#events
25 2026 FIFA World Cup articles tagged "events" — latest news, analysis and in-depth coverage.
EventsLuka Modrić: The Midfielder Who Outlasted an Era
Luka Modrić's World Cup story has, in all likelihood, ended — Portugal knocked Croatia out in the round of 32, and at 40, this was almost certainly his last. It closes one of the most remarkable ca...
EventsCanada Win Their First World Cup Match as Mexico Advance
As of 18 June, the second round of Groups A and B is under way. Canada won the first World Cup match in their history, thrashing nine-man Qatar 6-0 in Vancouver behind a Jonathan David hat-trick. M...
EventsMessi's Last Dance Begins With a Hat-Trick and a Record
As of 16 June, Lionel Messi scored three goals in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria in their Group J opener in Kansas City. It was his first World Cup hat-trick, exactly twenty years after his World...
EventsGermany Break a Record, Spain Are Held: Groups E-H Open
As of 15 June, the opening round of Groups E to H is complete. Germany hammered Curaçao 7-1 to become the World Cup's all-time top scorers, while Spain were stunned, held 0-0 by debutants Cape Verd...
EventsVozinha and Cape Verde Stun the European Champions
As of 15 June, Cape Verde produced one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history: a 0-0 draw with Spain in their Group H opener in Atlanta. The European champions had 27 shots and could not score;...
EventsAt the Azteca, Mexico Finally Wins a World Cup Opener
As of 11 June, the 48-team World Cup kicked off at Estadio Azteca with Mexico beating South Africa 2-0. Julián Quiñones scored the tournament's first goal in the ninth minute and Raúl Jiménez seale...
EventsBrazil arrive short-handed, Neymar may miss the opener
As of 11 June, Brazil open against Morocco on the 13th — and most likely without Neymar, who is nursing a grade-2 strain in his right calf. Before him, Rodrygo, Estêvão and Éder Militão had already...
EventsMessi vs Iceland, 8 Years Later. He Scored the Penalty This Time.
Argentina beat Iceland 3-0 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama on Tuesday June 9 in its final pre-World Cup friendly. The headline moment: Lionel Messi entered as a 70th-minute substitute and...
Events9 New Rules at the 2026 World Cup. Most Will Surprise You.
When Mexico kicks off against South Africa at the Azteca on Thursday June 11, you'll notice the first new rule before the ball even moves: all 26 players on each matchday squad, plus the referees, ...
EventsEnciso Left on a Stretcher. Paraguay Is Taking Him Anyway.
On Friday June 5, in the 24th minute of Paraguay's World Cup farewell at Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Julio Enciso tried to control a ball and went down. He left the field on a stretcher, in tears...
EventsIran's Players Got US Visas. 14 of Its Officials Did Not.
On Saturday June 6, 2026, the Iran national football team flew out of Antalya, Turkey, bound for Tijuana, Mexico, its World Cup base camp. All players have their US visas. According to US officials...
Events48 Teams Have Started Training. The Real Test Is Already Here.
By June 6 — five days before kickoff — all 48 World Cup teams are training at their official base camps across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The first major casualty has already arrived: 1...
EventsYour Team Just Said Goodbye to Its Country. Here's When to Follow.
In the past two weeks, World Cup teams have begun arriving in North America. Some, like South Africa, were given a public sendoff at the airport. Most others departed quietly. By June 5, the first ...
EventsSouth Africa Got a Public Sendoff. Then the Charter Couldn't Leave.
On Saturday, May 30, 2026, South Africa's national football team — Bafana Bafana — was given a public sendoff in Johannesburg ahead of their first FIFA World Cup appearance since hosting the 2010 t...
Events"A Dream." Korea's Training Partner Becomes a World Cup Player.
On June 2, 2026, FIFA approved South Korea's request to add 24-year-old centre-back Cho Wi-je (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors) to its 26-man World Cup squad, replacing 29-year-old Cho Yu-min (Sharjah Cultu...
EventsBrazil Has 24 Years Since Its Last World Cup. It Has 10 Days Until Its Next.
Carlo Ancelotti — the first non-Brazilian to coach Brazil at a World Cup — named his 26-man squad on May 18 and FIFA officially confirmed it on June 2, leading with Neymar's controversial return fr...
EventsMexico's Squad Has a 40-Year-Old and a 17-Year-Old. Both Make History.
[Javier Aguirre](/en/team/mexico/) named Mexico's 26-man World Cup squad on June 1, headlined by [Guillermo Ochoa](/en/team/mexico/player/guillermo-ochoa/)'s selection for a sixth World Cup — a feat only [Lionel Messi](/en/team/argentina/player/lionel-messi/) and [Cristiano Ronaldo](/en/team/portugal/player/cristiano-ronaldo/) have ever matched — a...
EventsMbappé Is in Madrid. The Trophies He Wanted Are in Paris.
Kylian Mbappé arrives at the 2026 World Cup as France captain, two years into a Real Madrid spell that has produced zero major trophies and, in the same two years, watched the club he left — Paris ...
EventsWhy Scaloni Can't Finalize Argentina's 26 — the Injury List
As of May 28, the defending champions are the most prominent team yet to confirm a 2026 World Cup 26, and the reason is medical, not tactical. Lionel Scaloni is holding the decision to the FIFA dea...
EventsWhy Does a World Cup Final Ticket Now Cost $33,000?
A top World Cup 2026 final ticket has been listed at $32,970 — roughly triple the previous high for a Category 1 final seat — because FIFA is, for the first time, pricing the World Cup dynamically:...
EventsWhy Won't Iran Sleep in the U.S. for the WC?
Iran plays all 3 World Cup group games in the U.S. but bases its team in Tijuana. Azmoun is cut; fans face a travel ban.
EventsDR Congo Must Isolate 21 Days Before World Cup Due to Ebola
DR Congo must maintain a 21-day health bubble in Belgium before entering the US for the 2026 World Cup. Giuliani confirmed the Ebola-related requirement.
EventsMaguire, Palmer, Foden: Tuchel's Cold Cull of England's Familiar Faces
Ahead of [Thomas Tuchel](/en/team/england/)'s official England squad announcement on Friday, May 22, 2026, several high-profile names have been left out (details emerging ahead of the full official list). Key points: (...
EventsA Dream Deferred Again: Why Indonesia Isn't at the 2026 World Cup
Indonesia did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup after being eliminated in the fourth round of Asian qualifying. Key points: (1) In fourth-round Group B, Indonesia lost twice — 2-3 to Saudi Arabia ...
EventsInside FIFA's $100 Million Bet on a Shakira Song
On May 14, 2026, FIFA released "Dai Dai" — performed by Shakira and Burna Boy — as the Official 2026 World Cup Song. Key points: (1) Released globally via Sony Music Latin on streaming platforms (Y...