Premier League stars lead World Cup goal rush

Doha, Qatar: There have been 280 goals at World Cup 2026 so far, but one league has been responsible for almost one in every four of them. It is neither Spain’s La Liga nor Germany’s Bundesliga, but England’s Premier League that has become football’s biggest supplier of goals on the biggest stage.

After the penultimate Round of 16 match between Egypt and Argentina, players from the England’s top flight have scored 69 of the 280 goals recorded so far, comfortably outpacing every other major European league and underlining why the Premier League continues to be regarded as the world’s most competitive domestic competition. catcrossgame.com

Spain’s La Liga sits a distant second with 33 goals, followed by Germany’s Bundesliga on 28, France’s Ligue 1 with 20 and Italy’s Serie A with 19. The figures are a reminder that while football’s biggest stars are scattered across Europe, it is England’s top flight that has delivered the greatest impact in front of goal.

The Premier League’s influence has extended beyond goals. Five players from English clubs also feature among the tournament’s top 10 assist providers.

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Perhaps the most surprising statistic belongs to Manchester City. The domestic double champions arrived at the tournament as the most represented club, supplying 19 players from 12 different nations more than any other club in the world. Yet despite that remarkable presence, only one City player has found the net.

That player is striker Erling Haaland (pictured). The Norwegian has been one of the stars of the tournament, sharing the second place in the Golden Boot race with Kylian Mbappe on seven goals. His clinical finishing has powered Norway into the quarter-finals, including a memorable victory over Brazil that ranks among the biggest upsets of the knockout stage.

While City have relied on one prolific marksman, several other Premier League clubs have seen their international stars spread the goals around.

Crystal Palace, Arsenal, Manchester United and Sunderland have each produced eight World Cup goals – the highest club totals among Premier League sides.

Crystal Palace’s tally has been spearheaded by Senegal winger Ismaila Sarr, whose four-goal haul has made him one of Africa’s standout performers. Arsenal’s contribution has come through a collection of internationals, including Germany’s Kai Havertz, who has scored three times, while Manchester United have been boosted by Brazil forward Matheus Cunha’s three-goal campaign.

The biggest surprise has come from Sunderland.

Fresh from a remarkable campaign that ended with a seventh-place Premier League finish and the club’s first-ever qualification for the UEFA Europa League, the Black Cats have seen their players carry that confidence onto the international stage. Dutch striker Brian Brobbey has led the way with three goals as Sunderland’s representatives have collectively matched the tournament’s highest club tally.

Liverpool are close behind with six goals, driven largely by Cody Gakpo’s three-goal contribution for the Netherlands, while Newcastle United’s internationals have combined for five goals, with DR Congo forward Yoane Wissa contributing three goals.

The goals have come from throughout the Premier League. Brighton & Hove Albion’s internationals have found the net three times and Tottenham Hotspur twice, while Nottingham Forest, Fulham, Chelsea and Everton have each added a goal to the league’s impressive World Cup tally.

Even the two clubs relegated at the end of last season have left their mark. Wolverhampton Wanderers’ players have scored four goals, while West Ham United’s internationals have added another two.

The numbers become even more impressive when viewed against overall player representation.

Manchester City topped the list with 19 players at the World Cup, narrowly ahead of Bayern Munich who had 18. Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal each contributed 16 players, followed by Barcelona with 15. Atletico de Madrid, Crystal Palace and Manchester United each had 12 representatives, while Liverpool supplied 11 and AC Milan and Real Madrid 10 apiece.

Yet when it comes to goals, it has not simply been Europe’s traditional giants leading the way. Clubs such as Crystal Palace and Sunderland have matched or even outperformed some of football’s biggest clubs.

The Premier League has not dominated because one club supplied the stars or because one nation carried the scoring burden. Instead, players from almost every level of the English top flight have travelled to North America and delivered for their countries.

Zagreb: Croatia's most successful football coach, Zlatko Dalic, resigned on Wednesday, ending a tenure that included taking the team to the 2018 World Cup final.

"As much as I still feel the ambition and desire to achieve new successes with Croatia, I feel that this is the right moment to bring this incredible era to a close," he said in a statement.

"I am leaving with a full heart and proud that I have made my contribution to the greatest achievements in the history of Croatian football," the 59-year-old added.

Dalic took over as coach in October 2017.

Apart from their final defeat in Russia, where Croatia, led by Luka Modric, lost to France, Dalic guided the nation to the 2022 Qatar World Cup semi-finals and the Euro 2020 last 16.

"Zlatko's name will remain forever written in golden letters in the history of Croatian football," Croatian Football Federation (HSN) head Marijan Kustic said.

