World Cup 2026 News
The latest news, analysis and transfer updates from the World Cup 2026.
Off The PitchThe Hacker Behind Manchester City's 115 Charges Is Still Too Scared to Go It Alone
Portugal has suspended plans to remove Football Leaks hacker Rui Pinto from witness protection after officials failed to properly notify him of the decision. His leaked documents triggered the investigation that saw Manchester City found guilty on all 115 financial charges, a verdict the club is now appealing.
Portugal Suspend Ronaldo as Jesus Wins Power Struggle Before World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo has been provisionally suspended by Portugal's football federation after walking out of the national team camp in a dispute with coach Jorge Jesus over broken promises on his playing time. The urgent, non-automatic suspension suggests the FPF is backing its coach over its all-time record scorer months before the 2026 World Cup.
The DugoutTottenham's Marbella Trip Exposes a Crisis Money Can't Fix
Bottom of the Premier League and winless after five games, Tottenham will fly to Marbella for a bonding camp after facing Manchester United. With £250m spent on ten summer signings and Roberto de Zerbi barely six months into the job, the trip raises questions about whether chemistry can be manufactured off the pitch.
MatchdayXabi Alonso Defends Cole Palmer as Trust Rift With Thomas Tuchel Deepens
Xabi Alonso has publicly defended Cole Palmer's commitment to England, confirming the Chelsea forward's Nations League withdrawal stemmed from a recurrence of his pubalgia problem, not reluctance to play. The rebuttal follows Thomas Tuchel's pointed criticism and Piers Morgan's 'bottle job' jibe, turning a fitness update into a club-versus-country trust dispute ahead of November's Croatia and Spain fixtures.
Off The PitchGranit Xhaka's Covid Certificate Fine Draws a Line Under a Legal Saga, Not a Football One
Granit Xhaka has accepted a suspended fine of CHF150,000 (£136,000) after admitting he obtained a forged Covid-19 vaccination certificate in 2022. The Sunderland and Switzerland captain faces no further sporting sanction and is set to return against Brighton on 15 October.
Ronaldo Demands His Own Punishment to Guarantee His Return to Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo has asked the Portuguese federation to punish him in full for walking out of the national team's Nations League camp, while ruling out international retirement. The carefully worded statement, backed by Jorge Jesus's openness to a recall, looks less like contrition than a calculated route back into the squad.
The Treatment RoomScott McTominay Is Training Again, But Napoli and Scotland Still Don't Know When He'll Actually Play
Scott McTominay has resumed full training with Napoli after being declared fit following a cardiac ablation, but neither Napoli nor Scotland have confirmed when he'll actually return to competitive action, leaving both his Scudetto defence and Scotland's Nations League campaign in limbo.
Off The PitchHarry Kane Equals Peter Shilton's England Caps Record and Strengthens His Claim as the Greatest Three Lion Ever
Harry Kane equalled Peter Shilton's 36-year-old England caps record and extended his own all-time scoring record with a brace against Czechia, strengthening his claim as England's greatest ever international.
Jorge Jesus's Ronaldo contradiction exposes the pressure building on Portugal
Portugal manager Jorge Jesus snapped at reporters over his handling of Cristiano Ronaldo's playing time, yet insisted the door remains open for the veteran forward's international return, a contradiction that exposes real tension ahead of World Cup 2026 qualifying.
The Treatment RoomAlex Scott's Breakout England Debut Curdles Into Two-Month Injury Blow For Bournemouth
Alex Scott played through thigh pain to star on his full England debut in the 7-0 win over Croatia, but the injury has worsened into a problem that could keep him out for two months, prompting Thomas Tuchel to apologise to Bournemouth manager Marco Rose.
The DugoutRonaldo's Portugal Exit Signals a Power Shift Jesus Can't Quite Paper Over
Jorge Jesus says Cristiano Ronaldo can return to Portugal 'whenever he wants' after the captain walked out of camp following a benching against Norway. But with Portugal six points clear and Goncalo Ramos scoring in every start, the diplomatic language masks a real shift in power.
Off The PitchBruno Fernandes Is Running Point on Portugal's Ronaldo Problem
Bruno Fernandes called Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal's 'greatest symbol' days after Ronaldo quit the squad over a benching, a match Portugal won 4-2 without him. The real story is a quiet power shift under new coach Jorge Jesus.