World Cup
World Cup 2026
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is underway, and you can follow the latest tournament news and analysis right here.
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World Cup predictions: USMNT vs Paraguay, Canada vs Bosnia on matchday 2
Ghana are based in Providence, Rhode Island, during the World Cup.
Following the meeting with Panama in Toronto they play England at Gillette Stadium (Boston) before closing out Group L against Croatia at Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia).
Thomas Partey continued to play for Arsenal until the end of his contract, making 35 Premier League appearances in the 2024-25 season, his last at the Emirates Stadium.
He moved to Villarreal in Spain last summer.
Thomas Partey will play no part in Ghana’s first World Cup game in Toronto as he has been denied entry to Canada.
The former Arsenal midfielder, now of Villarreal, was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in July 2025 by London's Metropolitan Police. In September, he pleaded not guilty. He was charged with two new counts of rape in February this year, to which he pleaded not guilty in April.
Ghana are set to open their tournament at Toronto’s BMO Field against Panama on Wednesday, June 17 but it has been confirmed that Partey cannot enter Canada and therefore will not be able to feature.
In a statement to The Athletic, FIFA said: “FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana's Team Base Camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government.
“FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country.”
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Thomas Partey denied entry to Canada, unable to play Ghana’s World Cup opener
Our live coverage of the World Cup Group B opener between co-hosts Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto is now up and running.
Canada failed to win a game at the 2022 tournament, but they'll be looking to right those wrongs on home soil this year.
Italy fans won't be reading this but if any of you are lurking, look away now. This was the scene at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Boston this morning. The 75 per cent off sale feels brutal. But of course the FIFA official pin badges are still full price.
Carlo Ancelotti doesn’t look like he is feeling the pressure in training ahead of Brazil’s World Cup opener against Morocco at MetLife Stadium tomorrow.
Does anyone exude calmness quite like the five-time Champions League winner?
Nineteen players at the 2026 World Cup were born after all of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric made their debuts in the competition in 2006.
Messi, Ronaldo and Modrić are all poised to play at this World Cup.
The World Cup really does bring out the stars. I just walked past Scottish actor Gerard Butler in Boston.
Scotland play Haiti at Boston Stadium tomorrow night. I'm sure if they need him for a bit of inspiration he's got a rallying cry in him just like in the movie 300. This is Scotland (not Sparta)!
France forward and Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele has defended his national team captain Kylian Mbappe, arguing that the Real Madrid striker is the target of too much unfair criticism.
Mbappe, 27, has been the target of criticism for his performances for both club and country in recent months. That is despite the World Cup winner scoring 42 goals in 44 games this season.
“The criticism towards him is very, very unfair,” Dembele said during a media appearance today. “Some people go a bit too far with the criticism of Kylian.
“He's an incredible player and a very good person off the pitch. Some people overdo the criticism because he's Kylian Mbappe. They shouldn't keep going after him. Whether he ties his shoelaces or not, whether he pulls up his socks or not, it's too much.
“With the France team, he's very good with us, he's a leader.”
England have chalked up two wins from two games as they put the final touches to their World Cup preparations.
The 1-0 win over New Zealand last Saturday was followed by a 3-0 defeat of Costa Rica on Wednesday… but there was another match that enabled Thomas Tuchel to fine-tune his squad for next week’s Group I opener against Croatia.
On Thursday, England took on Miami FC to wrap up their West Palm Beach training camp. The U.S. club play in the USL Championship, the second tier of the American soccer league pyramid, where they sit seventh in the Eastern Conference, 12 points behind leaders Tampa Bay Rowdies.
No media or fans were allowed into watch, but The Athletic has learned what happened — and the impression England’s players and staff left on their opponents.
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Inside England’s secret World Cup friendly: Toney’s ‘class’, Bellingham selfies and Tuchel clears up
Ref Cam has been welcomed into the Premier League. Hearing the referee communicate with players and make decisions, as well as seeing the blistering pace at which the professional level is played from their viewpoint, is a very satisfying and compelling experience that makes fans feel more immersed in the beautiful game.
It is also in action at this World Cup as each referee at every match will wear a camera, which sits comfortably around their head.
Watch the video below to see some of the key moments of yesterday’s match between Mexico and South Africa from referee Wilton Sampaio’s perspective.
