Samuel Gardiner - Sports Journalism

  World Cup 2026: Day 3 – Saturday 13 June   Day Two of the World Cup in North America saw the final two host nations play their opening matches; Canada snatched a deserved point against Bosnia-Herzegovina, while USA comfortably saw off Paraguay. Let’s have a look back at yesterday’s action, and look forward to today…   Yesterday’s results: Canada 1-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina   It was a glorious occasion for Canada; hosts of a World Cup for the very first time, the marked the occasion with Michael Buble serenading the crowd (I thought he only came out at Christmas?) and Alanis Morisette singing the national anthem… but they would surely look back on this game as two points dropped. Jonathan David missed a guilt-edged chance to put the Canadians ahead, before Bosnia threatened to spoil the party by taking the lead. Sead Kolasinać, once of Arsenal, flicked a corner on for Jovo Lukić to get the finishing touch on the line. Canada keeper Maxime Crépeau came out and flapped at ...

  World Cup 2026: Day 2 – Friday 12 June: Mexico and South Korea off the mark, Canada and USA due to take their bow   The 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially underway, and what a night of action it was yesterday. Two games, five goals and three red cards – all in one match! Today promises to be equally eventful, as the other two co-hosts kick off their tournament.   Yesterday’s results: Mexico 2-0 South Africa One of the more memorable opening matches to a World Cup in recent memory. A reverse fixture to the first game in South Africa in 2010, but with a much different outcome. After a glamorous opening ceremony featuring music artists such as J Balvin, Burna Boy, Danny Ocean and FIFA’s favourite Shakira, Mexico started on the front foot and could’ve found themselves in front after five minutes. Talismanic striker Raul Jimenez, who has just secured a return to Wolves in time for the new season, hit a left-footed half-volley which was well saved by Bafana Baf...

World Cup 2026: Opening Day Preview                                          Four years after Gonzalo Montiel scored the decisive penalty to help Argentina defeat France amid the controversies of Qatar 2022, the most-watched sporting tournament in the world returns today (11 June). Let's forget about all the off-pitch stories which I won't be touching on (this is purely football only!), the World Cup promises to be five weeks of immense global competition, talking points and global stars being born – the largest and longest tournament to date. Hosted in a record three countries, Canada, USA and Mexico, the 2026 showpiece features representatives from all six FIFA confederations for the first time since 2010, and four nations have qualified for the first time ever – Uzbekistan, Jordan, Curaçao and Cape Verde. The group stage will last from 11 June – 28 June, and the knockouts from 29 ...

11 clubs who have played European football in the 21 st Century while outside the top division   Portuguese second-tier side Torreense will play in Europe in 2026/27   As the final whistle blows in the 2026 Taça de Portugal final in Lisbon, it is confirmed that, against all odds, Torreense SCU are winners of the tournament for the first time in their history. A 2-1 defeat of giants Sporting CP, who have already won the tournament 18 times and were the cup holders, thanks to goals from striker Kevin Stohi and captain Zopira, means the second-tier outfit’s historic triumph is made even sweeter by the fact that victory in Portugal’s premier cup competition – as is the case with most domestic cups across Europe – guarantees a spot in the Europa League the following season, another first for Torreense. The minnows are based in the northern Portuguese town of Torres Vedras and boast a stadium which seats 2,500 spectators, so the chances of them being allowed to use th...

Double-header: Lionesses leave it late vs Villa before Ouattara snatches point for Bees   Freya Godfrey scored the winner for London City Lionesses As part of the week-long summit for Global Institute of Sport (GIS), I was lucky enough to experience two matches in two days at the very top of the women’s and men’s English football pyramids. First up was a trip to Bromley’s Hayes Lane to watch London City Lionesses take on Aston Villa on the final day of the 2025-26 Women’s Super League (WSL) campaign. Lionesses, founded in 2019, pride themselves on being the only top-tier women’s team to not be affiliated with a men’s club, and have already secured a solid mid-table finish in their debut WSL campaign, but could finish in the top half of the table if results go their way. Managed by Eder Maestre and boasting players such as Australian international and WSL veteran Alanna Kennedy, former PSG midfielder Grace Geyoro and ex-Arsenal favourites Danielle van de Donk and Nikita Pa...

Massingham fires Stags to Step 4 Buckhurst Hill celebrate Arthur Massingham's winning goal A stunning late strike from Arthur Massingham ensured a 1-0 Essex Senior League playoff final victory for Buckhurst Hill against Barking at Myrak Park. Substitute Massingham received the ball on the left wing before cutting inside and firing an unstoppable shot beyond the reach of Barking goalkeeper Omer Ozer, ensuring that the hosts would be playing Step 4 football next season for the first time in their history. In front of a crowd of 1,044, the highest ever at the ground on Roding Lane, it was the visitors, playing in their changed strip of all yellow, that started the brighter, and had the ball in the net after three minutes. Alfie Attrill’s flick-on set Finlay Dorrell through on goal, who finished cleverly past Christian North, but he was denied by the offside flag, in what looked to be a very close call. After that, the first half was a cagey affair; neither team were willing to t...