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Jurriën Timber, Cody Gakpo and Tijjani Reijnders. Photograph: Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty ImagesThe Oranje had high hopes but a spate of injuries has tempered expectationsThis article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June.Has Ronald Koeman ever started a major tournament with more headaches? Probably not. He is known as an exceptionally ambitious perfectionist, which means the preparation for this World Cup has been the most troublesome of all his years as the national-team head coach.Injuries are part and parcel of the game but it becomes a real problem when, in the run-up to a major tournament, around half the starting XI is either ruled out completely or sidelined for months. In the spring Koeman said he would only take players who were fully fit and playing regularly, but that stance became difficult to maintain.Tottenham’s Xavi Simons suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in April and won’t be back until next year. The PSV midfielder Jerdy Schouten is also recovering from the same injury. Matthijs de Ligt, who has often partnered Virgil van Dijk in central defence, has not regained full fitness after a back problem.Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong missed most of the season, Inter’s Denzel Dumfries was out for four months. Manchester City’s Tijjani Reijnders and Nathan Aké were often on the bench while Memphis Depay sustained a serious hamstring injury at the end of his season in Brazil.Koeman, a disciple of the Johan Cruyff school of football thinking, prefers attacking football and, during the qualifiers, stuck to a very traditional Dutch style, but he may have to abandon his favoured 4-3-3 system for the tournament.The Netherlands – who are in a tough group with Japan, Sweden and Tunisia – must now select their fittest and strongest players, rather than the most talented ones that reflect the Dutch footballing philosophy. The KNVB (the Royal Dutch Football Association) has made reaching the semi-finals a minimum target; Koeman wants to go even further and win the tournament. But that will require a lot of hard work.“What I’d like people to say about my team is that they play with a lot of intensity, that they can’t say we didn’t do enough,” Koeman told Fifa in May. “I want them to play with confidence, with personality, understanding what their qualities are. And to always respect every opponent despite the fact there may be so-called smaller nations at the World Cup.”While at Barcelona, Johan Cruyff once asked Ronald Koeman to share a room with a young talent named Pep Guardiola. The two developed under Cruyff’s attacking philosophy and took that with them into coaching. Koeman is the only coach in the Netherlands to have enjoyed success with all three major clubs – Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV – both as a player and as a manager. For that reason, he is widely respected across the country, has a strong reputation, and has long enjoyed a positive relationship with his international players.Koeman heads to the World Cup during a time when his wife, Bartina, is undergoing treatment for cancer. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 and it came back in 2018 and 2023. During the qualification campaign, Koeman occasionally left the training camp to be with her. “If I had to leave it was to be with my wife but she is incredibly strong and positive,” he said. “That is something very special. [But] it is very difficult. She cannot do everything she used to and she gets tired more easily because of the side effects [of chemotherapy]. But we focus on the things that matter most to us and give her energy. That is something beautiful to see.”For decades the Netherlands’ star players were forwards but the Dutch have struggled to produce world-class strikers in recent years so for the first time, the team’s strongest department is the defence, led by the formidable Virgil van Dijk. The Liverpool defender is in effect Koeman’s extension on the pitch. The 33-year-old is the undisputed leader and the most vocal figure in the dressing room and on the field. He represents the squad in discussions with the federation and regularly consults Koeman on tactics. He is not immune to criticism from Koeman though, who says: “I have to stay on his back to make sure he remains sharp. He knows that – it has been the case since our time at Southampton. But he is a fantastic leader.”Micky van de Ven has been in the spotlight in the Netherlands for having to battle relegation with Tottenham and has been left out of Koeman’s squads in the past because the head coach was concerned about the defender picking up muscle injuries by playing too much. Van de Ven was never part of a big-club academy and had to fight his way to the Premier League via Volendam and Wolfsburg. He brings energy and power to the team with his exceptional pace, strong tackling and relentless running. At international level, he has had to battle to win a starting place but looks to have done so just before the World Cup.One thing the Americans can be certain of: the Oranje march will set Kansas City, Dallas and Houston alight. The famous orange double-decker bus was shipped to the United States a month before the World Cup and will travel to every city where the Dutch are playing. Thousands of Dutch fans will take part in city-centre processions. On its top deck, well-known Dutch artists, DJs and bands will perform, setting the tone and creating a good atmosphere. And we’ll also see the Links Rechts (left-right) routine to the song by Snollebollekes.King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima have made several visits to Donald Trump in the White House. These visits are viewed as a strategic strengthening of relations between the Netherlands and the US, with the king acting as a diplomatic bridge. However, public opinion in the Netherlands towards Trump is largely negative and prominent Dutch politicians have in the past been outspoken, with some describing Trump as “a political charlatan”.Written by Marcel van der Kraan for De Telegraaf.

