World Cup 2026 live: England given Bukayo Saka injury worry ahead of final friendly – UK Times

England conclude their preparations for the World Cup with a friendly against Costa Rica tonight – but Thomas Tuchel has revealed he has concerns over the fitness of Bukayo Saka after the Arsenal winger played through the pain for his club this season. Michael Jones has the details:

Andy Robertson has pledged to carry Diogo Jota in his heart at the World Cup after receiving a moving letter from his former teammate’s widow.

Robertson said he “couldn’t get my mate Diogo Jota out of my head” after helping seal a first World Cup appearance for Scotland back in November, revealing how much both had talked about going to a World Cup before his tragic death last July.

In a letter to Robertson published by Fifa, Rute Cardoso, the mother of Jota’s three children, said: “Diogo often spoke of you. Of the friendship you built, the battles you fought together, the challenges, the laughter, the conversations about football… and about dreams.

“The World Cup was one of those dreams, a dream that the two of you nurtured, side by side, with the same passion with which you took to the pitch.

“When I heard your words and learnt what you felt on that day when Scotland qualified for the World Cup, after so many years of waiting, I realised that Diogo never truly left the pitch.

“By achieving that moment and securing your place at the World Cup, you won’t be going alone.

“You’ll be taking his dream with you too. And when you step on to the pitch, I know it won’t just be you walking out. Diogo will be with you in your thoughts, in your steps, in your heart.

“So today, I want to thank you. Thank you for not forgetting him. Thank you for taking him with you. Thank you for turning the pain of loss into strength and into something so beautiful.

England captain Harry Kane and several teammates swapped the football pitch for the golf course last week, enjoying a round with five-time major winner Brooks Koepka during their World Cup training camp in Florida.

At least nine adults were taken to nearby hospitals after police responded to reports of shots fired on 79th Street and Troost Avenue around 4 a.m. Saturday, police said. The intersection is roughly 4.6 miles from England’s base camp in Swope Soccer Village.

England’s national football team will use a new high-carbohydrate liquid pouch this summer, designed to help cope with the World Cup rigours this summer.

The Football Association has meticulously prepared for the tournament’s unique stresses, including travel, time zones, heat, and humidity in North America.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino is the subject of a criminal complaint from his former boss at Uefa, Michel Platini, just days before the World Cup kicks off.

Former Uefa president Platini, one of the most gifted footballers of the 1970s and 1980s, had been favourite to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA chief in 2016 until the launch of an ethics probe into a payment he received from Blatter in 2011.

Platini was banned for eight years by Fifa’s ethics committee in 2015 – a sanction which was later reduced to four years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Platini and Blatter also faced criminal proceedings regarding the payment, but both were acquitted by the Swiss federal criminal court in 2022 and then by the appeals court in 2025.

Now Platini has launched criminal and civil proceedings in the French courts over the matter, with Infantino one of the individuals named.

The criminal complaint, as confirmed by his lawyer Olivier Baratelli, alleges that Infantino and others “worked to exclude (Platini) from the race for the presidency of Fifa”. The complaint alleges that Infantino was the one “first and foremost” seeking to achieve this.

Neymar’s World Cup hopes have been given a boost after Brazil announced he was making “good progress” in his recovery from a calf injury.

Brazil’s all-time leading scorer was expected to be sidelined for between two to three weeks after scans last month revealed a grade two muscle tear.

The 34-year-old had a further scan on Monday and the Brazilian Football Confederation said in a brief statement: “The exam showed good progress in his treatment, within expected parameters.

“He will continue the recovery and physical preparation process planned by the Brazilian National Team’s medical staff.”

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has been branded “unprofessional” by his Norwegian counterpart, Stale Solbakken, following the abrupt cancellation of a planned training-ground friendly.

The fixture, intended for Monday, was called off by Scotland due to reported injuries within their squad, a decision that has sparked a strong rebuke from the Norwegian camp.

A finisher has a different kind of finish on his mind. “Sometimes there is an end for all of us,” mused Edin Dzeko. “Maybe mine is coming soon.”

Dzeko has scored more than 450 goals and won almost 150 caps in a career that has taken him from his teenage years into his forties. He thought he would have been finished before now. His longevity has surprised even him.

Already, those around the Spain squad can sense the intent, the will to go for it. Lamine Yamal is described as “totally undaunted”.

In his attempt to get fit for Spain’s opening World Cup game against Cape Verde on 15 June, however, a special care has been necessary due to the nature of his recent injury from the end of April. A low-end grade two hamstring issue can be mercifully shorter than feared, but also carries a high risk of relapse if not properly managed.