[Watch Brazil vs Haiti live in the USA on Fubo]

Brazil opened their campaign with an uncomfortable draw and now look to secure three points that would strengthen their position in the group while improving their overall performance. The South Americans will try to deliver a more convincing display after an uneven debut on the biggest stage.

Haiti, meanwhile, are chasing a historic result as they look for their first ever World Cup victory. After losing all three of their matches in Germany 1974 World Cup. They began this tournament with a 1-0 defeat to Scotland and now face a match that could become a landmark moment in their soccer history.

Brazil, who arrived at the World Cup with momentum following the hiring of Carlo Ancelotti and had won their last two friendlies (6-2 against Panama and 2-1 against Egypt), began their World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Morocco. They will once again be without Neymar for the match against Haiti, an encounter that is expected to have a high fan attendance for Brazil vs. Haiti in Philadelphia.

On the other side, Haiti look to make history and capture their first-ever World Cup victory after losing all three of their matches in Germany 1974. In their debut in this edition, they lost 1-0 to Scotland in a match that many describe as unfair and where Haiti deserved a bit more.

What happens if Brazil win vs. Haiti?

If Brazil secure a victory against Haiti, they will add three key points to reach a total of four units, firmly positioning themselves in the qualification spots of Group C. This result will calm the situation after the opening draw and will leave Carlo Ancelotti’s squad in an excellent position to secure its direct ticket to the round of 32 in the final matchday against Scotland.

For Haiti, the defeat would leave them practically with zero points and on the brink of elimination, forcing them to look for a blowout win against Morocco in the finale and wait for a miraculous combination of results to advance as one of the best third-placed teams.

What happens if Brazil and Haiti tie?

If Brazil and Haiti tie, the South American squad will reach just two points, while Haiti will secure their first historic point in this edition of the tournament. This scoreline would leave Brazil in a very uncomfortable position and under intense media pressure, as they would be forced to defeat Scotland on the final matchday if they want to guarantee their direct ticket without depending on tiebreakers.

What happens if Brazil lose vs Haiti?

A shocking defeat against Haiti would plunge Brazil into a historic soccer crisis, stalling them with just one point and allowing the Haitians to surpass them in the standings by reaching three points. This upset would force Brazil to win at all costs against Scotland in the final group stage match to try and finish second or at least third, hoping to advance as one of the eight best third-place teams.

For the Caribbean team, defeating the South American giant would represent the greatest feat in its sporting history, putting it with one foot inside the round of 32 and sounding all alarms in Brazilian territory.

USA are fresh off a 2-0 victory over Australia on Matchday 2, securing six points after a blowout win against Paraguay on Matchday 1, establishing themselves as one of the tournament’s top-performing teams.

Mexico also sit at six points following a 1-0 win against South Korea on Matchday 2 and a debut victory over South Africa, capitalizing on their home-field advantage. If both advance as group leaders, they can only meet in the final. This changes only if the USA stumbles, opening the door for a matchup in the round of 16, quarterfinals, or semifinals.

In what other context could they face each other?

The only path for the USMNT and Mexico to meet before the final in the World Cup would be if Team USA finishes third in Group D, an outcome that is now highly unlikely.

In that scenario, USA would face either the Group E winner or the top-ranked team from Group I in the round of 32. This would place them on the same side of the bracket as Mexico, provided El Tri finishes second in Group A. This path would pit them against each other in the quarterfinals, assuming both advance through the round of 32 and round of 16.

Canada, another potential quarterfinal opponent for the USMNT

The alternative scenario involves the U.S. facing Canada in the quarterfinals. This would happen if the USMNT finishes third and Canada finishes second in their group, matching Canada against the runner-up of Group A, which could also be Mexico.

Ultimately, this is the only way the USMNT would cross paths with its Concacaf rivals in this World Cup, though these scenarios remain complicated given the strong results both teams have delivered in group play.

Speaking to Telemundo post-match, Aguirre offered a blunt assessment of his squad’s current form, emphasizing that El Tri still has plenty of homework to do before the single-elimination bracket begins. “We know each other very well,” Aguirre said regarding South Korea. “There was a lot of pressure from both sides, very little space given, and it ultimately came down to a single mistake that tipped the scale in our favor.”

“Yes, we’re in a good position. But it wasn’t a great game; our opponent didn’t let us do much,” Aguirre admitted. “We got the goal off an error and had two or three other chances, but that’s it.” Rather than celebrating the mathematical qualification, Aguirre deflected questions about his overall satisfaction with the result, choosing instead to redirect the credit to the roaring home crowd.

Rangel believes Mexico can go toe-to-toe

Despite Aguirre‘s visible frustration on the touchline, the mood among the players remains highly confident. Goalkeeper Cesar Rangel, whose crucial, acrobatic saves preserved the clean sheet, insisted that Mexico fears no one in this tournament.

“I’ve said it before and I’ll stand by it: we are ready to go toe-to-toe against any national team in the world,” Rangel stated post-match. While Mexico’s performances against both South Africa and South Korea weren’t exactly dominant offensive masterclasses, history and logistics favor El Tri. They are a program known for raising their ceiling on the world stage, and this time around, they possess the ultimate wild card: the home-field advantage.

What’s next for Mexico?

With the top spot in Group A already mathematically wrapped up, Mexico’s upcoming match against Czechia on June 24 at 9:00 PM (ET) serves as a luxury tactical tune-up. The match will mark El Tri’s highly anticipated return to Mexico City Stadium.

Thanks to clinching the top seed early, Mexico’s path forward is taking shape: In the Round of 32, Mexico will stay at Mexico City Stadium to face a third-placed finisher from either Group C, E, F, H, or I.

And, in the Round of 16 path, if El Tri survives the Round of 32, the tournament bracket dictates it would return to the capital yet again for the Round of 16—keeping their hometown crowd behind them for the foreseeable future.

The match was defined by tactical discipline and defensive organization from both sides, with very few clear scoring opportunities before the breakthrough. Mexico controlled possession for long stretches, while South Korea repeatedly looked for Lee Kang-in and Son Heung-min with direct balls behind the defense.

After taking the lead, Mexico managed the game with composure despite heavy pressure from South Korea in the closing minutes. Raul Rangel produced several key saves to preserve the clean sheet, while South Korea remained in second place in the Group A standings with three points from their opening victory over Czechia and are still very much alive in the race for a place in the Round of 32.

The World Cup group stage match between Mexico and South Korea has become a complete sellout. An official attendance of approximately 45,000 spectators is expected, which will probably be heavily packed with a Mexican crowd. Follow our live blog of Mexico vs South Korea for updates!

Not only that, but in addition to the historic sellout at the stadium, fans continue to gather massively at public events and official zones like Fan Fest and other events, which makes total sense for a match that can give Mexico their qualification.

Estadio Guadalajara: The venue for today’s match

The match between Mexico and South Korea will be played at Estadio Guadalajara, one of the official venues. The Guadalajara facility returns to host World Cup activity after hosting matches during the first matchday.

Estadio Guadalajara is a large and modern sports stadium located in Zapopan, Jalisco. It was opened in 2010 and has a capacity for 48,000 spectators. It is the venue usually used by Chivas de Guadalajara and has already hosted the 2011 U-17 World Cup and the Pan American Games that year. However, it was remodeled for this edition.

From the outside, Estadio Akron seems to rise from the natural landscape, while its interior structure was designed to bring the crowd closer to the field and improve the acoustics, something that will be noticed in today’s match, where Mexico will use their home kit, with the attire for South Korea also confirmed.

The first match played at this venue was on July 30, 2010. It was a friendly between Chivas and Manchester United as a tribute to the transfer of Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez (who isn’t playing at the 2026 World Cup) to the English club.

Mexico debuted with a 2-0 victory against South Africa, a result that left them as the leaders of Group A with three points. The home squad will look to maintain the good start and move closer to qualification.

South Korea also started with a victory after defeating Czechia 2-1. The Asian team arrives at a good moment and with confidence for this direct duel for the group leadership. For this crucial showdown, both Mexico and South Korea will be playing with their alternative kits.

What happens if Mexico defeat South Korea today?

If Mexico secure a victory against South Korea, they will reach 6 points and automatically qualify for the round of 32. That’s right. Mexico need a win today to secure a place in the next round of the 2026 World Cup.

With their other group rivals sharing the points earlier on Thursday, neither Czechia nor South Africa (both with 1 point after two matches) could mathematically reach Mexico on the final matchday.

This ideal triumph would allow Mexico to face the group stage finale against Czechia with absolute peace of mind, using the match to secure the definitive leadership of the group and rotate key pieces.

What happens if Mexico and South Korea tie?

If Mexico and South Korea finish tied, both national teams will add 1 unit to reach a total of 4 points, staying firm in the top two places of Group A. But the top spot would be up for grabs in the final matchday.

Under this scenario, it would be enough for Mexico to tie against Czechia on June 24 to lock up direct qualification, or even advance as one of the best third-place teams of the tournament.

What happens if Mexico lose to South Korea today?

A defeat against South Korea would leave Mexico at 3 points, allowing the Asians to climb to 6 points and qualify for the round of 32. This result would force Mexico to play for their lives and direct qualification on the final matchday against Czechia.

The 24-year-old soccer player had an irregular season at Chelsea, which is why he was not called up by the manager. Tuchel himself explained publicly that he opted for soccer players who arrived with a better present, greater physical regularity, and a more decisive performance in the final stretch of the season.

The Chelsea soccer player suffered several injuries that did not allow him to find regularity, but he also played in a very irregular team where he went through managerial changes and different difficulties during their stretch in the Premier League, where they finished tenth.

Other absent stars in England

In addition to Palmer, Phil Foden and Trent Alexander-Arnold are some of the most renowned soccer players who were left out of the World Cup list. Thomas Tuchel chose soccer players with another profile that shows what England‘s intention will be in the World Cup.

