Author: Rowan Clarke

Only 16 teams remain in the 2026 World Cup, with the race to reach the final at MetLife Stadium on 19 July now firmly underway. BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton had a strong round of predictions for the last 32, finishing with 13 correct results from 16 matches attempted. Paraguay’s shock victory over Germany caught Sutton out, along with the vast majority of readers, as just 2% of over 60,000 user predictions backed Paraguay to win. Morocco’s win over the Netherlands was the only other result that caught readers off guard, with most other outcomes correctly anticipated. Across the…

Liverpool are prepared to listen to offers for club captain Virgil van Dijk this summer, with uncertainty growing over his future at Anfield. The decision to renew the 34-year-old Dutch centre-back’s contract last year is understood to be viewed with regret by some figures inside the club. Van Dijk has been a cornerstone of Liverpool’s defence for years, but his situation now appears far less settled than many supporters would have anticipated. Fulham have entered the race to sign West Ham winger Crysencio Summerville, with the 24-year-old Netherlands international attracting significant Premier League interest. Chelsea and Manchester United are also…

England’s last-16 World Cup tie against Mexico in Mexico City descended into extraordinary chaos on Friday following a dramatic five-and-a-half-hour sequence of confusion. Fifa initially moved to bring the Azteca kick-off forward by six hours, citing concerns over forecast storms including the risk of lightning and flooding near the stadium. The original plan would have seen the match shifted to 12:00 local time, a move that immediately sparked fury from both the Football Association and their Mexican counterparts. Both national associations were described as angry that such a significant change was being proposed less than 48 hours before kick-off on…

Sunderland are standing firm over the future of captain Granit Xhaka, insisting the Switzerland midfielder will not be sold this summer despite Chelsea’s growing interest. Chelsea had an £8m bid for the 33-year-old rejected by Sunderland last week, with the Blues widely expected to return with an improved offer for the former Arsenal man. However, sources at Sunderland have told BBC Sport that Xhaka is not for sale, and the club has no intention of entertaining further approaches from Stamford Bridge. Following internal discussions, Xhaka has reaffirmed his commitment to the Black Cats, strengthening the club’s position ahead of what…

England are set to have Declan Rice available for Sunday’s World Cup last-16 clash against Mexico, despite the Arsenal midfielder carrying a neural problem. Rice has been managing an injury that affects his hamstring and lower back throughout the tournament, causing him considerable discomfort on the pitch. The midfielder was substituted in injury time during England’s 2-1 victory over DR Congo in the last 32, having pushed through significant pain to help the team over the line. Thomas Tuchel revealed the extent of Rice’s suffering after the DR Congo match, giving an insight into the midfielder’s determination to contribute for…

Julian Quinones has emerged as one of the most compelling stories of the 2026 World Cup, despite being born in Colombia rather than Mexico. The forward will look to haunt England when the two sides meet in their last-16 tie at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, kicking off at 01:00 BST on Monday morning. England supporters will naturally focus their attention on Wolves striker Raul Jimenez, Mexico’s number nine with strong Premier League ties from his time at Fulham. However, it is Quinones on the left wing who has truly caught the eye, and whoever plays right-back for England faces a…

When Lionel Messi lines up against 40-year-old free agent goalkeeper Vozinha on Friday, it will represent one of football’s most extraordinary contrasts. Argentina and Cape Verde meet at the Miami Stadium on Friday at 23:00 BST in what promises to be a genuinely remarkable World Cup occasion. Cape Verde arrived at this tournament as complete unknowns, but their debut on the world stage has already produced some of the competition’s most compelling stories. A goalless draw against European champions Spain was heralded as one of the greatest shocks in World Cup history, and Cape Verde did not even win the…

Julian Nagelsmann has resigned as Germany men’s national team coach following the country’s humiliating early exit from the World Cup. The German Football Association, known as the DFB, has confirmed it will now pursue talks with former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp about taking on the role. In a statement, the DFB said it “will now seek talks with Jurgen Klopp”, adding that “he has already signaled his general willingness to take on the position.” Germany were knocked out of the tournament on Monday after losing to Paraguay on penalties in the last 32, a crushing result for one of world…

Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez has retired from international football following his country’s 2-0 defeat by Switzerland in the World Cup last 32. The 35-year-old confirmed the decision in the aftermath of the match in Vancouver, ending a 12-year career with the Desert Foxes. Mahrez earned 120 caps and scored 40 goals for Algeria across his international career, cementing his status as one of the country’s greatest ever players. “The goal was to progress, and I think it was a game that was within our reach,” Mahrez said after the final whistle in Vancouver. “We conceded two goals on mistakes, and…

The popular daily football guessing game is back, this time challenging fans to identify a star from the FIFA World Cup 2026. The rules of the game remain straightforward, with players tasked with identifying a mystery footballer in as few attempts as possible. Each incorrect guess rewards the player with a fresh clue, nudging them closer to the correct answer with every attempt. Scoring works on a simple principle — the fewer clues you need, the more points you earn for guessing correctly. A score of three is considered a respectable performance, while landing the answer in four or five…