Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has challenged himself to score more goals after a prolific couple of games for Scotland during the international break.

Three days after scoring twice in the closing stages of Scotland’s 3-0 victory over Cyprus in the nation’s opening match of the qualifying campaign for the 2024 European Championships, McTominay bagged another brace at Hampden Park against Spain in a famous triumph for Steve Clarke’s hosts.

McTominay had scored a grand total of one international goal in his first 36 caps for Scotland – several of which were spent at centre-back, admittedly – before these goal-laden few days. Only Denmark’s Rasmus Hojlund has scored more goals across the opening week of European qualifiers than McTominay – whose tally of four draws him level with former Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.

Basking in the glow of Scotland’s first victory against Spain in almost 40 years, McTominay reflected on his goalscoring past to Viaplay: “As a kid, I was an attacking midfielder and then I stretched a little bit, I got a little too big for that – the little ones in between the lines – but then I was more of a sitting midfield player. But I like to do both; I like to get in the box and obviously help my teammates defend as well.”

In just two years, McTominay grew 14 inches as a teenager and currently stands at a towering 6’4 (1.93m). The 26-year-old is yet to score a Premier League goal this season and has found the net once in England’s top flight across the previous two years.

However, McTominay is targeting an increased end product in the weeks ahead, pledging: “For me, I’ve got to keep doing that. I know I can add more goals and assists to my game and I think the last two games have been an example of that.”

Following the late summer arrival of Casemiro, McTominay has endured a struggle for playing time under Erik ten Hag at Manchester United. The free-scoring Scotland international has been afforded one Premier League start since playing the opening 59 minutes of a 6-3 derby defeat to Manchester City in October, the last game before Casemiro made his full debut. Yet, if McTominay can live up to his ambition of reproducing his international goalscoring form at club level, there’s every chance he could play in advance of United’s Brazilian stopper.

McTominay will return to Carrington with a bounce in his step after a memorable night in front of a deafening Hampden Park crowd which left the midfielder in awe. “Look at this place!” McTominay gushed. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Incredible. Incredible.”

Relaying Clarke’s prematch team talk, McTominay revealed: “The manager said this is our chance to create legacies as Scotland players and these are the nights in 20, 30 years that people remember and obviously they’ll watch back the games and say I was there or I had little children who came and watched the game. That’s what the game’s about.”

On this edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders, Graeme Bailey & Toby Cudworth discuss Julian Nagelsmann’s future and links to the vacant Tottenham head coach role, Barcelona’s ambition to bring Lionel Messi ‘home’, Brighton teenager Evan Ferguson, Florian Wirtz, Kalvin Phillips and more!

If you can’t see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!

Following the success of the unprecedented winter World Cup, FIFA will once again make history in 2026 when, for the first time ever, three nations will host football’s showpiece event.

The United States, Canada, and Mexico will play host to the next World Cup which is poised to be the biggest in the tournament’s history after FIFA announced that 48 teams will now be competing.

Supporters are in for a summer festival of football with over 100 games being played across 16 stadiums in 16 cities in North America.

Here’s everything you need to know about the stadia being used for the 2026 World Cup.

City: New York/New Jersey, USA
Capacity: 82,500

MetLife Stadium sits among the biggest stadiums that will host games at the 2026 World Cup and is the leading contender to host the final on 19 July.

Home to two NFL franchises, MetLife opened in 2010 and is situated just 8km west of New York City. The Jets and Giants, outside of the latter’s Super Bowl success in 2012, have struggled to bring much joy to the stadium since its recent opening.

City: Dallas, USA
Capacity: 80,000

Jerry Jones’ pride and joy. The AT&T Arena in Dallas, home to the notorious Cowboys, is regarded as one of the most aesthetically impressive arenas in the US.

While its capacity is officially listed at 80,000, the stadium can actually hold up to 90,000.

Dallas also hosted games at the 1994 World Cup, although it was the slightly less impressive Cotton Bowl that was used as the city’s hosting stadium.

City: Kansas City, USA
Capacity: 76,416

Patrick Mahomes has lit up Arrowhead in recent years, and some of football’s brightest stars will have the chance to display similar virtuosity in 2026.

Arrowhead seats approximately 76,000, making it the sixth-largest NFL stadium, and it holds the Guinness World Record for noise level by a crowd at 142.2 decibels.

The excitement is already palpable in Kansas City.

City: Houston, USA
Capacity: 72,220

NRG Stadium is a versatile, multi-purpose arena which opened in 2002. Football, proper football, and even a bit of rodeo are held here.

Home to the NFL’s Houston Texans, this isn’t an arena associated with glory. Although, it did host Super Bowl LI which saw Tom Brady’s New England Patriots mastermind the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history against the Atlanta Falcons.

City: Atlanta, USA
Capacity: 71,000

Speak of the devil, this is one of three NFL-MLS stadiums that will be used in 2026. The Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the aforementioned Falcons and Atlanta United, hosted the Super Bowl LIII in 2019 after its opening in 2017.

The state-of-the-art arena features a retractable roof and seats around 71,000.

City: Los Angeles, USA
Capacity: 70,240

SoFi’s official capacity is listed at a rather modest 70,000, but this stunning complex can hold upwards of 100,000 spectators. That makes it bigger than any stadium in Europe.

