The Game

Four draws and our first 0-0 but when it's Cape Verde getting a point against Spain we don't care!  Tom Clarke hears from Martyn Ziegler who spies some empty seats at Saudi Arabia's 1-1 draw with Uruguay and Peter Rutzler who was in Los Angeles to witness Iran's controversial start to this tournament with an entertaining 2-2 draw with New Zealand - which was followed by a remarkable press con...

A thrilling night, loads of goals and familiar names making the headlines. Germany thrashed Curacao 7-1 but maybe the newcomers don't care - Tom Allnutt was in Curacao to watch their debut with the locals as they celebrated their first ever World Cup goal.  Ian Whittell was at the game of the night as Japan snatched a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands before Victor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak...

Blimey, that was tense! But Scotland have a World Cup win and sit top of Group C thanks to John McGinn's winner against Haiti. Which players stepped up and which need to offer more?  Steve Clarke's side top the group after Brazil draw with Morocco in an entertaining game. Brazil turned the game after the drinks break - is football now a game of four quarters?  And we pick the best games...

The USA started their campaign in style, scoring four against Paraguay. The stadium was full, celebs were out in force and the team looked full of energy. Suddenly USA in the next round or the round of sixteen looks a tough draw - how far can they go? Not so euphoric for Canada but a decent result against a tough Bosnian side. In the second half - Scotland's big day is finally here. At 0200 GMT th...

The World Cup is up and running. The mighty Azteca stadium became the only stadium to host games in three different world cups. Its turf has seen Pele, Maradona and now the 2026 Mexico side. Our reporter Tom Allnutt was in the stadium. Did the match live up to the hype, does it matter?  Pete Rutzler is our reporter following team USA, he gives us a quick run down of the American team...how fa...

It is finally here. Tonight Mexico will play South Africa in the opening game.  Will it be a tournament for the ages or a step too far for over heated and over worked players? So, a quick look at England - Bellingham or Rogers, Rashford or Gordon? Your favourite World Cup opening games; teams we'd love to see do well and  Tom Clarke's mad challenge to watch every match - what are his cha...

Scotland could not be happier going in t the World Cup. When was the last time you heard that - 1928!? Eight goals in two games and believe it or not even some talk of their talisman John McGinn not making it into Steve Clarkes first eleven. The Tartan army suddenly have a cutting edge, confidence to burn and mounting expectation. Bring on Haiti! What could possible go wrong? Who better to ask tha...

As part of our build up to World Cup 2026 we hosted a live event at The Times building in London. Tom Clarke hosts the event with Martin Samuel, Jonathan Northcroft, Hamzah Khalique-Loonat and World Cup veteran and former Republic of Ireland forward Tony Cascarino. The team discuss England and Scotland's chances and what to expect from the other tournament contenders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.co...

It is World Cup week!  England treated their friendly against New Zealand as a training session...can we learn anything? Does Thomas Tuchel already know his line up to face Croatia or is it still in doubt? How worried should England fans be that three of England's team are already in the red zone, prone to injury or burn out?  Scotland are looking confident with eight goals in their last...

If England don't win it who will? France, Spain, Portugal are all among the favourites, but only one European team has ever won in the Americas...can they change that? Lionel Messi will be at his sixth World Cup, can he lead Argentina to defend their crown?   Brazil have gone twenty four years without a World Cup, can ageing talisman Neymar and the experience of manager Carlo Ancelotti g...

All the latest from a busy domestic scene. Silva leaves Fulham...is he Benfica bound? Crystal Palace look set to appoint the former Lens coach Iraola to Liverpool, Ederson to Man Utd and Nottingham Forest are asking for £120m for Elliot Anderson...is that value for money? After the break an update from the England camp in Miami - who is training, who looks good, who looks knackered and has Anthony...

World Cup 2026 is nearly here! Can England win it?  Has Tuchel picked the right squad, what is England's base camp like and what will be England's biggest challenge? With inside knowledge from within the England camp our team cover it all - from which players will be most affected by the heat and who can cover at number six to secret England tactics and who starts at number ten. Join Times Sp...

