Jun 16, 2026
Everyone wants Ayyoub Bouaddi, but the World Cup is inflating his price
Arsenal, PSG and a string of giants are circling the Lille teenager, and Lille reportedly want 75 million euros. Here is why I would think twice befor...
Football Opinions
Latest opinions articles covering football.
Jun 15, 2026
The 48-team World Cup’s opening round belonged to the sides nobody expected
Germany’s 7-1 rout of Curacao was the nightmare the expansion’s critics predicted. The rest of the opening round told a more encouraging story.
Jun 13, 2026
The USA look the part, but their two co-hosts have work to do
Mexico, the United States and Canada have all opened their home World Cup. One of the three hosts looked a class above the other two.
Jun 12, 2026
Ivory Coast have the squad for a deep World Cup run, but their AFCON exit is a warning
One of the most gifted squads in Africa, a coach who has already won a major trophy, and a kind draw. So why does a deep run for the Elephants still f...
Jun 12, 2026
The summer window opens on Monday, and the World Cup will not slow it down
The Premier League transfer window opens on Monday in the middle of a World Cup, and from Salah’s exit to the scramble for English midfielders, the su...
Jun 11, 2026
Norway are the World Cup dark horse nobody will want to draw
After 28 years away, Norway have arrived at the World Cup with Haaland, Odegaard and a perfect qualifying run behind them. They are the dark horse the...
Jun 9, 2026
Can Argentina become the first side to retain the World Cup since 1962?
No team has retained the World Cup since Brazil in 1962, and three of the last four holders went out in the group stage. Lionel Messi’s Argentina arri...
Jun 9, 2026
Can a host nation win the 2026 World Cup?
The United States, Mexico and Canada all have home advantage, but history and the form book suggest a host lifting the trophy would be a major surpris...
Jun 6, 2026
The dark horses who could gatecrash the 2026 World Cup
With 48 teams and an extra knockout round, the 2026 World Cup is built for an outsider to make a run. Here are the dark horses worth backing, from Mor...
Jun 5, 2026
The World Cup warm-ups are sending the favourites a warning
France, Spain and the Netherlands all stumbled within 24 hours of each other against supposedly lesser opponents. In a 48-team tournament built for up...
Jun 2, 2026
At 41, Ronaldo is still the question Portugal cannot bring themselves to answer
Portugal are taking a 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo to a sixth World Cup, and not everyone thinks they should. The real test is whether Roberto Martin...
Jun 1, 2026
Spain lead the World Cup market, but Yamal’s hamstring keeps the door open
The favourites look clear on paper, yet with Lamine Yamal’s fitness in doubt and France, England and Argentina lurking, the 2026 World Cup feels like...
May 31, 2026
Liverpool’s Iraola call is ruthless, logical and nowhere near safe
Liverpool sacked Arne Slot a year after he won the title and turned to Andoni Iraola. The stylistic logic is sound, but swapping a proven champion for...
May 29, 2026
City hand Maresca the Guardiola inheritance, a job that is equal parts gift and trap
Manchester City have moved quickly to make former Guardiola assistant Enzo Maresca their next manager. Replacing a club great with one of his own stud...
May 28, 2026
From 15th to third: Michael Carrick has earned the Manchester United job, but the real test starts now
Michael Carrick has dragged Manchester United from 15th to third and a Champions League return, and won the job permanently. The hard part of the rebu...
May 24, 2026
The release clause died in January and Kane scored 36 more: Barcelona’s pursuit is now flattery, not a transfer
Harry Kane’s €65 million Bayern release clause expired at the end of January 2026, and Bayern want him to 2029. Barcelona can keep dreaming, but they...
May 23, 2026
Saturday in Budapest changes Arsenal’s summer ceiling, win or lose
Arsenal walk into the Puskas Arena chasing a first European Cup and, less publicly, a different bargaining position for the window. A win on Saturday...
May 19, 2026
Forest’s 120 million price tag has already chased Manchester United out of the Anderson race
Vitor Pereira’s number for Elliot Anderson is high enough that BBC and ESPN both say United will walk before they bid, leaving Manchester City alone i...
May 4, 2026
Six clear and still nervous: why Arsenal’s title math has a Manchester City catch
Arsenal lead the Premier League by six points with three to play. Manchester City have two games in hand and the head-to-head tiebreaker. The maths is...
May 4, 2026
Carrick has earned the Manchester United job, and the club have never made these decisions cleanly
Michael Carrick took over a Manchester United team in free fall in January and has driven them back into the Champions League. The case for handing hi...
May 3, 2026
Manchester United should let Jadon Sancho leave Old Trafford for free this summer
The ‘secret’ extension clause is tempting, but triggering it would only delay the inevitable and cost United another year of wages they don’t need.
May 1, 2026
PSG, Arsenal, Atletico, Bayern: ranking their chances of reaching Budapest after the Champions League first legs
After PSG and Bayern combined for a 5-4 nine-goal classic in Paris, and Atletico held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at the Metropolitano, four teams go to the...
Apr 29, 2026
Manchester United’s Champions League race after Brentford: close enough to dare?
Two more points from four games is what stands between Manchester United and Champions League qualification. After Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko’s goals...
Apr 24, 2026
Level on points, level on goal difference, and a head-to-head tiebreaker: Arsenal’s title window narrows to five games
Manchester City and Arsenal sit level on 70 points and +37 goal difference going into the weekend of 25 April. City are top by three goals scored. A N...