South Africa Reach First Ever World Cup Knockout Stage
Thapelo Maseko's second-half strike beats South Korea 1-0 and sends Hugo Broos's side into a last-32 tie with co-hosts Canada.
Daniel Fletcher 4 min read
Football
Football is the site's busiest beat, and this page carries the full range. World Cup 2026 supplies much of it, from South Africa reaching their first knockout stage and Scotland's anxious wait after defeat to Brazil, to the scrutiny of the Trionda match ball and a rainbow-trimmed robe turning a rights message into a global story. The domestic game runs alongside: Marco Palestra's move sharpening Chelsea's right-flank plan, Schroeder's record women's transfer to Real Madrid, Championship fixture-release headlines and League Two's returning fixtures putting York and Rochdale back in the spotlight.
Marco Palestra Move Puts Chelsea's Right Flank Plan In Focus
Italy international Marco Palestra is set to join Chelsea from Atalanta, with his dribbling and versatility seen as a Premier League fit.
Daniel Fletcher 3 min read
League Two return fixtures put York and Rochdale back in the spotlight
The EFL fixture release thrusts the two returning clubs into the national football conversation as Sky Sports builds its live coverage push.
Daniel Fletcher 3 min read
Scotland Face Anxious World Cup Wait After 3-0 Brazil Defeat in Miami
Steve Clarke's side are left relying on results elsewhere after a chastening loss to Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil exposed defensive frailties at the 2026 finals.
Daniel Fletcher 4 min read
Rainbow-trimmed robe at World Cup turns rights message into global story
Exiled Qatari doctor Nasser Mohamed used a traditional bisht with rainbow trim to make a peaceful call for equal rights at the tournament.
Daniel Fletcher 4 min read
Trionda World Cup ball under scrutiny as goalkeepers caught out
Research into the Adidas Trionda's flight suggests the ball can enter a drag-crisis regime, leaving keepers struggling to read its pace at the 2026 World Cup.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
Schroeder joins Real Madrid in record women's transfer
Sky Sports reports Schroeder's move to Real Madrid as the most expensive women's transfer, underlining the surging commercial value of elite women's football.
Daniel Fletcher 3 min read
Bellamy's Burnley talks raise question over Wales role
Reports that Wales boss Craig Bellamy is in discussions with Burnley over their head-coach job have sparked debate about club ambition and international continuity.
Daniel Fletcher 3 min read
West Ham at Burnley Headlines Championship Fixture Release
The trip to Turf Moor is among the standout fixtures of the opening weekend as the new Championship schedule is confirmed.
Daniel Fletcher 3 min read
Iran protests after Taremi held up at US airport
Iran says footballer Mehdi Taremi and an assistant coach were delayed by US officials at an airport, turning a travel hold-up into a sports-diplomacy row.
Daniel Fletcher 3 min read
Fan dies in crowd crush at Amman World Cup screening as casualties cast shadow over tournament day
A supporter was killed and others were injured when crowds surged at a public viewing event in the Jordanian capital, bringing a sombre note to a day otherwise dominated by knockout-race drama.
Marcus Reeve 5 min read
Socceroo urges schools and workplaces to screen Australia's World Cup decider
Defender Jason Geria has called for people to be allowed to watch the Socceroos' crucial group finale against Paraguay, with the midday kick-off and a place in the last 32 fuelling national interest.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
England's projected World Cup path turns every group game into a high-stakes decision
Analysis of Thomas Tuchel's possible knockout route has put fresh weight on where England finish in their group, with finishing position likely to dictate the difficulty of the draw to come.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
Iran's footballers granted earlier US entry for World Cup tie after travel-rule complaints
The Department of Homeland Security will let Iran's national team arrive two days before their fixture, easing a tighter restriction that critics said undermined preparation and competitive fairness.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
FIFA pressed ahead with World Cup dynamic pricing despite objections from its own US staff
Leadership reportedly overruled American-based employees who opposed surge-style ticket pricing, intensifying a debate over affordability, resale costs and how aggressively organisers should chase revenue.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
Trump set to hand over the World Cup trophy at the 2026 final, says Infantino
FIFA's president has indicated the US leader will present the trophy to the winners on 19 July, adding a fresh political dimension to a final already framed by American venues and heavy security planning.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
Gouiri strike sees Algeria past Jordan as a spirited World Cup campaign comes to an end
Algeria edged a 2-1 contest with Amine Gouiri supplying the decisive goal, ending Jordan's tournament hopes on a day crowded with qualification drama and emotional fan stories.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
Socceroos star urges schools to screen Australia's World Cup decider as a national moment
