World Cup 2026: Germany hold Klopp talks after Nagelsmann quits; Portugal to face Spain after VAR drama – live
Klopp ‘fundamentally willing’ to take over as Germany coach
Jürgen Klopp to take over from Nagelsmann? It appears the wheels are in motion. Here’s the latest from AFP:
Klopp has told the German FA (DFB) he is “fundamentally willing” to take over as Germany coach after Nagelsmann handed in his resignation, the DFB confirmed on Friday. Nagelsmann, who had a contract until 2028, stepped down from the job on Friday, just four days after Germany’s disappointing last-32 exit to Paraguay.
In a statement, the DFB said discussions would begin with Klopp, the former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager, while thanking Nagelsmann for his almost three-year stint.
Klopp, who led Liverpool to Champions League and Premier League honours, is currently under contract as Red Bull’s head of global football, but Sky Germany reports he has a verbal agreement which would allow him to leave to take up the Germany job.
Nagelsmann’s resignation comes a day after the 38-year-old was called into a three-hour meeting at DFB headquarters in Frankfurt to discuss his future. German tabloid Bild reported the coach was offered a severance package of seven million euros ($8 million), roughly one year’s salary, to cut short his contract which was set to expire in 2028.
Key events
More news out of Germany, but this time it is transfer news. Bayern Munich on Friday announced defender Nathaniel Brown, who featured three times at the World Cup for Die Mannschaft, has joined the club from Eintracht Frankfurt on a deal running until 2031.
AFP quotes Brown saying of the move “I’ve always dreamed of playing for the biggest titles at the highest level; I set myself the highest goals and want to get the maximum out of myself every day.”
Police criticise decision to let pubs stay open until 5am for England match
Sammy Gecsoyler
Police leaders have criticised Downing Street’s decision to let pubs stay open until 5am on Monday for England’s World Cup match against Mexico, saying it will take officers “away from communities”.
Mark Roberts, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for football policing, and Scott Green, the organisation’s lead for alcohol licensing, said the “late announcement” meant forces would have to adapt plans and would leave officers working extended hours.
Greene King said more than 600 of its pubs across England would be staying open to show the match and Marston’s said more than 400 of its venues would be open until late.
In a joint statement, the police chiefs said: “We recognise there will be significant public interest in England’s match on Monday morning and that many of the public will want to come together in pubs and licensed venues to enjoy the occasion. We also know from previous tournaments the knockout games sadly see an increase in violent incidents particularly in the night-time economy and an increase in domestic abuse. This is directly linked to alcohol consumption.
“The likely route for England progression has been known for a considerable time yet this late announcement leaves policing having to adapt our plans, seeing officers working extended shifts which in turn takes them away from communities.”
Keir Starmer announced on Thursday that pubs across England and Wales would be able to stay open late for the match, which kicks off at 1am on Monday and is due to run until at least 3am.
The revolving door at the DFB in Frankfurt must be in an awful spin this morning as sporting director Andreas Rettig is also on the way out, AP reports.
The 63-year-old took over in September 2023 the position vacated by Oliver Bierhoff after Germany’s previous World Cup disappointment in 2022. Rettig was charged with overseeing all of Germany’s national sides, including the women’s teams, and their academies.
The DFB said Friday he will not be extending his contract “for personal reasons.”
Kane: ‘I feel as good as I’ve ever felt’ going into Mexico contest
England’s talismatic captain Harry Kane has been speaking to the Lion’s Den podcast, and PA have picked up the quotes. The former Leyton Orient loanee* said:
This season for me, 72 goals so far and hopefully a few more to go, is I think almost 20 more than I’ve ever reached in my career to date and I’ve had some pretty good seasons up until now.
I’ve had some good moments but in terms of how I feel right now, I think just from an overall package, I feel as good as I’ve ever felt going onto the pitch. No matter the situation, no matter what kind of chance I get, I feel like I can score goals. I just think there’s a mixture of everything coming together at the right time.
