FIFA World Cup 2026 explained: Format, host cities and key dates
Soccer, Soccer news, Soccer analysis, FIFA World Cup news Sports News Blitz writer Soccer, Soccer news, Soccer analysis, FIFA World Cup news Sports News Blitz writer

FIFA World Cup 2026 explained: Format, host cities and key dates

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the biggest football tournament in history, featuring more teams, matches, and three host nations for the first time ever, writes Sports News Blitz’s Darshan Kaur Gill.

The 23rd edition of the tournament will be held from June 11 to July 19 - jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

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Premier League news: Five takeaways from Newcastle Utd’s draw with Nottingham Forest

Premier League news: Five takeaways from Newcastle Utd’s draw with Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest secured Premier League survival on Sunday thanks to Elliot Anderson’s late leveller in a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United. The Magpies, meanwhile, were left to rue yet another missed opportunity in their quest for European football.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer Mosaddek Abu examines five key takeaways from a season-defining clash for both sides.

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Serie A news: Giovanni Stroppa, the mastermind behind Venezia’s return to the Italian top flight
Soccer, Soccer news, Serie A news, Venezia news Luca Salmasi Soccer, Soccer news, Serie A news, Venezia news Luca Salmasi

Serie A news: Giovanni Stroppa, the mastermind behind Venezia’s return to the Italian top flight

Giovanni Stroppa has guided Venezia back to Serie A at the first time of asking after sealing the Serie B title on the final day of the season at a packed Stadio Pierluigi Penzo.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer and Serie A enthusiast Luca Salmasi takes a closer look at Stroppa’s impact in Venice.

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Football analysis: Is specialisation in football refereeing a good idea?
Soccer, Soccer news, Soccer analysis, VAR, VAR opinion Sports News Blitz writer Soccer, Soccer news, Soccer analysis, VAR, VAR opinion Sports News Blitz writer

Football analysis: Is specialisation in football refereeing a good idea?

With increasing demands and a trend among modern sports for referees to be specialised in certain areas of their role, the question of whether football should follow those steps is becoming more prevalent. 

But is such a change feasible, says Sports Blitz Writer Uchenna Haq.

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Europa League news: Aston Villa beat Nottingham Forest to reach first European final since 1982
Soccer, Soccer news, Europa League news Harrison Pearce Soccer, Soccer news, Europa League news Harrison Pearce

Europa League news: Aston Villa beat Nottingham Forest to reach first European final since 1982

Aston Villa’s remarkable European campaign reached a historic high as they powered past Nottingham Forest with a commanding 4-1 aggregate victory to book their place in the Europa League final.

For a club steeped in continental history but absent from the latter stages for decades, this run marks a powerful resurgence on the European stage. Here, Sports News Blitz writer Harrison Pearce explains why Aston Villa weren’t the team to bet against.

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Premier League betting tips: Liverpool to beat omnishambles Chelsea, Viktor Gyokeres to score, and more Gameweek 36 betting tips

Premier League betting tips: Liverpool to beat omnishambles Chelsea, Viktor Gyokeres to score, and more Gameweek 36 betting tips

Read on for a breakdown of the best bets from this weekend’s Premier League TV games from Sports News Blitz’s punting laureate - The Bookie Basher - including the big ‘un between West Ham and Arsenal on Sunday, May 10.

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National League news: York City vs Rochdale – Match to remember or wake-up call for modern football?
Soccer, Soccer news, National League news Sports News Blitz writer Soccer, Soccer news, National League news Sports News Blitz writer

National League news: York City vs Rochdale – Match to remember or wake-up call for modern football?

York City’s 1-1 draw with Rochdale last month was a thriller, with the Minstermen snatching away their hosts’ National League title hopes in the final moments.

While the game proved quite entertaining, it was the second time in four seasons that two teams have finished on 100+ points – and only one club can receive automatic promotion. Here, Sports News Blitz writer Uchenna Haq gives his thoughts on the current set-up.

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Soccer news: From YouTube to FA Cup dreams, the SE Dons story
Soccer, Soccer news, SE Dons Sports News Blitz writer Soccer, Soccer news, SE Dons Sports News Blitz writer

Soccer news: From YouTube to FA Cup dreams, the SE Dons story

SE Dons, a football team founded by Andrew McHugh, known as Don Strapzy, and his friends, has grown from filming matches on YouTube to potentially competing in the FA Cup, as they rise to Step 5 football in the Southern Counties Eastern Football League.

Sports News Blitz’s Uchenna Haq takes a closer look at their rise through the ranks.

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WSL news: England captain Leah Williamson extends her stay with Arsenal

WSL news: England captain Leah Williamson extends her stay with Arsenal

Lionesses captain Leah Williamson has signed a new contract with Arsenal, continuing her two-decade journey with the club. 

Arsenal officially confirmed that Williamson, 29, will remain with the team for the next few years.

Here, Sports News Blitz’s Abbie Latymer looks back at her rise to stardom.

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2026 World Cup Betting Odds: Who Are the Favourites and How Does the Market Look?

2026 World Cup Betting Odds: Who Are the Favourites and How Does the Market Look?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11, and with 48 teams competing across the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the first time in the tournament's expanded format, the betting markets are already generating serious attention.

Whether you are a seasoned sports bettor or simply curious about how the odds reflect each nation's chances, the current pricing tells a compelling story about where the smart money is sitting - and where the value might be hiding.