With a place in the last 32 on the line and a midday Friday kick-off, Jason Geria has called on schools and workplaces to let people watch, framing the match as a shared civic occasion.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
Barcelona's reported signing of a young Egyptian forward sharpens its youth strategy
The arrival of 18-year-old Hamza Abdelkarim fits the club's long-standing interest in high-ceiling attackers, but the key questions concern adaptation, pathway and patience.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
Portugal close ranks around Ronaldo as World Cup scrutiny intensifies
With criticism of the veteran forward mounting before the Uzbekistan match, manager Roberto Martinez has dismissed some of the commentary as unfair, leaving the next performance to settle the debate.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
Haaland's double sends Norway into the World Cup knockout stage for the first time since 1998
A 3-2 win over Senegal carried Norway into the last 32 and level with France in Group I, with Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard turning a tournament campaign into a genuine run.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
France storm past Iraq after a two-hour weather delay as Mbappe marks 100th cap with a brace
A chaotic, thunderstorm-hit night in Philadelphia ended in a clear 3-0 win that sent France into the knockout stage, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice and Ousmane Dembele adding his first major-tournament goal.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
Julian Alvarez says he wants to leave Atletico, turning the summer's biggest transfer rumour into an open saga
The Argentina forward and former Manchester City man says a move would be best for everyone, with Real Madrid, Barcelona and PSG all linked and a reported 150m euro bid already rejected.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
Messi breaks the World Cup men's scoring record as Argentina reach the knockout phase
Two goals against Austria moved Lionel Messi past Miroslav Klose as the tournament's all-time leading scorer, sealing the holders' progress in a record-equalling sixth World Cup for the 38-year-old.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
Ronaldinho-linked Serie C event revives nostalgia and reopens the debate over spectacle in modern football
Reports of an appearance tied to Ronaldinho in Italy's lower leagues have become a nostalgia-driven story, mixing celebrity pull, local club attention and questions about the value of spectacle.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
Yan Diomande and Liverpool: the transfer-window debate over young attackers, risk and value
Talk linking Yan Diomande with Liverpool has become part of a wider Premier League conversation about emerging forwards, scouting risk and the balance between youth potential and immediate need.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
Derek McInnes faces touchline ban as Rangers tenure begins under a cloud
A disciplinary charge over comments about match officials could keep the new Ibrox manager off the touchline for his opening domestic fixtures.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
Tuchel says England need Saka but cannot rely on him alone for goals
After a flat goalless draw with Ghana, the England head coach admits his side must find more creativity rather than lean on Bukayo Saka.
Daniel Fletcher 3 min read
Colombia Edge DR Congo 1-0 to Reach World Cup Knockout Stage
A disciplined defensive display and one decisive moment send Colombia through, while DR Congo exit a campaign defined by narrow margins.
Daniel Fletcher 3 min read
Qatar's Assim Madibo handed five-match ban for World Cup tackle that broke Kone's leg
FIFA disciplinary action over the challenge that fractured Canada midfielder Ismael Kone's leg becomes one of the tournament's defining safety cases.
Daniel Fletcher 4 min read
FIFA hydration breaks under scrutiny as World Cup crowds near record levels
Mandatory water breaks in North America's summer heat divide opinion, with FIFA defending player welfare as critics question the impact on rhythm and television.
Daniel Fletcher 4 min read
Reece James a fitness worry for England before Panama World Cup clash
Hamstring tightness for the Chelsea full-back hands Thomas Tuchel a right-back decision as England chase top spot in the group.
Daniel Fletcher 3 min read
Cristiano Ronaldo becomes first man to score at six World Cups
The Portugal forward's latest tournament goal added another record to one of football's longest international careers, reportedly making him the first player to score across six men's World Cups.
Daniel Fletcher 3 min read
Derek McInnes sets out his standards at first Rangers press conference
The new Rangers manager spoke about responsibility, standards and giving supporters a team they can believe in as he began the task of resetting expectations.
Daniel Fletcher 3 min read
Norway's 'Viking row' celebration becomes World Cup talking point
Norway's distinctive goal celebration has drawn euphoria at home but irritation and envy from Scandinavian neighbours during a strong tournament run.
Daniel Fletcher 3 min read
World Cup third-place table reshapes the race for the last 32
The expanded format has turned the standings of best third-placed teams into a central storyline, with British interest in the permutations.
