Key events
Reuters report: The World Cup fan zone on Mexico City’s Zocalo square will broadcast the tournament’s opening ceremony and match on Thursday despite protests across the capital, President Claudia Sheinbaum said.
“We’re going to try to go to Zocalo,” Sheinbaum told a press conference.
Who has Turkey as their dark horses? Well, you’re almost certainly not alone. But can they stop being a time-honoured joke?
Turkish football has a reputation for being melodramatic. So it has been a pleasant surprise that the team camp has been uncharacteristically tranquil. No drama, major fights, or feuding factions that have marred the national team in the past. The media has been surprisingly supportive as have the fans. It’s a far cry from the intense – at times toxic – pressure and scrutiny the manager and team usually receive ahead of a major tournament.
There’s been a sighting of Lamine Yamal in a Georgia Walmart. Remember, these soccer stars are not nearly so famous in the US.
A US department of justice press conference has taken place, with questions asked on the visa refusals to a Somalian referee and an Iraqi team photographer.
The following exchange with United States Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin:
Q: On the World Cup, at least one referee from Somali and one Iraqi team staff member were denied entry at US airports in recent days, and dozens of fans have been denied–
MM: We’re not gonna allow people that are perceived to have criminal ties to come into this country.
Time for me to tag in John Brewin for the last lap of today’s blog. Thanks for your company and emails; enjoy the game.
Jack Snape
Jordan Bos smiles, wide like his position, at a world that appears to come easily. The Socceroos’ left full-back is sitting behind the microphones inside an auditorium within a sprawling training facility in Oakland. Its walls are still adorned by images of the Raiders, the NFL team who left for Las Vegas six years ago – before Bos had even played his first professional match.
The Australian’s career has moved swiftly towards this moment: a World Cup debut for the Socceroos’ not-so-secret weapon. “I just have to soak up the experience and just play football,” Bos says. “It’s kind of hard to ‘feel’ the moment as it is now, but I think afterwards I’ll really understand the experience that I’m in now.”
A bit more news on Scott McTominay, who missed training today through illness. Scotland say he will be available for their must-win opening game against Haiti on Saturday night/Sunday morning.
Team guide: England
Our 48th and final team guide is here. Read Jacob Steinberg on England’s chances or bringing football back home with them.
A German managing England? It might be jarring to some, but the thing about Thomas Tuchel is that he is an anglophile. He gets the culture and he is one of the best managers in the world. Tuchel won league titles with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, while winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021 showcased his mastery of knockout football. However, this is his first foray into international football. Southgate was outstanding at creating the right environment during a tournament. Can Tuchel, who recently extended his contract through to Euro 2028, make sure that the shirt does not feel heavy?
And in case you missed them earlier, here are our guides to Ghana and Panama.
Beyond the World Cup
There’s plenty going on away from the jamboree in North America.
“Pushing back lightly on the ‘your first is your favourite’ theme, my first World Cup was 94,” writes Mac Scarle. “Being seven years old and living just outside Chicago I very much had the Fever. I got the collectible pins, we talked about it at summer soccer camp. But…I wasn’t really a ‘watch sports on TV’ kid so I’m not sure I watched even a single match!
“I do have fond memories of waking up/staying up at/to ridiculous hours to watch as much of 2002 as I can, which is more around the time I actually fell in love with the sport. But let’s be honest, even the crap World Cups are all still pretty good?”
Can I answer that question after this year’s group stage?
“The opening game I have the fondest memories of is France v Senegal in 2002,” writes Tony Mason. “After 14 hours on an aeroplane and spending an hour and a half carrying a really heavy bag trying to find our hotel we just managed a shower and then sat down in a tiny restaurant in Tokyo with the game on a small TV.
“The food was great, the result a surprise and we could finally relax and look forward to what turned out to be a glorious few weeks.”
McTominay misses Scotland training
A bit of a worry for Scotland, who play their opening game against Haiti on Saturday night (or Sunday morning BST). Scott McTominay, whose preposterous scissor kick got them going on that euphoric night against Denmark, missed training today due to illness. That’s all the information we have for now.
