Latest Sports Stories

Football News

You might recall him being fouled by Folarin Balogun, sparking a World Cup drama. Now, Tarik Muharemovic is to become the most expensive defender in Leeds United’s history. One day, some believe he will be remembered among the best of his generation.It is five years since Slobodan Starcevic was asked whether this could be Juventus' successor to Giorgio Chiellini. "My answer was that he should not be viewed as 'the new Chiellini' because he is a completely different type of centre-back," Starcevic tells Sky Sports."Tarik builds his game through composure in possession, an excellent first pass, the ability to carry the ball under pressure, and tactical intelligence, whereas Chiellini was the embodiment of uncompromising defending, aggression, and defensive leadership."Starcevic has strong views on what makes Muharemovic such a special talent - and the areas of his game that will need to improve if he is to succeed in the Premier League. He knows the player well having been his coach with Bosnia-Herzegovina's U21 team.He still remembers the first time that he saw Muharemovic play. It was in an U19 game against Croatia. This tall defender stood out from the rest. "Even then, he displayed qualities that set him apart from most players of his age," Starcevic recalls."Composure in building attacks, security in possession, accurate long diagonal passes, tactical discipline, and strong defensive duels. When you add the fact that he is nearly 190 centimetres tall and a left-footed centre-back- it is a profile that is highly sought after."He soon spoke to the U19 coach Ivica Barbaric to arrange for Muharemovic to move up through the age groups. There was a game with Qatar's U23s for him to play in. "He was facing opponents almost five years older than himself," Starcevic explains."He played only around 30 minutes but he repeated everything that had impressed me. He remained calm, tactically disciplined and confident in possession. Age is never a limitation when a player possesses quality, character and football intelligence."It was not long after this that Muharemovic left Austrian club Wolfsberger and made the "brave decision to continue his development in one of Europe's finest academies" but the move to Juventus was not without its setbacks. He fractured his leg there."But he returned even stronger. He quickly established himself as a regular starter, and eventually became captain of our U21 side. That says everything about his character and the way that he responded to one of the most difficult moments of his career."Naturally, Starcevic has followed his career ever since, seeing him blossom at Sassuolo. "It was the ideal move. At a club with less pressure and greater opportunities, he could continue to develop in one of the world's most tactically demanding leagues."Muharemovic won promotion in his first season with Sassuolo and proved himself capable in Serie A as the club exceeded expectations with a mid-table finish. But it was his exploits for his country that will also have helped to convince Leeds of his credentials."Especially in the play-off matches against Wales and Italy, he formed an exceptionally solid central defensive partnership with Nikola Katic in front of goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj. Those performances proved that he could compete at the highest international level."This year's World Cup represented another important step in his development. In highly demanding matches against Canada, Switzerland and the United States, he demonstrated the qualities that Europe's top clubs look for in a modern centre-back."What qualities exactly? "His aerial ability, courage in bringing the ball out from defence, capacity to defend large spaces behind a high defensive line, one-on-one defending, and perhaps most importantly, his composure under pressure, all stand out."Starcevic thinks this calmness on the ball is "one of the qualities today's elite coaches value most in defenders" and explains his rise. "For all these reasons, it is no surprise. I believed in his potential then and I remain consistent in my opinion today," he adds.But even from an admirer, there are caveats. "Leeds will be an enormous challenge at this stage of his career. Not because Leeds is a bigger club than Juventus but because the Premier League is probably the most intense competition in world football," he says."The speed of the game, the physical demands and the number of situations a centre-back has to solve within fractions of a second are significantly greater than in most other European leagues." And that could require an adjustment in Muharemovic's game."At times, Tarik plays on the edge of excessive self-confidence," says Sarcevic. Those strengths can become weaknesses. "He wants to win every ball, every duel, and step in front of the striker even when the situation does not necessarily require it," he adds."In Serie A, those situations can often be corrected through organisation of the defensive line and better collective protection of space. In the Premier League, one poorly judged step forward or delayed reaction can soon lead to a clear scoring opportunity."With only one season of football in a major European league behind him, it will be a test for the young defender. Leeds travel to face eight of last season's Premier League top 10 before the turn of the year. Erling Haaland and the rest can be extremely unforgiving foes."I would genuinely be delighted if he proves me wrong. Tarik certainly has the potential to succeed at the highest level. However, he will need to control his impulsiveness, make calmer and more mature decisions, and play with even greater tactical discipline."He does not need to win every duel. The world's best centre-backs are not those who constantly engage in challenges, but those who know exactly when to attack the opponent and when to control space, remain patient, and make the right decision."The Premier League does not forgive mistakes and demands the highest level of concentration and intensity throughout the full 90 minutes. That is why I believe his ultimate level will depend on his ability to combine aggression with tactical maturity."If he adapts quickly to those demands then I remain convinced that Tarik has all the attributes that are required to become one of the finest left-footed centre-backs of his generation and to build a highly successful career for himself in English football."

