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The World Cup is over but there are still more than six weeks to go in the transfer window. Here are 58 players to keep an eye on for the rest of the summer.Barcelona are desperate to sign the forward, but Atletico Madrid insist there will be no sale. The 26-year-old says he wants to leave - and his preference is Barca. Arsenal are keen and will be watching on closely. His contract includes a £426m release clause.Manchester United are looking to add a third midfielder, who can cover ground well. Brighton's 22-year-old is one of the options they have considered. Notoriously tough salesmen at the Amex, it is unlikely the Cameroon international will come cheap.Made headlines at the World Cup for the wrong reasons after US president Donald Trump's intervention over his red card but had a quietly impressive tournament up to that point. The Monaco striker, formerly on Arsenal's books, could be on the move.The France winger, who has interest from Liverpool and Arsenal, is not entirely happy with his current role at PSG. If he wishes to go - and a club meets his valuation - then there is a real chance of a transfer as the 23-year-old has just two years left on his deal.The 20-year-old wants to leave Tottenham, and they have received offers from Nottingham Forest and Newcastle for the midfielder. Spurs are understood to be open to selling for the right price but expected to hold out for a big fee.Manchester City are showing interest in the Morocco midfielder after his impressive performance at the World Cup this summer. The 18-year-old is also one of the names on the list at Manchester United. It remains to be seen if Lille will let him go now.Leeds are in an ongoing pursuit for the free-agent midfielder after he left Borussia Dortmund. The 30-year-old's father and representative, Jurgen, has visited the club's training ground as part of those talks, but Daniel Farke's side face significant competition for his signature.Como have been trying to close a deal with Chelsea for the England defender. As things stand, there is a gap in valuation between the two clubs after Chelsea rejected two offers from Como for the 27-year-old, who effectively has three years left on his deal.PSG opened talks with RB Leizpig for the 19-year-old after he indicated his preference to move to the French capital. Liverpool had made him their top winger target, but their £86m offer was not enough for Leipzig, who want to keep him for another year.Crystal Palace are one of the clubs monitoring the midfielder's situation after his difficult season on loan at Aston Villa. Liverpool's new boss Andoni Iraola is giving all the players a fresh slate this summer which could give the 23-year-old a second chance at Anfield.Aston Villa are in negotiations with AC Milan to bring the left-back back to the Premier League as a replacement for PSG-bound Lucas Digne. Milan signed Estupinan from Brighton for £17.5m but they are already happy to let him go.Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso wants to keep the midfielder, who has not hidden his desire for a move. It would take more than £100m for Chelsea to sell and Real Madrid have ruled themselves out of signing him. Who else can afford the Argentinian?The Lille forward has been attracting interest from Barcelona and Inter Milan, while he is also on the lists of Premier League clubs this summer. The 21-year-old was used as an impact substitute by Belgium at the World Cup as they reached the quarter-finals.The Liverpool forward was a favourite of former head coach Arne Slot but it remains to be seen how Iraola sees him fitting into his plans amid links to Spurs. Last season was tough for the Dutchman and he will be hoping for improvement this time around.Chelsea are already open to letting the winger go, less than a year on from his £40m arrival from Manchester United, and Roma are among the clubs interested in him. He is valued at around £42m by Chelsea.Crystal Palace let their £28m option to buy for the Aston Villa forward expire after his loan but have not ruled out re-signing him later in the summer. Still well regarded at Palace, they simply had other priorities at the time. Unlikely to continue at Villa.Newcastle's captain has told them he wants to leave and join Arsenal - but they insist he is not for sale. It is uncertain if the Premier League champions would be willing to pay enough to get a deal done after exploring a potential deal via intermediaries.The Chelsea defender has been linked with a move to Manchester City this summer but nothing has materialised thus far. Now the France international is back from the World Cup we're set to get more answers around the role Xabi Alonso sees for him at Chelsea.Manchester United want to sign the left-back this summer but are likely to face a fight from Newcastle, whose stance that he is not for sale will likely only have strengthened since losing two key players. Could the 21-year-old be Luke Shaw's long-term successor?The Chelsea striker spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich and may well be on the move again this summer. Aston Villa retain their interest from last summer and Chelsea are expected to make big sales in this window. Worked with Unai Emery at Villarreal.Arsenal are willing to listen to offers for the striker, who has entered the final year of his deal, and would be seeking around £18m-£20m for a permanent sale. The Brazilian has fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates with Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres favoured.Inter have made the Liverpool man their top midfield target this summer - but it remains to be seen if they can satisfy the Premier League club's demands. The 25-year-old will not come cheap in a summer when midfielders are being signed for more than £100m.The Real Madrid star has entered the final year of his deal and unless he can agree a new contract it seems unlikely that the Spanish giants would risk letting him leave on a free transfer in 12 months' time. Could he move to the Premier League?The France midfielder caught the eye at the World Cup and is now being linked with a move to the Premier League. Roma do not want to sell and have ambitious plans for the window but if a decent offer came from England they would have to think about it.Reports have linked Arsenal with a move for the England defender. Aston Villa have already lost a number of key players and would surely be reluctant to sell the 28-year-old, who has two years left on his contract.The 32-year-old was restricted to nine appearances for Manchester City last season because of injury problems. The midfielder is now approaching the final year of his deal and it is so far unclear what the arrival of Enzo Maresca will mean for his future.Bournemouth are adamant the 20-year-old forward is going nowhere despite interest from top clubs in Europe. Spurs are the latest to join the race with Arsenal, Man City, Barcelona and Real Madrid also monitoring him after an impressive debut season.Chelsea are in talks with Crystal Palace for the France defender. Palace would seek more than the £55m Spurs signed Jan Paul van Hecke if they were to sell the 26-year-old. There are good relations between the clubs at the highest level.AC Milan are open to the possibility of selling the Portugal winger if an interested club can meet their valuation of between £51m