On the side of Phoden, the Englishman did not have injury problems but was a substitute at Manchester City for almost the entire season. Thomas Tuchel has tried to give opportunities to both soccer players, but they have not performed in a great way either.

Thomas Tuchel said that in the number 10 position (that of Cole Palmer and Phil Foden), he called up Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, and Eberechi Eze, and he could not call up so many in the same role. On the other hand, Trent Alexander-Arnold never seemed to be a soccer player to the manager’s liking and was only called up once by the England manager, and it is for this reason that his absence does not draw so much attention.

Beyond the good or bad current form, Thomas Tuchel chose more physical and vertical soccer players for his game idea because he not only left aside Cole Palmer or Phil Foden, but also players like Morgan Gibbs-White, Jarrod Bowen, and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Messi, who already made it clear that it was a beautiful moment that he experienced, also thanked his teammates in a post on his social media. “Happy with the beginning, grateful for the affection, and very proud to see this group compete again like they have been doing all these years.“

With his performance, Messi left Lionel Scaloni speechless because of everything he means and what he generates. Furthermore, it was a performance that even moved Messi himself, who cried after one of his goals and explained the reason why.

Messi speaks about how he prepared for the 2026 World Cup

The presence of Messi in the 2026 World Cup was an enigma for a time, whether due to his age or physical condition, but never due to his talent or importance in the team. In the end, as we already know, he was called up and is already writing what could be a beautiful story.

Messi revealed to the press, including Bolavip, how he prepared for this moment: “I tried to prepare myself as best as possible, like always. Trying to be ready physically, mentally, and I’m happy with how everything turned out. Honestly, as I said, besides that I’m playing for Inter, I never stopped competing or pushing myself, it’s how I am, it’s how I live, and what helped me achieve everything I achieved…” Below you can see the complete words of Messi.

What is next for Messi and Argentina

Argentina have one foot inside the next stage of the competition in a group that at first glance is more than accessible, and where on paper they already defeated their most complicated rival, which was Algeria. Messi and Argentina have two matches ahead of them, and they are the following for Group J:

• Argentina vs. Austria – Mon June 22 — Dallas
• Jordan vs. Argentina – Sat June 27 — Dallas

At Levi’s Stadium, a stadium full of fans supporting their respective countries is expected, with an approximate attendance of 69,391 people. Given that the stadium has a capacity limit of 70,000 spectators, it indicates that it will be a packed match, something that has characterized this 2026 World Cup.

Something that will connect the atmosphere of the match is the weather, with clear skies, temperatures around 21 °C (70°F), and light winds with no chance of rain predicted. This cool climate, free of heat, only incentivizes the party inside Santa Clara.

Confirmed referees for Austria vs Jordan

A crew of referees has already been confirmed, where Dahane Beida of Mauritania will be responsible for handling the match as the head referee. His career in international refereeing began in 2018, the year in which he obtained his FIFA badge and started directing matches in competitions organized by the Confederation of African Soccer (CAF).

Since then, he has refereed qualifying matches for the World Cup, the Africa Cup of Nations, and the CAF Champions League, consolidating himself as one of the African officials with the greatest prospects. Among his most notable assignments is his participation in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where he directed several matches of the tournament.

Complete crew:

• Head referee: Dahane Beida (Mauritania)
• Assistant 1: Jerson Dos Santos (Angola)
• Assistant 2: Elvis Noupe (Cameroon)
• Fourth official: Oshane Nation (Jamaica)

Austria vs Jordan kits

Austria and Jordan will both come out with their respective home kits for the match. On Austria’s side, they feature a red uniform with black sleeves and shorts, and the goalkeeper’s uniform stands out with a totally light blue uniform, but with a certain striking pattern.

Jordan, who are also going with a home kit, will use a totally white uniform with red details. And their goalkeeper will wear a totally yellow uniform, but a yellow that compares to common referee uniforms.

After the match, Messi made his happiness clear to the press about making history once again in the World Cup, where he was also seen with tears in his eyes after one of the goals, stating, “It is a very beautiful moment, starting this way. Happy, fortunately, I feel good, it is important to start by winning, the first match of the World Cup is never easy. Grateful to the people, once again it shows that Argentina are crazy, we filled the stadium again.”

“Thank them for the effort they make wherever it is, I know that people make a very big effort, may they enjoy it like us. For us, being the home team is always a big advantage.” Messi did not leave anyone out of his gratitude, highlighting the presence of the Argentine fans as one of his pillars to continue giving his best.

Messi grateful for one more achievement

Messi‘s gratitude and happiness did not just remain with the fans, as he also directed a few words toward Klose and Ronaldo Nazario, who are part of the top goalscorers of the competition, while making it clear that it is just one more statistic and that it is not the yardstick to measure the greatness of a player.

“It is an honor to be there, because of what it means, to be alongside Klose, in the end, it is statistics and nothing more. Although it is a source of pride to be with all of them. Ronaldo, from what I saw, is one of the greatest and he is not first, so it is nothing more than a statistic.”

Messi compares himself to Nadal

Messi delivered a sort of hint, referencing the tennis legend from Spain, Rafael Nadal, mentioning that he believes they are similar in certain qualities when it comes to commitment and giving one’s best.

“I like to play soccer since I was a kid and when I am well, like this I give my maximum. I am watching the Rafael Nadal series; I think we are very similar in that sense. I want to feel good. If I am well enough to do it, I will be there.”

Messi also received words from Lionel Scaloni and De Paul, who we know are key pieces for him, and as a surprise, Erling Haaland, demonstrating that greatness recognizes greatness.

With the three goals that took place in the 17th, 60th, and 76th minutes, Messi reached the record of 16 goals in the World Cup, the same as Klose, and now has the rest of the tournament to expand that number.

From now on, the outlook is fantastic, as with this result, Argentina have half a foot inside the next stage of the competition, which means more opportunities for Messi to continue expanding that number, and something that supports him is the group, with their next matches being against Austria and Jordan.

The World Cup top scorers list

Among the active players looking to break the goalscoring record, one is undoubtedly Messi, who remains more relevant than ever. This was demonstrated with that hat-trick, as he even became the oldest player in World Cup history to score three goals in a single match, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo.

One of his competitors for the record, who still has a couple more World Cups to achieve it, is Kylian Mbappe. In the match where France faced Senegal, he scored a brace and approached the record, currently having 14 with the entire 2026 World Cup ahead of him. Below is the list of top scorers:

• Lionel Messi – 16 goals
• Miroslav Klose – 16 goals
• Ronaldo Nazario – 15
• Gerd Muller – 14
• Just Fontaine – 13
• Pele – 12
• Kylian Mbappe – 12

A Messi record that Ronaldo can extend

With the goals scored against Algeria, Messi equaled Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players in World Cup history who have scored in five different editions of the tournament. However, Ronaldo can extend this record if he scores in this edition with Portugal.

The European team arrives with a clear and well-prepared idea under the command of Ralf Rangnick, who has consolidated a style based on high pressing and tactical coordination. Austria rely on a system that their players know by heart, featuring big names in the main leagues, like David Alaba (Real Madrid), Konrad Laimer (Bayern Munich), Marcel Sabitzer, and the historic forward Marko Arnautovic.

Jordan, led by strategist Jamal Sellami, face this match with their chests puffed with pride for recording the first World Cup appearance in their entire history. Although the Asian squad comes from suffering a couple of setbacks in its last tests of fire—falling 2-0 against Colombia and 4-1 against Switzerland—its remarkable previous campaign in the 2024 Asian Cup invites them to dream.

What happens if Austria win vs Jordan?

If Austria secure the victory against Jordan, the team led by Ralf Rangnick will add its first 3 points and will position itself ideally at the top of Group J. This triumph would justify its status as a heavy favorite and would grant it enormous peace of mind ahead of its upcoming and complex challenges against Algeria and powerful Argentina.

Winning the debut would not only relieve the pressure of the return of the Austrians to a World Cup event after a 28-year absence, but it would also practically leave them at the gates of qualification to the round of 32 with a positive result in the following matchday.

What happens if Austria and Jordan tie?

If a tie occurs, Austria and Jordan will share 1 point each, leaving the destiny of this group completely open and sowing doubts in the European combination. For Jordan, in what represents the first match of their history in a World Cup, rescuing a draw against a UEFA powerhouse would be a monumental achievement that the entire country would celebrate.

However, for Austria, this disappointing scoreline would complicate their outlook, drastically reducing their margin of error and forcing them to imperatively look for points in the following dates to avoid depending on an agonizing qualification as one of the best third-place teams.

What happens if Austria lose vs Jordan?

A surprising defeat would place Austria at the bottom of the table with 0 points and would cause one of the first major upsets of this 2026 World Cup, leaving Jordan with 3 historic points at the top of the group. For the European squad, losing against the theoretically most accessible rival of the group would represent a devastating psychological blow that would force them to seek heroic results against Algeria and Argentina to aspire to a direct spot.

Haaland’s debut was vastly superior to the ones that Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi had. Haaland managed to score two goals in the first half of the match and one kind of assist for an own goal by Iraq. He scored one in the 29th minute and another in the 43rd minute, giving the lead for the victory to Norway, who have a top position in the FIFA ranking, securing three key points.

Haaland was, without a doubt, the most influential player for Norway in the debut. In addition to the two goals and his dominant presence in the attack, he recorded six shots. four of those shots went on target with two goals scored, showing tremendous effectiveness.

Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup debut

Messi entered the group stage match of the 2006 World Cup against Serbia on June 16 in the 75th minute. He contributed with one goal and one assist in the 6-0 victory for Argentina. This performance remains below the debut of Haaland, considering the context and situation of the matches.

On the other hand, Ronaldo was 21 years old in his first World Cup match, featuring as a starter for Portugal against Angola in the group stage of the 2006 tournament on June 11. He could not score, received a yellow card, and was substituted at the 60th minute in a match that Portugal won 1-0. More was already expected from him since he was one of the stars of Manchester United at that time.

