World Cup 2026
FIFA Men's World Cup — USA, Canada, Mexico.
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Argentina claim Kansas City's top training base ahead of England for World Cup 2026
Reigning world champions Argentina have secured the £56m Sporting KC performance centre in Kansas City, leaving England to settle for the quieter Swope Park complex on the city's outskirts. Both nations are based in Kansas City alongside the Netherlands and Algeria.
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Trump to skip USA's World Cup opener against Paraguay as Rubio leads delegation
Donald Trump is expected to be absent from SoFi Stadium when the United States open their 2026 World Cup campaign against Paraguay in Los Angeles on Friday, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio heading the government delegation instead.
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Pulisic, Balogun and Wright tipped to fire USA past Paraguay in World Cup opener
With the 2026 World Cup under way, the United States face Paraguay in their opening group match on Friday. Christian Pulisic leads an American attack that analysts believe is underrated, while Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal and host nation Mexico are also drawing attention.
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McTominay misses training with stomach complaint ahead of Scotland's World Cup opener against Haiti
Scott McTominay sat out Scotland training in Charlotte on Thursday with a stomach complaint, raising concerns ahead of Sunday's World Cup Group C opener against Haiti in Boston. Defender Scott McKenna was also absent with a knock, though both players are expected to be fit.
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Shakira and Burna Boy open World Cup 2026 at Azteca as Mexico face South Africa
Shakira and Burna Boy headline the opening ceremony at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, performing the official tournament song before co-hosts Mexico take on South Africa in Group A — a repeat of the fixture that opened the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg.
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Shakira and Burna Boy headline World Cup 2026 opening ceremony as Mexico face South Africa
The 2026 World Cup kicks off at Mexico City Stadium with co-hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in Group A, preceded by an opening ceremony featuring Shakira, Burna Boy, and Salma Hayek. Two further ceremonies are planned for Canada and the United States in the tournament's opening days.
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Controversial Sampaio named referee for World Cup 2026 opener between Mexico and South Africa
Brazilian official Wilton Sampaio, who drew fierce criticism from England players after their 2022 World Cup exit against France, will referee the tournament's opening match between Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca.
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Shearer is the closest to me in style, says Sir Geoff Hurst ahead of 2026 World Cup
Sir Geoff Hurst, England's only World Cup final hat-trick scorer, has named Alan Shearer as the striker who most resembled his own game, citing their shared qualities in the air and striking the ball.
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Kimmich and Germany players fund travel for 600 fans as World Cup fares soar
Germany captain Joshua Kimmich and his teammates are covering the bus costs for 600 supporters travelling to the side's final Group E match against Ecuador in New Jersey on 25 June, after local transit fares surged to nearly eight times their normal rate.
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England face Croatia, Ghana and Panama in World Cup 2026 group stage under Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel's England begin their World Cup 2026 campaign against Croatia in Dallas on 17 June, before facing Ghana in Boston and Panama in New Jersey to complete Group L.
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World Cup 2026 kicks off June 11 with 104 games across 48 teams in North America
The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on June 11 when co-host Mexico face South Africa at the Estadio Azteca, launching five and a half weeks of action featuring 48 nations and up to six matches per day.
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Charged with rape, Patrick Bruel banned from attending 2026 World Cup
Placed under judicial supervision after being charged with rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment, Patrick Bruel has been forbidden from leaving French territory, preventing him from following the 2026 World Cup as he did in Russia in 2018.
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Arcom threatens pirate IPTV users with blackouts during 2026 World Cup
France's audiovisual regulator warns that illegal IPTV streams could be cut in real time during World Cup matches from June 11 to July 19, including during penalty shootouts.
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Barred from the World Cup, Somali referee Artan earns Uefa Super Cup appointment
Omar Abdulkadir Artan, denied entry to the United States for the World Cup over alleged national security concerns, has been appointed by Uefa to referee the Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on 12 August.
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Tornado alert and 'corn sweat' humidity threaten England's Kansas City World Cup preparations
England's squad faces severe weather disruption ahead of their World Cup opener against Croatia on June 17, with a tornado watch issued for the Kansas City Metropolitan area and a thunderstorm forecast for Saturday — the day the Three Lions fly in from Florida.
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Hong Kong seizes $20 million in fake World Cup jerseys hours before tournament opener
Hong Kong customs officers intercepted 230,000 counterfeit items worth an estimated $20 million, including 30,000 fake football shirts, in an operation running from late May to early June — just hours before Mexico faced South Africa in the World Cup opener.
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Mazraoui returns to Morocco training in time for World Cup opener against Brazil
Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui has resumed full training with Morocco after a shoulder injury threatened his World Cup participation. He is now expected to be available for Saturday's Group stage clash with Brazil at MetLife Stadium.
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England fans warned that drinking as a passenger in a car is illegal in Texas
England supporters travelling to their World Cup opener against Croatia in Arlington, Texas on June 17 face arrest if caught drinking alcohol as car passengers — a common practice in the UK that is strictly prohibited under Texas law.
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Neville, Keane and Wright to front ITV's World Cup 2026 opener as Mexico host South Africa
ITV has confirmed its broadcast team for the World Cup 2026 opening fixture, with Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Ian Wright joining presenter Mark Pougatch in the studio. Jon Champion and Ally McCoist will call the action as Mexico face South Africa at the Estadio Azteca.
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BBC defends Salford World Cup studio as ITV launches rival Brooklyn base for 2026
The BBC has unveiled a new state-of-the-art studio at MediaCity in Salford that will host its entire 2026 World Cup coverage, drawing criticism from Gary Lineker and TV pundits as ITV opts for a high-profile Brooklyn studio overlooking the New York skyline.
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