World Soccer news

• Bronze final? How about World Cup’s most pointless match? Why Fifa should bin off third-place play-off

  17-07-2026 08:38 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  The unique allure and jeopardy of World Cup matches, the exclusivity of such seismic occasions every four years, are undoubtedly the tournament’s greatest asset. It’s what stirs the senses, arouses tension, triggers drama. And yet, heading into this weekend’s final furlong, the World Cup’s penultimate match continues to be a showdown that nobody – players, fans, broadcasters – really cares about.To hammer home the genuine pointlessness of the third-place play-
  
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• La Liga club shuts down Barcelona move for experienced defender: ‘He will remain with us’

  17-07-2026 09:00 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  La Liga club shuts down Barcelona move for experienced defender: ‘He will remain with us’Barcelona’s search for defensive reinforcements has sparked fresh speculation in recent days, with Aymeric Laporte emerging as a potential target. The experienced Spain international has featured prominently in the Barcelona transfer news, but Athletic Club have now responded, insisting there has been no contact from the Catalan giants.The Barcelona transfer rumours gathered pace durin
  
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• Jude Bellingham’s emotional message after England’s World Cup elimination: ‘We can achieve big things’

  17-07-2026 09:00 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Jude Bellingham’s emotional message after England’s World Cup elimination: ‘We can achieve big things’It was not meant to be for the Real Madrid stars at the FIFA World Cup, as both of the team’s active superstars were eliminated in the semifinal stage of the competition earlier this week.Kylian Mbappe’s France fell short against Spain in a game where they were thoroughly outplayed and dominated. The 2-0 scoreline, which eventually reflected was kind on them.J
  
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• 😭 Slavko Vincic in tears! after learning he'll ref World Cup final

  17-07-2026 09:00 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  😭 Slavko Vincic in tears! after learning he'll ref World Cup finalFIFA announced in the last few hours that Slavtko Vincic will be the referee for the Argentina-Spain World Cup final.All this despite the fact that he was not among the favorites to officiate it, but the Slovenian will have that privilege in New York.This news has produced one of the images of the World Cup: the moment Vincic finds out and breaks down in tears.Emotion overcame Vincic, who celebrated with his colleagues and
  
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• Soule remains popular in the Premier League

  17-07-2026 08:55 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Soule remains popular in the Premier LeagueThe future of Matias Soulé continues to be one of the most sensitive issues in the Roma transfer market. The Argentine striker remains an important part of the Giallorossi squad, but if he receives a reasonable offer, the club could consider a possible sale.According to Il Messaggero, the target market for the 2003-born player is primarily the Premier League. Sunderland and Fulham are the clubs that, in recent weeks, have reportedly been in conta
  
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• Moreira-Roma: €12-15 million difference with Strasbourg

  17-07-2026 08:55 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Moreira-Roma: €12-15 million difference with StrasbourgRoma, after suffering from Celik’s unexpected departure, moving to Juventus instead of renewing his contract with the Giallorossi, must send a message on the transfer market that will also reassure Gian Piero Gasperini. While awaiting answers regarding Summerville, the Roman club continues to work to bring Diego Moreira to Trigoria. The 2004-born full-back, given the departure of the Turkish full-back, has become an even more conc
  
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• Journalist: Liverpool set to hijack £51m Arsenal deal for World Cup ace

  17-07-2026 08:55 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Journalist: Liverpool set to hijack £51m Arsenal deal for World Cup aceLiverpool Eye Kaishu Sano as £51m Midfield Move Signals Smart Summer StrategyLiverpool’s summer, under Andoni Iraola, appears to be taking on a familiar shape. The club are searching for certainty in midfield, for a player capable of imposing order without reducing the game to administration. According to Fraser Fletcher of TEAMtalk, that search has led them to Mainz midfielder Kaishu Sano, a player whose pr
  
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• Arsenal set sights on Ezri Konsa after William Saliba injury blow

  17-07-2026 08:55 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Arsenal set sights on Ezri Konsa after William Saliba injury blowArsenal have expressed an interest in signing Aston Villa star Ezri Konsa, per The Guardian. Konsa could provide cover for Saliba who is out for an extended spell after sustaining a back injury during France’s semi-final defeat to Spain. Saliba had been nursing a back issue over the last few months, but the problem aggravated during the match against Spain. He is now expected to be sidelined for around four to five
  
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• Report: Newcastle Have Two Targets For Problem Position

  17-07-2026 08:50 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Report: Newcastle Have Two Targets For Problem PositionNewcastle Goalkeeper Talks Intensify as Carl Rushworth and James Trafford Emerge as Leading TargetsNewcastle goalkeeper plans are finally taking shape, and the situation looks straightforward enough. According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle are “in talks over Brighton goalkeeper Carl Rushworth” and are also “continuing discussions over a move for Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford”. The brief is clear, they want
  
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• Dragojevic deal almost done for Rangers - gossip

  17-07-2026 08:47 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  [Getty Images]Serbian midfielder close to completing Rangers switch, with Celtic defender on the way to France...Partizan captain Vanja Dragojevic will arrive in Glasgow on Friday to complete the formalities of his transfer to Rangers, who will pay around £4.6m for the 20-year-old midfielder. (Daily Record)Partizan have accepted a £4.7m, plus add-ons, offer from Rangers for midfielder Vanja Dragojevic. (TV Arena Sport - in Serbian)Rangers are close to completing the signing of Vanja
  
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• Roma want to close Summerville deal before weekend

  17-07-2026 08:45 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Roma want to close Summerville deal before weekendWith Greenwood gone, and Celik’s about-face having gone to Juventus instead of renewing his contract, Roma must shake up their transfer market. The start hasn’t been the best, as by July 17th the club hadn’t even managed to retain the three players whose contracts were expiring, as requested by Gian Piero Gasperini. Roma now want to accelerate their transfers and aren’t willing to wait beyond this weekend for a definitive
  
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• Real Madrid will have to beat football’s all-time record transfer fee to sign Galactico target

  17-07-2026 08:40 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Real Madrid will have to beat football’s all-time record transfer fee to sign Galactico targetEarlier today, Real Madrid and Florentino Perez took a major step towards their dream signing of the summer – Michael Olise.While the operation itself has not begun and still remains complicated, the player has reportedly opened up about his desire to leave Bayern Munich to his compatriots and is said to be obsessed with the idea of joining Real Madrid.Los Blancos have been informed of the d
  
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• Joan Laporta talks Messi, Lamine, Deco, La Masia ahead of FIFA World Cup final: ‘We are very proud’

  17-07-2026 08:40 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Joan Laporta talks Messi, Lamine, Deco, La Masia ahead of FIFA World Cup final: ‘We are very proud’Barcelona president Joan Laporta believes the club will be at the heart of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final as Spain prepare to face Argentina in New York. With eight Barcelona players included in Luis de la Fuente’s squad, the Blaugrana chief says the occasion is a reminder of the club’s influence on the biggest stage in international football.The latest Barcelona news ha
  
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• World Cup stars who could move this summer

  17-07-2026 08:30 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  As the World Cup approaches its end, attentions are turning towards the 2026-27 club season - and who could be on the move this summer.Several major names from the World Cup have already agreed deals - Marc Cucurella,Elliot Anderson and Youri Tielemans among them.But there are plenty more transfers still to come, including some which could be inspired or enacted thanks to performances in North America.Here are nine stars of the World Cup potentially in line for a move this summer - and which clu
  
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• Wrexham boss Parkinson relishing Man Utd 'test'

  17-07-2026 08:21 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Wrexham's Elliott Lee in action against Manchester United in San Diego in July 2023 [Getty Images]Manager Phil Parkinson says Manchester United will be a "great test" for Wrexham in their latest pre-season friendly.Wrexham take on the Premier League side in Helsinki on Saturday, although United boss Michael Carrick will be without several of his World Cup players.In the summer of 2023, Parkinson's then League Two-bound side beat a youthful Red Devils team 3-1 in a friendly in San Diego."For Man
  
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• Real Madrid superstar’s departure will allow club to make dream signing – report