Football News

For many, Craig Gordon's decision to end his playing career at the age of 43 marks "an end of an era" in Scottish goalkeeping.The former Celtic, Heart of Midlothian, Sunderland and Scotland stalwart did as much as anyone to silence the old jokes about the inadequacies of Scottish goalkeepers.But having battled through the pain of a series of career-threatening injuries to make this summer's World Cup finals, and having come to the end of his Hearts contract, Gordon has decided he has put his body on the line one last time.So what does it mean for his legacy - and for the future of Scottish goalkeeping?Hearts sign goalkeeper Reus as Schwolow departsAfter a bit of a lull following their joint 1998 World Cup disappointment, with Rab Douglas and Neil Sullivan holding fort, Scotland entered another golden era of goalkeeping.Gordon was firmly at its heart from the moment he made his debut in 2004 against Trinidad and Tobago at Easter Road.He would eventually fall seven short of Leighton's record 91 caps for a Scotland goalkeeper, but much of that was down to injuries.Two of those were career-threatening, not to mention a double leg break at the age of 39 - one forcing him out of game for two years.However, it was also down to intense competition from David Marshall, Allan McGregor and, latterly as age started to creep on Gordon, Angus Gunn.Marshall played 47 times for his country and McGregor made 43 appearances to become Scotland's fourth and sixth most-capped goalkeepers respectively.No Scottish keeper, though, before or since, has commanded a British record transfer fee, such was his stock when Sunderland paid Hearts £9m for his services in 2007.His career in England's top flight was halted by that two-year injury absence, but he would return to win silverware galore at Celtic before receiving a hero's welcome back at hometown club Hearts.Former Hearts and Scotland boss Craig Levein suggested: "Other than superb ability, his calmness was the thing - even as a young lad, making his debut and such."From very early on you could tell he was going to be a top, top player."Former striker Rory Loy said the outpouring of tributes were a reminder of Gordon's greatness."He's just been a staple of the last 20-odd years between the sticks, whether it be Hearts, Celtic, Sunderland back to Hearts again," he told the BBC Scottish Football Podcast."He's been fantastic. Watching all the reels that have come out on social media of all these top saves, culminating in that one at Dens Park last year, which was an incredible save."It just feels like the end of an era in in terms of Scottish goalkeeping."Livingston defender Cammy Kerr recalled how Gordon, the oldest player at this year's World Cup, had also won a save of the season poll at Sunderland."Played against him a few times - just an incredible goalkeeper," he added."I know it didn't end well in terms of getting through the group stage, but just getting to the World Cup would have been massive for him at that time of his career."It was not just tributes from fellow professionals that flooded in, but fans shared their thoughts too on Gordon's 25-year career that began at Hearts, but with a debut on loan at Cowdenbeath in the Scottish Second Division.Molly: An amazing career. Hearts through and through. That save against Dundee last year is one of the best saves I think I will ever see. A true leader when he was captain, very grateful to have watched him play for club and country, gave it his all every time.David: Gordon will fondly be remembered as one of the all-time greats in the history of our club. Not only was he an outstanding goalkeeper but is a really nice person as well. Don't be lost to football altogether Craig.Madge: Always a class act on and off the pitch, articulate and measured. Despite the injuries and across the ages, his performances never wavered. Reckon he should have played for one of the top English teams but pleased he finished his career at Hearts.Nick: Legend of a goalkeeper. Worryingly probably still the best we've got despite his ageing years.Bryan: Without a doubt, Craig is the best Hearts keeper of all time. A brilliant shot stopper and a great servant to Hearts and Scotland.Alex: I've been lucky to witness some excellent keepers at Tynecastle, but Craig is the best of them all and the best keeper Scotland has ever had.Clairee: A true Scottish footballing legend. Getting to play for the club you support and your country is the stuff dreams are made of and he did it with class, determination and resilience, a hero for kids to look up to.Bill: Great keeper for all his clubs and country. As a Celtic fan, I thought we let him go far too soon, as his form at Hearts proved. Hopefully he won't be lost to the game and maybe become a great goalkeeping coach.Chris C: He's been such a great goalkeeper for so long. To come back from serious injury and still produce the level and standard he has is amazing. My abiding memory of him will always be in the Scottish Cup final of the treble season, on his knees in pure emotion. An amazing servant with Celtic.Chris: What he achieved after two years out of the game when he came to Celtic was remarkable. To walk into Celtic, be the number one goalkeeper, and immediately deliver performances of real authority said everything about his quality and mentality. And to carry that standard deep into his 40s now is nothing short of extraordinary. A brilliant career, a model professional and a goalkeeper whose shot stopping skills were sensational.Paul: Best modern era goalkeeper Scotland have had. Utterly fantastic period at Celtic too.Despite all the accolades, the fact that Gordon, whose struggles with injury and the form of Alexander Schwolow meant the veteran only played three times for Hearts last season, was still one of Scotland's three goalkeepers at the World Cup was an indication of the current paucity of options.Liam Kelly, who was firmly number two to Jack Butland with Rangers, was the other, while current number one Gunn had himself only played once for Nottingham Forest.Gunn will be hopeful of more game time following his summer move to San Jose Earthquakes, but who might challenge the 30-year-old?Ipswich Town's Cieran Slicker was being touted as the next big hope but had an unfortunate substitute appearance in a 3-1 defeat by Iceland last year. Still developing at the age of 23, he has been farmed out to Barnsley in League One.Kerr pointed out Scott Bain "had a great season last season with Falkirk", while Jon McCracken had moved to Bradford City from Dundee this summer."Do they have the experience in terms of what Craig Gordon brought? Not yet, but that's where you've got to chuck them in and see how they do," he suggested.Loy agreed they lack the experience "but ultimately they don't have the quality of Craig Gordon and that's no slight on any of those goalkeepers"."Craig Gordon was phenomenal and if he decided to stay on then he probably would have been able to play for another season," he added."The names that Cammy read out are good, decent goalkeepers, but they're not superstar names like we've been used to."So, while they'll be able to do a job, it would be nice if another young goalkeeper, Scottish goalkeeper, came through and started to show signs of what we've been used to."

Football News

Nigeria striker Kelechi Iheanacho has turned down a new contract with Celtic and joined Bursaspor, who have just been promoted to Turkey's second tier.The Scottish champions had tabled a new offer for the 29-year-old striker after he helped them to the domestic double during an injury-affected season.But Bursaspor, who won the TFF Second League last season, have announced the signing of Iheanacho and paraded him in their own green and white hoops.The news comes a day after Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson revealed it was proving "difficult" to add to their squad this summer because they are competing with big-spending English Championship clubs for players.Who has your Premiership club brought in & let go this summer?They remain short of centre-forward options before the new season amid uncertainty over the future of Japan international Daizen Maeda, who is entering the final year of his contract.Former Manchester City and Leicester City forward Iheanacho hit nine goals for Celtic last season, having joined as a free agent after the summer transfer window closed.He missed a chunk of the season with a hamstring injury and only started two games after October.However, Iheanacho - who joined from Sevilla in 2025 - scored six goals coming off the bench as Celtic won their final nine games to clinch a Scottish league and cup Double.Visit our Celtic page for all the latest news, analysis and fan views

