Inverness CT W · Defender · #0 · Scotland · 47 yrs
From marvelling at teenage wonderkids to tracking the world’s largest coffee pot, our team of writers outline their expectations for the jamboree in North AmericaUse our Bracketology to click your way through the group stage and the knockouts to crown a championSpain and Portugal in the final, with Spain winning. I’ve played our Bracketology game 20 times and gotten 20 different paths but Spain always end up winning. Alexander Abnos Continue reading...
Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan has been dropped from officiating at the World Cup after being barred from entering the United States. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Mark Owen, Alexander Cooley, Claire Tow Professor of Political Science at Barnard College, explains that "we're seeing the Trump's administration adherence to hard-line immigration laws clash against the reality of what you need to stage a truly global event".
Juventus’ summer striker search is intensifying on multiple fronts, with the club accelerating their pursuit of Alexander Sorloth while simultaneously making enquiries for Gabriel Jesus and Nicolas ...
US soccer icon Alexi Lalas talks exclusively to World Soccer Talk about the growth of the game in the United States, his fears over player complacency, and his outlook for the USMNT ahead of the 2026 World Cup. We are just a few days away from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will see the United States take on Paraguay in Los Angeles in their tournament opener, and one man who will be keenly watching is Panayotis ‘Alexi’ Alexander Lalas. Three decades after representing the USA in the World Cup on home soil—back when the US didn’t even have a professional soccer league—Lalas is now one of the country’s premier soccer pundits, proudly watching over as the beautiful game has taken hold in the USA. “It warms the cockles of my old, red-headed American heart how far we have come. I am incredibly proud of what America has become in terms of a soccer-playing nation,” stated Lalas in an exclusive World Soccer Talk interview. “We’ve still got a long way to go, but it’s pretty unprecedented when you look at how far we have come in a relatively short period of time. “There’s the element of being a proud papa, if you will, but I don’t rest on my laurels. I can still make mistakes, I can still get better. I love what I do, and they can pry it from my cold, dead, red-headed hands, and they’re all young and really, really good. I love the fact that we have progressed both on and off the field so quickly and so far. It does make you proud when you look back and see how far we have come.” Born on June 1, 1970, Lalas was born in Birmingham, Michigan to a Greek father, Demetrios Lalas, and an American mother, Anne Harding Woodworth. Whilst he didn’t start playing soccer until he was 11, Lalas quickly emerged as one of the best players in the state before attending Rutgers University between 1988 and 1991. Lalas then departed to focus on the U.S. national team, competing in the 1992 Summer Olympics before making his mark in the World Cup. These stellar displays in the heart of defense would see Lalas join Calcio Padova, becoming the first American to play in Serie A, before making the move to the nascent Major League Soccer in 1996. He proved indispensable for the New England Revolution until clashing with head coach Frank Stapleton and making the move to Ecuadorian First Division Club Emelec for a month, returning and then being traded to the MetroStars. After a year in the Big Apple, Lalas then headed to the Kansas City Wizards before moving to the LA Galaxy, where he won a boatload of trophies including the MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield. He retired in 2004, calling it quits on a legendary career that saw him score 9 goals in 96 caps. And after working as a president and general manager for the Galaxy, MetroStars, and San Jose Earthquakes, Lalas decided to make the move into punditry. Lalas has spent the bulk of the two decades establishing himself as one of the nation’s top soccer commentators alongside the likes of Rodney Marsh, initially with ESPN before signing with Fox Sports. And this summer, just as he has done ever since Fox started broadcasting World Cups in 2015, he’ll be dispensing his unique commentary and no-holds-barred style to millions of TV viewers across the United States. But whilst he is rooting for the Stars and Stripes to go all the way, he isn’t overly convinced of the USMNT’s mental resilience to handle the pressure and excel on the world’s biggest stage. “This happens in families: you want better for your kids, and sometimes that means you give them things that you didn’t have. And yet, when you do that, that means they become complacent, they accept it, they come to not value these types of things. The same thing can happen to the team when they are given everything, but I would rather that they had more. I’m all for the Eye of the Tiger and the Spartan approach, I get that, but that train left the station a long time ago.” “Really, what it comes down to is, as a young player, what are you instilling in them? Are you in
Ronald Koeman, the Barcelona icon and Netherlands head coach, shared his thoughts on Denzel Dumfries' move to Real Madrid. Pending official confirmation, Denzel Dumfries has already agreed to join Real Madrid for the 2025-26 season. In that context, his Netherlands national team coach, Ronald Koeman, weighed in on the move and made a reference to Barcelona. Koeman spoke at a press conference following the Netherlands‘ 1-0 loss to Algeria on Wednesday and acknowledged that Dumfries missed the friendly because he was completing the final steps of his transfer to Real Madrid. “Yes, he had his medical examination near Zeist,” the coach explained, according to Diario Sport. The city of Zeist, located in the province of Utrecht, is about 54 miles from Rotterdam, where the national team played against Algeria. “I gave him permission.” Asked about his opinion on the next step in Dumfries’ career, Koeman was clear. “I don’t know if the transfer is completely finalized yet, but if anyone deserves it, it’s him,” the coach began. “That said, I would have preferred to see him play for FC Barcelona.” Koeman playing for Barcelona in 1994. The comment reflects Ronald Koeman’s strong connection to Barcelona. He starred for the club between 1989 and 1995, making 264 appearances and scoring 88 goals. The most important of those came in the 1992 European Cup final against Sampdoria, giving Barcelona their first UEFA Champions League title. Dumfries to compete for a place at Real Madrid The signing of Denzel Dumfries addresses a clear need for Real Madrid. Following the departure of Daniel Carvajal, the club suffered a significant loss at right back, considering the Spanish defender had held that position with distinction for more than a decade. Now Dumfries will be tasked with replicating the performances he consistently delivered for Inter Milan in order to earn a place in the starting lineup, competing with another international star: Trent Alexander-Arnold, who arrived in Madrid from Liverpool last summer. What’s next for Netherlands With Denzel Dumfries back with the squad, Netherlands have one final friendly before beginning their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. They will face Uzbekistan on June 8. After that, they will have six days off before opening Group F play against Japan. Their other opponents in the group stage will be Sweden and Tunisia.
