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Spain are world champions for the second time after beating Argentina 1-0 in extra time at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. It was a performance that defined their entire tournament: patient, disciplined and ruthless when the moment arrived. Spain dominated throughout, finishing with 20 attempts to Argentina's two, but Emiliano Martinez kept Argentina alive with a series of crucial saves, finishing with 11, the most ever recorded in a men's World Cup final. The match turned in stoppage time when Enzo Fernandez, already booked for dissent, received a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Pau Cubarsi. With Argentina reduced to 10 men, Ferran Torres scored the winner 39 seconds into the second half of extra time, driving his finish beyond Martinez after Nico Williams kept the ball alive at the back post. A Williams goal had earlier been ruled out for a foul by Mikel Merino on Nicolas Otamendi. Leandro Paredes was sent off after the final whistle for shoving Gavi during a post-match confrontation. Lionel Messi finished without a goal or assist, having been largely denied the space to influence the match. He confirmed afterwards that this was his final World Cup. Spain, unbeaten in 38 consecutive matches, conceded only one goal in the entire tournament. At the post-match ceremony, Rodri received the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. Messi took the Silver Ball and Kylian Mbappe the Bronze Ball. Mbappe won the Golden Boot with 10 goals, Messi the Silver Boot with eight and Jude Bellingham the Bronze Boot with seven. Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón won the Golden Glove after keeping seven clean sheets. Cubarsi was named the best young player. England finished third after a remarkable 6-4 win over France in Miami on Saturday. US President Donald Trump attended the final alongside Fifa president Gianni Infantino and joined him on the pitch for the trophy presentation, where he was met with loud boos from sections of the crowd. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

The build-up to Sunday's World Cup final has been overshadowed by two controversies from the semi-final between Argentina and England. Several Argentina players displayed a banner reading "Las Malvinas son Argentinas", which means "the Falklands are Argentinian", after the final whistle. Fifa's stadium code prohibits political messages and the governing body's disciplinary committee is reviewing the incident. But Argentina's place in final against Spain is not at risk. England midfielder Jude Bellingham also faces possible disciplinary action after slapping Argentina substitute Valentin Barco on the back of the head after the South American team's semi-final triumph. Fifa has yet to decide whether to charge Bellingham and a ban could rule him out of Saturday's third-place play-off against France. Meanwhile, Spain's Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro trained separately on Thursday as a precaution, but are both expected to be available for the final. US President Donald Trump is to attend the showpiece match at MetLife Stadium and, alongside Fifa president Gianni Infantino, will present the trophy after the final whistle. The Golden Boot race is level heading into the decisive final weekend. Argentina's Lionel Messi and France striker Kylian Mbappe are both on eight goals, with Messi ahead on assists as the tiebreaker. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

Argentina are in the World Cup final after beating England 2-1 in Atlanta, scoring twice in the final minutes in another example of the late comebacks that have defined their tournament. Anthony Gordon gave England the lead in the 55th minute, but Thomas Tuchel's decision to drop deep and protect the lead proved costly. From Gordon's goal until Argentina's equaliser, England had only 12 per cent possession. Enzo Fernandez made it 1-1 with a long-range strike in the 85th minute before Lionel Messi created the winner in stoppage time, crossing for Lautaro Martinez to head in. Argentina face Spain in Sunday's World Cup final at New York New Jersey Stadium. Kick off is 11pm in the UAE. Tuchel accepted responsibility for England's approach, saying the team were not active enough. Harry Kane acknowledged England struggled to keep the ball after scoring, repeating a pattern from previous tournaments. In Paris, police made 98 arrests following disorder after France's semi-final defeat by Spain, which coincided with Bastille Day. The third-place play-off against England will be Didier Deschamps' final match as France coach after 14 years. He won the World Cup in 2018 and has reached three consecutive semi-finals. Zinedine Zidane is widely expected to replace him. The third-place play-off is in Miami on Saturday local time, kicking off at 1am on Sunday in the UAE. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

Spain are in the World Cup final after beating France 2-0 in Dallas – producing one of the most complete performances of the tournament to reach the showpiece. Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty in the 22nd minute after Lamine Yamal was fouled by Lucas Digne, before Pedro Porro added a second goal in the second half. But the wider story was how Spain neutralised France's attack. Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola managed only three shots on target between them. Spain's midfield, anchored by Rodri, was dominant throughout. France head coach Didier Deschamps faces questions about his tactical choices after starting four attackers against a Spain side built to dominate possession. Mbappe said France failed to press high as planned. Rayan Cherki was more direct, saying France were beaten technically, tactically and in the duels. Deschamps is due to step down after the tournament. Spain are to face England or Argentina in Sunday's final at MetLife Stadium. Tonight, England face Argentina at 11pm UAE time in Atlanta. The match carries the weight of history, from Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal in 1986 to David Beckham's red card in 1998. Argentina's team have been filmed singing about the Malvinas and Maradona, as well as Lionel Messi, who is playing in what is expected to be his final World Cup. In other news, Fifa is expected to wait until after the tournament to decide whether to take action against coaches and players who criticised referees. England manager Thomas Tuchel, Switzerland player Manuel Akanji and Egypt coach Hossam Hassan have all made remarks about officials during the tournament. Meanwhile, the World Cup final half-time show is expected to run for 20 to 25 minutes, with Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber and Burna Boy among the names linked to the performance. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

For the first time since Fifa introduced its world rankings, the top four teams have all reached the semi-finals. France, Argentina, Spain and England were kept apart by a new seeding system and it has delivered a semi-final line-up regarded as the strongest in World Cup history. France face Spain tonight at 11pm UAE time in Arlington, Texas. France striker Kylian Mbappe is fit and expected to start, but Spain have conceded only one goal in seven matches. The Golden Boot race adds another layer of intrigue to the match, with the two sides carrying the tournament's most dangerous attacks. England face Argentina tomorrow at 11pm in Atlanta, Georgia. Argentina will wear their navy blue away kit, a decision Argentinian media have linked to superstition after famous wins over England in 1986 and 1998. England are seeking a first World Cup title since 1966, while Argentina are chasing back-to-back titles – the last team to manage that feat were Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

The World Cup semi-finals are set after a weekend that produced drama, controversy and tragedy in equal measure. Spain beat Belgium 2-1 in Los Angeles, with Mikel Merino scoring a late winner. That goal came after Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois went off injured and his replacement Senne Lammens spilled a shot from distance. England beat Norway 2-1 after extra time in Miami, with Jude Bellingham scoring both goals for his team. Argentina beat Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in Kansas City. Alexis Mac Allister struck first then Switzerland equalised in the second half through Dan Ndoye, before Breel Embolo was controversially sent off following a VAR review under the mistaken identity protocol. The referee had initially booked Leandro Paredes, before VAR identified the foul as a dive by Embolo, who received his second yellow card of the game. Switzerland were furious, with captain Granit Xhaka saying the decision changed the game. The weekend's most sobering news was the death of South Africa midfielder Jayden Adams at the age of 25, just weeks after playing at the World Cup. France face Spain tomorrow at 11pm UAE time. England face Argentina on Wednesday, also at 11pm. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

France are in the World Cup semi-finals after beating Morocco 2-0 at Gillette Stadium, ending another historic Arab and African campaign. It is France's third consecutive World Cup semi-final and they have still not conceded a goal at this tournament. Mbappe was the central figure despite missing a first-half penalty, saved by Bounou in what was a record-equalling moment. The Moroccan goalkeeper has now saved four penalties at World Cups, drawing level with the most by any goalkeeper in tournament history. After the break, Mbappe curled a superb finish to make it 1-0, levelling with Messi on eight goals in the Golden Boot race, before Dembele added a second to put the match beyond Morocco. Dembele's goal means France are only the second team in 50 years to have two players score five or more at the same World Cup, after Brazil in 2002. Morocco's performance without Ismael Saibari reflected his absence. They sat deep, limited France's opportunities for long spells but struggled to break forward when they won the ball. There are no Arab or African teams left in the tournament. Fifa's chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina defended World Cup officials in the wake of Egypt's complaint and the Balogun controversy, saying nobody can question the integrity of match officials and that Fifa refereeing cannot be influenced by anyone, including the Fifa president. Jarell Quansah has received a two-match ban for his red card against Mexico, meaning he misses the quarter-final against Norway and the semi-final if England progress, adding to the debate around consistency given Balogun's suspended ban. Tonight, Spain face Belgium at 11pm UAE time in Los Angeles. Spain have kept six consecutive clean sheets and gone more than 10 hours without conceding. The winner faces France in the semi-finals on July 14. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