and £60m. Talks are expected to take place with the 27-year-old and his current club following his post-World Cup break.With only two years on his deal, Newcastle will hope to address the full-back's future soon. Arsenal and Manchester City have previously held an interest. The England international's continued injury problems may count against him getting a move.Arsenal are planning to make significant sales this summer and the Brazilian winger continues to be linked with an exit. Leandro Trossard has already joined Besiktas for £18m and it remains to be seen what impact that has on his former team-mate.It is uncertain if Juventus will be able to afford the Aston Villa goalkeeper. A source has told Sky Sports News that the Italians' valuation of the 33-year-old is more like that of a League One keeper than a World Cup winner. He has a contract until 2029.The 18-year-old PSG forward is considered one of the best up-and-coming talents in Europe, but he is struggling for game time with the European champions, which has led to interest from Aston Villa as he seeks a club where he will start regularly.The Crystal Palace right-back has two years left on his deal and has previously been linked with Manchester United. The Colombia international, who shone at the World Cup, said in November that it would be a "dream" to play for a top European club.Everton are yet to agree a new deal with the forward, who is on Manchester United's list. It is understood that the Toffees are not concerned about the 26-year-old's future with three years left on his deal.RB Leipzig do not consider Norway's World Cup star untouchable, but their preference is to keep him. Their asking price for the winger is around £51m. The 21-year-old's move to Brentford collapsed in January 2024. Could this be the year he moves to the Premier League?The 19-year-old is back at Arsenal having spent the second half of last season on loan at Marseille. He has the chance to prove himself in pre-season given most of Arsenal's forwards are still recovering from the World Cup, but his future is unclear.In June, Real Madrid publicly said they had not held talks with the Bayern Munich attacker but did not deny their interest or rule out a move. The German champions do not want to sell the 24-year-old and believe he would like to stay despite reports to the contrary.The midfielder has returned to Bayern Munich after Spurs opted against turning his loan into a permanent move. Aston Villa are interested but face competition from Portugal, with his former club Sporting and Benfica keen on the 31-year-old.The PSV Eindhoven striker saw a move to Fulham in January fall through, but it is understood the west London club retain an interest in the United States international, who did not score at the World Cup.Barcelona allowed their £26m option to buy the forward to expire and have now spent more than £95m to sign Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi in his position this summer. As things stand, the 28-year-old will return to Man Utd after his World Cup break.With a year left on his deal, the Brazilian could be set for a Spurs exit. Juventus are reportedly interested in the 29-year-old, who joined Tottenham for £60m. Spurs will not be getting their money back, but it feels like the time is right for both parties to move on.Spain's World Cup-winning captain is back to his best after claiming the award for the tournament's best player. With just a year left on his Man City deal, it is a pivotal summer for the 30-year-old, who has said he would like to return to LaLiga amid interest from Real Madrid.There is an expectation that Tottenham's captain will leave this summer, but it remains to be seen if anyone is willing to meet his valuation. His injury in the World Cup final for Argentina could complicate matters further. Spurs' two centre-back signings leave little room for the skipper.Coventry are working hard to re-sign the English goalkeeper after his loan last season but Brighton are living up to their billing as tough negotiators. Any deal for the 25-year-old is expected to be significantly more than £20m.A free agent after his Man Utd contract expired. The England international's star has fallen significantly since his £73m move to Old Trafford in July 2021 from Borussia Dortmund, for whom he could sign for a third time after indicating a willingness to join them.Tottenham spent heavily in defence and midfield, but they need attacking reinforcements now, and the Manchester City winger is a target. The 22-year-old has been of interest to Spurs for a year, so will this be the summer they finally land the Brazil international?He is another attacker Tottenham have been linked with. The left-winger had an eye-catching World Cup for Norway as he scored the opener in their quarter-final defeat to England. Reports suggest he wants to leave Benfica, who would reportedly demand £42.5m for him.The midfielder has turned down a new contract at Bournemouth amid interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United. Bournemouth are adamant he is not for sale, but with two years to run on his contract, they face a fight to keep him.The Atletico Madrid striker could be set for an exit this summer, with Sky in Italy reporting Juventus have an interest in the 30-year-old. The ex-Crystal Palace forward could even look to return to the Premier League having been linked with Everton.An England cult hero at the World Cup could now be set for a new club. Everton have an interest in the Tottenham defender, while Inter Milan are also admirers of Spence, who is likely to be second choice behind Pedro Porro at Spurs.The midfielder has two years left on his Stuttgart contract, making a potential move this summer more likely. The 25-year-old, who was part of Germany's World Cup squad, has been linked with a move to Newcastle, who desperately need midfield reinforcements.A strong World Cup showing with England will make him an attractive free agent signing this summer after his Man City contract expired. The 32-year-old could become the latest English recruit in Serie A with Inter Milan and Juventus showing interest in him.The forward looks certain to move following West Ham's relegation. Roma are pushing to close a deal, while it remains to be seen if one of his other admirers will make a rival bid. Man Utd cannot pursue their interest unless Marcus Rashford is sold.Aston Villa, Leeds and Newcastle are among the clubs keen on the City goalkeeper, who was used as back-up under Pep Guardiola last season. Regular game time is likely to be a decisive factor as the England international weighs up his future.Expected to move on from Spurs this summer with Antonin Kinsky poised to become first-choice goalkeeper full-time and Martin Dubravka brought in to be his deputy. The Italian has two years on his deal and is generating plenty of interest back in Serie A.Fenerbahce are among the clubs interested in the England striker, who has entered the final two years of his contract at Aston Villa. At 30, this could be the last chance for Villa to generate funds from his sale. Can Emery's side stomach another key departure?The Crystal Palace midfielder is on the lists of several top Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Manchester City and United. Liverpool have previously been credited with an interest, but midfield is less of a priority. Wharton has three years left on his deal.

