Soccer (FIFA)

Soccer (FIFA)

There will be a total of nine international games in the forthcoming campaign, with Australia and France hosting regular-season matchups for the first time. While the NFL is determined to continue to grow internationally, games outside of the United States present huge challenges for the teams that contest them. And one team in particular is likely to have a grievance with the record-breaking number of air miles they will clock up in 2026.

Edouard scored 57 goals in 94 league matches for Celtic between 2018 and 2021, helping them to successive domestic trebles. Now playing for Lens in Ligue 1, the 28-year-old represented France at youth level but has never played for them at senior international level. His parents are of Haitian heritage, hence they are hoping to recruit him for the World Cup. Nothing is guaranteed, though, as convincing players to represent countries they were not born in and have maybe never visited can be tricky.

West Bromwich Albion will not appeal against a two-point deduction for breaching financial rules, but have reiterated their disagreement with the English Football League's sanction. The deduction was handed down last month, 24 hours after a two-day hearing by an independent panel into a breach of profit and sustainability rules (PSR). The news came on the eve of the club's final home game against Ipswich Town and raised the, albeit unlikely, scenario of relegation with the Baggies dropping to six points above the drop zone with two games to play.

Barnsley have reappointed Daniel Stendel as their head coach on a two-year contract. The 52-year-old German has succeeded Conor Hourihane, who stepped down at the end of the season after the Tykes finished 15th in League One. Stendel led Barnsley to promotion from the third tier in 2019 with a club-record 91 points, but was sacked in October of that year after a poor start to the following season.

Newcastle United midfielder Rory Finneran has received his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad for their friendly against Grenada. The 18-year-old has joined Heimir Hallgrimsson's squad in Murcia, Spain for their training camp before they face Grenada on Saturday at the Estadio Nueva Condomina [17:00 BST].

Huddersfield Town boss Liam Manning has left the club by mutual consent, two months after taking compassionate leave. Manning stepped back from his role in March, with the League One side saying in a statement at the time that the decision was made after he "made the club aware of ongoing personal matters relating to the tragic passing of his newborn son Theo in October 2024".

Players who make their first tournament appearance at this summer's Fifa World Cup will wear a debut patch on their shirts. Players such as Erling Haaland and Lamine Yamal will make their World Cup bows this summer - as will every player in the Scotland squad. It is part of a new licensing deal which will see Fanatics replace Panini as Fifa's partner for trading cards and stickers from 2031. The patches will be removed from shirts after a player's debut and turned into collectable Topps trading cards.