Football News

9 CommentsWill the 2026 World Cup end with glory for Spain or Argentina?We also have the game no-one wanted to be part of, the bronze final, where France and England will compete for third place on the podium."I've seen Argentina numerous times at this tournament and, compared to their teams of the past, this is not an outstanding Argentina side," said BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton."Still, you have to admire their fight and their aggression. They fight like no other team to stay in games and win any way they can."They will throw everything they can at Spain - and of course they have Lionel Messi too."Sutton, AI and the users of the BBC's new predictor game are predicting the results of every game at this World Cup.Only AI managed to get one of the semi-finals right, correctly backing Argentina to beat England.But the users still have an insurmountable overall lead with 102 of the tournament's 104 games now completed.Chris has been right 65 times (64%), AI has 66 (65%), but you lot are still on top with a score of 72 (71%).AI's predictions have been generated using Microsoft Copilot Chat. We simply asked the tool to 'predict the results of the World Cup final and bronze final'.The BBC predictor game allows readers to pick a winner from each knockout tie.Who did our pundits predict would win the 2022 World Cup?France (9): Scott Brown, Gael Clichy, Rachel Corsie, Olivier Giroud, Danny Murphy, Paul Robinson, Tony Pulis, Alan Shearer & Chris SuttonEngland (7): Thomas Frank, Joe Hart, Steph Houghton, Martin Keown, Wayne Rooney, Sue Smith & Ellen WhiteThe truth is no-one really cares about this game.Neither country really wants it, and you can imagine the mood in both camps and how deflated both sets of players are - they all probably just want to go home.It is also very difficult to predict because it is likely to be France reserves against England reserves - but if it was France's best team against England's best, I would expect Didier Deschamps' side to win in his last game as boss after 14 years.I still haven't got over England's 2-1 defeat by Argentina to be honest. I think we will look back at this tournament and view what Thomas Tuchel did after going 1-0 ahead as one of the worst coaching errors we've possibly ever seen.Fair play to Argentina and their manager Lionel Scaloni for the way they turned their semi-final around.They smelt blood, and they put England away.I have seen enough of Argentina in this World Cup to think they have been slightly fortunate to get this far.But, as Radio 5 Live commentator Ian Dennis said about the adversity they have come through, maybe it is one of those tournaments where their name is written on the trophy?I still fancy Spain strongly to beat them, however.They have not been behind in any of their seven games at this tournament so far and if you look at the way they beat France in their semi-final, they absolutely dismantled them.When I looked at their team beforehand, I thought they would struggle in the full-back areas against France's wizardry.Not only did they nullify France's fantastic attack, they absolutely played them off the park.It was a near-perfect performance and I suppose the only question is can they do it again?I will be at the MetLife Stadium for 5 Live and I can't wait to find out.I think we will see a similar set-up from Argentina to the way they played in the first half against England, in that they will defend deep, defend their box and pick their moments to attack.I'd love Argentina to go for Spain the way they finished the game against England, but they will know they will get picked off if they do that.Instead they will fight. I mean that as a compliment because I cannot think of another team where they are so ferocious and aggressive in the way they play so close to the edge - and in a positive way where the jersey seems to mean so much to every single one of their players that it elevates them.Argentina will also be full of confidence after the way they got here and they may well feel they are untouchable, but I still think Spain have got a better team, who play the best football.Also, Spain will not do what England did if they get in front. They will not retreat.Instead, they have that belief where they don't panic and they always know what they are doing with the next pass.Lamine Yamal has not really got going for Spain yet at this tournament and I thought he was their worst player against France, although I need to qualify that statement by explaining that their performance was so good, the bar was really high.He was still probably a 7/10, but you watch him and think there is so much more to come. That might happen in the final, because we know what he is capable of, but Spain will not be relying on him to win.You go through their side and so many players are at the very top of their game. For example, Pedro Porro looks unrecognisable to the player we see for Tottenham, while Rodri looks like he is back to his physical best after the anterior cruciate ligament injury that kept him out for most of the 2024-25 season.How do you beat a team who are so confident that their build-up play is better than your press? Argentina will know they can't match them like that.The first goal is going to be absolutely crucial and maybe it will be another magic Messi moment that gives his team the lead, and some hope.But, whatever happens, Spain will dominate the ball - they just will.For different reasons, I love watching both teams play. Argentina will bring chaos but Spain will bring calm... and calmness will win the day.Borrowed shoes, no Golden Boot - the story of the World Cup's greatest scorer

