Football Articles | Mail Online

• World Cup Unfiltered Poll: Which Round of 32 game are YOU most looking forward to?28 June 2026, 5:00 am
  England secured their safe passage to the last 32 before a ball was kicked against Panama on Saturday night, owing to results elsewhere, and they will meet Senegal.
  
• AFL legend says Australia's love affair with the Socceroos 'lacks substance' and slams sport as 'better to play than it is to watch'28 June 2026, 4:51 am
  The national team have produced record ratings as they compete on the sport's biggest stage, but a footy icon believes the attention is a mirage that will soon disappear.
  
• Lionel Messi sets ANOTHER World Cup record with goal against Jordan as wife Antonela goes wild in the stands28 June 2026, 4:44 am
  Messi entered in the 60th minute after not starting Argentina's group stage finale against Jordan in the World Cup with first place already wrapped up.
  
• England's World Cup last-32 opponents CONFIRMED: Three Lions will face DR Congo after topping Group L28 June 2026, 4:32 am
  Thomas Tuchel's side secured top spot in Group L with a 2-0 win over Panama on Saturday, but faced a wait to discover their last-32 opponents.
  
• Steve Clarke QUITS as Scotland manager - just half an hour after their World Cup exit is confirmed and only a month into his new four-year contract28 June 2026, 4:30 am
  No Scotland team has ever progressed beyond the first round at a major tournament and questions are rightly being asked about why the on-pitch performance was in stark contrast to the fans off it.
  
• England beat Panama but Thomas Tuchel has a big problem he can't ignore, writes OLIVER HOLT - and without Jude Bellingham, his boss may have been facing a World Cup embarrassment against minnows28 June 2026, 4:28 am
  PANAMA 0-2 ENGLAND - OLIVER HOLT IN NEW YORK: So start spreading the news: Bellingham is reprising the role of England's saviour that he made his own in 2024.
  
• Uruguay CANCEL team's chartered flight home from the World Cup to punish the players for their failure in the group stage - as it emerges their goalkeeper subbed HIMSELF off28 June 2026, 4:25 am
  Uruguay's football federation (AUF) are believed to have canceled the team's chartered flight home to punish their players after the team failed to get progress to knockout stages.
  
• Star men found wanting. Supporting cast out of their depth. But it's no excuse for Scotland heading home before the likes of Cape Verde28 June 2026, 4:23 am
  Three weeks ago, when spirits were high and bank balances were healthier, the possibility of Scotland breaking new ground this summer was already threatening to loosen our grip on reality.
  
• How Scotland's World Cup nightmare ended with a whimper: Powerless stars holed up in 0-per-night boutique hotel with WAGs jetting home after chastening Brazil defeat - with 'Jurassic Clarke's' fate sealed after days of purgatory28 June 2026, 4:23 am
  RIATH AL-SAMARRAI: It was on Thursday afternoon that Steve Clarke's side returned to their elegant, upmarket base, where the rooms ordinarily cost north of 0 a night.
  
• Argentina soccer player's wife and kids found dead after desperate 74-hour search following Venezuela earthquakes28 June 2026, 3:46 am
  They were discovered on Saturday evening, brining a desperate search to a tragic end after the player's father and brother joined him to help in Venezuela.
  
• The Socceroos have never won a knockout match at the World Cup. Here's why the Aussie stars believe that's about to change28 June 2026, 2:35 am
  Millions of Aussies will wake before dawn to see their team take on Egypt on Saturday morning.
  
• Don't believe Cristiano Ronaldo, he is NOT back, writes RIATH AL-SAMARRAI - he depletes Portugal, who now face a tricky World Cup path after a Colombia draw28 June 2026, 2:33 am
  RIATH AL-SAMARRAI: Ronaldo's mission here against Colombia was to show he still had capacity to shape games against better defences and he failed dismally.
  
• Colombia vs Portugal - World Cup Group K LIVE: Portugal miss top spot after disappointing draw as Colombia seal more favourable draw28 June 2026, 1:46 am
  Cristiano Ronaldo and Co face a decisive Group K clash against Colombia as Portugal chase a must-win victory while their opponents need only avoid defeat to secure top spot in Miami.
  
• Gary Neville warns England's out-of-sorts stars they must 'step up' to get to Jude Bellingham's level at the World Cup - and Roy Keane says Thomas Tuchel 'doesn't have a clue what his best team is'!28 June 2026, 1:41 am
  England had long spells in their final group game against Panama when they were disjointed, lacked incision and looked vulnerable on the counter-attack.
  
• From his double in the 2022 final to stoppage-time winners: All 18 of Lionel Messi's World Cup goals RANKED after legend broke Miroslav Klose's record28 June 2026, 1:37 am
  This week, Messi surpassed Miroslav Klose to become the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer with a brace against Austria.