Opinion, analysis and match reports from world football.
The 2026 World Cup is the biggest in history: 104 group-stage games, up to 8 matches for the champion. An analysis of which all-time records are under threat and which players have a real window to rewrite history.
Arsenal host Sporting at 0-0 on aggregate. Gyokeres comes to London without the emotional weight of the Alvalade. Second-leg quarter-final Champions League preview.
Barcelona need three goals at the Metropolitano to overturn a 0-2 deficit. Simeone has never lost there with a lead. Second-leg quarter-final Champions League preview.
Real Madrid travel to the Allianz Arena trailing 0-2. History says they can turn it around. Their season says something different. Second-leg quarter-final preview.
Liverpool need to overturn a 0-2 deficit against the Champions League holders at Anfield. The ground can do miracles. The team arrives broken. Quarter-final second leg preview.
Matchday 30 preview for LaLiga 2025-26. Barcelona lead by 7 points and look to extend the gap. Real Madrid arrive under Champions League pressure.
Argentina's projected World Cup 2026 squad: who makes the cut, who's on the bubble, and how Scaloni is managing Messi's final tournament. Full 26-man squad prediction.
Brazil's projected World Cup 2026 squad: Vinicius Jr., Endrick, Raphinha and the full 26-man prediction. Can this generation end the 24-year wait for the Hexa?
England's projected World Cup 2026 squad: Bellingham, Kane, Saka, Foden and all 26. After Euro 2024 heartbreak, can the Three Lions finally win a major tournament?
France's projected World Cup 2026 squad: Mbappé, Griezmann, Tchouaméni and all 26. Can Les Bleus go one better than the 2022 final heartbreak in North America?
Germany's projected World Cup 2026 squad: Wirtz, Musiala, Kimmich and the full 26-man DFB prediction. Can the new Germany generation go all the way in North America?
Analysis of the LaLiga 2025-26 title race. Barcelona lead with 76 points to Real Madrid's 69 with 8 rounds remaining. Scenarios, fixtures and what each side needs.
Mexico's projected World Cup 2026 squad: the full 26-man prediction for El Tri as host nation. Key players, selection battles, and what home advantage means for this generation.
Portugal's projected World Cup 2026 squad: Cristiano Ronaldo's farewell, Bruno Fernandes as the engine, and all 26 players heading to North America.
Tactical analysis and predictions for World Cup 2026 Group A. Mexico as host, South Korea's pressing threat, South Africa's resilience, and the Czech Republic's technical game. Projected xG and expected qualifiers.
Tactical analysis and predictions for World Cup 2026 Group H. Spain's dominant possession game against Uruguay's Bielsa pressing system, Saudi Arabia as a dangerous outsider, and Cape Verde's role. Who finishes top?
Tactical analysis and predictions for World Cup 2026 Group I. France as the clear favorite with Mbappé, the Haaland vs Deschamps's system battle, Senegal's underrated threat, and Iraq as the opening-day trap. Can Norway spring a surprise?
Tactical analysis and predictions for World Cup 2026 Group J. Argentina as defending champions, Scaloni's system, Austria's high-pressing threat, and why this group is more complicated than it looks.
World Cup 2026 Group A preview and analysis. Mexico hosts the tournament opener at the Azteca alongside South Korea, South Africa and Czech Republic.
World Cup 2026 Group B preview and analysis. Canada host in Toronto and Vancouver against Switzerland, Qatar and Bosnia in an evenly matched group.
World Cup 2026 Group C preview and analysis. Brazil and Morocco clash at MetLife Stadium in the standout fixture of the group stage, with Haiti and Scotland completing a compelling quartet.
World Cup 2026 Group D preview and analysis. The United States open as primary hosts at SoFi Stadium against Paraguay, Australia and Turkey.
World Cup 2026 Group E preview and analysis. Germany must erase two consecutive group-stage exits against the African champions, a Caribbean underdog and a competitive Ecuador.
World Cup 2026 Group F preview and analysis. Netherlands and Japan are the favorites in a group completed by Sweden and Tunisia where every point will be worth its weight in gold.
World Cup 2026 Group G preview and analysis. Belgium face possibly the last chance for their golden generation against Iran, New Zealand and Salah's Egypt.
World Cup 2026 Group H preview and analysis. Spain and Uruguay headline the standout group-stage clash, with Saudi Arabia and debutants Cape Verde completing the picture.
World Cup 2026 Group I preview and analysis. France are heavy favorites but Norway with Haaland and Senegal with their African pedigree will not make it easy. Iraq return after decades away.
World Cup 2026 Group J preview and analysis. Argentina arrive as defending champions with Messi in the twilight of his career. Austria, debutants Jordan and Algeria round out the group.
World Cup 2026 Group K preview and analysis. Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo's possible farewell and Colombia as a dark horse headline a group featuring two debutants.
World Cup 2026 Group L preview and analysis. England and Croatia revive the Russia 2018 semifinal in a group where Ghana and Panama round out a competitive quartet.
PSG beat Liverpool 2-0 in the Champions League QF first leg at Parc des Princes. Goals from Dembélé and Gonçalo Ramos. Anfield needs a miracle the squad can't produce.
Spain's projected World Cup 2026 squad: full 26-man prediction for La Roja. European champions' selection battles, injury doubts, and their chances of winning the title.
Tactical analysis of Argentina at the 2026 World Cup. Scaloni's probable lineup, the evolution of the 4-3-3, key metrics, and the players who will define the title defence.