POV: You're refereeing the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 🏆🌎 pic.twitter.com/Vtp1JaQXw3
The 2026 World Cup is underway!
Join Adam Leventhal, Art de Roche and Cerys Jones as they reflect on an eventful opening day before asking why the USA have never produced a truly global superstar.
Jack Lang was at Estadio Azteca and recounts Mexico’s 2-0 victory over South Africa that saw him showered in beer, while Henry Bushnell looks ahead to the USMNT’s opener against Paraguay.
Plus, we hear from Joshua Kloke on Canada’s first game, in what he describes as ‘the biggest in Canadian soccer history’.
The squad arrived earlier in Houston, looking like they mean serious business, wearing leopard-print designed outfits.
One of Africa's biggest and most populous countries has been patiently waiting for the World Cup spotlight, and based on this airport entrance, they haven’t disappointed.
📷 Retour sur l'arrivée des nos Léopards 🐆 sur le sol américain.
52 ans d'attente résumés en un seul objectif, faire vibrer la République Démocratique du Congo sur le toit du monde.
Portons haut notre drapeau 🇨🇩, L'histoire s'écrit maintenant.#RoadToWorldCup #FecofaRdc pic.twitter.com/Nbz9e7SpRp
It was 16 years ago today that England kicked off their 2010 World Cup campaign against the U.S. in Rustenburg, South Africa — an occasion best remembered for Rob Green’s blunder, American celebrations and the New York Post’s tongue-in-cheek headline, “U.S.A. wins 1-1”.
A few years back I wrote an in-depth piece about England’s 2010 World Cup nightmare: from a chaotic squad selection process to the complaints about the “five-star prison” that was their training base, from Green’s error in Rustenburg to a dreadful night against Algeria in Cape Town, from an attempted “coup” by John Terry to a terrible 4-1 defeat by Germany.
It’s all here along with insights and recollections from some of the players and staff involved.
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England, ‘control freak’ Capello and chaos at 2010 World Cup
Walking out of Union Station, Toronto’s major train station, I was met with the sight of Bosnia supporters five hours before kickoff in their game against co-host nation Canada. They were wearing the blue and yellow kits and one was carrying a Bosnian flag.
A few of them were doing what every tourist does when they visit Toronto. Take a photo with the iconic CN Tower in the background.
Original.
People in some areas of the United States have probably never heard the sound of bagpipes in their lives.
Well, at 6:30am this morning at an Airbnb in Massachusetts, loyal members of the Scottish support, known as the Tartan Army, dressed in kilts, sounded their woodwind instruments to give the locals an insight into their culture.
Scotland will end their 28-year World Cup hiatus on June 13, when they play Haiti in Boston.
A group of Scotland supporters wasted no time bringing the World Cup atmosphere to the U.S., breaking out the bagpipes outside their Airbnb at 6:30 a.m.
The Scots don't play Haiti until 9 p.m. tomorrow 😂
🎥 @MDMorrison82pic.twitter.com/1TmFiPSscw
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay was a guest at Scotland’s training session a little earlier today, ahead of their game against Haiti tomorrow.
Ramsay used to be a decent player himself back in the day, once having a trial for Scottish club Glasgow Rangers before a knee injury derailed his hopes of turning professional.
A large billboard displayed at the Naschmarkt market in Vienna depicts some of Austria’s World Cup heroes, including two of the most well-known players in the squad, David Alaba and Marko Arnautovic.
Austria are playing in their first World Cup this century, having last qualified for the competition in 1998.
Ralf Rangnick’s side will kick off their tournament campaign next week, on June 16, when they face Jordan in San Francisco.
Cristiano Ronaldo and the rest of Portugal’s World Cup squad have just met the country’s Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro, ahead of departing for the United States.
Portugal decided to play their final warm-up matches in Europe (beating both Chile and Nigeria 2-1) before traveling to their base camp in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
They will open their 2026 World Cup campaign against DR Congo on Wednesday.
Star individuals, teams, the language of the sport, anagrams, players with food in their surnames and so much more — there is an enormous amount of fun to be had with soccer trivia and wordplay.
Which is why The Athletic yesterday launched Connections: Soccer Edition for the 2026 men’s World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19 and is being played in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The second puzzle has just gone live — and if you’re struggling you can read some helpful hints below.
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Connections: Soccer Edition today: Hints and answers for June 12, 2026, puzzle No. 2