Chelsea tipped to sign Man City star to replace ‘inconsistent’ £25m player

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca (Picture: Getty)

Mark Schwarzer says he would not be surprised if Chelsea pursued a deal for James Trafford in the January window to replace the ‘inconsistent’ Robert Sanchez.

Trafford returned to Manchester City in the summer from Burnley and looked poised to replace Ederson as the club’s first-choice keeper after the Brazilian’s move to Fenerbahce.

However, those hopes were dealt a blow when City completed a deadline day move for Gianluigi Donnarumma, with the Euro 2024 champion joining after being frozen out at Paris Saint-Germain.

Trafford started the first three Premier League games of the season, but has made just three appearances in cup competitions since the end of August.

Reports suggest that Trafford has already grown frustrated with his lack of game time and is keen to explore a move in January to bolster his chances of making England’s World Cup squad.

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And ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Schwarzer believes his former side could capitalise on the situation and bring the talented Englishman to Stamford Bridge to bolster their goalkeeping options.

‘James Trafford for Chelsea? You can’t write anything off,’ he told Joe Fortune.

James Trafford has struggled for game time this season (Picture: Getty)

‘I think the thing for Trafford is, I think I’ve met him once or twice, but I think if I were going to give him advice between now and the end of the season with a World Cup around the corner, wherever he goes, he has to make sure he’s playing.

‘He’s got to go to a club where they are signing him as the number one. And of course, he’s got to perform.

‘I think he needs to find a club, even if it’s on loan, between now and the end of the season where he’s going to play week in, week out and prove what a good goalkeeper he is.’

Despite improved performances so far this campaign, question marks still linger over Chelsea’s first-choice Robert Sanchez, who signed from Brighton for £25million in 2023.

Robert Sanchez still has his doubters (Picture: Getty)

And Schwarzer fears that the Spaniard will never be the consistent prescence between the sticks that Chelsea need if they are to contend for and win major trophies in the coming years.

‘The problem is his consistency,’ the Australian began. ‘When you’re at a big club, you need consistency. Look at Manchester United and Andre Onana, Man City and Gianluigi Donnarumma coming in and what he’s done already.

‘I will say for Robert Sanchez, I think in the last six months, has improved dramatically. He hasn’t made as many mistakes as he had done previously.

Enzo Maresca has been tipped to replace Sanchez (Picture: Getty)

‘I think he’s made some big saves. The Club World Cup final, I think for me, was by far the best game he’s ever played for Chelsea. I think obviously there’s still some way to go.

‘I think playing out from the back, with his feet at times, he’s been caught out. He’s made some poor decisions with his distribution. It’s tried to call them out this season as well. So that’s something that he still needs to very much work on and improve upon.

‘I think for a club that are going to win things, I know they won the Conference League last season, not that Robert Sanchez played in those competitions, and they won the Club World Cup, but I think consistently, if you’re in the Champions League, you want to win the Premier League, you’re going to have to have a top, top-class goalkeeper.’

Schwarzer continued: ‘I just don’t feel like he’s at that level. Look, there’s a chance that he can get there, but I think he’s still got some way to go.

‘And of course, when you’ve had a pretty average start at the club, even if you play well for the next six months, the minute you make another mistake, people straight away get on your back.

‘I’ve noticed it with Robert Sanchez, the minute he makes a poor decision with his distribution, fans are on his back and it’s because he’s done it too often, I think, in a Chelsea shirt.

‘That’s been one of the problems and it’s been a position that I think so many people have thought that Chelsea would look to strengthen every transfer window, and they haven’t.’

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Grandad, 86, fined by council for spitting after leaf ‘blew into his mouth’

Leaf me alone: Pensioner Roy Marsh has been fined £250 for ‘spitting out a leaf’
(Picture: Jane Marsh Fitzpatrick Facebook)

A pensioner has been left ‘anxious’ to go outside after being fined by the council for spitting out a leaf that had blown into his mouth.

Roy Marsh, 86, was slapped with a £250 fine after being caught ‘littering’ by jobsbody enforcers as he walked through Skegness.

He had plonked himself down on a bench by some reeds when one of the huge leaves struck him in the face.

‘As I was sitting there, a gale blew a big reed into my mouth. I spat it out and just as I got up to walk away two guys (enforcement officers) came up to me,’ he said.

Mr Marsh claimed one of the officers in the seaside town shouted ‘Hey you, we’ve got reason to believe you’ve been spitting’.

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‘It was all unnecessary and all out of proportion.’ Mr Marsh said, claiming he called the officer a ‘silly boy’.

