The Independent Football

• World Cup 2026 Group J guide: Favourites Argentina begin title defence as Jordan debut

  23-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Lionel Messi returns with a highly fancied Argentina squad while Algeria and Austria are set to battle for second spot

• Cristiano Ronaldo scores record-breaking World Cup goal

  23-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Ronaldo, 41, is the first player in World Cup history to score in six editions of the tournament

• Tottenham make headway in battle with Manchester United for key midfielder’s signature

  23-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Both Tottenham and Manchester United are keen on West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes

• Fifa weighs up keeping hydration breaks for future World Cups despite fan backlash

  23-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Hydration breaks have been loudly booed by fans at the World Cup

• Commentator stripped of World Cup credentials after furious on-air rant over controversial red card

  23-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron was sent off for covering his mouth while talking to an opponent during his side’s match with Turkey

• Paddy Power World Cup free bets: 50/1 on a goal to be scored in England v Ghana tonight

  23-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Claim the Paddy Power World Cup welcome offer on the England v Ghana match

• Gary O’Neil appointed Ipswich manager for Premier League return after Kieran McKenna’s exit

  23-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Gary O’Neil joins Ipswich following Kieran McKenna’s departure earlier this month

• Jeremy Doku confirms return to Belgium squad after celebrating birth of child

  23-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Doku and his wife welcomed their first child on Monday after the winger dashed to London from the World Cup

• Declan Rice dismisses fitness fears as he insists he’s ‘conditioned and built’ for World Cup challenge

  23-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Declan Rice was replaced during England’s opening World Cup game after experiencing some physical discomfort

• Gennaro Gattuso takes new role after fronting Italy’s World Cup disaster

  23-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Gattuso failed to guide Italy to this summer’s World Cup and was sacked after the country’s play-off failure

• Man United pull youth team out of two competitions ahead of return to Europe next season

  23-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Manchester United have taken the decision ahead of the 2026-27 season, which gets underway in August

• Portugal vs Uzbekistan LIVE: Cristiano Ronaldo under fire as World Cup campaign continues

  23-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Portugal are bidding to bounce back from a draw with DR Congo that saw Ronaldo come in for criticism