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Trafford admits he must leave Man City to chase England No.1 spot as Newcastle weigh £40m move
James Trafford has acknowledged that playing second fiddle to Gianluigi Donnarumma at Manchester City is incompatible with his England ambitions, with Newcastle United understood to have made contact over a £40m deal.
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England face Croatia in World Cup 2026 Group L opener at Dallas's AT&T Stadium on June 17
Thomas Tuchel's England begin their World Cup 2026 campaign against Croatia in Arlington, Texas, on Wednesday June 17 — a rematch of the 2018 semi-final that ended England's tournament hopes in Russia.
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Cape Verde hold European champions Spain to stunning World Cup 2026 opening stalemate
Spain, winners of four major tournaments in two decades, were held to a goalless draw by Cape Verde in their World Cup opener. The island nation, with a population the size of Sheffield, secured their first ever World Cup point.
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Vlahovic to leave Juventus as free agent after snubbing Arsenal for £66m move in 2022
Dušan Vlahović will depart Juventus on June 30 after failing to agree a new contract, leaving the striker available on a free transfer — four years after he rejected Arsenal to join the Turin club for £66 million.
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Trafford admits club No.1 status is key to unseating Pickford as England's first choice
James Trafford has acknowledged that history suggests a goalkeeper must be a first-choice club starter to win the England shirt, after a challenging debut season at Manchester City left him as Jordan Pickford's understudy heading into the 2026 World Cup.
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Crystal Palace appoint Pierre Sage on three-year deal after Coupe de France triumph with Lens
Crystal Palace have confirmed Pierre Sage as their new manager, signing the 47-year-old Frenchman on a three-year contract. Sage arrives from Lens, where he guided the club to second in Ligue 1 and their first-ever Coupe de France title last season.
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Rashford keen on Barcelona return despite permanent £26m move ruled out by Spanish club
Marcus Rashford is determined to rejoin Barcelona next season after a loan spell in which he scored 14 goals and registered 14 assists, but the Spanish club have declined to trigger their £26m purchase option, leaving his future unresolved.
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Van der Vaart faces backlash after racist joke about Japan players on Dutch TV
Former Netherlands international Rafael van der Vaart sparked controversy during live punditry on Dutch channel NOS by claiming Japan's players 'look alike', a remark he immediately acknowledged as a joke, after the Netherlands drew 2-2 with Japan in their World Cup opener.
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Humiliated 5-1 by Sweden, Lamouchi on the verge of being sacked mid-World Cup
Tunisia suffered a nightmare start to the 2026 World Cup, crushed 5-1 by Sweden in Monterrey. The defeat could cost manager Sabri Lamouchi his job before Tunisia's second match, scheduled for June 21 against Japan.
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Manchester United refuse to meet West Ham's £80m valuation as Fernandes pushes for Old Trafford move
Manchester United have made Mateus Fernandes their priority signing this summer but are unwilling to match West Ham's £80m asking price, despite the 21-year-old Portuguese midfielder making clear he wants the transfer.
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Ramon Abatti confirmed as referee for Belgium vs Egypt at World Cup 2026
Brazilian official Ramon Abatti will take charge of Belgium's Group G opener against Egypt at Seattle's Lumen Field on Monday. The 36-year-old refereed the 2024 Olympic final and oversaw Real Madrid matches at last summer's Club World Cup.
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FBI seizes 15 drones near Atlanta World Cup stadium as officials warn of major security threat
At least 15 drones have been confiscated by the FBI after entering no-fly zones around Atlanta's World Cup stadium, with senior law enforcement officials describing unmanned aircraft as the single greatest security risk at the tournament.
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Messi set to surpass Ronaldo with sixth World Cup appearance while chasing Klose's goals record
Lionel Messi will become the first player in history to appear in six World Cups when Argentina face Algeria in Kansas City, edging ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo by hours. The 38-year-old is also three goals shy of Miroslav Klose's all-time record of 16 World Cup goals.
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FIFA lifts recruitment ban on Bordeaux
Sanctioned in March by FIFA for a €1.5 million debt to Sporting Gijón, Bordeaux obtained the cancellation of this recruitment ban after the commercial court validated a debt repayment plan spread over ten years.
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Saka's stoppage-time goal sends Arsenal to first Champions League final since 2006
Bukayo Saka's 44th-minute rebound finish gave Arsenal a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid at the Emirates, sealing a 2-1 aggregate victory and ending a 20-year wait for a Champions League final appearance.
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Lamine Yamal declared fit to face Cape Verde in Spain's World Cup opener
Lamine Yamal has been cleared to feature for Spain against Cape Verde in Atlanta on June 15, ending weeks of uncertainty over the 17-year-old's hamstring and groin injury sustained in late April. Whether he starts or comes off the bench will depend on the medical staff's assessment.
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Nicolas Seiwald tipped as under-the-radar Casemiro replacement for Manchester United
Manchester United are being pointed towards RB Leipzig defensive midfielder Nicolas Seiwald as a potential Casemiro replacement this summer. The 25-year-old Austria international, currently valued at around £19m, is expected to be one of the breakout stars of the 2026 World Cup.
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Salah's final World Cup bid begins as Belgium face Egypt in Seattle opener
Belgium and Egypt kick off their 2026 World Cup campaigns in Seattle on Monday, with Rudi Garcia's side seeking redemption after a group-stage exit in 2022 and Mohamed Salah potentially playing in his last World Cup.
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Deschamps names Spain as World Cup 2026 favourite, not France
On the eve of France's opening match against Senegal in New York, Didier Deschamps clearly ruled out the Blues as favourites, pointing to Spain as the great favourite for this 2026 World Cup.
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Nunez set to rejoin Liverpool less than a year after £46m Saudi Arabia exit
Darwin Nunez is reportedly heading back to Anfield this summer, according to a Uruguayan outlet, after a troubled spell at Al-Hilal that saw him axed from the club's 25-man squad earlier this year.
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