Going into major tournaments you need to have a little bit of luck to go your way, to physically be in the shape that you want to be and it’s not always easy when you come off the back of tough seasons and stuff. This year has been pleasing from that point of view. For me it’s just about the next one. I’m in a good space. I just want the next game to be there and it’s kind of a good thing the games are coming thick and fast now.
Kane’s 86th-minute strike against DR Congo took him to 72 goals for club and country in the 2025/26 campaign, a total which is second only to Lionel Messi’s 82-goal season in 2011/12.
[*18 appearances and 5 goals in 2011 for Leyton Orient]
Some great pictures out of Algiers where last night crowds gathered to watch Algeria’s World Cup exit at the hands of Switzerland.
They didn’t have those fire-flares at the actual ground, although World Cup security obviously slipped up and let someone in with a smoke-bomb in Vancouver itself.
Judging from his social media profile, Lars Sivertsen has a vastly superior beard to mine. He also knows a lot more about Norway and its football than I do, which makes it lucky for you that he got picked to write about their forthcoming clash with Brazil, and not me. You can read that here, where he argues Ståle Solbakken’s side have surpassed Norway’s previous golden generation as they prepare to meet a team they beat in 1998 …
Martin Belam
Good afternoon/morning/evening and so on. Maybe someone with more time on their hands can work out whether this current run of tournaments is the greatest eclipse of Germany World Cup performances by England in my lifetime – a 4th place, a quarter-final and at minimum round of 16 for England while Germany have failed to get out of the group or fallen at the first hurdle. Let’s just not mention how many times they’ve won it this century, 4-1 in Bloemfontein, or any other unhelpful stat like that to ruin my premise.
Meantime my colleague Sid Lowe has written about Lamine Yamal, who is 36 years younger than me, and will probably still be representing Spain at World Cups long after I’m too old to live blog them …
That’s my Germany-heavy one hour stint on the blog completed. Time now to hand you over to Martin Belam.
Here’s Jacob Steinberg’s latest England piece from Kansas City. The Three Lions will have to box clever against Mexico.
The answer is Tuchel using the tactic that has so often disrupted his England: stifle Mexico with the dreaded low block. The worst way to approach this game would be allowing it to become chaotic. England cannot give Mexico space to run in behind. Mexico have pace on the flanks and would love to play against a high line.
Here’s the official story on Jürgen Klopp being lined up as the next Germany boss following Julian Nagelsmann’s departure.
Some parting words from Julian Nagelsmann after he left his role as Germany coach.
The decision was anything but easy for me. My top priority has always been the success of the team. After such a bitter disappointment, it deserves the chance of a new beginning.
Nagelsmann also apologised to Germany’s fans for the early exit.
I am sorry and hurt from the bottom of my heart that we disappointed you and couldn’t give you any more football nights at this World Cup.
Klopp ‘fundamentally willing’ to take over as Germany coach
Jürgen Klopp to take over from Nagelsmann? It appears the wheels are in motion. Here’s the latest from AFP:
Klopp has told the German FA (DFB) he is “fundamentally willing” to take over as Germany coach after Nagelsmann handed in his resignation, the DFB confirmed on Friday. Nagelsmann, who had a contract until 2028, stepped down from the job on Friday, just four days after Germany’s disappointing last-32 exit to Paraguay.
In a statement, the DFB said discussions would begin with Klopp, the former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager, while thanking Nagelsmann for his almost three-year stint.
Klopp, who led Liverpool to Champions League and Premier League honours, is currently under contract as Red Bull’s head of global football, but Sky Germany reports he has a verbal agreement which would allow him to leave to take up the Germany job.
Nagelsmann’s resignation comes a day after the 38-year-old was called into a three-hour meeting at DFB headquarters in Frankfurt to discuss his future. German tabloid Bild reported the coach was offered a severance package of seven million euros ($8 million), roughly one year’s salary, to cut short his contract which was set to expire in 2028.
This is Germany’s World Cup record since they lifted the trophy in Brazil 12 years ago. Es liest sich deprimierend (it reads depressingly).
