World Cup 2026 live updates: The latest news and analysis ahead of this week’s opening game

The 2026 FIFA World Cup finally gets underway this week, and you can follow all of the latest breaking news before Thursday’s opening group-stage game with The Athletic.

We’d also love to hear from you before Mexico vs South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on Thursday. Get in touch by emailing live@theathletic.com.

Get free access to the most comprehensive World Cup coverage in The Athletic app.

Our writers’ World Cup 2026 predictions: Winners? Breakthrough player? Best host nation? Shocks?

Thomas Partey, the World Cup vice-captain standing trial for rape

During Ghana’s pre-World Cup friendly against Wales, Thomas Partey’s every touch of the ball elicited a chorus of boos. For the duration of his 45 minutes on the field, Partey was subject to jeers from the home fans at the Cardiff City Stadium.

The vice-captain of Ghana has grown accustomed to that kind of reception, particularly on British soil. Partey, once of Premier League champions Arsenal, is due to stand trial in the United Kingdom on seven charges of rape and one of sexual assault.

The trial had been scheduled for November, but may now be delayed until early 2027. Before that, Partey has other matters to attend to — the 32-year-old has been selected for Ghana’s 26-man World Cup squad.

Ghana’s coach Carlos Queiroz has defended his decision to name Partey on his roster. “It’s a simple and basic answer,” Queiroz told a press conference. “As far as I know — in England and Portugal, wherever we are living in this world — until the court makes a decision, the presumption of innocence is on the side of all court cases.”

Kieran Trippier signs for Wolves

An England World Cup star of the past is on the move.

Almost eight years ago Kieran Trippier scored a goal that gave England the lead in their World Cup quarter-final against Croatia, only for Gareth Southgate's side to lose the game in extra time.

His England career ended in retirement almost two years ago but his club career goes on and, after leaving Newcastle United at the end of his contract, the 35-year-old full-back has accepted a new challenge with newly-relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Wolves were lacking many things last season as they finished bottom of the Premier League but leadership was clearly a major issue.

They will hope that Trippier, who has signed a two-year deal at Molineux, can become a major figure in the dressing room as well as on the pitch as they target promotion back to the top flight.

Wolves sign former England defender Kieran Trippier after Newcastle exit

Platini opens civil, criminal cases against FIFA, Infantino

Former UEFA president Michel Platini has launched civil and criminal proceedings in France against FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino, claiming he was the victim of a plot to block his bid to run global football’s governing body in 2015.

Now 70, the Frenchman was the strong favourite to replace Sepp Blatter as FIFA boss following the sprawling corruption scandal that engulfed the governing body in 2015.

But Platini, who had run European football since 2007, was dramatically forced out of the race within months of it starting when Swiss prosecutors opened an investigation into a “disloyal payment” of 2million Swiss francs ($2.5million, £1.9million) made by Blatter to the former Juventus and France star in 2011.

That cleared the path for Infantino, who had previously been Platini’s deputy at UEFA, to become Europe’s choice for the top job at FIFA, a role he has now held since 2016.

In the meantime, both Blatter and Platini received lengthy bans from football, and then faced two separate trials in Switzerland over the 2011 payment. But the pair were acquitted in both trials and then again after an appeal last year.

With the threat of prosecution now behind him, Platini seems set on revenge.

France legend Michel Platini launches civil and criminal cases against FIFA and Gianni Infantino

Fair or not, it's on the USMNT to define this World Cup for America

The 2026 World Cup arrives in North America as a faceless behemoth.

It will, by many measures, be the grandest sporting event ever: a six-week-long spectacle of soccer, culture and nationalism that will captivate the planet. It won’t be ubiquitous in the United States, because nothing ever is, but it will seize mainstream American attention. In some ways, it already has.

Its problem, though, for years and still today, is that it doesn’t have an American face.

It has superstars such as Lionel Messi — but so did past World Cups and so do domestic soccer leagues. It has thousands of people organizing it, but only one, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who wanted the spotlight. Infantino positioned himself as the spokesman and star salesman, but the American public quickly saw through his wildly exaggerated claims and self-interest. Millions of sports fans here are excited for the World Cup, but many have struggled to pinpoint the source, or the place into which they’ll pour their excitement.