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Alex Scott has turned down a new Bournemouth contract amid strong interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, Sky Sports News understands.Bournemouth have made Scott a number of offers since discussions began towards the end of the season - but it is believed the midfielder has indicated he is not currently willing to agree new terms.The Cherries do not want to sell the talented midfielder, who has entered the final two years of his current contract, and have already knocked back inquiries from the Premier League trio.United, Chelsea and Arsenal are believed to remain the frontrunners for Scott, who travelled to the States with the England squad ahead of the World Cup, while other clubs are also keen.Bournemouth expect Scott to remain their player next season whether he signs a new offer or continues on his current deal.It is part of their club-wide stance to keep their best players, which also includes Junior Kroupi and winger Rayan - two more players who have interest from other clubs.Stream the Premier League with no contractIt has been the summer where midfielders are hot property.Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Youri Tielemans have all made Premier League moves in this transfer window - the majority of them going for huge fees.Alex Scott is another player who could expect a move this summer. The huge interest from the so-called 'Big Six' is absolutely no surprise.Scott very nearly made England's World Cup squad this summer with Thomas Tuchel revealing earlier this summer that he was unlucky to miss out. A stellar Premier League season was behind that claim.Scott ranks very highly in the defensive metrics among Premier League midfielders. But he is not just a defensive option. Affectionately named 'The Guernsey Grealish', Scott has superb dribbling ability and timing - as seen with his match-winning goal against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in April.Given £116m signing Anderson has already gone, Scott is not a bad alternative option for the big clubs.It is worth remembering that when England Under-21s won their European Championships, the Young Lions' midfield was marshalled by both Anderson and Scott.Will Scott therefore join Anderson in a big move this summer?New Bournemouth boss Marco Rose is confident he can keep hold of highly-rated trio Kroupi, Scott and Rayan ahead of the club's first European campaign."I think Alex knows what he has with this club, and it's always about the right moment to do the next step," said Rose last week."Because if you are a young player and you do steps - and nowadays it happens many times - too fast, too quick, then it's getting difficult. The club is doing a lot of things to show the players that they are in the right place."So far, it's not a challenge for me, to be honest. The first four days, we are in touch and my feeling is that the boys are feeling really good here."Kroupi made great improvement last season, so I think for him there's no ceiling. Even he knows that he's in a good place to improve."He's playing in Europe, he'll have many games and he's playing in the most competitive and intensive league in the world. So far I don't have the feeling that anyone is trying to leave the club."

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Germany’s 2014 World Cup winning goalkeeper and a Brazilian icon are among those who have have called time after the 2026 tournamentFirst participated in the World Cup in 2010 before winning the trophy four years later. Germany have had little success since and their penalty shootout defeat by Paraguay marked the end of Neuer’s international career. He initially retired after Euro 2024 but reversed that decision a few weeks before this tournament. “Despite the bitter end, I don’t regret this decision,” he said after his 23rd and final World Cup appearance. The former Germany defender Robert Huth criticised the decision to bring Neuer out of retirement: “I think the big one that really unsettles the squad was the Neuer inclusion. I think [it was] really unexpected, he came late to the table.”Made his World Cup debut this summer having left an impression at Euro 2020. Schick failed to score as Czechia went winless and were eliminated in the group stage. The striker announced his international retirement hours after the final group game. “Today, my national team chapter is coming to an end,” he said. The official Czechia statement paid tribute: “Thank you for every match, every goal, and the pride with which you represented the Czech Republic.”Cemented himself as a fans’ favourite in 2014 when he kept a famous clean sheet against the World Cup hosts, Brazil. His playing time was limited this summer, but he got 12 minutes against Czechia, where he was celebrated by teammates. After full time the manager, Javier Aguirre, said: “The moment he stepped on to the pitch, it overshadowed everything else. He is a world-class legend, and I am incredibly proud of him.” Ochoa later posted: “It was the greatest privilege of my life. Thank you for believing, for always accompanying us. I love you Mexico.”Having made one appearance at the 2014 finals, Mahrez had to wait 12 years to add to his tally. He scored two goals against Austria before Algeria were eliminated in the last 32 by Switzerland in his final game. Mahrez said: “Representing Algeria has been a dream of mine ever since I was young, to play for my country. It’s been an immense honour and a great source of pride.” A Confederation of African Football’s statement said: “You gave us memories that time can never take away. Thank you, Riyad Mahrez.”The forward got six goals in as many matches across the 2014 and 2022 finals but was unable to add to that tally for an Ecuador team who lost to Mexico in the last 32. “I’ve played my last match with the national team,” he said in the tunnel after. Ecuador’s official X account showed appreciation to their record scorer: “The GOAT. Super Enner. Thank you for giving yourself to the country and representing it in the best way.”The uncompromising defender played every minute as Argentina triumphed in Qatar, having made his World Cup debut in 2010. Playing time was harder to come by in North America, though he featured in every game bar one, having revealed his intention to retire in March. “It’s my last World Cup, from there I’ll be a fan,” he said. Otamendi’s final home match became a tribute, with Lionel Messi letting him score a penalty at La Bombonera.This was the striker’s first and last World Cup. He scored twice as Austria reached the last 32, where they were defeated 3–0 by Spain. Arnautovic revealed his departure in an emotional post-match interview, saying: “Playing for Austria was the biggest highlight. It hits me that from now on I won’t see my second family any more.” In a social media post, the Austrian Football Association said: “What a career. What a character. Thank you for everything.”Participated in 2018 but injury ruled him out four years later. Following Senegal’s capitulation against Belgium, Mané released a statement regarding retirement via Senegalese outlet Le Quotidien – although there have been questions about its authenticity – saying: “Know that I sacrificed everything for this flag. I gave the very best of myself and I always fought fiercely for our homeland.” Pape Thiaw was asked about Mané’s retirement in January and replied: “We want to keep him as long as possible … when we say it’s his decision, it doesn’t just belong to him, he belongs to the people of Senegal, and they want to see him carry on.”The goalkeeper amassed 84 caps, making his debut in 2004, but did not get off the bench at his first World Cup. “I’ve never wanted it to end, but it must,” Gordon said, calling time on his club and international career. Gordon’s spell was described as “a career unlike any other” by the Scotland national team’s social media account.Made his World Cup debut in his side’s 2–0 victory over Curaçao, his 64th cap. In a social media post, the former Fulham midfielder later said: “After 11 years in the national team, and one World Cup played, I announce the end of my international career today.” Seri received a wealth of tributes below his post. “Congratulations on all that you’ve accomplished with the national team,” replied the captain, Franck Kessié. “Thank you for all these moments shared under our colors.”Announced himself on the World Cup stage with two goals on debut in 2014. Restricted by injury at the current tournament, he managed 55 minutes before Brazil’s exit against Norway and announced his international retirement shortly after full time. “It started here at MetLife Stadium,” he said, referring to his debut against the US in August 2010, “and I finished here. It is now over.” Zlatan Ibrahimovic, working as a pundit for US television, said: “An amazing player, and the skill set he had was just crazy. So, sad moment for Brazilian football.”

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Comments"Thanks world, We'll take it from here."That's the message from Lionel Messi, Son Heung-min, David Beckham and dozens of Major League Soccer players in an advertising campaign urging new football fans created by the World Cup to check out MLS.The slick film showcases World Cup stars who play in the US top flight, inviting fans to join them as the regular season resumes. The league is even offering free tickets to new fans."The World Cup has now exposed millions of people to Major League Soccer," says MLS executive vice-president Dan Courtemanche, who joined the league in 1995 before a ball was kicked."We're going to continue to capitalise on that momentum."Could the lasting legacy of this World Cup be the rise of MLS into the band of elite leagues?Major League Soccer is itself a legacy product from the 1994 World Cup, when Fifa mandated the US to establish a professional league as part of its bid to host the tournament.The league started in 1996 with 10 teams and zero purpose-built stadiums. Thirty years later, MLS has 30 clubs and almost as many football-specific stadiums.Despite predictions of empty World Cup seats because of sky-high ticket prices, the stadiums were packed, and broadcast ratings were impressive as football joy spread across the United States - even after the USA were knocked out of the tournament.The US team's loss to Belgium at the last-16 stage delivered