2026 STORYLINES
Stephen Donovan
2026 promises to be a thrilling year of football with the 2026 FIFA World Cup the headline act. Stephen Donovan picks out 20 storylines to keep an eye on.
The most apt word to describe football in 2025 is unpredictable – both on and off the field. Paris Saint-Germain rose to the top in Europe, Tottenham won the Europa League despite finishing 17th in the Premier League over a Manchester United that inexplicably finished 15th, a clutch of other less fancied clubs ended long waits for silverware, while Arsenal dethroned Barcelona to win the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
After months of arguments for and against the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup finally took place in the summer and although it was still scorned upon by many, it did deliver entertainment aplenty with Chelsea upstaging PSG in the final. Meanwhile, the other big summer tournaments brought a dramatic second straight success for England at the Women’s European Championships and Portugal overcoming Spain in the UEFA Nations League just days before the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.
There were lengthy transfer sagas that were only matched by some enormous fees, headed by Alexander Isak’s move to newly crowned champions Liverpool. Manchester City’s run of domestic dominance came to a crushing end. Southampton claimed just 12 points for the second worst total in Premier League history. San Diego made a stunning introduction to MLS competition. Lamine Yamal’s star rose even higher as fellow young superstar Desire Doue announced himself to the world. Erik ten Hag became the shortest serving head coach ever in the Bundesliga, where Harry Kane finally ended his wait for a first career trophy by lifting the title with Bayern Munich.
Looking ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark 12 months for football, with the biggest ever men’s FIFA World Cup the showstopper at its heart. Here, Soccer 360 picks out 20 standout storylines that are likely to capture our attention during the coming year.
2026 FIFA World Cup – The biggest ever
The centrepiece of the 2026 sporting year will be the men’s FIFA World Cup in North America, which will be the biggest ever and break new ground in more ways than one. It is the first World Cup finals to be contested by 48 teams, and also the first to be hosted across three different countries. This marathon of a tournament will contain a whopping 104 matches and promises to be the ultimate festival of football.
2026 FIFA World Cup – Who will actually win it?
Almost untouchable since their long-awaited third triumph in 2022, Argentina are aiming to become the first nation to retain the men’s FIFA World Cup since 1970 and are considered one of the two main favourites along with Euro 2024 winners Spain. However, the likes of England, France, and Portugal all look strong while record five-time champions Brazil are among several other sides with eyes on the ultimate prize. It will be thrilling to see how it all plays out.
2026 FIFA World Cup – How will the hosts fare?
Other than Oceania, the only confederation never to have had a team reach the semi-finals of the men’s FIFA World Cup is CONCACAF – and this is something that the three host nations for 2026 are looking to change. Mexico have often flattered to deceive on the global stage but are hoping home advantage will boost their chances, while Mauricio Pochettino is banking on his United States side to save their best for the tournament and Canada aim to cause a surprise or two. Ending that long wait for a last four place may look unlikely, but they each will be backed by some of the most vocal supporters of all.
Superstar swansongs?
Cristiano Ronaldo’s international career began all the way back in 2003 yet shows no signs of slowing down as he looks to finally lead his Portugal team to a first World Cup at the age of 41. Fellow legends Lionel Messi and Luka Modric are also back for more in North America next summer, in what will surely be their last international tournaments before bowing out. Then again, such is their longevity they have proven us wrong more than once in the past, so you never know.
AFCON finals
The next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations plays to a finish in January and the competition looks seriously wide open with several sides looking to lay down a marker ahead of the World Cup. Hosts Morocco are rightly seen as the favourites, but Senegal, Tunisia, Egypt, and holders Ivory Coast – among others – must also be considered strong contenders at a tournament that always seems to throw up plenty of surprises.
Who will win the European Golden Shoe?
Three superstar strikers, each playing in one of Europe’s big four leagues, are battling it out to claim the European Golden Shoe in 2025-26 as the continent’s top scorer. Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Kylian Mbappe are all at the very top of their game and scoring goals at truly exceptional rates as they lead their respective teams’ charge towards major honours. It is a very close yet captivating race between three of the greatest strikers of their generation.
Ballon Four?
Aitana Bonmati made history in 2025 by becoming the first woman to win the Ballon D’Or Feminin three times, and the Barcelona and Spain icon is hoping to go one better in 2026. The midfielder has reached phenomenal heights in her glittering career and there’s every chance she can go even further as she leads Barca’s quest to regain the Women’s Champions League.
Will Arsenal finally win the Premier League?
