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.
Former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has apologised to Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann for a comment regarding the team's lineup ahead of their 7-1 World Cup Group E opening victory over Curacao on Sunday after it triggered a furore back home.
Austria made a winning return to the World Cup after 28 years, defeating debutants Jordan 3-1 in a Group J opener. The victory was secured with a second-half own goal and a late penalty, following a tense match where Austria initially led, was equalised, and had a goal disallowed by VAR.
Qatar celebrated their first World Cup point after a late own goal forced a 1-1 draw against Switzerland and sent the Gulf nation into jubilation on Saturday.
South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, 35, missed the birth of his daughter to prepare for his fourth World Cup, which he believes might be his last. He is determined to perform well to make up for his absence and faces competition for the starting spot as South Korea prepares for their Group A matches.
Pakistan have been fined five per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against India in their Group A match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup played at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Sunday.
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.
Brazil and Morocco played to a 1-1 draw in their World Cup Group C opening match. Morocco took an early lead through Ismael Saibari, but Vinicius Jr's brilliant goal brought Brazil level before halftime. Despite Brazil's second-half improvements, Morocco's strong defence held them to a point.
Brazil is preparing for their World Cup opener against Morocco without star forward Neymar, who is recovering from a calf injury.
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.
Football fans in Kerala's Pullavoor village have created a unique floating stadium with cutouts of the Argentine squad in a river, showcasing their intense passion for the upcoming World Cup. This elaborate display continues a tradition of fervent fan support in the region.
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.
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.
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.
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said travel restrictions and visa-related disruptions hampered his team's World Cup preparations after a 2-2 draw with New Zealand, claiming Iran had become the tournament's "most oppressed" side.
PGA Tour winners Viktor Hovland and Ryan Fox are confirmed to participate in the second DP World India Championship at the Delhi Golf Club from October 15-18. They will join other European Ryder Cup stars like Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy, and Justin Rose in the USD four million event, which is a key part of the Race to Dubai.
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt has been ruled out of the next two Women's Twenty20 World Cup group matches due to a left calf strain.
Australia eased to a nine-wicket victory over Bangladesh for their second win of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026.
Former champions India began their World Team Snooker Championship campaign with a narrow 2-3 defeat to hosts China 'B'. The loss in the opening Group 'B' match means India must win their next game against Turkey to stay in contention. Aditya Mehta lost the deciding frame to Zhou Jinhao after Pankaj Advani had earlier levelled the scores.
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.
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.
Sarah and Kathryn Bryce's 106-run partnership powered Scotland to a first-ever ICC Women's T20 World Cup victory as they beat Ireland by 40 runs.
Pochettino expects a "very tough game" against Paraguay, praising their aggression and discipline.
Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma sizzled with the bat as India coasted to an emphatic 95-run win over the Netherlands in their Women's T20 World Cup match.
Esha Singh won gold in the women's 25m pistol final at the ISSF World Cup in Munich, setting a new world record score of 43. This is India's first medal at the Munich World Cup.
The England football team's training equipment, including players' boots and manager Thomas Tuchel's tactical gear, was reportedly stolen in Kansas City ahead of their World Cup opener against Croatia. The Football Association and local police are investigating, with two arrests already made.
The first-ever World Yogasana Championships 2026 are set to begin in Ahmedabad, featuring over 400 athletes from more than 60 countries.
Mexico celebrated a historic 2-0 victory over South Africa in the opening match of the World Cup at the Azteca stadium, breaking a seven-game opening day curse.
Sweden's star strike partnership of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres faces a stern challenge against Tunisia's rock-solid defence as the two sides begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F campaign.
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.
Mexico will kick off their home World Cup campaign against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca, carrying the pressure of fan expectations and a strong unbeaten run.
Democratic of Republic Congo's supporters are confident their side can shine at the World Cup and have a message for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Iran's World Cup team conducted open training in Tijuana, Mexico, after relocating their base camp due to geopolitical tensions.
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.
Thousands of people flooded one of the world's great urban boulevards on Saturday, attempting to set a world record for the Mexican wave - naturally, in the country that gave the beloved stadium ritual its name.
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.
India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, will rely heavily on openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma to perform against a challenging Pakistan side in their ICC Women's T20 World Cup campaign opener.
Japan captain Wataru Endo has withdrawn from the World Cup squad due to injury in a blow for the Samurai Blue, with the midfielder also announcing his retirement from international football.
Indian bowlers spun a web around Pakistani batters to kick-off their Women's T20 World Cup campaign with a winning start in Birmingham on Sunday.
England manager Thomas Tuchel believes they are in good shape heading into the FIFA World Cup and can "dare to dream" about lifting the trophy.
