Barcelona FC news

Barcelona star Fermin Lopez has sent out a positive message on social media as he continues his recovery from a fractured metatarsal that saw him miss out on World Cup 2026 with Spain.

The midfielder sustained the injury against Real Betis and was forced to undergo surgery. Lopez admitted at the time it was a tough blow to take but is now feeling more positive.

He’s posted a compilation of some great moments from last season on Instagram and added the words: “Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.”

View this post on Instagram

Lopez is expected to miss a couple of months with his injury, with Barcelona confirming this week that their first pre-season match will take place against Birmingham City on July 31st.

Hansi Flick’s side are due to start pre-season training on July 13th and will then travel to England and be based at St George’s Park from 27 July to 3 August.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

World Cup 2026 is in full swing and the first round of matches is now officially complete. There’s been a total of 24 games played so far and 75 goals scored in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

This year’s tournament is the biggest ever edition of the World Cup and has seen hydration breaks implemented and new rules implemented.

There’s also been plenty of highlights already. Lionel Messi wowed fans across the world yet again with a hat-trick for Argentina against Algeria, while Cristiano Ronaldo had a night to forget against DRC Congo.

Pre-tournament favorites Spain found it tough going against Cape Verde, being held to a shock goalless draw, although we did see the return from injury of Lamine Yamal.

Elswhere, the USMNT impressed in their opener against Paraguay, Germany smashed seven past Curacao, Sweden bashed Tunisia and there were also good wins for France and England.

So today’s Barca Blaugranes Question of the Day is:

Drop your spiciest hot take after the first round of World Cup 2026 matches

Now it’s over to you! Feel free to share your thoughts, predictions, opinions and answers in the comments section below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

FC Barcelona statement – FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona urges LaLiga, the RFEF and the CTA to act in light of statements made by Florentino Pérez.

Barça 2026/27 to begin in Birmingham – FC Barcelona
The first friendly of next pre-season will take place at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park against the historic Birmingham City on Friday 31 July at 7.45pm local time (8.45pm CEST).

Agreement for Pere Romeu contract extension until 2028 – FC Barcelona
The official signing of the contract will take place at the Club president’s office in the coming days.

England 4-2 Croatia: Kane double helps England overpower Croatia – FIFA
Second-half goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford made the difference as England won an exciting opening Group L contest against Croatia.

Portugal 1-1 Congo DR: Wissa earns Congo DR historic point against Portugal – FIFA
Congo DR’s Yoane Wissa cancels out Joao Neves opener in compelling Group K draw.

Cancelo, a slow-burning negotiation – Mundo Deportivo
The Portuguese player is Barça’s other major target in the transfer market alongside a number nine, and Barça and Mendes, his agent, continue to work on it.

Barça are considering bringing Jan Virgili back to loan him to Betis – Mundo Deportivo
According to ‘Ser’, Barcelona would pay the seven million euro release clause to bring the winger back and then move him to Real Betis.

Ronald Araujo faces a difficult task in making it to the Spain-Uruguay match – Mundo Deportivo
The Barça defender is progressing in his recovery, but his possible return is not expected until a hypothetical Round of 32.

Official: Belletti renews with Barça Atlètic until 2027 – Mundo Deportivo
The reserve team coach will begin his second season with the goal of developing players and achieving promotion.

The battle for Rashford in the Premier League begins – Mundo Deportivo
According to reports in England, Manchester City and Liverpool want him, while Arsenal have reportedly lost interest.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Real Madrid are reportedly interested in signing Alessandro Bastoni from Inter after completing deals for former Barcelona defender Marc Cucurella and Bernardo Silva.

Bastoni had appeared to be Barca’s top target to bolster their defence earlier this summer but talk of a move to the Camp Nou has cooled and now appears to have been ruled out.

La Gazzetta dello Sport claim that Bastoni could still head to Spain and end up in the capital. The two clubs met recently for a legends match which saw Florentino Perez talk Bastoni with opposite number Beppe Marotta.

Inter want €70 million for Bastoni and are now waiting to hear what new Madrid coach Jose Mourinho thinks about the Italy international.

Mourinho is still settling back into life at the Santiago Bernabeu but will apparently have the final say over whether Madrid go for Bastoni or not.

Real Madrid look set for a busy summer after going trophyless again in 2025-26. Ibrahima Konate and Denzel Dumfries are also expected to complete transfers to the club in time for the new season.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick for Argentina against Algeria in their World Cup 2026 opener but was spotted looking emotional after the first goal went in.

