With Mariachi costumes, trumpets, and a sea of dark green support, Mexico City has opened the World Cup on Thursday, as fans packed the famous Azteca stadium ahead of the opening game between Mexico and South Africa, amid a backdrop of protests around the capital.
David Beckham has tipped Japan as a dark horse for the 2026 FIFA World Cup while backing England to end their 60-year wait for glory. The former captain also highlighted France, Spain, Argentina and Brazil as title contenders.
Spain arrive into their Group H clash against Saudi Arabia needing a sharper attacking display after being held to a shock 0-0 draw by World Cup debutants Cape Verde in their opening match in Atlanta.
Australia secured a commanding 98-run victory over the Netherlands in the Women's T20 World Cup, setting a new tournament record by becoming the first team to cross 200 runs. Beth Mooney's 74 and Ashleigh Gardner's 58 were key to their 219/6 total, while the Netherlands showed resilience with Babette de Leede's unbeaten 56.
Videos circulated online showed Senegal players being screened by airport security before travelling from Raleigh, North Carolina to San Antonio, Texas for a warm-up friendly against Saudi Arabia ahead of the tournament.
India's bowling coach hails team's "hungry mindset" after strong T20 World Cup start
New Zealand midfielder Sarpreet Singh, the first Sikh footballer to play at a FIFA World Cup, hopes his historic appearance will inspire more players of Indian and South Asian heritage to reach football's biggest stage.
A champions' mentality, a new generation of fearless players are some of the qualities that will have Saudi Arabia wary of the former champions in their upcoming Group H match on Sunday.
England midfielder Jordan Henderson has publicly defended teammate Jude Bellingham, highlighting his crucial role and 'X-factor' for the team despite media scrutiny. Henderson also discussed his own controversial selection for his fourth World Cup and the challenge of facing Luka Modric.
Australia's assistant coach Hayden Foxe states that the Socceroos are mature enough to handle media hype and social media comments ahead of their World Cup match against co-hosts the United States. Despite being written off by some US commentators, the team is confident after a strong start to the tournament, having defeated Turkey 2-0. Players are focused on the upcoming game, drawing motivation from past criticisms while remaining grounded.
Jyoti Gulia and Aakash have been added to the Indian boxing squad for the World Boxing Cup Stage 2 in Guiyang, China, after Boxing Federation of India President Ajay Singh intervened to ensure their participation despite not being initially part of the government-sanctioned contingent. Their inclusion expands the Indian team to 20 boxers.
Kylian Mbappe scored two goals, equalling Miroslav Klose's World Cup record, as France defeated Iraq 3-0 to advance to the last 32. The match was significantly delayed by thunderstorms, but France maintained control with Ousmane Dembele also scoring. Iraq's chances of progressing now depend on their final group match and other results.
Brazil is preparing for their World Cup opener against Morocco without star forward Neymar, who is recovering from a calf injury.
Brazil forward Neymar will not travel with the squad for their second World Cup group game against Haiti in Philadelphia on Friday as he continues to recover from a calf injury, the Brazilian football association said.
Carlos Ancelotti's Brazil commence their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against plucky Morocco, who come into the mega event on the back of some pre-tournament turbulence.
Germany, aiming to repair its international reputation after two consecutive first-round exits, begins its World Cup campaign against minnows Curacao.
The United States football team secured its place in the World Cup knockout stage with a convincing 2-0 victory over Australia. An early own goal and an Alex Freeman header sealed the win, despite the absence of key player Christian Pulisic. The team's depth was highlighted as they dominated the match, moving to six points in Group D.
When the final whistle blew, players embraced, danced and celebrated on the pitch as if they had won the match. Their joy was understandable. Against one of football's traditional giants and the world's second-ranked team, Cape Verde had achieved something few thought possible.
South Africa coach Hugo Broos said his side are prepared to face Mexico's quality and home-crowd advantage in Thursday's World Cup opener.
Sweden trio Yasin Ayari, Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres were all on target as they cruised to a 5-1 victory over Tunisia in Monterrey on Sunday.
