Author: James Brooks

The 2026 World Cup is officially under way, with Fifa president Gianni Infantino calling it “simply the greatest event that humanity, that mankind, has ever seen.” Spanning the United States, Mexico and Canada, the tournament is the first to stretch across three nations and features an expanded field of 48 teams playing 104 matches. For all the spectacle on the pitch, an extraordinary range of controversies has defined the build-up and threatens to overshadow the action itself. The legendary Estadio Azteca in Mexico City becomes the first venue in history to host the opening of three separate World Cups, a…

England manager Sarina Wiegman says her “hurt” squad need difficult moments like their heavy defeat to Spain to drive genuine improvement. The Lionesses were beaten 4-0 by Spain in Majorca on Friday, a result that has severely damaged their hopes of automatic qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. England had been in a commanding position after beating Spain 1-0 at Wembley in April, with anything other than defeat in the reverse fixture enough to secure their place at next year’s tournament. Instead, Spain now hold the advantage in the head-to-head record, and England’s World Cup fate is largely out…

Scotland’s World Cup camp in Charlotte has opened with an unexpected controversy, as Norway officials launched a public attack on Steve Clarke over a cancelled training match. Norway head coach Stale Solbakken labelled Clarke “unprofessional” after Scotland pulled out of a reserve fixture between the two nations ahead of the tournament. Team manager Brede Hangeland went further, describing the decision as “embarrassing” and “weak” in comments that quickly circulated in the media. Three Norwegian reporters arrived at Scotland’s Charlotte press conference hoping for a fiery response, but captain John McGinn delivered something far more composed. “I would say 75% of…

Tottenham are making significant progress in negotiations to sign Manchester City winger Savinho, with talks advancing over a deal worth approximately £60m. The Brazilian, who is 22 years old, has established himself as one of the most exciting wide players in the Premier League during his time at the Etihad Stadium. Meanwhile, a fierce battle between Manchester United and Manchester City is brewing over Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, valued at around £100m by the Forest hierarchy. United executives are said to be optimistic they can win the race for the 23-year-old England international, despite facing stiff competition from their…

The Monday Night Club is back on BBC iPlayer with a fresh episode focused on England’s preparations for the World Cup. Mark Chapman hosts the latest edition of the long-running football debate show, bringing together guests to dissect the biggest talking points in the game. The episode, titled England World Cup Ready, runs for one hour and fifty-seven minutes and first aired on 8 June 2026. Chapman and his panel take a close look at whether England have the squad depth and tactical quality needed to compete at the highest level on the world stage. The Monday Night Club has…

Manchester City and Chelsea are locked in ongoing negotiations as Enzo Maresca edges closer to replacing Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium. Guardiola announced on 22 May that he would step down as City manager after a trophy-laden decade in charge of the club. Maresca was quickly identified as the leading contender for the role, with talks between the two clubs now described as being at an advanced stage. Senior figures at both clubs are currently working through a compensation package for the 46-year-old, who left Chelsea in January despite being contracted until 2029. Chelsea believe they are owed significant…

Jose Mourinho is set to be officially confirmed as Real Madrid’s new head coach following Florentino Perez’s successful re-election as club president until 2030. The 63-year-old Mourinho signed a three-year deal last month, but the contract was contingent on Perez retaining his presidential role at the Spanish giants. Perez, 79, secured 65% of the overall vote and has now held the presidency continuously since 2009, cementing his long-standing grip on the club’s leadership. “We have won the elections and will continue working to keep winning titles,” Perez said at his announcement. “I am still here and I am here to…

Denmark’s national team doctor Morten Boesen says Christian Eriksen is doing well following his collapse during the international friendly against Ukraine. The match in Odense was stopped on 65 minutes after Eriksen fell to the ground and was subsequently abandoned shortly after the incident. The 34-year-old was able to walk from the field under his own power after regaining consciousness, offering an immediate sense of relief to those present. Boesen confirmed he had spoken directly with the midfielder and found him to be in a positive state following the alarming incident. “I spoke with Christian this morning, and he is…

France have a genuine superstar waiting to emerge on the biggest stage this summer, and former international Gael Clichy believes Michael Olise is ready to seize his moment. Clichy draws comparisons between Olise and Kylian Mbappe, who truly announced himself to the world at the 2018 World Cup in Russia before France lifted the trophy. Olise arrives at this tournament having played just 16 games for France, making him still a relative newcomer on the international scene despite his obvious club-level pedigree. His profile grew significantly before the 2024 Olympics in Paris, having only recently made the move from Crystal…

DR Congo’s final friendly before the World Cup will take place behind closed doors due to concerns surrounding the Ebola outbreak currently affecting the African nation. The match against Chile is scheduled to be played in the French city of Orleans on Tuesday, with kick-off set for 16:00 BST. The game had originally been arranged to take place in Cadiz, Spain, before a local mayor signed a decree preventing it from being held there as a “precautionary measure.” World Cup hosts the United States require all squad members and officials to have spent 21 days outside DR Congo and be…