A fine of £250 was issued in February, which was later reduced on appeal to £150. Mr Marsh had no choice but to pay.

Roy Marsh says it could’ve happened to anybody (Credits: Getty Images)

‘It was something that could have happened to anyone,’ he said. ‘It’s left me anxious about going out.’

The grandfather-of-two said: ‘I was shocked when they approached me. I don’t know where they appeared from.

‘I’ve been back down there filming today for the local TV news and it was windy again – a leaf smacked me right in the face while we were walking so it could have happened again.’

His 76-year-old wife Anne who helped her husband run a taxi firm before their retirement, said: ‘Roy didn’t spit – how many 86-year-olds do you know who go around spitting? It’s a dirty habit.

‘This really upset him. We’ve watched these officers approach many older people since. It’s like they are bullies.’

The matter was brought to light by their daughter Jane, who posted on Facebook that she was ‘disgusted’.

Ms Fitzpatrick wrote: ‘Recently Dad who has walking difficulties but does his best to walk every day around the boating lake, inhaled a small leaf that made him choke

‘Dad has severe asthma and a heart condition, he managed to cough up the leaf and spit it out. (just the leaf).’

She claimed to have seen enforcement officials approach older people ‘many times’, and even if they pick up litter and apologise or it falls out of their pocket accidentally they are still pressured into a fine.

‘While it is important to keep our town clean, and yes I absolutely agree, the beach is often left in a disgusting state, these officers are unreasonably harassing and terrorising older people. It is a total disgrace,’ she said.

East Lindsey District Council said enforcement teams, who work on behalf of the authority, would ‘only approach individuals who have been seen committing environmental crime offences’.

The council said it closely monitored enforcement actions and patrols were ‘not targeted at any specific demographic’ and are ‘no discriminatory’.

Councillor Martin Foster, the portfolio holder for operational services, said ‘The council closely monitors data on enforcement actions, including those relating to such things as littering, fly-tipping and dog-related offences.

‘Our ultimate aim is to invoke a change in behaviour and stop people committing environmental crime so residents and visitors can enjoy a clean and safe environment.’

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Zendaya and Robert Pattinson’s ‘wedding invite’ has left fans utterly confused

Zendaya and Robert Pattinson’s new movie has already confused fans (Picture: A24)

Movie lovers were thrown into confusion after Zendaya and Robert Pattinson’s wedding-themed announcement on social media.

The Euphoria star, 29, shared an Instagram photo of herself in the lap of the Batman star, showing off a flashy engagement ring.

The text over the photo reads: ‘You are cordially invited to The Drama, written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli. Save the date, April 3’, with the caption joking that a ‘formal invitation [is] to follow’.

However, for fans not looking closely enough, the understated first look at the newly announced A24 movie featuring the two Hollywood stars as our leads did leave some doing a double-take.

Given Zendaya’s high-profile engagement to Spider-Man co-star Tom Holland, some thought it was a public invite to their actual wedding – and wondered why Robert was there rather than the man of the hour.

‘Why I thought this was you and Tom’s wedding invitation for a second,’ itschristiangray wrote on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DSC5egKDgts/?igsh=MXB0cGF2eHhveTFpMw%3D%3D

Of course, in real life, Zendaya is engaged to Spider-Man co-star Tom Holland (Picture: Getty)

‘I didn’t see that this was a movie and I got so confused I was like “that’s not Tom Holland”, but it’s ok,’ elyc2009 added.

‘I WAS SO CONFUSED,’ evidablade commented.

‘Girl I thought u were engaged to Robert Pattinson,’ das2muchh said.

‘I thought we were getting invited to the wedding omg,’ myasophia shared.

‘The pose and the ring caught me off guard,’ maisha_zepho agreed.

‘Took me a while to realise that it’s Robert Pattinson,’ iateyourbiryani joked.

‘Girl we thought you were engaged to spiderman not batman,’ likaydaa joked.

But once people got over the confusion and with the programme – there has mainly been excitement.

‘Dear God, I don’t know what I did to deserve this, but I’m just so happy to be alive in this generation,’ jakiah_417 declared.

‘Well this is everything,’ kyramerritt echoed.

‘The Zendaya 2026 takeover begins now!’ chuuzus posted.

Fans who weren’t paying attention got Robert and Tom thoroughly mixed up (Picture: Getty)

The new movie currently doesn’t have a plot (Picture: Getty)

The plot of the actual movie is being kept under wraps, with Variety reporting it is about a romance that ‘takes an unexpected turn before the big day.’