The fallout from Egypt's 3-2 defeat to Argentina is deepening. The Egyptian Football Association has filed a formal complaint with Fifa, calling for an investigation into referee Francois Letexier and his VAR team over what it described as serious mistakes, double standards and improper use of VAR. The EFA has also asked FIFA to remove the officiating crew from the rest of the tournament. Egypt's team director also claimed the referee threatened Hossam Hassan during the game. Hassan himself said he would not watch another match at this World Cup. The EFA has confirmed it wants Hassan to continue as national team coach. Fifa is also under broader pressure over the Balogun controversy. Seventy-two European lawmakers have written to EU football association heads asking them to support an investigation into Fifa and Infantino, citing the decision-making around Balogun's suspended ban alongside wider governance concerns. Belgium, now preparing for their quarter-final against Spain, have also complained about the quality of their training facilities in Los Angeles. In other news, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has stepped down after nine years in charge. Jorge Jesus is the leading candidate to succeed Roberto Martinez as Portugal coach. England have not ruled out Jordan Henderson returning at this tournament after surgery on a broken arm suffered while celebrating against Mexico. Tonight there is one match. Morocco face France in the quarter-finals at midnight UAE time, in what Morocco's coach Mohamed Ouahbi has said is not about repeating 2022 but about winning the World Cup. Ismael Saibari is unlikely to feature due to injury, with Sofiane Rahimi expected to replace him. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

Egypt are out of the World Cup, but the anger is just beginning. Argentina came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in Atlanta in a match that will be debated long after the tournament ends. Egypt led through Yasser Ibrahim's header, had a Mostafa Zico goal ruled out by VAR for a foul at the other end of the pitch in the build-up, then scored again in the 67th minute to make it 2-0. Messi set up Romero to pull one back in the 79th minute, equalised four minutes later, and Enzo Fernandez headed the winner in stoppage time. Egypt also appealed for a penalty on Mohamed Salah seconds before that winner, and felt a foul by Alexis Mac Allister in the build-up was never reviewed. Egypt's coach Hossam Hassan said after the match that Egypt had "suffered injustice" and suggested the referee and VAR had been influenced by external pressure to keep Argentina in the competition. He said he would not watch another match at this World Cup. The Egyptian Football Association has asked Fifa to investigate the referee and VAR team. Hassan had also objected to the appointment of French referee Francois Letexier before the match, given Argentina beat France in the 2022 final. Switzerland beat Colombia 4-3 on penalties after a goalless draw, and will face Argentina in the quarter-finals. Morocco are now the last Arab and last African team in the tournament, facing France in the quarter-finals at midnight on Thursday. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

Spain are in the World Cup quarter-finals after Mikel Merino's 91st-minute goal ended Portugal's tournament in Dallas. Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, was peripheral throughout and was left in tears after what is almost certainly his final World Cup match. Roberto Martinez confirmed he is stepping down as Portugal's coach. Belgium beat the US 4-1 in Seattle in a match that rendered the Folarin Balogun controversy irrelevant on the pitch. Belgium were sharper from the start and the game turned when US goalkeeper Matt Freese rushed out of his area and lost possession, allowing Hans Vanaken to finish into an empty net. All three co-hosts are now out. But the fallout continues to grow after Fifa's decision to suspend Balogun's one-match ban after an intervention from US President Donald Trump. Uefa called Fifa's ruling "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable", accusing the ruling body of crossing a red line. Belgium's appeal was dismissed. Mr Trump confirmed he called Fifa president Gianni Infantino, after Balogun was sent off against Bosnia in the previous round. Meanwhile, France beat Paraguay 1-0, but the post-match story was centred on striker Kylian Mbappe's public response to a Paraguayan senator who posted racist comments about him. The French football authorities are reporting the matter to prosecutors. Tonight, Egypt face Argentina at 8pm UAE time in Atlanta, pitching Lionel Messi against Mohamed Salah. Switzerland face Colombia at midnight. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

England have reached the World Cup quarter-finals after beating Mexico 3-2 at the Azteca, in one of their biggest knockout victories in decades. Jude Bellingham scored twice in two minutes, but England were reduced to 10 men after a red card for Jarell Quansah and had to defend deep and face 49 Mexican crosses. Harry Kane scored a penalty and Jordan Pickford made crucial saves. England face Norway in Miami on Saturday. Erling Haaland scored a late double as Norway won 2-1 in New Jersey to end Brazil's record of reaching at least the quarter-finals at every tournament since 1990. Haaland was quiet for most of the match but scored twice in the final minutes. Neymar replied with a late penalty and then confirmed his retirement from international football, departing as Brazil's all-time top scorer. This is Brazil's earliest World Cup exit in 36 years. The biggest controversy of the knockout stage has nothing to do with what happened on the pitch. Fifa has suspended a one-match ban for US striker Folarin Balogun after US President Donald Trump called Fifa president Gianni Infantino to ask for a review. Balogun, sent off in the last-32 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, will now be available to play in the last 16 against Belgium. He's the US's top scorer at the tournament with three goals. Fifa offered no reason or explanation for suspending Balogun's ban. It just cited "article 27 of the Fifa disciplinary code". It is the first time Article 27 has been used at a World Cup. Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said he did not know the fifth of July had become April Fools' Day, adding that his federation was not just defending themselves but defending football. Meanwhile, Morocco are already through to the quarter-finals after beating Canada 3-0 and now face France in a repeat of the 2022 semi-final. Egypt face Argentina tomorrow after beating Australia on penalties, with coach Hossam Hassan dedicating the win to the Egyptian and Palestinian people after walking across the pitch with a Palestinian flag. Tonight, Portugal face Spain at 11pm in Dallas and the US face Belgium at 4am in Seattle, with Balogun now available to start. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

Algeria are out of the World Cup after a 2-0 defeat to Switzerland in Vancouver. Breel Embolo opened the scoring after 10 minutes and Dan Ndoye added a second just after half-time. Algeria had plenty of possession but not enough quality in the final third, and they failed to build the pressure they needed after falling behind. Switzerland will face either Colombia or Ghana in the last 16. Spain beat Austria 3-0 in Los Angeles for their first World Cup knockout win since 2010, with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring twice. Spain have scored eight goals in four matches and are yet to concede. They face Portugal in Dallas on Monday. Portugal overcame Croatia 2-1 in a match defined by VAR controversy, with a World Cup-record four goals ruled out for offside. After the final whistle, the squad gathered as Cristiano Ronaldo held up Diogo Jota's number 21 shirt in tribute to their former teammate. Egypt are the only Arab nation who can still join Morocco in the last 16. Coach Hossam Hassan has confirmed Mohamed Salah is available tonight after an intensive rehabilitation programme following his muscle strain. Tonight, Egypt face Australia at 10pm UAE time, before Argentina face Cape Verde at 2am and Colombia face Ghana at 5.30am. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