How many World Cup braces do Messi and Ronaldo have?

Lionel Messi, who is one of the top scorers, accumulates a total of two braces throughout his World Cup participations, while Cristiano Ronaldo has no official braces in his history in the tournament. The Portuguese star skipped that box entirely, since the only match of his World Cup career in which he scored more than one goal ended up becoming a hat trick.

For Messi, his first brace arrived in the group stage of Brazil 2014 during the 3-2 victory against Nigeria. However, his best brace was, without any discussion, the one from the Qatar 2022 final against France. He opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the first half and later appeared in extra time during the 108th minute to push the ball in following an assist from Lautaro Martinez.

Cristiano Ronaldo, due to the lack of a pure brace to compare, his best and most remembered scoring exhibition in a single World Cup match was his iconic hat trick against Spain in Russia 2018. This matchup featured his highly remembered amazing free-kick goal.

Along with players who were born overseas, Jordan currently hold a fairly low position in the FIFA rankings at No. 65. However, they are not the lowest-ranked team in the entire World Cup. That specific bottom position belongs to New Zealand.

In addition to Argentina, Jordan are going to share a group with Austria and Algeria, which have a position inside the top 30 in the FIFA ranking. It is clear that for Jordan, the great prize is simply participating and being able to measure themselves against the giants.

How Jordan qualified for the World Cup

An away victory against Oman in Muscat gave them the long-awaited qualification when there was still one fixture remaining in the qualifiers. They finished as runners-up in Group B behind South Korea, who are one of the most powerful teams in the region. Jordan managed to secure an important draw against them in Suwon.

This will mark the first time that they contest the final phase of a World Cup tournament. New Zealand had previously come close to achieving the final spot for Brazil 2014 when they reached the playoff round. However, they stayed right at the gates of the feat by succumbing to Uruguay, who counted among their forwards none other than Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani in their prime.

Jordan’s best player

Regarding Mousa Al-Tamari, fans of APOEL FC in Cyprus were captivated by his talent with a lot of enthusiasm and some humor. They dubbed him the “Jordanian Messi” a few seasons ago. At 29 years old and already serving as the captain of the Nashama, the right winger is currently enjoyed by fans of Stade Rennes in France’s Ligue 1. He dreams that Jordan will enjoy the fruits of his qualities in 2026.

We will have to wait and see if he honors his nickname, especially when facing the real one. He will go up against none other than Lionel Messi, who is still a part of the Argentine squad. Messi will contest his sixth World Cup, which is a record that he will share with Cristiano Ronaldo and Guillermo Ochoa.

Jordan have three players who were born outside the country distributed across the defense and the attack. The attacker, Ali Azaizeh, was born in Germany. The defender Mohammad Abu Hashish was born in Iraq, and Mo Abualnadi was born in the United States.

This trend is concentrated in 40 of the 48 participating national teams, including Mexico and the United States. The exceptions are Saudi Arabia, Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Czechia, Panama, South Africa, and Sweden.

Countries that are part of the trend

The presence of nearly 300 players born in another country is explained in part by the expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams. This format gives more spots to African and Concacaf national teams, which feature countries with large migrant populations. The countries that feature soccer players born outside their borders are:

Curacao (25), Congo (19), Morocco (18), Bosnia (16), Algeria (15), Haiti (15), Cape Verde (14), Tunisia (14), Qatar (12), Senegal (12), Turkey (10), Ivory Coast (9), Australia (8), Ghana (8), New Zealand (8), Scotland (7), Canada (7), United States (6), Mexico (5), Paraguay (5), France (3), Ecuador (3), Jordan (3), Switzerland (3), Argentina (2), Iran (2), Uruguay (2), Norway (2), and Portugal (2). Additionally, England, Germany, South Korea, Spain, Uzbekistan, Belgium, and Japan have one.

France, the main developer

France is the country that will contribute the most players born in its territory to the World Cup, with 99. Out of all of them, 23 will represent the French national team, while 76 will play for other squads. Algeria have 13 players born in France. Haiti and Congo count 11, followed by Senegal (10), Ivory Coast (8), and Tunisia (7).

In Curacao, 25 of the 26 players who make up the roster were born in the Netherlands. This country contributed 40 players from its territory to other national teams. England follow them with 24 players wearing other jerseys. The podium is completed by Germany with 23, of which five play for Turkey.

Lionel Scaloni counts on the stellar presence of Messi as Argentina only think about winning, since a tie or loss could complicate them in the group stage.

Messi arrives in this year’s tournament boasting 13 goals in 23 World Cup games. Only in the 2010 South Africa edition he went scoreless. In the 2022 World Cup, he delivered with 7 goals to help Argentina win the title.

Argentina’s confirmed lineup

The main news is that Emiliano Martinez will be the starting goalkeeper. He arrived in the United States with a fracture in the ring finger of his right hand, which prevented him from participating in warm-up friendlies. However, Dibu progressed and will be the starter. Follow Argentina vs Algeria live with us!

Argentina confirmed lineup: Emiliano Martinez; Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Facundo Medina; Rodrigo de Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, Thiago Almada; Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez.

Algeria’s confirmed starting XI

The Arabic squad will have its possible starting lineup under the technical direction of Vladimir Petkovic. The Bosnian-born coach usually plays with a 4-3-3 formation. The starting goalkeeper is Luca Zidane, son of the French star Zinedine Zidane, who represents Algeria despite being born in France. The goalie is one of many French players participating at the World Cup for a different national team.

Algeria‘s confirmed lineup: Luca Zidane; Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rafik Belghali, Aissa Mandi, Ramy Bensebaini; Ibrahim Maza, Hicham Boudaoui, Nabil Bentaleb, Fares Chaibi; Amine Gouiri, Anis Hadj Moussa.

The Iranian squad recorded positive results in its last friendly matches. On May 29, Iran defeated Gambia 3-1. Following that, on June 4, they overcame Mali 2-0. These results strengthened the confidence of the team before the start of the tournament, leaving Iran with a great position in the FIFA rankings.

The Oceanic squad faces its return to the tournament with a base of experienced players and the leadership of figures like Tim Payne. In their last preparation matches, the All Whites fell 4-0 against Haiti. Subsequently, they lost 1-0 against England, facing highly demanding rivals in the final stretch before the World Cup while remaining the team with the worst FIFA ranking.

What happens if Iran win vs New Zealand?

If Iran secure the victory against New Zealand in their debut, they will add their first 3 points. This result will immediately place them in a privileged position within their group after the 1-1 between Belgium and Egypt.

This triumph would grant a huge injection of confidence to the Asian squad. It would take away the pressure of the debut, allowing them to face the second match with peace of mind. A subsequent positive result would almost seal their ticket to the knockout stage.

What happens if Iran and New Zealand tie?

If a tie between Iran and New Zealand becomes a reality, both squads will earn only 1 point in the standings. This outcome will leave the outlook of the group completely open and dependent on what occurs in the other match of the zone.

For the Iranian combination, this scoreline would mean losing a valuable opportunity to lead against the rival that, on paper, shapes up as the most direct in their aspirations. It would oblige them to imperatively look for points in the following dates. Under the current rules of competition, an equality in the opener keeps both alive, but it notably reduces the margin of error.

What happens if Iran lose vs New Zealand?

A surprising defeat would place Iran at the bottom of the table with 0 points, immediately sounding the alarms on the bench and severely complicating their possibilities to advance in the World Cup tournament. Losing the opening match would leave the Persian squad with no room to maneuver, forcing them to look for mandatory triumphs in their next two commitments to try to take ownership of a direct spot or, failing that, advance agonizingly as one of the best third-place teams.

Iran arrived at the 2026 World Cup in 20th place on the FIFA ranking with 1,619.58 points. Trailing only 18th-ranked Japan as the second-highest-rated Asian nation on the FIFA board, Iran’s current standing is just a few slots shy of their all-time high water mark back in August 2005. At that time, the team peaked at No. 15 in the world.

Interestingly, Iran enter Group G as the second-highest-ranked team in the cluster. Powerhouse Belgium lead the pack at No. 9 with 1,742.23 points, followed by Iran, while Egypt loom at No. 29 on the FIFA ranking with 1,562.36 points. New Zealand bring up the rear at No. 85 with 1,275.58 points, making the All Whites the lowest-ranked nation in the entire tournament field.

How Iran qualified for the 2026 World Cup

Iran secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup on March 25, 2025. They became the third national team to achieve it after Japan and New Zealand. This does not count the hosts, which are the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Iranian squad sealed their ticket after a 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan, who took the lead on two occasions during the match.

Iran certified their ticket to the World Cup tournament with two matchdays to spare. This was achieved thanks to goals from Mehdi Taremi. With a brace in the 55th and 83rd minutes, he tied the match for the hosts, which gave them the point they needed for mathematical qualification. Iran finished atop Group A in the third round of the AFC World Cup Qualifiers with 20 points.

Iran’s history in FIFA World Cups

Even though their six previous participations record a negative mark for never having advanced past the group stage, Iran also had flashes of joy. The 1-1 draw against Scotland in Argentina 1978, their first World Cup, is one of those moments.

There was also the 2-1 win against the United States in 1998, which triggered celebrations of joy in the streets of Lyon due to its political significance. Another moment was the 1-1 draw against Portugal in 2018, which was close to being a late victory that would have given them passage to the round of 16. That match included a penalty saved by Alireza Beiranvand from Cristiano Ronaldo.

The match will be officiated by Mexican referee Cesar Ramos. Ramos has been a full international referee for FIFA since 2014, but he originally debuted in the Mexican second division in 2008. This tournament will mark his third FIFA World Cup, having previously taken charge of three games at the 2018 edition and four games at the 2022 edition.