Arsenal fell agonisingly short, was there anything they could have done differently or did they just come up against a generational team in PSG? What if anything could Mikel Arteta have changed, or was focusing on defensive organisation always going to be their best route to success?  Who do Arsenal need to sign to get better? In the second half Slot out and potentially Iraola in at Liverpool...

This is a one off special from our colleagues in Scotland who join former player and national team manager Craig Levein.  They look at what reaching a World Cup means to Scotland, and how the team might fare. Scotland correspondent Michael Grant is joined by Mark Palmer and former Scotland international Craig Levein In the run up to World Cup 2026 we will be releasing a series of special...

Arsenal have a chance to do the double on Saturday evening, but they have to face a PSG team which many believe are the best of their generation. Can they beat them and if so how? There are intriguing one v one battles all over the pitch, from Rice v Vitinha to Saka v Mendes and who plays right back against Kvaratskhelia? what will be the keys to Arsenal lifting the Champions League for the rest t...

Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson wrap up the 2025/26 EFL season with a look back at the three play-off finals - and give their own end of season awards. They discuss Hull City’s hard earned victory over Middlesbrough, Bolton Wanderers’s win against Stockport County, and Notts County besting Salford City. Plus, praise for standout seasons from Coventry City, Lincoln City and Bromley. Hosted on Acast...

Joining Tom Clarke are Tony Cascarino, Gary Jacob and Peter Rutzler to wrap up an astonishing Premier League season. What went wrong at West Ham and what do they need to avoid further collapse? How did Sunderland’s fairytale campaign end in European qualification? Plus, the team hand out their much-coveted end-of-season awards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor Robertson and Tom Clarke go over each of the Play Off finals - who is favourite, who is in form...who goes up, who stays down? And Gregor gets his say on Spygate Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan Northcroft Chief Football Correspondent for The Times and Sunday Times joins Tom Clarke for immediate to the England squad. Who is in, who is out and what do we make of it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aston Villa added to a crazy week in English football last night, winning their first trophy in thirty years and their first european trophy in forty four years. Is it the first of many for Unai Emery at Villa? How does a club and squad like Villa take the next step to challenge for the Premier League or Champions League? Arsenal are still celebrating their title win - who were the key players for...

What a week in English football! Arsenal are Champions again after a twenty two year wait. How did they do it, what were the key moments, who were the key players or staff and will it be the start of something bigger? Tom Clarke joins The Times Arsenal reporter Gary Jacob to assess a memorable night for the Gunners. After the break the worst kept secret in football - Pep Guardiola is set to leave...

Xabi Alonso is in the Premier League, but not where many expected. As the Liverpool old boy joins Chelsea what can he expect and is it a huge positive for the Chelsea project?  Where does the appointment leave Liverpool, the owners are wedded to Arne Slot but the fans don't seem to be. Man Utd look set to announce Michael Carrick on a permanent basis, what will his targets be next season?&nbs...

It is the best Scottish title race in years and it got even spicier last night. Celtic were awarded a penalty for literally the last kick of the match - they scored at took it to the final day as Hearts need only a draw at Celtic Park. What is the feeling in Scotland, was it ever a penalty and how will Derek McInnes' Hearts approach the game on Saturday? Man City took the title race to another wee...

Was it or wasn't it? Could one decision of foul or no foul have decided the title race AND relegation? It was the biggest moment yet for VAR, was the final outcome correct...or is it more complicated than that? Will john McGinn get a statue at Villa Park if he leads them to a european trophy? Who is ion a worse position - Liverpool or Chelsea ? After the break an update on the SPL as Hearts go for...

Arsenal are finding form at the right time. Four points clear in the title race and through to the Champions League final the double is still on. What has brought about the turn around in form and who have been the key players?  PSG are on the verge of defending their European title, which for some would mark them out as one of the modern day great european teams...so, how good are they and c...