World Cup 2026
FIFA Men's World Cup — USA, Canada, Mexico.
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Injured in training, Balerdi ruled out of World Cup with Argentina
Selected by Lionel Scaloni for the 2026 World Cup, Olympique Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi suffered a training injury with the Argentine national team and will be sidelined for a month, according to an Argentine journalist close to the situation. His withdrawal is expected to be officially confirmed in the coming hours.
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Leão punches opponent and sees red as Portugal edge Chile in World Cup warmup
Rafael Leão was sent off for punching Chile defender Ivan Román just before halftime in Portugal's 2-1 friendly win in Lisbon on June 6, with Gonçalo Guedes and Bruno Fernandes scoring for the hosts.
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England fans rage at 'atrocious' picture quality during ITV's New Zealand friendly broadcast
Viewers watching England's pre-World Cup warm-up against New Zealand at Raymond James Stadium in Florida were left furious by what many described as unwatchably poor picture quality on ITV's coverage, with some comparing it to footage from the 1960s and 1980s.
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Kane goal gives England laboured win over New Zealand in World Cup warm-up
Harry Kane's goal secured England a narrow victory over New Zealand at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, as Thomas Tuchel's side began their 2026 World Cup preparations with a disjointed performance.
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Mbappe rejects Messi talent vs Ronaldo hard work narrative ahead of World Cup
Kylian Mbappe has pushed back on the idea that Lionel Messi succeeds on talent alone while Cristiano Ronaldo relies purely on hard work, calling it a view only someone who has never played football could hold.
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Panini launches 930-sticker World Cup 2026 collection as England prepare for tournament
Panini's official FIFA World Cup 2026 sticker collection spans 930 stickers across all 48 competing nations, including England stars Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Jordan Pickford, as the tournament approaches.
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Arsenal target Leao sent off for punching Chile player in Portugal World Cup warm-up
Rafael Leao was shown a straight red card for violent conduct after appearing to punch Chile's Ivan Roman during Portugal's final World Cup warm-up fixture. The AC Milan winger, heavily linked with a move to Arsenal, was dismissed following VAR intervention, with Roman also sent off.
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Mbappé reveals he has never rewatched 2022 World Cup final: 'It might awaken demons'
Kylian Mbappé has admitted he cannot bring himself to rewatch France's 2022 World Cup final defeat to Argentina, despite scoring a hat-trick in the 3-3 draw that ended in a 4-2 penalty shootout loss in Doha.
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Merino hails Yamal as world's best but warns Spain cannot rely on teenager alone
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has praised Lamine Yamal's growth since Euro 2024, calling the Barcelona winger probably the best player in the world right now — while stressing that Spain's World Cup hopes rest on collective strength, not one teenager.
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Jack Fletcher credits McTominay for settling him into Scotland's World Cup squad after Gilmour injury
Manchester United academy product Jack Fletcher, 19, has been called up to Scotland's World Cup squad as a late replacement for the injured Billy Gilmour, and has credited former Red Devils teammate Scott McTominay for helping him integrate into Steve Clarke's group.
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England face Croatia first as Thomas Tuchel's World Cup 2026 group-stage schedule confirmed
England open their World Cup 2026 campaign against Croatia on June 17 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, before facing Ghana on June 23 and Panama on June 27 in Group L.
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Iran staff still denied US visas as World Cup squad secures entry ahead of LA opener
Iran's players have received visas to enter the United States for the 2026 World Cup, a White House official confirmed, but key federation staff including the executive director and secretary general remain without clearance. Iran's football federation says the situation contradicts international sports law and will be raised with FIFA.
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Matheus Nunes ruled out of Portugal's World Cup warm-up with injury concern
Manchester City full-back Matheus Nunes has been ruled out of Portugal's opening World Cup warm-up against Chile after coach Roberto Martinez confirmed he is not yet fit to train.
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Lennart Karl, Bayern's Breakthrough Star, Out of 2026 World Cup with Thigh Injury
The 18-year-old German winger, who has had a breakout season at Bayern Munich, suffered a left thigh tear during training and has been ruled out of the 2026 World Cup. He will be replaced in the squad by Assan Ouedraogo.
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FIFA reverses water bottle ban at 2026 World Cup stadiums after fan safety outcry
FIFA has reversed a mid-week policy change that banned reusable water bottles from 2026 World Cup venues, after New York City's mayor and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly criticised the decision as a safety risk and a money-making exercise.
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Martinez defends Ronaldo's World Cup place on merit, not reputation
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has insisted Cristiano Ronaldo's place in his squad for the 2026 World Cup is justified by current form, pointing to 25 goals in 30 games under his management as the 41-year-old prepares for a sixth World Cup.
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Fifa reverses World Cup water bottle ban after fan backlash and political pressure
Fifa has partially reversed a policy banning reusable water bottles from World Cup 2026 stadiums, now allowing fans to bring one sealed 590ml disposable bottle into grounds in the USA and Canada. The original ban drew criticism from fan groups, scientists, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
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Gordon joins Barcelona for £69m after sealing five-year deal from Newcastle
Anthony Gordon has completed a £69.3 million move from Newcastle United to Barcelona, signing a five-year contract with the La Liga champions. The 25-year-old England winger will relocate to Spain after representing the Three Lions at the 2026 World Cup.
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Scaloni says Messi is training with Argentina squad and could feature in warm-up matches
Lionel Messi is recovering well from the muscle strain he suffered during Inter Miami's MLS win over Philadelphia Union and may play a part in Argentina's final World Cup friendlies against Honduras and Iceland.
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Eleven transfer targets Xabi Alonso could assess as Chelsea players head to World Cup
With Chelsea's transfer window set to open during the World Cup, newly appointed manager Xabi Alonso will have the chance to assess potential signings including Marcus Rashford, Ibrahima Konate and Florian Wirtz alongside eleven current Blues already in the squads.
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