Morocco, Norway, Turkey, Colombia, Mexico and Japan are among the leading dark horses for FIFA World Cup 2026, with each side possessing the talent and momentum to challenge football's traditional powers.
High costs, visa hurdles, and logistics for the World Cup are deterring fans, leading to a disappointing boost for US hotels, airlines, and the travel industry.
Cape Verde pulled off a World Cup shock by holding Spain to a 0-0 draw in the opening game of Group H on Monday, where the European champions and one of the tournament favourites could find no way past the debutants and their keeper Vozinha.
Iran launched their World Cup campaign in Los Angeles amid protests by Iranian-Americans, highlighting deep divisions over Tehran's government even as Team Melli drew passionate support from fans in the stands.
Norway defender Leo Ostigard has become a father during the FIFA World Cup, witnessing the birth of his first child over FaceTime before rejoining teammates ahead of Norway's crucial Group I clash with Senegal.
Scotland defeated Haiti 1-0 in a World Cup Group C match, with John McGinn scoring the winning goal. This victory marks Scotland's first win in the tournament since 1990, placing them at the top of their group. Haiti, despite their pace, lacked the finishing touch.
Iran threatened to halt its matches at the World Cup if unauthorised flags are displayed or slogans targeting the national team are chanted at stadiums, Iranian media reported, citing Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali, following criticism of the team's presence at the tournament.
An emotional Lionel Messi was wiping his tears with his shirt after scoring Argentina's first goal against Algeria in the World Cup, a strike that marked the beginning of a memorable performance where he netted thrice to secure a 3-0 win.
Brazil secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Haiti, with Matheus Cunha scoring twice and Vinicius Junior adding another goal. The win keeps Brazil in contention for the top spot in Group C, though their decision to ease off in the second half could impact goal difference in a tight race with Morocco.
Australia defeated Turkey 2-0 in their Group D World Cup opener, with goals from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe, placing them second in the group.
Despite initial challenges like unsold tickets and a rained-out fan festival, visitors are flocking to Toronto for the first-ever World Cup soccer match in Canada. Fans are drawn by factors such as lower drinking age compared to the US, cultural similarities, and Canada's diverse immigrant population, creating a unique and determined atmosphere for the tournament.
England defender Djed Spence will play in the upcoming World Cup wearing a protective mask after sustaining a broken jaw in a recent Premier League match. The Tottenham Hotspur player confirmed he will need to wear the mask for three months.
Switzerland found the keys to break down a resolute Bosnia and Herzegovina defence with four late goals in a 4-1 win thanks to a brace from Johan Manzambi and further strikes from fellow substitute Ruben Vargas and captain Granit Xhaka with a penalty.
Colombian superstar Shakira is set to perform the official World Cup song 'Dai Dai' at the opening ceremony in Mexico City, joined by Burna Boy, J Balvin, and Tyla.
With Kylian Mbappe's depth and experience, economists predict France are tipped to edge Spain to lift World Cup.
The mother of Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha will finally get to watch her son play at the World Cup after receiving a visa to travel to the United States, following his tearful revelation that she missed his heroics against Spain due to travel issues.
Displaced Palestinians in Gaza are overcoming power cuts, poor internet and ongoing insecurity to follow the FIFA World Cup, finding brief moments of joy and escape amid the hardships of war and displacement.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stated that India's roadmap for the 2027 World Cup, including discussions on senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, is confidential and not for public consumption. He also clarified that the BCCI adheres strictly to the Government of India's policies regarding bilateral tours, such as the potential resumption of ties with Bangladesh, without concern for the political situation in other countries.
A dominant 6-0 victory for Canada over Qatar in a World Cup 2026 Group B match in Vancouver was marred by a heated post-game confrontation between players and coaching staffs. Tensions escalated after two red cards for Qatar and Canada's continued attacking play, leading to a fiery exchange between coaches Jesse Marsch and Julen Lopetegui.
Kerala police have issued a warning about a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting football fans. Scammers are using fake OTT apps and social media advertisements promising free access to FIFA World Cup 2026 matches. These malicious apps gain control of users' phones and illegally withdraw money from bank accounts. The police advise downloading apps only from official stores and being cautious of suspicious permissions.
