FIFA World Cup 2026

[ghazi52]

Silencing hotshot Haaland vital, says England’s O’Reilly​

AFP
July 11, 2026



KANSAS CITY: England’s Bukayo Saka (L) and Nico O’Reilly arrive to speak to media before a training session at the Swope Soccer Village.—AFP

KANSAS CITY: Keeping Erling Haaland quiet would be “huge” but the Norwegian juggernaut is not the only threat to England in their World Cup quarter-final, Manchester City team-mate Nico O’Reilly said on Thursday.

Haaland has been at his rampaging best at the 2026 tournament, scoring seven goals to fire his team into the quarter-finals for the first time.

There will be plenty of club connections across the pitch in Miami on Saturday, with Haaland likely coming up against O’Reilly and centre-back Marc Guehi.

Arsenal are also well represented, with Norway captain Martin Odegaard potentially facing Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka.

Thomas Tuchel’s men reached the last eight after a captivating backs-to-the-wall win against co-hosts Mexico, during which they were reduced to 10 men when defender Jarell Quansah was sent off.

 

[ghazi52]

Artificial turf & coaching revolution - how Norway shaped golden generation​

With their efforts at the World Cup, Norway look like a nation pulling in the same direction

Ciaran Varley
BBC Sport journalist

Norway - a country with a population almost the same size as Scotland - have become a football powerhouse at the World Cup and it's not just down to Erling Haaland.

The Manchester City striker, who has seven goals under his belt at the tournament, is the poster boy for the side along with Martin Odegaard, who captains both Arsenal and the national team.

However, they are not the only successful products of the Norwegian youth system. Of their 26-man World Cup squad, 17 play in Europe's top four leagues - the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A.

The majority were mentored in Norway's national youth football training system, the National Team School (NTS), which was established in 2013.

The comparison with Scotland is not favourable to the latter. While both countries are similar in size, there is a growing gulf in football terms.

 

[ghazi52]

How do England stop Norway - and Haaland?​

,
Erling Haaland has scored seven goals so far at the World Cup
Umir Irfan
Football tactics correspondent
10 July 2026

Norway may have been touted by many as this World Cup's dark horse, but their impressive progress still feels like they have exceeded expectations.

Since finishing second in Group I, above Senegal, they have knocked out Ivory Coast and Brazil, scoring 12 goals across five games.

Now they face England who are tasked with nullifying a strong Norway side spearheaded by star striker Erling Haaland.

So, what do Norway do best and what might England boss Thomas Tuchel look to tweak in order to see his side through to the final four of the World Cup?

The Haaland–Nyland dilemma​

Norway boast attacking variety with Stale Solbakken's men fluctuating between wanting to hold on to the ball and being able to attack quickly.

This is all downstream from their build-up play.

From goal-kicks, Orjan Nyland's distribution has been excellent. Norway's first instinct is to play short, often setting up with a wide back four and the keeper forming a fifth option, with two holding midfielders showing for the ball centrally.

With so many players deep, Norway often have an overload at the back making progressing up the pitch easier.

When short options are not viable, Nyland's get-out-of-jail-free card is 6ft 5in Alexander Sorloth who Norway play on the right wing as a wide targetman for long diagonal balls.

Long balls to Sorloth on the right wing is a common pattern to look out for when Norway play

This is something England left-back Nico O'Reilly will have to be alert to, but, given his 6ft 4in height and frame, this is a far more even match-up than Norway have experienced so far.

 

[SolarWarden]

Lets go England you have all these good players that play in Premier League, Real Madrid and Beyer Munich time to lift this curse!!!!

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Watandar]

Own a piece of the World Cup final pitch for only $450!!!

In other words American greed has thoroughly infected FIFA.

FIFA to sell off World Cup final turf for $445 a piece

FIFA will sell off pieces of the pitch from the World Cup final, with fans able to buy small parts of the grass turf for around $445. "Own a genuine piece of football history with an authentic 2026 FIFA World Cup™ Piece of the pitch, permanently preserved in a premium acrylic with a USB...

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Khorasan Black Flags]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Master Chief]

Own a piece of the World Cup final pitch for only $450!!!