This marks the first project the pair will be on together, but not the last. Both have also been cast in Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey, an epic which will land in cinemas in July 2026, as well as Dune: Part Three in December.

As for Zendaya’s real-life engagement, the couple is maintaining their stance of keeping their private life away from the public spotlight, so not much is known about their wedding plans.

The Challengers’ star was first spotted wearing the ring at the Golden Globes in January, with various people in their lives, including Tom’s dad and Marvel co-star Jacob Batalon, confirming it over the months.

Then, in September, a clip from a panel at The Beverage Forum in April, Tom was heard correcting the interviewer who referred to Zendaya as his ‘girlfriend’ with a quickfire ‘fiancé’.

Whether real or fictional, we’re here for all Zendaya’s milestones, so, like the rest of the globe, we’ll be seated come April 3, 2026.

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Predator banned from every UK hotel after trapping and sexually assaulting worker

Brett Whittaker launched the attack in a North Yorkshire hotel (Picture: SWNS)

A sex offender has been banned from staying in any hotel, B&B or guesthouse in the UK after subjecting a staff member to horrific abuse.

Brett Whittaker, 44, was told he cannot check into any paid accommodation for 10 years – unless he gives police two days’ notice.

The order was imposed after he launched a terrifying sex attack inside a hotel in North Yorkshire, trapping a staff member in a room and assaulting him in four different ways.

The victim had simply been trying to deal with Whittaker’s complaint that his room was too hot, and later told York Crown Court that the attack had affected him so much he needed counselling and medical help, and had been unable to continue working for the hotel.

Whittaker also behaved sexually towards a woman who was having a vape at the hotel.

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Judge Simon Hickey made Whittaker subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order that bans him from staying in any paid accommodation unless he tells police.

Jailing him, the judge said: ‘You have a propensity to assault not just young females but also young males.’

Referencing the attacks on the hotel employee, he told Whittaker: ‘He was trapped in a room by you [who was] much bigger, much stronger and in drink.’

Defence barrister Giles Grant said Whittaker’s work as a labourer had taken him all over the country.

Whittaker was put on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and will have to notify the police where he lives, among other conditions.

The hotel employee had to give evidence against Whittaker as the 44-year-old of no fixed address denied four charges of sexually assaulting him.

A York jury convicted him unanimously in less than two hours on what the judge called ‘overwhelming evidence’ against him, including the defendant’s DNA left when he kissed the employee.

The jury heard Whittaker had two previous convictions for sexual assault, but was unaware he had also been convicted of trying to cause a child to watch a sexual act.

After the verdicts, Mr Grant said the four assaults on the hotel employee were part of the same continuous event and that alcohol had been involved.

Whittaker had an ongoing issue with alcohol and had told his barrister that he had abstained from drinking since being released from prison.

He had been held on remand for two months after his arrest earlier this year.

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When will 2026 F1 season start? Full schedule, driver line-up, team news and everything confirmed so far

Lando Norris won his first F1 title to culminate a topsy-turvy 2025 season (Picture: Getty)

After a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 F1 season, attention now turns to the new season, which features new teams, new drivers and a host of new rules.

While Max Verstappen won his third consecutive race in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, the four-time champion had to settle for second place in the end-of-season standings as Lando Norris won his maiden F1 drivers’ title.

Norris knew that a podium finish at the season finale would be enough for him to clinch the title and he duly came home in third-place.

The 26-year-old becomes the 11th British driver to win the F1 drivers’ title and the first for McLaren since Sir Lewis Hamilton’s maiden triumph in 2008.

After taking his time to celebrate, Norris will then turn his attention towards preparing to defend his title next season, which begins in just under three months.

Here’s everything we know ahead of the 2026 F1 season, including the race calendar, team news, confirmed grid and rule changes for the new season.

When will F1 2026 start?

Lewis Hamilton will look to improve after a poor first season at Ferrari (Picture: Getty)

Ahead of the new season, teams will have three pre-season tests, one in Barcelona and two in Bahrain.

The official season then gets underway on March 6 with the Australian Grand Prix, the sport’s traditional curtain-raiser which takes place in Melbourne.

The 2026 F1 season will maintain its 24-race schedule, with the Imola Grand Prix being replaced by the Madrid Grand Prix.

