World Cup Today: Live news updates from around the 2026 World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is in progress in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and you can follow the latest tournament news and analysis right here.

We will be live every minute of every day for all six weeks, right up to the final in New Jersey.

Get involved by chatting with us in the Discuss tab above or by emailing live@theathletic.com

Seattle showing off this morning

I am also travelling to the Belgium-Egypt match by bus. The system here is very good.

And Seattle looks fabulous this morning. This was by the gasworks near Fremont.

Emma Hayes' analysis a fantastic addition on ITV

ITV letting Emma Hayes talk tactics with a blackboard and then overlaying video (with telestrations) is a phenomenal use of expertise and analysis.

Absolutely love it — and kudos to the analyst for clipping that and annotating so quickly.

Early start for fans in Seattle

It's 9 a.m. PST on a Monday morning in Seattle and the bar is OPEN as fans in Pioneer Square watch Spain-Cape Verde on the big screen.

Sidny Lopes Cabral's remarkable rise

With Spain-Cape Verde kicking off in Atlanta, you all should be reading Andy Jones’ “State of Soccer” story on Cape Verde defender Sidny Lopes Cabral.

Cabral’s had a remarkable rise in his soccer career. He began in the German fifth tier. Now, the defender is on Benfica and played in the Champions League against Real Madrid.

Here is Andy on what makes Cabral someone to watch:

📝: “The 23-year-old is primarily a defender but is versatile and has played in both full-back and wide midfield roles this season.

“His performances for Amadora caught the eye, including a hat-trick in a 5-3 defeat to Casa Pia, and Benfica signed him for around €6million in January.”

Deschamps not underestimating Senegal

France have arrived in New York/New Jersey for their opening match tomorrow against Senegal. This one is hotly anticipated as anyone who remembers the Senegalese upsetting the then World Cup holders in the opening game of the 2002 edition, which caused serious shockwaves.

France coach Didier Deschamps fielded a few questions relating to that, and there was a lost in translation moment as he was asked about a defeat 24 hours before. Well, it’s 24 years. Deschamps has been part of Les Bleus for many decades as both player and manager, but conveniently wasn’t part of the scene in 2002, which was an absolute nadir of a tournament for France. “I know you like this revenge but there is no revenge in football,” he said. “This will be another story to write. We will do what we can to make sure the result is positive for us this time.”

“We have respect for everyone. Senegal are one of the best African countries and one of the best in the world so we know what to expect from this first game.”

While he noted the inevitability of France being one of the favourites having been in consecutive finals, he also pointed out that for a good number of his players this will be their first World Cup.

There was a question on behalf of the imprisoned journalist Christoph Gleizes, whose parents came to the US to speak on his behalf. He is accredited by FIFA but currently serving a highly disputed seven year sentence in an Algerian prison. Deschamps used his platform to express hopes that he will be released and be able to attend this World Cup.

The question that was relayed by a colleague concerned hydration breaks, and the impact that has for a coach who is now able to impart information to his team four times during a game instead of just pre-match and half time.

“It is a good thing for coaches,” he said. “You can get players close to you and it gives you the opportunity to adjust a couple of things.”

Ngolo Kante, one of France’s most experienced players and a former winner from the 2018 World Cup, also did not seem too troubled by the new intermissions as the heat, he reckoned, takes some getting used to.

Didier Deschamps addresses the press

The France manager has spoken to the press ahead of his side's opening game against Senegal.

He spoke about the water breaks in detail, saying:

"These hydration breaks... you can get players close to you and it gives you the opportunity to adjust a couple of things. With these high temperatures it is important to give the extra opportunities to the head coach. It’s a good thing for coaches. It does lead to us splitting the game and if you are in a strong position it means you have to start again."

Deschamps is certainly not underestimating the opposition, explaining:

"When you see what Senegal did in AFCON, of course they are a very high level team."

As The Athletic reported earlier today, Tunisia head coach Sabri Lamouchi is set to be fired after his side's disastrous loss to Sweden. Once the news is confirmed then Lamouchi will join an unwanted (and very small) list of managers to be dismissed during a World Cup. Quirkily, each of the previous three instances all happened at the 1998 edition,

Barred Somali referee to be paid in full

It will be scant consolation having been deprived of the experience of a lifetime but Somali referee Omar Artan will be paid in full by FIFA despite being barred from the World Cup.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said the situation involving Artan was “unfortunate”, but could not help but adding “we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces”.

Leon Imber and Dan Sheldon have the details here.

Ever wondered what our football news correspondent Matt Slater would look like running up the iconic steps from the Rocky movies? Wonder no more!

Tunisia set to sack manager after one World Cup game

There are kneejerk reactions and then there is this.

Tunisia look set to sack their head coach Sabri Lamouchi after only one World Cup game, the 5-1 defeat to Sweden.

It makes more sense when one considers he has been in charge for five months and the team has recorded just a solitary win in that time.

Perhaps the nation is hoping to emulate the Ivory Coast, who replaced their manager two matches into the last Africa Cup of Nations and ultimately won the tournament.

Nnamdi Onyeagwara has more details here.

Good morning from Seattle, where we may see a record high today. The forecast calls for 87 degrees by halftime of today’s Belgium-Egypt match at Lumen field, er, Seattle Stadium. For those wondering about USA-Australia on Friday, it's expected to cool off by then and be a delightful day in the 70s.

A little update on what was a brewing controversy between Julian Nagelsmann and Jurgen Klopp.

