Author: James Brooks

England’s World Cup last-32 tie against DR Congo will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer as the knockout stage gets fully underway. Thomas Tuchel’s side will face the knockout stage debutants on Wednesday in Atlanta, with kick-off scheduled for 17:00 BST. DR Congo are appearing in their first World Cup in 52 years and arrive in impressive form heading into the tie. They drew with Portugal in the group stage before coming from behind to beat Uzbekistan 3-1, setting up what promises to be an intriguing encounter. All 16 games in the first knockout round will be…

The BBC has launched a daily football quiz challenging fans to identify a mystery World Cup star using as few clues as possible. The game, titled Who Am I, follows a straightforward format that any football fan can pick up and enjoy immediately. Each day a new footballer is selected, and players must correctly guess their identity before too many clues are revealed. Every wrong answer unlocks an additional clue, giving participants a fresh piece of information to help narrow down the mystery player. Scoring is based on how quickly a correct answer is reached, with fewer clues used resulting…

England face a DR Congo side transformed beyond recognition from the team humiliated on the world stage over five decades ago. Fifty-two years after their chastening World Cup debut, DR Congo have qualified for the knockout stages of a World Cup for the very first time. Back in 1974, the nation competed under the name Zaire and suffered a catastrophic 9-0 defeat against Yugoslavia during a miserable group-stage exit. Head coach Sebastien Desabre has completely transformed a squad that was in crisis when he took over nearly four years ago. The 49-year-old Frenchman led DR Congo to fourth place at…

Scotland manager Steve Clarke has resigned from his position just moments after the country’s World Cup exit was confirmed on Saturday. The Scottish FA announced his departure in a statement released shortly after Croatia’s win over Ghana sealed Scotland’s fate in the tournament. BBC Scotland understands that Clarke informed his players of the decision while the squad remained at their base in Charlotte. The resignation came just one month after Clarke had signed a new four-year contract extension with the national side. Scotland had entered the competition with hope, defeating Haiti 1-0 in their opening Group C match in Boston…

England are in action against Panama in what promises to be a significant World Cup group stage encounter for the Three Lions. Gareth Southgate’s side will be looking to make a strong impression as they navigate their way through the group stages of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Jordan Pickford starts in goal for England, providing the experienced presence between the sticks that the national team has relied upon for several years. The defensive line sees Marc Guéhi and Ezri Konsa partnering in central defence, with Nathan O’Reilly and Jarell Quansah occupying the full-back positions. Jude Bellingham and Ezra Anderson…

Liverpool and Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo has publicly asked for “privacy and space” following the tragic loss of his unborn son during pregnancy. His partner, model Noa van der Bij, broke the devastating news on Saturday, sharing the heartbreaking announcement with the couple’s followers on social media. The couple had been expecting their second child together, with the baby originally due to arrive in October of this year. Van der Bij posted a deeply personal image on social media showing the pair holding hands over a blanket and a small knitted hat. “With broken hearts, we share the devastating news…

England are set to face Panama once again, with the two sides meeting for the first time since their memorable 2018 World Cup group stage encounter in Russia. The Three Lions produced a commanding display in that meeting, running out emphatic 6-1 winners against the World Cup debutants in Group G. Gareth Southgate’s side made an immediate statement of intent in Russia, brushing aside a Panama team that was experiencing their first ever World Cup finals appearance. The result remains the only meeting between these two nations, making it a landmark fixture in both countries’ football histories. Now, with another…

Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei has accused the United States of treating his nation unfairly throughout the 2026 World Cup and is urging Fifa to intervene in the future. Iran have competed at the tournament against the backdrop of ongoing conflict between their country and both the United States and Israel. Before the tournament even began, Iran’s training base was relocated from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, with the squad also facing significant travel restrictions throughout the competition. For their opening two matches in Los Angeles, Iranian players were only permitted to enter the United States the day before each game…

Panama arrive at Saturday’s World Cup group game as a relatively unknown quantity, but Thomas Christiansen’s side have shown enough to suggest England cannot afford complacency. With four points from two games, England will be looking to seal top spot in their group, but Panama have threatened in both of their matches so far. Against Ghana and Croatia, there were sustained periods when Panama genuinely looked the better side, despite their results failing to reflect that quality. The absence of Adalberto Carrasquilla, arguably their best player, has severely hampered their ability to convert impressive performances into goals. Christiansen, the former…

The BBC has introduced a daily footballer guessing game tied to the FIFA World Cup 2026, challenging fans to identify a mystery player using as few clues as possible. The format is straightforward, with a new footballer revealed each day and players encouraged to return daily to test their knowledge against fresh challenges. Each incorrect guess unlocks an additional clue, giving participants more information to work with as the game progresses through each round. Scoring is based on how few clues a player needs before identifying the correct answer, rewarding those with sharp football knowledge and quick thinking. A score…