The full list of referees is as follows:

• Referee: Cesar Ramos (Mexico)
• Assistant Referee 1: Alberto Morin (Mexico)
• Assistant Referee 2: Marco Bisguerra (Mexico)
• 4th Official: Yusuke Araki (Japan)
• Reserve Assistant Referee: Jun Mihara (Japan)
• VAR: Erick Miranda (Mexico)
• AVARs: Swiss Fedayi San and German Bastian Dankert

Iran and New Zealand kits

For this opener, Iran will wear their home kit, while New Zealand will use their away uniform, according to the official FIFA website. Iran will take the pitch in their traditional white uniform featuring red details. Additionally, their goalkeeper will wear a light blue uniform.

On the side of New Zealand, they will be wearing their black away uniform with small white details, and their goalkeeper will utilize an entirely magenta uniform. To avoid any confusion, the referee will be wearing a classic yellow uniform.

Iran and New Zealand eager to succeed

Iran are a regular squad from the Asian Confederation, so much so that they have qualified for four consecutive tournaments. They also had a presence in Argentina 1978, France 1998, and Germany 2006, though they were unable to advance past the first group stage. This outcome was repeated in their last three editions, and because of this, their mission is to establish themselves beyond the first round for the first time in their history.

On the other side, the All Whites have had more chances to reach the tournament. This is due to the fact that some time ago, Australia requested their transfer to the Asian Confederation. This move gave a greater opportunity to the other teams in Oceania to dream of the World Cup.

Cavani suffered lumbar injuries throughout the year that required special treatments and even surgical interventions. Beyond the injuries, Cavani does not play because he retired from the national team on May 30, 2024. Regardless, his injuries and the lack of consideration from Bielsa would have left him out anyway, especially since he has not played with La Celeste since 2022 due to his poor form.

Uruguay look to redeem themselves after failing to qualify from the group stage in Qatar 2022, in a group that at first glance seems accessible. However, it can provide many surprises. This is especially true when analyzing the FIFA ranking of Saudi Arabia, which can be one of their direct rivals.

Cavani’s history in the World Cups

Edinson Cavani played four World Cups with Uruguay, earning his spot in the middle of the competition during the unforgettable South Africa 2010 tournament. In Russia 2018, he suffered one of the injuries most regretted by the fans of La Celeste.

El Matador has contested 17 matches in World Cups. Consequently, in his last match with Uruguay against Ghana in Qatar 2022, he became the Uruguayan with the most World Cup matches played by surpassing Fernando Muslera.

Cavani was summoned to play in the 2010 South Africa World Cup. Wearing the number 7 jersey, he was a substitute and did not enter the 0-0 draw against France for the first match of Group A. However, he was later a starter in the following six matches, proving key with his display and sacrifice to cover the entire right flank.

His performances in 2014, 2018, and 2022

In the 2014 World Cup, Cavani played all four matches for Uruguay, now wearing the number 21 jersey, scoring the first goal for La Celeste in this World Cup tournament from a penalty kick. He opened the scoring in the 3-1 defeat against Costa Rica on the first date of Group D. In the second match, he assisted Suarez for the first goal against England.

In Russia 2018, and once again with the number 21 jersey just like in Qatar 2022, Cavani returned as a starter from the beginning of the tournament. He managed to score three goals, marking his best goal-scoring tally in World Cups. Furthermore, in Qatar 2022, Cavani played his final three matches with the Uruguayan national team, reaching a total of 136 appearances across all competitions and friendlies.

Cavani totaled 17 matches and 5 goals in the World Cups. Previously, in the Under-20 World Cup in Canada 2007, he scored two goals against Spain and Jordan. His senior record consists of six matches and one goal in South Africa 2010, four matches and one goal in Brazil 2014, four matches and three goals in Russia 2018, and three matches with no goals in Qatar 2022.

In their last two friendlies, Marcelo Bielsa’s men drew 1-1 with England and 0-0 with Algeria. But more importantly, Uruguay seek to vindicate themselves after a poor performance at Qatar 2022, when they were eliminated in the group stage. Now, it’s all about asserting the value of the 4 stars on their crest for Uruguay.

Saudi Arabia, who upset Argentina at the start of Qatar 2022, drew 0-0 with Senegal and defeated Puerto Rico 3-0 in their last two friendly matches before the World Cup. Now, they want to spring a new surprise and qualify for the knockout phase with the abbreviation ‘KSA’ representing Saudi Arabia’s identity.

What happens if Uruguay beat Saudi Arabia?

If Uruguay secure the victory in their debut, they will add 3 crucial points that will immediately place them as the solitary leaders of Group H, taking advantage of the surprising stumble by Spain, who drew against Cape Verde.

This triumph would grant enormous peace of mind to Uruguay ahead of their second commitment against Cape Verde, who held Lamine Yamal in his World Cup debut. A win over Saudi Arabia would leave Uruguay just one step away from mathematically sealing their qualification to the round of 32.

What happens if Uruguay and Saudi Arabia tie?

If a tie occurs, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia will receive 1 point each, which will generate absolute parity and a technical four-way tie in Group H due to the previous equality of the other match.

For Uruguay, this bittersweet scoreline would force them to imperatively look for a triumph against Cape Verde in the next round so as not to risk their passage to the knockout stage. Although a draw in the opener is not a catastrophic result under current rules, it drastically reduces the margin of error and would force the celestial delegation to closely watch their goal differential.

What happens if Uruguay lose to Saudi Arabia today?

A surprising defeat would place Uruguay at the bottom of Group H with 0 points, sounding the alarms and reviving the historic upset that the Asians dealt to Argentina in the 2022 opening match.

Losing today would force Bielsa’s squad, which includes players born outside Uruguay, to execute a perfect close to the group stage. However, it’s also true that the margin for error is bigger now that more teams advance to the knockout phase.

On Saturday, FIFA transmitted to the RFEF that they expect a full house at the Atlanta stadium for the debut of the European champions against Cape Verde on Monday, June 15, which will feature a player who has a brother playing in another country in the World Cup.

The stadium has a capacity of 72,000 spectators and features a retractable roof and climate control that will mitigate adverse weather conditions, including temperature and humidity, at this World Cup.

The venue

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, currently known as Atlanta Stadium for the 2026 World Cup, is a retractable roof multi-purpose stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Opened in 2017 as a replacement for the Georgia Dome, it is the home to the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL, Atlanta United FC of Major League Soccer.

The weather for Spain vs Cape Verde

The match could be affected by thunderstorms and showers, in addition to having a maximum temperature of 28°. The 2026 World Cup, celebrated in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is in the climate spotlight due to the high temperatures expected between June 11 and July 19, as well as the thunderstorms that already forced the temporary suspension of several matches during the 2025 Club World Cup.

NOAA places the probability of precipitation at 60% and specifies that, starting at 14:00 hours in Atlanta, thunderstorms are more likely. The sky will be mostly cloudy, with a maximum temperature of 28°, according to the same forecast. In the preceding days, temperatures have been higher, reaching 32° this very Sunday.

Protocol for thunderstorms

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the duel takes place, named Atlanta Stadium by FIFA for sponsorship reasons, features a retractable roof cover that, if utilized, would prevent the temporary suspension of the match due to thunderstorms and can also mitigate the impact of high temperatures.

However, in the event that the venue is not roofed, the thunderstorm could complicate the normal development of the match due to the NOAA protocol regarding outdoor sports, which places the significant risk zone between 10 and 16 kilometers.

If thunder is heard or lightning is seen, the sporting activity would stop, and a 30-minute countdown would then begin, during which no thunder or lightning can be recorded within the established significant risk area during the Spain against Cape Verde.

Sweden took control from the opening minutes and quickly built a comfortable advantage with aggressive pressing and clinical finishing. Tunisia improved briefly before halftime and pulled one back through Rekik, but they struggled to contain Sweden’s attacking pace and creativity throughout the match.

In the second half, Sweden completely dictated the tempo and never allowed Tunisia back into the contest. Gyokeres extended the lead before Svanberg added another goal and Ayari completed his outstanding performance with a stunning long-range strike, sealing an impressive 5-1 win to begin the 2026 World Cup.

On the Ecuador roster for the 2026 World Cup, there are three naturalized soccer players: Hernan Galindez, who was born in Rosario, Argentina; John Yeboah, born in Hamburg, Germany, and Jeremy Arevalo, a native of Maliano, a town in the municipality of Camargo, province of Cantabria, Spain.

As a fact, in Ecuador, the players who were called up to represent La Tri are from 16 different cities in the country, while the remaining three soccer players were born abroad, who are the previously mentioned. Yeboah and Arevalo have Ecuadorian roots, whereas Galindez became naturalized to represent La Tri.

Players returning for Ecuador from the 2022 World Cup

Although Sebastian Beccacece renovated the La Tri roster, compared to Qatar 2022, they coincided by 50% (13 players) with those chosen by Gustavo Alfaro four years ago. And precisely one of the foreign-born players is among those who return.

The players who return are:

• Hernan Galindez
• Moises Ramirez
• Piero Hincapie
• Felix Torres
• Willian Pacho
• Pervis Estupinan
• Angelo Preciado
• Jackson Porozo
• Moises Caicedo
• Alan Franco
• Gonzalo Plata
• Enner Valencia
• Kevin Rodriguez

Players making their World Cup debut

Just as half the roster return for the most important FIFA tournament, the other half are debutants. At a generational level, the most prominent cases are those of Joel Ordonez, Denil Castillo, Kendry Paez, Pedro Vite, Jordy Alcivar, Anthony Valencia, Yaimar Medina, Alan Minda, Nilson Angulo, and Jeremy Arevalo.

Gonzalo Valle (29), Jordy Caicedo (28), and John Yeboah (25) are the oldest of this rookie group who will also have their debut in the competition. And where we also find the remaining players who were missing from abroad, Yeboah and Arevalo will have their World Cup debut.

The reality is that Enner and Antonio are not brothers. Valencia is a very common surname in Ecuadorian territory. One of the most common mistakes consists of relating Enner and Antonio Valencia. Well, they are neither brothers nor cousins, nor do they share any family bond. The only thing they have in common is that they developed, at the youth level, at the same club, Caribe Junior.