The GOAT was asked about his tears after the game and said it was nothing to do with football.

“Honestly, completely unrelated to the sport, I went through some difficult, complicated days,” he told reporters after the game.

“I’m grateful to the entire delegation, to my teammates. They were always there for me, as always. They gave me a lot of strength to get through this, and that’s all.”

Messi was also asked about equaling Miroslav Klose’s record as the World Cup’s all-time goalscorer but was typically humble about his latest achievement.

“Honestly, no [if he thinks about the importance of the record], it’s an honour to be there because of what it means to be there next to Klose, Ronaldo is there too, but I don’t think it means anything,” he added.

“Mbappé is there, he scored two today. It’s a statistic and nothing more. While it’s an honour to be able to compete with all of them, it doesn’t mean anything to me.

“Ronaldo, from what I saw, was one of the greatest and he’s not in first place, so it all comes down to a statistic.”

The GOAT will now be out to break that record when Argentina play again at World Cup 2026. The defending champions go on to face Austria and then wrap up their group campaign against Jordan.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Argentina 3-0 Algeria: Record-equalling Messi inspires Argentina – FIFA
Hat-trick hero Lionel Messi made World Cup history as the defending champions ran out comfortable winners against Algeria.

France 3-1 Senegal: Mbappe’s historic double fires France to thrilling victory – FIFA
Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France powered past Senegal in the opening game of Group I.

Barcelona deadline to sign Marcus Rashford for €30m set to expire – ESPN
Barcelona’s option to sign Marcus Rashford for €30 million (£35m) is set to expire without the Spanish champions activating the clause to make the Manchester United forward’s move permanent.

Barça’s final move for Julián Alvarez – SPORT
Barcelona will launch a definitive offer of €135 million plus add-ons for the Atlético star after the World Cup.

Reports in Brazil indicate that Raphinha will speak with Al-Hilal after the World Cup – Mundo Deportivo
According to Globoesporte, Al Hilal wants to acquire the services of the Barcelona forward, who has postponed any negotiations until after the World Cup tournament.

Racing are once again pursuing Xavi Espart, whom they already approached in January – Mundo Deportivo
Racing Santander requested the loan of the right-back six months ago, but Flick and Deco saw him as having potential for the first team. The German coach likes him but has other players in the squad who can take his place.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona star Raphinha was one of four Brazil players who were given a breather on Monday as Carlo Ancelotti’s side trained ahead of their next group game against Haiti.

Brazil opened up their tournament with a 1-1 draw with Morocco but will be gunning for all three points when they return to action on Friday.

Raphinha, Gabriel, Bruno Guimaraes and Neymar were all rested ahead of match, per Globo. Neymar is injured, Gabriel and Guimaraes fatigued and Raphinha has blisters on his feet and turned up without his boots on.

Raphinha aparece descalço no campo. Galhães e Bruno Guimarães de tênis. Os demais jogadores já começaram o treino e Neymar ainda não apareceu pic.twitter.com/KxkvYttmx1

— Raisa Simplicio (@simpraisa) June 15, 2026

Brazil still have several days of training before the match, giving the players time to rest and recover ahead of their second match.

Yet Barcelona will surely be relieved to see Raphinha being handled with care, particularly after seeing him ruled out for several weeks with a hamstring injury picked on international duty earlier in the season.

Raphinha admitted at the start of the tournament that he’s still not at his best best physically but had done all he could to reach the World Cup in the best possible shape.

“I had an injury that left me out for a month and a bit, without training, without playing,” he said. “But I have always tried to give my best in the treatment, in the club, to be able to reach 100% with Brazil.”

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Real Madrid have been making waves in the transfer market already this summer. Los Blancos announced the arrival of former Barca star Marc Cucurella at the start of the week and are also expected to sign Bernardo Silva.

Both players were believed to have attracted interest from Barcelona, although neither player was seen as a priority this summer, with the Catalans focused on signing a new No.9 to replace Robert Lewandowski.

However, the transfers have provoked a response at Barca. “It seems Deco is their sporting director,” was the view from club sources, according to The Athletic.

The report adds that while Flick liked Bernardo he is more than happy with his midfield options and felt the Portugal star’s arrival “could take playing time away from young players who need to gain more experience.”

Meanwhile, Barca had been “monitoring” Cucurella but did not want to pay his €60 million fee and also feel they have depth in that position. Balde and Gerard Martin are options, while the club are hoping to keep Joao Cancelo.