Football News

After being expected to steamroller past Cape Verde and Egypt in the first two knockout rounds, La Albiceleste had to fight tooth and nail for 3-2 victories.But the win over Egypt came with an edge as the African nation asked Fifa to kick the officials in charge of their last-16 defeat out of the tournament.Egypt have alleged bias in favour of Argentina and favouritism towards their star player, Lionel Messi.After the game, coach Hossam Hassan said Egypt had been "treated unfairly" and "suffered injustice".Hassan went on to allege some kind of bias from Fifa."Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champion in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running," he said.Argentina then needed help from the video assistant referee (VAR) to reduce Switzerland to 10 players, winning the quarter-final 3-1 after extra time.And then a few decisions went in their favour in the 2-1 semi-final win over England.BBC Sport examines whether there is anything in the conspiracy theory that everything is being set up for Argentina to succeed.Switzerland were in the ascendancy against Argentina, with Dan Ndoye having scored a 67th-minute equaliser in Kansas City.Five minutes later, Breel Embolo went down looking for a free-kick for a challenge by Leandro Paredes.Portuguese referee Joao Pedro da Silva Pinheiro duly obliged, and booked the Argentina defender.The VAR decided that this was mistaken identity, that Embolo had won the foul through simulation. The referee was advised to go to the pitchside screen.One problem for Embolo - he was already on a booking.So when Pinheiro switched Paredes' yellow to Embolo, the Switzerland striker was sent off.However, there have been questions raised about how this can be mistaken identity, when it was a referee simply getting a decision wrong.Indeed, Uefa has instructed its VARs not to get involved in simulation as mistaken identity. It believes this is a misapplication of the protocol.Without this, Argentina would have been playing against 11.Argentina adopted a physical approach for their semi-final against England.Just three minutes into the game, Enzo Fernandez challenged Elliot Anderson from behind, pushing his hand into the back of the England player's neck.There was a case for violent conduct because of the nature of the challenge.Indeed, the VAR red card shown to South Africa's Themba Zwane in the opening game against Mexico was probably less clear for violent conduct.England fans were also convinced that Argentina's winning goal should have been ruled out for a foul by Lionel Messi on Djed Spence.There were similarities to the goal Egypt had ruled out against Argentina.But this goal stood, and Argentina went through 2-1.It is easy to understand why Egypt would feel so frustrated after their 3-2 defeat in the last 16.The Africans had led 2-0 with 11 minutes to play, and were on the brink of a historic first-ever quarter-final appearance.But it all went wrong as Argentina stormed back and scored the winner in stoppage time.Egypt said there was something more suspect at play. They put their exit down to "serious refereeing mistakes" and "double standards" from French referee Francois Letexier and his team.The Pharaohs had a goal ruled out through a VAR intervention.They also claimed Argentina's winner should have been disallowed, and a penalty awarded to them instead.Mostafa Zico's brilliant goal was chalked off after Marwan Attia was penalised for stepping on the foot of Lisandro Martinez at the start of the move.It was controversial, but they were leading 1-0 and did score a second goal nine minutes later. You cannot prove the game would have taken a different path had Zico's goal stood.Egypt believed there were two potential penalty claims in their favour before Fernandez headed home the clinching goal.Hamdi Fathy went to ground claiming he was held by Alexis Mac Allister, which was unclear on replays, while Mohamed Salah felt he was tripped by Julian Alvarez.There were some similarities between the Martinez and Salah situations, with foot-on-foot contact, but not enough to constitute a penalty.Egypt stood a better chance of getting the goal chalked off if Salah had been outside the area. The VAR would merely be judging a foul - as was the case with Martinez - rather than a penalty.Controversial? Absolutely. But it is hardly proof of a conspiracy in favour of Messi.Egypt want officials kicked out of World CupFor the first time at this World Cup, the whole on-field officiating team - referee, both assistants, fourth official and the reserve - were from the same country.Later, Fifa announced that the lead VAR would also be Argentine.For Facundo Tello's other two appointments, the fourth official and reserve were first from Saudi Arabia, and then Colombia.The argument was that Argentina would want France to be knocked out. After all, they are the tournament favourites.This was one of the biggest games of Tello's career, his second World Cup quarter-final in successive tournaments. Such a high-profile referee was not going to act without the utmost integrity.But perception is often just as important, and appointing Argentine officials against France in the quarter-finals was not a great look.There was no controversy in the game, however, as France eased to a 2-0 win.Cast your minds back at the start of the tournament and a potential red card for Messi.Messi did not even receive a booking for his challenge on Algeria captain Aissa Mandi.Then came one of the most high-profile incidents of this World Cup.Folarin Balogun was sent off on VAR review against Bosnia-Herzegovina in similar circumstances. Both made contact on the opponent's upper calf.The United States are believed to have made this point when fighting to get Balogun's ban removed.If sent off, Messi would not have scored his second and third goals against Algeria, nor the double against Austria, as he would have been banned - unless Fifa decided to enact article 27 as it did with Balogun.Messi would also have been unavailable for the final group game against Jordan when he again scored.That would have taken away five of the eight goals he has scored at the tournament.Take the inaugural Club World Cup last year, held in the United States.There was a bit of a delay before it was confirmed which team from the host country would take part.Surely it would be the 2025 champions? After all, this is a tournament for the best teams based on defined merit.Inter Miami won the 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield, which is awarded to the team with the most points.But it was LA Galaxy who went on to be crowned champions, winning the play-offs.Yet Inter Miami were chosen for the Club World Cup.That allowed Messi to play in the opening game, at Inter Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, against Al Ahly.The top four nations in the Fifa world ranking - France, Argentina, Spain and England - were drawn into separate quarters.If those countries were to win their groups - which they did - they would not be able to meet until the semi-finals.France and Spain were in one half, with Argentina and England in the other.The idea is it limits the chance of marquee ties early in the tournament.But, depending on how the groups finish up, it also gives those countries a more favourable path.In the first two knockout rounds, there were only two meetings of the world's top 10 - Netherlands v Morocco and Spain v Portugal.Argentina would appear to have been given the kindest route, even though they only just beat Cape Verde (67th in the world) and Egypt (29th) 3-2. Then in the quarter-finals it was Switzerland (19th).England did not face one of the top 10 until they came up against Argentina. They did have to beat Mexico (14th) in the Azteca.Spain beat Portugal (fifth) and then Belgium (ninth), while France met Morocco (seventh) in the quarters.The key players walking disciplinary tightropeThe five penalties they were awarded was the most any team had ever received in one tournament.In 2026, they again lead the way with three spot-kicks - though Messi has missed two of them, against Austria and Egypt.Brazil, England, France and Switzerland have been awarded two.How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITVEverything you need to know about the World Cup