Both Enner and Antonio are among the most historic players Ecuador have ever had in their history. Antonio Valencia, for his time with Manchester United and the Premier League, became an absolute legend of the club, and Enner Valencia, principally for his impact within Ecuador, serving as their all-time leading scorer.

The legendary career of Antonio Valencia

Antonio Valencia, known worldwide as “the Amazonian train,” built a brilliant career in European soccer after initially standing out at El Nacional. He experienced his golden era at Manchester United of England, a club where he played for ten seasons, won multiple Premier League titles, and rose to become the bearer of the captain’s armband.

With the senior squad of Ecuador, the historic right winger played in the 2006 Germany and 2014 Brazil World Cups, leaving an indelible mark with his physical power and speed. Following a brief return to South American soccer with Liga de Quito and a final stint with Queretaro of Mexico, Antonio announced his definitive retirement from the pitch in May 2021.

The successful career of Enner Valencia

For his part, Enner Valencia began his professional journey in Emelec, where he was crowned champion before starting a notable career abroad. His great scoring ability led him to shine at Pachuca of Mexico, later making the jump to the Premier League with West Ham and subsequently consolidating himself in institutions such as Tigres, Fenerbahce, and Internacional of Porto Alegre.

In the international arena, affectionately nicknamed “Superman,” Enner has transformed into the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Ecuador national team. As captain and absolute leader of the tricolor attack, his goals in the 2014 and 2022 World Cups have consecrated him as one of the most important living legends of Ecuadorian sports.

The Netherlands wear orange due to their historical connection with the House of Orange-Nassau, the Dutch royal family. This relationship dates back to Guillermo de Orange (Guillermo Taciturno), who led the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule in the 16th century, a conflict known as the Eighty Years’ War, which utilized the color orange on his banner.

This war culminated in the independence of the Netherlands and the formation of the Republic of the United Provinces. Although the current red stripe of the Dutch flag is not orange, it originally was, changing because the orange dyes of the era faded easily and took on a reddish tone.

The impact of orange on the Netherlands

The color orange is a distinctive element of the Netherlands. The soccer national team, popularly known as “Clockwork Orange,” has gained worldwide recognition, not only for its style of play but also for its iconic orange kit.

This tradition, dating back to the 1930s, is deeply rooted in the history and culture of the Netherlands, becoming a symbol of national identity reflected in various manifestations. This symbolism spans from the flag and King’s Day celebrations to the kit of the soccer national team.

The best performance of Netherlands

The Netherlands have participated in 11 of the 22 soccer World Cups. The best performance of the Dutch in the tournament was the second-place finish, which they achieved in Germany 1974, Argentina 1978, and South Africa 2010.

Johnny Rep is the top scorer for the Dutch in the World Cup with 7 goals, while Robin van Persie and Wesley Sneijder are the players who have contested the most matches in a World Cup tournament, with 17.

Mitoma was also left out of the tournament due to injury. Mitoma, 28 years old, suffered a hamstring injury during Brighton’s 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton in the Premier League.

The absence of the Brighton attacker represents a significant blow for the squad led by Hajime Moriyasu, since Mitoma was considered one of the great figures and one of the most disruptive players on a roster that helped Japan reach a high position in the FIFA rankings.

The importance of Mitoma

The 28-year-old player has scored four goals, one goal and three assists, in four World Cup qualifying matches with Japan, and additionally scored against England in the 0-1 victory at Wembley Stadium during the March international break.

Mitoma will thus miss the opportunity to play in his second World Cup, after having played in all four matches for Japan in the 2022 edition, in which they fell in the penalty shootout against Croatia in the round of 16.

Featured in the call-up are three Premier League players, Daichi Kamada from Crystal Palace and Ao Tanaka from Leeds United, and Celtic player Daizen Maeda was also included in the roster of 26 players.

The list also includes Takefusa Kubo from Real Sociedad and former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu. Japan have never advanced past the round of 16 in a World Cup; in fact, they hold the record for the most matches played without ever having reached the quarterfinals in the tournament, with 25.

The match opened with high intensity as Australia pressed early and looked dangerous on the counterattack through Irankunda and Mohamed Toure. Turkiye responded by controlling the tempo through Hakan Calhanoglu and Arda Guler, but their efforts from distance were repeatedly denied or off target. Australia struck first after a rapid transition finished by Irankunda, shifting the momentum of the match. From that point, the Socceroos stayed organized and limited clear chances for their opponents.

In the second half, Turkiye increased their pressure but were repeatedly stopped by a solid Australian defensive structure and key saves from Patrick Beach. Kenan Yildiz brought more creativity to the attack, yet Australia continued to look dangerous in transition. Metcalfe then sealed the win with a powerful strike from outside the box at a crucial moment in the game. Despite late efforts from Turkiye, Australia managed the closing stages to secure all three points.

Australia arrive in great form and with a good position in the FIFA rankings. Australia face their sixth consecutive World Cup in the midst of a strategic transition phase under the command of Tony Popovic. The Socceroos sealed their qualification directly following a solid campaign in the AFC qualifiers.

For their part, Turkiye arrive at this match with a high emotional charge, marking their return to the World Cup after a 24-year absence. The squad led by Vincenzo Montella qualified convincingly and have consolidated a balanced roster that combines international experience with a young generation of great technical projection, such as Hakan Calhanoglu, the undisputed captain of Inter Milan, and Arda Guler, the jewel of Real Madrid. Follow Australia vs. Turkey in our live blog for minute-by-minute coverage!

What happens if Australia beat Turkiye?

If Australia secure the victory against Turkiye, the Oceanian squad will add its first 3 points, positioning itself ideally in second place in Group D, just behind the Americans due to goal differential depending on the final score.

This positive result would fill Tony Popovic’s squad with confidence, allowing them to face the decisive clash on June 19 against the hosts, the United States, with the peace of mind of knowing that a draw would practically guarantee them a ticket to the knockout round.

What happens if Australia and Turkiye tie?

If Australia and Turkiye finish tied, both national teams will earn 1 point in the general standings, leaving the fate of the group completely wide open, but with the obligation to gain points in the consecutive matches. For the Australians, the draw would force them to imperatively go out and look for points against the USA in Seattle so as not to compromise their future before facing Paraguay.

Under current FIFA regulations, a draw in the opener is not a catastrophic result, but it drastically reduces the margin of error for the team and conditions them to take care of goal differential and yellow cards as tiebreaking criteria.

What happens if Australia lose to Turkiye today?

A defeat against the Turkish squad would place Australia at the bottom of Group D with 0 points and a negative goal differential, immediately sounding the alarms on the bench. Turkiye, on the other hand, would get all three points with a win.

Losing the opening match would force the Oceanian squad to perform a major feat, which is to win its two remaining duels against the United States and Paraguay, or failing that, to seek a blowout win against the South Americans to try to advance as one of the best third-place finishers.

Australia are within the top 30 of the rankings, occupying exactly the 27th position, coming off two defeats, two victories, and a draw in their friendlies and Confederations Cup ahead of the 2026 World Cup, where they started on the right foot by beating Turkiye 2-0 before taking on the USA in Seattle.

The Socceroos secured victories against Cameroon (1-0) and Curacao (5-1) in the Confederations Cup, suffered defeats against Colombia (3-0) and Mexico (1-0), and finally drew 1-1 with Switzerland, with Cameroon and Curacao below them in the rankings.

Australia’s 2026 World Cup schedule in Group D

Australia were drawn into Group D with the United States, Paraguay, and the winners of the UEFA playoff path C, which ended up being Turkey, making it a more than interesting and balanced group due to the level of all the squads.

Group D match schedule:

• Friday, June 12, United States vs. Paraguay, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
• Sunday, June 13, Australia vs. Turkey, BC Place, Vancouver, CAN
• Friday, June 19, United States vs. Australia, Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
• Friday, June 19, Turkey vs. Paraguay, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
• Thursday, June 25, Turkey vs. United States, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
• Thursday, June 25, Paraguay vs. Australia, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA

Australia’s World Cup snapshot

As of the draw, the Socceroos were ranked 26th in the world, squeezing into Pot 2 as the last nation ahead of Norway, who were ranked 29th in the FIFA ranking and the top-ranked Pot 3 nation, meaning they avoided several tough nations in Pot 2 ranked 10th to 24th.

Australia have never won the World Cup. The Socceroo’s best result has been reaching the Round of 16 in 2006 and 2022, where they lost to the tournament winners on both occasions, Italy in 2006 and Argentina in 2022.

The Switzerland squad will face the 2026 World Cup with a historic absence, as for the first time in more than a decade, they will not count on Xherdan Shaqiri, one of the most emblematic and talented players in recent history.

Shaqiri announced his retirement from the national team in July 2024, closing an extraordinary career with 125 matches and 32 goals while defending the Swiss jersey. In addition, he participated in every major tournament between the 2014 World Cup and the Euro 2024, becoming one of the most representative faces of Swiss soccer during the last decade.

Another Swiss star who retired from international duty is goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who isn’t playing at the 2026 World Cup either.

A new path without Shaqiri

The absence of the historic winger will mark the beginning of a new stage for the squad led by Murat Yakin, who already confirmed their definitive 26-player roster for the 2026 World Cup. The leadership within the group will now fall principally on Granit Xhaka, the current captain and leader of the Swiss midfield.

Switzerland arrive at the World Cup after completing a very solid UEFA qualifying campaign, finishing undefeated and as group leaders. The roster maintains an experienced core with soccer players like Manuel Akanji, Gregor Kobel, Remo Freuler, and Denis Zakaria, who provide balance and international experience.

Without Shaqiri, a large part of the offensive responsibility will fall on players like Dan Ndoye, Ruben Vargas, Zeki Amdouni, and Noah Okafor, soccer players called upon to assume the prominence that the former Bayern Munich and Liverpool player had for years.