  17-07-2026 08:20 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Real Madrid superstar’s departure will allow club to make dream signing – reportThe headline news of Friday is Michael Olise’s firm stand on signing for Real Madrid; the development has come rather out of the blue.While both parties were flirting with each other for a significant time now, the Frenchman’s move to Spain was always considered complicated given how integral he is to the Bavarians’ project.In fact, the only way out was reported to be the player directly
  
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• Atletico Madrid president shuts down Barcelona’s Julian Alvarez pursuit: ‘Laporta knows where Alvarez will play’

  17-07-2026 08:20 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Atletico Madrid president shuts down Barcelona’s Julian Alvarez pursuit: ‘Laporta knows where Alvarez will play’Barcelona’s pursuit of Julian Alvarez has suffered another setback after Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo insisted that the Argentine forward is not leaving the club.The latest Barcelona transfer news has largely centred around Alvarez’s future, but Atletico continue to reject the possibility of a sale despite the Catalan club already submitting an
  
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• World Cup alters Ballon d’Or landscape ahead of Yamal’s career-defining clash against childhood idol

  17-07-2026 08:15 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  World Cup alters Ballon d’Or landscape ahead of Yamal’s career-defining clash against childhood idolThe finish line is finally in sight, but the 2026 FIFA World Cup still has plenty of stories left to tell.From emotional farewells to generational rivalries, the stakes could hardly be higher.Read on as we explore the narratives set to define the closing chapter of this summer’s tournament.End of an eraOne of the longest-serving managers in the history of men’s internationa
  
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• Joan Laporta confirms Barcelona bid for Julian Alvarez and issues strong warning to Atletico Madrid: ‘Offer is not valid forever’

  17-07-2026 08:00 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Joan Laporta confirms Barcelona bid for Julian Alvarez and issues strong warning to Atletico Madrid: ‘Offer is not valid forever’Barcelona’s pursuit of Julian Alvarez has entered a crucial phase after club president Joan Laporta confirmed that the club have already submitted an official offer to Atletico Madrid. The latest Barcelona transfer news places the Argentine striker at the top of Hansi Flick’s wishlist, with Barcelona pushing to complete one of the biggest d
  
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• Bayern Munich megastar has decided to join Real Madrid this summer; club to make official bid after World Cup

  17-07-2026 08:00 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Bayern Munich megastar has decided to join Real Madrid this summer; club to make official bid after World CupFrance’s elimination from the FIFA World Cup in the semifinal stage appears to have set off a cascade of developments in the future of Michael Olise, and the situation is growing increasingly pleasant for Real Madrid.As reported by L’Equipe in a recent update, Olise has decided to leave Bayern Munich and join Real Madrid this summer, which comes as a breaking development.The p
  
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• Marcus Rashford set to stay at Manchester United as £40m exit clause expires

  17-07-2026 07:55 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Marcus Rashford set to stay at Manchester United as £40m exit clause expiresMarcus Rashford’s chances of staying at Manchester United this summer has increased. According to The Athletic, the forward’s £40 million exit clause in his contract at United has expired, which means any sale will now need to be negotiated. Rashford is currently on World Cup duty with England, who are scheduled to meet France in the third-place playoff on Saturday after the semi-final l
  
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• Report: Inter Plan Double Raid On Tottenham World Cup Stars

  17-07-2026 07:50 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Report: Inter Plan Double Raid On Tottenham World Cup StarsInter Eye Tottenham Duo Djed Spence and Cristian Romero as Costs Shape Transfer PlansThere is something revealing in the way transfer stories develop, in the silences as much as the noise. According to Corriere Dello Sport, a line of communication has opened between Inter and Tottenham, one that touches on two players and, perhaps, two separate anxieties.The report frames it neatly: “London calling. A channel of communication has o
  
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• Effort, spirit and moments - but do England lack all-round quality?