World Cup News

With cries of malfeasance and injustice over referee decisions, Fifa actions and even Argentina’s run, the tournament is a mirror of a theory-pilled societyThis was the first thing that Hossam Hassan, Egypt’s fiery coach, told the media after his country’s devastating 3-2 loss to Argentina in the last 16. The legendary striker turned manager had been minutes away from orchestrating one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history. The Pharaohs were up 2-0 against the defending world champions. Then, late in the second half, Argentina staged an extraordinary comeback, scoring three goals in 13 minutes, bringing Egypt’s storybook run to a sudden end.For Egyptians, the match was an emotional rollercoaster, soaring with the promise of victory before plummeting into heartbreak and finally crashing into outrage over what many regarded as refereeing decisions that favored Argentina. During the match, Hassan raised his arms in a crossed ‘X’ gesture, Fifa’s official anti-discrimination symbol, and after the loss, accused the governing body of wanting Argentina to win. Hassan claimed his team was wrongly denied a second goal at 1-0, following a video assistant referee (VAR) check for a foul that had occurred more than 100 yards away, and that Egypt ought to have been awarded a penalty before Enzo Fernández scored Argentina’s third and final goal.“Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champions in the competition?” Hassan told Qatari broadcaster beIN Sports after the game. “Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running?”Fueled by Hassan’s remarks, Egypt’s defeat sparked a firestorm of conspiracy theories and allegations of corruption. French referee François Letexier became the focus of intense global scrutiny. Restaurants and cafes posted about barring him because of his role in the match outcome. His Wikipedia page was vandalized to falsely identify him as Jewish, sparking outrage among fans who believed Egypt’s loss was part of a Zionist conspiracy tied to Hassan’s outspoken support for Palestine during the tournament.As Argentina progressed, the conspiracy theories followed. There was the news that the Argentinian federation and its president were being investigated by the FBI for alleged money laundering. Then there was the controversial VAR decision that led to Switzerland’s top striker being sent off in the quarter-final. With each win, accusations of corruption and match-fixing continued to plague Argentina.“The World Cup was promised to Messi 3000 years ago,” read the caption of an Instagram post that included a montage of Argentina’s star during visits to Israel with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. The post was liked nearly 15,000 times. “It’s rigged for Messi,” read another post with more than 275,000 likes. More than 12 million people have signed a fan-led petition demanding that Fifa disqualify Argentina.VAR technology has been at the centre of nearly every major controversy at this World Cup. Critics argue that VAR is applied inconsistently and is being used in cases outside its original intent. This has led to scenarios such as Egypt’s disallowed goal against Argentina and Croatia’s disallowed goal at the end of regulation time against Portugal, called offside because the sensor in the ball detected a touch that was absent to the human eye.Perhaps the tournament’s most controversial episode came when United States striker Folarin Balogun received a red card after a VAR review for a foul the referee had missed in real time. The controversy deepened when Fifa overturned Balogun’s one-match suspension following an intervention from Donald Trump. The US president later boasted about his role in securing Balogun’s return. Given Fifa had previously stated that a red card suspension could not be appealed, the sudden change of heart shattered the illusion of integrity and fair play in its showpiece event.The Balogun affair is not without precedent. In November 2025, Fifa suspended part of Cristiano Ronaldo’s ban for a red card he received during Portugal’s World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland, clearing him to play in their opening group-stage matches. This rare act of clemency underscored Fifa’s willingness to indulge one of the World Cup’s biggest attractions, especially one with a near-unrivalled ability to drive ticket demand. And given that Fifa introduced dynamic pricing schemes for this World Cup, effectively adjusting prices based on real-time demand, is it really a surprise that people are questioning the tournament’s integrity?To make matters worse, there has been a deluge of AI-generated images and videos spreading across social media that have led to the spread of disinformation about the tournament. One manipulated image showed a man resembling Adolf Hitler holding a German flag and celebrating a goal against Curaçao; another showed outgoing British prime minister Keir Starmer wearing a Croatia jersey. There was also an image of an Iranian footballer holding up a pink backpack during a World Cup game, paying tribute to the 168 school girls killed by a US airstrike on Iran. Another manipulated video showed the Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman launching into a racist rant after Morocco knocked his team out on penalties.These augmented images and videos prey on people’s emotions, blurring the line between reality and fiction while trapping viewers in a perpetual cycle of outrage through a deluge of racism, xenophobia and disinformation. In some cases, the fake posts may exploit genuine concerns by feeding into our politically polarized climate and the sense of injustice many people experience in their everyday lives.Ahead of the World Cup, Infantino fawned over Trump despite the US president’s handling of the Iran war, strained geopolitical ties with fellow World Cup co-hosts and supercharged immigration crackdown. Infantino even invented his own peace prize to appease Trump after he was passed over for the Nobel peace prize. For Infantino, the US is the crown jewel of his new era of football, a market that can deliver unprecedented revenues and spectacle. The fact that he was ignoring Fifa’s own code of ethics did not matter.Because of US visa restrictions, Iran’s team had to shuttle between their training base in Mexico and the US, where their World Cup matches were played. Players described their tournament experience as a “disaster”. So when Iran failed to reach the knockout stage at the same time one of the tournament’s host nations was bombing the country, many saw it as a profound injustice. These sentiments were further compounded by the Balogun fiasco. It is unsurprising that such a turn of events bred conspiracy theories.Take the Egypt-Argentina game: it is impossible to consider that match without considering the context of what Egypt stood for at the event. The national team became a source of collective joy, not just for Egyptians but for millions of others across the Arab world and the African continent. Hassan raised a Palestinian flag after their last-32 win and later said that anyone lacking empathy for the Palestinian people had lost their humanity. The Egyptian Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza organized public watch parties for displaced Palestinian families to watch Egypt’s games. The committee’s director, Mohammed Fawaz al-Wahidi, was then killed in an Israeli strike hours before Egypt played Argentina.For a few short weeks, Egypt’s run was about more than football – it carried the hopes and dreams of some of the world’s most oppressed people. So when Egypt squandered their lead against Argentina in a match marred by controversial decisions, the pain and anger many felt ran far deeper than the result itself. For those long accustomed to living with injustice, it felt like yet another reminder that even on football’s biggest stage, the rules were not the same for everyone.After the match, the Egyptian Football Association released a statement that it “cannot remain silent” following a series of refereeing decisions that “left profound questions about the consistency and fairness of decisions that directly influenced the course of the game”. Meanwhile, the accusations of corruption reached a crescendo. The Argentinian federation was targeted by a cyber-attack that saw hackers send emails from official accounts admitting to “corrupt refereeing decisions”. Conspiracy theories spread across social media asserting that the fix was in. And Argentina emerged as a villain.The World Cup does not exist in a vacuum. The truth is that football is a reflection of society, for better or worse. The conspiracy theories surrounding the World Cup are not unique to the tournament. They are symptoms of broader forces, including social media, economic insecurity and political division. Look no further than the QAnon movement, anti-vaccine conspiracies, and rising antisemitism and Islamophobia.The World Cup amplifies these tensions, showcasing them on the world’s biggest stages. In doing so, football becomes a mirror of the world that watches it.Karim Zidan writes a regular newsletter on the intersection of sports and politics.

Football News

Leeds United have signed defender Tarik Muharemovic for £34.1m from Serie A side Sassuolo.The 23-year-old Bosnia-Herzegovina international has signed a five-year deal at Elland Road.He is a replacement for Pascal Struijk, who joined Brighton for £20m in June, and is Leeds' second signing of the summer after Harry Wilson's free transfer from Fulham.Muharemovic played at this summer's World Cup for his country and was involved in the challenge that saw USA forward Folarin Balogun infamously sent off.The centre-back was sent off himself against Switzerland.Pre-match, post-match and topical Whites contentListen on SoundsSubscribe and listen for everything you love about LeedsLatest Leeds United news, analysis and fan viewsListen to the latest Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcastSoundsAsk about Leeds - what do you want to know?