the most-watched football game on one network in US history - with more than 33 million watching on Fox.England's last-16 win over Mexico became the most-watched football game in US history with a combined 45 million viewers in English and Spanish watching across Fox and Telemundo.The ratings compare with games in the NFL - what Americans consider football - but are not up to the level of the showpiece Super Bowl.In 2025, the most-watched Super Bowl in history attracted 127.7 million viewers across English and Spanish broadcasts and streaming in the US, although many Americans tune in solely for the half-time show, which was performed by Kendrick Lamar that year.MLS, which has shown strong growth since its first season 30 years ago, aspires to become an elite league on par with Europe's top competitions."I think we're looked at as the top, one of the top leagues commercially," MLS commissioner Don Garber said at an MLS event to discuss the future of the league and the post-World Cup legacy. "We've cracked that code. Now we've got to crack the rest of it."In some ways, MLS is already up there with the big leagues across the world.There were 45 MLS players represented at the 2026 World Cup - including two in the final for Argentina, Messi and Rodrigo de Paul.MLS has a reputation for being almost a retirement home for superstars - a lucrative place to play for legends like Beckham and Messi after peak careers in Europe.But that reputation is outdated, Courtemanche says, with the average age of new international players in the league now 23.8 years. Though many of them have dreams of playing in Europe after experiencing MLS.MLS is changing its calendar in 2027 to adopt a summer-to-spring season, more aligned with Europe to make it easier for players to move between the leagues.And the competition's leaders are investing in youth development leagues.All MLS teams run youth academies. As LA Galaxy hosted a viewing party for the US victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on a big screen, dozens of children ignored the match, instead battling it out themselves on three separate pitches, occasionally running to the big screen when the sound of a goal spread through the crowd.These were rare pick-up games in a culture full of highly scheduled children - and the skill level was high. Some of the kids played for MLS youth teams.Eight-year-old Landon - named after US star Landon Donovan - was one of the more skilled, moving from goalkeeper to forward with glee. His mother Jen Wing is a coach and says her children have attended MLS camps and play on travel teams at their home in New Jersey.Landon dreams of being a professional soccer player one day in MLS."LAFC," he says, referring to his dream team.But critics say MLS will never compete with Europe until it sorts out its "pay-to-play" culture in youth development.At the top level, MLS academies train and develop youth players for free, much like their European counterparts.But to get to that level, where an MLS academy team would notice a teenage player, families typically pay thousands of dollars for private lessons and access to travel teams, a common theme in US sports.MLS officials say the development leagues are constantly evolving and improving when it comes to developing young talent, and that every team has scholarships available to talented players.Commissioner Garber says the league is always improving and is determined to get even better at developing young players so they can deliver "more and more to the men's national team and just be better, bigger, stronger, faster, all those things that give you energy to think of a better future".When it comes to attracting audiences, Messi is the league's biggest draw.But the cult of celebrity runs throughout the league. More than two dozen entertainers and athletes hold ownership stakes in MLS clubs, including Will Ferrell (LAFC), Reese Witherspoon (Nashville SC), Matthew McConaughey (Austin FC) and Magic Johnson (LAFC).Drew Carey was an original Seattle Sounders owner when the club joined MLS in 2009 for a $30m (£22m) expansion fee. The Sounders are now valued at more than $900m (£668m). David Beckham's 2007 LA Galaxy contract included the option to buy an MLS expansion team for $25m. He now owns Inter Miami CF, a club that experts have valued at more than a billion dollars.But as much as the US is experiencing a football frenzy right now, many believe US culture will always prioritise American football.Brian Udovich, whose 12-year-old son Croil plays in an MLS Next Level league in Southern California, says many talented youngsters leave the sport for American football when they become teenagers because of all the fanfare.On Friday nights, American football players get their names up in lights with marching bands and cheerleaders urging them on to glory in giant stadiums. Whereas soccer is typically played on Saturday mornings with mums and dads in folding chairs."It just means so much more to other cultures than us," Udovich says.Michael Bradley, coach of the New York Red Bulls, says American culture is just different and that the legacy of the World Cup will make association football more prominent."We don't have the long, storied football history that other countries do. I think for a long time that led to an inferiority complex that maybe football would never really survive in the United States," Bradley told the BBC, adding that now so many more fans in the US feel proud."I think we can all unequivocally say in 2026, football is not going anywhere."Best goal, best player, best fans - BBC reporters' World Cup awardsMessi says 'pain is immense' after losing World Cup final

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The rules are simple. Each day there's a new footballer and the challenge is to guess who they are in as few attempts as possible.After each wrong guess you unlock a new clue. Guess the answer after as few clues as possible to score more points.Three is a good score, four or five points is exceptional.So take part and return for more tomorrow.Today's player and clues set by BBC Sport's Huzaifah Khan.After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device.What information do we collect from this quiz?Related topicsFootballPremier LeaguePlay more quizzesAll our Who Am I? quizzes in one placeCan you name the 10 Lionesses with most England caps?World Cup quiz: Name these top nations' leading scorers