There’s been talk of a summer exit for Balde but he will only depart if he brings an offer and asks to leave, a scenario that is not expected to arise this summer.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona are being linked with a move for Manchester City center-back Vitor Reis who spent last season on loan in La Liga with Girona

Hansi Flick and Deco are reportedly both big fans and think he has the right profile to play for Barcelona, according to Diario Sport.

Barca have already made “some first moves” as they try to find out Manchester City’s plans for the 20-year-old Brazilian.

The report suggests Barcelona are thinking about a possible loan with a mandatory purchase option and highlights how Deco has a good relationship with City chief Hugo Viana.

City’s plans for next season aren’t quite clear yet, with Enzo Maresca set to replace Pep Guardiola as first-team coach.

As for Barca, they are focused on trying to sign Julian Alvarez but could move for a defender as well. The report adds that Luka Vuskovic was offered by his agent but a move is “highly complicated and has been ruled out.”

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Lamine Yamal v Oviedo wins Goal of the Season – FC Barcelona
More than 15,000 people cast votes on FC Barcelona app and this one was picked as the winner.

Spain 0-0 Cabo Verde: Heroic Cabo Verde clinch draw with Spain – FIFA
Blue Sharks produce sensational defensive performance to secure 0-0 draw against European champions in Atlanta.

Belgium 1-1 Egypt: Egypt hold Belgium in Seattle – FIFA
Emam Ashour’s first international goal had Egypt on course for a maiden FIFA World Cup win, only for Romelu Lukaku’s arrival to help Belgium rescue a point.

Barça meet with Jan Virgili’s agents – Mundo Deportivo
Representatives of the Mallorca player visited FC Barcelona’s Ciutat Esportiva to meet with those in charge of the Barça sporting department.

Hamza makes his World Cup debut amid a generational change – Mundo Deportivo
The Barça striker played the final stretch of the match against Belgium and took the place of Mohamed Salah, a legend of Egypt.

Cucurella’s transfer will bring money to Barça – Mundo Deportivo
The left-back spent six years in Barça’s youth academy and now the Catalan club will receive a ‘pinch’ for his sale to Real Madrid.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

WELCOME TO MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM!!! The beautiful home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons is the site of the opening match of Group H for one of the tournament favorites as Spain take on newcomers Cape Verde. La Roja have the largest Barcelona contingent and Lamine Yamal is expected to play in the second half, so this is must-see TV. This should be all kinds of fun, and you’re welcome to join us to follow and comment all the action. Vamos!

LINEUPS

SPAIN

Starting XI: Simón; Llorente, Cubarsí, Laporte, Cucurella; Fabián, Rodri, Pedri; Ferran, Oyarzabal, Gavi (4-3-3)

Substitutes: Raya (GK), Joan (GK), Pubill, Eric, Porro, Grimaldo, Zubimendi, Merino, Olmo, Baena, Pino, Muñoz, Yamal, Williams, Iglesias

CAPE VERDE

Starting XI: Vozinha; Moreira, Lopes, Borges, Cabral; Duarte, Pina; Cabral, Monteiro, Mendes; Livramento (4-2-3-1)

Substitutes: Dos Santos (GK), Rosa (GK), Pires, Costa, Stopira, Pina, Duarte, Paulo, Semedo, Rodrigues, Benchimol, Varela, Costa, Arcanjo, Semedo

MATCH INFO

Competition/Round: 2026 World Cup, Group H, Round 1

Date/Time: Monday, June 15, 2026, 6pm CET (Barcelona), 5pm BST/WAT (UK & Nigeria), 12pm ET, 9am PT (USA), 9.30pm IST (India)

Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, United States

Referee: Adham Mohammad Tumah Makhadmeh (JOR)

HOW TO WATCH

On TV: FOX (USA), ITV 1 (UK), United8 Sports 1 (India), SuperSport (Nigeria), TVE La 1 (Spain), others

Online: FuboTV (USA), ITVX (UK), ZEE5 (India), DAZN (Spain), others

Matchday Thread Rules

We don’t have a lot of rules here, but there are a few things to keep in mind when joining our matchday threads:

Even if the referee sucks or we lose the game, watch the swearing. It’s just unnecessary. Also, don’t discuss illegal streaming links. Those who do it will be warned, and those who post links will be instantly banned. Finally, be nice to each other. This is a Barcelona community and we don’t need to offend one another.

Have fun with the game! Forever and ever, no matter the competition, VISCA EL BARÇA!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Let’s be clear from the get-go.