2018 – Group stage exit
2022 – Group stage exit
2026 – Last 32 exit
Add in a round of 16 elimination at the 2020 Euros and getting knocked out in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Euros and it’s a far cry from the teams that once dominated the European and world stage.
The official line appears to be that Nagelsmann was asked to step down and agreed to go after talks with senior German officials. This is the statement from DFB President Bernd Neuendorf:
The German Football Association expressly thanks Julian Nagelsmann for his work since September 2023. He is characterised by a high level of commitment and extraordinary ambition. Julian Nagelsmann is also an extremely responsible and sincere person whom we all value.
Nagelsmann: Clearly the talks didn’t go too well and there was a change of heart. This was the now ex-Germany boss talking on the official DFB.de website a few days ago:
Will you consider your own position?
Nagelsmann: “I’m not someone who runs away. I’m ready to carry on if the association wants that. Even if there maybe wouldn’t be that many people pleased to see me continue. If that isn’t what they want, they have to tell me. But the three men involved (Bernd Neuendorf, Rudi Völler and Andreas Rettig) have character and won’t make a snap decision in passing. Everyone knows how I work as a coach and what I stand for. I know how football works. We’ve been producing tournaments like this for some time now. There are a few things that need to change fundamentally.”
Nagelsmann resigns as Germany boss
Julian Nagelsmann has resigned as Germany head coach following their disappointing World Cup campaign.
The four-time world champions suffered a shock defeat on penalties to Paraguay following a 1-1 draw in the last 32 which sent them crashing out of the tournament.
Former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp has been closely linked with the job since Die Mannschaft’s exit and is “fundamentally willing” to take over as coach, the DFB confirmed on Friday. Klopp has been working as a pundit at the World Cup.
Said DFB president Bernd Neuendorf:
The German Football Association expressly thanks Julian Nagelsmann for his work since September 2023. He is characterised by a high level of commitment and extraordinary ambition. Julian Nagelsmann is also an extremely responsible and sincere person whom we all value.”
Thanks John. Just reading various articles about altitude and also how to sleep when fireworks, loudspeakers, horns, revving motorbikes and Mexican thrash metal bands are cranked up to 11 outside your hotel room.
And with that, I shall hand over to David Tindall. Back later.
The Belgium coach, Rudi Garcia, has denied he was criticising African football when describing “those teams” who lose their tactical shape following his side’s improbable comeback victory over Senegal.
Garcia was flash-interviewed on television. He said: “We know those teams, they lose their tactical structure toward the end of the match. We also knew that at 2-0 (up) they would do everything to protect their goal, which in my opinion is a grave mistake. Remind me when we’re leading 2-0 not to do that.”
The 62-year-old Frenchman posted a message on Instagram stories on Thursday night to clarify his words and said they were in no way a criticism of African teams. “When I spoke of ‘those teams,’ I was referring to teams unaccustomed to managing a lead in high-level World Cup matches. My comments were by no means aimed at African teams.
“They could just as easily have applied to Asian, South American or European teams unfamiliar with that kind of pressure. As a less experienced coach myself, I learned the hard way that stopping play to defend a result at all costs is counterproductive.”
The theme of the weekend in England? Altitude. Or more properly, attitudes to altitude.
Have England gone too early into altitude? Or too late? The debate is raging on, and will not have its answer, if at all, until 3am – or later – on Monday morning. Excuses in early?
“The recommendation is you either go 10 days before – which is too long for us – or last minute, which is not allowed [by Fifa],” the head coach said. “We have spoken to teams who do it and they say they travel very, very late on matchday if they cannot have time to adapt. [We must] find a mixture in between. It will stay as a disadvantage.”
Good to see England returning to what worked best.
Thomas Tuchel’s side attempted 35 crosses in open play against the DRC. Not since 1966 had they delivered as many in one match at a World Cup. Seven of their top-10 examples occurred under Alf Ramsey, with other instances in 1982 and 1998. It was a real throwback performance for cross volume.
Here’s the pod squad with some “snicko” reflections.