England survived a scare against DR Congo, falling behind after seven minutes before Harry Kane scored twice in the final 15 minutes to set up a 2-1 win. Kane now has five goals at the tournament. England face Mexico at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City in the last 16 in the early hours of Sunday. The USA beat Bosnia 2-0 despite finishing with 10 men after Folarin Balogun was sent off following a VAR review in the second half. Malik Tillman sealed it with a free kick in the 82nd minute. Balogun will miss the last-16 match against Belgium through suspension. Speaking of Belgium, they produced one of the most dramatic comebacks of the tournament, beating Senegal 3-2 after extra time in Seattle. Senegal led 2-0 with four minutes of normal time remaining before Romelu Lukaku pulled one back and Youri Tielemans headed in an equaliser. Then, in the final seconds of extra time with the clock at 124 minutes and 44 seconds, Belgium were awarded a penalty through VAR and Tielemans scored the latest goal ever recorded at a World Cup, leaving Senegal devastated. In transfer news, Ismael Saibari, who scored the winning penalty for Morocco against the Netherlands, will join Bayern Munich from PSV Eindhoven after the World Cup in a deal reported to be worth up to €55 million ($62 million). Tonight, Spain face Austria at 11pm. Portugal face Croatia at 3am tomorrow, and Algeria face Switzerland at 7am. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

Mexico won their first World Cup knockout match in 40 years, beating Ecuador 2-0 at the Azteca after an hour-long storm delay. Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez scored as Mexico maintained their run of clean sheets at this tournament. Seventeen-year-old Gilberto Mora also became the youngest player to start a World Cup knockout match since Pele in 1958. France delivered the most complete performance of the knockout stage so far as they beat Sweden 3-0, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice. He now has 18 World Cup goals, one behind Lionel Messi's all-time record. Mbappe's teammate Michael Olise has now contributed five assists across the tournament – the first player to reach that mark at a single World Cup since 1994. Manager Didier Deschamps had returned from his mother's funeral before the match. His France team face Paraguay in the last 16 this weekend. Norway also progressed after beating Ivory Coast 2-1, with Erling Haaland scoring the winner in the 86th minute to become the fastest player to hit 60 international goals, reaching the milestone in only 53 appearances. Norway face Brazil in the next round, the only team in men's international football they have never beaten. Ronald Koeman has resigned as Netherlands coach after their last-32 defeat to Morocco. Marcelo Bielsa has also resigned as Uruguay coach after their group-stage exit. Egypt face Australia on Friday night, after Algeria take on Switzerland that morning. Tonight, England face DR Congo at 8pm UAE time, Belgium play Senegal at midnight and the US face Bosnia and Herzegovina at 4am. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

Morocco are through to the last 16 of the World Cup after beating the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties in Monterrey, in a match the Arab side dominated for long periods without being rewarded. Cody Gakpo put the Dutch ahead in the 72nd minute against the run of play, but substitute Chemsdine Talbi, one of three under-21 players introduced by coach Mohamed Ouahbi, set up Issa Diop's stoppage-time equaliser. Morocco's Yassine Bounou saved a penalty from Crysencio Summerville before Ismael Saibari scored the winner in a chaotic shoot-out. Morocco face Canada in the last 16 on Saturday. Brazil survived a scare against Japan, winning 2-1 with a 95th-minute goal from Gabriel Martinelli after Casemiro equalised in a much-improved second-half performance. Germany are out of the World Cup, losing 4-3 on penalties to Paraguay after a 1-1 draw in Boston. The match turned on a VAR review in extra time that ruled out a Jonathan Tah header for a foul on Paraguay's goalkeeper Orlando Gill. Germany have never previously lost a World Cup shoot-out, but missed three penalties this time. Coach Julian Nagelsmann said he will not resign. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's federation president Yasser Al Misehal has resigned after the team's group stage exit, taking full responsibility for a campaign in which Saudi Arabia scored only once in three matches. Egypt are preparing to face Australia in the round of 32 on Friday. Algeria face Switzerland on the same day, with coach Vladimir Petkovic taking on the country he managed for seven years. Tonight, Ivory Coast face Norway at 9pm UAE time, before France face Sweden at 1am and Mexico face Ecuador at 5am. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

Canada made history in the first knockout game of the tournament, beating South Africa 1-0 in Los Angeles with Stephen Eustsquio scoring in the 92nd minute, driving into the bottom corner. South Korea's group stage exit has become a political issue at home, with President Lee Jae Myung calling for an investigation. Coach Hong Myung-bo has confirmed he will step down. Three Arab nations remain in the tournament. Morocco face the Netherlands tomorrow at 5am in Monterrey, 32 years after the two teams first met in a World Cup. Several Morocco players, including Noussair Mazraoui, Sofyan Amrabat and Anass Salah-Eddine, were born and raised in the Netherlands, adding another dimension to an already compelling tie. The winner will face Canada in Houston. Egypt are preparing for their round of 32 match against Australia with injury concerns. Mohamed Salah is being treated for a muscle strain, Ahmed Fattouh is a major doubt with a hamstring tear, and Mohamed Abdelmonem is being assessed with a bruised ankle. Algeria are also through after a 3-3 draw with Austria, with Riyad Mahrez scoring in stoppage time before Austria's late equaliser sent both teams through. Algeria face Switzerland next. Tonight, Brazil face Japan at 9pm and Germany face Paraguay at 12.30am. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

Ecuador produced the shock of the World Cup group stage, beating Germany 2-1 despite falling behind after only two minutes. Nilson Angulo equalised quickly and Gonzalo Plata scored the winner in the 77th minute, sending Ecuador into the knockout stage for only the second time in their history. The Netherlands won Group F after beating Tunisia 3-1 in Kansas City, with two goals inside seven minutes setting the tone. Tunisia finish with three defeats, 12 goals conceded and the worst defensive record of any team at the tournament. Japan and Sweden both progressed from the same group after drawing 1-1. In Group E, Ivory Coast reached the knockouts for the first time in their history with a 2-0 win over Curacao, and Australia secured second place in Group D with a goalless draw against Paraguay. Morocco now know their last 32 opponent. They face the Netherlands in Monterrey, Mexico, on Monday in one of the most culturally charged ties of the round, with about 433,000 people of Moroccan descent living in the Netherlands. Early tomorrow, Saudi Arabia face Cape Verde in Houston in a must-win match. Victory keeps the Saudi players alive for the last 32, though they would also need Uruguay to fail to beat Spain. Iraq face Senegal in Toronto tonight, with both teams still without a point. Egypt then face Iran in Seattle, with Mohamed Salah's side able to secure top spot in Group G. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score at six different World Cups, netting twice as Portugal beat Uzbekistan 5-0 in Houston. He had gone 10 major tournament matches without a goal before scoring twice in one night. Portugal now have four points in Group K, with Colombia top on six after beating DR Congo 1-0 to seal their place in the last 32. England were held to a goalless draw by Ghana, with no shots on target in the first half and refereeing controversy in the second. Ghana manager Carlos Queiroz was furious about two penalty appeals that were waved away, while Harry Kane fired over from eight yards to spurn England's best chance. Both teams have four points going into their final group matches. Croatia kept their campaign alive with a 1-0 win over Panama as Luka Modric won his 200th cap. Panama are out. Tonight, Qatar face Bosnia at 11pm in a must-win match to stay in the tournament. Morocco face Haiti at 2am needing a result to qualify from Group C, but they will have an eye on Brazil's match against Scotland, which kick offs simultaneously. First place in Group B is also on the line, with Canada and Switzerland level on four points. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