Klopp was heavily criticised in the German media — and by Andreas Moller, Stefan Effenberg and Lothar Matthaus — for making a rather off-hand comment a few days ago. He was naming his preferred lineup ahead of the Curacao game, after which he said “fortunately, Julian Nagelsmann is still picking the team — for now.”

He then repeated the “for now” bit, which came across as a bit of a swipe at Nagelsmann. It was easy to read too much into it, given that Klopp has often been rumoured to be Nagelsmann’s successor.

Everyone had their say, especially that trio of former German internationals, but Klopp apologised to Nagelsmann on-air last night, following the 7-1 win.

💬 “It was too late, I was on TV,” he said on Magenta. “It just slipped out carelessly, it meant nothing. What I’ve realized is: I’ll be 59 the day after tomorrow – and I’m still an idiot. We’re completely on your side. Nothing will be done to disrupt the process.”

Nagelsmann graciously accepted the apology and the two shook hands.

In Klopp’s defence, this is the character he’s been playing on television. He and Thomas Muller are working together as pundits and are leaning-in to a fan-in-the-stadium dynamic. Klopp wore a Germany shirt for the game yesterday, so you get the idea. He and Muller are there to provide some knockabout fun which, in this instance, got a bit loose.

This is Germany though, so it’s compulsory to have a big argument about it, with everyone giving their opinion. And, inevitably, here I am doing exactly that.

Australia embracing drinks break burgers

To expand on the ubiquitous hydration breaks phenomenon and quarterization of football, viewers in Australia get full-on ad breaks for every one thanks to their domestic broadcaster, SBS.

Not only that. The breaks also have their own sponsor.

Yes, they are “proudly” called the “Maccas Match Break” — paid for by McDonalds.

Other fast food joints are available, of course. And bearing in mind a lot of these games are taking place in the early hours of the morning in Australia, if you do get the urge while your favorite players are having a drink, I’m guessing you’d be limited to the breakfast menu?

I’m not even sure if I know what that kicks in from!

Van Djik not a fan of constant breaks

Hydration breaks for an indoor stadium were a bit of an odd scene at Dallas Stadium last night.

Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk was not a fan, both as a player against Japan and as a viewer since the World Cup began.

💬 “Hydration breaks are really interesting, because I was watching almost all the games up until today. Every time going to commercial, it’s a bit I (don’t) like.

“For the neutral watchers on TV, it’s also not great. If it’s really hot, obviously it would be good to put them in. But you have to look at it in every game separately, in my opinion.

“I think I’ve said enough already.”

It really was quite the day of World Cup action yesterday too. There were four games and 19 goals!

That works out at a goal every 19 minutes. Which doesn’t feel very normal.

Germany were the big winners, taking charge of Group E with a 7-1 thrashing of World Cup debutants Curacao in Houston. That felt a little ruthless.

Meanwhile, Tunisia totally deserved their 5-1 hiding at the hands of Sweden in Group F. You should catch Yasin Ayari’s two fabulous goalless if you can. Both were sensational strikes.

The Netherlands and Japan are playing catchup to the Swedes in that group, after sharing that previously mentioned 2-2 draw in Dallas.

The other fixture was a 1-0 win for Ivory Coast over Ecuador secured by Manchester United forward Amad in the 90th minute — but there could have easily been far more goals in this one in Group E.

Here’s to more of the same today.

Pacific Northwest journey continues

I have made it to Seattle. Two cities down and I’ve been impressed by the number of bars, pubs and restaurants committing to the World Cup.

First game here is today, when Mohamed Salah’s Egypt takes on Kevin De Bruyne’s Belgium.

Here is where I watched the Sweden vs. Tunisia match last night.

Japan fans with another trademark cleanup

Japan’s soccer fans have become known around the world for leaving stadiums spotless before they depart — and it was no different after their thrilling 2-2 draw in the World Cup against Netherlands last night.

Minutes after Daichi Kamada had equalised to earn Japan a point in their opening game in Group F, their fans were tidying the space around them at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, picking up litter and disposing it in huge plastic bags they had brought with them to the match.

Japan soccer fans pick up litter after game, continue World Cup tradition

We’ve got a full four-game schedule of World Cup soccer on the way today — including a former world champion finally stepping into the spotlight.

We open in Atlanta with 2010 winners Spain, as they tackle debutants Cape Verde from 12pm ET in Group H.

Then Belgium vs Egypt in Seattle (3pm ET) pits Group G’s clear favorites against Mohamed Salah, who is still chasing the World Cup moment his career deserves and a nation craves. They have never won a World Cup match before.

Later in Miami (6pm ET), serial upset merchants Saudi Arabia take on Uruguay — the second game in Spain’s group.

The Monday action then rounds off with Iran against New Zealand at SoFi (9pm ET): a match where Kiwi defender in Tim Payne has become an inexplicable internet sensation overnight, while Iran have overcome a multitude of geopolitical issues and international tensions simply to make this tournament.

And that right there is the juxtaposition of a FIFA World Cup.

Good morning everybody. We hope you’re enjoying the 2026 World Cup so far.

We have just brought you live and in depth coverage from all eight group games across a compelling first weekend at the tournament — and now it’s Monday, we keep on going!

We are here to bring you all the latest storylines, narratives, chatter, news and reaction from around the world as this World Cup plays out in Canada, Mexico and the United States, with our team of reporters and editors based across the globe feeding in with their tales, observations and anecdotes.

And we would love to hear from you too. Subscribers can leave a comment in the Discuss tab at the top of the page, while those of you who don’t yet subscribe (you should change that!) can shoot us an email to live@theathletic.com

Now let’s keep this World Cup party going!