Football News

56 CommentsThe final moment has arrived, and Spain want our second star.To win this World Cup, we don't need to do anything spectacular - we just need to keep calm and carry on playing the same way.I am back in Madrid now after working on the tournament for the BBC and I would say the whole country believes we can beat Argentina on Sunday and bring home the trophy like we did in 2010.That confidence comes from lots of places - from winning Euro 2024, from our long unbeaten run of 37 games and of course from the way we beat France in the semi-final.The strength of this Spain team is in the group, and in their mentality. They are a collective in the way they all play together and they have an identity they believe in, which means they always keep doing the same things.Our first game of this World Cup was a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde, which was not the result we expected - but they did not panic, and did not change their approach.It was the same against Portugal and Belgium in the knockout rounds when they had to fight until the last minute to score a winner and, in a different way, it was the same when they went in front early on against France in the semi-final.France were one of the big favourites to win the whole competition and had scored a lot of goals in their other games but Spain stayed positive, and did not change their approach to try to hang on to their lead.Having that clear identity and sticking with it is the most important thing, especially now.Spain can change some personnel within the team but they always keep the same shape and their mindset is always the same too - it is about having the ball, and controlling the game as much as possible.Of course sometimes a game can bring you different situations but so far Spain have not been behind in any of our seven games at this World Cup, which is remarkable.If that happens in the final, and we go behind against Argentina, we won't change. We will keep that same calmness we have seen from the start, until the very end.Everyone in Spain is feeling confident about the final but of course Argentina will feel exactly the same way. They are the holders and they have also shown enough to be the world champions again.It is going to be very tough, especially because Lionel Messi is in such amazing form and has shown everyone his ambition and desire.We know very well in Spain how he can make the difference at any point in the game, as he did against England when he changed his position a little bit and went over to the right to find more space.But we also know a lot about the rest of the Argentina team - how dangerous they are, and how they will give everything to fight for the trophy so they can take it home.I played with a few players from their squad when I was with Atletico Madrid from 2023 to 2025 and I know all about their mentality, and their quality too.One of them was Julian Alvarez, who I would describe as a very complete player because he is not like a pure number nine, or even a 10 who drops deeper.He can do the work on the wing as well and he wants to be everywhere - sometimes he does drop back but he is also a very clinical striker and wherever he is on the pitch, he is always trying to get into the box and finish things for the team.Julian can shoot from outside the area too, with his right or left foot and we have seen many amazing goals for him, for club and country.He is a player I have played against, as well as with - and it is very difficult to keep him in one place because he is always moving, always trying to find the free space, to work for the team as well as himself - to connect one-twos and link play because he knows when to hold the ball and when to release it quickly.When I faced him as an opponent, I could see his quality but then when we shared a dressing room at Atletico and I could train with him, I saw just how good he is.Like Messi, he is a difference-maker, someone with the quality and the talent and the intelligence to change a game at any point. Spain will have to watch him closely.It is going to be very difficult to keep Argentina quiet but what will help Spain is the structure of our team, and how strong our organisation has been defensively, with only one goal conceded so far.Spain normally like to play in their opponent's half and press forwards but when they have had difficult moments at this World Cup - where they have had to be more compact, together in a more medium or low block - they have been able to do it.Again, it is down to the team effort and, collectively, they have done a very good job.Rodri and Fabian Ruiz are very disciplined with the way they screen the back four but even Lamine Yamal was doing an amazing job defensively against France when we stopped them having any clear chances, and Alex Baena has been doing the same on the right.Lamine Yamal is growing in the tournament. His work without the ball shows his mentality - which again is a very important thing.Maybe his actions have not resulted in many goals for him - so far he only has one, in the 4-0 group-stage win against Saudi Arabia - or a direct pass to make one, but you can see the way he wants to help the team, by affecting the game in different ways. Sometimes he is not even getting the ball but is attracting defenders to make space for his team-mates.This Spain side are a true team. They all have that mentality - to sometimes sacrifice themselves and put the team first.So, whoever plays out wide, our wingers are very attack-minded but they will also help the full-backs when we lose the ball and our number nine, Mikel Oyarzabal, drops in to pick up a midfielder too.In the same way, our full-backs Pedro Porro and Marc Cucurella are not just strong defensively, they are also involved in the attacking phase and they have contributed with assists and goals, as well as in the build-up play with the way they move the ball.In an attacking team such as Spain, the full-backs tend to go really high and be exposed defensively but Porro and Cucurella have shown they can do their jobs well both up and down the pitch, even against really strong wingers.It is great to see everyone being willing to do the extra work for the team, and really all we want to see now is more of the same.We knew at the beginning of the tournament that maybe some of our players were not 100% fit, but it is a long World Cup and I think Luis de la Fuente had that in mind when it started.Since then, the confidence has grown and so has the fitness, and the momentum.Now the players have the chance to make the whole country happy. It won't be easy against Argentina but they will go into the final maybe feeling the best way they have at this World Cup, and at the best possible time.Cesar Azpilicueta was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris BevanOlivier Giroud on Mbappe & winning the World CupSoundsIliman Ndiaye: Senegal’s goal is to win World Cup 2026SoundsThe World Cup is bigger than ever - and BBC Sport has an app to matchPlay BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game

