Author: Rowan Clarke

One week before the 2026 World Cup begins, serious questions remain unanswered about the true availability and pricing of match tickets. Fifa promised the tournament would be a sell-out, yet thousands of tickets remain available across multiple platforms, including the governing body’s own resale site. BBC Sport has found tickets for matches involving smaller nations are now available well below face value, raising serious doubts about Fifa’s repeated assurances. World football’s governing body has itself been accused of dumping inventory it cannot sell on third-party platform SeatGeek, though the situation remains difficult to fully verify. The attorneys general of New…

Brighton are anticipating a second bid from Tottenham Hotspur for defender Jan Paul van Hecke after turning down an initial £70m approach. The 25-year-old centre-back is currently away on international duty as part of the Netherlands’ World Cup squad, adding further spotlight to his situation. New Spurs manager Roberto de Zerbi is eager to work with Van Hecke again, having previously managed the defender during his own tenure at Brighton. Van Hecke joined Brighton from Dutch Eredivisie side NAC Breda in 2020, arriving for a relatively modest transfer fee compared to his current valuation. He spent time on loan at…

Fifa has banned fans from bringing reusable water bottles into World Cup stadiums, in a policy reversal announced just seven days before the tournament begins on 11 June. The decision extends the ban to cups, jars, and cans, with Fifa citing safety concerns around fans throwing missiles as the primary justification for the late change. The official stadium code of conduct had previously stated that empty, transparent, reusable plastic bottles of up to one litre in capacity were permitted inside venues. Fans will still be able to purchase water inside stadiums, with Fifa promising that prices will remain consistent with…

Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal enters the 2026 World Cup as one of the most discussed footballers on the planet, yet he carries that attention with remarkable composure. Lionel Messi himself has already settled the debate about the best player of the new generation, saying: “It would be Lamine. No doubt about it: for me, he is the best.” When CBS asked Yamal on camera whether Spain would win the World Cup, he simply smiled and said “Yes,” delivering his verdict in a single, confident English word. At 18 years old, Yamal has already played in a Champions League semi-final, won a…

Micah Richards, the former England defender turned popular television pundit, has been casting his eye over some of football’s most iconic World Cup memories. Richards, who earned his reputation as one of England’s most recognisable defensive talents, has become a respected voice in football broadcasting since hanging up his boots. The World Cup has produced countless unforgettable moments over the decades, from stunning individual performances to jaw-dropping ceremonial spectacles that have lived long in the memory. Among the moments Richards examines is the legendary Diana Ross penalty miss during the opening ceremony of the 1994 World Cup in the United…

Manchester City have seen their first bid for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson rejected, as the club look to strengthen their midfield this summer. The 23-year-old England international is understood to be leaning towards a move to the Etihad Stadium over rivals Manchester United, according to BBC Sport. There is a growing expectation that Anderson will leave the City Ground before the transfer window closes, with City now having formalised their interest through an official offer. Anderson enjoyed a stellar season with Forest and has earned a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup taking place in…

With all 48 World Cup squads now confirmed, the numbers behind the tournament reveal fascinating contrasts between nations heading into the competition. Manchester City lead the way in terms of club representation, with a record 19 players from the club representing 12 different countries across the tournament. Arsenal follow closely behind, providing 16 players for 10 different nations, joining the champions of Germany, England, France and Spain among the most represented clubs. Serie A winners Inter Milan have just seven players at the tournament, a figure largely explained by Italy’s absence from the competition. Among Premier League clubs, Conference League…

Moving to one of the Premier League’s so-called big-six clubs is widely regarded as the natural next step for a successful manager. The big six refers to Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham, clubs that have largely dominated the top of the table over the past 15 years or so. Andoni Iraola has reached a verbal agreement with Liverpool after finishing sixth with Bournemouth, raising questions about whether he can defy the historical pattern. The data suggests the transition from another Premier League club to a big-six side is one of the toughest in management, with short…

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has highlighted the upcoming friendlies against Guinea and France as a key chance to develop his side’s style of play. O’Neill’s squad will be looking to move on from the disappointment of their World Cup play-off defeat by Italy in March, when they face the two nations this summer. The two friendlies come as Northern Ireland build towards their Nations League campaign, where they have been drawn alongside Georgia, Hungary and Ukraine. When asked about the goals of the friendly matches, O’Neill told BBC Sport NI that the priority is giving as many players as…

Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott is poised to make his senior England debut during the upcoming World Cup warm-up friendlies in the United States. Scott has travelled to Florida as one of five supplementary members added to England’s preparation camp squad ahead of the tournament. The other additional players to make the trip are Rio Ngumoha, Josh King, Jason Steele and Ethan Nwaneri, who join the main group in West Palm Beach. England are currently awaiting the arrivals of Arsenal quartet Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke following their involvement in European finals. Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson…