Croatia have named 40-year-old midfielder Luka Modric in their 26-man World Cup squad as he recovers from a fractured cheekbone ahead of the North American tournament.

The veteran playmaker suffered the facial injury following a clash of heads while playing for Inter Milan against Juventus at the end of April.

Since undergoing surgery, the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner has returned to training wearing a protective mask.

Dalic confident in captain’s fitness

“He’s training with a facial mask and doing well. Maybe this break helped him,” head coach Zlatko Dalic said.

“We’ll see his condition, but I don’t doubt him. He’ll be in good form.”

The former Real Madrid and Tottenham star was instrumental in his nation’s run to the 2018 final and 2022 semi-final.

This summer’s tournament will mark a remarkable fifth World Cup appearance for the enduring midfielder.

Gvardiol included despite shin fracture

Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol has also been named in the travelling party despite breaking his shin in January.

The 24-year-old centre-back will use upcoming warm-up fixtures to build match fitness before the tournament kicks off on 11 June.

“We hope he’ll be ready to play. We expect him to be a major boost for us in the US,” Dalic added.

Gvardiol’s club team-mate Mateo Kovacic joins him in the squad alongside Hull City goalkeeper Ivor Pandur.

Focus shifts to England opener

The European side begin their Group L campaign against England at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas on 17 June.

Following their opener against the Three Lions, they will face Panama and Ghana to complete their group stage fixtures.

“The main goal is to get through the group. I’m optimistic as always, we have a good national team,” the Croatian manager stated.

He admitted his side will adopt a more defensive, midfield-heavy approach against an England team harbouring ambitions of becoming world champions.

“Against Ghana and Panama, it will be different, much more attack-oriented but neither are any less challenging.”

Croatia’s 26-man squad in full

Spain and Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez is expected to miss the upcoming World Cup after fracturing his right foot during a domestic fixture against Real Betis.

The 23-year-old will undergo surgery for the fifth metatarsal injury sustained on Sunday.

Lopez suffered a fracture to the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot in the game against Betis. The player will undergo surgery.

While a specific recovery timeline has not been provided, the Catalan club’s confirmation effectively rules the playmaker out of this summer’s tournament.

A major blow for La Roja

The national team begin their group-stage campaign against Cape Verde on 15 June in Atlanta.

They subsequently face Saudi Arabia six days later before concluding the initial phase against Uruguay on 27 June.

The dynamic attacker was widely expected to be named in the final squad following an outstanding spell of international form.

Recent international success

He was a key member of the national squad that triumphed at the 2024 European Championship.

The talented midfielder also fired his nation’s under-23 side to Olympic gold in Paris.

During that tournament, he scored six goals, which included a decisive brace in the final against host nation France.

To date, the academy graduate has earned seven senior caps and featured in three World Cup qualifiers last year.

Stellar domestic season cut short

This setback represents a cruel end to a highly impressive club campaign under manager Hansi Flick.

The versatile star scored six goals in 30 league appearances to help his side comfortably retain the Spanish top-flight title.

He added a further six goals in the Champions League before a quarter-final exit at the hands of domestic rivals Atletico Madrid.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that a decision on club captain Cristian Romero’s future will be delayed until the end of their relegation-threatened season.

The Argentine centre-back was ruled out for the remainder of the current campaign after sustaining a knee injury against Sunderland last month.

However, the defender was recently pictured training individually at Hotspur Way without a protective brace.

He is desperately battling to regain full fitness ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

Relegation fight takes priority

For the Italian head coach, securing top-flight survival remains the absolute priority over individual player situations.

The north London outfit currently need just a single point from their remaining two fixtures to mathematically avoid the drop.

Attention now turns to a crucial trip to Stamford Bridge to face London rivals Chelsea on Tuesday evening.

“I don’t know, but listen, we have to play another two games. Now, for our injured players, when are they available after a long time with injury?”

The Spurs boss emphasised that collective survival eclipses any individual return timelines for his sidelined stars.

“It is a big problem because the season is tough and only one target we have now. Play with Romero? Play with Vicario? Play with Kinsky? The target is just one and to stay up and make a point tomorrow.”

Summer transfer speculation

The World Cup winner is among several high-profile names heavily linked with a departure during the upcoming transfer window.

Despite acknowledging the need for clarity, the tactician insists now is the wrong moment for definitive choices.

“It is a good question, but it is the wrong timing, no? First of all now the focus is Chelsea.”

He reiterated his admiration for the player but stressed that commitment to the cause is paramount.

“Romero is a great player, and the most important is the behaviour and how much the player wants to stay in this club.”

Final assessments on the squad will only commence following their final-day fixture against Everton.

Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal will leave the club at the end of the current season, concluding a glittering 23-year association with the Spanish giants upon the expiry of his contract.

The 34-year-old has made 450 appearances for Los Blancos, scoring 14 goals and cementing his status as one of the most decorated players in football history with 27 major titles.

Having joined the academy in 2002, the Madrid-born defender made his first-team debut in 2013 following a brief, successful stint at Bayer Leverkusen that prompted Madrid to trigger a buy-back clause.

A relentless winning mentality

The veteran right-back went on to lift the Champions League on six occasions, becoming one of only five players to achieve the feat and the only individual to start all six of those victorious finals.

His domestic and international honours list is equally staggering, encompassing four La Liga crowns, two Copa del Rey triumphs, and European Championship glory with Spain in 2024.

At his peak, the Spanish international was widely regarded as one of the most complete full-backs in world football, balancing fearsome defensive aggression with elite attacking intelligence.

Injuries and the end of an era

Recent campaigns have proved deeply frustrating for the defensive stalwart, who suffered a cruciate ligament tear in October 2024 before sustaining another serious knee injury a year later.

These persistent physical setbacks, combined with the high-profile arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold last summer, restricted the former academy graduate to just 892 minutes of La Liga action this term.

Dani Carvajal is a legend and a symbol of Real Madrid and its academy.

Club president Florentino Perez praised the departing captain’s immense contribution to the institution in a heartfelt public address.

Carvajal has always exemplified the values of Real Madrid. This is and will always be his home.

A Bernabeu farewell

Madrid, who are set to finish a second consecutive season without domestic silverware, will host a tribute to their departing leader during the final La Liga fixture against Athletic Club.

The emotional send-off will take place at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, 23 May, marking the definitive end of an era for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

Fifa officials have travelled to India to negotiate a last-minute television deal and avert a broadcast blackout for millions of football fans just three weeks before the World Cup begins.

The global governing body has yet to agree terms for the 2026 tournament following significant pricing disagreements with local television networks.

Time is running out to establish broadcast infrastructure and sell advertising space before the opening match kicks off on 11 June.

This standoff follows a similar situation in China, where a television agreement was only successfully concluded last week.

Significant valuation gap stalls talks

Media rights executives are currently on the ground in the South Asian country, though their specific itinerary remains undisclosed.

“Discussions regarding media rights in India are ongoing and must remain confidential at this stage.”

A Fifa spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that broadcast agreements have already been secured in over 180 other territories.

Negotiations between world football’s governing body and the Reliance-Disney joint venture have reportedly stalled over a substantial valuation gap.

The Indian media giant initially offered $20m (£15.7m) for the rights, falling far short of an original $100m (£78.5m) asking price which has since been lowered to roughly $60m (£47.1m).

Massive potential audience faces blackout

Sony, another major broadcasting force in the region, has opted against submitting a rival bid for the upcoming tournament.

A failure to reach a compromise would deprive a rapidly growing market of access to the sport’s most prestigious international competition.

While cricket remains the overwhelmingly dominant national sport, football still commands an estimated fanbase of 85 million people across the nation.

Indian viewers accounted for nearly three per cent of the global linear television reach during the 2022 edition in Qatar, highlighting the vast commercial potential at stake.

Countdown to the opening fixtures

The upcoming 48-team tournament, hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico and Canada, runs until 19 July.

Co-hosts Mexico will open the competition against South Africa in Mexico City, mirroring the opening fixture of the 2010 edition.

Thomas Tuchel will take charge of his first major tournament game when England face Croatia in Texas on 17 June.

The Three Lions will subsequently complete their group stage campaign with vital fixtures against Ghana and Panama.

Robert Lewandowski has bid an emotional farewell to Barcelona after playing his final home match at Camp Nou following a trophy-laden four-year spell.

The 37-year-old announced his summer departure on Saturday before receiving a heartfelt guard of honour during Sunday’s victory against Real Betis.

The Polish international leaves Catalonia having scored 119 goals and secured seven major trophies.

Tears and tributes at Camp Nou

The former Bayern Munich striker fought back tears as teammates rushed to embrace him on the pitch with five minutes remaining of a 3-1 win.

Supporters unfurled a banner thanking the veteran forward for his pivotal role in the club’s recent metamorphosis.

His next destination remains unconfirmed amid reported interest from clubs in Major League Soccer and the Saudi Pro League.

This has been a very emotional and very difficult day.

Robert Lewandowski

A legacy of goals in Spain

The prolific marksman transformed the Spanish champions following his arrival and maintained an exceptional scoring rate throughout his tenure.

No player has registered more goal contributions in La Liga since the two-time European Golden Shoe winner joined the competition.

He departs with 82 league goals and 19 assists, averaging an impressive 0.75 goals per 90 minutes even during his final campaign.

Manager Hansi Flick, who previously won the Champions League with the forward in Germany, praised his deep connection to the club.

I think it was a perfect goodbye for him. It was very emotional. You can see his heart is here, with this club, the people here.

Hansi Flick

Tottenham Hotspur have sent a club official to Italy to scout Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu ahead of the summer transfer window, according to reports.

Manager Roberto De Zerbi has reportedly identified the versatile Frenchman as a key target to strengthen his backline.

A Spurs representative watched the 25-year-old in action during the Turin club’s 2-0 defeat to Fiorentina in Serie A on Sunday.

Manchester United have also previously made contact regarding the three-cap international, who can operate comfortably at both centre-back and right-back.

Juventus prepare lucrative extension

Despite heavy interest from the Premier League, prizing the defender away from Italy could prove exceptionally difficult for the north Londoners.

Juventus are determined to retain their star and have already opened negotiations over a contract extension running until 2030.

The proposed deal would see his wages increase significantly, jumping from €2.4m to approximately €4m per year.

Spurs focus on Premier League survival

Any major summer arrivals will heavily depend on Tottenham securing their top-flight status for next season.

De Zerbi’s side are currently embroiled in a tense relegation battle with London rivals West Ham United.

Spurs need just one point from their final two fixtures against Chelsea and Everton to guarantee survival, aided by their vastly superior goal difference.

Defensive reshuffle looms

The pursuit of a new centre-back comes amid uncertainty surrounding the future of current club captain Cristian Romero.

The Argentine World Cup winner could depart the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer regardless of whether the club avoids the drop.

However, in a boost for the relegation-threatened side, fellow defender Micky van de Ven is understood to be highly receptive to signing a new long-term contract.

Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton could secure a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England World Cup squad with a standout performance in the Uefa Conference League final.

The highly-rated playmaker delivered a commanding display during a hard-fought 2-2 Premier League draw against Brentford.

BBC Sport pundits Mark Schwarzer and Dion Dublin highlighted the youngster’s growing maturity in the middle of the park.

Both analysts believe the holding midfielder possesses the technical quality required to thrive on the international stage.

Tuchel monitoring midfield options

England’s head coach is currently assessing his tactical options ahead of the next major international tournament.

The former Bayern Munich boss will demand absolute discipline and composure from his central operators.

Wharton has rapidly elevated his status since making the leap from the Championship to the top flight.

European final offers ultimate audition

The talented prospect now faces the biggest match of his emerging career on the continent.

A dominant showing in the upcoming Uefa Conference League final could prove decisive for his international ambitions.

Schwarzer and Dublin stressed that performing under immense European pressure is exactly what the national team setup demands.