‘It leaves a bad taste in my mouth’: Columbus embraces NWSL while questioning the cost

A $205m expansion team is a sign of the league’s rapid growth, but conflicts over funding and facilities show the tensions of public-private partnerships in sports

Ticket pain and Trump anger, but still room for ‘magic’: how readers feel about the World Cup

With the World Cup nearly upon us, Guardian readers share their mixed emotions – enthusiasm, hope, unease, anger, optimism – around this summer’s tournament

US show the fight Pochettino wanted – just in time for the World Cup

The defeat hurt, but the Americans’ response to an early German goal provided perhaps the clearest evidence yet that their manager’s message is taking root

‘Football saved me’: Street Soccer coordinator Sarah Rhind on life after heroin addiction

Sarah Rhind tells Suzanne Wrack how football was her focus as she recovered and how it helped her create ‘beautiful friendships’

Luis de la Fuente: ‘The appreciation for Spanish coaches should have happened ages ago’

Spain manager on the values behind the nation’s coaching culture, the joy of teaching and Lamine Yamal’s otherworldly talents

North America’s wide and wild World Cup will be an experience like no other

Teams must be prepared for challenging travel and a cauldron of heat but will also encounter fantastic fans and a beautiful football culture

‘We looked quite good for 20 minutes’: Tony Popovic content after Socceroos draw with Switzerland

Australia coach praises competitiveness in final friendly as Irankunda and Metcalfe impress ahead of 14 June World Cup opener

Thomas Tuchel criticises England’s ‘freestyle’ approach in win over New Zealand

England’s first-half positioning in the 1-0 victory displeased Thomas Tuchel but he was pleased with Jude Bellingham’s impact as a substitute

Iraq World Cup 2026 team guide

Graham Arnold’s team have overcome adversity on and off the pitch, but may benefit from the pressure being off them in a tough group

Adams at the double as Scotland thrash Bolivia in perfect World Cup warm-up

Scotland beat Bolivia 4-0 thanks to goals from Lawrence Shankland, Scott McTominay and Ché Adams

England 1-0 New Zealand: five talking points from the World Cup warm-up

Jude Bellingham will have been happy to take the armband, Nico O’Reilly is a midfield option but John Stones looks a weak link

Iran World Cup team travels to Mexico with US visas reportedly denied for several staff

The US State Department says ‘necessary’ visas have been issued to the Iranian team, with players and coaching staff reportedly among them

England 1-0 New Zealand: World Cup 2026 warm-up – as it happened

Minute-by-minute report: Harry Kane scored the only goal as England unspectacularly dispatched the All Whites in Tampa. Scott Murray was watching

Bolivia 0-4 Scotland: World Cup 2026 warm-up – as it happened

Steve Clarke’s men ran in four first-half goals in their final match before they play Haiti in their opener

Kane heads England to narrow World Cup warm-up win against New Zealand

Harry Kane scored in the second minute of first-half injury time to give England, who made 11 substitutions at the break, a 1-0 victory over New Zealand