Tactical analysis of Brazil at the 2026 World Cup. How Dorival Júnior is rebuilding the Seleção after the Tite era, the centrality of Vinícius Jr., and the defensive doubts that persist.
Tactical analysis of Colombia at the 2026 World Cup. Lorenzo's system, high pressing, the Luis Díaz–Jhon Durán attacking threat, and the data behind Colombia's dark-horse credentials.
Tactical analysis of Croatia at the 2026 World Cup. Dalić's post-Modrić midfield, the generational shift, key metrics and whether the new generation can sustain Croatia's World Cup level.
Tactical analysis of Denmark at the 2026 World Cup. Hjulmand's collective system, Højlund as the attacking reference, Nordic defensive solidity and the metrics showing why Denmark is more dangerous than they look.
Tactical analysis of England at the 2026 World Cup. Southgate's system evolution, Bellingham as the creative axis, key metrics and the weaknesses that could stop the Three Lions.
Tactical analysis of France at the 2026 World Cup. How Deschamps manages Mbappé's talent, Tchouaméni and a generation with more depth than ever.
Tactical analysis of Germany at the 2026 World Cup. How Nagelsmann rebuilt Die Mannschaft with high pressing, verticality, and the Musiala-Wirtz partnership that terrifies every opponent.
Tactical analysis of Japan at the 2026 World Cup. Moriyasu's system, the European-based generation, pressing metrics and Japan's real capacity to reach the quarter-finals.
Tactical analysis of Morocco at the 2026 World Cup. Regragui's defensive system, post-Qatar evolution, Hakimi as a complete weapon and the data showing whether the Atlas Lions can repeat their run.
Tactical analysis of the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup. Koeman's system between tradition and pragmatism, the search for a centre-forward and the metrics that explain Oranje's identity.
Tactical analysis of Portugal at the 2026 World Cup. How Martínez manages the generational transition, the Cristiano Ronaldo dilemma, and the metrics that reveal the team's strengths and cracks.
Tactical analysis of Spain at the 2026 World Cup. De la Fuente's 4-3-3, the tournament's most intense pressing, Yamal, Pedri and why La Roja is the tactical favourite.
Tactical analysis of Turkey at the 2026 World Cup. Montella's system, the rise of Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız, attacking metrics and the tactical case for Turkey as a genuine dark horse.
Tactical analysis of Uruguay at the 2026 World Cup. Bielsa's three-back system, radical pressing, Valverde as the axis and the metrics that reveal why Uruguay can upset anyone in a knockout.
Atlético de Madrid beat Barcelona 2-0 in the Champions League QF first leg. Goals from Griezmann and Julián Álvarez. Simeone outclassed Flick with a tactical masterclass.
Sporting CP 0-0 Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-final first leg. Gyokeres returned to Alvalade and couldn't score. Respect, emotional block, or good defensive plan?
Viktor Gyökeres faces Sporting CP with Arsenal in the Champions League quarterfinals. 97 goals in 102 games — can he score against the club that made him?
Kane was a doubt through injury and started at the Bernabeu. He scored the 0-2 in the 46th minute. Heroic decision or irresponsible gamble by Bayern?
Kane finally scores at the Santiago Bernabeu as Bayern beat Real Madrid 2-0 in the Champions League QF first leg. The trophy race just changed.
Lothar Matthäus called Vinicius Jr a whiner before the Champions League QF. He's not wrong — but Madrid's biggest problem is they might lose the whining and the genius together.
Lionel Messi is 38 and plays in MLS. Taking him to the 2026 World Cup could cost Argentina the tournament. The take nobody wants to hear.
Controversial ranking: ten players arriving at the 2026 World Cup with more name than ability. Some are stars. None will deliver what you expect.
The new 48-team World Cup 2026 format favors smaller sides and punishes favorites. Analysis of why the biggest names will go home earlier than expected.
Contrarian predictions: five teams going home earlier than you think at the 2026 World Cup. Including one favorite nobody wants to question.
Everyone is looking for the 2026 World Cup surprise in Asia or Africa. The real threat comes from South America: Colombia has the squad to reach the semifinals.
FIFA imposes mandatory hydration breaks in every single match at the 2026 World Cup, regardless of the weather. Health measure or business move?
While the rest of Europe dreams of lifting the trophy, Madrid have been doing the work for months. The analysis nobody wants to read but everyone knows is true.
Cristiano Ronaldo is 41, plays in Saudi Arabia, and Portugal must decide whether to take him to the 2026 World Cup. Asset or anchor?
Italy won't be at the 2026 World Cup. Buffon and Gravina resign, the bonus-gate scandal exposes the internal crisis. What's left of Italian football?
Barcelona has the better squad on paper. They play the better football this season. And they'll probably still lose the title. A column that will annoy everyone equally.
Liverpool head into the Champions League quarter-finals against PSG with Slot already dead man walking, a 0-4 FA Cup humiliation, and Xabi Alonso waiting at the door. Analysis of the crisis.
Madrid head into the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern at their lowest point. Seven points off Barcelona and Ancelotti under fire. Can history save a team that's stopped competing in the league?
Vinicius Jr could leave Real Madrid this summer. While the club fight for their Champions League life against Bayern, intermediaries are contacting 7 top clubs.
Real Madrid give Vinicius Jr an ultimatum: accept the final offer or we sell this summer. Mistake of the century or legitimate negotiation?
With 48 teams at the 2026 World Cup, chaos is guaranteed. Here are the sides set to cause upsets — and the paper favorites who will go home early.
FIFA expands the World Cup to 48 teams for the first time. We explain the 12-group format, qualification rules, and what changes from previous editions.