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People gather at cafes and outdoor screenings to support team after Spain’s backing for Palestinian rightsThe Spanish football team’s World Cup win has been celebrated in the streets of Gaza, where Spain’s support for Palestinian rights and Israel’s backing for the Argentinian team turned the competition into more than a football showdown.Gathered at cafes and outdoor screenings, Palestinians defied the risk of Israeli attacks to cheer on a team they had taken to their hearts.Many waving Spanish flags paid tribute to teenage star Lamine Yamal, who brought a Palestinian flag to celebrations for Barcelona’s La Liga win in May.“Whoever raises the Palestinian flag deserves to raise the World Cup,” the Gaza al-Irada amputee football team wrote in a pre-game video message for the Spanish team.Saadi al-Masri, 40 and captain of the amputee team in Gaza, watched the game with friends in a cafe. “I support Spain because we see it as a country that stands with the Palestinian cause and supports Palestinian rights,” he said.Spain has been among Europe’s most vocal critics of Israel’s war on Gaza and state-backed violence in the occupied West Bank. It is pushing for stronger European Union action over human rights violations, including suspension of a broad free trade pact.When Israel’s defence minister attacked Yamal for raising the Palestinian flag, accusing him of “inciting hatred”, the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, was quick to defend the young player.“Lamine has only expressed the solidarity with Palestine that is felt by millions of us in Spain. Another reason to be proud of him,” he said in a social media post.Israeli support for Argentina was led by Netanyahu, who has cultivated close ties with far-right president Javier Milei, and posted a good luck message for the team ahead of the final.The Palestinian delegation to the United Nations responded with an image of the Spanish team, under the headline “world champions”.Even keen fans in Gaza have struggled to keep up with matches during the World Cup. Most of the 2 million Palestinians in the territory live in tent camps after Israeli attacks destroyed their homes, with little access to power or internet connections.Arkan al-Walaida, 23, went to internet cafes to seek out match highlights each morning during the tournament, looking for short videos on TikTok or Fifa’s official YouTube and Instagram pages.When she found out on Monday that Spain had won, she was overwhelmed. “Honestly, I felt like I was about to cry from happiness,” she said. “We see their support as a sign of humanity.”Al-Masri watched the match at a cafe, packed with an excited crowd. “We were very happy when the final whistle confirmed Spain’s victory,” he said, but fear of Israeli airstrikes meant there were no late-night parties.In early July, an Israeli bomb killed Mohamed al-Wahidi, a Palestinian aid worker who organised screenings of World Cup matches in Gaza.The strike, just before the game between Egypt and Argentina, also killed brothers aged eight and 10, and a second man. The Israeli military confirmed the attack but said it had not targeted al-Wahidi.

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Introducing football to the country with one pitchLike everywhere, the world's smallest island nation has been gripped by football fever for the past six weeks. But once Spain lifted the World Cup trophy on Sunday, almost every trace of football on Nauru stopped.While there is interest in big Premier League matches, and children wear Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo kits, any attempts to actually play football tend to be mocked, unless it's Aussie rules.But things may be slowly changing as a group of volunteers - led by British former academy player Charlie Pomroy - seek to introduce the game to what was once the world's richest nation per capita but is now heavily reliant on foreign aid and has one of the highest obesity rates in the world.A social media post from the Nauru Soccer Federation congratulating the new world champions and setting out a dream that "one day we hope to be in Spain's position" may have been fanciful, but the groundwork is real in what it says is the last country not to have had a senior international side.Laying the foundations, though, on an island where over-mining has left the landscape looking more like a moonscape, has been far from straightforward.Nauru has tried to develop football previously, but it has never really taken off. The closest it has come to playing an international match was when representative teams faced a Solomon Islands expatriate team in 1994 and a refugee side in 2014.Its complicated past goes some way to explaining why the world's most popular sport has struggled for participation.Located in the Pacific Ocean 2,500 miles north east of Australia, Nauru's historical wealth was built on its vast deposits of phosphate from fossilised bird poo.Nauru, which was a dependent territory of Australia until independence in 1968, was heavily mined in the late 20th Century. The minerals dried up, leaving the country once named Pleasant Island looking ragged, with large parts of its central areas uninhabitable and extremely challenging to farm.This resulted in most of the 12,000-strong population clustering around the coastal edges with usable space at a premium on an island that measures only 21 square kilometres. And even that is shrinking, with climate change and rising sea levels threatening its very existence.Its barren land has left the country importing more than 90% of its food – much of which is processed, contributing to 69% of the population being classed as obese and around 40% having type 2 diabetes.One of its main sources of revenue now is from the Australian immigration detention centre it has housed for much of this century.Everyday life on the island can be a struggle and sport has been a strong release for many, but the sport of choice is Aussie rules, which 30% of locals play. Also popular are athletics and weightlifting, which Nauru has competed in at the Olympics.Nauru will host the Micronesian Games in 2028 – a multi-sport event that includes football and will showcase the island's desire to grow its international reputation through sport."They are trying to change the image for the better and get involved in more sport," says Pomroy, technical director for Nauru Soccer and one of eight volunteers aiming to develop football on the island."They [Nauru] want people to see the country in a more positive light rather than the punchline of a joke."So whether it's football, whether it's Aussie rules, whether it's rugby, basketball, cricket, weightlifting... just to be part of building a healthier Nauru is enough."But being a football lover, the best way I know how to have an impact is through football."And the Briton, who is originally from Stevenage and worked at his hometown club when they were still in non-league, has a track history to prove it.He previously set up a charity in the Cambodian city of Siem Reap which ended up turning into a professional academy that has so far produced 47 players who have progressed to play professionally in the Asian country, and is also running successful programmes in India bringing football to underserved communities.All of his projects pose different challenges. One of the first challenges in Nauru is getting some footballs on to the island.The volunteers have launched a campaign to give every child aged four to 14 a ball – roughly 2,000 children – and are working with churches and the island's 11 schools to deliver them. The balls will get delivered 200 at a time by plane to help manage the distribution and avoid potential waste.Past attempts to introduce football to Nauru have focused on one-off fixtures, including