Fifa says tech confirms Croatia ‘goal’ could not stand
Fifa has confirmed that Croatia’s late “equaliser” against Portugal was correctly ruled out for offside due to technology housed inside the World Cup ball.
Ivan Perisic sent a ball into the box, which bounced off Renato Veiga and into the path of Mario Pasalic and his touch teed it up for Gvardiol who slid home. The goal stood on the field, and it appeared from TV replays that Croatia’s Igor Matanovic missed his header as he attempted to flick it on, which would have meant Pasalic was onside before setting up Gvardiol.
However, referee Espen Eskas was sent to the VAR monitor and Fifa’s technology inside the Adidas Trionda ball – similar to ‘Snicko’ – showed that Matanovic did get a slight touch which meant Pasalic was offside in the build-up.
When the ball was next to Matanovic, replays showed a graphic with a slight spike which suggests that he did touch it, ultimately putting an end to Croatia’s World Cup hopes and sending Portugal through to the last 16.
Three years after shocking the football world with a move to Major League Soccer, Messi’s status as a Miami everyman (at least as much as he can be) and his deity-like reputation for his country will collide on Friday night when Argentina faces Cape Verde at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. The match will be a homecoming for Messi, who arrived in the image-obsessed city in 2023 as just another megacelebrity and has since been welcomed wholeheartedly as something approaching a native son – undoubtedly the most at home he’s felt since his days in Barcelona.
Real Madrid DO NOT want to sign Enzo Fernandez
Comunicado Oficial:
In light of reports and statements that have appeared in recent days regarding alleged interest from Real Madrid C.F. in the player Enzo Fernández, the club wishes to state that it has not undertaken any action—whether direct or indirect—aimed at signing the aforementioned player, nor does it have any intention of pursuing such a move.
Real Madrid wishes to express its utmost respect for Enzo Fernández—a great footballer whose career and quality are widely recognized—as well as for Chelsea FC, a club with which it maintains an excellent institutional relationship. Precisely because of the respect due to an organization like Chelsea FC, and in adherence to the principles of institutional loyalty that have always guided Real Madrid’s conduct, the club deems it necessary to categorically refute these speculations, which are baseless and do not reflect reality.
Real Madrid regrets that, despite the clear facts and the absence of any action on the club’s part, reports continue to circulate that do not correspond to reality; such reports serve only to create confusion among fans and unnecessarily harm the organizations and individuals involved.
I’d love to compare Macclesfield to the European champions.
Spain looked ominous in beating Austria.
I think it helped that Austria showed less ambition than they did in Gijon 1982. Why bother even entering of the summit of ambition is abject surrender to the first decent side? Compare Macclesfield v the European champions.
See if you can beat my score of 14/15 here. It’s almost as if we have to keep up with sports news on the desk at the Guardian.
Georgia Stanway is back in the WSL, and has joined Arsenal.
Stanway left Bayern Munich at the end of the season and spent four years with the Frauen-Bundesliga side, winning eight trophies and featuring 128 times. She began her career with Blackburn before joining Manchester City in summer 2015, where she made 186 appearances and scored 67 goals in seven seasons, lifting one Women’s Super League title, three FA Cups and three League Cups.
Napoli appoint Allegri as coach
Napoli have officially hired Massimiliano Allegri as coach.
Antonio Conte confirmed he was leaving Napoli at the end of May. Milan fired Allegri following “an unequivocal failure” of a season, as their RedBird Capital Partners ownership labelled it. Allegri has signed a three-year contract at Napoli. Conte is expected to return to the Italy role he departed after Euro 2016.
This is what the World Cup can achieve, and is one argument for an expanded competition.
Ninety minutes of tension were followed by a night of ecstasy that lasted long past the 8am close of the festival as Cape Verdeans celebrated the nation’s 0-0 draw that saw them reach the knockouts of the World Cup. Now they face Argentina in Miami on Friday.
Riyad Mahrez has retired from international football following Algeria’s exit.
