On their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations debut, Malawi produced the biggest upset in the competition’s entire history.

Most considered it a given that the 10-times WAFCON champions Nigeria would comfortably sweep aside the Scorchers in Tuesday’s group game. Instead, Malawi scored three times in the final 17 minutes to secure a famous 3-2 win.

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In a tournament overshadowed by CAF’s woeful governance, Malawi served an important reminder of why WAFCON matters and why it deserves so much better.

So what’s next for the Scorchers and could the 2026 WAFCON be defined by more surprise results from an underdog class catching up to the continent’s best?

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You thought the international football was over for the summer with the end of the World Cup? You thought wrong!

The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations kicked off this weekend as Algeria made a big statement in their opener against Senegal.

More on WAFCON below as well as the 2026 ASEAN Championship which similarly got under way over the weekend.

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In other news, Vozinha has a new club after the World Cup, La Masia has produced an 11-year-old wonderkid (because they needed another young star) and the world’s oldest player found the back of the net.

Let’s take a look at everything 👇

Something at WAFCON 🌍

Algeria made a big statement in the 2026 WAFCON opener as they beat Senegal 2-0 when most expected a comfortable victory for the Lionesses of Teranga!

Senegal had beaten Algeria 4-1 and 3-0 in two recent friendlies, but suffered a shock defeat when it mattered most. This stunner by Melissa Bethi capped a tremendous performance.

Something in ASEAN 🌏

Last week’s in-depth newsletter focused on Vietnam’s growth as a football nation with the Golden Star Warriors kicking off the defence of their ASEAN Championship title.

Vietnam made good on their status as pre-tournament favourites by thumping Timor-Leste 7-0. There was also a statement win by Thailand over Laos. The pair will be difficult to stop.

Something 59 years old

The world’s oldest professional football player is a guy called Kazuyoshi Miura who plays in the Japanese third tier and he scored his first competitive goal in nearly four years this weekend.

Miura, nicknamed ‘King Kazu,’ found the back of the net for Fukushima United in a 7-0 victory in the Emperor’s Cup. The forward has been playing professionally since 1986 when he started out at Santos.

What a career!

Something in high school

Pedri is accustomed to being around children, being a Barcelona player and all that.

Not even this explains why the World Cup winner showed up to a national high school final in Suzhou, China. Won’t somebody let this poor guy have some time off! He’s played about 20,000 minutes in 12 months!

Something poker-faced ♣️

Neymar played his first club match since the World Cup and scored. Twice, actually!

The 34-year-old (he’s only 34?!) found the back of the net and used his celebration to hit back at allegations that he is spending all his time playing online poker through the night.

There’s always something with Neymar.

Something in Chile 🇨🇱

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha was one of the icons of the 2026 World Cup and the brick wall who kept a clean sheet against Spain and Uruguay has a new club!

Colo-Colo have signed the 40-year-old for the 2026/27 season. “Aura” is right. Where can this newsletter writer find a Vozinha jersey? I need one!

Something at a wedding 💒

The Viking Row was one of the abiding memories of the 2026 World Cup and Erling Haaland is still performing it every opportunity he can.

MetLife Stadium, Oslo city centre, Gianluigi Donnarumma’s wedding… all the places you would expect to see a giant 6ft 5” Scandinavian leading a group of people sat on the ground in a rowing routine…

Something classy

Como released their new kit for the 2026/27 season in an unusual way.

The Serie A club gave the jersey to various local figures for their promotional campaign. A butcher, a baker, quite possibly a candlestick maker. All very quaint for a club that spent €60m on a single player this summer…

Something from the halfway line

Eloy Room was a star for Curacao at the World Cup. On Saturday, however, he was lobbed from the halfway line in the USL Championship.

Marco Micaletto found the back of the net from 40 yards out to give the Tampa Bay Rowdies a 3-2 win over Miami FC.

Life comes at you fast, I guess.

Something in Venezuela 🇻🇪

This goal in the Venezuelan second division has to be seen to be believed!

Any goalkeeper intent on playing out from the back should be shown this video. When it works, it can work really well. When it doesn’t work, though, well… this sort of thing can happen.

Something on a plane ✈️

We have featured some imaginative tifos in this newsletter over the years, but this one might just have set a new standard!

This effort by Motherwell’s ‘Well Boys’ supporters group depicted their European journey complete with plane to the Faroe Islands. That’s just quality stuff!

