Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: June 16, 2026, 11:47 AM ET

England Selection Updates

England's World Cup preparations suffered a significant setback as Tino Livramento was ruled out with a hamstring injury, prompting Gareth Southgate to call up Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah as his replacement. The injury crisis extends beyond Livramento, with Bukayo Saka declaring himself "ready to go" for Wednesday's opener against Croatia while acknowledging he will continue gambling with his fitness after recent concerns. Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford faces an uncertain future after Barcelona opted not to trigger his £26m option, leaving the England forward's next move unclear as he seeks regular first-team football ahead of Euro 2025. Thomas Tuchel's contract extension includes performance clauses that could determine his long-term future with the Three Lions.

Transfer Market Movement

Tottenham Hotspur have intensified their pursuit of Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, viewing the 23-year-old as a cornerstone signing for their summer rebuild despite the Magpies' reluctance to part with their key player. The north London club joins several suitors tracking the former AC Milan man, who has impressed since moving to St James' Park in 2023. Elsewhere, Manchester City secured defender Josko Gvardiol on a new deal running until 2031, ending speculation about his future amid reported interest from Real Madrid. Brighton completed the signing of Portuguese defender Costinha from Olympiacos on a five-year contract, adding depth to their defensive options, while Watford appointed Italian Alessio Dionisi as head coach on a two-year deal.

World Cup Shock Results

Cape Verde produced the tournament's biggest upset by holding Spain to a goalless draw in Atlanta, with 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha becoming an overnight sensation after a string of spectacular saves. The result marked Spain's first failure to score in 2,500 passes during World Cup action and highlighted the unpredictability of the expanded format. In Group G, Belgium rescued a 1-1 draw against Egypt as Romelu Lukaku forced an own-goal equalizer just seconds after entering the match. Uruguay also had to settle for a point against Saudi Arabia after Maxi Araujo's late strike canceled out Mohammed Al-Owais's heroics between the posts.

Managerial Changes

Tunisia dismissed head coach Sabri Lamouchi following their 5-1 defeat to Sweden in the tournament opener, with veteran Herve Renard poised to take charge for the remainder of their World Cup campaign. The sackings continued across European football as Crystal Palace appointed Lens manager Pierre Sage on a three-year contract to replace Oliver Glasner. Former Rangers and Southampton boss Russell Martin took charge at Leicester City on a three-year deal as the Foxes look to rebuild after relegation. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Gary O'Neil emerged as leading candidates for the Ipswich Town vacancy.

Asian Teams Make Statement

Asia's representatives made a strong collective start to the World Cup, with several teams extending their unbeaten runs and demonstrating the continent's growing competitiveness on the global stage. Iraq prepared for their clash with Norway by receiving positive fitness updates on key players Odegaard and Haaland, though the latter remains with the national team despite his Norway commitments. DR Congo's World Cup preparations were underscored by player Roberto Tuanzebe's assertion that while he isn't a politician, the team can change the world through football as conflict continues back home.

Controversies and Off-Field Issues

Iran's participation remained clouded by political tensions after head coach Amir Ghalenoei labeled his team "the most oppressed in the whole World Cup" following last-minute travel restrictions that forced them to relocate from Los Angeles to Tijuana. The team managed to focus on football in their opener, securing a dramatic 2-2 draw with New Zealand after overcoming two deficits. FIFA found no evidence that VAR official Shaun Evans intentionally made a racist hand gesture before Germany's match against Curacao, though Evans claimed the movement was an "involuntary, subconscious twitch".

Club Football Developments

Real Madrid secured Antonio Rüdiger on a one-year extension through 2027, keeping the experienced defender at the Bernabeu amid ongoing transfer speculation. The Spanish giants also made contact with Mateus Fernandes as part of their summer recruitment strategy. In the women's game, Scotland captain Caroline Weir completed her move to Champions League runners-up Lyon on a three-year contract after departing Real Madrid. The San Jose Earthquakes extended Bruce Arena's coaching deal through the 2028-29 MLS season.

Selection Dilemmas

Thomas Tuchel faces several tactical decisions ahead of England's Group C opener, including choosing between Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers in midfield, Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke on the flank, and Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford in attack. The German manager must also decide on his center-back partnership from John Stones, Ezri Konsa, and Marc Guehi options. These selection headaches come amid fitness concerns that have plagued the squad throughout their pre-tournament preparations.