There are no substantive rumours at the moment to suggest that Harry Kane is leaving Bayern Munich, that the Bavarians would even entertain such a prospect, or indeed that the player himself actually wants to move.

However, as every supporter knows, you can never say never when it comes to football, and so many times in the past, the sport that we all know and love has continued to surprise us. We also know that Kane has still not agreed a contract extension with Bayern which means speculation about his future is likely to continue.

If the circumstances and the money are right, then the wheels get oiled, pockets get lined, and the deal gets done. Simple as that.

With Robert Lewandowski having left the club, and with a brilliant legacy to boot, it’s still worth posing the question as to whether Kane would be the ideal successor to the Poland international at Camp Nou. And there’s plenty of parallels between the two.

Like Lewy, the England captain is the consummate professional and is a shining example both to his club and international teammates, as well as to those who look to him as being the exemplar.

Kane is, by some distance I would suggest, the most complete striker in world football at present, and is capable of scoring every type of goal.

He would be the same age as Lewy was when he joined the club if he were to swap the Bayern for Barca this summer, and Kane is also in the goalscoring form of his life. His elite-level game intelligence only adds to the completeness in his all-round game.

There are still fiscal issues that continue to hamper Barca’s ability in the transfer market, and whilst Julian Alvarez may still be regarded as the dream signing, the likelihood of landing him at this stage is in doubt.

Kane, whilst unlikely to be cheap, is almost certainly more of an achievable target financially than the Argentinian World Cup winner.

Given that Hansi Flick’s Barca have played exceptionally well with a target man to date, too, landing Kane ahead of Alvarez also makes some sense in this regard, even if one could contend that Barca have done well in the past with a more diminutive centre-forward.

Of course, were Kane to lead England to World Cup glory in the USA, that could make him football’s hottest property, add a few extra euros to his transfer fee and make any deal hugely difficult for Barca.

We can still dream though… can’t we?

So today’s Barca Blaugranes Question of the Day is:

Is Harry Kane the perfect successor to Robert Lewandowski at Barcelona?

Now it’s over to you! Feel free to share your thoughts, predictions, opinions and answers in the comments section below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Egypt boss Hossam Hassan has talked up Barcelona striker Hamza Abdelkarim after including the 18-year-old in his squad for World Cup 2026.

Barcelona have since activated their option to sign Abdelkarim permanently, and Hassan thinks he will surprise many people.

“We have seen many things [we like with Hamza], his personality, technical capabilities, ambition, what the player wants to achieve,” he told reporters.

“We can see it when we’re recruiting, and in the matches with the young players. He was playing at such a high level and was already overqualified for youth football.

“I saw the positive influence he had on the group at the 2025 U-17 World Cup, and I’ve followed all of his matches for Barcelona.

“When he’s come to work with us, I can see that he’s a very good player for Egyptian football. It may be a surprise for some, but he has all of the qualities of a strong player.

“He’s proved it at Barcelona, and when a player is performing for one of the biggest clubs in the world, he can have a very positive influence on Egyptian football, maybe even very soon.”

Hassan also talked up Abdelkarim as the future of Egyptian football and a potential successor to legend Mohamed Salah.

“The new players are the future of the squad, the country, Egypt’s football,” he added. “Abdelkarim is a great player who will surprise the fans, alongside Salah, alongside Marmoush of course.

“They are talents who will add to the country’s football in the long run. We can’t just look at the squad who are there, but there are other young talents in the country as well.

“I hope we can find more talent in the near future and maybe even recruit them. This is the heritage, the legacy for the Egyptian fans, and the Egyptian football family are going to witness it in the future.”

Salah has reportedly emerged as a mentor for Abdelkarim while on international duty. Egypt kick off their tournament later today against Belgium.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Netherlands 2-2 Japan: Japan rescue point with late Kamada leveller – FIFA
In a thrilling clash in Dallas, Japan denied the Netherlands with Daichi Kamada’s last-gasp deflection from a corner.

Lamine Yamal in ‘perfect condition’ at World Cup but could start opener on bench – Spain boss – ESPN
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has confirmed that Lamine Yamal is “in perfect condition” but said the star forward is set to start on the bench in the country’s World Cup debut against Cape Verde.

Barcelona’s Ferran Torres on PSG links: ‘Don’t know and don’t care’ – ESPN
Ferran Torres refused to discuss speculation about his future at Barcelona — and links with Paris Saint-Germain — ahead of Spain’s World Cup debut against Cape Verde.