Croatia failed to move into the last 16 of this year's World Cup, losing 2-1 in a gripping match against Portugal earlier this month.

Local media are tipping former international Slaven Bilic as Dalic's likely successor.

Bilic, 57, has coached several clubs, including West Ham United, where he played in the mid-1990s.

The former defender's last coaching position was at Saudi Arabia's Al-Fateh, during the 2023-2024 season.

Dalic has repeatedly said he considered his job the "biggest privilege and pleasure a coach can have".

His most notable previous coaching spells came outside Europe -- he was in charge of top Saudi Arabian clubs Al-Faisaly and Al-Hilal.

In 2014, the former defensive midfielder took over Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates, where he was named coach of the year twice, leading the club to the 2016 Asian Champions League final.

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Padel Federation announced that the International Padel Federation (FIP) has awarded Doha the hosting rights for the 2026 and 2028 editions of the FIP Padel World Cup, reinforcing Qatar's position as a global destination for major international sporting events.

Both editions will be held at the iconic Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex, a venue that has hosted some of the world's most important international Padel events in recent years - including the Qatar Major Premier Padel four times, and the last World Team Championships - and has established itself as one of the sport's leading destinations.

The decision to award the hosting rights for the 2026 and 2028 FIP World Cups to Doha was based on a series of key criteria, including the high quality of sporting infrastructure, the conditions offered to athletes and national delegations, proven experience in staging major international events, high safety standards, financial guarantees, and the strong sporting legacy developed by Qatar in recent years.

A further element reflecting the growth and ambition of the FIP World Cup is the prize money, which will reach unprecedented levels in the history of Padel and will be distributed equally between the men's and women's competitions. The 2026 edition will offer a record prize fund of €1.2 million, rising further to €1.35 million in 2028. This represents the highest prize money ever awarded in an official Padel competition and underlines the commitment of FIP and the Qatar Padel Federation to further enhance the prestige of the event and showcase the highest level of competition among national teams.

Tareq Zainal, Secretary General of the Qatar Padel Federation, said: "We are honoured by the International Padel Federation's decision to award Doha the hosting rights for both the 2026 and 2028 FIP World Cup. Having previously hosted the championship on two occasions, we are proud that Qatar continues to be entrusted with one of the sport's most watched events."

"This confidence reflects the dedication of the Qatar Padel Federation and all our partners to delivering world-class tournaments that meet the highest international standards. Hosting two consecutive editions presents a unique opportunity to build on our experience, further enhance the event, and create an exceptional experience for players, teams and fans from around the world. We look forward to welcoming the global Padel community back to Doha and contributing to the continued growth and success of our sport."

"The awarding of the 2026 and 2028 editions of the FIP World Cup to Doha is a decision that looks to the future of our sport," said FIP President Luigi Carraro. He continued: "Qatar has consistently demonstrated that it possesses all the necessary qualities to host world-class events, and awarding two consecutive editions of the World Cup to the country will provide continuity for the tournament's growth, ensuring an outstanding experience for players, federations and fans.

"Doha is one of the global homes of Padel. On more than one occasion it has demonstrated its ability to deliver exceptional standards of organisation and hospitality, and it holds a special place in the history of international Padel. We are confident it will once again help write new and historic chapters in the story of our sport, with the invaluable contribution of the Qatar Padel Federation, whom I thank for its commitment and passion in supporting the growth of Padel worldwide."

أعلنت القيادة العامة لقوة دفاع البحرين، تصدي منظومات الدفاع الجوي وتدمير عدد من الاعتداءات الجوية الإيرانية صباح اليوم.
وذكرت /قوة دفاع البحرين/ في بيان لها اليوم، أن إيران تواصل نهجها العدائي الممنهج عبر اعتداءاتها الآثمة بالصواريخ والطائرات المسيرة التي تستهدف المدنيين في مملكة البحرين.
وأهابت بالجميع ضرورة توخي الحذر، وعدم الاقتراب من أو لمس أي أجسام غريبة أو مشبوهة ناتجة عن مخلفات الاعتداء الإيراني الغاشم، والإبلاغ عنها فورا.
كما أكدت أن كافة أسلحتها ووحداتها في أعلى درجات الجاهزية وعلى أهبة الاستعداد الدفاعي لحماية البحرين، وأنها بكامل الجاهزية للتعامل الفني الآمن مع تلك الأجسام، ضماناً للسلامة العامة للمواطنين والمقيمين كافة.
وشددت القيادة العامة لقوة دفاع البحرين، على أن تعمد استخدام الصواريخ والطائرات المسيرة في استهداف المدنيين والممتلكات الخاصة، يعد انتهاكاً صارخاً للقانون الدولي الإنساني.