two years ago when former Premier League striker Dave Kitson was appointed to lead a group of 18 Nauruans into a game after a two-week training camp.Their opponents were set to be a Sunday league team from Reading called XL FC who use football as a way to achieve a healthier lifestyle. That match never happened for financial reasons and so the wait for that inaugural game goes on.But the ethos has since changed and Nauru Soccer are looking longer term."Dave Kitson would have gone, I would have gone, and it would have been great for a couple of months, but it's a lot of money," says Pomroy, who has worked in football in every continent bar South America and Antarctica."Let's start a culture on this island of football or sport and help it grow, because it's an important thing. Let's build the ecosystem, not just one-off games."My personal dream is that Nauru's first ever international game is played with all kids that are 18 years old that had been coming through our system."So, say we found a group of 14-year-olds now and we said, 'Right, let's work with this group over the next three or four years'."And by the time they're 17-18 years old, that will be Nauru's first ever national team game."Once Pomroy arrives for a training camp in December, he will set up coaching programmes for players and aspiring coaches so the sport can continue throughout the year.A lot of this hinges on being able to find places to play.Much of the land is privately owned or uninhabitable, but volunteer Tyrone Deiye is hoping to use some of his family's land to create more pitches than the sole one that currently exists - a dusty surface of phosphate over crushed dirt. He also says playing on indoor pitches may be an option.Pomroy is keen to stress that Nauru Soccer is not trying to "force football down everyone's throat" but says it's about laying a foundation for a sport, promoting healthy lifestyles and building communities."The life lessons that you learn through football aren't just on the pitch, not just about winning and losing," says Pomroy, who manages this project while coaching in India."It's the friends that you make. It is learning to be humble. It's learning to look after your body. It's learning to get up when you fall down."And that's how I've seen it change people across the world. That's the dream for Nauru."If we sat here in five years' time, I genuinely believe that we will have a senior team that will be filled with 18, 19, 20-year-olds."Then in 20 years' time, someone from Nauru comes up to me and says, 'my life changed through football and the development programme'... That would be the ultimate dream."Other Pacific island nations play football and expats from these countries sometimes play on Nauru, although Deiye says Nauruans "watch the expats play but they sort of laugh at them because they don't understand the game, they think it's funny"."A lot of the other Pacific islands have got really good football teams and it makes those guys really happy," adds Deiye, who balances work as an urban planner in Nauru alongside his football work. "Those countries, they're really big into football. I want Nauru to be like that."Last year, the Marshall Islands played the US Virgin Islands in their first international match. The Pacific island had been the self-proclaimed last nation on earth without a football team, but Nauru have also been claiming this tag.There was also confusion in the middle of the Covid pandemic when a fake domestic league in Nauru was announced, with the hoax being very detailed down to team names and registered players.But the Nauru Soccer Federation now has a real website, where it outlines its plans and also sells a national team shirt to raise funds to grow the game. Its main source of money for the project is through fundraisers, but that can be difficult to organise as the volunteers are also balancing full-time work and different time zones.Even communication between the project's team members can be tricky – sometimes Deiye will not be contactable for a couple of days, only to come back to say that a storm had wiped out the internet on the island."This project's not short of challenges, for sure," says Pomroy."I think from what I can understand, Nauruans have been promised quite a lot throughout their history and been let down many times."So their kind of attitude towards things tends to be 'we believe it when we see it' and they're very reluctant to get their hopes up."But in general, the feedback we get is everyone is very, very excited about it."

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Counterfeit football shirts worth over £18m were seized in the UK during the course of the World Cup because of safety concerns. The tournament produced a spike in the sales of fake shirts and kits, but the Fire Service has warned that these items are far more flammable and dangerous than the genuine articles.One raid involved 1,618 fake strips being taken from a warehouse in Birmingham, including replicas of star players such as France's Kylian Mbappe and Norway's Erling Haaland.Detective Sergeant Jamie Kirk, who took part in the operation, told BBC Sport: "I understand why people want to buy these shirts, people love football and the incentive is the lower price - but these shirts, they're not regulated and could be highly flammable."They have dyes in them which could be harmful to skin, particularly children's skin. While the cost is lower - and that's the attractive part - potential damages to you and the people making them is just far too high."Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service tested the flammability of counterfeit shirts compared with genuine kit and found the fake kits were much more flammable."It's quite clear that the counterfeit one melted as soon as the burner went on it," said watch manager Dave Jackson, who carried out the test by hanging them two at a time on an iron bar and used blow torches to set them alight. "I really had to try to make the genuine one ignite and melt."One of the factors driving the sales of counterfeit kits is their low price. Several websites sell them for as little as £12, while the cost of some official Premier League strips start at £85."It's extremely dangerous. It's something that can cause horrific injuries to your children. It's just not worth the savings," Jackson added.Kate Caffrey, head of intelligence at the Intellectual Property Office, warned that fake shirts are not regulated."Counterfeit strips are not subject to health and safety regulations, British Standards [or] EU standards," she told BBC Sport."We've got evidence that counterfeit goods are made in appalling conditions, so you just don't know what's in them, how they're being made and there's no way of providing any safety reassurances."Counterfeiting is criminal, these are manufactured and supplied by criminal networks, criminal gangs and they're very adept at targeting markets where there's demand. So the World Cup, the forthcoming Premier League season - they're going to flood the market with fake shirts."The price of a fake shirt, you don't know what you're funding with that money."