Cucurella is now a Real Madrid player – Mundo Deportivo
The Catalan full-back signed all the necessary paperwork with Real Madrid at midnight last night, and the club plans to officially announce his signing on Monday morning.

The most candid Szczesny: “Each training session is harder, it’s harder for me to get up” – Mundo Deportivo
The Barcelona goalkeeper admitted in an interview on ‘Oko w oko’ that it’s becoming increasingly difficult for him to go to training, but that he still feels strong enough to continue playing.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

As we approach the official start of the summer transfer window, a busy period of business awaits Barcelona, with important signings expected at the striker position and possibly at the back as well, but a few exits could also take place.

One player who looks set to leave is Marc Casadó, who according to several reports has decided to depart Camp Nou in search of more minutes elsewhere. Casadó had a wonderful start to the 2024-25 season but has failed to earn Hansi Flick’s trust since then, and his prospects look bleak for next season with Gavi’s return to form, Marc Bernal’s rise, and the overall depth in midfield.

We still don’t know where Casadó will end up, but there is serious interest from Atlético Madrid while an option to move to Saudi Arabia as part of João Cancelo’s permanent switch from Al Hilal to Barça is also on the table. But it does appear Casadó‘s time at Barça will come to an end, and it would be sad to see a clearly talented player leave the club in the next few months.

So today’s Barca Blaugranes Question of the Day is:

Will Barcelona regret letting Marc Casadó leave this summer?

Now it’s over to you! Feel free to share your thoughts, predictions, opinions and answers in the comments section below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi has been talking about Lionel Messi, Anthony Gordon and Julian Alvarez as he prepares for Spain’s World Cup opener against Cape Verde on Monday.

The defender spoke to Mundo Deportivo and was asked if he’d thought what it would be like to come up against Messi at the World Cup this summer.

“Yes, I imagined it. He’s been my idol since childhood,” he said.

“I’ve never been able to see him in person, or on the field. I would have preferred to play with him on my team, but if I have him in front of me, I’ll give it my all and try to defend him as best I can.”

Cubarsi was also quizzed on Julian Alvarez amid continued speculation about his future.

“He’s a spectacular player, as I already said. We all know the quality he possesses,” he added.

“There are many rumors, as there are every summer, but I’m focusing on the ones we have now: Ferran and Gordon, who has just joined.”

And the Barcelona defender has some words of praise for Gordon, saying he knows him quite well after facing Newcastle last season in the Champions League.

“He’s very good. He’s a player I’ve watched quite a bit and studied because we’ve played against him this season,” he added.

“He’s a very versatile striker, who’s great at finding space… He’s a player committed to the team, and I really like that.”

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Brazil 1-1 Morocco: Vinicius Jr earns point for Brazil – FIFA
Morocco forged ahead against the five-time winners thanks to Ismael Saibari but both teams had to share the spoils in Group C.

Barcelona near deal to loan U.S. goalkeeper Diego Kochen to Danish club – ESPN
Barcelona are near a final agreement that would send American goalkeeper Diego Kochen on loan for one season to Denmark’s Lyngby Boldklub, a source told ESPN.

Barça are rubbing their hands together over the ‘new’ Sergiño Dest – SPORT
Sergiño Dest played a great game for the United States as a right winger, and if his options to leave PSV Eindhoven are revived, FC Barcelona would receive 20 percent of a future sale.

PSG on Ferran’s trail – Mundo Deportivo
According to a report from Sky Sports, the Parisian club will go after the Barcelona striker if Bradley Barcola leaves.

Pau Cubarsí: “I don’t back down from anything” – Mundo Deportivo
The Barcelona international center-back expressed his ambition ahead of his first World Cup: “I can picture myself lifting the trophy in New York.”

De Jong, ready for his debut: “I notice it at Barça, they really value our national team” – Mundo Deportivo
The FC Barcelona midfielder is fit for the Netherlands’ debut against Japan after a carefully managed recovery and highlights the potential of the Oranje.

Atlético, a destination that seduces Casadó – Mundo Deportivo
The Barcelona midfielder is liked by Atlético Madrid, but Simeone must decide, while the player is also attractive to Al Hilal and Premier League clubs.

