South African football news

Former France international Gael Clichy explains why Bayern Munich's France forward Michael Olise could be the breakout star of this summer's World Cup.

• FRA

Real Madrid to join Mateus Fernandes race, Brighton reject Spurs' second Van Hecke bid and Harry Maguire could leave Manchester United.

• MUN
• TOT
• REA
• BRI

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice will be England's vice-captain for the World Cup.

• ARS
• ENG

Feyenoord sack manager Robin van Persie after just one full season in charge of the Eredivisie club.

• FEY

Christian Eriksen collapsed during Denmark's friendly against Ukraine but is now conscious, says the Danish Football Association (DBU).

With Martin O'Neill poised to be confirmed as Celtic manager after two interim spells last season, how big is the summer rebuild he is tasked with?

• CEL

Democratic Republic of Congo's final World Cup warm-up game against Chile will take place behind closed doors amid concerns about the Ebola outbreak in the central African nation.

• CON

Lionel Messi is set for his sixth World Cup with Argentina. Guillem Balague looks at how the Argentine has evolved.

• ARG

With less than a week until the 2026 World Cup kicks-off, we're live from New York.

• SCO

Team are based in Tijuana with all group games in US Iran FA labels visa issues ‘political interference in sport’ Iran’s World Cup 2026 squad landed in Mexico on Sunday amid a bitter diplomatic row, after the United States refused to issue visas for some team support staff. The Iran coach, Amir Ghalenoei, complained…

• MEX
• IRA

A refreshed Lions of Teranga will aim to channel the smoothness of qualification rather than the chaotic aftermath of Afcon This article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network , a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is runni…

• SEN

All of Iran's group games are in the US, but players and support staff will have to fly in and out of the country on match day.

• MEX
• IRA

Tom English speaks to those who returned Scotland to the men's World Cup finals for the first time since 1998 about the epic win over Denmark.

• SCO

A $205m expansion team is the latest step in the league’s rapid growth, but conflicts over funding and facilities show the tensions of public-private unions in sports Sports fans’ connection to their team of choice is usually strengthened by high points – wins, championships and the like. For Emily Kegg and thousand…

With this summer’s tournament nearly upon us, Guardian readers share their mixed emotions - unease and apathy, but also excitement and optimism World Cup newsletter | Daily podcast | Download the app The 2026 World Cup is nearly upon us. Across 39 days beginning Thursday, 104 matches will be played throughout the Un…

Argentina great Lionel Messi is rested against Honduras, while Brazil, Germany, Belgium and Portugal each win warm-up games prior to the World Cup.

• ARG
• POR
• BEL
• GER

France midfielder Eduardo Camavinga takes a Harvard Business School course after missing out on Didier Deschamps' World Cup squad.

• FRA

Reo Hatate has reportedly told Celtic he wants to leave this summer, while Ross Stewart could exit Southampton because of a contract loophole and Rangers' Youssef Chermiti is again linked with Galatasaray.

• GAL
• IPS
• RAN
• CEL

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has "some decisions to make" when it comes to his starting XI for their World Cup opener against Haiti on Sunday, but what are they?

• SCO
• HAI

Countries far and wide have hosted the festival of football since the first tournament in 1930. How many countries can you name?

Ståle Solbakken leads country to first major tournament in 26 years knowing that, with Erling Haaland up front, anything can happen This article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network , a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com…

• NOR