World Cup News

A tournament with more teams and more games has been filled with euphoria, heartbreak, and these weird and wonderful viral momentsAs a Japanese supporter exclaimed to a television camera, “Texas is good, everything is big”, we knew the World Cup had started. In those early euphoric moments, seeing the palpable joy when everything is still possible, it seemed Japan fans were the MVPs of memes.They came in their thousands, dressed in sombreros and Mario outfits, tossed into the air like confetti and line dancing with the Dutch. Then the heartbreak arrived.With more locations, more teams and more games than ever, this was always going to be a tournament primed for viral spectacle. A Ghanaian witch-doctor. Erling Haaland becoming the internet’s boyfriend. Victoria Beckham’s face.We’ve narrowed down a selection of the most weird and wonderful moments of this World Cup – both on the field and on the sidelines. Or, in the case of Norway, in virtually any physical space to complete a “Viking row”. Strap in, readers.Thank you, Japan, for the joy you brought this World Cup. It started with a local reporter asking a pair of supporters literally dressed in Japan jerseys “where are you guys from”, who happily complimented her state of Texas with “everything is big”. Then a fan was gleefully thrown into the air by a sea of Netherlands fans, armed with a Pikachu. Notable mentions must also go to the Japan fans’ many and varied outfits.Poor Thierry Henry, just trying to get through commentating the World Cup without being subjected to imagery of Alexi Lalas’s “nether regions”. Lalas was very excited by the opening ceremony in Los Angeles ahead of the USA’s match against Paraguay, loudly telling the Fox Sports panel: “I thought that was awesome. My nether regions are still vibrating from the bass.” Henry couldn’t hide his reaction.This one is somehow even funnier in original Spanish: “Ay no, tarjeta gris otra vez.” Whether this dog was actually at the World Cup, where only service animals are allowed, is besides the point. We fell in love with the Brazilian supporter when it went viral for its confused look over the colour of a card.In a battle between the meme mascots of this World Cup, points must also go to Merlín, the Mexican duck, who stole our hearts with his confident waddle and silly little jersey. Merlín became a folk hero and met with Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, as the co-hosts rode a wave of momentum to the last 16. But like his side was unable to go as far in the tournament as hoped, when barred from attending his beloved Mexico’s later matches.Ghanaian witch-doctor Nana Kwaku Bonsam, the self-described “most powerful spiritualist in the world”, had Harry Kane in his grips during his national team’s 0-0 draw with England. Bonsam claimed to have put a non-violent curse on the English captain. Thankfully, Kane was released from it soon after, but that didn’t help England against Argentina.Speaking of England and Ghana. American commentator John Strong delivered an all-timer on a Fox Soccer broadcast during their match in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where he observed England “historically struggled”. Surely the US have enough to dwell on beyond the American revolutionary war.If you hadn’t heard of 36-year-old Themba Zwane before the World Cup, you have now. The South Africa midfielder not only earned a red card in the first game of the tournament, but delivered a generational meme with the profound shock of his reaction. He may have got a three-match ban, but Zwane’s legacy lives for ever.A real joy of a World Cup this size has been the showdowns you don’t see coming. Morocco versus Haiti was one. An unexpected, action-packed game that saw Morocco sail into the last 32 with a 4-2 win. In the words of one internet user: “The Haiti second goal was soo perfect to watch I forgot I was Moroccan”. If you know, you know.This may transcend memes. Over in Patagonia, the Argentinians felt it was the appropriate time to unveil a new, 85-foot statue of Lionel Messi midway through the tournament. And, honestly, it speaks for itself.Norway’s fans have never met a surface, it seems, that they can’t use for a “Viking row”. It felt as if they were everywhere this World Cup: bobbing up on escalators, spinning around suitcase conveyors, planted in the middle of city streets, celebrating each win or the team’s return home.How do you sum up England’s victory against Mexico? A player got a yellow card and was stretchered off the pitch, neither of which occurred during gameplay. Kane’s voice after the game sounded as if he was channelling Terry Jones acting as an angry mother in the Life of Brian, even while describing Jordan Henderson’s dramatic fall. Mexico’s head coach Rafael Márquez let out expletives, then cackled. And that’s before you get to the game itself.Erling Haaland is fast. Erling Haaland is strong. Erling Haaland likes … $750 taxidermy racoons? Few have united the internet such as Norway’s striker, whose looks and expressions have been compared to a spring onion and Dragon Ball Z, and whose bromance with Jude Bellingham has warmed the cockles of the most cynical football fan’s heart.Victoria Beckham could barely contain her emotion when Jude Bellingham scored for England in extra time against Norway. Sadly, her facial expression was quite akin to Mick Jagger when England finally fell to Argentina.Nothing has drawn so much universal frustration this World Cup as the cursed hydration break. Mandatory, yet pointless three-minute breaks implemented in each half of every match, regardless of whether it is 20C and fine outside, presumably so Fifa can make more money off advertising. Thankfully, they did pose a newfound opportunity for memes, and nothing brings people together more than shared hatred.Already feeling sad that the World Cup is almost over? Don’t worry. There’s so much more to look forward to as the tournament grows and grows. Hopefully by then, Turkey will have figured out the difference between Australia and Austria.

