Tottenham‘s best piece of business this summer may not involve a new signing. Spurs are in for a busy off-season, with Roberto De Zerbi intent on overhauling a squad that has finished in the bottom half for two successive campaigns.

The Spurs board has vowed to a third season in the doldrums, and they know it’s going to take significant investment to turn things around. There has been investment during that two-year run, with Dominic Solanke and Xavi Simons among the pricey signings, but the results only further highlight the need to improve recruitment as well as investment levels.

Part of that recruitment strategy must include keeping hold of the club’s best players, and there is some good news for Spurs fans on that front.

Spurs aware of double departure danger

Tottenham are bracing themselves to lose Cristian Romero this summer, with the Argentine almost certain to leave North London. Romero has repeatedly called out the club over how things are being run, and while he has continued to be an exemplary leader on the pitch, it’s clear he is ready to move on.

With Marcos Senesi and another likely signing at centre-back, Spurs are prepared for Romero to leave, even though it is unlikely to happen until his World Cup campaign comes to an end.

But what Tottenham cannot afford is to lose their other starting centre-back in Micky van de Ven. The Dutchman has been one of the club’s best players for some time, and while he has had some troubling muscular injury issues, there is no doubting that he is a player to build a defence around.

Former Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou highlighted Van de Ven’s star quality, once saying: “He’s top. He could be as good as he wants to. You watch him at the World Cup, I reckon they’ll play him at left back and he’ll be unbelievable. Once he gets going, technically he’s good, his ability to cover ground is phenomenal. You’d set him up against any striker in the world, without any fear that he will get outmuscled and definitely not outrun.”

Spurs move to hand out new deal to van de Ven

Well aware of the danger of losing Van de Ven, who has been linked with clubs like Real Madrid in the past, Spurs are now said to be plotting a new contract for Van de Ven to keep him locked down.

Ben Jacobs reported on the Market Madness podcast: “Jan Paul van Hecke is a key priority, and that’s a clue in many ways that Cristian Romero is still expected to depart. Micky van de Ven, I think there’s a strong chance he’ll stay at Tottenham and sign a new deal, despite interest, because he’s really enjoying life under Roberto De Zerbi, and obviously Tottenham don’t want to lose both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero in the same window.”

That will be music to the ears of Tottenham fans, who will see Van de Ven as a player they simply cannot afford to lose. The Dutchman is under contract until 2029 already, but Spurs will likely look to add a year or two to that in exchange for a nice pay top-up.

The 2026 World Cup is finally here and, for the first time ever, 48 teams will compete at the showpiece international tournament.

More than 3.5 million spectators attended the 1994 World Cup in the United States – a record that still stands 32 years and seven World Cups later.

That record is finally set to be broken this summer as fans from across the world pay eye-watering sums of money to see their teams live in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Billions more will watch the action unfold at home, cheering on their teams while watching on TV.

2026 World Cup Fans Ranked

Ken Blaze via Reuters

But who are the best supporters at the tournament? Grok AI has ranked every nation’s fanbase from 48th place to 1st.

“This subjective list focuses on passion, loyalty, atmosphere (chants/tifo/noise), travel support, and overall reputation,” Grok explains. “It draws from historical World Cup behaviour, ultras culture, and fan engagement patterns.”

It adds: “This is for entertainment – every nation brings proud supporters, and actual 2026 atmospheres will vary by results, venues (North American hosts favor CONMEBOL/CONCACAF travel), and local turnout. African and South American fans frequently create the most memorable vibes; European fans dominate in sheer organisation and scale. Enjoy the tournament!”

Lower Volume but Present Passion (48th-40th)

Siphiwe Sibeko via Reuters

Let’s start with the teams at the bottom of the list, then. We’ve got most of the so-called tournament ‘minnows’ in this section including Cape Verde, Qatar, Curacao and Haiti, who were ordered by FIFA to change their kit design on the eve of the tournament. Joint tournament hosts Canada are there, too.

With smaller fanbases, it’s perhaps no real surprise that these countries find themselves in the bottom section. But they’ll all be aiming to punch above their weight over the coming weeks and months.

Good/Respectable (39th-31st)

Siphiwe Sibeko via Reuters

Next we have some of the bigger guns including Sweden, Norway and Belgium fans. DR Congo, competing in the first World Cup since 1974, are above them all in 31st place, with Grok praising their “energetic” fanbase.

Very Good to Solid (30th-16th)

Susana Vera via Reuters

Next we have 15 national team fanbases in the ‘very good to solid’ category, including tournament hosts United States. Iran are above most of the teams in this category, with their supporters described as “intense, loud and deeply committed”.

Spain and Portugal are also in this category, as are the fans of several African teams including Ghana, Ivory Coast and Tunisia.

Strong Passion & Support (15th-6th)

Diego Vara via Reuters

Joint tournament hosts Mexico clinch sixth place, followed by South American duo Colombia and Uruguay.

Scotland fans are in 10th place, just behind the Germans. Just outside the top 10 are the supporters of three African nations (Senegal, Egypt and Algeria), and two from Europe (Netherlands and France).

Top Tier – Elite Passion & Atmosphere (5th to 1st)

Maria Lysaker via Reuters

And finally, we have the creme de la creme of fanbases at the 2026 World Cup finals.

Morocco are the highest-ranked African fanbase in 5th place, just behind England, who narrowly miss out on a place on the podium.

Third place goes to Turkey, second to Brazil, and the number one spot goes to the Argentines – who provided incredible support for Lionel Messi and co. in Qatar four years ago.

Mercedes driving duo Kimi Antonelli and George Russell have reacted to the former’s towel being stolen by American media personality Kim Kardashian following the Monaco Grand Prix this past weekend.

Kardashian, currently in a relationship with Ferrari driver and seven-time Formula 1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton, has brought increased attention to the F1 world in recent months and that was taken to another level this past weekend in Monaco.

The race weekend at Circuit de Monaco was the first that Kardashian had attended in person since beginning a relationship with Hamilton, and her presence had the media swarming around her every move and trying to land an interview with her.

Kim Kardashian Centre of Attention at Monaco GP

Sky Sports’ Martin Brundle, famous for speaking to famous names on the grid before a race, attempted to speak to Kardashian, but was met with an unenthusiastic response by the 45-year-old and her entourage.

Kardashian would go on to witness her partner finish second in Sunday’s chaotic race, which saw seven drivers, including Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Charles Leclerc not finish. This was Hamilton’s third podium finish of the 2026 season, and he currently sits second in the Drivers’ Championship.

Hamilton was pipped to first place by the current leader of the driver standings, Antonelli, with the victory impressively being the teenage Italian’s fifth in six races this season.

Towel Gate at Monaco Grand Prix

The viral towel incident soon followed the raising of the chequered flag as Kardashian was caught stealing the towel reserved for Antonelli. Usually, there are towels left for the three drivers who finish on the podium at an F1 race to help them get cleaned up before the post-race ceremony and celebration.

This act by Kardashian likely left Antonelli confused and without a towel to wipe himself down after a long afternoon driving around the Circuit de Monaco.

Mercedes‘ driving duo have now playfully responded to the viral incident in the days since the Monaco GP through a funny skit in a new social media post.

The now-viral video shows Antonelli saying to the camera: “I was wondering, have you seen my towel?”, before Russell is seen stating that he has no knowledge of the towel’s whereabouts.

The video then concludes with Antonelli washing his hands in a sink, before looking up and asking: “Hey, have you seen my towel?”

While some F1 fans may be irritated by Kardashian’s new-found presence in the racing world, and be uninterested in her appearances at race weekends, the sport is likely to experience a new level of exposure due to her relationship with Hamilton.

It remains to be seen whether Kardashian makes another appearance at an F1 race weekend again this season or if she limits herself to only a few visits due to the mass media attention her presence causes.

It is reasonable to presume that she will next be there to support Hamilton for his home race at the British Grand Prix next month as opposed to the next couple of Grands Prix in Barcelona and Austria.