Author: James Brooks

Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with Vinicius Jr producing a moment of individual brilliance to salvage a point. The Real Madrid forward rescued the five-time world champions with a spectacular solo goal that prevented what would have been a notable upset. Morocco had put in a resilient and determined performance, threatening to cause a major shock against one of the tournament’s most celebrated footballing nations. Brazil entered the match as heavy favourites, but found themselves under genuine pressure from a Moroccan side that have built a reputation for stubborn defensive…

Fifa is under significant pressure to release semi-automated offside footage following a controversial penalty incident at the World Cup in Santa Clara. The flashpoint occurred during Saturday’s Group B match between Switzerland and Qatar, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Switzerland’s Remo Freuler was brought down by Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada, leading to a penalty that Breel Embolo converted. The central question is whether Freuler was in an offside position before the foul was committed, a question that remains publicly unanswered. Fifa had placed considerable emphasis on its new enhanced semi-automated offside system ahead of the tournament, scanning every player…

Iran’s World Cup delegation has secured four successful visa appeals, allowing a small number of staff members to enter the United States for matches. However, eleven members of the party remain barred from travelling to the US when Iran compete there during the tournament. Iran last week accused the US of denying visas to “integral” members of its national football team’s backroom staff. That accusation came after Washington officials confirmed Iranian players had been granted permission to travel to the country for the World Cup. Iran had already relocated their World Cup base to Mexico over concerns rooted in the…

Olivier Giroud has backed Christian Pulisic to shine at the World Cup despite a difficult recent spell with AC Milan in Serie A. The former France international, now working as a BBC Sport pundit, says his ex-team-mate has the mentality and quality to carry the United States deep into the tournament. Giroud, who retired from international football in 2024 at the age of 37, attended France’s match against Northern Ireland in Lille earlier this week, watching proudly from the stands. He described the experience of watching from the outside as genuinely different, saying the expectations of supporters are something you…

West Ham shareholders Daniel Kretinsky and Vanessa Gold have spoken out against David Sullivan following a joint BBC Panorama and Times investigation. The investigation levelled allegations of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour against Sullivan, prompting a strong response from his fellow stakeholders. Kretinsky and Gold said they were “deeply concerned” by the allegations, expressing sympathy for those who came forward to speak publicly. “Our thoughts go out to those women who have fought so hard to make their voices heard,” read a statement from Kretinsky and Gold. “Any abuse of power is abhorrent, and it takes great courage and determination…

Folarin Balogun scored twice as the United States began their World Cup campaign in emphatic fashion, beating Paraguay 4-1 at the Los Angeles Stadium. The result was a statement of intent from the USA, who produced a convincing and commanding performance in front of their home crowd in Los Angeles. Balogun was the standout player on the night, contributing two goals to help his side run out comfortable winners against a Paraguay side who struggled to contain them. The 4-1 scoreline flattered neither team in terms of the gulf in quality, with the USA looking sharp, well-organised, and dangerous throughout…

England’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup have been disrupted after their training equipment was stolen before their arrival in Kansas City on Saturday. Vehicles transferring equipment to England’s Swope Soccer Village base in Kansas City were broken into, with balls and boots among the items feared to have been taken. The Football Association is working to establish the full extent of what was stolen following the incident, which took place on Friday night. Police officers were on site dealing with the matter and remained in contact with the FA throughout the evening as investigations got underway. It is understood…

Folarin Balogun has announced himself on the World Cup stage in spectacular fashion, scoring a stunning goal in the United States’ opening 2026 World Cup fixture against Paraguay. The strike was Balogun’s second goal of the match, with the forward continuing to build on his growing reputation as one of the most exciting attackers in the tournament. The goal arrived before half-time, sending the United States into the break in a commanding position and firmly in control of their Group Stage opener. Balogun’s effort was also the third goal of the match for the USA, underlining just how dominant the…

Canada secured their first point at the 2026 World Cup after drawing 1-1 with Bosnia-Herzegovina in a match that sparked fierce debate among pundits. The result ended a run of seven consecutive World Cup defeats for the co-hosts, marking a significant moment in their tournament campaign. However, the talking point that dominated the post-match discussion centred on a controversial second-half incident involving Bosnia goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj. Four minutes into the second half, with Bosnia leading 1-0, Vasilj leapt to punch a long ball forward but his fists clattered into the head of Canada striker Tani Oluwaseyi on the follow-through. Argentine…

England manager Thomas Tuchel appears ready to hand Jude Bellingham the No 10 role for the World Cup opener against Croatia next Wednesday. Sources close to the England camp suggest the side that beat Costa Rica 3-0 in their final warm-up fixture will be close to Tuchel’s first-choice team for the tournament. Bellingham’s place in the starting XI would come at the expense of Morgan Rogers, who has emerged as a genuine contender for the central attacking position in recent weeks. The debate between Bellingham and Rogers has been one of the most fiercely contested selection discussions heading into the…