The recently-built arena, which is a sure bet to host several knockout matches at the tournament, does require a few logistical surgeries to ensure it’s ready for World Cup action, however.

If Qatar can do it, the Americans should be able to find a way.

City: Philadelphia, USA
Capacity: 69,796

Another 21st-century arena, Manchester United and Barcelona competed in the first-ever event at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Home to the Eagles, this stadium also hosted the 2015 Gold Cup final between Mexico and Jamaica.

City: Seattle, USA
Capacity: 69,000

Lumen Field is revered for its fervent atmosphere with the fanbase of the Seattle Seahawks being described as the “12th Man”. Seattle’s MLS franchise, the Sounders, is one of the best-supported in the country as well.

The stadium holds just shy of 70,000.

City: San Francisco, USA
Capacity: 68,500

The San Francisco 49ers moved out of their beloved Candlestick Park to Levi’s Stadium in 2014.

The more modern San Fran arena still has a long way to go until it even comes close to matching Candlestick’s legacy, but it did host Super Bowl 50 in 2016.

City: Boston, USA
Capacity: 65,878

Bostonians have been treated to nothing but success since the opening of Gillette Stadium in 2002. The uniquely-designed stadium is home to the New England Patriots and Revolution, with the former lifting six Super Bowls in the 21st century.

The frosty temperatures of Massachusetts, even in June, will be a far cry from the scorching atmospheres of Mexico and the West Coast.

City: Miami, USA
Capacity: 64,767

The heartbeat of ‘football’ in Miami, Hard Rock Stadium is the home stadium of the University of Miami and the Miami Dolphins.

Miami has plenty of experience in hosting major sporting events. Six Super Bowls have been held at Hard Rock, including Super Bowl LIV in 2020.

A party atmosphere will descend over South Florida in the summer of 2026.

City: Vancouver, Canada
Capacity: 54,500

Vancouver’s answer to the O2 Arena. BC Place holds over 50,000 and already has World Cup pedigree.

The stadium hosted the 2015 Women’s World Cup final between the US and Japan.

BC Place is also the home of MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps.

City: Toronto, Canada
Capacity: 30,000 (rising to 45,000 for the tournament)

Every stadium hosting games at the 2026 World Cup is, well, massive. The one anomaly is Toronto’s BMO Field which currently holds 30,000.

Although, the stadium’s capacity will be bolstered to 45,000 for the tournament.

The European-esque arena is home to Toronto FC, and its tight-knit feel helps facilitate a raucous atmosphere.

City: Mexico City, Mexico
Capacity: 87,523

An amphitheatre synonymous with the greatest sporting event the planet has to offer.

The Estadio Azteca has twice hosted the World Cup final and twice has the stadium seen two all-time greats cement their respective legacies. Pele’s Brazil were triumphant in 1970, while Diego Maradona inspired Argentina over the line in 1986.

The Azteca will become the first stadium to host matches at three World Cups in 2026, although it’s not expected to host the final this time around.

City: Monterrey, Mexico
Capacity: 53,500

Some might consider attending a match at Monterrey’s Estadio BBVA a spiritual experience.

It’s not the biggest, nor is it the most modern arena, but there are only a few stadiums in the world that can offer similar otherwordly views.

City: Guadalajara, Mexico
Capacity: 49,850

Guadalajara’s World Cup history is iconic, but this will be the first time the Estadio Akron has been used for such a major event following its opening in 2010.

Home of Chivas, the modest modern arena will not host any games beyond the round of 16.

The Europa League final may not be a bucket list event that, say, the Champions League or World Cup finals are, but UEFA’s secondary club competition will mean a whole lot to those supporters whose sides progress into the showpiece event.

Just eight teams remain in this season’s iteration of the competition with several European behemoths of yesteryear still going strong. Manchester United, Juventus, and AS Roma sit among the favourites to at least reach the final in Budapest.

While the final at the Puskas Arena is still some time away yet, tickets for the event are set to go on sale soon.

Here’s everything you need to know about purchasing tickets for the 2023 Europa League final

There’s little information to access regarding 2023 Europa League final tickets right now, with more details expected to be released later this month.

Thus, exact ticket prices for the final in Budapest are not yet known. These were the prices for last season’s final between Rangers and Eintracht Frankfurt in Seville:

A release date has not yet been revealed for 2023 Europa League final tickets. In 2022, tickets went on general sale on 20 April.

Supporters will be able to purchase 2023 Europa League final tickets via UEFA’s ticket portal once they go on general sale.

There are three different hospitality packages for the 2023 Europa League final, but all are sold out on UEFA’s website.

The most expensive of these packages – Private Suite Gold – costs €890 per person. UEFA’s Private Suite Silver package is €200 cheaper at €690, with the main difference between these two options being where the suites are located. Silver suites are behind the goal, while gold suites are in the main or opposite stand.

Customers in both suites will also receive a match ball.

The Club package also costs €690 per person which grants access to UEFA’s Sky Club lounge.

All packages include prolonged hospitality service before and after the match, world-class catering, a live TV feed, a parking pass, and, most importantly, a match programme.

The 2022/23 Europa League final is scheduled for 31 May and will be held at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary.