FK Neftchi and Dinamo Minsk begin their battle for a place in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League when they meet at Neftchi Arena on Wednesday evening. With both clubs carrying ambitions of reaching the league phase, the first leg in Azerbaijan could prove crucial before next week’s return fixture in Belarus. […] The post Prediction: FK Neftchi vs Dinamo Minsk appeared first on SoccerNews.
Liverpool are continuing their search for a long-term successor to Mohamed Salah and Bournemouth winger Rayan has emerged as a player of interest, according to Teamtalk. The Reds have made enquiries about the Brazilian youngster, who is understood to be a player discussed in detail with new head coach Andoni Iraola. As Liverpool plan for […] The post Liverpool enquire about Rayan appeared first on SoccerNews.
Lionel Messi will lead a revamped 26-man Argentina roster into the 2026 World Cup, featuring eight highly touted tournament debutants ready to step onto the grandest stage in international soccer. Lionel Messi is officially tuning up for his sixth and final World Cup campaign after manager Lionel Scaloni unveiled Argentina’s final 26-man squad, that will travel to North America looking to defend the title. The roster highlights a significant evolution from the group that hoisted the trophy in Qatar four years ago, with nine world champions missing out due to international retirement—such as icon Angel Di Maria—or direct tactical cuts by the coaching staff. To bridge the gap, Scaloni is injecting fresh energy into the squad, handing eight players the very first World Cup call-ups of their careers. Juan Musso, Leonardo Balerdi, Facundo Medina, Valentin Barco, Giuliano Simeone, Nicolas Gonzalez, Nico Paz, and Jose Manuel Lopez represent the vital tactical newcomers integrated to help the Albiceleste retain their crown. Notably, midfielder Giovani Lo Celso also returns to the World Cup fold after a heartbreaking injury forced him to miss the 2022 tournament, though he previously made his tournament debut at Russia 2018. Meanwhile, high-profile Premier League stars Emiliano Buendía and Marcos Senesi stand as the most glaring omissions, failing to make the cut despite spectacular domestic campaigns. Here they are. These are the guys. pic.twitter.com/xU2lcpJnpW— Selección Argentina in English (@AFASeleccionEN) May 28, 2026 Meet Argentina’s eight World Cup debutants Juan Musso The Atletico Madrid goalkeeper has been a consistent fixture throughout the Scaloni era, missing out on the 2022 squad purely due to the veteran logjam ahead of him. Musso forced his way onto the plane this time around on the heels of a stellar European season, racking up seven clean sheets in 18 appearances while anchoring Los Colchoneros during their deep run to the UEFA Champions League semifinals. Leonardo Balerdi A reliable asset throughout the CONMEBOL qualifying cycle, Balerdi enters the tournament as the primary cover for Cristian Romero in central defense. Having established himself as a mature defensive anchor and team leader at Olympique Marseille, Balerdi logged 36 appearances this season, contributing a goal and an assist. Facundo Medina On loan at Olympique Marseille from Lens, Medina emerged as one of the most intriguing inclusions on Scaloni’s final sheet. His supreme tactical versatility—capable of slotting in as a center-back or operating as a left-back—proved irresistible to the coaching staff. Despite missing a 16-match chunk of the season to a nagging ankle injury, his impact over 26 appearances was enough to earn his ticket. Valentin Barco Barco stands out as one of the most versatile utility players on the entire roster, seamlessly alternating between a left-back and a central midfielder. Following a spectacular 43-match campaign with Strasbourg—where he registered three goals, 11 assists, and reached the Conference League semifinals—Barco secured a high-profile transfer to Chelsea, where he will play after the tournament. Nico Paz Despite a late-season knee scare that threatened his availability, Paz recovered in time to cement his spot. The creative midfielder enjoyed a breakout year with Como, playing a starring role in driving the Italian side to a historic Champions League qualification spot. Paz comes off a season featuring 13 goals and eight assists in 40 games, positioning him to fight for a starting spot under Scaloni. Giuliano Simeone Simeone’s tireless work rate has made him a vital tactical piece in Scaloni’s squad rotation. Capable of exhausting opposing defenses by covering the entire right flank, the Atletico Madrid attacker earned his World Cup stripes by logging seven goals and eight assists across 53 appearances this season. Nicolas Gonzalez After a heartbreaking, late-hour injury cruelly ruled him out of the Qatar 2022 s
Led by the legendary Lionel Messi, Argentina have officially unveiled their star-studded 2026 World Cup roster, including Julian Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez Lionel Messi is officially locked in to anchor his historic, career-defining final World Cup campaign. In a highly anticipated announcement, manager Lionel Scaloni finalized Argentina’s 26-man roster for the tournament in North America, with established global superstars Julian Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez headlining a loaded squad. While international media outlets widely expected Scaloni to withhold the roster drop until Friday, May 29, the Argentine master tactician caught the soccer world by surprise, by releasing the official list a day early on Thursday published across the Argentine Football Association’s (AFA) social media channels. The tournament marks a monumental milestone for the Inter Miami captain. By stepping onto the pitch in North America, Messi will officially establish an unprecedented all-time record by competing in his sixth career World Cup—a legendary longevity milestone he is slated to share with his longtime eternal rival, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo. In a bold move to refresh the squad, Scaloni made the difficult decision to leave out several key figures who helped lift the trophy in Qatar four years ago. Aside from the