Barcelona lob historic bid for teenage Socceroo on World Cup eve – The Sydney Morning Herald
A good World Cup can change the trajectory of a player’s career and put them on the radar of top clubs from around the planet. But when it comes to Lucas Herrington, the youngest member of the Socceroos’ squad, they’re already interested, with Barcelona lobbing an official bid for him on the eve of his possible debut at the tournament.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

World Cup 2026 delivered more thrills and spills on Day 3 as eight teams shared seven goals and there wasn’t a goaless draw in sight. Switzerland and Qatar kicked things off and the Swiss may just be still kicking themselves after throwing away the win by conceding late on.

Brazil were up next in their first appearance of the tournament so far. The Selecao failed to impress but still showed the star quality they possess by scoring one of the best goals we’ve seen so far from Vinicius Jr to rescue a draw.

There was also plenty of history made in the final two games. Veteran midfielder John McGinn wrote his name into the history books with the only goal in a nervy win for Scotland over Haiti, while a youthful looking Australia stunned Turkiye to claim an impressive victory.

Time to check out all the goals from Day 3.

Vinicius stunner rescues Brazil

There’s no doubt the game of the day was in New York where five-time champions Brazil faced AFCON winners Morocco. There was early drama too, as Morocco dominated the early exchanges and took the lead when Brahim Diaz played a perfectly-weighted ball through for Ismael Saibari to run on to and lift the ball over Alisson and into the back of the net. The goal was just reward for a great start to the game by Morocco.

MOROCCO SCORES ITS FIRST GOAL OF THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP! 🇲🇦

It's Saibari with the goal to take the lead over Brazil pic.twitter.com/OOLsI4aPdC

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 13, 2026

Brazil had been second best but levelled in spectacular style just after the half hour mark. Bruno Guimaraes found Vinicius Jr inside the penalty area on the left, and the Real Madrid star cut back inside and fired an unstoppable shot home to make it 1-1.

THE EQUALIZER! 🇧🇷

VINI JR. SCORES BRAZIL'S FIRST GOAL OF THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP! pic.twitter.com/EQyKVP5E4T

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 13, 2026

Yet that was about as good as it got for Carlo Ancelotti’s side as Brazil failed to shine and had to settle for a point in their opener.

Swiss stunned by late, late Qatar show

Day 3 of World Cup 2026 had kicked off with Switzerland against Qatar and the first penalty to be awarded at the tournament so far this summer. The Swiss were the beneficiaries after Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada clattered into Remo Freuler.

Referee Said Martinez pointed straight to the spot and the decision was confirmed by VAR despite strong suspicions of offside. Breel Embolo then made no mistake, casually strolling up to the ball and sending Abunada the wrong way with a coolly-taken spot-kick.

SWITZERLAND HAS ITS FIRST GOAL OF THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP! 🇨🇭

Embolo converts from the spot to score his 3rd career FIFA World Cup goal pic.twitter.com/60ZMrcwxk7

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 13, 2026

Switzerland went on to dominate the game, racking up 26 shots, but couldn’t put away Qatar and were made to pay deep into stoppage time. With 95 minutes on the clock, Homan Ahmed whipped in an inviting cross from the left for captain Boualem Khoukhi, up from the back, to power home at the far post.

LATE DRAMA 🇶🇦

As it stands, Qatar would secure its first point in a FIFA World Cup pic.twitter.com/aQC123iIpR

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 13, 2026

The goal sparked jubilant scenes and a pile on as Qatar picked up their first ever World Cup point, while Switzerland were left to rue all those missed chances.

McGinn earns Scotland nervy win

Scotland had Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn to thank as they picked up a first World Cup win since 1990 by beating Haiti 1-0 in Boston.

The Tartan Army had waited a long time to see their team back in World Cup action and had plenty to celebrate in the 28th minute when McGinn broke the deadlock with a deflected strike.

SCOTLAND FINDS ITS FIRST GOAL OF THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

John McGinn gets into the scoresheet! pic.twitter.com/mgbTBAQs61

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 14, 2026

It wasn’t the prettiest goal McGinn will score but he won’t care especially as it’s Scotland’s first World Cup goal in 10, 224 days and, for now at least, sends the Tartan Army top of Group C, ahead of Brazil and Morocco. At the age of 31 years, 238 days, the midfielder also becomes the oldest player to score for Scotland at a World Cup.

Australia pull off shock ahead of USMNT test

The final action of Day 3 saw Australia cause a real upset by beating Turkiye 2-0. Nestory Irankund became Australia’s youngest World Cup goalscorer when he broke the deadlock with a fine strike. The 20-year-old showed off his pace by racing down the left, before beating his defender with a great touch and then powering past the goalkeeper.