Lionel Messi is now the greatest scorer in World Cup history. His two goals against Austria in a 2-0 win increase his tally to 18, moving him clear of Miroslav Klose. Messi has five at this tournament, helping Argentina to progress to the knockout stage as Group J winners. Algeria kept their World Cup hopes alive with a 2-1 win over Jordan, coming from behind to score twice from set pieces in the final 30 minutes. It is Algeria's first World Cup win since 2014 and sets up a decisive match against Austria. Jordan, who led for a spell through Nizar Al Rashdan's first World Cup goal, are eliminated after two defeats. France beat Iraq 3-0 in Philadelphia in a match delayed for more than two hours by lightning. Kylian Mbappe scored twice on his 100th international appearance and now has four goals at this tournament, closing in on Messi's tally. Iraq have no points and must beat Senegal to remain in the competition. Norway reached the knockout stage for the first time since 1998, beating Senegal 3-2. Erling Haaland scored twice to take his tournament tally to four. With two rounds of matches played, Egypt are best placed among the Arab nations, topping Group G on four points. Morocco also have four points in Group C. Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are alive but need results in their final group matches. Iraq must win. Tunisia are out, alongside Jordan. One uncomfortable footnote: Arab players have scored five own goals in the tournament so far, with every Arab nation contributing at least one. Tonight, England face Ghana at midnight in a meeting of Group L's top two teams. Portugal face Uzbekistan at 9pm needing a win after their opening draw. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

Egypt made history in Vancouver, beating New Zealand 3-1 to record their first World Cup win, 92 years after becoming the first African and Arab nation to appear at the tournament. A half-time tactical shift transformed the match after Egypt fell behind, with Mohamed Salah scoring his first World Cup goal before Trezeguet headed in a third from Salah's corner. Egypt now top Group G on four points, with an opportunity to win the group in their final match against Iran. Iran kept pace with a disciplined 0-0 draw against Belgium, with Alireza Beiranvand making a crucial save and Mehdi Taremi denied a goal by VAR. Belgium finished with ten men after a late red card. The Group G finale between Egypt and Iran is now one of the most compelling matches of the round. Morocco scored the fastest goal of the tournament so far, with Ismael Saibari scoring after 71 seconds against Scotland on Sunday to claim a 1-0 win. Morocco are level with Brazil at the top of Group C on four points. Spain recovered from their opening draw to beat Saudi Arabia 4-0, with 18-year-old Lamine Yamal scoring on his first World Cup start to become only the second player of that age to open the scoring in a World Cup match after Pele in 1958. Saudi Arabia have one point from two games and must beat Cape Verde to stay alive. Tunisia were eliminated after a 4-0 defeat to Japan, their second heavy loss in two matches under two different coaches. Tonight, France face Iraq at 1am UAE time, with Didier Deschamps warning his squad not to underestimate them. Argentina face Austria at 9pm, and Jordan take on Algeria at 7am in a match both sides need. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

Qatar's World Cup campaign suffered a heavy blow overnight, losing 6-0 to Canada in Vancouver after two red cards left them chasing the match. The result was overshadowed by a serious injury to Canada's Ismael Kone, who left on a stretcher in the 51st minute after a challenge from Assim Madibo. Kone gave the crowd a thumbs up before leaving the pitch. Jonathan David scored a hat-trick and Qatar now face Bosnia and Herzegovina needing a big response to stay in the tournament. Mexico became the first team to reach the knockout stage, beating South Korea 1-0 in Guadalajara to win Group A with two wins and two clean sheets. Switzerland defeated Bosnia 4-1 after being frustrated for more than an hour, while Czech Republic and South Africa drew 1-1. Lionel Messi's family confirmed his father Jorge is receiving medical treatment for an unspecified health issue. Messi had been emotional after his hat-trick against Algeria, saying he had faced difficulties unrelated to football. Morocco face Scotland at 2am tomorrow in Boston in what could be the Arab world's most significant match of the weekend. A win would put Morocco in a strong position to reach the knockouts. The US face Australia at 11pm tonight and Brazil face Haiti at 4.30am tomorrow after an opening draw with Morocco. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

England beat Croatia 4-2 in Dallas in a match that had everything. Harry Kane scored twice, drawing level with Gary Lineker as England's top World Cup scorer with 10 goals, but Croatia equalised twice in a wild first half. Jude Bellingham gave England the lead two minutes after the break, and Marcus Rashford finished it. England were exciting and vulnerable in equal measure, and they now face Ghana, who beat Panama 1-0 with a 95th-minute winner. Portugal were held 1-1 by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who earned their first ever World Cup point. Joao Neves gave Portugal an early lead but they never controlled the match, and DRC equalised before half time. Ronaldo played the full game but was peripheral, missing two chances late on. Questions are already being asked about Portugal's attacking structure. Colombia beat Uzbekistan 3-1 in a disciplined if unspectacular performance, with Luis Diaz scoring on the counter attack to make the difference. Tonight, Qatar take on co-hosts Canada at 2am UAE time in Vancouver. Group B is completely level after the opening round, and a win for either side would transform the picture. Mexico and South Korea, both winners in round one, meet at 5am in what could already be a decisive Group A fixture. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

Lionel Messi marked his 200th international appearance and sixth World Cup with a hat-trick, as Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 in Kansas City. He is now level with Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals and became the first man to play in six of the tournaments. Algeria, back at the World Cup after 12 years, were punished by poor finishing and Messi's ruthlessness. They face Jordan next. Iraq's first World Cup match in 40 years ended in a 4-1 defeat to Norway, although they were competitive in the first half and Aymen Hussein scored their second ever World Cup goal and their first since 1986. Norway's Erling Haaland scored twice in his World Cup debut. Jordan also lost their first ever World Cup match, going down 3-1 to Austria, with Ali Olwan scoring a memorable debut goal before Austria pulled away. France beat Senegal 3-1, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice to become France's all-time top scorer with 58 goals. All eight Arab nations have now played once, scoring four draws and four defeats. Tunisia have appointed Hervé Renard as head coach until the end of the tournament following Sabri Lamouchi's sacking. Tonight, Portugal face DR Congo at 9pm UAE time, with Ronaldo one goal away from becoming the first player to score at six World Cups. England play Croatia at midnight. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

The first major shock of the 2026 World Cup arrived last night. Cape Verde, playing in their first World Cup, held Spain to a goalless draw. Goalkeeper Vozinha, 40, made seven saves and was named player of the match, breaking down in tears afterwards as he revealed his mother could not attend because of the cost of getting a US visa. Saudi Arabia drew 1-1 with Uruguay, with Mohammed Al Owais outstanding in goal. Egypt drew 1-1 with Belgium in a result that left the Arab world frustrated, with coach Hossam Hassan furious about a late penalty appeal that was waved away without a VAR review. Iran drew 2-2 with New Zealand in what many are calling the best match of the tournament so far. Tunisia have already sacked their coach, with Sabri Lamouchi dismissed the morning after their 5-1 defeat to Sweden. Iraq play their first World Cup match in 40 years against Norway, with the game kicking off tomorrow at 2am UAE time. Argentina then face Algeria at 5am and Jordan make their World Cup debut against Austria at 8am. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

Tunisia suffered one of the heaviest defeats of the opening round, losing 5-1 to Sweden in Monterrey, in a damaging start to their World Cup campaign. Yasin Ayari was the story of the night. The Brighton midfielder, born in Sweden to a Tunisian father and Moroccan mother, scored twice. He chose Sweden after Tunisia had tried to convince him to switch allegiance. Ayari did not celebrate his first goal, but celebrated the second. Sweden were emphatic and Tunisia, who did not concede a single goal in qualification, now face a must-win match against Japan. The Samurai Blue themselves took a point from the Netherlands, in what many are calling the best game of the tournament so far. The teams drew 2-2 in Dallas after Daichi Kamada equalised in the 89th minute. Germany made the biggest statement of the opening round, beating Curacao 7-1, while Ivory Coast's Amad Diallo scored in the 90th minute to see off Ecuador. Off the pitch, Iran's arrival in Los Angeles has dominated the conversation. Eleven members of the Iranian party, including the team manager, were denied entry to the US, on the same day President Trump announced a peace deal with Iran and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Captain Mehdi Taremi said the tension had undermined Fifa's message of football bringing people together. For the Arab world, tonight is when the tournament truly begins. Egypt face Belgium at 11pm UAE time, with Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush offering genuine threat on the counter. Saudi Arabia face Uruguay at 2am, with local media evoking the spirit of that famous win over Argentina in Qatar. Meanwhile Qatar have already earned a point, drawing 1-1 with Switzerland, and Morocco were arguably the better side in their 1-1 draw with Brazil, with 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi impressing in midfield. Spain also begin their campaign tonight against debutants Cape Verde at 8pm UAE time. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

