Charlie Alford

Yamal among four stars chasing World Cup Young Player award

Post author:Alaa Shamali
Post published:19 July 2026
Post last modified:19 July 2026

The race for the 2026 World Cup Best Young Player award is heating up, with four rising stars emerging as the leading contenders after standout performances throughout the tournament. Spain’s Lamine Yamal is among the favourites after playing a key role in his country’s run to the final, further strengthening his reputation as one of world football’s brightest young talents. His teammate Pau Cubarsí has also entered the conversation, becoming a reliable presence in Spain’s defence during their title challenge. Lamine Yamal’s impact on the 2026 World Cup beyond the statistics The Spanish duo are not the only contenders, however. France’s…

“Adults never learn” — football star’s anti-genocide letter to kids

Post author:Skwawkbox
Post published:14 June 2026
Post last modified:14 June 2026

Bosnians know about suffering genocide. It’s why they stood with the Palestinians against Israel before Bosnia’s first World Cup 2026 match. And, also ahead of Bosnia’s opening game against Canada, Bosnian football legend Edin Džeko wrote a letter to Bosnian children about it. Džeko wanted to talk to them about what it was like to survive genocide — and how its terrors are still seen now. He wrote: In the end, we survived. Looking back, I’m amazed at how strong we were. We were just little kids. But there was no point to the war. All those innocent people killed, and…

The biggest international stars missing from the 2026 World Cup

Post author:Alaa Shamali
Post published:4 June 2026
Post last modified:9 June 2026

Although the 2026 World Cup will go down in history as the biggest edition ever, featuring 48 teams and co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the tournament’s expanded format has not been enough to guarantee the presence of all the world’s football stars. Whilst fans prepare to follow an unprecedented edition in terms of the number of teams and matches, qualifiers, injuries and tactical choices have shaped another side of the World Cup: the absence of names that have played a significant part in the game’s landscape in recent years. Whilst the tournament has opened its doors to new…