It was not mathematically confirmed until the Latvia game a month later, but as I watched Ezri Konsa turn in the third goal away to Serbia in early September I smiled to myself in the Stadion Rajko Mitic, knowing England were going to the World Cup. But immediately, a key question surfaced: was I? The answer came on Thursday, with the announcement of the ticket prices that the most loyal supporters of international football would have to pay.
The best right-wingers in the world might be the most difficult task of any position on the pitch. Historically, a certain Argentine has been king of lists ranking the best players in the world, but as Lionel Messi winds down, there are certainly plenty of stars waiting to assume his crown, with the top half-dozen sides in the world each having an elite star in that position.
The live UK broadcast selections for the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been announced. There will be matches every day for 17 days from the opening game of the tournament between Mexico and South Africa. The finals are being staged by three different nations for the first time, taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
We've gathered some of our trickiest brainteasers that we know you'll enjoy too, all available courtesy of Kwizly. Let's see what you've really got. FourFourTwo's Big Badge Quiz asks you to name 100 club and country crests from all over the world of football, and we have an equally difficult quiz about unique Premier League nationalities. You may like Our Premier League spot the ball recalls 10 famous and infamous moments in England's top flight.
Football revolves around the best central midfielders in the world, with the engine room still what decides games at the highest level. In 2025, many of the best players in the world right now are all-action centre-mids, with nine-figure fees splashed out in recent years on box-to-box ballers and controllers in the middle of the park. And in an era of increased physicality and supreme technical level, you have to be a well-rounded no.8 to survive at the top
The Bay Area will host six games at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara (or San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, as FIFA calls it): five in the group phase and one for the round of 32. Because FIFA is using dynamic pricing, ticket prices have gone up since the first ticket draw. Currently, prices for games in the group phase go from $140 to $2,735. Prices for the round of 32, round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals get more expensive exponentially.
The best left-backs in the world hasn't always been a pool of elite talent. In the olden days, you didn't even have to be left-footed: full-backs have long been mocked for being the worst players in any XI, yet that all changed with the likes of Roberto Carlos and Ashley Cole, ushering in an era of dynamic, exciting left-backs capable of offering creativity and stability. They're just as valuable a member of anyone else and these days,
The best strikers in the world are the most valuable people in the game. The most difficult thing in football is to score goals so naturally, the best players in the world are going to be the ones who find the net more than your average guy. The transfer market would certainly agree and of course, being a striker isn't just about finishing anymore: you also have to hold up, link play, press, run the channels and bully defenceswhich makes judging the position particularly tough
For my players, yes. And for the fans, yes. "Yes, I would like to win the trophy. I'm pretty sure that, if we don't win it, it's going to be difficult, because when we lose, this is painful." "But, again, I am optimistic as a person. So hopefully we're going to do it. And also if it's going to validate what we are doing."
According to a report from TEAMtalk, the three Premier League clubs are monitoring his progress, and they could look to make a move in future. Chelsea could use more quality and depth, and the side and the 15-year-old would be a long-term investment. They have shown a willingness to invest in talented young players, and they are looking to add Pereira da Gama to the formidable pool of young talent already at the club. The report claims that Chelsea are determined to secure his signature.
The best goalkeepers in the world used to be easy to sort but the position has evolved so much in the last decade or so. Once the madmen and mavericks of your club, the position has become sanitised in the modern game: goalkeepers are no longer quite so different to outfielders, since they have to build from the back and rush out to help a high line like a traditional sweeper used to decades ago. It makes lists like these difficult
First it was announced that a grant of 18m would be provided by the Welsh Labour government to help renovate the Racecourse Ground, which is unusual, public money to a private entity, but justified as part of a wider regeneration. And second, Wrexham's co-owners, the TV guys, Rob and Ryan, announced the sale this week of a minority stake to Apollo Sports Capital, which is owned by Apollo, a US hedge fund.
However, the game burst into life in the 57th minute, courtesy of a tidy finish from Burke. After being played into the box by Jeong Woo-yeong, Burke cut inside past Castello Lukeba and curled his effort into the top-left corner to give Union the lead. Leipzig head coach Ole Werner responded by immediately subbing on Gomis, and the decision paid dividends on the hour mark.
Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka has been offered to Serie A giants Juventus and Inter Milan as he is reportedly not considered an important player in manager Vincent Kompany's plans. According to an exclusive report from CalcioMercato.it, Goretzka's agents are actively exploring new destinations for the German midfielder, whose contract with Bayern is set to expire on June 30, allowing him to leave for free at the end of the season.
"We had our way of playing when we started the season and maybe our opponents were not that familiar [with it]," he said. "Now they start to see how we want to play, how they stop that. Again, we need to evolve our things that can counter what the opponent is doing. "The basics and the foundations of how we do things are at a good level. Now, we need little tweaks - when we attack, how we can be more balanced in defence, attacking the box, how we can find this final pass. "The basics are there, the foundations are there, the principles are there."
As the clock ticked past the hour mark in Tallaght, the 1,800 Crystal Palace fans packed into the south stand started to serenade their manager.
As first reported here for the Daily Briefing, the Eagles are making Diomande a top target to replace Marc Guehi, who continues to be targeted by Liverpool and other big clubs around Europe. Sporting don't want to sell Diomande and are pointing to his 80m release clause, which one imagines could prove problematic for Palace, but perhaps less so for Chelsea.