The 2026 Fifa World Cup opened with a result, record and refereeing performance nobody will forget quickly. Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, with Julian Quinones opening the scoring after just nine minutes before Raul Jimenez headed home a second in the 67th minute. The match will be remembered as much for what happened off the ball as on it. Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio showed three red cards across the 90 minutes, a record for a World Cup opening match and a number that puts 2026 in remarkable statistical company after just one game. Elsewhere in Group A, South Korea beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in Guadalajara, joining Mexico on three points. The two sides now meet in what is already shaping up as the group's defining fixture. For Arab fans, the tournament begins in earnest this weekend. Qatar face Switzerland on Saturday at 11pm UAE time, before Morocco take on Brazil at 2am on Sunday, a rematch loaded with expectation on both sides after Morocco's remarkable run to the semi-finals in Qatar four years ago. Tonight, Canada open their home campaign against Bosnia and Herzegovina at 11pm UAE time in Toronto, followed by the US against Paraguay at 5am UAE time on Saturday in Los Angeles. Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

The Fifa World Cup 2026 is here, and Trending Middle East is covering every match day. Join sports journalist Mina Rzouki for your daily morning roundup of results, highlights, and the moments that matter, with a special focus on the Arab teams. New episode drops every weekday for the full tournament.

Guillem Balague, Julien Laurens and Mina Rzouki are with Steve Crossman to discuss; Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez's ‘disaster-class', whether Jose Mourinhio is the answer to the issues at the Bernabeu, and why Champions League football could be a problem for Como. Plus, Paris FC sporting director Marco Neppe joins the pod to reflect on their Ligue 1 season. 01:58 – Perez's press conference 12:26 – Is Jose Mourinho the answer to Real's problems? 23:51 – Paris FC sporting director Marco Neppe 35:47 – Le Mans back in Ligue 1 37:37 – Could Como's lack of Italians cause them problems for the Champions League? 47:10 – Venezia's open top boat parade

Alistair Bruce-Ball is joined by Guillem Balague, Rafa Honigstein and Mina Rzouki who discuss the fallout after Italy fail to qualify for a third World Cup in a row. Mina gives an insight into why it's not happening for Italy and an issue with developing players in Italy and the type of players they want.  Asmir Begovic, who played for Bosnia in their last and only World Cup in 2014 joins the pod and explains why a smaller nation was able to play with less pressure and how that worked in Bosnia's favour. Commentator for TVP sport Maciej Iwanski talks Poland as they fail to qualify for a major tournament for the first time since 2016 and have we seen the last of Robert Lewandowski in a Poland shirt? TIME CODES: 01:22 - Will the World Cup miss Italy?  06:00 - Italian fallout 15:15 - Transition & development issue? 19:15 - Fabio Capello the problem?  23:54 - Bosnia & Asmir Begovic 31:09 - The lack of pressure helped Bosnia? 34:23 - Commentator for TVP sport Maciej Iwanski on Poland5 Live Commentaries this week: Saturday 4th April – 5:15pm – Men's FA Cup Quarter Finals – Chelsea v Port Vale Saturday 4th April – 8pm – Men's FA Cup Quarter Finals – Southampton v Arsenal Sunday 5th April – 1pm – Women's FA Cup Quarter Finals – Arsenal v Brighton Sunday 5th April – 4:30pm - Men's FA Cup Quarter Finals – West Ham v Leeds

Steve Crossman and the panel react to an action packed couple of nights in the Champions League. Julien Laurens, Mina Rzouki &, Guillem Ballagué give their reaction to a busy week for Italian clubs including Juventus' near comeback, Atalanta's late win over Borussia Dortmund and, Inter Milan's shock defeat to Bodø/Glimt.In Spain, Real Madrid survived an early scare against Benfica to progress to the next round. Benfica had a plethora of chances. This doesn't feel like a particularly strong Real Madrid side like the ones of old. Atletico Madrid are through to an eighth Champions League Round of 16 stage under Diego Simeone, but will it be his last? Had they gone out could it have been a different story for the Argentine. TIME CODES 00:00 Intro 01:00 Inter Milan fall to Bodø/Glimt 12:30 Juventus knocked out 14:00 Is there an Italian football crisis? 24:30 Atalanta's late drama to go through 31:02 Real Madrid scrape past Benfica 34:35 The Kylian Mbappe situation 43:33 Atletico Madrid & Diego Simeone's future5 Live / BBC Sounds commentaries: Sat 1500 Liverpool v West Ham, Sat 1500 Newcastle v Everton on Sports Extra, Sat 1730 Leeds v Man City, Sun 1200 Rangers v Celtic, Sun 1400 Man Utd v Crystal Palace, Sun 1400 Fulham v Tottenham on Sports Extra, Sun 1400 Brighton & Hove v Nottingham Forest on Sports Extra 2, Sun 1630 Arsenal v Chelsea.

Mark Chapman is joined by Guillem Balague, James Horncastle, Julien Laurens and Mina Rzouki.The panel discuss the fallout from Real Madrid's 1-0 win over Benfica in the Champions League - with goalscorer Vinicius Junior accusing Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of racist abuse. FC Thun are on course for their first ever Swiss league title, manager Mauro Lustrinelli joins the show and they wrap up the rest of the week's Champions League action with big first-leg defeats for Italian giants Inter and Juventus.TIMECODES 00:16 - Vinicius Jr accuses Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of racist abuse 25:43 - FC Thun manager Mauro Lustrinelli on his side being top of the Swiss league 35:48 - Why are Italian clubs struggling in Europe?

Steve Crossman is joined by Guillem Balague, James Horncastle and Mina Rzouki to discuss all things European football, including last night's final round of Champions League group stage fixtures.The team delve into Benfica's late goal which secured them qualification into the playoffs, how Napoli and Marseille got knocked out entirely and whether Bayern should be considered as one of the favourites for the Champions League.They're also joined by Archie Rhind-Tutt, former Benfica player Diogo Luis, Matt Spiro and Christian Falk throughout the episode.00:40 - Thoughts on the Champions League league phase format 03:50 - Archie Rhind-Tutt on Anatoliy Trubin's winner for Benfica 09:30 - Diogo Luis on Benfica and Sporting Lisbon qualifying for Champions League knockouts 18:00 - Napoli knocked out of Europe and Antonio Conte's European record 25:30 - Matt Spiro on Marseille and Roberto De Zerbi 33:40 - Christian Falk on Bayern Munich losing their unbeaten Bundesliga record and their Champions League hopes 39:50 - Schalke sign Edin Dzeko 43:45 - What would the panel change about the Champions League format?