Football Daily has landed. On today of all days. Whatever you do in the nexc five weeks, don’t forget to chill, relax.
Any other World Cup kits that had to be changed? The first one that comes to mind is Cameroon’s 2002 vest, an increasingly tight-fitting version of which I have somewhere in my wardrobe.
“I’d have to agree with the opener of Italia ‘90 being pretty special,” writes Paul Billington. “I was six at the time, it was my brother’s first birthday and I had no idea why there was such glee at Argentina in particular losing. It felt a shame years later to discover many consider it a poor tournament in terms of entertainment, because I was rapt at the time. And that birthday cake was excellent (blue icing!).”
Though I was a bit older, I have similarly fond memories of Italia 90.
“The first World Cup I remember was 1990, but it’s hazy,” says Matt Dony. “I remember 1994 pretty clearly, but I can’t say it had that much impact. 1998 came smack bang in the middle of my mid-to-late-teen-too-cool-for-schoolness and generally being absolutely consumed with music to the exclusion of everything else, so I only really remember the final. And people banging on about Beckham.
“2002 might not have been a classic World Cup, but it’s my favourite. I was self-employed at the time, and my schedule meant I was able to watch or listen to pretty much every single game. I think that was the most I’d ever been invested in a tournament (until Euro 2016, natch), even though I really had no dog in the race. It was a good time! Happy memories.”
Objectively 2002 was a poor tournament, but objectivity can shut its mood-hoovering mouth for a minute. Anecdotally at least, a person’s favourite World Cup is usually either a) the first one they remember or b) the one closest to the time of their life. Talking of which…
Germany’s players will pay for 600 supporters to travel by bus to their final group game against Ecuador in New Jersey.
“In light of the high cost of bus and train travel in New York during the World Cup, the German national team players have organised free transport to the final group match for 600 fans,” said a DFB spokesperson. “Captain Joshua Kimmich and his teammates are covering the cost of buses to take supporters from New York to the arena in New Jersey for the match against Ecuador.”
All concerned will hope it isn’t Germany’s third and final game of the tournament. Almost unbelievably, they have not played a World Cup knockout game since beating Argentina in the 2014 final.
“Best World Cup opener?” muses Jakob Melgaard. “There can be only one: when Denmark beat Scotland 1-0 in Mexico ’86. Technically it may not have been the first game at the tournament, but it was for me: I was nine at the time and only allowed to stay up for the Danish games. (Which amounted to four life altering late nights: Scotland, Uruguay and Germany, and Spain. The last one scared me for life.)”
West Ham women’s team not told of Sullivan’s restricted access
Tom Garry
Neither the Women’s Super League nor West Ham United women’s team were aware of the restrictions placed on David Sullivan interaction with the team, the Guardian has learned.
Sullivan, who is West Ham’s largest shareholder, has faced restrictions on his contact with the women’s team and their youth teams since 2023 because of a safeguarding investigation.
The Football Association opened an inquiry in the same year after receiving a complaint, which the Guardian understands was an allegation of sexual misconduct unrelated to football.
Here’s more on the news that Omar Altan, the Somali referee who was barred by the United States government for the World Cup, has been picked to officiate Aston Villa versus Paris Saint-Germain in the Uefa Super Cup in August.
“Want to address two points on the liveblog – the best opening match and the claim that the best tournament is the first one you remember,” writes Phil Smith. “France ‘98 was the year me and my friends turned 18, we had just finished our A-levels and we pretty much had plans for house parties and pub watching sessions for every match. Didn’t get better than that, and the excitement as we gathered at my Scottish friend’s house for the opening game – Brazil beating Scotland 2-1 – still gives me goosebumps.”
Earps to leave Paris Saint-Germain
A bit of women’s football news: Mary Earps will leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer at the end of her contract. Earps spent two seasons with PSG and has been strongly linked with a move to London City Lionesses.
Here’s what Earps said about her time in Paris.
A crazy, great experience. I’d say great because I’m leaving with such fond memories. I’ve met great people, I’ve trained at a world class facility, I’ve played at Parc des Princes.
And experience because I think it’s added to my growth as a player and as a person. I think that’s all you can ask for in life is to grow and to be a little bit better every day. That’s what I try to be.
I’ve got to play with some fantastic players from all over the world. I got to go to Africa for the first time with the final of the League Cup.
I think there’s been a lot of on-the-pitch experiences. I’ve had a lot of firsts as well. Off-the-pitch I’ve had a lot of big moments here in Paris. A lot of experiences which I’ll remember forever.
I’m leaving with my heart full and I’m so happy, privileged and lucky that I was able to have such a wonderful experience here.
Emails please!
What’s your favourite opening game at a men’s World Cup? I’d probably go for West Germany 0-0 Poland in 1978 Argentina 0-1 Cameroon at Italia 90. Not much of a game, in truth, but a story like no other. It also created a new verb: to Massing.
France 0-1 Senegal in 2002 was arguably an even bigger shock. A word too for Argentina 0-1 Belgium in 1982 (please read this excellent piece on the iconic image of Diego Maradona taking on half of Belgium) and Germany 4-2 Costa Rica in 2006. That match was loads of fun and included a couple of screamers from my colleague Philipp Lahm and Torsten Frings. Also: I was 30 years old.
South Africa 1-1 Mexico in 2010 deserves a mention, mainly for Siphiwe Tshabalala’s goal. And though I wasn’t there, Sweden 3-2 Argentina in 1934 sounds like a belter.
Thanks Dom, hello everyone. Let’s start with some pharmaceutical-grade trivia on World Cup opening games. Which two teams met in the first game (or games) three times in 12 years?
Right, that’s the end of my second quickfire stint on today’s blog and here is Rob Smyth to steer you through the rest of the afternoon and build towards the big kick-off in Mexico City later.
Omar Artan picked to referee Uefa Super Cup
Omar Artan, the Somali referee who was barred by the United States government for the World Cup, has been picked to officiate Aston Villa versus Paris Saint-Germain in the Uefa Super Cup in August. The game will take place in Salzburg, Austria on 12 August.
Artan got a hero’s welcome returning to Somalia on Wednesday days after he was refused entry in Miami by US authorities despite being picked by Fifa for World Cup duty, with officials claiming Artan had connections to terror organisations.
Speaking of Canada, let’s check in on a nation preparing to host a World Cup for the first time. Some excitement and anticipation at last!
Any games that you’ve got your eye on over the coming days? Canada v Bosnia-Herzegovina at 8pm (BST) is definitely one I’ve pencilled in to watch tomorrow (Friday), and Brazil v Morocco at 11pm on Saturday will probably be worth feeling tired on Sunday for.
Legendary filmmaker Spike Lee has taken time out of his Knicks-viewing basketball schedule to attend Brazil’s training session in New Jersey, where Carlo Ancelotti got a guard of honour for his birthday.
“I want Brazil to win,” said Lee. “I’m here just for the practice, I have a game to see tonight.”
Come on Spike, at least pick a dark horse like Norway or Ecuador?
Some essential pre-WC reading! We’ve given you Barney Ronay talking about the time in 2018 he smelled Diego Maradona somewhere in a Moscow stadium, now enjoy him off his long runup, on Donald Trump’s MAGA-themed World Cup.
Heat-watch: The first game, of course, is in Mexico City, Mexico, between the host country and South Africa. Today’s temperature in the Mexican capital will peak at around 26C, which is 2.6 C lower than previous years.
Still, those pesky drinks breaks won’t be going away.
An email has landed from Krishna saying it might cheer me up, yet he’s referenced one of England’s all-time lowest World Cup moments …
Djed Spence recently said: ‘Luckily I play with my feet’ in response to his broken jaw. If we were nearby I would have told him ‘Look at Maradona (1986) and Henry (2009) – using your hands is more beneficial’.