2026 F1 calendar in full

Australia – March 6-8

China – March 13-15 (sprint weekend)

Japan – March 27-29

Bahrain – April 10-12

Saudi Arabia – April 17-19

Miami – May 1-3 (sprint weekend)

Canada – May 22-24 (sprint weekend)

Monaco – June 5-7

Barcelona – June 12-14

Austria – June 26-28

Great Britain – July 3-5 (sprint weekend)

Belgium – July 17-19

Hungary – July 24-26

Netherlands – August 21-23 (sprint weekend)

Italy – September 4-6

Madrid – September 11-13

Azerbaijan – September 25-27

Singapore – October 9-11 (sprint weekend)

Austin – October 23-25

Mexico – October 30 – November 1

Brazil – November 6-8

Las Vegas – November 19-21

Qatar – November 27-29

Abu Dhabi – December 4-6

F1 2026 team news

The 2026 F1 season will see Cadillac become the eleventh and newest team on the grid.

Sauber, who finished ninth in the constructors’ championship this season, will also be renamed to Audi after the company completed a takeover in 2024.

What is the driver line-up for F1 2026?

Arvid Lindblad has been handed a spot on the F1 grid for next season (Picture: Getty)

Cadillac have announced Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas as their drivers for their first season on the grid. Neither driver raced in 2025, having been dropped by Red Bull and Sauber, respectively.

Elsewhere, Isack Hadjar will join Max Verstappen at Red Bull after an impressive season with their sister outfit, Racing Bulls.

In Hadjar’s place at Racing Bulls will be 18-year-old British teenager Arvid Lindblad, who is promoted from F2, while the changes mean Yuki Tsunoda loses his seat and will instead be a test and reserve driver for Red Bull.

The full line-up is as follows:

McLaren – Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris

Ferrari – Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc

Red Bull – Max Verstappen, Isack Hadjar

Mercedes – George Russell, Kimi Antonelli

Williams – Alex Albon, Carlos Sainz

Audi (Sauber) – Nico Hulkenberg, Gabriel Bortoleto

Aston Martin – Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll

Alpine – Pierre Gasly, Franco Colapinto

Haas – Esteban Ocon, Oliver Bearman

Racing Bulls – Liam Lawson, Arvid Lindblad

Cadillac – Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas

Rule changes for F1 2026

Along with team and driver changes, the new F1 season will see sweeping changes and a raft of new regulations brought in.

For starters, next season’s cars will be lighter and smaller, the weight reduced by 30kg to 768kg, the length reduced by 200mm and the width by 100mm.

Elsewhere, F1’s new power units will see a 300 per cent inrease in electrical power, meaning there will be a 50-50 split between electric power and the internal combustion engine.

The drag reduction system (DRS) will also be removed and replaced by two power-boost modes: Z-mode and X-mode.

The former opens elements on the front and rear wings to increase downforce and speed through corners, while ‘X-mode’ reduces drag to maximise straight-line speed.

Brought in by the FIA, the hope is that these changes will allow for more opportunities to overtake in races.

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Watch the awkward moment Sky F1’s Martin Brundle is rejected by Ana de Armas

Ana de Armas just became the latest celebrity with a VIP lanyard to awkwardly reject a chat with Sky F1’s Martin Brundle on his much loved Grand Prix grid walk.

The James Bond actress, 37, was flagged down by former F1 driver turned pundit Martin, 66, on the Abu Dhabi grid today before Brit Lando Norris became world champion, putting a stop to Max Verstappen’s winning streak.

‘Ana, Martin Brundle, Sky F1,’ Martin said introducing himself with his microphone on the grid, before asking the Ballerina actress: ‘Can I have a quick chat?’

It’s unclear what Ana said in response, but Martin replied, ‘Ur, it’s up to you,’ before the actress awkwardly slinked off. Elsewhere, Martin did nab a chat with legendary striker Thierry Henry, and didn’t even have to rely on his failsafe Gordon Ramsay.

F1 fans, who would have given pretty much anything to be on the grid chatting with Martin, took to social media to express their disappointment at Ana’s reaction.

‘Martin Brundle got ducked by Ana De Armas,’ pointed out @abishekdas73 on X, while @sewissupremacy said: ‘AnaDeArmas being ignorant disappointed me.

Ana de Armas appeared at this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for the most exciting date of the season (Picture: Peter Fox/Getty Images)

Martin Brundle is used to awkward celebrity encounters by now (Picture: Kym Illman/Getty Images)

‘Like why bother going on the grid if you’re not gonnaspeak to Martin man does my head in! If you’re on the grid expect Martin to come up to you ffs!’

‘Ana de Armas bumping Martin Brundle at the F1,’ noted @JonseysTweets.

