News
Reports, analysis and guides from our coverage
Lamine Yamal, world champion at 18: the star of the present and the future
At just 18, Lamine Yamal is already a world champion. The Barcelona winger was one of the figures of the Spain side that won the 2026 World Cup, lighting up the game on the flank with astonishing maturity for his age. We review the phenomenon who has arrived to lead Spanish football over the next decade.
The penalty shootouts that shaped the 2026 World Cup: Germany and the Netherlands out
The 2026 World Cup produced four penalty shootouts in the knockouts, and some were devastating. In the round of 32, two European giants fell from the spot: Germany to Paraguay and the Netherlands to Morocco. We review the ties settled in football's cruellest lottery.
Vinícius and Brazil, the big disappointment of the 2026 World Cup: knocked out by Norway in the last 16
Brazil arrived at the 2026 World Cup as one of the favourites, but their tournament faded early: they lost 2-1 to Norway in the round of 16, in one of the championship's biggest shocks. Neither Vinícius Júnior nor the rest of the stars could prevent an early exit that leaves the Canarinha with many questions. We analyse the Brazilian failure.
France 4-6 England: the highest-scoring game of the 2026 World Cup was the bronze match
The highest-scoring game of the 2026 World Cup was neither a final nor a semi-final, but the third-place play-off. France and England served up a ten-goal spectacle (4-6) in which England went 4-0 up, France fought back and Saka completed a hat-trick. We review the bronze fest, the tournament's goal-scoring madness.
Mikel Merino, the stoppage-time hero: the goals that pushed Spain to the title
Every feat has its unexpected heroes, and Spain's at the 2026 World Cup was named Mikel Merino. The midfielder popped up in stoppage time to settle two key ties —the 1-0 over Portugal on 90+1 and the 2-1 against Belgium on 88— two goals that proved decisive on La Roja's road to their second star. We review the golden impact sub.
Africa makes history at the 2026 World Cup: eight nations in the round of 32
The 2026 World Cup was the best in history for African football. As many as eight nations from the continent —Morocco, Egypt, Senegal, Cape Verde, South Africa, Algeria, Ivory Coast and Ghana— got through the group stage and into the round of 32, an unprecedented number. With Morocco again in the quarters, Africa confirmed its rise.