mandatory absences of legendary winger Angel Di Maria and veteran goalkeeper Franco Armani—both of whom retired from international soccer—and the injured fullback Juan Foyth, the coaching staff opted to cut six active world champions from the traveling roster. #SelecciónMayor Con toda la fuerza de los argentinos 💪🏻🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/84Lh03BgxH— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) May 28, 2026 Due to tactical decisions and recent form, Marcos Acuña, German Pezzella, Alejandro Gomez, Guido Rodriguez, Angel Correa, and Paulo Dybala have all been left off the flight to North America, missing out on the chance to defend their global crown. Perhaps the most shocking omissions from Scaloni’s final squad list came from the English Premier League. Both Emiliano Buendia and Marcos Senesi were left out of the final roster, as they were widely projected to lock in their spots on the plane to North America following stellar individual campaigns. Official 2026 Argentina World Cup roster Goalkeepers Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique de Marseille)Juan Musso (Atlético de Madrid) Defenders Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate)Nahuel Molina (Atlético de Madrid)Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United)Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica)Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique de Marseille)Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur)Facundo Medina (Olympique de Marseille)Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique de Lyon) Midfielders Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors)Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami)Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen)Enzo Fernández (Chelsea)Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis)Valentín Barco (Racing Club de Strasbourg) Forwards Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)Nico Paz (Como 1907)Thiago Almada (Atlético de Madrid)Nicolás González (Atlético de Madrid)Giuliano Simeone (Atlético de Madrid)Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan)José Manuel López (Palmeiras)Julián Álvarez (Atlético de Madrid) Roster newcomers The tournament will mark a massive milestone for a hungry group of tournament debutants. Scaloni has integrated fresh blood into the squad, giving eight players their very first career World Cup call-ups: Juan Musso, Leonardo Balerdi, Facundo Medina, Valentin Barco, Giuliano Simeone, Nicolas Gonzalez, Nico Paz and Jose Lopez.
After a successful tenure, Mohamed Salah has left Liverpool as a club legend, playing a key role in securing qualification for the UEFA Champions League. Following his departure, club legend Michael Owen has identified Jarrod Bowen as the ideal replacement for the Egyptian star. Liverpool managed to salvage a disappointing season by securing qualification for the 2026–27 UEFA Champions League. Nevertheless, the Reds now face one of their toughest challenges, as Mohamed Salah decided to leave the club as a free agent. With the Premier League season concluded, they appear set to strengthen the attacking department in response to the Egyptian’s departure. The legend Michael Owen has suggested Jarrod Bowen as the ideal replacement. “I think Bowen is the absolute perfect replacement for Mo Salah at Liverpool. If an opportunity came along for him like that, to play for Liverpool, then even the most ardent West Ham fan couldn’t begrudge that. Instead of playing in the Championship, go to one of the best teams in the world and fill Mo Salah’s boots, it’s really exciting for him,” Owen said, via talkSport. As one of West Ham United’s biggest stars, Jarrod Bowen remains under contract with the club until 2030. Nevertheless, relegation to the EFL Championship could force his departure, as the English forward continues to rank among the Premier League’s standout performers. In addition, the Hammers reportedly need to raise more than £100 million (around $135 million) through player sales, making Bowen’s potential exit a crucial part of their financial restructuring. Despite already being 29 years old, Jarrod Bowen has continued to become as one of the Premier League’s standout performers, scoring 11 goals and providing 12 assists in 42 appearances. However, Liverpool would likely face competition from clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester United, potentially pushing his transfer fee into the €50–60 million range. Given his proven ability to deliver immediate results, the Reds could make a smart move by pursuing his signing. Jarrod Bowen of West Ham United. Yan Diomande emerges as Liverpool main target as Salah’s replacement Despite the opportunity to sign Jarrod Bowen, Liverpool do not appear to view his arrival as an absolute priority, potentially allowing rivals such as Manchester United and Chelsea to gain ground in the race. Instead, Liverpool’s front office reportedly seems determined to pursue younger players in an effort to secure long-term performance and sustainability. With this in mind, Yan Diomande has reportedly emerged as the Reds’ top transfer priority. According to Fabrizio Romano, via X, formerly Twitter, Yan Diomande remains the absolute priority for Liverpool, as he is capable of playing on both wings and offers valuable tactical flexibility. Under contract with RB Leipzig until 2030, the Ivorian star could command a transfer fee exceeding €100 million, especially with Paris Saint-Germain also reportedly pushing to secure his signature.
Arne Slot has already revealed there will be a "little transition" this summer, but nothing as "drastic" as last season when Liverpool spent £450m. With Mohamed Salah leaving, getting a stand-out wide player is an absolute priority and the potential options include RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande, PSG's Bradley Barcola or even Jarrod Bowen from relegated West Ham. Seventeen-year-old Rio Ngumoha is rated highly and will feature more next season, while it is imperative for Slot to get the best out of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, the two most expensive Premier League signings of all time.
