France and Portugal have emerged as early frontrunners to win the 2026 Fifa World Cup as 48 nations prepare to battle for the ultimate prize across North America this summer.
The expanded tournament begins on 11 June, culminating in the final at New York’s MetLife Stadium on 19 July.
Holders Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, will defend their crown alongside traditional heavyweights including Brazil, Spain and Thomas Tuchel’s England.
Ronaldo seeks ultimate prize with Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo arrives in the United States, Canada and Mexico with a final opportunity to secure the only major trophy missing from his glittering resume.
The 41-year-old forward hopes to emulate his long-time rival Messi, who cemented his legacy with a historic victory in Qatar four years ago.
Roberto Martinez’s squad boasts formidable depth following their recent 2025 Nations League triumph over European champions Spain.
The Iberian nation features world-class talent including Premier League standout Bruno Fernandes and a strong Paris St-Germain contingent.
A mouth-watering quarter-final clash between Ronaldo’s side and Argentina remains a distinct possibility if both nations navigate their respective groups successfully.
Deschamps bids farewell with frightening French attack
The 2018 champions remain formidable contenders in what is widely expected to be Didier Deschamps’ final tournament as national team manager.
The European heavyweights possess an intimidating forward line spearheaded by lightning-fast Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe.
He is supported by exceptional attacking depth, with Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele offering devastating pace on the flanks.
Defensively, Les Bleus can rely on the formidable central partnership of William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano to stifle opposition threats.
If the two-time winners can find the right tactical balance, they possess the necessary experience to banish the heartbreak of their 2022 final defeat.
Chelsea have been tipped to sign Liverpool defender Jeremie Frimpong this summer to reunite the Dutchman with new head coach Xabi Alonso at Stamford Bridge.
Frimpong joined the Merseyside club for £29.5m under former manager Arne Slot but has endured a deeply frustrating debut campaign.
The lightning-fast wing-back suffered a hamstring strain on his Premier League debut and has struggled to recapture his best form since returning to fitness.
Reuniting a title-winning partnership
The 23-year-old previously excelled under Alonso during Bayer Leverkusen’s historic domestic double-winning season.
Former Spain midfielder Gaizka Mendieta believes a move to west London would be a logical step to benefit both the player and the new manager.
Jeremie Frimpong could be a good asset for Xabi Alonso at Chelsea.
Managers have players they trust from previous clubs and there will be a belief from the player that they can find that form again.
We often see players reuniting with former coaches for that reason, especially if things aren’t going well for those players like Frimpong at Liverpool.
A potential arrival for the former Bundesliga star would create fierce competition with club captain Reece James on the right flank.
Cucurella expected to remain at Stamford Bridge
Fellow full-back Marc Cucurella has also attracted persistent interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid following a season without European football for the Blues.
However, Mendieta expects the Spanish international to stay and thrive in Alonso’s notoriously demanding tactical system.
Cucurella will be a key player under Xabi Alonso.
He plays with fullbacks quite offensively, it’s very demanding physically because you have to support the midfield.
The tactical setup at Leverkusen relied heavily on prolific attacking wing-backs, a specialized role seemingly tailored to the former Brighton defender.
Scotland manager Steve Clarke is targeting a historic place in the World Cup knockout stages as his side prepare to end a 28-year absence from the global stage against Haiti on Sunday.
The 62-year-old recently signed a new four-year contract after successfully guiding the national side to consecutive European Championships.
However, the former Chelsea defender admits he did not enjoy those previous campaigns.
“I’ve not really enjoyed the previous two tournaments if I’m being honest,” Clarke tells BBC Scotland.
Learning from previous tournament failures
The Ayrshireman feels the Covid-impacted Euro 2020 lacked a true tournament atmosphere due to reduced crowds and home fixtures.
He also acknowledges the squad fell short of their own high standards during their recent appearance in Germany.
“We let ourselves down. We didn’t play as well as we should have done and I probably didn’t make the decisions that I should have,” he added.
Now entering his third major finals at the helm, the veteran coach believes those harsh lessons have forged a more resilient group.
The immediate aim is to finally shatter the barrier that has traditionally prevented the Scots from advancing past the group stages.
