Author: James Brooks

Norway’s Erling Haaland marked his long-awaited World Cup debut with two goals, inspiring his country to a commanding 4-1 victory over Iraq. The 25-year-old has now scored on every major competitive debut of his career, continuing a remarkable pattern that has defined his rise to the top of the game. Haaland netted a hat-trick on his Champions League debut for RB Salzburg, repeated the feat on his Bundesliga debut for Dortmund, and scored twice on his Premier League debut for Manchester City. Tuesday’s performance arrived just a day after Kylian Mbappe inspired France to a 3-1 win over Senegal, scoring…

France forward Kylian Mbappe was brought down inside the penalty area during a 58th-minute challenge by Senegal’s Sadio Mane at the New York New Jersey Stadium. Referee Alireza Faghani was directed to the pitchside monitor to review the challenge, with the game still goalless at that point. When Faghani returned to the pitch, he appeared to gesture toward the penalty spot, sending the thousands of France supporters inside the ground into a moment of ecstatic celebration. The joy proved short-lived, however, as the referee had in fact signalled for a goal-kick, ruling that Mbappe had initiated the contact himself. The…

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a £52 million deal with Brighton to sign Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke this summer. The 26-year-old centre-back has been one of the most consistent defenders in the Premier League over the past couple of seasons. Van Hecke was in action for the Netherlands just days ago, starting in his country’s 2-2 draw with Japan at the World Cup. The defender had just one year remaining on his Brighton contract and had shown no inclination to extend his deal at the Amex Stadium. Brighton had already knocked back one offer for Van Hecke before eventually…

England fans have endured a longer wait than most nations to see their side take the field at the 2026 World Cup in the United States. Six days after the tournament kicked off, the Three Lions finally begin their campaign against Croatia at Dallas Stadium on Wednesday evening. The United Kingdom Football Policing Unit has estimated that between 12,000 and 15,000 England supporters are expected to attend each of England’s group stage fixtures. The UKFPU also confirmed that fans from England have purchased 89,000 World Cup tickets across all 104 matches, though most supporters will attend more than one game.…

England head coach Thomas Tuchel’s new two-year contract extension includes a performance clause, Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham has confirmed. Bullingham made the revelation while speaking at England’s World Cup media centre in Kansas City ahead of the tournament’s opening fixtures. Tuchel’s original deal was set to expire at the end of the World Cup, but the FA agreed a new two-year extension earlier this year that runs through to Euro 2028. When asked whether the FA had protected itself in the event of a poor World Cup performance, Bullingham was clear that safeguards exist within the agreement. “There’s…

Ghana’s government has launched a legal challenge against Canada’s refusal to grant midfielder Thomas Partey a visa to enter the country. The case is set to be heard at 14:00 BST in Ottawa, with Ghana hoping for a swift resolution before their tournament begins. Partey faces the prospect of missing Ghana’s World Cup opener against Panama in Toronto on Wednesday if the court does not rule in his favour. The 33-year-old’s visa complications stem from ongoing criminal proceedings currently taking place in the UK. Partey pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating…

Tunisia have parted ways with head coach Sabri Lamouchi after just one match at the 2026 World Cup, making him the first manager in the tournament’s history to be dismissed after a single game. The Tunisian Football Association confirmed that the Frenchman’s contract has been terminated by “mutual agreement” following a catastrophic opening group stage defeat. Sweden handed Tunisia a humiliating 5-1 loss in Sunday’s Group F fixture at the Estadio Monterrey in Guadalupe, Mexico, leaving the African side’s World Cup campaign in tatters from the very start. Reports had emerged immediately after the defeat suggesting Lamouchi had already been…

New Zealand and Iran played out a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Los Angeles Stadium in what proved to be a highly entertaining Group G encounter. The result will feel like a missed opportunity for New Zealand, who found themselves in front on two separate occasions during the match. Just was the standout performer for the Kiwis, grabbing a brace to give his side the lead twice throughout the contest. Iran, however, showed tremendous resilience and character, refusing to be beaten on either occasion as they clawed their way back into the game. The atmosphere at the Los Angeles Stadium…

Bukayo Saka has insisted he is prepared to gamble with his fitness as England gear up for their World Cup opener against Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday. The Arsenal winger has been managing an Achilles injury since March, with his game-time carefully monitored by both club and country throughout the remainder of the season. Saka missed the March international break entirely and seven matches for Arsenal, before returning to help the Gunners win the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years. England manager Thomas Tuchel has openly acknowledged the need to “take care” of the 24-year-old, suggesting…

Video assistant referee Shaun Evans has been cleared by Fifa following an investigation into a hand gesture he made during a World Cup match in Dallas. Evans was spotted making the fingers of his right hand into an upside-down ‘OK’ sign when Fifa cut to footage of the VAR team at the referee hub. The gesture appeared on screen before Germany’s 7-1 victory over Curacao on Sunday, prompting an immediate wave of speculation across social media platforms. The upside-down ‘OK’ sign carries two very distinct meanings, one entirely harmless and the other connected to an expression of white supremacy. Fifa…