Interest in World Cup betting has surged in recent months as the draw was confirmed and sportsbooks began releasing their full outright markets. This piece breaks down the current odds, analyses the leading contenders, and looks at some of the longer-priced nations that the market may be underestimating.

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Premier League betting tips: Casemiro to score against Liverpool, Aston Villa to beat Tottenham and more Gameweek 35 betting tips

Premier League betting tips: Casemiro to score against Liverpool, Aston Villa to beat Tottenham and more Gameweek 35 betting tips

Read on for a breakdown of the best bets from this weekend’s Premier League TV games from Sports News Blitz’s punting laureate - The Bookie Basher - including the rip-snorter between Manchester United and Liverpool on Sunday, May 3.

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WSL news: Relegation battle heats up as new format takes shape
Soccer, Soccer news, Soccer analysis, Women's Super League news, WSL news Sports News Blitz writer Soccer, Soccer news, Soccer analysis, Women's Super League news, WSL news Sports News Blitz writer

WSL news: Relegation battle heats up as new format takes shape

For much of the Women’s Super League season, attention has been on the title race and the fight at the bottom. 

But the final weekend now carries extra importance because of major changes to the league structure.

With the league’s expansion and a revised promotion-relegation system coming into effect, this season has become a transitional one that is reshaping the future of the WSL.

Here, Sports News Blitz’s Liberty Nicholson-Hulse takes a closer look at how the new format is shaping the final weekend drama across both the WSL and WSL 2.

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EFL League One: Analysing Port Vale’s extraordinary season

EFL League One: Analysing Port Vale’s extraordinary season

The EFL season is almost at its conclusion, with some clubs celebrating promotion and others experiencing the bitter taste of relegation.

One club which has seen an unusual series of events is Port Vale - the Staffordshire club suffering relegation from League One whilst reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer and EFL follower AJ Becker takes a look at possible causes of their relegation, and proposes a blueprint for their future success.

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Premier League preview: Five memorable Newcastle vs Brighton clashes

Premier League preview: Five memorable Newcastle vs Brighton clashes

Another huge game awaits Newcastle United as they host Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday, May 2.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer Mosaddek Abu takes a look at five memorable clashes between the Mags and the Seagulls.

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Soccer news: Italian football faces a deepening political crisis, per UEFA

Soccer news: Italian football faces a deepening political crisis, per UEFA

UEFA have warned that any political interference in the Italian Football Federation could jeopardise Italy’s co-hosting rights for UEFA Euro 2032, and even risk Italian clubs being excluded from European competitions.

With the FIGC presidential election approaching and the Gianluca Rocchi refereeing controversy deepening the crisis, Italian football finds itself at a critical crossroads, compounded further by long-standing issues such as outdated stadium infrastructure.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer and Italian football enthusiast Luca Salmasi examines the growing turmoil and the potentially far-reaching consequences for the FIGC, Serie A, and Italy's place on the European stage.

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Championship news: A shootout for the Premier League - Everything that can happen on the final day
Soccer, Soccer news, Soccer analysis, Championship news, Premier League news Sports News Blitz writer Soccer, Soccer news, Soccer analysis, Championship news, Premier League news Sports News Blitz writer

Championship news: A shootout for the Premier League - Everything that can happen on the final day

With relegation confirmed for Sheffield Wednesday, Leicester City and Oxford United, all eyes dart towards the top of the Championship table, where Premier League football is up for grabs heading into the final day.

As is usually the case, England’s second tier has treated fans to a rollercoaster season packed with drama as the 2025/26 campaign draws to a close.

With one match remaining, Sports News Blitz writer Gabriel Mills looks at what each team involved will need in the race for automatic promotion and play-off places.

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A Review of the World Cup 2026 Favourites and Outsiders

A Review of the World Cup 2026 Favourites and Outsiders

The World Cup 2026 kicks off on 11 June, with the US, Canada and Mexico jointly hosting the event. Holders Argentina will be looking to retain the trophy but they are certainly not the bookmakers’ favourites. 

Spain, France, England and Brazil are all ahead of Argentina in terms of odds of winning the World Cup this time around, with star Lionel Messi arguably past his peak at 38 years old. 

Here are the teams who are going into the tournament as favourites…

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FA Cup and Premier League betting tips: Arsenal to beat Newcastle, Rayan Cherki to score against Southampton, and more Gameweek 34 tips

FA Cup and Premier League betting tips: Arsenal to beat Newcastle, Rayan Cherki to score against Southampton, and more Gameweek 34 tips

Read on for a breakdown of the best bets from this weekend’s Premier League and FA Cup TV games from Sports News Blitz’s punting laureate - The Bookie Basher - including both FA Cup semis and Arsenal’s huge Premier League clash at home to Newcastle on Saturday, April 25.

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Championship news: Coventry City secure title and return to the Premier League after 25-year wait

Championship news: Coventry City secure title and return to the Premier League after 25-year wait

Promotion was confirmed for Coventry City after a late equaliser against Blackburn last week before Tuesday night's win against Portsmouth cemented their top spot after a superb season.

With promotion already sealed, it might have been easy for Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues to take their foot off the gas and coast towards the title - but Tuesday night's showing proved otherwise.

A 5-1 win against a Portsmouth side, who secured their own success in the form of survival, meant the title was won in style at the Coventry Arena.

The 2026/27 season will be their 35th in the top flight of English football as a historic club rejoins the most watched league in the world, writes Sports News Blitz’s Gabriel Mills.

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