A lot of us have been under the assumption, and I think fairly so, that this was a short-term hire. There wasn't a [four-year World Cup] cycle involved, [it was] a year and a half, two years, at the most here. [He] didn't have to go through a qualifying process because we are hosting.
FIFA on Wednesday finalized a one-time switch to Canada from Mexico for winger Marcelo Flores, thereby making the 22-year-old eligible to be selected by coach Jesse Marsch for this summer's World Cup. Revealed on FIFA's Change of Association Platform, the switch for the now former Mexico international cements a recent effort by Canada to include Flores following an unofficial call-up as a training player last November.
Marcus Rashford's future appears to be moving decisively away from Old Trafford, with the England forward reportedly having no plans to return to Manchester United once his loan spell at Barcelona comes to an end this summer. The 28-year-old has already made his intentions clear, prioritising stability and clarity over a reunion with his boyhood club. Rashford joined Barcelona on loan in search of a reset after a turbulent period at Man United, where form, confidence, and scrutiny combined to stall his momentum.
Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka says United States President Donald Trump has managed to make us feel not only German, but also European. Goretzka, who plays club football for Bayern Munich, in an interview with Die Zeit newspaper published on Wednesday, spoke about the World Cup being hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, and he suggested Germany and other European teams will be the favourites.
Every World Cup arrives with controversy. That is part of the tournament's DNA. Host nations worry about stadium readiness. Fans argue about ticket prices. Security planners lose sleep. What feels different this time is that the warning is not coming from activists in the stands or lawmakers in host cities. It is coming from the top of the sport's old establishment.
CITYWIDE- NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/BELLEVUE, IN PREPARING FOR THE U.S. HOSTING THE WORLD CUP SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS YEAR, has trained close to 500 health care and public health professionals to respond to high-consequence infectious disease threats. The city's public hospital system announced on Tuesday, Jan. 27, that during 2025, the health care professionals were trained across four jurisdictions encompassing New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Removing the United States as co-host of the 2026 World Cup would hurt for pretty much everyone. Fans would miss out on seeing the sport's pinnacle in their home towns (or somewhere nearby). Cities and businesses small and large would lose the financial benefits they had banked on. It would be a logistical and political nightmare on an international scale, the likes of which have never been seen before in sports. It would be eminently sad. And it would be entirely justified.
The huge, roaring screenings, the pubs' fizzling energy, the general sense of revelry in the streets... not to mention the ecstasy if and when England win. The joy of last summer's Lionesses Euros triumph is certainly still fresh in our memories. England and Scotland are already qualified for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States, while Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland could all still compete in North America in June.
AT&T Stadium's retractable dome and climate control create ideal July conditions in a state where outdoor summer football constitutes punishment. The 60-yard video screen is so infamous that punted footballs occasionally strike it during Cowboys games. It dominates the interior and is a show stopper, especially for the stadium's first-time goers. The capacity makes this the tournament's largest venue, though FIFA caps attendance at 94,000 for World Cup configurations.
MetLife Stadium is an 82,500-capacity venue in the Meadowlands, which is set to become the centre of the footballing universe as the FIFA World Cup returns to American soil for the first time in 32 years. MetLife Stadium is not located in New York City, per se. It sits in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This is a small distinction that can have a large impact on your World Cup trip planning. Especially from the financial point of view.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, is a spectacular sports venue with a stunning exterior that will be one of the architectural highlights for visitors in the United States for World Cup 2026. It was officially opened in 2017, has a retractable roof inspired by the Roman Pantheon, according to the man behind the design, and boasts seating for 75,000 fans.
Lumen Field is most northerly by far of the 11 United States stadiums hosting matches at World Cup 2026. Located in the Pacific Northwest, it's much closer to Vancouver than Santa Clara, where the next-closest USA stadium stands. It's one of 16 World Cup 2026 venues across the United States, Mexico and Canada, and will host four group stage matches and two knock-out games under the name 'Seattle Stadium'.
Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California USA (Image credit: Getty Images) Levi's Stadium is one of the 11 United States stadiums hosting matches at World Cup 2026 and one of two in the state of California. It will host six matches including one in the Round of 32. It's one of 16 World Cup 2026 venues across the United States, Mexico and Canada, and already has a wealth of experience when it comes to hosting football matches.
Most of the big-spending clubs in the Premier League had been interested in the Ghana international after he became one of the stars of the 2025-26 season. Semenyo is the third top scorer in the league with nine goals, plus has three assists. And now the former Bristol City man will finally have the opportunity to play in Europe - and the Champions League.