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Former Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran has joined Benfica on a season-long loan from Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.The Portuguese giants will be the seventh club of Duran's career at the age of just 22, following recent stints with Fenerbahce and Zenit St Petersburg.Benfica will pay a £5.19m (6.1m euros) loan fee for the Colombia international with the option to make the move permanent for £25.5m (30m euros) at the end of the 2026-27 season."I am happy! I continue to say that it is the biggest club in Portugal. I am very grateful to be here," said Duran."I have very high expectations of being here. I want to play well, give my all and become champion."Duran began his professional career with Colombian side Envigado in 2019 before earning a move to MLS team Chicago Fire in 2022.He was on the move again in January 2023 when he joined Aston Villa for £14m and quickly became a fan favourite.A move to West Ham fell through in the summer of 2024, but after scoring a famous winner for Villa against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, Duran was sold to Al-Nassr for £71m in January 2025.Despite scoring eight goals in 13 games for the Saudi Arabian side, he stayed for only half a season before moving to Fenerbahce on loan.But manager Jose Mourinho was sacked less than a month after Duran made his debut and the loan was cancelled in February 2026 so he could join Zenit.After bagging three goals in nine games in Russia, Duran now has the chance to make a home at Benfica, his seventh club in the seventh country of his young career.Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

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The top stories and transfer rumours from Tuesday's newspapers...Manchester United are monitoring Newcastle's Lewis Hall and Fulham's Antonee Robinson to potentially strengthen Michael Carrick's options at left-back - The GuardianAston Villa are continuing to discuss a proposed deal for Nicolas Jackson at Chelsea - Daily MailTottenham are set to bring in Brighton's Andrew Crofts to Roberto De Zerbi's backroom staff - The StandardBen White has recovered from his knee injury for the start of Arsenal's pre-season preparations, while Jurrien Timber hopes to be "back soon" - The StandardTottenham defender Elijah Upson has turned down the offer of a professional contract in order to join Arsenal - The StandardBack Pages is a review of the sports headlines from the national newspapers, every Monday to Friday, live on Sky Sports News from 10.30pm. Missed the show? Catch up on the latest news with the Back Pages podcast.Leandro Paredes was not sent off after being involved in a brawl following Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain, contrary to initial reports - The IndependentArgentina's press has praised its national team's behaviour during and after Sunday's World Cup final defeat by Spain, despite international condemnation - The TelegraphThe 2030 World Cup will be expanded to 64 teams according to the president of the South American football confederation - The Telegraph

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Previous imageNext imageSlide 1 of 14, Spanish newspapers, Spain's success made the front pages as well as the back pagesEnd of image galleryPublished9 minutes agoRelated topicsFootballFIFA World Cup 2026More on this storyFifa opens investigation into Argentina post-final trouble - what happens next?Rodri's stock at all-time high as he adds to trophy collectionWhen the World Cup finishes, the football continues on BBC Sport

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Chelsea are in talks with Crystal Palace over the signing of defender Maxence Lacroix.Palace and Chelsea enjoy good relations at the highest levels and they have done deals for players such as Trevoh Chalobah and Ben Chilwell.Chelsea want to sign a centre-back and ideally any new arrival would be physically imposing and bring Premier League experience.Chelsea have raised around £130m from sales in this window and more players are set to leave.In defence, players who could move on include Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile, Malo Gusto and Axel Disasi.Morgan Rogers arrived for a medical with Chelsea on Monday morning, which you can exclusively watch below, ahead of completing a British-record £117m move from Aston Villa.All being well, Rogers is then expected to sign a six-year contract at Chelsea with the option of another year until 2033.Rogers returned from the USA on Sunday following England's third-place finish at the World Cup, via a bronze-final victory over France.Chelsea moved quickly to secure the deal ahead of Arsenal, who were unwilling to match the asking price despite Rogers being their top forward target.Rogers will become the most expensive British player of all time when he completes his move from Aston Villa, with the fee eclipsing the £116m fee paid by Manchester City for his England team-mate Elliot Anderson.Rogers is also set to become Chelsea's record signing, overtaking the £115m the Blues paid Brighton for Moises Caicedo in 2023.Dastan Satpaev - Kairat Almaty, £2.1mEmmanuel Emegha - Strasbourg, undisclosedMarc Cucurella - Real Madrid, £51.8m