WORLD CUP NEWS
Daily World Cup 2026 briefs — every nation, written the moment the story breaks.
Julian Alvarez bidding war erupts between Real Madrid and Barcelona
Real Madrid have seen a €150m bid for Julian Alvarez rejected by Atletico Madrid. And here's where it gets wild for you, Barcelona have reportedly entered the race with a €100m offer of their own for the Argentine forward.…
Ljubo Puljić set to leave Bayern Munich for Atalanta
Croatian youth international defender Ljubo Puljić is set to join Atalanta from Bayern Munich. The 18-year-old centre-back, who has been part of Bayern's reserve setup with FC Bayern II, is making the switch to the Serie A side in search of a clearer path to senior football.…
Czechia kick off World Cup return against South Korea
Your team kicks off Group A Wednesday against South Korea. It is the first World Cup match for Czechia in 20 years, and the opportunity is massive.…
South Korea face Czechia as Kim Seung-gyu sacrifices for World Cup
South Korea begin their 2026 World Cup campaign against Czechia in Group A. This is your opening match.…
Saudi Arabia held 0–0 by Senegal as World Cup prep continues
Saudi Arabia played out a 0–0 draw with Senegal in a friendly on Thursday. It was a flat performance that has the Senegalese press calling their own preparation "worrying", but for Saudi fans, the bigger question is what the team showed ahead of the World Cup.…
Uruguay drawn with Saudi Arabia, Spain and Cape Verde at 2026 World Cup
Uruguay's 2026 World Cup group stage opponents are now locked in: your team will face Saudi Arabia, Spain, and Cape Verde in the tournament opener. The draw presents a mixed challenge for Marcelo Bielsa's side, Spain looms as the group's heavyweight, while Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde offer no guarantees in what shapes up as a tightly contested path to the knockout rounds.…
Brazil face Morocco in World Cup opener on Saturday
Saturday's World Cup opener is set: Brazil vs Morocco in Group C. And Morocco have already made their intentions clear.…
Valenzuela to referee Türkiye's World Cup opener against Australia
Jesus Valenzuela of Venezuela will officiate Türkiye's World Cup Group D opener against Australia. The appointment was confirmed on Wednesday, four days before kickoff on Saturday, June 14.…
Uzbekistan land Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo in World Cup debut
Uzbekistan's first-ever World Cup campaign will see them face a stern group-stage test against Portugal, Colombia, and DR Congo in Group K. The historic qualification marks a milestone moment for Uzbek football, with the nation set to make its tournament debut at the 2026 finals.…
Cape Verde five days from World Cup debut against Spain
Cape Verde are five days from their World Cup debut, facing Spain on Monday in the opening match of Group H. It is the Blue Sharks' first-ever appearance at the tournament, and they will follow the Spain clash with meetings against Uruguay on June 21 and Saudi Arabia on June 26, all first-time opponents for the island nation.…
Uzbekistan complete Congo DR's World Cup group as Wissa takes the spotlight
Uzbekistan have qualified for the 2026 World Cup and will join Congo DR, Portugal, and Colombia in Group K. That completes your group, and with Portugal and Colombia already confirmed, every point will be precious.…
Doué brothers clash as France stumble again
France played Côte d'Ivoire in a pre-World Cup friendly on Tuesday. The headline came from an unusual family duel: Guéla Doué scored for Côte d'Ivoire, while his younger brother Desiré Doué lined up for Les Bleus.…
Hiroki Itō pushed toward Bayern exit as Japan brace for Netherlands opener
Hiroki Itō's time at Bayern Munich looks over. The club has instructed his representatives to find him a new home this summer, with a price tag set around €20m.…
Norway tipped as World Cup dark horses beyond Haaland
Norway are being tipped as genuine dark horses heading into this World Cup, and here's the twist: the buzz isn't about Erling Haaland carrying the team. FourFourTwo's tournament preview points to a squad with depth across the pitch, capable of hurting opponents even when Haaland doesn't fire.…
Haiti join Morocco in Group C as Hakimi hits peak form
Haiti have qualified for the 2026 World Cup and will join Morocco in Group C. The Atlas Lions now know all three opponents: Haiti, Brazil, and Scotland.…
Joe Jordan and Scotland's 1982 World Cup revisited
Joe Jordan, Gordon Strachan, and John Wark have reunited to recall Scotland's 1982 World Cup campaign in a new BBC feature. The trio reflected on the infamous group stage in Spain, from David Narey's stunning opener against Brazil to the physical battle with the Soviets and the rueful what-ifs under manager Jock Stein.…
Bafana Bafana open the World Cup against Mexico
South Africa face Mexico in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup on Thursday. It's a full-circle moment, exactly 16 years after Siphiwe Tshabalala's iconic strike opened the 2010 tournament against the same opponent, Bafana Bafana walk out in Mexico City as co-hosts.…
Pickford among Golden Glove frontrunners as Tuchel handles Saka with care
Jordan Pickford is priced among the frontrunners for the World Cup Golden Glove, with bookmakers rating the Everton and England No.1 behind only a handful of contenders. Emi Martinez, Unai Simon, Alisson and Mike Maignan are also in the mix, but Pickford's reputation for stepping up in tournament football keeps him firmly in the conversation.…
Doku leaves training early but Belgium camp stays calm
Jeremy Doku cut short Tuesday's training session in Seattle as a precaution. The early word is that the issue is nothing serious, he felt some discomfort and the staff pulled him immediately.…
Gudmundsson isolated as Sweden prepare for Dallas
A Sweden player is being kept apart from the squad at the team hotel, reports Aftonbladet. The exact reason has not been disclosed, but isolation protocols at a World Cup inevitably raise questions about illness or a knock.…
Switzerland's World Cup base camp surrounded by rattlesnakes and fire risk
Switzerland's World Cup preparations have taken a strange turn after it emerged that the team's base camp is surrounded by a snake-infested zone and faces wildfire risks. The squad's official Instagram account posted synthetic images of the facility, which have drawn attention and unsettled some within the setup.…
Portugal draw Group K for the 2026 World Cup
Portugal landed in Group K for the 2026 World Cup alongside Uzbekistan, Colombia, and DR Congo. It's a group you can win, no question.…
Ecuador tipped as a World Cup dark horse
Ecuador have been named among the dark horses for the 2026 World Cup alongside Japan and Norway, with the Guardian singling out La Tri as a team capable of surprising deeper into the tournament. The recognition follows Ecuador's strong qualifying campaign, finishing second in South America, a feat that has not gone unnoticed in pre-tournament analysis.…
World Cup kicks off tomorrow as Canada's host moment arrives
The wait is over. The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins June 11, and Canada stands ready as a co-host alongside Mexico and the United States.…