Although Switzerland maintain a competitive and balanced generation, the 2026 World Cup will represent the definitive close of an unforgettable era for Swiss soccer, with them now forced to reinvent themselves without one of their greatest modern idols.

Following the match, Mauricio Pochettino revealed that it was nothing serious, but there were still no firsthand words until Pulisic came out to provide the update that the fans were waiting for.

“I just got a bit of a kick in the first half. I’m hoping that it’s nothing, taking precaution,” Pulisic said postgame, via Jonathan Tannenwald of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“Back of my leg, sort of my left calf area. Staying positive, I don’t think it’s anything,” added Pulisic, who also addressed his availability for USA vs. Australia on Matchday 2.

Pulisic’s great performance in the debut

Pulisic said the knock happened to his left leg. Before his substitution, the 27-year-old was sharp in the first half, with his silky dribble past two defenders ultimately setting up the U.S. opener, an own goal by Damian Bobadilla in the seventh minute.

In addition to his participation in the first goal that opened the scoring for USA, before being substituted and despite Balogun’s brace, it could be said that Pulisic was the most unbalancing player and the best among those led by Pochettino.

He had already caused two bookings on his flank for Paraguay, to full back Juan Jose Caceres and defender Gustavo Gomez. He was truly uncontainable and highly unbalancing, forming a great partnership with Antonee Robinson, who did whatever he wanted.

Finally, the USA remain very well positioned in the standings with this first victory, beyond the 3 points, carrying a +3 goal differential, something that is extremely important in a World Cup, and they now await the match between Turkiye and Australia.

The match opened with USA immediately pushing forward, forcing Paraguay deep into their own half with sustained attacking pressure. An early breakthrough came through an own goal by Damian Bobadilla, which shifted momentum firmly in favor of the hosts. USA continued to exploit spaces behind the Paraguayan defense, with Christian Pulisic and Malik Tillman heavily involved in creating chances, including the brace of Balogun.

In the second half, Paraguay managed to pull one goal back through Mauricio after a more aggressive attacking approach. However, USA quickly regained control. Giovanni Reyna added a late goal to put the finishing touch on a strong collective performance. USA maintained control in the closing stages, comfortably seeing out the match to begin their tournament campaign with confidence.

USA arrive off a 2-1 friendly victory against Paraguay in November 2025 and possess home momentum, despite recent mixed results against strong opponents. In their last five matches, they were only able to win one against Senegal, 2-1, and from there they lost against Portugal, Germany, Belgium, and Mexico. Follow USA vs. Paraguay live with us for minute-by-minute updates!

Paraguay, under Gustavo Alfaro, return to the World Cup after a 16-year absence, with their last appearance occurring in 2010, following a solid South American qualifying campaign. They arrive with recent victories against opponents like Greece and Nicaragua, boasting a solid squad at the back with stars like Gustavo Gomez and Miguel Almiron, who will be in Paraguay’s lineup against the USA.

What happens if USA beat Paraguay today?

If the United States secure a victory against Paraguay, they will add their first 3 points, positioning themselves ideally to lead Group D and delivering a statement of authority on their own home turf.

This result would grant them enormous peace of mind heading into their second match against Australia in Seattle, since an additional triumph would practically seal their mathematical qualification to the round of 32.

What happens if USA and Paraguay tie?

If the United States and Paraguay tie, both squads will share 1 point, leaving the group completely wide open and dependent on what occurs in the match between Turkey and Australia. For the Americans, a disappointing draw at home would mean the obligation to imperatively search for all three points against the Australians on June 19 to avoid complicating their aspirations.

Under the current format, a draw in the debut is not catastrophic, remembering that the 8 best third-place finishers advance to the next round, but it drastically reduces the margin of error, forcing them to depend on goal differential as a tiebreaker if a three-way tie occurs in the final standings.

What happens if the USA lose to Paraguay today?

A defeat against Paraguay would place the United States in a highly critical situation and on the brink of a historic failure as a host nation, leaving them with 0 points at the bottom of Group D.

However, the USA will still have two group stage games left, facing Australia on June 19 before taking on Turkiye on June 25. Let’s keep in mind that the eight best third-placed teams also make the round of 16, which provides more margin for error.

The squad led by Mauricio Pochettino, who is Argentinian, in fact, features players born outside of U.S. territory, children of immigrants, and players who even had the possibility to represent other teams before choosing the Stars and Stripes jersey.

The list of players born outside the USA is as follows:

• Sebastian Berhalter, born in London, UK
• Sergino Dest, born in Almere, Netherlands
• Gio Reyna, born in Sunderland, UK
• Antonee Robinson, born in Milton Keynes, UK
• Malik Tillman, born in Nuremberg, Germany
• Alejandro Zendejas, born in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

The case of Pulisic

Christian Pulisic, the American captain, was born in Pennsylvania, but his family has Croatian roots through his grandfather. Thanks to this, he was even able to develop part of his career in Europe from a very young age, where he had the option to play for Croatia, but ultimately ended up in the country where he was born, the USA.

A similar case is that of Ricardo Pepi, who was born in Texas but is the son of Mexican parents. For several years, speculations arose regarding the possibility of seeing him play for Mexico, although he ultimately opted for the United States.

Just as it happens with the USA, this occurs with several squads in this World Cup, as many teams possess that diversity of cultures within the group, and that decisive choice by the players wanting to defend something that represents them.

USMNT’s 2026 World Cup roster

Goalkeepers

• Chris Brady, Naperville, Illinois
• Matt Freese, Wayne, Pennsylvania
• Matt Turner, Park Ridge, New Jersey

Defenders

• Max Arfsten, Fresno, California
• Sergino Dest, Almere, Netherlands
• Alex Freeman, Baltimore, Maryland
• Mark McKenzie, The Bronx, New York
• Tim Ream, St. Louis, Missouri
• Chris Richards, Birmingham, Alabama
• Antonee Robinson, Milton Keynes, UK
• Miles Robinson, Arlington, Massachusetts
• Joe Scally, Lake Grove, New York
• Auston Trusty, Media, Pennsylvania

Midfielders

• Tyler Adams, Wappinger, New York
• Sebastian Berhalter, London, UK
• Weston McKennie, Fort Lewis, Washington
• Cristian Roldan, Artesia, California

Attacking midfielders/wingers

• Brenden Aaronson, Medford, New Jersey
• Christian Pulisic, Hershey, Pennsylvania
• Gio Reyna, Sunderland, UK
• Malik Tillman, Nuremberg, Germany
• Tim Weah, Brooklyn, New York
• Alejandro Zendejas, Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

Strikers

• Folarin Balogun, New York City, New York
• Ricardo Pepi, El Paso, Texas
• Haji Wright, Los Angeles, California

According to Fabrizio Romano, Kylian Mbappe was asked what would happen if France were to face Argentina again and repeat that legendary 2022 final against Lionel Messi, responding, “We will be determined and hungry to win, as always.”

“We are here to make history. We are yet to do it. We want this World Cup.” France arrive as one of the top candidates due to the sheer quality of the players they are bringing to the tournament, especially among their forwards, while Argentina also remain at their absolute best on the South American side.

The rivalry of Messi and Mbappe

Beyond the encounters they have had between the final and the 2018 round of 16, which basically leaves their head-to-head record tied at 1-1 on the international stage, the heavy weight remains that Argentina defeated them in the most important match of all. Furthermore, they share the spotlight and compete directly on the list of all-time World Cup goal scorers:

World Cup all-time goal scorers

1. 16, Miroslav Klose (Germany)
2. 15, Ronaldo Nazario (Brazil)
3. 13, Lionel Messi (Argentina)
4. 12, Kylian Mbappe (France)
5. 11, Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany)
6. 10, Helmut Rahn (Germany)

Just three goals separate Messi and Mbappe, with Mbappe needing five, from equalizing soccer’s most coveted World Cup scoring record. At 39, Messi enters the tournament with 13 World Cup goals and needs four more to surpass Klose outright.

Mbappe, meanwhile, has already scored 12 World Cup goals despite playing in only two editions of the tournament. The French superstar needs five goals to claim the record for himself.

The only stage where Argentina vs France would cross paths

The design of the definitive bracket for the final phase of the 2026 World Cup establishes a strict pairing scheme. According to the organization of the brackets, if they advance from their respective groups, whether qualifying as leaders or as runners-up of their zones, Argentina and France will be placed on opposite sides of the knockout stage structure. This distribution mathematically prevents them from crossing paths in the round of 32, round of 16, quarterfinals, or semifinals.

Due to this separation on opposite sides of the bracket, the only stage of the tournament in which the squads of Argentina and France could face each other is a hypothetical final, thereby replicating the iconic deciding match played in Qatar 2022. For fans to witness this clash once again, both countries must successfully overcome each of the previous rounds on their respective sides of the bracket until reaching the pinnacle match for the world title.

Egyptian official Amin Mohamed will be the referee for the match and will be in charge of directing the encounter. It is important to mention that this will be a crucial match, considering that Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0, causing the overall scenarios in the group to begin taking shape.

The full referee crew of South Korea vs Czechia

• Referee: Amin Mohamed (Egypt)
• Assistant Referee 1: Mahmoud Abouelregal (Egypt)
• Assistant Referee 2: Ahmed Hossam Taha (Egypt)
• Fourth Official: Juan Calderon (Costa Rica)
• VAR Referee: Juan Carlos Mora (Costa Rica)
• AVAR 1: Mahmoud Ashour (Egypt)
• AVAR 2: Joe Dickerson (United States)
• AVAR 3: Marco Di Bello (Italy)

How South Korea arrive

South Korea begin their World Cup adventure with the clear objective of making a strong impression from the very first minute. Under the technical leadership of Myung-Bo Hong, the Asian side will attempt to replicate the solidity shown throughout their preparation ahead of the tournament.

