Author: Rowan Clarke

FIFA’s decision to restructure the 2026 World Cup draw has produced a historic outcome, with the top four ranked teams all reaching the semi-finals for the very first time. Spain, Argentina, France and England, ranked first, second, third and fourth respectively by FIFA, have all progressed to the final four of the tournament in the United States. Their collective progress was significantly aided by a deliberate change FIFA made to the draw format specifically for this expanded 2026 edition of the competition. The governing body placed each of the four top-ranked nations into separate quadrants of the draw, preventing them…

England captain Harry Kane has acknowledged his side possess “another level we can reach” as they push for a first World Cup title since 1966. The Three Lions required extra-time to see off Norway 2-1 on Saturday, booking a semi-final meeting with Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday at 20:00 BST. Thomas Tuchel was openly critical following the quarter-final victory, claiming England “got lucky”, were “sloppy”, made “a lot of technical mistakes” and were “not fast enough, not repetitive enough.” Kane, who is 32, has found the net six times in this tournament, making him joint top scorer alongside Jude Bellingham…

The 2026 World Cup has reached its semi-final stage, and the remaining four nations represent some of the finest football on the planet. Spain will face France on Tuesday in what promises to be a captivating contest between two European heavyweights with contrasting styles. Then defending champions Argentina take on England on Wednesday in what could be one of the most anticipated fixtures in World Cup history. The four squads are genuinely packed with world-class talent, making any combined XI selection an almost impossible task for even the most knowledgeable football fan. Lionel Messi remains at the heart of Argentina’s…

England secured a hard-fought victory over Norway in the World Cup quarter-final on Saturday, booking their place in the last four of the tournament. Despite the result, manager Thomas Tuchel made clear he was far from satisfied with what he witnessed from his players during the match. “We made life very difficult for ourselves,” Tuchel said, adding: “The result is fantastic but I’m not happy with the performance.” He did acknowledge the character his players showed, saying: “I’m impressed with the effort, team spirit and belief to overcome adversity.” However, Tuchel was keen to stress his standards remain high, continuing:…

England and Argentina meet in the World Cup semi-finals in Atlanta on Wednesday, with Lionel Messi facing England for the very first time in his career. Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions stand between Argentina and a place in the final, carrying the weight of 60 years of hurt into this iconic encounter. The World Cup rivalry between these two nations stretches back to 1962, encompassing wonder goals, controversial red cards, and moments that have defined generations of football supporters. Off the pitch, political tensions rooted in the Falklands War have intensified the animosity, with Argentina players and fans still referencing the…

Senegal have parted ways with head coach Pape Thiaw after the national side suffered a painful exit from the 2026 World Cup in the last-32 stage. Thiaw had been in charge of the Teranga Lions since December 2024, taking the reins ahead of what proved to be a turbulent period for Senegalese football. The team endured a difficult group stage, losing their opening two matches against France and Norway before recovering with a commanding 5-0 victory over Iraq. That win over Iraq was enough to see Senegal advance as one of the best third-placed teams and secure a spot in…

England’s Jude Bellingham is carrying the weight of a 60-year wait on his shoulders as he drives his country towards World Cup glory in the United States. The tournament has a way of becoming one player’s defining moment, with unstoppable momentum building towards football’s greatest prize. Diego Maradona did it with Argentina in 1986, Ronaldo achieved his redemption with Brazil in Yokohama in 2002, and Lionel Messi finally claimed his personal Holy Grail with Argentina in Doha in 2022. Despite scoring two goals to overcome Norway in the Miami heat, Bellingham still has a long way to go before he…

Tottenham vs Atlético Madrid produced one of the most dramatic Champions League ties of the 2025-26 European season. The second leg kicked off at 8pm local time (20:00 UTC) on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Spurs went into the night trailing badly after a chastening 5-2 defeat in the first leg in Madrid on 10 March 2026, leaving manager Igor Tudor’s position under intense scrutiny. The Tottenham vs Atlético Madrid second leg began brightly for the home side, with Randal Kolo Muani heading in a Mathys Tel cross in the 29th minute to give…

England’s World Cup semi-final will be shown live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, confirming free-to-air coverage for millions of fans across the country. The Three Lions booked their place in the last four with a 2-1 victory over Norway in the quarter-finals, with the match taking place in Miami on Saturday. England will return to action at the Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday, 15 July, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 BST. Their opponents will be either Argentina or Switzerland, with that last-eight tie yet to be decided ahead of the semi-final. The other semi-final will see European champions Spain take…

England and Norway are locked in a heavyweight 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-final clash that has captured the attention of football fans across the globe. The two nations face each other at the quarter-final stage, with both sides carrying genuine belief that they can progress deep into the tournament. England head into the contest with momentum behind them, having built a strong record throughout their 2026 World Cup campaign to reach this stage. Norway, meanwhile, present one of the most formidable attacking threats remaining in the competition, built around their world-class striking partnership. Erling Haaland leads the Norwegian line and…