also have Ronaldo leading the line. That used to be a...

Tottenham have joined the chase for Crystal Palace’s England midfielder Adam Wharton, 22, and are preparing an opening offer. RB Leipzig have rejected Liverpool’s £87m bid for Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande, 19, and are holding out for about £113m. Fulham’s first proposal of £17m for Trabzonspor’s Nigerian defender Chibuike Nwaiwu, 22, has been turned...

What’s unfolding here goes far beyond baseball; it’s a joyful blending of two cultures. That was underscored by the news that Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has filed a sister-city proposal with Glasgow. Fittingly, she made the announcement in a Scottish pub while wearing a Scotland football shirt. Masses of football fans descending on a city...

Rob di Gisi, a sport management lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, said Americans have been accustomed to in-game advertising for four to five decades, so it fits naturally with the culture. He added that there is little resistance in the U.S., and tweaks that make the game more Americanised are likely to...