The South Korean squad arrive with plenty of match fitness after contesting a series of preparatory matches that yielded a balance of ups and downs on the international stage, securing important victories against El Salvador 1-0 and a blowout win against Trinidad and Tobago 5-0, although they suffered setbacks against high-caliber teams such as Austria and Ivory Coast.

How Czechia arrive

Czechia, commanded by Miroslav Koubek, arrive in Mexico with their confidence through the roof after sealing their ticket to the World Cup through a grueling but celebrated European play-off round, where they eliminated both Denmark and the Republic of Ireland on penalties along the way.

In their most recent friendlies, the Czechs demonstrated their good current form by overcoming Kosovo 2-1 and Guatemala by a convincing 3-1 scoreline. Characterized by a physical style of play, rapid transitions, and notable effectiveness on set pieces, they will attempt to impose their conditions so that their return to the forefront of international competition begins with a smile against the Asian side.

South Korea are in the top 25 of the ranking, occupying exactly that 25th position, having claimed three victories and two defeats in the friendly matches before the 2026 World Cup.

South Korea secured victories against El Salvador 1-0, Trinidad and Tobago 5-0, and Ghana 1-0, but they were defeated by Ivory Coast 4-0 and Austria 1-0, with Austria being the only team from their recent encounters that sits above them in the ranking in the 24th position.

The largest ranking differences in the World Cup

Taking into account the latest FIFA ranking, we observe that the largest gap between opponents in the group stage is 77 places, and there are several leading teams, such as Brazil, England, or Spain, that face teams ranked beyond the 65th position.

Six-time champions Brazil enter the World Cup ranked sixth, while Haiti are in the 83rd position. The two countries have faced each other four times before, with the Brazilians achieving two victories by six goals in the last two duels, winning 7 to 1 in 2016 at the Copa America Centenario and 6-0 in a friendly in 2004. The qualification of Haiti represents one of the great stories of the tournament, as the Caribbean country arrives at the World Cup for the first time since 1974.

Another major case features Belgium and New Zealand, who have never faced each other in a senior men’s match. The Belgians, ninth in the FIFA ranking, have remained one of the most stable teams in the tournament even after transitioning from their golden generation. New Zealand, ranked 85th, return to the World Cup for the first time since 2010, when they left the tournament without having lost after their draws against Slovakia, Italy, and Paraguay.

The differences are found in several groups

In Group E, there is also another case of a large difference; the duel between Curacao and Germany, 10th in the FIFA ranking, in Houston will represent the first match in the World Cup for the Caribbean side. Ranked 82nd in the world, Curacao are the smallest country in population to have ever qualified for the FIFA World Cup and will find themselves against the four-time champions, who look to make amends after the disappointing eliminations of 2018 and 2022.

And as an extra to highlight the variety, there are Spain and Cape Verde, who will face each other for the first time in Atlanta in a match that represents one of the greatest contrasts in the tournament.

Spain are ranked second in the world ranking and appear as champions of the UEFA Euro 2004 on the back of a brilliant new generation with players like Lamine Yamal or Pedri. Cape Verde, 69th in the ranking, debut in the World Cup after years of progress, helped by the talent of the diaspora and an increase in local investment in soccer.

Despite the fact that the 2026 World Cup expanded to 48 selections, granting Asia a historic total of 8 direct spots, North Korea failed to qualify due to their sporting performance in the third round of the AFC Qualifiers, leaving them mathematically eliminated after a highly irregular campaign in their group.

Their path became seriously complicated during the second round when they refused to host Japan in Pyongyang, citing concerns over bacterial infections in the Japanese nation. Because they did not find a neutral venue in time, FIFA imposed a 3-0 forfeit defeat on them, which diminished their points.

The fall of North Korea

Even so, North Korea managed to advance to the decisive third round, where they were drawn into a highly demanding group with Asian powerhouses such as Iran, Uzbekistan, and the United Arab Emirates. The North Korean squad could not replicate the historic exploits of their 1966 and 2010 qualifications, losing key matches in the final stretch of the qualifiers and sealing their definitive absence from the great tournament.

The administrative stumble in the second round

The path for North Korea began to go wrong administratively in March 2024, during the second round of the AFC Qualifiers, Group B. The country was supposed to host Japan in Pyongyang, but the North Korean authorities canceled the match at the last minute due to fear of an outbreak of a bacterial infection, STSS, on Japanese soil.

By refusing to play and failing to offer an alternative venue in time, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee punished North Korea by awarding them a loss by walkover, 3-0, and applying a financial fine. Despite this harsh blow that cost them 3 direct points, the North Korean selection managed to advance from the phase agonizingly after defeating Syria 1-0 and Myanmar 4-1, finishing in second place of the group with 9 points.

The collapse in the third round

For the third round, which was contested between late 2024 and early 2025, North Korea were placed in a very tough Group A alongside Iran, Uzbekistan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kyrgyzstan. In this phase, the top two from each group qualified directly for the World Cup, while the third and fourth went to a playoff.

The group concluded with Iran (24 points) and Uzbekistan (21 points), qualifying directly for the 2026 World Cup undefeated. For their part, the United Arab Emirates (15 points) and Qatar (11 points) advanced to the fourth round of the playoffs.

North Korea finished in last place, sixth, with 5 points, leaving them mathematically eliminated from any possibility, even behind Kyrgyzstan, which had 6 points.

Mexico and South Korea secured their first 3 points in Group A to stand as group leaders, and it can be said they have almost one foot in the round of 32. Here is the table following the first matchday:

Dominant victory for Mexico

Mexico began the World Cup eager to be one of the top candidates, especially with the power they would have playing at home as hosts and with their people, adding to that start at the historic Azteca Stadium, which had already seen Diego Maradona and Pele as champions.

On this occasion, it was time to witness the great confidence of Julian Quinones, who became the first goalscorer of this edition of the competition with a goal that stems from a recovery and a great placed shot in the 9th minute of the match.

Mexico dominated the match as a result of that, without receiving almost any dangerous plays from South Africa, who were unable to create a good attacking play. In addition, it is worth noting that they had their players Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane sent off in the 49th and 84th minutes. And Raul Jimenez sealed the victory in the 67th minute with an amazing header.

Crucial victory for South Korea

South Korea secured the ideal start against what could be their direct rivals within the group, after achieving that victory against Czechia, even though they began trailing in the 59th minute with a goal by Krejic, but they knew how to complete the comeback following a goal in the 67th minute by Hwang In-Beam and another by Hyeon-gyu in the 80th minute, right after Czechia had a goal disallowed.

Spain controlled the match from the opening whistle, moving the ball with patience and dictating the tempo through Rodri, Fabian Ruiz and Alex Baena. Peru struggled to create chances for most of the game, although they managed to find a late goal after a well-timed pass from Marcos Lopez set up Velez.

The friendly maintained a calm pace throughout the second half, with both teams making several substitutions and avoiding unnecessary risks. Despite easing off the intensity after the break, Spain remained in complete control and comfortably closed out a 3-1 victory over Peru.

That exact scenario will be the case for eight distinct pairs of siblings at the 2026 World Cup. The way of the modern soccer world means that four sets of brothers currently play for different squads and could go up against one another at some point during the grueling tournament, although none of them will do so during the initial group stage.

This is the list of brothers playing for different squads:

• Inaki Williams and Nico Williams, who play for Ghana and Spain, respectively
• Desire Doue and Guela Doue, who represent France and Ivory Coast, respectively
• John Souttar and Harry Souttar, playing for Scotland and Australia, respectively
• Derrick Luckassen and Brian Brobbey, who represent Ghana and Netherlands, respectively

A potential family reunion in the knockout rounds

If France and Ivory Coast both finish as the respective runners-up in Group I and Group E, there will be an immediate meeting of the Doue brothers in the round of 32. This particular scenario represents the most obvious and direct route to a sibling-on-sibling matchup during the high-stakes knockout stages of the competition.

Since 32 of the 48 participating squads successfully progress from the opening group stage, there are numerous mathematical possibilities for even more family showdowns later in the bracket. These potential matchups would undoubtedly add an extra layer of personal drama and intrigue to what are already incredibly high-stakes soccer clashes.

The brothers who represent a single nation

Among the brothers who are set to make history by representing a single country are Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber and his twin brother Quinten Timber. Quinten Timber currently plays as a talented midfielder for French club Marseille, and both siblings are proudly included in the Netherlands squad, though there are even more Dutch family connections to note.

Laros Duarte and his younger brother Deroy Duarte were both originally born in the Netherlands, but could potentially team up together in the midfield for Cape Verde. This family duo adds significant strength to the African squad, who is currently making its historic maiden World Cup appearance on the global stage.

The same situation goes for former Aston Villa right back Leandro Bacuna, who stands as Curacao’s most-capped player in history, and Juninho Bacuna, who previously played for Villa’s bitter rivals Birmingham City. The Bacuna brothers are also completely Dutch-born, but officially declared their international allegiance to Curacao several years ago.

For example, Zidane, Simeone, Weah, Kluivert, or Thuram are names that already belonged to soccer history, and now they return to the biggest showcase on the planet, but with a new generation as the protagonist. The names looking for their own legacy are the following:

• Luca Zidane, son of Zinedine Zidane
• Timothy Weah, son of George Weah
• Justin Kluivert, son of Patrick Kluivert
• Marcus Thuram, son of Lilian Thuram
• Giuliano Simeone, son of Diego Simeone
• Erling Haaland, son of Alfie Haaland
• Nico Paz, son of Pablo Paz
• Francisco Conceicao, son of Sergio Conceicao
• Lee Taesok, son of Lee Eul-yong

The names with the most pressure

There are definitely sons who carry more pressure due to the weight of their last name, and it is necessary to start with Luca Zidane. He is the son of Zinedine Zidane, a world champion with France in 1998, author of two goals in that final against Brazil, and one of the great symbols of the recent history of European soccer.

His last name needs no context, as it is enough to read “Zidane” for the memory to automatically travel to a victorious France, the 1998 Ballon d’Or, Real Madrid, and one of the most elegant figures soccer has ever produced.