Arsenal have put themselves in wonderful positions before in their attempts to win a first Premier League title since 2004, but this time it surely is theirs to throw away. The Gunners appear formidable in every department with a defence which gives nothing away and a true winning mentality, putting them in a commanding position at the top. If they can get over the line, the celebrations will be unforgettable.
Man City verdict at last?
We were expecting a verdict in 2025 over the 115 charges Manchester City are facing for allegedly breaking financial rules between 2009 and 2018, but wait for a decision has stretched much longer than originally stated. The extremely complex nature of the case has caused these lengthy delays, but when the outcome finally drops it will be a seismic moment for football – whichever way it goes. What we do know, is that the verdict will not be end of this particular saga.
Isak and Wirtz to come good?
After investing so heavily in them over the summer and pulling off the two largest transfer deals in Premier League history, it’s fair to say that Liverpool have seen Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz make stuttering starts. There is huge pressure on both to perform during what has proved an at times difficult transitional period for the Reds, with Isak lacking fitness and Wirtz taking time to adjust to the English game, but the duo’s quality is undoubted – so expect to see them eventually hit their best form in 2026.
Can Bayern go undefeated?
Bayern Munich have restored their monopoly over the Bundesliga during a year of utter dominance, and the way the Bavarians have bossed the league so far this term has given rise to suggestions that they could go unbeaten – emulating Bayer Leverkusen in 2023-24. There are still a lot of games to play, but Vincent Kompany’s side are swatting aside opponents with such ease that it looks possible.
Could Vini Jr. leave Real Madrid?
Although he later apologised, Vinicius Junior’s angry outburst after being substituted in the El Clasico meeting with Barcelona in October came after weeks of rumours that he’s become unhappy with his role at Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso. It has only intensified discussions that he could be on the move, an idea that would have been unthinkable just a short time ago. If it happens, that could well be the biggest transfer story of 2026.
Martino returns to Atlanta
After emerging as one of the most consistently successful franchises in MLS over the past few years, Atlanta United suffered their worst season ever in 2025 to finish second from last in the Eastern Conference. The return of Gerardo Martino, who led them to the MLS Cup back in 2018, is a major statement of intent and they hope he can restore the team to its previous heights next term. Meanwhile, record signing Emmanuel Latte Lath is improve his goals return.
The new Camp Nou
Barcelona have been playing away from their enormous and iconic Camp Nou home since the beginning of the 2023-24 season while it undergoes renovation. They are finally set to make their return while the work will be completed in its entirety by the summer of 2026, where at a capacity of 105,000 it will be the second largest football stadium in the world.
The Premier League and PSR
The current Profit and Sustainability Rules in the English Premier League have long been controversial for limiting the ability of top clubs to invest, and home-grown academy players needing to be sold to ensure compliance. A decision on whether the rules will be scrapped in favour of an alternative system is not far away, with the outcome likely to cause significant changes to the dynamics of the league in the long-term.
Can Spalletti succeed at Juventus?
The latest managerial experiment at Juventus came to an early end as Igor Tudor was dismissed in October, with veteran Luciano Spalletti replacing him until the end of the season. Can Spalletti work some of the same magic he conjured with Napoli in 2022-23? Well, as the latest in a long line of coaches tasked with ending a frustrating era for the Turin club as they struggle for consistent form domestically and in the Champions League, he certainly has his work cut out.
A Ruben revival?
At this time a year ago we were asking if Ruben Amorim could revive the fortunes of Manchester United in 2025. Instead, things got a whole lot worse, but with a new-look attack settling in there at last appears to be some glimmers of light at the end of a very dark tunnel. There is hope now among Red Devils supporters that the likeable Portuguese is slowly starting to turn the ship around, and 2026 will truly reveal if that is indeed the case.
How far can Como go?
With the richest owners in Serie A, hitherto minnows Como have made a huge splash in Italian football and after placing 10th in their first season back in the top-flight, look all set to rise even higher in 2025-26. With a big-name coach in Cesc Fabregas leading an ever-increasing roster of high-profile players, the Lombardy club are becoming one of Europe’s real emerging forces.
CONCACAF W Championship
The next edition of the CONCACAF W Championship comes around in November 2026 with favourites United States gunning for a fourth consecutive title. Fellow automatic qualifiers and two-time winners Canada will be their main competition as always, but for the other sides who make it there is more at stake – namely a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Benitez is back
Despite all his famous achievements with Valencia, Liverpool, and Chelsea among others in an eventful management career, Rafael Benitez has arrived in Greek football with something of a point to prove after failed stints with Everton and Celta Vigo. The Spaniard is leading a Panathinaikos side aiming to reestablish itself in European competition and take the fight to Olympiakos domestically.