Something French in Florida 🇫🇷 🐊

New Orlando City signing Antoine Griezmann is loving life in Central Florida. Alligators, Disney churros, crippling humidity… what’s not to love?

Central Florida seems to love Griezmann too with this mural of the former Atletico Madrid and Barcelona forward appearing in Orlando last week.

Something Swiss 🇨🇭

The 2026/27 Swiss Super League season kicked off in suitably chaotic fashion on Saturday!

Vaduz of Liechtenstein had to play the final 10 minutes of their season opener against Lugano with an outfield player in goal after their starting keeper was sent off and they didn’t have a number two on the bench.

Something prodigious

It’s probably not a good idea to hype up an 11-year-old as the next best player in the world. That’s not fair and is only establishing expectations that no kid should be burdened with.

But also… HAVE YOU SEEN HOW GOOD HUGO GALDEANO IS?! This is insane. Get him in the Barcelona first team right now.

Something United

Bruno Fernandes is enjoying some well-earned time off after the World Cup.

The Portuguese shared an image of himself having a kick-about wearing the shirt of a former Manchester United teammate. Game recognises game! 🫡

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More Asian nations participated in the 2026 World Cup than any other World Cup in history

All nine nations exited in the group stage or round of 32, but Asian football was represented in a way it had never been before. Nobody could ever doubt the region’s fervour for the sport.

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Vietnam watched from home. They’ve watched every World Cup from home having never qualified in 51 years of trying as a unified nation. It would be easy to write off the country as a footballing backwater.

That, however, would be in ignorance of the thriving football scene in Vietnam.

The country of over 100 million people is one of the sport’s largest sleeping giants and there are signs that it is finally waking up. The 2030 World Cup could be in their sights.

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Argentina might not have won the 2026 World Cup final, but they took over New York for Sunday’s game.

Thousands of Albiceleste supporters filled the streets of The Big Apple for the final, setting up camp in Times Square to barbecue, chant songs about Las Malvinas and wear Messi jerseys. That’s what they do!

More on the scenes below!

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It’s FREE - and I’ll be focusing on the World Cup until July 20th! Please subscribe!

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Elsewhere, Erling Haaland wore pyjamas to the club, a former England goalkeeper got drenched in New York and a former Arsenal striker made a surprise La Liga transfer.

Let’s take a look at everything 👇

Something in Times Square

Argentines can set up an asado anywhere, including Times Square in the centre of Manhattan!

Thousands of Argentina supporters congregated at the Crossroads of the World ahead of Sunday’s match at MetLife Stadium, so of course they were going to get the grill out.

Something else in Times Square

The scenes of fans assembling across the USA, Canada and Mexico has been one of the abiding memories of this summer’s World Cup.

Scotland fans at Fenway Park, Dutch supporters bouncing on the streets of Dallas, England fans mingling with Mexicans at the Azteca, and now Argentines taking over the streets of New York ahead of the final.

Something honest

The first-ever World Cup half-time show was something to remember… unless you’re Wayne Rooney.

I’m just reeling that they had Shakira and The Muppets involved in the same show and NOBODY suggested a Waka Waka duet with Fozzie Bear. What are we even doing here, people?!

Something in a diaper

Sunday’s World Cup final was just a meeting between two nations, but a meeting between Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal. The master and the apprentice.

Huggies had the perfect billboard for the occasion. If you know, you know…

Something drenched ☔️

The weather in New York at this time of year can be unpredictable, as former England goalkeeper and BBC Sport pundit Joe Hart discovered!

Hart was soaked to his skin as he walked around the city streets. Did he lose his shoes in the flood?

Something inclusive

England scored SIX in a 6-4 win over France in the so-called ‘Bronze Final’ to secure third place at the 2026 World Cup. As everyone will definitely remember in the years to come…

As England were collecting their medals, the squad summoned training goalkeeper Jason Steele to be recognised.

A nice touch for a player who wasn’t in the squad, but played an important role.

Something at the F1 🏎️

Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz let everyone know who he was supporting in the World Cup final as he arrived for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix.

The Williams driver has a Scottish girlfriend who would have had extra reason to support Spain had Argentina lost their semi-final…

Something in the rugby 🏉

Argentina’s rugby team wore special shirts for their match against England in the Nations Championships on Saturday.

Designed to evoke memories of La Albiceleste winning the 1986 World Cup, Argentina lost 24-31 to England. Oh well. Rugby isn’t a real sport. Doesn’t count.

Something in La Liga 🇪🇸

Believe it or not, transfers have been happening for weeks despite the World Cup still running and Deportivo La Coruna have pulled off a huge move!