“There were good times and difficult times as well, of course. That’s part of a career,” he said, “But representing Algeria has been a dream of mine ever since I was young, to play for my country. It’s been an immense honor and a great source of pride. It is the new generation’s turn to play.”
For the first time in the history of the tournament four goals were disallowed in the same game, with Croatia seeing three separate efforts chalked off, while Ronaldo also had a goal overturned. The final incident came in the very last seconds when Josko Gvardiol thought he had equalised in the 103rd minute of the match, only to be called offside. A snick-o-meter had detected the slightest of contacts between the ball and a teammate’s head as it crossed the box.
Nagelsmann to resign from Germany role, per Bild
Julian Nagelsmann is set to resign as Germany coach, according to reports in the newspaper, Bild.
It was reported on Friday the 38-year-old had agreed to leave following talks with senior German soccer officials, a three-hour “secret summit” on Thursday at the German Football Association (DFB) headquarters in Frankfurt.
That pundit was Ange Postecoglou, and now, Asia’s No 1 team need him to not just talk the talk but walk the nation to the top level of the global game. The federation in Tokyo should do all they can to get his signature on a lengthy contract as he is going to be in demand this summer.
Some fine 1994 memories from Republic of Ireland’s adventures in Orlando.
The first game of Friday sees the Socceroos take on Egypt.
Australia coach Tony Popovic said his team will be prepared whether Salah is on the pitch or not.
“We have prepared for Salah playing, we’ve seen when he’s not on the pitch the players in those positions where he may play,” he said. “So we’ve prepared for both scenarios and we’ll see tomorrow.”
The other co-hosts, the daddy hosts, are falling in love with soccer, and their national team.
The game had an average of 24.429 million viewers on Fox, making it the most-watched English-language soccer broadcast in US history, the broadcaster said. The Fox telecast peaked at 31.883 million. Telemundo, which holds the Spanish language rights to World Cup broadcasts in the US, reported 9.1 million viewers over the total game window.
A weekend of buildup for Mexico v England, and Nick Ames is in Mexico City.
Nobody needs an excuse to pump Sunday’s occasion up. With the final whistle nearing in England’s win over the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the local television commentator reeled off the names of England’s players one by one. In a manner redolent of the Norwegian broadcaster Bjørge Lillelien, whose “Can you hear me Maggie Thatcher?” oration in 1981 is etched into folklore, the Mexican equivalent welcomed Harry Kane and company to the bubbling cauldron that awaits.
Spain looked ominous in beating Austria.
The group stage is something you have to do but the World Cup starts here, Lamine Yamal had insisted, and down on the Pacific that was how it played out. It wasn’t just that Spain defeated Austria to reach the last 16 against Portugal or Croatia, their first victory at the knockout stage since they were champions in 2010; it was that on an enjoyable sunny afternoon they were Spain again. Two goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and another from Pedro Porro completed a 3-0 win that was as recognisably theirs as their coach had requested beforehand. “Almost perfect,” Luis de la Fuente called it afterwards.
The World Cup is a place to unearth stars, and the Swiss may just have one.
No wonder Newcastle United are working overtime to wrap up a deal for Johan Manzambi. The secret, if there was such a thing, is well and truly out when it comes to the 20-year-old Freiburg forward who destroyed the Algeria defence to tee up Breel Embolo for Switzerland’s opener in an ominously comfortable victory to reach the last 16.
What a game last night in Toronto. Farewell, Luka Modric. The Ronaldo show rolls on.
Ronaldo hung away from the melée until the penalty was confirmed, then began his march to the spot. He framed himself around the ball, he performed all the necessary rituals, he stepped up, sat Livaković down and converted. He ran to the corner as the ground exploded, performed his trademark celebration and the crowd ‘siuuuuued’ back to him.
Preamble
Good morning, football. Good afternoon and evening, too, wherever you are. Another day, another dollar, after a big overnight for the European teams. The last 32 continues its week of residency and the number of teams is dwindling as others’ hopes rise.
Join us for a day of news, previews and buildup.
