Kane's hat-trick seals Bayern's double as World Cup squads take shape
Harry Kane scored three in Berlin to complete Bayern's domestic double, while Thomas Tuchel's ruthless England call-up left Foden and Cole Palmer watching from home — and the clock to June 11 ticks louder.
The story
The 55th minute at the Olympiastadion in Berlin was when the DFB-Pokal final stopped being a contest. Michael Olise squared low across the box and Harry Kane arrived with the conviction of a man who had already scored 58 goals that season, rolling it into the bottom-right corner past Stuttgart keeper Alexander Nübel. By the 80th minute it was two — Díaz the provider this time, Kane the finisher again — and a penalty in stoppage time sealed an emphatic 3-0 win and Bayern's 21st German Cup. Kane's hat-trick brought his season tally to 61, a number that would be extraordinary at any club but at Bayern, in a campaign where they retained the Bundesliga, it cements the striker as one of the most productive forwards the Bundesliga has ever seen. The double is secured. Now Kane boards the England plane, with Tuchel's squad — minus Foden, minus Cole Palmer — and 17 days until the world changes.
Across the pitch
- Result23 May Bayern Munich 3-0 Stuttgart — DFB-Pokal Final, Olympiastadion Berlin — Kane hat-trick (55', 80', 90+2' pen), season tally 61 goals. Bayern complete domestic double.
- News22 May England World Cup squad announced by Thomas Tuchel: 26 players named. Shock omissions include Phil Foden and Cole Palmer. Bellingham, Saka, Rice, Kane confirmed. Noni Madueke surprise call-up (Sky Sports, FA official).
- Result19 May Arsenal crowned Premier League champions after Manchester City drew 1-1 at Bournemouth. Mikel Arteta ends the club's 22-year title drought — last triumph was the Invincibles of 2003-04 (Premier League official, ESPN).
- Injury22 May Rodrygo suffers torn ACL and meniscus — Real Madrid and Brazil winger ruled out of the 2026 World Cup. Blow for Dorival Júnior as Brazil lose their starting right winger (ESPN).
- Injury21 May Lamine Yamal ankle injury update: Barcelona and Spain federation agree 18-year-old will be named in squad but will miss Spain's first two World Cup group matches. Target return: vs Uruguay, June 26 (World Soccer Talk, beIN Sports).
- Injury22 May Hugo Ekitike Achilles injury rules the PSG and France striker out of the 2026 World Cup entirely. France must reshuffle a depleted attack heading to North America (ESPN).
- Result23 May Al Nassr 4-1 Damac — Saudi Pro League final day. Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to end the season. Mexican international Julián Quiñones (Al-Qadsiah) claims the Golden Boot ahead of Ronaldo (FOX Sports).
- Transfer23 May Mohamed Salah future: Liverpool exit appears certain as San Diego FC (MLS) and Saudi Pro League clubs — with Al Nassr reportedly leading — pursue the Egyptian. No deal confirmed; Salah joins Egypt's World Cup camp May 27 (World Soccer Talk, Sky Sports).
The Road to the World Cup
Days to kickoff. 17 days. The opening match is Mexico vs South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11. The final is at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, on July 19.
England squad — Tuchel's selections and omissions. Thomas Tuchel named his 26 on May 22. Harry Kane (his third World Cup), Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are the spine. Phil Foden and Cole Palmer — two of the Premier League's most creative players this season — are out. Tuchel addressed the controversy directly, insisting his system demands specific physical profiles. Noni Madueke is the eyebrow-raiser of the selection.
Spain squad — Yamal included, but guarded. Luis De La Fuente announced Spain's 26 today, May 25. Lamine Yamal is in the squad despite his ankle injury but won't feature in Spain's first two group matches. The target is the final group game vs Uruguay on June 26. Fermín López, who fractured a metatarsal on May 17, has also been ruled out.
Brazil — Rodrygo ACL, Neymar calf alarm. Brazil were already missing Rodrygo after the Real Madrid winger tore his ACL. Now sources tell ESPN that Neymar's calf swelling from Santos's 3-0 defeat to Coritiba is more serious than initially stated — recovery time may push beyond May 27 when he was due to join Dorival's camp. Brazil's road to the final runs through Group E (France, Norway, Morocco).
Canada — Davies hamstring watch. Alphonso Davies hurt his hamstring during Bayern's Champions League semi-final second leg on May 6. Canada's medical staff are monitoring him ahead of their Group B opener — they host the tournament and open at BMO Field, Toronto.
Host city readiness. Estadio Azteca passes final FIFA pitch inspection. MetLife Stadium's grass is fully installed and cleared for the July 19 final. On May 14, FIFA confirmed the tournament halftime show will feature Madonna, Shakira and BTS. The official soundtrack's sixth track — Anitta, Lisa and Rema performing 'Goals' — dropped May 21.
The match that stayed with us
Stuttgart held firm for 54 minutes — compact, organised, refusing to let Bayern's possession become penetration. Then Michael Olise collected a short pass on the right, drove one touch inside his marker, and rolled a low ball across the six-yard box. Harry Kane was already moving, arriving at the far post with nothing to do but redirect it past Nübel: 1-0. Stuttgart never recovered their shape. A quarter-hour from time, Josip Díaz — outstanding throughout — played Kane in down the left channel with a clipped through-ball. Kane opened his body and bent it into the far corner: 2-0. Then in stoppage time a Stuttgart foul in the box handed Kane the chance to finish what he'd started. He sent Nübel the wrong way. Hat-trick. Sixty-first goal. Domestic double. Kane walked off the Olympiastadion turf as Bayern's greatest-ever scorer in a single season.
Where the leagues stand
| League | What moved |
|---|---|
| Premier League | Arsenal are champions — 14th title, first since the 2003-04 Invincibles. Final day (May 24) decided Spurs/West Ham relegation. Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City promoted. Champions League spots confirmed: Arsenal, Man City, Man Utd, Aston Villa; fifth place Liverpool or Bournemouth decided on last day. |
| Bundesliga | Bayern Munich completed the domestic double. DFB-Pokal 3-0 vs Stuttgart on May 23, Harry Kane hat-trick (61 goals for the season). Next: Franz Beckenbauer Supercup vs Dortmund. |
| La Liga | Barcelona won La Liga, sealed with a 2-0 Clasico win vs Real Madrid on May 10 (Rashford free-kick 9', Ferran Torres). Hansi Flick's side on course for 100 points, back-to-back titles. Madrid face a trophy-less season. |
| UEFA Champions League | PSG vs Arsenal, Puskás Aréna, Budapest, May 30. PSG won the 2025 edition; Arsenal unbeaten in 14 UCL matches this season. Best attack (PSG, 44 goals) vs best defence (Arsenal, 6 conceded). |
| Saudi Pro League | Al Nassr win the title on the final day — Ronaldo scored twice in a 4-1 defeat of Damac. Julián Quiñones (Al-Qadsiah) wins the Golden Boot ahead of Ronaldo. |
Players in the news
| Player | Team | What |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Kane | Bayern Munich / England | Hat-trick in the DFB-Pokal final (55', 80', 90+2') — season total reaches 61 goals. Bayern complete the domestic double. Now joins England's World Cup squad for North America. |
| Lamine Yamal | Barcelona / Spain | Ankle injury means Spain's 18-year-old phenom will miss the first two World Cup group games. Included in De La Fuente's 26 announced May 25, targeting return vs Uruguay on June 26. |
| Rodrygo | Real Madrid / Brazil | Torn ACL and meniscus — ruled out for the rest of 2026 including the World Cup. A serious blow for Brazil's attacking options (ESPN). |
| Phil Foden | Manchester City / England | Shock omission from Tuchel's England World Cup squad, announced May 22. Tuchel's system cited. Foden joins Cole Palmer on the outside looking in (Sky Sports, Goal.com). |
| Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | Liverpool exit looks certain. San Diego FC (MLS) and Saudi Pro League clubs — Al Nassr reportedly leading — are in the race. Salah joins Egypt's World Cup camp May 27 with his club future unresolved. |
| Hugo Ekitike | PSG / France | Achilles injury confirmed — ruled out of the 2026 World Cup entirely. France's attack already stretched as they prepare for Group E (Brazil, Norway, Morocco). |
| Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid / England | Confirmed in Tuchel's England squad for his second World Cup. Arrives with Madrid enduring a trophy-less season — a point of motivation he hasn't shied from discussing (FIFA.com). |
What we’ll be watching
- Mon 25 May: Spain World Cup squad announcement — De La Fuente reveals 26 names at 12:30 CET, with Yamal confirmed but protected
- Tue 26 May: USA national team World Cup squad announced — Chris Richards ankle injury under watch
- Sat 30 May: Champions League Final — PSG vs Arsenal, Puskás Aréna, Budapest, 20:00 CET — Arteta chases the treble
- Sun 31 May: Remaining national squad announcements ahead of FIFA's June 1 deadline
- Mon 1 Jun: FIFA official deadline — all 26-man World Cup squads must be submitted
- Thu 11 Jun: World Cup kickoff — Mexico vs South Africa, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Sources: espn.com, skysports.com, goal.com, bundesliga.com, fifa.com, premierleague.com, aljazeera.com/sports, worldsoccertalk.com.