Author: Rowan Clarke

Mexico’s 2-0 victory over South Africa in the tournament opener produced three red cards, sparking debate about the standard of refereeing at the 2026 World Cup. South Africa’s Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane were both sent off during the match, before Mexico’s Cesar Montes was dismissed in stoppage time. It had been 20 years since three players were sent off in a single World Cup match, back in the 2006 finals when 28 players in total saw red. That 2006 tournament was a remarkable one, with three players dismissed in three separate games and the all-time record of four red…

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially kicked off in Mexico City, with a spectacular opening ceremony packed with colour, culture and world-class musical performances. Thousands of fans flooded into the legendary Azteca stadium, buzzing with anticipation as Mexico hosted the World Cup on home soil for the first time in 40 years. Colombia’s J Balvin, Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy, Latin music star Danny Ocean and Fher Olvera all took to the stage alongside Shakira in a vibrant celebration of football and culture. Opera legend Andrea Bocelli and K-Pop Demon Hunters singer Ejae performed the tournament’s official anthem DNA, which…

Thomas Tuchel has made his position clear on Harry Kane, wanting his captain to drop deep rather than remain a static penalty box presence. The debate around Kane’s optimal positioning for England has rumbled on for years, with many fans and pundits questioning why such a clinical finisher drifts away from goal. Yet the evidence from Kane’s most productive club season to date suggests that dropping deep is precisely what makes him so dangerous. In 51 games for Bayern Munich this season, Kane scored an extraordinary 61 goals, the most prolific campaign of his entire career. That tally is all…

McGinn lifted Aston Villa’s first major silverware in 30 years last month, capping a journey that began on red ash pitches in the west of Scotland. The 31-year-old has also just completed his highest-scoring season at club level, adding yet another landmark to a remarkable career. Success has followed the all-action midfielder at every club he has represented, and those closest to him insist it is no coincidence whatsoever. At St Mirren, McGinn was part of their first cup triumph in 26 years, before playing the full 90 minutes as Hibernian ended their 114-year wait for a Scottish Cup. Now…

Celtic have confirmed Martin O’Neill as their permanent manager after he guided the club to a Premiership and Scottish Cup double last season. The 74-year-old has signed a one-year contract at Parkhead, with the option of a further year following talks with major shareholder Dermot Desmond. O’Neill first returned to Celtic in late October on a temporary basis after Brendan Rodgers departed, more than 20 years after his original five-year stint at the club. He won all domestic matches across his eight games in that first interim spell, with his only defeat coming against Midtjylland in the Europa League. O’Neill…

Wolves have dismissed head coach Rob Edwards after just seven months in charge, following the club’s relegation from the Premier League. Edwards was appointed last November but managed to win only five of his 30 games across all competitions, losing 16 in total. The 43-year-old had left a Championship promotion race with Middlesbrough to take the job, replacing Vitor Pereira at Molineux. Wolves finished bottom of the Premier League table, making them one of the division’s most underwhelming sides throughout the entire campaign. Despite the poor results, technical director Matt Jackson had publicly backed Edwards as recently as last month,…

Scotland are at their first men’s World Cup since 1998, and BBC Sport has introduced new ways to keep fans close to every moment of the campaign. The broadcaster has responded to fan feedback by working to ensure Scotland supporters can place national team news front and centre throughout the tournament. On the BBC Sport website, users signed in with a Scottish postcode will automatically receive additional Scottish stories on the front page during the World Cup. Those not yet signed in can visit the BBC Sport website and follow the prompts to sign in using an existing BBC username…

England head coach Thomas Tuchel says the thunderstorm delay to their warm-up match against Costa Rica gave the squad a “little taste of what can happen” in the United States. The match in Orlando, Florida, was originally scheduled to kick off at 21:00 BST but was pushed back a full hour after heavy rain and lightning swept through the area. Fans already inside the Inter&Co Stadium were told to evacuate the stands and shelter in the concourses to reduce their risk of being struck by lightning. Under rules set by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, any lightning strike detected…

FIFA president Gianni Infantino used a press conference at the Azteca Stadium to play down the mounting controversy surrounding the 2026 World Cup. Speaking on the eve of Thursday’s opening match between Mexico and South Africa, Infantino offered a remarkably relaxed take on a turbulent build-up to the tournament. “Just, you know, chill, relax,” Infantino told reporters, seemingly unbothered by the serious issues that had unfolded in the days prior. Those issues included Somali referee Omar Artan being denied entry to the United States after an 11-hour interrogation at Miami International Airport, accused by a US official of having links…

Essex Police have confirmed they are actively pursuing new lines of enquiry after receiving fresh information connected to West Ham co-owner David Sullivan. The force confirmed there had been “some contact and enquiries into those are now under way” following a joint investigation published by BBC Panorama and The Times earlier this week. That investigation revealed multiple women have accused Sullivan of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour allegedly dating back to the 1980s, which Sullivan has categorically denied. Eight women, including one who was directly involved in the investigation, have already approached police with disclosures about Sullivan’s conduct, though none…