Dermot Corrigan

Living in Spain, writing about football for @TheAthleticFC

[Dermot Corrigan @dermotmcorrigan]

Big read from inside Spain's WC win - with @polballus, @GuillermoRai_ & @MarioCortegana

https://t.co/0c9cSbKNAw

[James Pearce @JamesPearceLFC]

“I don’t know if I want to tell you this story. It looks like I am selling myself."
Extensive interview with Andoni Iraola here in Chicago on the letter he wrote to #LFC, coaching principles, manager who inspired him, and what fans can expect from him.
https://t.co/DT9Ztx3mfY

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

Spain are world champions once more, 16 years on from their first win.

How did they do it?

■ 'No doubts' after opening Cape Verde draw
■ Torres: from desperation to history maker
■ Imperious Rodri, motivated Yamal
■ Cucurella's De la Fuente tattoo promise
■ Even more united than 2010 winners
■ Celebrations with two million fans in Madrid

📝 @dermotmcorrigan, @polballus, @MarioCortegana, @GuillermoRai_

🔗 https://t.co/7flNeMhMRM

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

The 2026 World Cup was labelled the tournament of superstars, with many of the heavy hitters showing up on the biggest stage.

But Rodri’s performances - especially in the final - provided a reminder of why he won the Ballon d'Or in 2024.

You will struggle to find a more influential player from this edition.

📝 @dermotmcorrigan

Spain 1-0 Argentina Briefing: https://t.co/MJFRSI5TIs

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

🇪🇸

"No surprises in the Spain XI, with Luis de la Fuente sticking to the same eleven which started against Belgium in the quarters.

"That means Barcelona playmaker Pedri is again on the bench, but PSG's Fabian Ruiz deserves to keep his starting spot.

"Also held in reserve is goalscoring super-sub Mikel Merino, ready to sprung at some point in the second half..." - @dermotmcorrigan

🇫🇷

"Interesting France team news. Aurelien Tchouameni, who didn’t feature in the knockout games against Paraguay or Morocco, comes into the starting XI in place of Manu Kone. Midfield is the area where you sense that Spain might have the upper hand today, so it will be fascinating to see how Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot perform together.

"As for the France forward line, Bradley Barcola retains his place wide on the left ahead of Desire Doue – that must be such a difficult decision for Didier Deschamps every game, but what a lovely position to be in." - @stujames75

France vs Spain - World Cup live blog: https://t.co/fH0BNi9x6P

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

The back of his World Cup shirt with Spain reads Lamine Yamal.

But that is not his full name — and Yamal is not a surname.

Like many Spanish footballers, the 19-year-old goes by his first name professionally. In his case, that first name has two parts.

The story goes that his parents chose them to honour two people who helped them out around the time of his birth.

📝 @dermotmcorrigan

🔗 https://t.co/xE0NVTqnVE

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

Paul predicted eight out of eight games right at the 2010 World Cup.

He received a book deal.

He was subject to “threats” from Argentina.

A two-meter-tall monument to Paul was created after his passing.

The strangest part? Paul was an octopus.

@OliverKay spoke to those who knew him best — this is Paul’s story.

🔗 https://t.co/YrfSr5FdBe

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

Barcelona's Pedri is on the substitutes' bench for Spain's World Cup quarter-final against Belgium:

"Big call by Luis de la Fuente to leave Pedri out and start Fabian tonight.

"It's true that Pedri has not been at his best so far in this tournament, and Fabian did well off bench against Portugal." - @dermotmcorrigan

Spain vs Belgium live blog: https://t.co/dvqwflVa58

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

In three out of every four years, FIFA loses money. In the fourth, the one with a men’s World Cup in, it makes that all back plus extra on top.

FIFA’s 2023-26 revenue has been budgeted at a whopping $13billion (£9.7bn) — an increase of over 70 per cent from the previous four-year cycle. Of that $13bn, $9bn is forecast to arrive in 2026, with just about all of it attributable to the World Cup. Final figures will likely be higher.

FIFA’s scope is dizzying. The aim of returning as much money as possible to football means huge costs. To go alongside $13billion revenues, FIFA, a not-for-profit entity, intends to spend $12.9bn, leaving just $100m to bolster reserves.