As Liam Rosenior agrees to become Chelsea's next manager, Euro Leagues looks at the impact on his old club, Strasbourg, and how he'll fit in at Stamford Bridge.Kelly Cates is joined first by senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel and Doncaster Rovers striker Billy Sharp, who played under Rosenior at Hull City. They discuss his management style, the step up to managing a club the size of Chelsea and his tricky task of winning over the fans. Then Kelly is joined by Mina Rzouki, Guillem Balague and Julien Laurens for a continental look on Ruben Amorim leaving Manchester United - does the Premier League have a problem with Sporting Directors, and could United look to Europe for their new manager?And they cover how Bayern Munich's star prodigy, 17-year-old Lennart Karl, has openly said that he one day dreams of playing for Real Madrid!Timecodes: 00:38 - Liam Rosenior's Chelsea appointment 05:12 - Rosenior's management style 12:55 - A continental view on Ruben Amorim's sacking at Manchester United 17:31 - Is the Premier League going through a transition on how clubs are run? 28:00 - Who should be the next manager of Manchester United? 37:14 - Liam Rosenior leaving Strasbourg and multi club ownership 44:31 - Bayern Munich's Lennart Karl says he'd like to play for Real Madrid

Scott McTominay left a struggling Manchester United to become Serie A's Most Valuable Player, win the Scudetto for Napoli and be nominated for the Ballon D'Or - all in one year. Was he this good all along? Is he finally getting the respect he always deserved?This episode of Football Daily, hosted by football writer and Copa 90 presenter Eugene Noble, goes right back to the start of Scott McTominay's incredible story and explores the making of McTominay: How he grew from the Man Utd academy, to being taken under the wing of José Mourinho and performing on the international stage.We speak to the likes of Paul McGuinness and James Weir, coaches and players who knew him at the academy, as well as podcasters, pundits and fans such as Jay Motty, Joe Fischetti and Umberto Bernardo, who have tracked his career from Old Trafford to the Neapolitan sun.We also hear from football journalist Mina Rzouki about how Scott has transformed under Antonio Conte, as well as Scottish Legend and commentator Pat Nevin about how he is becoming a symbol for the nation in the blue shirt of Scotland. We even speak to Scotland head coach Steve Clarke about Scott's crucial role to the international team and a conversation that sparked Scott's career back into life.In 2026, McTominay is facing his biggest season yet: Napoli have a title to defend. They're back in the Champions League. And Scotland will attend their first World Cup since 1998. So, the question isn't just how Scott McTominay got here - it's how much higher can he go?

Is Xabi Alonso's time up at Real Madrid, why is everyone talking about Paul Pogba's camels, how is Turkish football headed into ‘panic', can Lens push PSG for the Ligue 1 title and what on EARTH is going on in the Polish league this season?It's a packed Euro Leagues episode as Mina Rzouki, Guillem Balague and Julien Laurens join Steve Crossman to go through all the best stories across the continent in the last week.That includes Atalanta's late victory over Chelsea, and the impressive performance of goalscorer Charles De Ketelaere, as well as Jamie Vardy's form in Italy, where he's been named Serie A Player of the Month.Turkish football commentator & presenter Can Onduygu joins the show to dissect the latest in the gambling scandal which has seen more than 1,000 players suspended, and several detained, including players from Fenerbahce and Galatasaray.Polish writer Michal Zachodny also comes on, talking about the struggles of Legia Warsaw, the 15-time champions who are currently in the relegation zone, and the uniqueness of the Polish top-flight this season.Timecodes: 00:10 An unexpected Euro Leagues F1 meet-up 01:52 Paul Pogba's camels 05:55 Xabi Alonso's uncertain Real Madrid future 19:25 Jamie Vardy named Serie A Player of the Month 22:30 Turkish football's 'growing sense of panic' amid gambling investigation, with Can Onduygu 32:00 Lens at the top of Ligue 1! 36:50 What's happening in Poland?!5 Live / BBC Sounds Premier League commentaries: Sat 1500 Liverpool v Brighton, Sat 1500 Chelsea v Everton on Sports Extra, Sat 1730 Burnley v Fulham, Sun 1400 Sunderland v Newcastle, Sun 1400 Crystal Palace v Man City on Sports Extra, Sun 1400 Nottingham Forest v Tottenham on Sports Extra 2, Sun 1400 West Ham v Aston Villa on Sports Extra 3, Sun 1630 Brentford v Leeds.

Julien Laurens, Mina Rzouki and Guillem Balague join Maz Farookhi to discuss the latest from the continent.With Italy only reaching the play-offs, Gennaro Gattuso's comments about World Cup qualification needing a ‘system change' lead to a debate about the fundamental purpose of the World Cup.PSG are, incredibly, in court against two of their former players, with one being Kylian Mbappe! How and why?Plus, there's lots of returns to dissect… Paul Pogba to playing football, as well as Barcelona AND Lionel Messi to Camp Nou!Danish football journalist Toke Theilade joins the show to reflect on a disastrous week for Denmark as the full panel react to the play-off draw. Is Mina confident about Italy's chances of progression?Timecodes: 01:00 Why McTominay is being called ‘The Hero of Two Worlds' 5:18 Gattuso demands changes to World Cup qualifying – is it bitterness or justified? 10:00 Should the World Cup actually have 100 teams? What do we really want from the World Cup?  14:50 Kylian Mbappe's controversial international break and court case with PSG 20:08 Kheira Hamraoui's court case with PSG 25:32 Pogba set to return to the pitch 29:08 Barcelona back to Camp Nou 32:50 Messi's own return 35:23 Denmark's disastrous week 43:20 The World Cup play-off draw5 Live/ BBC Sounds commentaries this week:Saturday 22nd November PREMIER LEAGUE: Liverpool v Nottingham Forest 1500 KO, live on 5 Live. PREMIER LEAGUE: Fulham v Sunderland 1500 KO, live on 5 Sports Extra. PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle United v Manchester City 1730 KO, live on 5 Live.Sunday 23rd November PREMIER LEAGUE: Leeds United v Aston Villa 1400 KO, live on 5 Live. PREMIER LEAGUE: Arsenal v Tottenham 1630 KO, live on 5 Live.

Maz Farookhi, Guillem Balague, James Horncastle and Mina Rzouki discuss all the latest in European football.The panel discuss a record-breaking Champions League gameweek with a massive 71 goals being scored against the 18 matches.Arsenal's 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid at the Emirates was one of the standout results – Does that now make the Gunners the favourites to win this season's competition?Napoli and Juventus, meanwhile, both lost in midweek with the gang discussing the struggles facing the two Italian sides plus the rise of Cesc Fabregas' Como who are sixth in Serie A.The decision to cancel the La Liga game in Miami between Barcelona and Villarreal is also a topic on the episode and Guillem previews this weekend's first El Clasico of the season between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Bernabeu.1:00 – Goals galore in the Champions League 5:00 – “There has to be an all-English final” 8:00 – Are Arsenal favourites to win the Champions League? 16:30 – Napoli and Antonio Conte 22:40 – Juventus' struggles 27:10 – Cesc Fabregas' Como success 33:10 – La Liga Miami fixture cancelled 39:00 – Guillem Balague previews El Clasico

Sports reporter Katie Smith, writer and football pundit Mina Rzouki, and comedians Andrew White and Danny Mcloughlin join Rick Edwards for an hour of sporting punditry, humour and entertainment. Points are awarded for informed comment, wit and passion, but taken away for nonsense and answers lacking in conviction.In the final round, the top two points scorers go head-to-head in 'Defend the Indefensible' where they must both defend a statement however ludicrous or distasteful for twenty seconds. There can only be one winner!Listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds

Euro Leagues: Kane for Ballon d'Or & Faroe Islands at the World Cup?John Bennett, Guillem Balague, Rafa Honigstein and Mina Rzouki discuss all the latest in European football. Jean-Philippe Mateta has his first start for France at the age of 28 - but he's ruffled some feathers after calling out former teammate Wilfried Zaha. Nick Woltemade has now scored in his last 4 games for club and country - how big was this international break for him? Der Klassiker is this weekend - the only 2 unbeaten teams in Bundesliga face off but who will come out on top? Gennaro Gattuso has won his last four with Italy, and in Serie A, have AS Roma finally hit the jackpot with Gian Piero Gasperini? Plus Faroe Islands' Odmar Faero drops by with his country just a point away from the World Cup play-off spots - can they become the smallest nation to ever play at a World Cup? And what's the latest with Jude Bellingham after his omission from the England squad? How has that been received across the continent? And how important is Mikel Merino for Spain?01:05- Mateta and Zaha 09:50 - Woltemade 17:20 - Can Harry Kane win the Ballon d'Or? 24:05 - Italy 31:15- Roma 36:30 - Faroe Islands' Odmar Faero 47:15- Jude Bellingham