AUSTRALIA SCORES ITS FIRST GOAL OF THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP 🇦🇺

It's Nestory Irankunda on the scoresheet pic.twitter.com/H9IPETlEvY

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 14, 2026

Australia had goalkeeper Patrick Beach to thank for preserving their lead with a string of fine saves. The Socceroos completed the win in the second half when Connor Metcalfe pounced on a loose ball, strode forward and rifled home a low shot from just outside the penalty area to secure victory.

THE SOCCEROOS GO UP 2-0 🇦🇺

"AUSTRALIA ARE IN GREEN AND GOLD HEAVEN AT THE WORLD CUP!" – @JacquiOatleypic.twitter.com/SqpnDbHRd5

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 14, 2026

A great win for Australia. Up next, it’s a trip to Seattle to face the USMNT.

Have your say in our poll to decide what the goal of the day was, as we cover every goal, goof and everything in between throughout the World Cup!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Ferran Torres is making headlines on Saturday thanks to a report from Sky Sport Italia that claims PSG are keen on the Barcelona forward this summer.

Barcelona are said to be ready to make a contract extension offer to Torres but over in Italy the word is that he’s in Luis Enrique’s thoughts as well.

The report states that Torres “is considered the number one candidate to replace any departing attackers” this summer, with Bradley Barcola touted as the player most likely to move on.

PSG like Torres because he’s into the last year of his Barca contract and also due to his good relationship with Luis Enrique.

Torres isn’t the only Barca player being linked with an exit. Speculation about Marc Casado’s future continues, with Mundo Deportivo doing a good job of talking up interest from Atletico Madrid.

The club are said to be really keen on the Barcelona midfielder but are still waiting on Diego Simeone to give the transfer the green light.

Meanwhile, Manchester United and Bayer Leverkusen are also said to be interested in Casado if he does decide to leave Barca this summer.

Where do you think Casado will play his football next season? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe has revealed that he enjoys plenty of banter with France team-mate Jules Kounde due to the rivalry between their two club sides.

The two players are currently with Les Bleus for World Cup 2026 and Mbappe admits that Kounde has the upper hand when it comes to bragging rights recently due to Barcelona’s success and Madrid’s lack of trophies.

“Do I see him as a Barcelona player since I’ve been at Real Madrid? Yeah, totally!” he told L’Equipe.

“We tease each other a lot more than when I was in Paris. Okay, he’s had the last word a bit more lately because we’re not winning, but we’ve always been able to separate things when it comes to the national team.

“We get along well. He’s a guy I talk to about a lot of things, especially politics.”

Kounde famously scored a brilliant winner against Real Madrid to seal the Copa del Rey in 2025 and has also picked up La Liga titles in the last two seasons.

Mbappe, meanwhile, is yet to win a major trophy since joining Madrid from PSG in 2024.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

FC Barcelona goalkeeper Joan García is keeping his cool in the stifling heat of Chattanooga, Tennessee, as Spain prepares for its World Cup opener. He established himself as Barcelona’s definitive number one under Hansi Flick this season, but things look different under Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, where Athletic Bilbao’s Unai Simón is widely tipped to start.

García is drawing comparisons to another Barcelona legend who famously spent years as a backup during Spain’s golden era – Víctor Valdés.

“I wish I could achieve the same as him, he won everything,” García said in a recent interview with Diario SPORT.“I am very happy to be here and looking forward to enjoying going as far as possible.”

The opportunity in the squad opened up in tragic fashion after Marc-André ter Stegen suffered a severe knee injury, ruling him out of the tournament. It wasn’t how he would’ve wanted it. In fact, García described Ter Stegen’s “unfortunate” injury with an expletive – using a Spanish term perhaps best translated as “a f*cking bummer.”

The ex-Espanyol keeper is already dealing with scrutiny after a recent friendly against Iraq, where he was caught off guard by a shot and conceded. But rather than dwelling on the mistake, García insisted “it would be an error to give it a lot of thought or beat myself up for it.”

While García focuses on training alongside Simón and Arsenal’s David Raya, Barcelona’s recruitment team is already looking at future options for the Camp Nou goal. Real Sociedad’s Álex Remiro, who was dropped from this latest Spain squad, has been heavily linked with a move to Catalunya. García spoke highly of his international teammate: “he is a great goalkeeper, I’ve always said it, he is one of the ones I like the most in La Liga.”

For now, the focus is entirely on the big tournament in North America, where expectations are sky-high for la roja. Spain’s camp just received a boost with Lamine Yamal gradually reintegrating into team training. García confirmed the teenager “will be ready for the debut.”