Yet in each of the past two cycles, FIFA booked $1.2billion in surpluses, way in advance of its $100m budgets. Reserves already sat at $2.7bn at the end of 2025, even before this World Cup. FIFA’s cash pile has swollen to $1.2bn; the organisation holds almost $6bn in bonds, investments and deposits. An entity nearly laid to ruin by bribery and corruption just 11 years ago has more money sloshing around than ever.

📝 @CWeatherspoon_

🔗 https://t.co/ZrOSEXW36f

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

They convinced Brahim Diaz after a patient pursuit.

Ayyoub Bouaddi played for France’s U21s, but is now a World Cup star with the country of his parents’ birth.

Morocco went for Lamine Yamal, too. Spain had already made their move.

Back in 2014, the North African nation hatched a plan to raise their game. Diaspora players were a big part of that — and it’s working.

📝 @dermotmcorrigan & @MarioCortegana

🔗 https://t.co/tkIUbmS0xH

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

Does Spain's dominant display against Austria make them serious World Cup contenders?

📝 @DermotMCorrigan

Spain 3-0 Austria Briefing: https://t.co/5mfMmAtqvB

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

Santi Cazorla has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 41.

The playmaker spent the last three seasons at boyhood club Real Oviedo and confirmed his decision via social media on Thursday.

The former Spain international has ended a 25-year career that began at Oviedo in 2001 and saw him play for clubs including Arsenal, Villarreal and Malaga.

Carzola won two European Championship titles with the national team.

✍️ @nnamdionye and @dermotmcorrigan

🔗 https://t.co/qisfqihoKc

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

Tomorrow marks 32 years since the killing of Andres Escobar following an own goal the then-Colombia defender scored at the 1994 World Cup.

His brother Santiago wants him to be remembered for more than that.

In an exclusive interview with @FelipeCar, he speaks about his unbreakable bond with Andrés and his continued grief.

"I don't understand the death of a person who only did what he loved most, which was play football, entertain people, give joy to his fans, and give everything for his country, for his city."

https://t.co/55IJUwt0Mm

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

The Tour de France starts in Barcelona on Saturday, a city more known for soccer than cycling

But in 1992 the two sports came together, when FC Barcelona's players — fresh from winning the European Cup — took part in a race up the local Montserrat climb.

Pep Guardiola was the winner... or was he?

📝 @dermotmcorrigan

🔗 https://t.co/JBRQVaRIIO

[Dermot Corrigan @dermotmcorrigan]

Oh Brazil too, even more, in fairness

[Dermot Corrigan @dermotmcorrigan]

Oh Scotland

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

Lamine Yamal - and Spain - have arrived at the 2026 World Cup.

While Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior were all getting off to flying starts, Yamal was ineffective in a 19-minute cameo against Cape Verde.

But on his first-ever World Cup start in the 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia, the 18-year-old put in a first-half performance that shows why he belongs among that elite group of players.

✍️ @dermotmcorrigan

🔗 https://t.co/2blzBuSmwV

[Dermot Corrigan @dermotmcorrigan]

@CM_MalagaFoto Enhorabuena!

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

“Spain coach Luis de la Fuente had to make changes, and look decisive, given all the questions asked after the shock draw with Cape Verde in the opening game.

“Few will argue with the four decisions he has made.

“Once Lamine Yamal is fit, he clearly starts. Dani Olmo for Fabian Ruiz allows Pedri to drop deeper in midfield, Pedro Porro over Marcos Llorente is always a close call at right-back, and Alex Baena is a much better fit for the wide-left role than Gavi.

“Now to see how it works out...”

📝 @dermotmcorrigan

Follow live: https://t.co/YY7Bekqk9j

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

“The baby could arrive before the end of the tournament,” said Belgium winger Jeremy Doku. “I would like to be there.

"No father would want to miss that. I know that the federation is aware and we will see what we can do.”

This did not seem controversial. And yet, over the days that followed, those three sentences sparked a backlash against the 24-year-old.

The baby, yes, would be waiting for Doku on his return. That is both true and beside the point.

The birth of a child — particularly your first child — is a life-changing event. There is no substitute for being in the room.

You are not there wholly for the baby, even if those early moments of bonding are important. You are, in part, there for yourself. More than anything, though, you are there for the person giving birth.

Make no mistake: sport is a wonderful thing. It delights and diverts. It can seem incredibly important. It is also, for those who play it, a job. It won’t love you back. It won’t look after you when you’re old.

If Jeremy Doku wants to be there, that should be the end of it, writes @jacklang

FREE TO READ 🔗 https://t.co/xQIdBSiWox