Scott McTominay left a struggling Man United to become Serie A's Most Valuable Player, win the Scudetto for Napoli and be nominated for the Ballon D'Or - all in one year. Was he this good all along? Is he finally getting the respect he always deserved? This episode of Football Daily, hosted by football writer and Copa 90 presenter Eugene Noble, goes right back to the start of Scott's incredible story and explores the making of McTominay: How he grew from the Man Utd academy, to being taken under José Mourinho's wing, to performing on the international stage. We speak to coaches and players who knew him at the academy, like Paul McGuinness and James Weir, as well as podcasters, pundits and fans like Jay Motty, Joe Fischetti and Umberto Bernardo, who have tracked his career from Old Trafford to the Neapolitan sun. We also hear from football journalists like Mina Rzouki about how Scott has transformed under Antonio Conte, as well as Scottish Legend and commentator Pat Nevin about how he is becoming a symbol for the nation in the blue shirt of Scotland. We even speak to Scotland head coach Steve Clarke about Scott's crucial role to the international team and a conversation that sparked Scott's career back into life. In 2026, McTominay is facing his biggest season yet: Napoli have a title to defend. They're back in the champions league. And Scotland have their world cup qualifier campaign already underway. So the question isn't just how Scott McTominay got here - it's how much higher can he go?

Scott McTominay left a struggling Manchester United to become Serie A's Most Valuable Player, win the Scudetto for Napoli and be nominated for the Ballon D'Or - all in one year. Was he this good all along? Is he finally getting the respect he always deserved?This episode of Football Daily, hosted by football writer and Copa 90 presenter Eugene Noble, goes right back to the start of Scott McTominay's incredible story and explores the making of McTominay: How he grew from the Man Utd academy, to being taken under the wing of José Mourinho and performing on the international stage.We speak to the likes of Paul McGuinness and James Weir, coaches and players who knew him at the academy, as well as podcasters, pundits and fans such as Jay Motty, Joe Fischetti and Umberto Bernardo, who have tracked his career from Old Trafford to the Neapolitan sun.We also hear from football journalist Mina Rzouki about how Scott has transformed under Antonio Conte, as well as Scottish Legend and commentator Pat Nevin about how he is becoming a symbol for the nation in the blue shirt of Scotland. We even speak to Scotland head coach Steve Clarke about Scott's crucial role to the international team and a conversation that sparked Scott's career back into life.In 2026, McTominay is facing his biggest season yet: Napoli have a title to defend. They're back in the Champions League. And Scotland have their World Cup qualifier campaign already underway. So, the question isn't just how Scott McTominay got here - it's how much higher can he go?

Alistair Bruce-Ball is joined by Julien Laurens, Guillem Ballague and Mina Rzouki to discuss how European sides have fared in World Cup qualifying. Can we consider Norway dark horses after their 11-1 thrashing of Moldova? Are there any weaknesses in European champions, Spain? Will Italy qualify for their first World Cup in three cycles? Steve Cooper is in his first job since being sacked by Leicester City, how will he make his mark on the Danish Superliga? And can Cremense ‘do a Leicester' with new signing Jamie Vardy? The team debate league matches being played abroad as the Spanish FA approve plans for Villareal v Barcelona to be played in Miami, USA. Plus, why are PSG and the French national team in disagreement? Time codes: 2'23 Steve Cooper joins Brondby 4'41 Are Norway World Cup dark horses? 11'25 Are Spain already World Cup favourites? 18'14 What's happening with Camp Nou? 21'20 Should domestic league matches be played abroad? 33'12 Derby d'Italia weekend 35'50 Age is just a number for Modric and Vardy 48'30 PSG/ French national team disagreement

Steve Crossman is joined by Julien Laurens, Guillem Balague and Mina Rzouki to reflect on the opening weekend of Serie A, as well as discussing Real Oviedo's long-awaited return to La Liga.Plus, is Trent in trouble at Madrid? And Olivier Giroud might not have ‘broken America', but he's still banging the goals in for Lille.Topics: 02:42 - Guillem's lunch with Getafe manager José Bordalás 05:26 - Champions League draw - Kairat Almaty - the Champions League's most easterly club 10:47 - FK Bodø/Glimt - the Champions League's most northerly club - with Norwegian football expert Mats Arntzen 19:30 - Serie A - Jamie Vardy on his way to Cremonese? 29:45 - La Liga - Trent on the bench at Real Madrid 33:35 - The return of Real Oviedo with fan Diego Crespo 43:08 - Lamine Yamal the new number 10 at Barcelona 46:05 - Olivier Giroud loving life at LilleBBC Sounds / 5 Live commentaries: Sat - 1500 - Premier League - Man Utd v Burnley Sat - 1500 - Premier League - Tottenham v Bournemouth Sat - 1730 - Premier League - Leeds v Newcastle Sun - 1200 - Scottish Premiership - Rangers v Celtic Sun - 1400 - Premier League - Brighton v Man City Sun - 1400 - Nottingham Forest v West Ham Sun - 1630 - Liverpool v Arsenal

Alistair Bruce-Ball is joined by Julien Laurens, Guillem Balagué and Mina Rzouki. They reflect on PSG winning their first Champions League. What next for Inter after Simone Inzaghi leaves? The panel have their say on the latest transfer moves. Could Crystal Palace's Europa League place be in jeopardy? And the gang give their moments, signings and players of the season.02:25 Champions League Final reflections 18:35 Is Luis Enrique destined for the Premier League? 26:05 Simone Inzaghi has already left Inter 31:55 Could Cesc Fabregas replace him? 36:05 Transfers – Reijnders, Cherki & Luis Díaz 41:00 Crystal Palace European place in jeopardy? 46:55 Moments, signings and players of the seasonBBC Sounds / 5 Live commentaries: Sat 1700 Andorra v England in World Cup Qualifying, Tue 1945 England v Senegal in Friendly.

Conor Mcnamara, Kristof Terreur, Mina Rzouki and Julien Laurens are back with the latest episode of Euro Leagues.The team look ahead to this weekend's Champions League final between PSG and Inter. Julien joins from Munich in his lucky PSG top. They explore where the game will be won and lost, in this battle of football cultures! Away from Europe's centre piece finale, they discuss Erik Ten Hag's return to management at Bayer Leverkusen and the size of the job that Xabi Alonso has on his hands at Real Madrid. There are also celebrations for Napoli and Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium. Timecodes: 02:08 - Champions League Preview 22:16 - Erik Ten Hag to Bayer Leverkusen 25:37 - Xabi Alonso's tough task at Real Madrid 28:26 - Napoli's title win & is Kevin De Bruyne heading to Naples? 32:41 - Union Saint-Gilloise win the Belgium Pro LeagueBBC Sounds / 5 Live commentaries: Fri 1945 England v Portugal in the UEFA Women's Nations League, Sat 2000 PSG v Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League Final.