The keeper is ready to play his part, even if it means watching from the bench.

“Only one goalkeeper can play. Whoever gets to play has to give everything, and the rest have to support him from the outside,” he said.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

World Cup 2026 is underway and Barcelona have a massive presence with 16 players featuring for eight different nations, and there is a very good chance that a Blaugrana star will steal the show in North America over the next five weeks.

Spain have the largest contingent with eight Barça players in total, and betting on Lamine Yamal and Pedri to shine for La Roja if they make a deep run is more than safe. Raphinha has a chance to be Brazil’s spiritual and technical leader as they hope to win a first World Cup title in 24 years, and Anthony Gordon may very well prove his worth with his performances for England.

Hamza Abdelkarim is hoping for a chance to make the breakthrough with Egypt as he tries to impress Hansi Flick ahead of preseason, and Frenkie de Jong will absolutely be at the heart of everything good that the Netherlands do in North America.

There are several world-class superstars and young players looking to show their skills on the biggest stage, and bring joy to not only their nations but Barça fans everywhere.

So today’s Barca Blaugranes Question of the Day is:

Which Barcelona player will stand out the most at the World Cup and why?

Now it’s over to you! Feel free to share your thoughts, predictions, opinions and answers in the comments section below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Spain midfielder Rodri has revealed just how laser focused Lamine Yamal is on the World Cup ahead of La Roja’s opening game against Cape Verde on Monday.

Yamal is closing in on a return from injury and is expected to be fit for the match. Rodri says the teenager is relishing the challenge ahead of him and is ready to give the tournament his all.

“He’s very excited and happy, I see him eager,” he told El Larguero. “The other day he told me he wasn’t going to the team lunch because he had to prepare for the World Cup. I don’t know if he was joking or not.

“He’s doing well. I see him motivated and eager. In fact, he didn’t go to the lunch because he’s focused.”

Rodri also says he has no worries about Yamal’s fitness as he works his way back from a hamstring injury.

“With Lamine’s age, I think he’ll recover from his injuries in no time and he’s in great shape,” he added. “Well, Nico is different, because Nico has been a bit more hampered throughout the year, but I see Lamine as perfectly fine.”

Yamal is currently expected to be on the bench for Spain’s game against Cape Verde but could potentially see some game time as a second-half substitute.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Yamal, Williams return to training in World Cup boost for Spain – ESPN
Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams returned to full training with Spain at the team’s base camp in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Thursday. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said last week he expects Yamal to be “ready to play” in Spain’s opening World Cup game, although he admitted that the Barcelona winger’s involvement could be limited to “just a few minutes.”

Confirmed: Wembley is the only rival to Camp Nou, and UEFA will decide in three months – Mundo Deportivo
European football’s governing body closed the deadline for submitting bids for the 2029 Champions League final on Wednesday without any last-minute surprise entrants.

Hamza will sign a contract with Barça until 2029 – Mundo Deportivo
Al-Ahly announced that Barça had activated their purchase option for 1.5 million euros, and Barça will officially announce that he will stay for three more years.

Darwin Núñez is also waiting for news from Barça – Mundo Deportivo
The Uruguayan is waiting to resolve his future with Al-Hilal and has already received news from Liverpool and that his name came up in a meeting between Jorge Mendes and the Saudi club regarding Cancelo.

Manchester United have their sights set on Lewandowski – Mundo Deportivo
The ‘Red Devils’ are studying the market opportunity represented by the Polish striker, although his salary is complicating the moves for his incorporation.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona have announced they are bidding to host the 2029 Champions League final at Camp Nou.

The Catalans have issued a statement to confirm their intentions and have explained why they should be handed the showpiece event.

“The bid highlights Barcelona as a city with proven experience in hosting major international events and the Spotify Camp Nou as a world-class stadium.

“With a long-standing history linked to the biggest stages of international football and currently undergoing a profound transformation that will position it among the most modern, innovative and iconic sporting venues in the world, the Spotify Camp Nou meets all the conditions to become the ideal stage for a UEFA Champions League final.

“The venue has historically been recognised by UEFA as a top-category stadium and is the largest in Europe by capacity.”

The renovation work at Camp Nou is expected to be completed by 2029 and will see capacity rise to 104,600.

Yet Barcelona’s bid isn’t the only one received by UEFA. Wembley Stadium is also in the running, with a decision expected in the coming months.

Source: barcablaugranes.com