And that, beginning Friday, is where the U.S. men’s national team comes in. The USMNT, as it’s often known, can fill the void.

Any player who scores a decisive goal against Paraguay in Friday’s opener could instantly become the American face of this tournament, and inject it with a breath of fresh, patriotic air.

Until then, the story of this World Cup will continue to be prices and politics. Its American face has been unvarnished capitalism. The two things your grocer or Uber driver know are that tickets were absurdly expensive and that Infantino gave a ‘Peace Prize’ to U.S. President Donald Trump two months before the U.S. and Israel launched an attack on Iran.

The ultimate USMNT World Cup draft!

A major theme of the 2026 World Cup is past meeting present, even if those meetings are not always friendly.

So we got three of our writers — Paul Tenorio, Tom Bogert, Henry Bushnell to join forces with former USMNT defender and The Athletic contributing columnist Charlie Davies along with special guest Tab Ramos, who has been to World Cups as both a player and coach with the USMNT, to run a draft of all players on USMNT World Cup rosters from 1990 through the present day.

Check out their selections here, and let us know which team you like best in the comments or by email: live@theathletic.com.

The ultimate USMNT World Cup draft: Picking teams of modern-era U.S. players

Scouting the World Cup on the pitch

Want to know which teams are primed to go deep into the tournament, which players to watch, and what tactics to expect?

Beat our experts (and a dog, and a child) at predicting the World Cup!

Forget March Madness or the College Football Playoff, the World Cup is the original bracket-buster tournament.

While two of the usual suspects typically reach the final, matches from the first game of the tournament through to the showpiece event are prone to underdog victories.

In 2022, Saudi Arabia shocked the world by beating eventual champions Argentina 2-1 in the group stage.

In 2002, Senegal defeated the holders, France, in a match with deeper resonance for fans in Senegal and across its diaspora, as France had ruled over the West African nation for 300 years. In that same tournament, co-host South Korea defeated Italy with an extra-time “golden goal” before reaching the semi-finals.

We could go further back to when the United States shocked England in 1950… but let’s not.

Anyway, having established that it’s often a fool’s errand to predict results at the World Cup, it would probably make sense for us to steer away from it, right? Right?

Well, after the success of our weekly Premier League predictions series run by The Athletic’s Oliver Kay, where he finished third behind our subscribers and a six-year-old child, Wilf (sorry Oli), we’re going against our better judgment to bring it back… for every World Cup matchday.

World Cup predictions: Match picks and advice as our soccer experts face a child, a dog and our subscribers

Check out 'The Language of Soccer'!

In a new series from The Athletic, ‘The Language of Soccer’, we spoke to supporters of all 48 participating nations in the men’s 2026 FIFA World Cup. Our aim is to capture each country’s unique fan and football culture, told through their voices.

We asked these fans to come up with a single phrase that best encapsulates the experience of being a supporter of their national team. We then put the suggested phrases to a vote, using supporters’ groups and networks to gauge the opinions of as many fans as possible. The winning phrase is the one you will see below and around which each country's story is framed.

This exploration of these nations’ rich and diverse football culture and traditions touches music, food, history, language, psychology and much more. We will be publishing all 48 articles before the World Cup begins, starting with one group per day and we will update this page as they come out.

Check out our ‘Language of Soccer’ entries for all teams in Groups A through H here.

Who is this World Cup really for?

If there were no sports calendar to honor, the 2026 World Cup wouldn’t be happening. Not now, with world leaders crushing eggshells all over the planet. Not here, with the United States serving as a contentious co-host. But the calendar doesn’t consult the moment. It just flips with indifference.

So we’re doing this. We’re really doing this. Hide your wallets and freeze your credit cards. Here comes the largest, priciest World Cup ever, right on schedule, forging into a volatile world unprepared to receive it. The scale of this event is astounding: 48 nations, 104 matches, 16 cities, three countries, one continent that made an eager promise of unity eight years ago. Put it all together, and it makes a stunning, poster-worthy graphic. The inclusion looks magnificent on paper.