In other words American greed has thoroughly infected FIFA.

FIFA to sell off World Cup final turf for $445 a piece

FIFA will sell off pieces of the pitch from the World Cup final, with fans able to buy small parts of the grass turf for around $445. "Own a genuine piece of football history with an authentic 2026 FIFA World Cup™ Piece of the pitch, permanently preserved in a premium acrylic with a USB...

sports.yahoo.com

FIFA was already greedy as f. In fact, some reports have said FIFA encouraged higher transportation and ticket prices themselves against the intentions of American hosts.

Have you seen the "FIFA supplement" on the official ticket resales website? They are a vile organisation that needs to be reigned in.

 

[Master Chief]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

I wouldn't mind an Eng - Arg semi final..

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

I wouldn't mind an Eng - Arg semi final..

View attachment 205726

LOL.......I was actually thinking along those very lines a couple hours ago. Messi putting a Golden Boot up Kane's backside and all that.

Viva las Malvinas!!!!

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

Own a piece of the World Cup final pitch for only $450!!!

In other words American greed has thoroughly infected FIFA.

FIFA to sell off World Cup final turf for $445 a piece

FIFA will sell off pieces of the pitch from the World Cup final, with fans able to buy small parts of the grass turf for around $445. "Own a genuine piece of football history with an authentic 2026 FIFA World Cup™ Piece of the pitch, permanently preserved in a premium acrylic with a USB...

sports.yahoo.com

Well hell, my man. You should jump right on that. That might be the very turf Jimmy Hoffa is under.

 

[Master Chief]

England fans have the best chants. PERIOD.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[ghazi52]

 

[ghazi52]

Team news - Two changes confirmed for England
​

Norway v England (22:00 BST)

As reported by Sami Mokbel, we have confirmation of two changes to the England line-up with John Stones and Noni Madueke both starting.

Ezri Konsa starts at right-back in place of the suspended Jarell Quansah, with Stones partnering Marc Guehi in central defence.

Madueke starts on the right, with Bukayo Saka dropping to the bench.

England XI:
Pickford, Konsa, Guehi, Stones, O'Reilly, Anderson, Rice, Madueke, Gordon, Bellingham, Kane

 

[ghazi52]

'We might actually be able to win this thing - Shearer
​

Norway v England (22:00 BST)

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC One

We might actually be able to win this thing.

From the fans to the players, that's what everyone must be thinking after England's epic win over Mexico - I know I am - when I genuinely didn't feel that was the case before the game.

There was hope, of course. There's always hope with England at a major tournament, but that performance has pushed us all further forward and given everyone, including me, confidence and belief too.

Before I went to the Azteca Stadium, and watched us deal with everything that was thrown at us, I didn't truly believe England could win this World Cup - but I've changed my mind, and I think everyone else has too.

I still don't know if we will win it but everything about the way we played against Mexico showed why we can.

In my experience as a fan, player or pundit, whenever England have done well at a tournament, there's always a performance like that from us somewhere that lifts everyone, the whole nation, and makes you think, 'wow, we can do this'.

I had it myself as a player at Euro '96 when we beat the Netherlands 4-1 at Wembley and felt unstoppable.

I was thinking, 'we can go all the way' and that's exactly how the England squad will be feeling now too, on the back of such an incredible result when everything was against them.

We fell agonisingly short in 1996 when we lost on penalties in the semi-finals but, 30 years on, there are plenty of reasons why this England side are capable of going at least one step further.

 

[ghazi52]

Soaring temperatures and high humidity
​

Norway v England (22:00 BST)

Matt Taylor
BBC Lead Weather Presenter

It's going to be a tough day for players and spectators alike in Miami, as heat and humidity levels soar. The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for the city from 11am to 7pm, which covers the match period.

Daytime temperatures will peak at a scorching 33C (91F), but the impact of high humidity levels means that it will feel much more like it is 43C (110F) out there.

Wet bulb temperatures are forecast to get to around 27C (81F), close to the 28C (82F) marker that could prompt discussions about the match being delayed or postponed.

Another potential for delays comes with the slight risk of storms in the area later too. By match time the risk stands at around 20-30%.