Cautious optimism follows impressive warm-up form
A sensational qualification-clinching victory over Denmark last November initially secured their ticket to the showpiece event.
Moods temporarily dampened following underwhelming friendly defeats against Japan and Ivory Coast earlier this year.
However, recent dominant victories over Curacao and Bolivia have restored confidence among the travelling Tartan Army.
“What we’ve achieved up to now is great. Let’s see if we can achieve a little bit more,” says the head coach.
Embracing the ultimate footballing stage
Sunday’s 02:00 BST kick-off against the Caribbean nation marks a monumental milestone for Scottish football.
A significant portion of the current squad now boasts the vital experience of playing in multiple international competitions.
“Now we have to show that tournament experience in a tournament,” he says.
Despite the quiet confidence radiating through the camp, the management team remains acutely aware of the tactical challenges ahead.
For the man in the dugout, reaching this ultimate competition represents the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition.
“I wanted to go to a World Cup as a player. I didn’t manage to do that. It’s taken me 62 years to achieve what I wanted to achieve, so I’m going to try to enjoy it.”
Didier Deschamps will step down as manager of the French national team following the 2026 World Cup, bringing an end to a historic 14-year tenure in charge of Les Bleus.
The 55-year-old tactician has overseen 188 matches since taking the helm in 2012, restoring pride to a nation previously fractured by a mutinous 2010 campaign in South Africa.
If he successfully navigates the upcoming tournament in North America, he will fall just short of Joachim Low’s European record of 198 games managing Germany.
Chasing historical greatness
Victory in the New York final on 19 July 2026 would solidify his status as arguably the greatest international manager of the modern era.
The former Juventus midfielder has already joined Franz Beckenbauer in the exclusive club of individuals to win football’s ultimate prize as both captain and coach.
However, pressure is mounting with former teammate Zinedine Zidane having spent years patiently waiting to inherit the prestigious managerial role.
Balancing generational attacking talent
The outgoing boss possesses a formidable attacking arsenal, blending the elite pace of Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele with emerging stars like Desire Doue and Michael Olise.
Despite this immense firepower, his pragmatic approach has sometimes drawn fierce criticism for failing to maximize the squad’s offensive potential.
During their run to the Euro 2024 semi-finals, the European heavyweights astonishingly failed to score a single goal from open play.
A legacy of tactical pragmatism
Defenders of his methods point to his masterful team-building, such as utilizing an unselfish Olivier Giroud during their victorious 2018 campaign in Russia.
That tactical tweak perfectly balanced the side, allowing his superstar forwards the freedom to dismantle opposition defences.
Now, as the curtain begins to fall on a defining era of international football, the ultimate puzzle remains whether he can bow out with a third consecutive global final.
Bayern Munich are in advanced talks to sign Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Nathaniel Brown, dealing a major blow to Arsenal’s summer transfer plans.
The Gunners had identified the Germany international as a key target to bolster their defensive options following their recent Premier League title success.
However, the Bundesliga champions have progressed rapidly in their pursuit of the highly-rated full-back.
Medical planned during World Cup
Negotiations between Bayern and Frankfurt have been widely reported as overwhelmingly positive.
All parties involved are now increasingly optimistic that a final agreement will be reached shortly.
Contingency plans are already being established for a medical examination to take place in North America.
The lightning-fast defender is currently stationed there while representing his country at the World Cup.
Arsenal face defensive dilemma
Missing out on the Frankfurt star will force Mikel Arteta to rapidly reassess his recruitment strategy.
Sporting director Andrea Berta must now decide whether to pursue alternative left-back targets or shift focus entirely to the opposite flank.
The North London club have struggled extensively to manage recurring injury problems at right-back.
Ben White and Jurrien Timber have both endured significant spells on the sidelines over the past two seasons.
Arteta’s tactical shuffling
These persistent fitness issues have forced the Arsenal manager into several unconventional tactical adjustments.
Cristhian Mosquera has frequently been deployed out of position on the right side of the backline.
Arteta has even experimented with anchoring midfielder Declan Rice in the right-back role to navigate severe injury crises.
With a demanding campaign ahead, securing durable defensive reinforcements remains an urgent priority at Emirates Stadium.
Lionel Messi marked his return from injury with a penalty as Argentina defeated Iceland 3-0 in a World Cup warm-up match in Alabama.
