Author: Rowan Clarke

Khaldoon Al Mubarak has revealed that Pep Guardiola threatened to quit Manchester City “100 times” during his decade in charge before the chairman finally believed him. The 55-year-old Guardiola stepped down at the end of this season after leading City to 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League victory. Guardiola had one year remaining on his contract but told his final news conference that the club needed a “new manager” and “new energy” to move forward. Speaking in his annual interview with in-house media, Khaldoon explained why this resignation felt different from all the previous…

Switzerland forward Breel Embolo has been granted approval to travel to the United States ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Embolo had not travelled with his Swiss team-mates on Tuesday after his Esta authorisation was placed under review by US authorities. An Esta is an automated system that determines whether an international visitor is eligible to enter the United States without a traditional visa. The Switzerland football federation confirmed the positive outcome in an official statement released following a period of uncertainty for the player. “We have just been informed that Breel Embolo’s visa has been approved,” the statement read,…

Northern Ireland’s 1-0 win over Guinea in La Linea may not have been the headline fixture of their international window, but it carried significant meaning. Played under the shadow of the Rock of Gibraltar in front of just 300 fans, the match underlined the clear direction Michael O’Neill’s side are travelling. Northern Ireland set a new record for their youngest starting XI since the end of World War Two, surpassing the mark set against Luxembourg in November 2024. The team fielded against Guinea had an average starting age of just 22.1, with O’Neill’s emerging generation given another opportunity to stake…

Liverpool have appointed Andoni Iraola as their new head coach, signing the former Bournemouth manager on a two-year contract at Anfield. The club confirmed Arne Slot’s exit on Saturday, just one year after the Dutchman led Liverpool to the Premier League title, prompting an immediate search for his replacement. Iraola, 43, arrives having overseen Bournemouth’s finest ever top-flight campaign, guiding the Cherries to a sixth-place finish and a place in next season’s Europa League. That sixth-place finish left Bournemouth just one position and three points behind Liverpool in the final Premier League standings. The Spaniard had announced in April that…

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…