Yet the great paradox of this historic, expansive World Cup is that it threatens to be the least accessible edition so far. There will be more countries on the pitch, but fewer ordinary fans can afford tickets to watch them. For many potential visitors, an obstacle greater than price gouging will be simply arriving without incident, not to mention feeling safe if they do.

The three neighbors hosting the tournament — the U.S., Canada and Mexico — once sold their continental cohesion, but now America is entangled in trade disputes with both of them. Seldom has the red, white and blue welcome mat been more conditional. The numbers suggest this is the biggest global soccer spectacle ever, but in reality, it keeps shrinking. And look at who gets squeezed out: the people who make it matter.

So who, exactly, is this World Cup for?

Who, exactly, is this World Cup for?

Somali referee denied entry to U.S. ahead of World Cup

A Somali referee who is due to officiate at the World Cup has been denied entry to the U.S. after “vetting concerns” emerged upon his arrival in Florida over the weekend.

Omar Artan arrived at Miami International Airport on a flight from Istanbul on Saturday but was barred from entering the country following a “routine” inspection, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed in a statement to The Athletic.

Artan, the 2025 Confederation of African Football men’s referee of the year, is one of 52 referees handpicked by world governing body and World Cup-organiser FIFA for the tournament in the U.S., Canada and Mexico this summer.

He was due to be the first official from his country to officiate at a World Cup.

USMNT training latest: Richards, Robinson both full participants

There’s plenty of good reason for the optimism that permeated throughout the USMNT’s first day of training camp in Irvine, Calif.

Star center back Chris Richards, who missed both of the team’s warm-up friendlies due to an ankle injury suffered near the end of his Premier League club season at Crystal Palace, participated in full. So did left wingback Antonee Robinson, who left Saturday’s match against Germany with what were described as cramps after scoring a spectacular volley for a goal in the first half.

Midfielder Tyler Adams did not train, but both USMNT officials and Adams himself downplayed any long-term concern, with Adams telling an autograph seeker he felt “good” when asked.

More from Paul Tenorio, Henry Bushnell and Tom Bogert from a picture-perfect day in Orange County.

USMNT vs. Paraguay injury news: Richards, Robinson in full training in World Cup boost to U.S.

The USMNT hosted an open training for fans today at its base camp in Irvine, Calif.

There were 5,500 fans in attendance. Really cool to see a lot of kids.

There were 32,000 applicants into the lottery for open training. Only had 5,500 spots to give.

USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino addressed the crowd:

“The most important thing is you feel proud about your team. One thing is sure: we are going to give everything to create good memories with you, for you to feel proud of your team.”

“I’m so proud to be here and I’m so grateful to the people.”

How FIFA's seeding system has changed

Going into the draw for this summer’s World Cup – which was held in December 2025 – the four highest-ranked FIFA teams were Spain (Euro 2024 champions), Argentina (World Cup and Copa America holders), France and England (in that order).

In the draw, first seeds Spain were put on a separate side of the knockout bracket from the second-ranked team, Argentina. This means if both win their groups as expected, they cannot meet until the final.

France, the third seed, and England, the fourth seed, were also placed on separate sides, meaning they will not meet until the final if they each finish top of their respective group.

France are on Spain’s side of the knockout bracket and England on Argentina’s, so these are possible semi-final ties – again, that’s subject to each team winning their group.

It is the first time the World Cup has adopted a seeding system for the top four nations, which is used in the new format of the UEFA Champions League and at tennis Grand Slams.

How do FIFA’s new World Cup seedings work?

Ronaldo, Messi set for more history

Moving onto the players, superstars Lionel Messi of Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal are on the cusp of becoming the first men to play at six World Cups — with the duo currently level with four others in having featured at a now-record five editions of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Croatia's Luka Modric, Germany's Manuel Neuer and Japan's Yuto Nagatomo have been selected for their respective teams' squads for this tournament and will all play at a fifth World Cup if they get on the field in the coming weeks.