Martin has previously confessed to disliking his much-loved and always brilliantly awkward grid walks, where he catches celebrities and F1 stars for impromptu chats before the race kicks off.

Always entertaining, we’ve seen Martin mix up the Jonas Brothers, Jeremy Clarkson give a sloshed interview, and the F1 commentator interviewing Lewis Capaldi’s brother thinking he was the famed Someone You Loved hitmaker.

While much of the time it’s all good chaotic fun, sometimes videos of stars snubbing Martin go viral for all the wrong reasons.

In 2023 model Cara Delevingne was accused of being ‘rude’ when she shut down a chat with Martin at Silverstone.

Taking to Twitter, the filmstar replied to a tweet that analysed what went on. ‘At this point, Martin Brundle is just doing it to manufacture the moment for the controversy of it all’, their tweet began.

The actress wasn’t keep to talk to the former race driver turned pundit (Picture: Mark Sutton – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

She joins a list of celebrities who have also rejected Martin on live TV (Picture: Mark Sutton – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

‘You can clearly see the PR rep tell him “no” and shake his head when he goes up towards Cara Delevingne. He had an out and he chose not to take it to make a statement.’

In reply, Cara wrote: ‘I was told to say no so I did. Thank you for seeing both sides xxx’

In a later tweet, she assured everyone that she had a great time despite the backlash.

‘Anyway, I had so much fun today and was so happy to be there no matter what anyone else may think x’, she said.

F1 fans have been vocal in their criticism of this kind of attitude, with the sport’s organisers introducing the ‘Brundle clause’ after the pundit was rudely shoved away by Megan Thee Stallion’s bodyguards and entourage at the 2021 USA Grand Prix.

The rule states that celebrities who are invited onto the starting grid are not allowed to bring their security with them, and although they are not obliged to speak to the media, they are advised and encouraged to do so.

Cara’s awkward moment led to calls for Formula One to re-think having celebrities on the grid, if they aren’t going to talk to pundits. However, other fans think it’s fair enough to say no to an interview.

The model was being hosted by Alfa Romeo at Silverstone, with the team’s Twitter account responding to a fan who called her ‘rude’ by saying: ‘Respect goes both ways: nobody should be placed in an uncomfortable situation or forced to do things against their will.’

She even got to wave the chequered flag to mark Lando Norris’ championship win (Picture: Bryn Lennon – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

‘There’s a reason why I’ve never watched back an F1 gridwalk in a quarter of a century of doing them,’ Martin tweeted in 2022.

‘You have no idea how much I dislike doing them but somehow those crazy moments have defined my professional career.

‘Oh well, that’s the way it is.’

‘I get ignored by Megan Thee Stallion, biffed out of the way by a man mountain and then told off by a Malfoy lookalike who doubtless was on his first-ever time to an F1 grid,’ Brundle would later say on the video moment with the popstar.

‘I have felt under pressure on the grid before but by people called Senna, Prost, Schumacher, Mansell, Piquet and so on.

‘Bodyguards visiting the grid for the first time don’t bother me, everyone’s got a job to do, but they could maybe learn some manners and respect on our patch.’

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Scotland given nightmare World Cup kick-off times against Haiti, Brazil and Morocco

Scotland are in Group C alongside Brazil, Morocco and Haiti (AFP via Getty)

Scotland fans will need to stay up late to watch their team at the World Cup as the kick-off time for their opening game against Haiti is at 2am GMT on June 14.

The Tartan Army’s Group C opener against Haiti at Gillette Stadium is scheduled to start at 9pm local time on June 13, but the time difference means supporters in the UK will be watching at 2am the following day.

Scotland’s second match against Morocco on June 19 is not much more appealing for viewers in the UK as that kicks off at 11pm GMT.

Scotland’s final group match takes place on June 24 against Brazil is also at 11pm GMT.

For fans making the trip over to the United States, Scotland’s first two games are at Gillette Stadium in Boston.

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Steve Clarke’s side will then travel to Miami for their final Group C match against Brazil as that takes place at Hard Rock Stadium.

Scotland’s World Cup fixtures – kick-offs times shown in the image are local time (FIFA)

If Scotland win Group C, they will play the runner-up in Group F, which contains the Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia and the winner of the UEFA Path B qualifying play-off- either Ukraine, Sweden, Poland or Albania.

If Scotland finish second in Group C, they will play the runner-up in Group F.

Scotland could also reach the knockout phase if they are one of the eight best third-placed teams at the end of the group stage. If they qualify via that path, Scotland would play one of the winners from Groups A, E or I in the round of 32.