Steve Crossman is joined by Mina Rzouki, Julien Laurens and Guillem Balague ahead of the end of the season. It's an exciting final round of fixtures in Italy with Napoli 1 point clear of Inter. Will Antonio Conte stay if Napoli win their second title in three years? How will Inter cope with balancing the Champions League final? Dutch journalist Marcel van der Kraan drops by to talk Ajax – whose nine point lead with seven games to go was overturned by PSV in one of the most sensational title capitulations ever seen in club football – leaving them without a trophy for the third successive season. They also talk about the emotional farewell – is it the new football fashion? And what's next for Luka Modric after the midfielder announced his departure from Real Madrid. Plus, could Sampdoria actually end up avoiding relegation? In France, there was an amazing escape for Le Havre, who came from behind twice to beat Strasbourg 3-2. And why do newly promoted teams in Europe fare better than in England?TIME CODES: 03:05 – All to play for in Italy 14:46 – Title capitulation for Ajax 26:45 – The emotional goodbye 40:43 – Le Havre's Great Escape 44:14 – Why do newly promoted teams fair better in Europe than in England? 48:48 – Sampdoria not relegated after all?COMMENTARIES: Saturday 24th May - 1500 - Scottish Cup Final: Aberdeen v Celtic - Sports Extra 3 Saturday 24th May - 1700 - Women's Champions League Final: Arsenal v Barcelona - BBC Radio 5live Sunday 25th May - 1600 - Premier League: Nottingham Forest v Chelsea - BBC Radio 5live

John Bennett is joined by Guillem Balague, Julien Laurens and Mina Rzouki. After another memorable week in the Champions League, the team unpick all the big talking points. Do Barcelona need to tweak their style of play? And with a Classico on Sunday, could their season quickly unravel after the defeat in Milan? The team discuss Yann Sommer and Francesco Acerbi after Inter Milan reached their second final in three years – and cast an early eye ahead to the final after PSG knocked out Arsenal. Julien reveals he is already turning into Father Christmas as requests for tickets come his way – but is starting to feel nervous about the big match in Munich. With Paris FC winning promotion to Ligue 1, Julien explains why it will be a friendly – and very, very local - derby when they play PSG next season, and Mina discusses the super tight race for a Champions League spot in Italy. TIMECODES….. 0 mins: Intro, with John Bennett back in the chair after the show had no presenter last week. 2 mins: The team discuss Inter v Barca – a Champions League classic. But did Barca mess it up? 8 mins: Could Barcelona's season start to unravel after their defeat in Italy? 12 mins: Inter's collective effort and the brilliance of keeper Yann Sommer. 16 mins: The great story of Inter goalscorer Francesco Acerbi. 22 mins: The brilliance of PSG – and why they deserve to be in the final – despite what Mikel Arteta said. 26 mins: The team look ahead to the final in Munich on 29 May. 31 mins: Paris FC – promotion to the top flight and a friendly derby. 35 min: The race for Champions League places in Serie A.Thursday 8th May EUROPA LEAGUE: Bodo Glimt v Spurs – LIVE ON 5 LIVE - Alistair Bruce-Ball and Paul Robinson. EUROPA LEAGUE: Manchester United v Athletic Club - LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA - Ian Dennis and Izzy Christiansen. Saturday 10th May WOMENS SUPER LEAGUE: Chelsea v Liverpool 1230 KO – LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA - Eilidh Barbour and Tanya Oxtoby PREMIER LEAGUE: Southampton v Manchester City 1500 KO - LIVE ON 5 LIVE - Ian Dennis and Rob Green. PREMIER LEAGUE: Bournemouth v Aston Villa 1730 KO - LIVE ON 5 LIVE - Alistair Bruce-Ball and Francis Benali. Sunday 11th May PREMIER LEAGUE: Nottingham Forest v Leicester 1415 KO - LIVE ON 5 LIVE - Vicki Sparks and Clinton Morrison. PREMIER LEAGUE: Manchester United v West Ham 1415 KO – LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA -Chris Coles and Michael Brown PREMIER LEAGUE: Spurs v Crystal Palace 1415 KO – LIVE ON BBC SPORT WEBSITE - Paul Scott and Daniel Gabbidon PREMIER LEAGUE: Liverpool v Arsenal 1630 KO - LIVE ON 5 LIVE - John Murray and Stephen Warnock.

Steve Crossman is joined by Guillem Balague, Mina Rzouki and Julien Laurens to talk the latest in European football.The team pay tribute to Pope Francis and his love of football. Are Inter Milan falling at the final hurdle of the season, and should title playoffs exist?The tributes continue as Marcel van der Kraan joins the pod to reflect on the life and career of Dutch footballer and coach, Leo Beenhakker.And finally, who are the other universally loved coaches of the modern game?02:07 Tribute to Pope Francis 10:31 Are Inter collapsing? 17:20 Should title playoffs exist? 26:00 Leo Beenhakker tribute 34:42 Ancelotti's future, & universally loved coachesBBC Sounds / 5 Live / Radio 5 Sports Extra weekend commentaries: Sat 1500 Newcastle v Ipswich in the Premier League, Sat 1715 Crystal Palace v Aston Villa in the FA Cup semis, Sun 1400 Bournemouth v Man Utd in the Premier League, Sun 1400 Chelsea v Barcelona in the Women's Champions League, Sun 1630 Liverpool v Tottenham in the Premier League, Sun 1630 Nottingham Forest v Man City in the FA Cup semis.

After Real Madrid's tame Champions League exit the Euro Leagues crew ask whether signing Trent Alexander-Arnold is really the priority to improve such an imbalanced squad needing greater defensive stability. What else needs addressing and who is/isn't in the frame to succeed Carlo Ancelotti.Also on the agenda for Guillem Balague, Mina Rzouki and Julien Laurens; Inter and Barcelona meeting in the UCL semis for the first time since 2010 when Jose's Inter went through at Camp Nou depite not having a shot in the second leg against Pep's Barca. What are we expecting this time around?There's a special guest on this week's pod in former Bayern technical director Marco Neppe who discusses his favourite signings from his time in Munich, how elite clubs operate, breaking the German transfer record for Harry Kane, and the recent discourse that elite level football has become boring.TIMECODES 05:07 – Real Madrid elimination 15:48 – Inter set up Barcelona semi and memories of Mourinho v Pep in 2010 22:59 - Marco Neppe on Bayern's exit and his career as the club's Technical Director, his favourite signings, the record deal for Harry Kane, and recent discourse that elite level football has become boring. 40:14 – PSG v ArsenalBBC Sounds / 5 Live commentaries this weekend: Sat 1200 *5 Sports Extra* WSL West Ham v Manchester United Sat 1230 Women's Champions League Arsenal v Lyon Sat 1500 Premier League Everton v Manchester City Sat 1730 Premier League Aston Villa v Newcastle Sun 1400 Premier League Ipswich v Arsenal Sun 1400 *5 Sports Extra* Premier League Manchester United v Wolves Sun 1400 *BBC Sport app & website* Premier League Fulham v Chelsea Sun 1630 Premier League Leicester v Liverpool

Who keeps four turtles in their fridge? And who is the two-metre Messi? John Bennett is joined by Julien Laurens, Rafa Honigstein and Mina Rzouki for some interesting chat about European football and so much more. The team discuss a novel approach to match coverage in French broadcasting. Have Germany unearthed a new number nine? Do Italy have an identity under Luciano Spaletti? And have France filled the gap left by the retirement of Antoine Griezmann? Plus – were Juventus right to sack Thiago Motta? And how furious are Bayern Munich after a serious injury suffered by Alphonso Davies playing for Canada. TIMECODES: 0 mins: Intro 1.06: The reaction in Germany to Thomas Tuchel's start as England manager 4.09: Live coverage of the 12th tier of French football 8.33: Germany's search for a number nine – featuring Tim Kleindienst (who keeps turtles) and Nick Woltemade (who is very tall). 16.24: Have the Italian team got an identity? 19.54: Why can Italy no longer produce world-class players? 22.20: Can Michael Olise fill the gap left by the retirement of Antoine Griezmann? 26.39: What role is there for Rayan Cherki in the France squad? 29: How big a blow for Bayern is the injury suffered by Alphonso Davies? 33.55: Were Juventus right to sack Thiago Motta? And what about Igor Tudor?Football commentaries this week: Thursday 27th March WOMENS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Chelsea v Manchester City 2000 KO - Jonathan Pearce and Gilly Flaherty.Saturday 29th March FA CUP: Fulham v Crystal Palace 1215 KO - Conor McNamara and Mark Schwarzer. SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP: Celtic v Hearts 1500 KO - Ian Dennis and Pat Nevin. FA CUP: Brighton v Nottingham Forest 1715 KO - Chris Wise. Sunday 30th March FA CUP: Preston North End v Aston Villa 1330 KO - John Murray and Leon Osman. WOMENS SUPER LEAGUE: Chelsea v West Ham 1630 KO - LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA