United States midfielder Johnny Cardoso has been ruled out of the 2026 World Cup and will undergo surgery after suffering a severe joint injury in training.

The 24-year-old sustained a high-grade sprain while training with Spanish club Atletico Madrid last Thursday.

His absence serves as a major blow to head coach Mauricio Pochettino ahead of the tournament.

The Argentine manager must submit his 55-man preliminary squad to Fifa today as preparations intensify for the global showpiece.

Atletico confirm extent of injury

Cardoso had been enjoying an impressive domestic campaign in La Liga before the unfortunate setback.

However, his club have now confirmed the American international will miss the remainder of the season alongside his upcoming international commitments.

An official statement from Atletico detailed the severity of the trauma, noting significant joint involvement.

“Johnny Cardoso will undergo surgery to repair the injury to his right ankle,” the statement read.
“The American suffered a trauma during training last Thursday that resulted in a high-grade sprain with joint involvement.”

Pochettino faces midfield reshuffle

The Spanish giants added their support for the player, publicly wishing him a full and speedy recovery.

Losing the combative midfielder will force Pochettino to explore alternative options in the centre of the pitch.

The United States are aiming to deliver their most successful World Cup performance when the co-hosted tournament begins on 11 June.

Arsenal right-backs Jurrien Timber and Ben White are major doubts for the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on 30 May due to late-season injuries.

Timber has not featured for the Gunners since 14 March after sustaining a persistent groin problem.

The 24-year-old Dutchman hopes to resume training this week to prove his fitness ahead of the European showpiece.

However, another failed rehabilitation attempt could result in surgery, effectively ruling him out of the upcoming World Cup in North America.

Defensive crisis deepens for Arteta

The north London club’s injury woes compounded on Sunday when White suffered a suspected knee ligament issue against West Ham.

Manager Mikel Arteta is now sweating on the severity of the Englishman’s problem with just two Premier League fixtures against Burnley and Crystal Palace remaining.

Arsenal’s backline was further depleted during the same match when Italy international Riccardo Calafiori was withdrawn at half-time.

World Cup aspirations hang in the balance

A potential long-term absence for Timber would be a significant blow for the Netherlands national team.

Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino is also fighting his own fitness battle after undergoing foot surgery four months ago.

Arteta confirmed both Merino and the former Ajax defender face a strict race against time to feature in Paris and secure their international spots.

Arsenal must quickly patch together a resilient defence to contain a potent French attack, which features highly-rated Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Newcastle United are preparing a summer approach for Paris St-Germain forward Goncalo Ramos as manager Eddie Howe looks to overhaul his squad.

The Magpies have endured a difficult domestic campaign and sit 13th in the league table with just two games remaining.

Their struggles were compounded by a comprehensive 8-3 aggregate defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League last 16.

Howe is expected to oversee a significant rebuild at St James’ Park to re-establish the club among Europe’s elite.

Frustrations in Paris

Ramos is reportedly ready to leave the French capital after falling down the pecking order under head coach Luis Enrique.

The Portuguese attacker finds himself behind a wealth of talent, with players such as Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia currently preferred in attack.

Despite these limited opportunities, the former Benfica frontman has still managed to register 11 goals across all competitions this season.

Newcastle chiefs have identified the striker as a primary target following disappointing returns from recent forward acquisitions.

Long-term admiration

The Tyneside club have tracked the international’s progress for an extended period.

They previously considered securing his signature during his prolific spell in Portugal before he opted to join the Ligue 1 champions.

Speaking to Football Insider, journalist Pete O’Rourke confirmed that Paris St-Germain are open to facilitating a departure.

We do fully expect Newcastle to be in the market for striker reinforcements in the summer transfer window. Pete O’Rourke
If they get any indication that Ramos could be prised away from the Parc de Princes and that he’s interested in a move to the Premier League, I’m sure they’ll be one of the clubs who would be interested.

The ideal physical profile

The prolific marksman has consistently demonstrated his ability to score regularly when provided with consistent minutes.

His excellent hold-up play, aerial dominance and two-footed finishing are viewed as the perfect physical attributes for English football.

A move to Tyneside could offer the forward a crucial new challenge while providing Howe with the clinical edge his team has lacked this term.

Liverpool have initiated formal steps to sign Sporting Lisbon winger Francisco Trincao in a £50m deal as they prepare for the summer departure of Mohamed Salah.

The Reds are actively planning their recruitment strategy following confirmation that their talismanic Egyptian forward will leave Anfield on a free transfer.

Arne Slot’s recruitment team have identified the Portugal international as a primary candidate to rebuild the Merseyside club’s attack.

The 26-year-old has enjoyed a stellar campaign in the Portuguese top flight, registering 12 goals and 14 assists across all competitions.

Release clause triggers early move

Despite agreeing a new contract with the Lisbon giants earlier this season, the attacker’s deal contains a €60m (£50m) release clause.

The former Barcelona player is understood to be highly receptive to a Premier League switch to take on a fresh challenge.

Anfield officials are moving swiftly to secure his signature ahead of rival European clubs.

Reinforcements in wide areas are an absolute priority for the club’s hierarchy this summer.

Tactical fit for Slot’s system

Alongside Salah, the Merseyside outfit are preparing for the likely exit of Italian forward Federico Chiesa.

The Sporting forward fits the precise tactical profile desired by the Dutch manager for his fluid offensive system.

As a direct but technically gifted winger, he operates comfortably across the frontline and excels in tight pockets of space.

His playing style would allow him to link effectively with other reported high-profile targets, including Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.

The club are also monitoring Bradley Barcola and Yan Diomande as alternative options to further bolster the squad.

Former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko will join an exclusive list of players aged 40 or over to feature at a World Cup after being named in Bosnia-Herzegovina’s squad for the 2026 tournament.

The veteran forward is set to become only the second outfield player to appear at the global showpiece after their 40th birthday.

Cameroon legend Roger Milla currently holds that unique distinction, having famously played and scored at the 1994 edition in the United States.

A rare feat in international football

While outfield players of that age are exceptionally rare, six goalkeepers have previously achieved the milestone on the biggest stage.

That esteemed group includes Egypt’s Essam el Hadary, who was 45 at the 2018 tournament, alongside Pat Jennings, Peter Shilton, Dino Zoff, Faryd Mondragon and Ali Boumnijel.

The legendary Bosnian talisman is unlikely to be the only 40-something outfield player in North America this summer.

Luka Modric, 40, and Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, are both widely expected to feature for Croatia and Portugal respectively.

Leading from the front in qualifying

The nation’s all-time leading appearance maker and scorer was instrumental in securing their qualification for the finals.

Earning his 148th cap, the prolific frontman played in seven of eight Group H qualifying matches before steering his team through the play-offs.

He demonstrated his enduring quality by netting his 73rd international goal during a crucial semi-final victory against Wales.

Early preparations for North America

The European nation has become the first competing country to officially confirm their 26-man roster for the expanded tournament across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Making only their second ever appearance at a World Cup finals, they have been drawn into Group B where they will face Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.

Full Bosnia-Herzegovina 2026 World Cup squad

Gary Neville has backed defending champions Paris Saint-Germain to defeat Arsenal in this month’s Champions League final and elevate manager Luis Enrique to legendary status.

The French giants are aiming to become only the second team in the modern era to retain the European Cup.

Mikel Arteta’s side stand in their way, though the Premier League club enter the showpiece event as clear underdogs.

The Parisians secured their maiden European title 12 months ago by dismantling Inter Milan 5-0.

They have maintained that electric form during this campaign, eliminating both Liverpool and Bayern Munich to reach another final.

Chasing consecutive European crowns

Enrique now has the opportunity to join an exclusive managerial elite.

Zinedine Zidane remains the only coach to secure successive Champions League trophies over the past 35 years.

Legendary figures such as Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson all failed to achieve the consecutive feat.

Speaking on his podcast, former Manchester United defender Neville insisted the Spanish manager can etch his name into history.

“It feels like the moment for PSG to win it back-to-back and for Luis Enrique to put himself up there with the God-like managers who have done this.”

Arsenal face monumental underdog challenge

The North London club are simultaneously chasing a first domestic league title in 22 years.

However, Neville believes overcoming their French opponents in Europe may be a step too far for the current squad.

“In the Champions League final they need to think about their defensive ability and strength and think how they can over 90 minutes beat a team who are better than them.”
“Because PSG are better than them, you can’t get away from that. PSG are a better team than Arsenal right now and they’ve demonstrated that over the last two seasons.”

Both clubs are pursuing impressive domestic and European doubles this season.

If the PSG boss succeeds, he will emulate the historic back-to-back achievements of Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest and Bob Paisley at Liverpool.

“Winning the Premier League for the first time in 22 years is huge but getting the Champions League as well would be incredible.”
“It feels like the right moment for Arsenal to win the Premier League, it doesn’t quite feel like the right moment for them to win the Champions League.”

German official Daniel Siebert has been appointed by Uefa to referee the Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on Saturday, 30 May.

The 42-year-old brings significant experience to the showpiece event, having already taken charge of nine matches in Europe’s elite club competition this season.

A familiar face for Arsenal

Mikel Arteta’s side boast a flawless record under the veteran official during their current continental campaign.

Siebert oversaw the quarter-final first-leg victory against Sporting Lisbon, as well as the crucial semi-final second-leg triumph over Atletico Madrid.

The north London club secured hard-fought 1-0 victories on both of those high-pressure nights.

Remarkably, the German has yet to show a single yellow card to an Arsenal player across those two pivotal fixtures.

Contrasting records and statistics

Paris Saint-Germain have only encountered the official once this term during a goalless draw at Athletic Bilbao in December.

The French champions saw four players booked by the disciplinarian in that tense group-stage encounter.

Statistics show the referee averages 4.44 yellow cards per game in European competition this season, notably higher than his domestic rate of 3.20 in the Bundesliga.

He also brings major international tournament pedigree to Hungary, having previously officiated at both Euro 2024 and Euro 2020.

Arteta demands officiating consistency

The appointment comes shortly after the Arsenal manager publicly praised the bravery of video assistant referees during a recent domestic victory over West Ham.

“When I had to be critical, I have been.”

Arteta told Sky Sports regarding the immense pressure placed upon modern match officials.

“You needed a lot of courage and bravery to stand out and give the opportunity to the referee to have a look at the action.”

A fully German video assistant referee team, led by Bastian Dankert, will support the on-field crew in Budapest.

Jan Seidel and Rafael Foltyn will serve as assistant referees, while Switzerland’s Sandro Schärer takes up duties as the fourth official.

England international Beth Mead will leave Arsenal at the end of the season in search of regular playing time after a glittering nine-year stint in north London.

The 31-year-old was hailed as a true club legend after scoring 86 goals in 263 appearances since arriving from Sunderland in 2017.

Both London City Lionesses and Manchester City are reportedly interested in securing the signature of the highly sought-after attacker.

A decorated spell in north London

During her distinguished tenure, the Euro 2022 Golden Boot winner helped secure a Women’s Super League title, three League Cups, and the Women’s Champions League.

She famously assisted Stina Blackstenius’ winning goal in last season’s Champions League final against Barcelona, ending a painful 18-year wait for European glory.

Beth has made a huge contribution to our football club over nine years, and will go down in history as one of our best forwards and a legend of the club.

That glowing tribute from Arsenal director of women’s football Clare Wheatley highlights the profound impact the versatile winger has had on the entire organisation.

Search for minutes ahead of World Cup

Despite her undeniable quality, the former Sunderland star has found her starting opportunities increasingly limited throughout the current campaign.

The prolific forward has made 27 appearances across all competitions this season, but 11 of those have come as a substitute.

With the 2027 World Cup in Brazil approaching, securing consistent minutes elsewhere is vital to remaining firmly in England manager Sarina Wiegman’s future plans.

This pressing need for playing time follows a gruelling 11-month recovery from a serious anterior cruciate ligament rupture suffered in November 2022.

The knee injury forced the 2022 BBC Sports Personality of the Year to miss the 2023 World Cup, though she successfully returned to help the Lionesses retain their European crown at Euro 2025.

Pelova also departs the Emirates

In addition to their celebrated number nine, Arsenal confirmed that Dutch international Victoria Pelova will also exit the club this summer.

The 25-year-old midfielder departs having made 87 appearances and scored six goals since her arrival from Ajax in January 2023.