The chances of seeing the rainbow flick — some might call it a circus act — being performed at the World Cup this summer increased significantly on the back of Neymar being named in the Brazil squad. From Santos to Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain, Neymar has taken the rainbow flick with him and never been shy about using it. It’s showboating, plain and simple, and the sort of trick that would be guaranteed to get you kicked up in the air in lower-league football. Here’s a masterclass in how to perform it from Lee Trundle ⬇️ 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/7362386…

I've met Joe. He's definitely a genius. Just copy his picks and you'll be right.

Welcome to Stars of Soccer, The Athletic’s World Cup player guide. Lionel Messi is here, and there’s room for Cristiano Ronaldo too. There are legends of the game, the current elite, rising stars and others who really make their teams tick. They are old and young, some at their first World Cup, some at their sixth. They are players you should enjoy this summer, and we are here to tell you all about them (and how to pronounce their names). 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/7279880…

Can you pick more correct matches than our Soccer Experts? More than our analytics machine? More than a six-year-old child? More than a dog? Well, now is your chance to prove yourself. Build your Soccer Streak by picking as many correct matches in a row as you can. Get one wrong, and you start again. 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/pickem/…

Alan Partridge tries to explain the format of the 1994 World Cup finals with the never-to-be-forgotten Soccermeter.

Diana Ross waves to the crowd, throws her arms in the air and starts to move downfield. She walks and she runs and she skips. She fails to bring the microphone to her lips for one of the lines, making it obvious that she is, for the time being, miming. Fair enough, really; she has enough to think about. Does she know she is about to be responsible for one of the World Cup's iconic moments? This is the story of that penalty at the 1994 opening ceremony, just one wild element in a bizarre series of events featuring Oprah Winfrey falling into a hole, a peanut seller and an ‘astonishing’ lack of security around President Clinton. 📝 @JackLang FREE TO READ: bit.ly/49Nxb3C

Paul Lambert kilt klaxon

A cargo ship, a floodlit metal cage, 24 of the world's best players, and Eric Cantona holding court. Over three breathless, Elvis-soundtracked minutes, Nike's Secret Tournament turned a thousand playground daydreams into reality — or something like it. It was impossible to wrench your eyes away. Nearly a quarter of a century later, it still is. Here is an oral history of one of the greatest football adverts of all time, told by those who made it. 📝 @JackLang Free to read 🆓 bit.ly/4fWQbAu

Is global sport being hit by a tidal wave of fixing? Over an eight-month long investigation, The Athletic has learned that: ▪️Two players going to the World Cup have been reported to the national federations where they play their club football for suspicions of spot fixing. ▪️There have been highly suspicious betting patterns around games involving a top tennis player ▪️Hundreds of football games around the world have been flagged as suspect by integrity experts in the last year ▪️ Amateur sporting events, even games between minors, are attracting multi-million dollar bets 📝 @jwhitey98 nytimes.com/athletic/7306675…

Welcome to the first Transfer DealSheet for the 2026 summer window. In this edition we look at: ▪️ @David_Ornstein’s One To Watch ▪️ Expectation Morgan Rogers will leave Aston Villa ▪️ Bayern Munich and Arsenal interested in Eintracht Frankfurt full-back Nathaniel Brown Free to read via the link 🆓 bit.ly/3RH8Zd2

It is the start of the summer window and your club needs a goalkeeper. Who do you turn to? Well, The Athletic has set out to answer that question — with the help of nearly 40 experts, including technical directors, coaches, scouts, intermediaries, analysts and, in a few instances, people with important local knowledge. Welcome to The Athletic’s Transfer Tiers. This is our attempt to take you inside a recruitment summit and — as clubs across the world will do — talk you through the top options. These are our top nine goalkeeper choices for the summer window — and why. 📝 @SebSB 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/7306731…

“The Barca Foundation thinks it has contributed to the community, but what does it fix? The damage caused by Gran Tierra is irreparable.” The Athletic has spoken to more than 20 community leaders, environmental workers and other residents based in the remote Colombian region of Putumayo over the past twelve months about the impact of Gran Tierra Energy, an oil company blamed by the indigenous population for multiple environmental abuses, which the company strongly denies. By accepting funding from Gran Tierra, and allowing it to sponsor local events using Barcelona branding, local activists say the Barca Foundation is complicit in sportswashing the alleged abuses. Special report by @jwhitey98 and @mrendell ⬇️ 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/7288023…

The Athletic FC's 25/26 Season Awards 🏆 Live now ⤵️ x.com/i/broadcasts/1AxRnaQDw…

Tonda Eckert authorised a “contrived and determined plan” to spy on opponents in a “deplorable approach” that led to Southampton's expulsion from the Championship play-offs. #SaintsFC Full story by @PJBuckingham @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/7298364…

Exclusive: Southampton have lost their appeal and the players have been informed. #SaintsFC Full story w/ @mjshrimper @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/7293882…

“Unai Emery, mate… genius.” After Aston Villa won the Europa League - their first trophy in three decades - @J_Tanswell tells the inside story of how their season was turned around by a manager who is now immortalised in club folklore. ▪️ Crucial talks with Morgan Rogers ▪️ Complete faith from hierarchy ▪️ Doubling down on principles ▪️ Flight times changed by Unai Emery ▪️ Minimal celebrations after Champions League qualification ▪️ Extra player bonus for Europa League win 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/7289243…

The inside story of ‘Spygate’ and how it left the EFL in chaos: 📱 Incriminating WhatsApps by Southampton boss Eckert 👀 Analyst was supposed to watch Boro train a second time 🥸 Eastleigh disguise used to monitor Ipswich 🎄 Christmas Eve operation to snoop on Oxford 😡 Players left furious at club’s handling of affair 🐅 Hull anger at disruption to Wembley plans 📃 Saints feel punishment is disproportionate, confident over appeal nytimes.com/athletic/7293082…

NEW @TheAthleticFC Southampton players exploring their options regarding legal action against the club if the English Football League’s verdict to expel them from the Championship play-off final is upheld. Potential loss of earnings etc etc. nytimes.com/athletic/7292271…

22 years in the waiting, 6 years in the making: the title is Arsenal’s again. The squad gathered at Colney to watch tonight’s game, as they became champions. Here’s how #AFC won the #EPL - a title not simply won, but engineered. @TheAthleticFC 🔴⚪️🏆 nytimes.com/athletic/7291434…