The Inter Miami captain was introduced in the 70th minute to the delight of an 88,000-strong crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
He confidently converted from the spot shortly after his arrival to double the advantage for Lionel Scaloni’s side.
Ezequiel Barco had previously opened the scoring in the first half, while Thiago Almada added a third goal to seal a comprehensive victory.
Managing the captain’s fitness
The veteran forward has been carefully navigating a left hamstring issue ahead of the upcoming Fifa World Cup.
He recently exited a domestic fixture against the Philadelphia Union with muscle fatigue, forcing him to miss his national team’s previous friendly victory over Honduras.
However, the coaching staff have gradually integrated him back into group training to ensure his readiness for their tournament opener against Algeria on 16 June.
“We’re going to distribute the minutes of the players who will play tomorrow to try to avoid any mishaps.”
This was the cautious approach outlined by manager Scaloni prior to the fixture, ensuring his squad avoided unnecessary strain.
World Cup defence preparations
The penalty against Iceland represented the 911th career goal for the Argentine icon across both club and international football.
It also takes his phenomenal international tally to 117 goals for the South American nation.
The reigning world champions look to be in formidable form as they prepare to defend the global crown they famously secured in 2022.
The United States defeated Brazil 1-0 in a chaotic international friendly in Fortaleza on Tuesday night as the hosts remarkably received eight red cards.
The narrow victory provided a measure of revenge for Emma Hayes’ side after suffering a 3-1 defeat to the same opposition on Sunday.
Following a fiercely contested and scoreless opening period, the decisive moment arrived early in the second half.
A shot from Portland Thorns striker Sophia Wilson deflected off Isabela Chagas to force a match-winning own goal.
Disciplinary collapse in Fortaleza
However, the fixture will be remembered primarily for an astonishing breakdown in discipline from the home side.
Emotions boiled over in front of a passionate crowd at the Arena Castelão as the Brazilian head coach and several staff members were dismissed in the second half.
Forward Bia Zaneratto was also sent off as the hosts began to completely lose their composure.
Tarciane was subsequently shown a red card for elbowing the American goal creator, reducing the South Americans to nine players on the pitch.
Building toward next year’s World Cup
The disciplinary collapse continued even after the final whistle sounded.
Referee Paola Cebollada López dismissed two more players following the conclusion of the match, bringing the staggering total to eight.
The demanding physical encounter fulfilled the expectations of the American manager, who had stressed the need for greater toughness on the road against next summer’s Women’s World Cup hosts.
The four-time world champions will now enter a lengthy hiatus from international action.
They return to competitive play on 27 November when they face El Salvador in the Concacaf W Championship.
Real Madrid have agreed to pay Benfica £12.9m to reappoint Jose Mourinho as their head coach following the departure of Alvaro Arbeloa.
The Portuguese tactician’s return to the Santiago Bernabeu accelerated after Florentino Perez was re-elected as club president over the weekend.
An official announcement is expected imminently after the Spanish giants confirmed Arbeloa had stepped down from his position on Tuesday evening.
Arbeloa departs the Bernabeu
Real Madrid CF and Alvaro Arbeloa have reached an agreement to end his time as first team coach.
Los Blancos issued a statement thanking the departing manager for his loyalty, commitment, and professionalism throughout his lengthy association with the club.
Real Madrid, which will always be his home, wishes Alvaro Arbeloa and his entire family the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.
Mourinho previously managed the La Liga heavyweights between 2010 and 2013, famously winning the domestic title in record-breaking fashion during his second season.
His impending arrival triggers a swift managerial shuffle in Lisbon, with former Fulham boss Marco Silva stepping into the immediate vacancy.
Silva secures Benfica switch
The reigning Portuguese champions confirmed the financial compensation package from Madrid via a formal regulatory statement on social media.
Benfica SAD has informed the CMVM that Real Madrid CF has formally expressed its intention to hire Jose Mourinho for the amount of 15 million euros, with the coach having given his agreement.
Silva has formally signed an initial two-year employment contract with the Eagles to replace the departing head coach.
This new agreement includes an option to extend the 46-year-old’s tenure at the Estadio da Luz until the end of the 2028-29 campaign.