Folarin Balogun, born in the US and raised in England, has chosen to represent the US national team in the 2026 World Cup. He aims to play a key role for the team, which has historically struggled with offensive effectiveness in the tournament. Meanwhile, Spain's national team received a boost with the return of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams to training.
Brazil's women's national team defeated the US 2-1 in a pre-2027 Women’s World Cup match in Sao Paulo, with goals from Taina Maranhao and Bia Zaneratto overcoming Sophia Wilson's early strike for the US.
Christian Pulisic ended a nearly six-month goal drought for club and country, scoring and assisting in the USMNT's 3-2 friendly win against Senegal. The victory provided a much-needed boost ahead of the World Cup.
Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards suffered torn ankle ligaments, potentially jeopardizing his participation in the upcoming World Cup. Manager Oliver Glasner stated it's "50/50" for him to play in the Conference League final and cast doubt on his World Cup readiness.
