Greetings! While the immediate focus might shift to upcoming competitions like the Club World Cup and Gold Cup, football teams worldwide remain active, gearing up for these events and, crucially, the highly anticipated 2026 World Cup, which is precisely one year away as of today. Here’s an update on recent developments.
One Year Countdown to the World Cup
Today officially marks the one-year milestone until the 2026 World Cup kicks off, coinciding with the conclusion of the latest international break for most national teams. The impending World Cup was a primary consideration for many, regardless of whether they were involved in qualifiers or friendlies, and the past week’s fixtures served as an assessment point as preliminary plans take shape. The host nations – the United States, Mexico, and Canada – will continue their preparations via the Gold Cup, but they appear to be at different junctures on their path to the World Cup. While both Mexico and Canada secured at least one victory in their recent pre-Gold Cup matches, the U.S. men`s national team heads into the tournament following four consecutive defeats, capped by a significant 4-0 loss to Switzerland. This losing streak is noteworthy, and not in a positive sense, as analyst Chuck Booth points out.
- Booth highlights: “This is the first time the USMNT has experienced four straight losses since 2007, and they are now winless in seven consecutive matches against European opponents. Although regular starters like Christian Pulisic were absent for rest or club commitments related to the Club World Cup, losing by such a margin was still unexpected for the squad. They have consistently struggled when facing top European sides, and despite a change in head coach, the results against these opponents have remained unfavorable. Questions regarding the depth and quality of the player pool need to be addressed.”
Elsewhere, a new group of potential favorites is gradually emerging. Spain and France are currently rated by bookmakers as the joint top contenders to lift the trophy next year. Both squads boast players who are excelling at club level and have successfully transitioned that form to the international stage. Spain, the current European champions, are likely to feature teenager Lamine Yamal prominently as they target their first World Cup title since 2010, while France can rely on talents like Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, who were part of their 2018 winning squad.
To date, 13 teams have secured their place, including the three host nations. Among the qualifiers, the most high-profile is the reigning champion, Argentina. Lionel Scaloni’s squad has performed almost flawlessly since claiming their third World Cup title in 2022, succeeding even with Lionel Messi’s frequent absences over the past couple of years. Additionally, two teams from Asia, Uzbekistan and Jordan, have already qualified for what will be their first-ever World Cup appearances.
With a year still to go, numerous intriguing questions remain, chief among them how several prominent club managers will adapt to the unique demands of leading national teams. Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann gained experience at last year’s Euros, and USMNT’s Pochettino will be joined by figures such as Brazil’s Carlo Ancelotti and England’s Thomas Tuchel. These highly regarded managers are tasked with making a strong statement next year. The early results for this group are mixed – Brazil finally earned their first win under Ancelotti and have qualified after a shaky start, while England is coming off an unconvincing victory against Andorra and a defeat to Senegal.
Mini Transfer Window Concludes
While the countdown to the 2026 World Cup progresses, final preparations are underway for the debut of the expanded Club World Cup, which commences this Saturday. For some teams participating in the Club World Cup, this involved acquiring players at the last minute during a brief transfer window specially created by FIFA to accommodate them before the tournament.
Manchester City was notably active during the final days of this condensed transfer period, signing Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Rayan Cherki from Lyon. City reportedly invested nearly $50 million in transfer fees for each player, demonstrating their financial power for the second consecutive transfer window. Both players provide manager Pep Guardiola with additional options, but Cherki appears to be a particularly suitable addition. James Benge offered his perspective on the French international`s move to City:
- Benge`s take: “It’s impossible to truly replace the creative influence of Kevin De Bruyne, but in terms of direct contributions, Cherki is one of the closest players available. His average of 0.48 assists per 90 minutes last season ranked him fourth across Europe’s top five leagues, and his expected assists figure of 0.52 was significantly ahead of others. Cherki is highly effective at advancing the ball, skillfully moving play into the penalty area and creating scoring opportunities for his teammates… His exact placement within the City starting lineup might be less important given his inherent talent allows him to improve the team in various positions. This acquisition has the potential to be truly exceptional.”