The case of Luca Zidane is somewhat different. He will not defend France, the squads with which his father touched glory, but rather Algeria, squads linked to his family roots. The 28-year-old goalkeeper, born in Marseille, does not arrive at the World Cup as a top-tier media star, but he certainly stands out as one of the names that can generate the most headlines.

Timothy Weah, the son of a Ballon d’Or winner without a World Cup

His father, George Weah, was the Ballon d’Or winner in 1995 and remains one of the greatest legends in African soccer history. He shone in Europe, left a lasting mark on historic clubs, and became an icon far beyond Liberia.

He made the leap to Europe with AS Monaco, where he began to draw attention for his power, speed, and scoring ability. Afterward, he played for PSG and reached his peak with AC Milan, a period during which he became a Ballon d’Or recipient. He also spent time with Chelsea, Manchester City, and Olympique de Marseille; however, he never played in a World Cup with his teams.

His son, Timothy Weah, will do so, but representing the United States. The 26-year-old New York City player already possesses international experience and does not arrive merely as a family curiosity, as his last name carries something truly special.

Justin Kluivert, the last name of a historic goalscorer

He is the son of Patrick Kluivert, who was one of the great Dutch forwards of his era. He developed at Ajax, where he was a protagonist in the 1995 Champions League, scoring the decisive goal in the final against AC Milan. Afterward, he played for AC Milan, but his most remembered stint was with FC Barcelona, where he served as one of the main offensive references for several seasons.

Marcus Thuram, the heir of a World Champion

Marcus Thuram carries one of the most recognizable last names in French soccer. His father, Lilian Thuram, was a world champion with France in 1998, a European champion in 2000, and one of the most important defenders of his generation.

He developed at AS Monaco, moved afterward to Parma, then signed with Juventus, where he was one of the best defenders in the world, and finally closed his career as a player with FC Barcelona. His son, however, has built his career from a completely different part of the field: the attack. Just like them, there are also the previously mentioned players, but from a soccer perspective, there is no such noticeable demand attached to their last names.

According to the official FIFA regulations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the rosters of the participants must feature between 23 and 26 players. This exact requirement coincides with the Qatar 2022 World Cup. FIFA expanded the squad lists in the previous tournament in order to accommodate the growing saturation of matches across global soccer.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed competitions in the two previous years and significantly increased the overall playing-minute workload, also significantly influenced this decision. FIFA received an overwhelmingly favorable response to this specific change and ultimately decided to maintain the expanded roster format for the 2026 tournament.

A crucial fact for the teams

Before locking in the official squad list, the teams had to submit a preliminary list, which also serves as their provisional roster of 35 to 55 players. As an important fact, any player suffering “serious injury or illness” before the tournament begins may be replaced by another player from the provisional roster, all the way up to 24 hours before their first World Cup match.

Teams are allowed to have up to nine players on the roster for training purposes until the start of the tournament, but those nine players may not participate in World Cup competition. Furthermore, as an absolute mandatory requirement for the squads, at least three of the 26 selected players must be goalkeepers.

The clubs that contribute the most players to the World Cup

With the Premier League being the tournament that contributes the most players to the 2026 World Cup, it is only natural that Manchester City are the club that released the most soccer players to the squads playing in the World Cup, as they boast 19 players.

Behind the English outfit, several prominent international clubs follow closely in terms of representation, with their respective numbers clearly demonstrating the massive European influence on the tournament:

• Bayern Munich: 17
• Arsenal: 16
• Paris Saint-Germain: 15
• Barcelona: 14

Which league has the most selected players

The English leagues confirm their sheer dominance by contributing 203 players to the World Cup across three distinct divisions. The Premier League is the individual competition that contributes the most soccer players to the 2026 World Cup, with 163 selected players, while the Championship, the second division, will have 35 representatives at the World Cup.

Unsurprisingly, the leagues that contribute the most players are the top five biggest leagues in Europe. In total, 86 different leagues contribute players for the World Cup, spanning across 71 different countries, with the top five leagues contributing the following numbers:

• Premier League: 163
• Bundesliga: 100
• LaLiga: 81
• Ligue 1: 79
• Serie A: 66

New York Stadium hosts a total of eight matches throughout the World Cup tournament, a number that is one less than Dallas, the venue slated to hold the most matchups. However, the local venue secures the ultimate privilege of staging the most important game of all, which is none other than the final.

These are the matches that will be played in New York:

Group Stage

• Saturday, June 13, 2026: Brazil vs. Morocco, Group C
• Tuesday, June 16, 2026: France vs. Senegal, Group I
• Monday, June 22, 2026: Norway vs. Senegal, Group I
• Thursday, June 25, 2026: Ecuador vs. Germany, Group E
• Saturday, June 27, 2026: Panama vs. England, Group L

Round of 32

• Tuesday, June 30, 2026: Match 77, 1I vs 3 C, D, F, G, H

Round of 16

• Sunday, July 5, 2026: Match 91, G76 vs G78

World Cup 2026 Final

• Sunday, July 19, 2026: Match 104, G101 vs G102

New York joins history with other cities

This location represents the largest city in the United States, and although it hosted several matches during the 1994 World Cup, the final back then was awarded by FIFA to Los Angeles and Pasadena. Because of this historical background, the decision to host the tournament culmination remains completely logical for the 2026 World Cup in New York.

New York joins an elite list of major global metropolises such as Johannesburg, Mexico City, Rome, Berlin, Moscow, and Rio de Janeiro. These prominent locations stand out across the planet as iconic cities that have previously hosted the prestigious final of the World Cup.

The stadium that will be the venue

MetLife Stadium is a multipurpose venue that originally opened in 2010, and it currently hosts the New York Giants and the New York Jets of the NFL, as well as the New York Guardians of the XFL. Furthermore, the iconic facility served as the exact stage for the 2016 Copa America Centenario final, a memorable match in which Chile defeated the Argentina squad led by Lionel Messi in a dramatic penalty shootout.

This venue served as the setting for the conclusion of the 2025 Club World Cup, an event where soccer fans from all over the globe witnessed a thrilling 3-0 victory by Chelsea over PSG. In addition to that final match, the stadium previously hosted the tournament semifinals, a single quarterfinal matchup, and five distinct fixtures during the group stage.

The first half was not entirely comfortable for Colombia, as Jordan stayed compact defensively and looked dangerous on the counterattack. However, the breakthrough eventually arrived through Arias after a well-worked move involving Gustavo Puerta and Luis Suarez.

In the second half, Colombia took complete control of the game and created several clear opportunities. Arias added his second goal with a header from a Santiago Arias cross, while Jordan‘s task became even more difficult after Amer Jamous was sent off for a second yellow card late in the match.

Sebastian Beccacece confirmed the starting lineup for the match, and one of the biggest talking points surrounds the absence of Moises Caicedo from the opening whistle. The Chelsea midfielder, widely considered the premier figure of the Ecuadorian squad, begins the encounter on the bench among the substitutes.

Everything suggests that the coaching staff decided against risking one of their most important players with the upcoming World Cup in mind. The primary idea is to prevent injuries so that everyone can arrive in optimal condition for the debut, a cautious approach that the manager also adopted with key players like William Pacho and Piero Hincapie, who recently featured in the Champions League final, alongside several other regular starters.

Ecuador’s confirmed lineup

Sebastian Beccacece opts to utilize a backup squad for this specific encounter against Guatemala, given the friendly nature of the match, presenting a perfect opportunity to analyze what their potential tactical alternatives could be during the World Cup, especially considering that the preferred starting 11 remains almost completely unchangeable.

Ecuador starting XI:

• Goalkeeper: Hernan Galindez
• Defenders: Alan Franco, Felix Torres, Jackson Porozo, Yaimar Medina
• Midfielders: Jordy Alcivar, Anthony Valencia, Jeremy Arevalo, Kendry Paez, Alan Minda
• Forward: Jordy Caicedo

Ecuador as one of the candidates to be a surprise

Ecuador arrive at the tournament in one of the best moments in their entire sporting history, boasting an unprecedented crop of young talent and finishing second in the Qualifiers only behind Argentina.

La Tri will reach the World Cup with the ultimate dream of becoming one of the true surprises of the competition, as their official debut comes on June 14 against Ivory Coast for the opening fixture of the group stage, a match that could completely set the course for their tournament participation.

Ecuador form part of Group E in the 2026 World Cup, in addition to Ivory Coast, featuring Germany and Curacao. It is a group that at first glance appears extremely complicated, but a strong belief exists that Ecuador can spring a major surprise in a setting very similar in characteristics to their group in Qatar 2022, where they shared the stage with Qatar, Netherlands, and Senegal.

Argentina took the lead before halftime when Lautaro Martinez calmly converted a penalty after Nicolas Tagliafico was brought down inside the box. The hosts continued to dominate possession and nearly extended their advantage on several occasions through Giovanni Lo Celso, Giuliano Simeone and Thiago Almada.

In the second half, Argentina sealed the victory with a brilliant team move finished by Giuliano Simeone after an excellent backheel assist from Lautaro Martinez. Honduras remained organized defensively, but Argentina comfortably managed the game and closed out a convincing 2-0 win in College Station.

The match was heavily influenced by physical duels and a disrupted rhythm, especially in midfield, where fouls broke up continuous play. Qatar struggled at times to break through El Salvador’s organized defensive structure, particularly in the final third. El Salvador, meanwhile, grew into the game and managed to push higher up the pitch after the break. However, their attacking moves lacked the final precision needed to convert chances into goals.

In the end, both Qatar and El Salvador settled for a goalless draw, reflecting a balanced contest where defensive discipline stood out over attacking efficiency. The result leaves both teams with key lessons as they continue their preparations for the 2026 World Cup. While Qatar showed more control in possession phases, El Salvador’s resilience ensured they matched their opponents in intensity throughout the match.