  17-07-2026 07:46 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Thomas Tuchel claimed you could bottle up England's mentality and sell it. What you could not sell is their big-game reliability when it matters.Head coach Tuchel was talking in an outspoken interview after the World Cup quarter-final win against Norway, in which he was highly critical of England's performance in the 2-1 victory.The desperate late collapse that resulted in England losing to Argentina in the subsequent semi-final, missing out on a first men's World Cup final appearance since they
  
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• Andoni Iraola now has the perfect solution to Liverpool’s main problem

  17-07-2026 07:40 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Andoni Iraola now has the perfect solution to Liverpool’s main problemAndoni Iraola has been thrown into the deep end at Liverpool. The Spaniard has taken over the Anfield outfit after a rather lacklustre season which saw a lot of their fanbase fall out of love with their team.Indeed, a lot of this was down to the poor tactical decisions that Arne Slot often made but, the Dutchman can't be the only one to blame.Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz were expected to be hugely transformative addi
  
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• Argentina’s President Milei says superstition will stop him from going to the World Cup final

  17-07-2026 07:34 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Argentina President Javier Milei has said he won't go to the World Cup final because of superstition. Adding that he will also be wearing the same heavy jacket.He will watch the big match between Spain and Argentina from home — where he has watched the defending champion's previous seven games.In Latin America, and particularly in Argentina, so-called “cábalas," or ritualistic beliefs and habits, carry unusual weight, reflecting the intensity with which many here watch their n
  
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• Manchester City’s owners receive response to opening bid for Flamengo defender João Victor

  17-07-2026 07:30 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Manchester City’s owners receive response to opening bid for Flamengo defender João VictorCity Football Group have had an £8.4M offer for Flamengo’s João Victor rejectedFlamengo are convinced the 19-year-old’s value will rise & have no intention of rushing a saleCFG have a development pathway already in place for the Brazil U20 captainCity Football Group have had an opening offer rejected by Brazilian club Flamengo for 19-year-old centre-back João
  
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• ☕️🥐 FC Breakfast: Yamal ⚔️ Messi, Enzo Fernandez's latest trash talk 😭

  17-07-2026 07:07 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  ☕️🥐 FC Breakfast: Yamal ⚔️ Messi, Enzo Fernandez's latest trash talk 😭Enzo Fernandez keeps up the banter 🥶After Argentina’s win over England in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday night, Enzo Fernandez kept the banter going on Thursday with a very mocking story, set to the iconic English song Wonderwall by Oasis. Ruthless from the Chelsea midfielder!A magicians’ duel between Yamal and Messi 🪄The World Cup final wil
  
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• How England’s World Cup dream unravelled to leave one agonising regret

  17-07-2026 07:00 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  It is customary, at times like this, to mention 1966. Amid England’s repeated inability to replicate the scenes at Wembley six decades ago, however, it may be pertinent to note 1966 was the last World Cup before the introduction of substitutes. England’s defence of their title ended in 1970 after Sir Alf Ramsey’s decision to take Bobby Charlton off against West Germany. If nothing else, it is no longer the most infamous substitution an England manager has made in a World Cup in
  
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• How could England look at Euro 2028 under Thomas Tuchel? The six recalls and one major change required

  17-07-2026 07:00 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Thomas Tuchel wants to carry on as England manager. The FA want him to continue. They can try and portray it as part of a journey. His contract lasts for another two years and a home European Championships could always be more winnable than a World Cup on the other side of the Atlantic. In 2028, England need not fear defeat to Argentina. But it was not merely the semi-final setback in Atlanta that underlined the need for England to be different in two years’ time. Tuchel’s Plan B &nd
  
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• Fox’s US World Cup summer: wild mispronunciations, Corden’s sad beers and Lowe’s excellence

  17-07-2026 07:00 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Jameis Winston, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thierry Henry, James Corden and Rebecca Lowe have all played their part in this summer’s World Cup. Composite: Getty Images, Guardian designGoodbye, then, to Fox, to its band of upbeat Brits and grown men dressed in suits and sneakers. Goodbye to constant cutaways to Gianni Infantino in the stands, his eyebrows a mournful tipi, his nude head sprinkling under the summer sun. Goodbye to Landon Donovan and his special gift for announcing every celebrity sig
  
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