Daniel Fletcher 4 min read
Croatia edge Panama as Modric marks 200th cap at World Cup
Ante Budimir's second-half goal secured a vital 1-0 win in Toronto, reviving Croatia's campaign on a landmark day for veteran Luka Modric.
Daniel Fletcher 4 min read
Brighton's £45m Vuskovic Bid Forces Tottenham Into a Defining Defensive Call
Brighton have raised their offer for Tottenham's teenage centre-back Luka Vuskovic to a package worth around £45m, leaving Spurs to weigh a tempting fee against the loss of one of Europe's brightest young defenders mid-World Cup.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
Ollie Watkins Warns England Not To Settle For Survival Against Ghana
The Aston Villa striker says England must chase top spot in their World Cup group rather than assume qualification will take care of itself before a testing clash with Ghana.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
Trevoh Chalobah Turns Late England Call-Up Into A World Cup Opportunity
The Chelsea defender was summoned to Thomas Tuchel's squad after Tino Livramento's injury, turning a summer on the outside into a chance on the biggest stage.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
Declan Rice Injury Admission Reopens The Player Workload Debate
The Arsenal midfielder says he has managed hamstring nerve pain since Christmas, sharpening concern over the demands placed on England's key players.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
WSL Fans Cleared To Drink Alcohol In The Stands Next Season
Women's Super League and WSL2 clubs can let supporters drink in sight of the pitch from 2026-27 after an expanded trial was judged a success.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
Manchester United Stadium Land Deal Moves 100,000-Seat Plan Closer
Manchester United have secured most of the land needed for a proposed 100,000-seat stadium near Old Trafford, edging a project that would become the UK's largest ground from ambition towards reality.
Daniel Fletcher 4 min read
Cape Verde draw with Uruguay to keep World Cup fairytale alive
A 2-2 draw with two-time winners Uruguay leaves debutants Cape Verde unbeaten and still in contention for the knockout stage, with their final group game now carrying real stakes.
Daniel Fletcher 4 min read
Spence turns Tuchel training flashpoint into a World Cup lesson
The Tottenham full-back has played down a viral training-ground exchange with England manager Thomas Tuchel, framing it as instruction rather than embarrassment.
Daniel Fletcher 4 min read
Norway Edge Senegal in Five-Goal World Cup Thriller
Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway reached the knockout stage for the first time since 1998 with a 3-2 win in New Jersey.
Daniel Fletcher 4 min read
Window opens: Gordon joins Barcelona as Premier League clubs spring into action
The summer 2026 transfer window is officially open for business, with Anthony Gordon's £69m move to Barcelona among the headline early deals as English clubs reshape their squads before the 1 September deadline.
Daniel Fletcher 7 min read
Tuchel's England warm up in style as Croatia opener looms
Thomas Tuchel's England head into their World Cup opener against Croatia full of confidence after beating New Zealand and Costa Rica in their Florida warm-up matches, with Declan Rice and a deep, settled squad fuelling genuine optimism.
Daniel Fletcher 7 min read
World Cup 2026 roars into life as hosts and home nations make their mark
The expanded 48-team World Cup is under way across three nations, with Mexico christening the tournament at the Azteca, the USA thrashing Paraguay and a string of early results setting the tone for a sprawling festival of football.
Daniel Fletcher 7 min read
McGinn ends 36-year wait as Scotland beat Haiti to open World Cup with victory
John McGinn's deflected first-half strike gave Steve Clarke's side a 1-0 win over Haiti in Boston — Scotland's first victory at a World Cup finals since 1990 and a result that briefly put the Tartan Army top of Group C.
Daniel Fletcher 7 min read
Hwang In-beom inspires South Korea comeback to sink Czechia at the World Cup
Trailing at the Guadalajara Stadium, South Korea responded through a moment of individual brilliance and a late winner to begin their campaign with three points.
Daniel Fletcher 8 min read
World Cup kicks off as Mexico beat South Africa in Azteca opener
The expanded 48-team tournament, jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada, began with a 2-0 home win for Mexico in Mexico City.
Marcus Reeve 7 min read
Mexico open World Cup 2026 with 2-0 win over South Africa in ill-tempered Azteca curtain-raiser
Goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez settled the tournament's opening match, but it was the three red cards in front of a fervent Mexico City crowd that grabbed the headlines.
Daniel Fletcher 8 min read
Robertson joins Tottenham on free transfer after nine years at Liverpool
The Scotland captain ends a trophy-laden Anfield spell to link up with Roberto De Zerbi's Spurs, who have hailed him as a proven winner.
Daniel Fletcher 7 min read