The Galicians who have only just won promotion back to La Liga unveiled Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang over the weekend. He might be 37, but the Gabonese striker still reached double figures for Marseille last season.

This is a coup for Depor!

Something in the club

Erling Haaland earned plenty new admirers at the 2026 World Cup and the Norwegian striker is still catching the eye on vacation.

Haaland is in Europe clubbing… in his pyjamas? The depressing is that nightwear almost certainly cost more than my car. Oh to be rich, charismatic and able to do whatever you want.

Something staying

Jarrod Bowen cosplayed as The Wolf of Wall Street in this video in which he told West Ham fans he’s not leaving!

Bowen had been linked with a move away from the Hammers following their relegation to the Championship, but the 29-year-old has vowed to help the club get back to where it belongs (the bottom half of the EPL?).

Something on the court 🎾

Thomas Muller spared some time before Sunday’s World Cup final to play with some padel with another World Cup legend.

Two, actually. Muller’s Instagram caption name-checked Xavi Hernandez as well as Zinedine Zidane. Was Xavi in the bathroom when this picture was taken?

Something legendary

FIFA hosted a legends game before Sunday’s World Cup final, and of course Vozinha was invited!

The Cape Verde goalkeeper played alongside the likes of Cafu, Davor Suker, Javier Zanetti, John Terry and David Trezeguet. Seriously, this guy must be pinching himself constantly! 😂

Something in Bulgaria 🇧🇬

This incident took place in a Bulgarian league game over the weekend and, well, just have a look for yourself.

I don’t mean to suggest any wrongdoing, but maybe someone should check the betting receipts of that goalkeeper…

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This was THE World Cup. The biggest World Cup by almost every measure.

The most teams, host nations, viewers, sponsors. The highest attendances, revenue, ticket prices.

It was the World Cup of extremes. The good stuff was very good - Cape Verde’s run, Mexico v England at the Azteca, the thrill of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland all showing up in a big way.

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The bad stuff, however, was very bad in a way that might have serious repercussions for the future of the sport. The 2026 World Cup might have been a watershed. Football may never be the same again.

So was it worth it? FIFA would say so. The rest of us? Hmmmm.

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Norway might be out of the 2026 World Cup, but they - and their supporters - left a lasting impression on the tournament.

Had it not been for Alexander Sorloth’s shoddy decision-making, Erling Haaland and co. might have made it through to the semi-finals. As it was, they’re rowing home.

More on Norway’s impact on the World Cup below!

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Nobody predicted Switzerland would be among the dark horses of the 2026 World Cup.

Colombia, Ecuador, Norway and Turkey were all favoured over Murat Yakin’s team. In Norway’s case, understandably so. But while Erling Haaland and co. are preparing for a World Cup quarter-final this week, so too are the Swiss.

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This is a team that has made the knockout rounds of every major tournament it has played going back to the 2010 World Cup.

Saturday’s clash with Argentina will be Switzerland’s first World Cup quarter-final since 1954, but they made the final eight of Euro 2024 and Euro 2020 before that too. The Nati are a big game side.

And yet Swiss football and the country’s national team, on the brink of a World Cup semi-final, still doesn’t get the respect it deserves.

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Cape Verde might not have won the 2026 World Cup, but they won the respect of everyone who watched their heroic performance against Argentina.

The Blue Sharks returned home on Sunday and were greeted by thousands of supporters eager to show their gratitude. Vozinha surely won’t buy another drink in his homeland ever again!

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Carlos Queiroz had just 59 days to prepare Ghana for the World Cup.

Hired as a ‘break glass in case of emergency’ option, the former Portugal, Colombia, Iran, Egypt, Qatar and Oman manager was brought in to quell the chaos that had engulfed The Black Stars in the build-up to the tournament.

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Not many fancied Queiroz’s chances of achieving this and yet Ghana have been everything the veteran coach wanted them to be at the 2026 World Cup so far.

Far from being the peak of a crisis, this summer could prove to be a catalyst for Ghana. Against all odds, this could be The Black Stars’ best-ever showing at a World Cup.

One of the powerhouses of African football is a force to be reckoned with again.

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The European mind can’t comprehend the stadiums at the 2026 World Cup according to some of the people on social media.

It also can’t comprehend the demolition of a team’s training base while they’re training there, as was the case when Sweden turned up to FC Dallas’ Toyota Stadium while the wrecking ball was being swung.

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Curacao’s draw against Ecuador was so momentous that The Blue Wave were visited by royalty afterwards.

