#2026-world-cup

#2026-world-cup

Nevertheless, with vanishingly few games left between now and the tournament proper next summer, every game is crucial for Sebastian Beccacece and Lionel Scaloni to test things out and knock their team into shape. But the latter will do so without star man Lionel Messi, top scorer in this qualification stage, who has been given permission to skip the game to rest.

Three matches into the new Premier League season, the players went their separate ways to compete in friendlies and qualifiers with their international teams. England are scheduled to face Andorra and Serbia in the September international match window, which this year runs from September 1 to September 9, and by the end of it some players will have played as many national team games this season as club fixtures. Then, in the second week of October, they'll do it all over again.

Jamal Musiala is targeting a return to action for Bayern Munich before the end of 2025. Musiala suffered a fractured fibula and a dislocated ankle in a challenge with Gianluigi Donnarumma during Bayern's defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at the Club World Cup in July. Bayern confirmed he would be absent for a minimum of four months and would require surgery immediately. The Germany playmaker recorded 21 goals and eight assists in all competitions for Bayern last season.

Frustrated that Mexico's soccer federation has failed to stop a anti-gay chant heard during national team matches, LGBTQ+ activists are appealing directly to local fans to end the offensive habit before next summer's World Cup.

"I think that, to be very honest, it is one of the best midfields in the league," Guimaraes told ESPN. "Everyone is similar, but everyone has their own way of playing, Joelinton is stronger, I'm a bit more technical and Tonali is a gladiator, so we were able to gather our strengths for the team and I believe that we are a midfield that does everything."

"I think I'll know. I think I'll know the attitude of Russia, and, frankly, of Ukraine. It takes two," Trump said when asked what he would do at the end of a two-week timeframe for assessing the state of peace talks. "Then I'm going to make a decision as to what we do and it's going to be a very important decision," he said. "Whether it's massive sanctions, massive tariffs, or both. Or I'll do nothing and say, 'This is your war.'"

Harvey Elliott acknowledged that if he is to make Thomas Tuchel's senior squad next year, he may need to call time on his Liverpool career. He aims to make England's 2026 World Cup squad and stated, 'I need to review my future at Liverpool'.

It was a very hard decision (to leave Bayern Munich) but for me, my biggest goal is to play in a World Cup and the 2026 World Cup is just around the corner, so I have to be playing minutes and I wasn't playing (in Germany), Irankunda told Sky Sport.

Chelsea's victory in the Club World Cup was significant, though overshadowed by Donald Trump's unexpected presence and prolonged stay on stage, raising eyebrows among players.

"We're in a process, it's still one year from the World Cup and in a very good process, and we're happy in the way things are going."

Fort Lauderdale has received a request to dedicate $350,000 in taxpayer dollars to help brand the city during the 2026 World Cup, despite not being a host venue.

The World Cup is the largest sporting event globally, unmatched by the Olympics, with revenues in 2022 alone reaching $7.5 billion despite challenges.

With the 2026 World Cup approaching fast, U.S. men’s national team manager Mauricio Pochettino is exploring options beyond the core squad that reached the knockout stages in 2022.

Brazil's national team is reportedly set to adopt a red away kit for the 2026 World Cup, marking a significant change from their traditional blue.