Another Hand of God moment in this tournament might well prove the end of football altogether.
This is a fairly hopeful comment.
One of the basic laws of football is that the best World Cup is the first one you really remember, normally somewhere between the ages 9-12, so I’m hoping that all these nippers around the world aren’t aware of all the mess that we’re all thinking and talking about now and they create memories that they’ll never forget.
It probably won’t get any better than this for them.
The football in this tournament really really needs to start, and be good, because some of this off-pitch stuff is getting downright depressing.
Can anyone in the comments cheer me up and restore my World Cup fever levels, please …
French city announces curfew for under-16s during World Cup
Authorities in the French city of Toulouse have today announced a curfew for under-16s during “high risk” World Cup matches, after unrest marred celebrations of Paris Saint-Germain’s recent Champions League victory.
The matches in question are all those involving France, games played by Morocco against Brazil, Scotland and Haiti, as well as a match between Tunisia and the Netherlands, the mayor of Toulouse said.
The curfew will be in force from 10pm to 5am for minors under 16 unaccompanied by an adult in a central area of the southwestern city, centre-right mayor Jean-Luc Moudenc told a press briefing.
The measure concerns only “a certain number of matches that we have selected with the prefecture, because we considered them to be high-risk,” he added, before saying he intended to “protect citizens and minors” and arguing there was a rise in juvenile delinquency in France’s fourth-largest city.
Thanks John.
If you can say one thing about this World Cup, it’s that it feels truly global. The different time zones and therefore endless content, the (needless) expansion in terms of teams and fixtures, the political acrimony … it rather represents the world we live in, in 2026.
I shall pass back the reins to Dominic Booth.
Reminder: this is a World Cup shrouded in geopolitics.
Seven games, including Scotland versus Brazil, will be held in Miami, a little more than 200 miles from the north coast of Cuba. The Scottish Football Association expects 20,000 fans to travel there.
Eight nations have training camps in Florida, including England and Scotland. The first game scheduled in Miami – Uruguay versus Saudi Arabia – will be held on 15 June, and tens of thousands of fans are due to fly into the city.
More detail on Martin O’Neill: his Celtic deal is a new one-year contract as Celtic manager with the option for a further season. Confirmation of O’Neill ‘s appointment came hours after reports had claimed the news had been delayed amid uncertainty over his backroom staff.Assistants Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham were reportedly offered wage cuts to remain part of O’Neill ‘s coaching team. There was no mention of other coaching staff in the club announcement.
Today’s TV guide is here, for the US, UK, Canada and Australia. I watched the 1998 World Cup on SBS in Australia, with the legendary Les Murray and Johnny Warren. Each ad break featured Ricky Martin singing La Copa Da Vida.
The World Cup will be the most lucrative sports event ITV has ever aired, the broadcaster has said, with bosses dubbing the expanded tournament a “six-week summer Super Bowl moment” for TV advertising.
ITV is airing 51 of the 104 matches across the men’s tournament, co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada, which is the biggest yet after an expansion from 32 to 48 teams.
Krishna gets in touch: “What will it take for the football nations to stand up together and boycott this World Cup? Fans have been denied visas, Iraqi striker Aymen was detained for 7 hours, Somalian referee Artan was sent back, Iran is being harassed in every possible way. What are we waiting for? Kane to be deported? Mbappe sent back? Ronaldo arrested?”
Côte d’Ivoire fans barred from US entry
Côte d’Ivoire home-based fans have been denied visas to the United States, the president of the national supporters’ committee, report AFP.
The Côte d’Ivoire supporters group, said Julien Kouadio Adonis, president of the National Committee of Elephants Supporters (CNSE), which operates under the country’s Ministry of Sport, organises trips for the country’s small number of travelling fans to follow the team abroad.
“The supporters have cancelled the trip because the US government does not want to see supporters from certain countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, on its soil. The United States has been clear with us, saying they do not want to see our supporters,” said Kouadio. “This situation hurts us deeply because it prevents us from fulfilling our sacred duty, which is to support our team.”