King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and Princess Ariane of the Netherlands celebrated with the team in Houston. Curacao, which has a population of just 158,000, remains part of the Dutch kingdom.

More on Curacao’s triumph at the 2026 World Cup below…

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Sergej Barbarez spent years telling anyone who would listen how he would change Bosnian football, and the Bosnian national team in particular.

The former forward, who featured for several Bundesliga clubs in his playing days before becoming a professional poker player, was a regular on Bosnian TV and earned a reputation for being outspoken in his views.

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So one day the Bosnian FA called his bluff. They appointed Barbarez national team manager and gave him the license to overhaul the set-up.

Two years later, Bosnia and Herzegovina are playing in only their second-ever World Cup and Barbarez has been vindicated. One man’s agenda proved to be the roadmap for the national team’s revival.

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Scotland’s first World Cup in 36 years was one to savour and The Tartan Army made the most of their night in Boston.

Steve Clarke’s side may not have impressed much in their nervy 1-0 win over Haiti, but the travelling Scotland support have already set a high bar for the most passionate fanbase at this tournament.

See more of The Tartan Army’s antics belo…

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No team will arrive at the World Cup this summer with a more remarkable backstory than Haiti.

At their first World Cup since 1974, Les Grenadiers haven’t played a match in their homeland since 2021 due to the volatility within the Caribbean country. It’s simply not safe enough.

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There is a humanitarian crisis. Destitution and poverty is widespread. Armed gangs control large parts of the country and its infrastructure. It’s miraculous that Haiti are even at the 2026 World Cup.

Haiti, however, won’t be at the tournament purely to make up numbers. In fact, there’s a growing sense they could be one of the surprise packages of the whole thing.

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Paraguay might have won the World Cup before it’s even kicked off if the spectacle of their send-off match is anything to go by!

Los Guaranies had one big pyro party before travelling to the USA for Friday’s tournament opener against the co-hosts in Los Angeles. And to think FIFA have banned refillable water bottles for the World Cup…

See more of Paraguay…

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Like so many international teams right now, the Republic of Ireland are in North America for a training camp.

Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side have been in Canada all week ahead of a friendly encounter in Montreal on Friday. While Canada is preparing to host the 2026 World Cup, though, Ireland will head home before the party starts.

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It’s been 24 years since The Boys in Green last appeared at a World Cup.

Between 1990 and 2002, Ireland qualified for two out of three World Cups, but the drought currently being experienced has raised concerns about the direction of the sport in the country.

Can the Republic of Ireland count on being at the 2030 World Cup or are there signs that their long absence from international football’s top table will continue?

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For the first time since 2003, Toluca are champions of CONCACAF! El Diablos Rojos are back on top!

Just like the Champions League final between Arsenal and PSG, Saturday’s CONCACAF Champions Cup showpiece went to a penalty shootout and it was Toluca who got the better of Tigres.

More on Toluca’s triumph below!

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Neither Jamaica nor Nigeria will be at this summer’s World Cup, but the two teams will meet in the final of another international tournament this weekend.

The Unity Cup is a competition designed to fortify ties between, and showcase, some of London’s largest diasporas. India, Jamaica, Nigeria and Zimbabwe are all taking part this year.

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It’s a tournament with a sporadic history in the 21st century, held in 2002 and 2004 before being revived last year. Now recognised by FIFA, the Unity Cup has a competitive spirit on the pitch and a party atmosphere in the stands.

This might not be the tournament anyone involved wanted to play in this summer, but the Unity Cup epitomises some of the things that make international football special.

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The magic of the cup is real and second-tier Torreense proved it in Sunday’s Portuguese Cup final!

From a town 25 miles north of Lisbon where they usually play in front of no more than 2,000 fans, Torreense scored an extra time penalty to beat Sporting CP and win their first trophy in their 109-year history.

What an incredible story! Scroll down to see mo…

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Few expansions have brought such immediate success as Auckland FC’s to the A-League.

Introduced as the division’s 13th team for the 24/25 campaign, the New Zealand-based side wasted no time in making an impact, winning the Premier’s Plate (awarded to the regular season champions) in their debut season.

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Many tipped The Black Knights to go all the way in the playoffs. However, defeat to Melbourne Victory ended a miraculous run.

A year on, Auckland FC are preparing for their first-ever A-League Grand Final. The two-season-old team from New Zealand could be about to conquer Australian football.

How have Auckland FC done it and why did they look to ice hockey for inspiration?

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