Scotland's World Cup fixtures

Scotland vs Haiti | June 14 | 2am GMT

Scotland vs Morocco | June 19 | 11pm GMT

Scotland vs Brazil | June 24 | 11pm GMT

‘Bring it on,’ Clarke told BBC Scotland after Friday’s draw.

‘The draw’s fantastic. One of the big things in my head was no European teams.

‘So we are playing three top sides from three different continents of the world and that’s what the World Cup is all about.

‘Haiti as the pot four team will be difficult. They won their qualifying section quite comfortably, but we managed to win ours as well so bring it on.

‘Brazil, especially in a World Cup, is going to be a special occasion. The Brazilian fans are great, but the Tartan Army’s pretty special as well. We’re going to bring a little bit of magic as well, hopefully. It’s great to play them.’

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When are England and Scotland’s 2026 World Cup fixture dates and venues confirmed?

England and Scotland know their opponents – but dates are still to come (Getty)

England and Scotland now know their opponents for the group stage of the 2026 World Cup – but they will have to wait another day to learn when and where those fixtures take place.

Thomas Tuchel’s side will begin their tournament against Croatia in Dallas or Toronto on June 17 before playing Ghana and Panama in Group L.

Scotland’s first game at next year’s World Cup in Group C will be against Haiti in either Boston or New York on June 13 before they play Morocco and Brazil.

Wales or Northern Ireland would meet Canada, Qatar and Switzerland in Group B, if they qualify through their play-off games next March.

The Republic of Ireland could play Mexico, South Africa and South Korea in Group A if they qualify.

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The World Cup 2026 group-stage draw in full (Reuters)

Next summer’s competition will feature more games than ever in the now-expanded tournament with today’s glamorous ceremony in Washington DC dividing the 48 nations into 12 groups.

Over the years, we have traditionally learned final groups, dates, venues and kick-off times all on the same night.

But anyone looking to get their flights and hotels booked early doors will have to hold off until Saturday.

When are England’s World Cup fixture dates and venues confirmed?

Given the sheer size of next summer’s competition with 104 matches on the docket, FIFA have taken the decision to give themselves an extra 24 hours to ensure logistics are all correctly in place.

A separate ceremony will take place in Washington DC on Saturday evening, underway at 5pm in the UK.

Where will the World Cup group games be played?

Group A: Guadalajara, Monterrey, Mexico City (Mexico), Atlanta (USA)

Group B: Toronto, Vancouver (Canada), Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle (USA)

Group C: Atlanta, Boston, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia (USA)

Group D: Vancouver (Canada), Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle (USA)

Group E: Toronto (Canada), Houston, Kansas, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia (USA)

Group F: Monterrey (Mexico), Dallas, Houston, Kansas (USA)

Group G: Vancouver (Canada), Los Angeles, Seattle (USA)

Group H: Guadalajara (Mexico), Atlanta, Houston, Miami (USA)

Group I: Toronto (Canada), Boston, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia (USA)

Group J: Dallas, Kansas, San Francisco (USA)

Group K: Guadalajara, Mexico City (Mexico), Atlanta, Houston, Miami (USA)

Group L: Toronto (Canada), Dallas, New York/New Jersey, Boston, Philadelphia (USA)

England and Scotland fans will then find out when and where their group stage games will be taking place.

A FIFA spokesman said: ‘FIFA will unveil the updated match schedule for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in a live global broadcast on Saturday, 6th December from Washington DC.

‘This will take place nearly 24 hours after the world learns of the 12 unprecedented 12 groups of four the at the tournament’s highly anticipated Final Draw.

Where will England and Scotland play their matches at the World Cup?

Group C | Brazil, Morocco, Scotland and Haiti will play in Atlanta, Boston, Miami, New York/New Jersey and Philadelphia.

Group L | England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama will play in Toronto, Dallas, New York/New Jersey, Boston and Philadelphia

‘Unveiled by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who will be joined on stage by FIFA Legends, and in the audience, by representatives of all 42 qualified teams as well as those still in contention, the reveal show promises to be one of the most significant moments on the road to 2026.

‘Throughout the show, expert insights and reactions will be offered, breaking down the match-ups, analysing key storylines and providing perspectives on the host venues that will welcome the world in June and July next year.’

When does the World Cup start?

The opening game of the 2026 World Cup will take place between hosts Mexico and another of their group stage opponents at the Mexico City Stadium on June 11, 2026.

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