Author: Rowan Clarke

Iraq have secured their place at the 2026 World Cup, booking their spot by beating Bolivia in Mexico, the very country where their only previous appearance took place back in 1986. The qualification journey took 21 games in total, with coach Graham Arnold guiding the team through the third and fourth rounds of qualifying, including a tight play-off victory against the United Arab Emirates before the decisive win against Bolivia. Arnold, aged 62, was hired in 2025 and previously took Australia to the second round of the 2022 World Cup, and his appointment has been widely credited as a key…

Inside the 25,000-seater Estadio Hidalgo in east-central Mexico, fans unfurl a tifo featuring a miner holding a pickaxe and a distinctly crimped pastry. The figure is flanked by two identical flags, both black with a white cross, immediately recognisable to anyone familiar with England’s southernmost county. The fans of CF Pachuca, widely recognised as Mexico’s first football club, are paying tribute to the Cornish miners who helped introduce the game to the country. The transatlantic connection between Hidalgo and Cornwall stretches back to 1824, when Mexico’s mining sector lay in ruins after a decade-long war that delivered independence from Spain.…

Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella is being linked with a move back to Spain, with several top clubs having already made contact with his representatives. Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid are among those interested in signing the 27-year-old Spain international from Stamford Bridge. Liverpool have set their sights on RB Leipzig forward Yan Diomande but are yet to reach a verbal agreement over a deal for the 19-year-old Ivory Coast striker. Newcastle have identified Atalanta right-back Marco Palestra as a priority summer target, though the 21-year-old Italy international is also attracting interest from Manchester City, Arsenal and Inter Milan. Inter…

Southampton owner Dragan Solak has confirmed he will not sack head coach Tonda Eckert following the club’s spying scandal that resulted in their expulsion from the Championship play-offs. “I think he deserves a second chance and I would give it to him,” the Serbian businessman told BBC Sport, adding that his “full support” would be behind the manager. Solak described Eckert as a “super-talented manager” and made clear that he intends to retain the 33-year-old German coach despite the significant controversy surrounding his conduct. Eckert was appointed on a permanent basis in December after a short spell as caretaker, taking…

Arsenal’s attention has turned to building on their Premier League title success following Sunday’s trophy parade in north London. Manager Mikel Arteta’s powerbase at Emirates Stadium has grown significantly after he led the club to their first domestic title in 22 years. Following the Champions League final defeat by Paris St-Germain, Arteta said there are “important decisions” to make in order to take the club to the next level. The priority this summer is to finalise a new contract with Arteta, whose current deal expires at the end of next season. BBC Sport revealed last month that talks over fresh…

Portugal and Spain have met 41 times across competitive and friendly international football, producing one of Iberia’s most storied rivalries. The overall record favours Spain considerably, with Portugal winning just seven matches compared to eighteen defeats across the full historical series. Sixteen of those meetings have ended in draws, underscoring how tightly contested this fixture has consistently been at international level. The two nations first met in December 1921, with Spain winning 3-1 in what was recorded as an international friendly encounter. Early results were heavily dominated by Spain, including a crushing 9-0 World Cup qualifying victory in Madrid back…

Leeds United FC vs Birmingham City often produces an exciting match timeline, with plenty of action and goals. Leeds United have faced Birmingham City across a substantial number of competitive matches, building one of the club’s more closely contested historical rivalries. The overall record shows Leeds United have won 43 games against Birmingham City across all competitions throughout their shared history. Birmingham City have claimed 42 victories in matches against Leeds United, making the head-to-head record remarkably tight between the two clubs. The remaining 26 fixtures between the two sides ended in draws, reflecting how evenly matched these clubs have…

The West Ham United vs Brenford FC timeline is closely monitored by pundits and fans alike. West Ham United and Brentford have met 60 times across all competitions, producing a record of 25 wins, 12 draws, and 23 losses for the Hammers. The two clubs first faced each other on 24 September 1898, with West Ham winning 3-1 in the Southern League Second Division. Their early rivalry was dominated by Southern League football, with matches played consistently from 1898 through to 1913 across both divisions. West Ham’s heaviest Southern League victory in this fixture came on 21 October 1911, a…

Algeria have handed Luca Zidane, son of France legend Zinedine Zidane, a call-up to his first World Cup tournament. The 28-year-old goalkeeper was Algeria’s first-choice stopper at the Africa Cup of Nations before breaking his jaw and chin in April while playing for Spanish club Granada. Zidane represented France up to under-20 level before choosing to represent Algeria, the country where his grandparents were born. Former Manchester City and Leicester forward Riyad Mahrez, now 35 and playing for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli, will also feature at the tournament. Former Tottenham midfielder Nabil Bentaleb has been recalled by coach Vladimir Petkovic…

Manchester United youngster Tyler Fletcher has been named in Scotland’s World Cup squad despite making only two senior substitute appearances totalling 17 minutes. The Fletcher family had originally planned to attend the World Cup as fans, travelling around the United States to watch Scotland’s matches together. That trip was meant to offer some respite after a difficult end to the season, with dad Darren’s Manchester United Under-18 side losing two major cup finals. Tyler’s twin brother Jack, who plays for England’s youth teams, had also suffered a final defeat, meaning the family faced a summer of near misses. Instead of…