Damien Duff will join Brentford as first-team assistant coach for the 2026-27 Premier League season. Duff led Shelbourne to the League of Ireland Premier Division title in 2024, following stints at Celtic, Shamrock Rovers and with the Republic of Ireland national team.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played across 16 different venues spread throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature several innovations compared to previous editions. Not only will there be a new expanded format with 48 teams, but it will also be the first World Cup hosted by three different countries. That has increased the number of venues to a total of 16. The United States are the tournament’s main host nation, meaning most of the matches will be played on U.S. soil. As a result, 11 of the 16 venues are located in the country. In addition, most of the tournament’s marquee games will take place there, including the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The largest stadium at the World Cup will be AT&T Stadium in Dallas, which has a capacity of 94,000 spectators. Behind it is Estadio Azteca in Mexico, which was completely renovated for the tournament and, with a capacity of 83,000, will become the first stadium to host three different World Cups after previously doing so in 1970 and 1986. On the other end of the scale, the smallest stadium in the tournament will be BMO Field in Toronto — one of only two venues in Canada alongside Vancouver. The stadium is home to Toronto FC of Major League Soccer and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, and it has a capacity of 45,000 spectators. A general view inside the AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Venues in the United States for the World Cup On the West Coast, three cities will host matches during the 2026 World Cup. SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco will represent California, while Seattle will host games at Lumen Field, where four group-stage matches and two knockout-stage games will be played. Texas will also feature two host cities during the tournament. Alongside AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Houston’s NRG Stadium will also host matches. In addition, Kansas City will stage six games, including Lionel Messi’s debut with Argentina against Algeria. Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, which has a capacity of 65,000 spectators, will host several important matches, including the third-place game. Meanwhile, one of the semifinals will take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The final three venues on U.S. soil will also be located on the East Coast. Along with the previously mentioned MetLife Stadium in New Jersey/New York, the tournament will also feature Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and Gillette Stadium in Boston. Venues in Mexico for the 2026 World Cup Of the three host nations, Mexico are the country with the richest soccer tradition. Two of the most iconic World Cups in history were held there: the 1970 edition won by Pele’s Brazil and the 1986 tournament inspired by Diego Maradona’s Argentina. Now Mexico will have the honor of hosting the opening match, which will feature Mexico and South Africa on June 11. The selected venue for that game is Estadio Azteca, which will also host two additional group-stage matches and two knockout-stage games. The other two venues in Mexico will be Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Monterrey, which has a capacity of 53,500 spectators, and Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Guadalajara, where 48,000 fans can attend. Mexico will play their second group-stage match there against South Korea. Venues in Canada for the 2026 World Cup Unlike the United States and Mexico, this will be Canada’s first experience hosting a World Cup. They will play all three of their group-stage matches at home, traveling from one side of the country to the other. Canada’s opening match will take place on June 12 at BMO Field in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition to that game, the venue will host four other matches, including one in the Round of 32. The country’s other venue is BC Place in Vancouver, which has a capacity of 54,000 spectators and will host a Round of 16 matchup as its marquee game. The 16 venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup CITYVENUECAPACITYDallas – Uni
Wesley Sneijder was critical of Kylian Mbappé for his attitude before the match in which Real Madrid lost to Barcelona in El Clasico. Real Madrid fans are furious with Kylian Mbappé after another disappointing season without a title. To the wave of criticism the forward has received in recent weeks, Wesley Sneijder has now added his voice. The former Real Madrid player questioned him in an interview with Hard Rock Bet. Sneijder said: “There were decisions like going on vacation instead of staying with the team. That is not right, especially when Barcelona can become champions in El Clásico. That really hurts the fans. You need to be with the team.” His behavior off the field has drawn criticism, but Mbappé did not stop there, as the forward posted smiling pictures the day after Real Madrid’s rivals lifted the trophy by beating them in an important match. Sneijder on the next manager Even if Álvaro Arbeloa has not been dismissed yet, it is almost certain he will not be Real Madrid’s manager for much longer. In Sneijder’s view, the best replacement would be José Mourinho because of his experience. Sneijder played for Real Madrid from 2007 to 2009 (Jasper Juinen/Getty Images) The former player had plenty of praise for the Portuguese manager, under whom he played at Inter when they won the treble and he enjoyed the best year of his career, with his personality standing out as his biggest strength. Sneijder said: “Real Madrid are one of the teams that need a great manager, but also a manager capable of handling incredible players with very strong personalities. I think he is the ideal person for that role.” Sneijder on managing too many players One of the most important tasks for any manager is keeping all players ready to contribute whenever the team needs them. That could be the main thing the Portuguese coach brings to the club. Sneijder said: “Mourinho knows exactly how to manage every player, because it is easy to manage the starting 11. Every manager in the world can do that, but it is not just about them. There are more players on the bench or even out of it.”
The tiny Italian club are flying high with the help of the former Arsenal player, ambitious owners and a scouting guru inspired by Football ManagerThe serene sound of lapping water is broken only by the whir of a seaplane engine swooping to land. Outside the hangar to which the aircraft will soon return, a crowd has gathered well before kick-off. Later, most will scale the steep steps of the adjacent Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.To the right sits Villa Carminati, a new private members’ club that also houses hospitality guests on matchdays. It is a unique setting for a unique football club. When bathed in sunshine, as was the case for last Sunday’s goalless draw with Napoli, Como 1907 is a waterside paradise. Or, as their president, Mirwan Suwarso, puts it when drawing parallels between the club and Disney, it is the “theme park” division of the “main brand … Lake Como”. Continue reading...
Four Scottish World Cup striker hopefuls finished the regular Championship season with a flourish to add to head coach Steve Clarke's potential selection dilemma. George Hirst, who has earned eight caps since his first call up just over a year ago, opened the scoring for Ipswich Town and set up the second for Jaden Philogene as they beat Queens Park Rangers 3-0 to secure second spot and promotion back to the Premier League. The recently recalled Tommy Conway opened the scoring for Middlesbrough as they drew 2-2 away to Wrexham to finish fifth and set up a semi-final against Southampton.
Will Fazakerley's two goals helped Guernsey FC progress to the Southern Combination Premier Division play-off final after a 3-0 win over Horsham YM. The victory for the Green Lions, who finished third in the division, sets up a final on Sunday 10 May. Guernsey will hope they can earn promotion a season after the first-ever relegation in the club's history.
Liam Morrison is open-minded about what the future holds but believes Aberdeen fans are now seeing the best of him after a "tough" start to his Pittodrie career. The 23-year-old defender arrived on loan from Queens Park Rangers in January but hadn't played in over a month when he started his first game for the Dons. Morrison has since become a mainstay and is set for his sixth consecutive start in Friday night's trip to face Livingston.