Football News

Two minutes and 55 seconds. That’s how long I really had hope of reaching the World Cup final. And it didn’t kill meIn her book Hope in the Dark the author Rebecca Solnit examines if it is possible to have hope when you consider all of human suffering. She quotes the Bulgarian writer Maria Popova: “Critical thinking without hope is cynicism, but hope without critical thinking is naivety.” By all accounts it is a compelling argument for hope as a catalyst for social change.Meanwhile, Graham Burrell wrote: “It is the hope that kills you” following Lincoln City’s 2-1 home defeat to Wigan in 2024. “I feel perhaps our playoff push was finally killed off yesterday.”It is hard to know where exactly to place that defeat at Sincil Bank in the pantheon of human suffering. And the same goes for England’s capitulation to Argentina on Wednesday.And it is also hard to find the first person who ever said: “It is the hope that kills you.” It could be anyone from William Shakespeare to Peter Ustinov. Many have developed it. Ted Lasso, for example: “So, I’ve been hearing this phrase y’all got over here that I ain’t too crazy about. ‘It’s the hope that kills you’. Y’all know that? I disagree, you know? I think it’s the lack of hope that comes and gets you. See, I believe in hope. I believe in belief.”And then there’s Jackson Lamb from Slow Horses. “It’s not the hope that kills you. It’s knowing it’s the hope that kills you – that kills you.”You wonder if England would have fared better in those last 30 minutes with Lasso or Lamb in the dugout. Their respective approaches would have been slightly different. Lasso certainly wouldn’t have played a back six. They wouldn’t sit back. Lamb would call them all idiots and tell them to get on with it. Arm round the shoulder or kick up the arse – the full spectrum is here.But what any England fan, or any sports fan knows – is that hope, as a pure emotion, is perhaps the most incapacitating. Hope isn’t immediate. Hope doesn’t really exist at the start of the game. It certainly plays second fiddle to fear. Fear during the buildup, fear during the ludicrous 10-second countdown, fear as the ball rolls back to Jordan Pickford. I could feel, almost hear, my heart beating at twice its normal rate.As the game settles, the heart settles. Well, settles is perhaps the wrong word. It is base-level angst with little pockets of rage as Giuliano Simeone harries and hacks and kicks and growls. Where’s the yellow card? Are the conspiracists right? He fails to kick Marc Guéhi and then goes with his head like a shark biting thin air too far out of the water. By now, even well-timed tackles by Argentinians are evil. Fouls by English players are justified. Another pint of myopia, please.Half-time is where the first waves of pessimism appear. The longer this goes, the more likely Argentina will do it. They know how to do it. I say meaningless things like “muscle memory”. I say meaningful things like “wily bastards”.And then the goal. The perfect cross. The perfect finish. It is an outpouring of joy and relief and possibility. It is the first real moment of hope, combined with the “Well, at least they need two now” mindset – we’ve all watched England for long enough.The only other ecstatic moment is the Djed Spence tackle. Spence has looked so relaxed he’s barely bothered about any of this. Just be surprisingly brilliant and then go home and do the washing-up. But that celebration – like Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci together. “Yes, Djed!” I shout. The greatest England tackle since Eric Dier on Sergio Ramos – and wildly more important. If things had gone differently, that would headline your montage. That would be one of your statues.Now, there’s a chance that someone else in the game has mentioned England dropping deep already. Was it Thomas Tuchel? Was it the players? Is it just English paralysis? Chances are you don’t need another tactical deep dive – I know I don’t.This is about the few minutes where the hope was genuine. Where I started to think about a World Cup final. The enjoyable part of the tournament isn’t the games, it’s just still being in the thing. It’s being able to watch other matches knowing you still have a dog in the fight. The actual game itself is the ordeal you have to endure.The retreat had already started before the hydration break. But how many of us said: “It’s too soon to defend this.” With 10 men at the Azteca it made sense. Even if England are able to see this out, can I handle torture? But time keeps going, and with every missed chance, with every save, hope beganto creep in.In the 82nd minute, Nico O’Reilly blocks a pass and chases it down and gets another block. We are in their half – a foreign land. I shouted to my Football Weekly colleague John Brewin: “That’s saved eight seconds.” A minute later Lionel Messi lofts a cross harmlessly out of play for a goal-kick. That was the moment I thought maybe. Just maybe.I began to think about England being in a World Cup final – selfishly, what a dream few days to be in New York, preview podcasts and TalkSport shows writing themselves. I could do a column about hope – but about the other hope. What a privilege.Goal-kick to England. Scoring a goal is hard, even if you have Messi. John Stones is doing keepy-ups. Pickford launches the goal-kick up field and O’Reilly gets on the end of it. Throw to Argentina deep in their half. “Eighty-four minutes on the clock now,” says Guy Mowbray. “I keep looking at that clock and thinking it’s going ever so slow,” says Alan Shearer.84’24. Enzo Fernández shoots from distance. Pickford tips it over. It’s going over. But it’s OK. Just keep your shape. 84’55. Enzo has too much time on the edge of the box. Enzo shoots. Enzo scores – and we all know it’s done.Two minutes and 55 seconds. That’s how long I really genuinely had hope. And it didn’t kill me. It was thrilling, terrifying and life-affirming. I have spoken before about whether I’ll ever be ready to see England’s men win anything – and maybe I’ll never have to test that emotion. But for the time being hope is actually enough for me. Just a morsel of it. If hope can be a catalyst for social change, if it can help us change the world, then it can help us imagine Adam Wharton lifting the European Championship trophy in 2028, even just for a fleeting moment.

Football News

Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal will play against each other for the first time when Argentina face Spain in Sunday's World Cup final.The showpiece fixture pits the player considered by many to be the greatest of all-time against the pretender to his throne who now occupies his old position for Barcelona.They are at opposite ends of their careers, separated in age by two decades, but remarkably, they first met 19 years ago, in 2007, when Messi was 20 and Lamine Yamal was a six-month-old.The meeting occurred when Lamine Yamal's family won the chance to have their baby pictured with a Barcelona star as part of a charity photoshoot organised by Catalan newspaper Sport and Unicef.The event was photographed by Joan Monfort, whose images went viral after one of them was posted on Instagram by Lamine Yamal's father, Mounir Nasraoui, alongside a caption reading "the beginning of two legends", as his son starred during Spain's triumphant European Championship-winning campaign in 2024."I felt very happy when I found out," Monfort told Sky Sports. "I'm happy that this photo has been seen around the world."The images are circulating again ahead of Sunday's game in New Jersey, where Lamine Yamal's Spain stand in the way of Argentina retaining the World Cup in what is expected to be Messi's final appearance in the competition.Messi heads into the game as Argentina's leader, having scored eight goals at the tournament and assisted two more in their semi-final win over England, but Monfort described him being out of his comfort zone, aged 20, when asked to pose with a baby."Messi is a very shy boy, very introverted," he added. "He is now and it was much more so before. It took a while for him to interact with a six-month-old baby."But in the end, the truth is that they both did a lot. Lamine was a very nice boy. He won Messi over in a short time."The circumstances of their reunion on Sunday, 19 years after that extraordinary first meeting, could hardly be more different.

Football News

Dominik Szoboszlai has signed a new long-term deal at Liverpool.Discussions between Richard Hughes and Szoboszlai's representatives accelerated in recent weeks.Szoboszlai's willingness to commit his long-term future to Liverpool was apparent throughout discussions with both the player and his representatives.Liverpool believe Szoboszlai has become an integral and increasingly influential player for them since joining from RB Leipzig in July 2023.The Hungary international was a key member of Liverpool's title-winning team of 2024/25 and was the club's player of the year last season."It's maybe my biggest day," Szoboszlai told Liverpoolfc.com. "There are a couple in front of it - probably when I signed for Liverpool, the first one, and when I got my baby, of course. But in my football career, I can say this is in the top three."Very happy. [I] can't wait to go again and again and again. I'm just happy to be here, as I said many times."There's always more to come... I'm happy with myself but I think I can do even better. I think that's why I'm sitting here, because that pushed me since I was a kid: that it was never enough, and I'm thinking the same now."I want to set the example. I want to be an example also for everyone, as much as I can."When I signed, I said I want to win everything. That didn't change for a little moment either. It stayed the same: I want to win everything that is possible in this country, also let's say the Champions League. I'm ready to go for it."23: Newcastle (a) - 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports19: Bournemouth (a) - 2pm, live on Sky Sports