Meanwhile, the Club World Cup will feature two players with the last name Bellingham this summer, as Jobe completed a move to Borussia Dortmund, the former club of his brother Jude. Sunderland could potentially receive a transfer fee reaching $43.4 million for the younger Bellingham’s services, which would make him Dortmund’s most expensive signing. How quickly he will establish himself in the Dortmund squad remains to be seen, but the Bellingham brothers might be looking forward to a potential quarterfinal encounter in the Club World Cup between the German side and Jude’s current team, Real Madrid.
Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal also made a significant impact in the transfer window after much discussion, bringing in N’Golo Kante on a short-term loan from Al-Ittihad. Aside from appointing manager Simone Inzaghi last week, this was Al-Hilal’s only major high-profile acquisition for the Club World Cup, despite their efforts, which included a widely reported transfer saga involving Cristiano Ronaldo that did not materialize.
Recent Football Headlines
- Al-Hilal`s Transfer Activity: Al-Hilal had ambitious transfer targets but struggled to finalize all the major signings they had hoped for before the Club World Cup commenced.
- Italy`s Search for a Head Coach: Genaro Gattuso is reportedly leading the candidates to take over from Luciano Spaletti as Italy`s national team coach, but is Jose Mourinho perhaps the more suitable person for the job?
- Frank Linked to Tottenham: As Thomas Frank is reportedly nearing a move from Brentford to Tottenham Hotspur, here is an analysis of why he is considered a good match for Spurs following the tenure of Ange Postecoglou.
- NWSL Team of the Week Highlights: Gift Monday and Michelle Copper were among the standout performers named in the NWSL team of the week, while Savy King was selected as captain as she continues her recovery process after heart surgery.
Betting Insights
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FIFA World Cup: Tournament Winner
THE PICK: Spain to win the World Cup (+550) – Despite their recent defeat in the UEFA Nations League final, Spain could still be the team best prepared to win the World Cup in a year`s time. They are currently listed as joint favorites alongside France. Spain has re-emerged as a global contender following their victory at last year`s European Championships, boasting a new generation of top-tier talent that positions them as a key team to watch. Leading their challenge is Lamine Yamal, already among the world`s best at just 17 years old. Players like Pedri and new Real Madrid signing Dean Huijsen contribute to the squad`s blend of youth and experience. With established players such as Champions League winner Fabian Ruiz and the incoming Arsenal signing Martín Zubimendi also in the mix, it`s difficult to argue against Spain being a strong contender – and this assessment is based purely on their lineup from the Nations League final.
Where to Watch Football
On CBS Sports Golazo Network
- Morning Footy (Weekdays 8-10 a.m. ET): Start your day with the network`s primary morning program, featuring highlights, interviews, and major news from the world of soccer. Morning Footy is also available in podcast format.
- Morning Footy (10 a.m. ET): A special broadcast of the network`s main morning show, offering highlights, interviews, and key soccer storylines, serving as pre-game coverage for featured matches. This show is also accessible as a podcast.
- Champions League Today (1 p.m. ET): Kate Scott hosts studio coverage before the match, joined by analysts Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher, and Micah Richards. Coverage from Allianz Arena in Munich begins at 1 p.m. ET, with match coverage starting at 1:30 p.m. ET.
- The Champions Club (5:30 p.m. ET): Join Poppy Miller, Mike Grella, Nigel Reo-Coker, Tony Meola, and Jimmy Conrad for live post-match reactions and analysis breaking down all the key moments from the Champions League final.
- Scoreline (7 p.m. ET): Scoreline is the destination for catching up on the latest news and results in global football, including match highlights from top competitions and all the must-see goals from the day`s games, airing nightly.
- How to watch: CBS Sports Golazo Network is a free, always-on channel dedicated to providing extensive coverage of top soccer competitions globally. You can stream it for free.