Ronaldo, 41, also has the chance to become the first man to score at six World Cups — with Messi having failed to find the net at the 2010 edition.

Despite that blank in South Africa, the Argentinian has scored 13 times at the World Cup overall: three off German Miroslav Klose's record of 16. With a potential eight matches to play at this edition, the 38-year-old Messi has a decent chance of breaking one of sport's most iconic records (Ronaldo has scored eight World Cup goals).

A World Cup milestone this year

Overall there have been 964 men's World Cup matches, meaning that Tunisia vs Japan in Monterrey, Mexico on June 20 (5am on June 21 UK time) will be the 1,000th.

Brazil, who are the only nation to have featured at every World Cup, have played more of these games than anyone else (114), two more than Germany/West Germany. At the other end of the scale are Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), whose first-round loss to Hungary in the straight-knockout tournament of 1938 is their only game in the competition.

Of these 964 matches, the highest-scoring is Austria 7-5 Switzerland in the 1954 quarter-finals; with nine of the 12 goals scored in an astonishing 23 first-half minutes. This match contributed to the fact that the 1954 edition has the highest goals-per-game average of any World Cup, with 5.38. The lowest came in 1990, with the figure of 2.21 produced at that tournament in Italy playing a big part in the introduction of the backpass rule.

Finding this tournament's Group of Death

It’s a three-word phrase that instantly strikes anxiety onto the hearts of four national fanbases and draws intrigue from everywhere else.

Every tournament has one, though some are stronger than others. I agree with Mark Carey’s assessment that Group I probably deserves the title here. Consider the four teams therein:

But that’s not the only group that could provide some chaos, as Mark lays out. Keep an eye on Group I, featuring 2018 semi-finalists England and Croatia, and Group D, where the USMNT stands among a very evenly-matched quartet of teams.

Which World Cup groups are the strongest and which are the weakest?

Timber out of Netherlands World Cup squad

A massive, if not entirely unexpected, injury blow for Netherlands on the eve of the 2026 World Cup.

Jurrien Timber, the star right back for Arsenal and Oranje, has been ruled out of the tournament with the same groin injury that cost him several weeks of the late domestic club season. He has been replaced by fellow Premier League full-back Lutsharel Geertruida of Sunderland.

Timber did return to play over 50 minutes in the Champions League Final, which Arsenal lost to PSG on penalties.

Timber initially made Ronald Koeman’s 26-man squad along with his twin brother his twin brother Quinten, who plays for Marseille, and traveled with the team to New York. But he not not appear in the team’s warm-up friendly against Algeria.

Nnamdi Onyeagwara has the full story.

Netherlands’ Jurrien Timber to miss World Cup through injury, Lutsharel Geertruida called up

How the World Cup has expanded through the years

Only 13 teams contested that first World Cup in Uruguay, with the 2026 tournament featuring 48 sides for the first time.

Unsurprisingly, the upcoming World Cup will have more games than any previous edition — the 104 in North America this summer will be more than there were at the first five tournaments combined.

The whopping scale of the World Cup in perspective

The men’s World Cup is almost immeasurably massive.

It is the most prestigious, most lucrative, most-viewed single-sport tournament in the history of mankind.

The Summer Olympics can rival its global reach. But the Olympics are a three-week festival featuring dozens of different sports. The World Cup is a five- or six-week spectacle centered around one sport, the world’s sport: football, soccer, or whatever you choose to call it.

FIFA, which runs the show, says five billion people followed the last men’s World Cup, in 2022. And while that big, round number is dubious, the essence isn’t. The tournament touches and captivates nearly every corner of the globe. Entire countries stop in their tracks to watch it. While other sporting events have similar impacts on one or a few countries, none sweep up dozens of nations — and perhaps entire continents — like the World Cup.

Americans, in their patriotic bubble, lionize the Super Bowl. This year’s Super Bowl was watched by an average of 125.6million people in the United States. The 2022 World Cup final, by contrast, reached an estimated 1.42bn people worldwide. The comparison, though not quite apples-to-apples, demonstrates the almost incomprehensible scale of the World Cup.

How big is the World Cup? In a word: colossal