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In the first of a new series of dispatches, fans in US, Mexico and Canada tell us that they want visitors to have a good time but are angry about ticket prices, Fifa’s priorities and a lack of long-term thinking from politiciansThe 2026 World Cup features 104 matches in 16 cities across Canada, Mexico and the USA, from Vancouver to Mexico City and San Francisco to Boston. Before, throughout and after the tournament we’ll be hearing from fans in those cities about their experiences – some shared and some different – in our “My World Cup” series. Here some of our correspondents share their first thoughts.I’m much less excited than in 1994, when the World Cup was held in the US. It feels like an event for the rich now. It would cost $2,000 for me to go to a group stage match with my wife and two kids. None of those games is worth that, and the knockout stages will cost significantly more.If I’m just watching on TV, it might as well be on the other side of the world, which is a shame because 1994 had an amazing impact on me as a 14-year-old. I wish my kids and the city could experience that excitement. In 1994, fewer people in the US were aware of the tournament, but fewer Americans will get to experience it live this time.Most people in Atlanta are apathetic about the World Cup. People who care are disenchanted by ticket prices; those who don’t are not even talking about it. The news cycle does not offer any oxygen for it – except to remind everyone about the price gouging.I hope Fifa loses it shirt on it and people do not travel to the US or pay the exorbitant ticket prices. I also hope the expanded format backfires and people don’t tune in to the first round. I expect it will be similar to Qatar, with half-empty stadiums but plenty of extra games to generate revenue. Once the last 16 begins, the rest of the world will eagerly watch the competitive part of the tournament. I imagine the US will get out of their group and lose against the first decent opposition they meet (much like Qatar). KyleWith so much going on in the country and around the world – much of it distressing – I am finding it hard to generate a lot of enthusiasm for the tournament. In 1994 I attended all the games at Foxborough, including Diego Maradona’s game for Argentina against Nigeria in the group stage and the Italy v Spain quarter-final. Back then my excitement was sky-high: it was a lifetime ambition to experience a World Cup in person and I figured it would never happen again.This time around, maybe because it’s second time around, I am more jaded. However, I am sure once it starts I’ll get caught up in following the action, including watching games on TV. I am looking forward to international visitors at the museums where I work part-time; no doubt I am in for some good-natured ribbing about the US team and their poor prospects.I won’t be attending any games. The tickets are outrageously overpriced and the mechanisms for buying them were just too byzantine. I don’t sense much of a buzz. That may change as the tournament gets closer and as the weather improves. We did host a pre-tournament friendly – Brazil v France – which was very well attended. There is a large Brazilian population and nothing seems to diminish their enthusiasm or optimism.News about the tournament has tended to focus on negatives, in particular the impact on traffic. The stadium is in Foxborough, about 30 miles outside the city. There are trains – and they plan to beef up the service – but not enough for everybody who will want to use them. They have cut down on parking close to the stadium in response to complaints from the town. The town, the New England Patriots, the State of Massachusetts and Fifa only recently reached an agreement on traffic and parking. It has the potential to be an ugly mess.I look forward to the World Cup every four years. I’ve watched every one of them since, as a nine-year-old, I watched the 1966 World Cup final with my dad. I always thought of it as the world’s premier sporting event, even more so than the Olympics. I am sure that whatever cynicism and weariness I am feeling will fall away once the first games kick off. So, I am hoping for good football, a good atmosphere at games, a few surprises and some new stars. And please no co-opting the games to feed a political agenda – yes Donald Trump, this means you. David AchenbachI was so excited until the ticket process and prices came out. I love the sport, will follow the whole thing and would love to attend games, but it has priced me out of what I thought would be a once-in-a-lifetime chance. The buildup has been muted and apathetic in Dallas: barely any signs around and not much local promotion yet. It just doesn’t seem to be a big deal. I have not heard of any big national teams choosing to base themselves in the area, which is understandable considering it will be at least 35C (95F) in late June and July. Given the prices, the weather and the political turmoil, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity seems not so worth it.I’m just hoping for an incident free-tournament. I don’t want international or national politics to have any spotlight. I want great games and for our country to showcase what once made us great. I would like the US team to make the quarter-finals and for the tournament to be another springboard to launch the game’s popularity here. But my hopes and expectations are on opposite ends of the spectrum. AndrewI was looking forward to the World Cup being on my doorstep and was hoping to go to a game. But ticket prices are ridiculous. Most people here earn between 10,000 and 30,000 pesos a month (between £425 and £1,275).For various reasons there is a massive lack of enthusiasm. There is growing anti-US feeling here; there is concern about whether fans will be able to travel to games given visa bans; there is a high level of support for Iran; it feels as if the World Cup has been hijacked by the US; and politically Fifa appears to be bowing to the US. It is difficult to find anyone promoting the World Cup. Zero excitement.We love our football and the mood will improve closer to the tournament, but this World Cup is tainted and in my opinion the games should have been moved to Canada and Mexico the minute Donald Trump came to power. I hope the games in the US have minimal crowds and that people protest against the way the whole thing is being handled. This is not a World Cup that is bringing the world together. It’s one that proves football is mired in political agendas: a money-making machine that ignores true fans. The only thing I can say is anyone visiting games here will be treated with kindness and respect. They will be safe and welcomed. Heather ChambersI was extremely excited about the World Cup coming to Houston. Having seven World Cup games on my doorstep seemed like a dream. But my enthusiasm has been dampened somewhat by ticket prices, the difficulty of getting hold of them, and the dilution of quality by including too many teams. ‘Nosebleed’ seats for Saudi Arabia v Cape Verde cost more than $200 each. It’s a joke.The sad thing is, my love of football will probably mean I pay over the odds for tickets. I’ll probably bite the bullet and pay astronomical prices on the resale market for England’s game in Dallas. I’ve lived here for more than 25 years and I’m unlikely to get the opportunity to watch England in a World Cup game in Texas again.There is some excitement bubbling under in Houston but it’s subdued compared with what I anticipated. The sport has boomed in the US over the last couple of decades, and Houston is no exception, but it’s still a city more interested in American football, baseball and basketball. There are a few signs of the tournament coming here – they have decorated some areas with a World Cup theme) and there have been some infrastructure improvements – but I don’t think the city really knows what is coming. The infrastructure of the fourth-biggest city in the US may buckle under the strain of the additional tourists. Expect heavy traffic. Ian ShermanWhen I learned Kansas City was a host city, I was ecstatic and proud but also sad because my late brother Grant and our parents, who died either side of the pandemic, are not here to share the joy. Now, while I’m still proud of my city being on the world stage (and extra proud we will be the base camp for four national teams: England, Argentina, the Netherlands and Algeria), I am concerned about the state of our nation, the fact the US has bombed Iran, and Gianni Infantino’s bizarre venality toward our president.I’m proud to show off my city, but think visitors from overseas might be shocked at how far apart things are, how car-bound we are, and the lack of public transit infrastructure. I worry about world events affecting the tournament, sky-high ticket prices and, frankly and embarrassingly, the preponderance of guns in American cities; there was a mass shooting during the Chiefs’ Super Bowl celebrations, across the street from where the fan festival will be.My late brother is so strongly tied to all things World Cup, it causes me moments of deep grief; but also a desire to do what I can to create positive experiences of the world’s biggest soccer competition. I hate that Grant isn’t here to see this, and I lament the absence of everything he’d have written about it. But I also hope and pray our home town will do him proud.There is an air of what I would call wary excitement in Kansas City. The exorbitant ticket prices will keep many locals out of the stadium, but we’ll pack the sports bars and community viewing areas. Kansas City people love to hype where they live, and local businesses are excited for what could be a lucrative time. More than anything, we want the experiences Kansas City contributes to the World Cup to be free of violence and to be looked upon by the international community as unexpectedly amazing. We want visitors to feel as if they’ve discovered us, that we’ve welcomed them, and that they want to come back. In troubled times, world sporting events have the potential to bring us together in joyful ways, and don’t we all need that sometimes? Eric WahlI’m excited but conflicted. My first proper World Cup was in 1994 and, since moving to the United States in 2004 and adopting this as my country, I have dreamed about going to a game in my home city. Although, given the glaring anti-immigrant politics in the US and the war against Iran, it’s not great timing.On top of that Fifa is pricing out true fans . I went to the 2010 and 2014 World Cups and had a blast, spending $100-200 on tickets. It’s ridiculous that spending more than $600 for a group game is considered normal – and that’s before the ridiculous price of parking, which most people will have to consider, given there is very little public transport to the stadium in LA.I’d like to take my wife and children, but the cost of tickets may not make that possible. It feels as if the tournament is catering to those willing to pay any price to attend a World Cup without knowing anything about the sport or the competition. My hope is that the tournament is accessible to more than just the people who can afford it, that it helps grow the game among the younger generation, and that people who travel from abroad have an easy time getting to the games and have a great experience, without having to worry about immigration enforcement profiling them. WalidI wasn’t keen on Mexico joining the North American bid from the start because it felt as if the US was using us to make their bid feel inclusive, but we were only getting scraps. The decision to play just 13 of the 104 matches in Mexico feels insulting as this is a football-loving country that has already organised two great World Cups.Being part of this World Cup in particular feels wrong. Under the Trump administration the US is poised to be one of the worst ever hosts. It is their obligation to have open doors to fans from all over the world and yet they are forbidding citizens of several qualified countries from visiting, or at least putting obstacles in their way, not to mention they will be the first host that is bombing one of the participating nations. Mexico has no enemies and we welcome people from anywhere, so being part of this discriminatory World Cup feels wrong.This is probably the worst Fifa has ever been, and although the World Cup will happen here, it feels like most people will simply not be a part of it. The ticket prices and the system to buy them is abusive and out of reach for 90% of people. I don’t know who will be going to the stadium. Most people I know cannot hope to pay the prices and the ones who can simply refuse to be a part of this abuse. I hope the stadiums are empty so they don’t do this ever again.I’ll watch on TV (although the increased number of teams makes it feel like most matches don’t really matter) and people can experience the World Cup at fan fests, but we’ve had them at every other tournament. Going to El Zócalo to watch a match will be no different to our experience of Russia 2018 or Qatar 2022. The matches will be in the Azteca, but they could be in Turkey, New Zealand or Antarctica – the experience for most of the Mexicans will be the same. The city is trying hard to promote the tournament, but I haven’t felt excitement in the streets.Finally, it is a wasted opportunity for our city in terms of planning. Our government has not made anything out of it. I live close to the Azteca stadium, an area with a big population, yet poorly connected to the rest of the city. The World Cup was the chance to build a subway in Coapa, to connect us to the rest of the system, but the city government abandoned any such plan. They have made some quick, last-minute improvements but they will not benefit locals in the long term.The World Cup has been a nuisance in daily life, a wasted opportunity in the long term, an abuse of the people who should enjoy the event,, an insult to a football-loving country that has been treated like an afterthought, and it is an embarrassment to co-host a tournament soiled by Fifa and Trump. Francisco Fontano PatánI’m very excited but don’t know anyone going to a game as the cost involved is just outrageous. I hope to enjoy the tournament in a fan zone. There is not much of a buzz in Miami. A lot of local bars are still not aware of the tournament and its importance. I’m hoping it goes off smoothly without incident. This is a very worrying time in this country for everyone. Geoff WillertonThe World Cup is the most important sporting event in the world so I am really excited, but I have mixed feelings. Most people on the street can’t afford a ticket, or a new jersey. This tournament feels distant from ordinary citizens. Fifa has turned it into a product for the few. At least regular people can gather in public parks to watch games, creating unofficial fan fests.I’ll try to attend one of the games in my home town, Monterrey, as they are a bit more affordable than in Mexico City. People aren’t thrilled and World Cup fever isn’t as present as I’d like. But as the tournament gets closer the mood will improve. I hope Mexico’s team can put on a good football exhibition. I don’t expect them to win the tournament, but at least to do a good job. In general I hope the event brings some positive economic effect. Jose GalindoLike most big events in New York, it will be largely ignored (sadly). There’s just too much going on in this city for anyone to care about a few “soccer” games out at MetLife Stadium, which is actually in New Jersey (and feels a world away from New York City). Even when we hosted the Super Bowl in 2014 you would barely have noticed. I’m excited to attend a couple of Australia games in San Francisco and Vancouver, but think it will be a big ‘nothing burger’ in New York City.It will be the same as any other day in New York, where it’s a million miles a minute and thousands of events can grab your attention. I don’t think anyone knows or cares that we’ll soon be hosting a World Cup final. That said, my big hope for the tournament is that we have peace, love, harmony and everyone getting along and having a good time. We need it! ParkerI was excited, but my interest has steadily declined due to the ticket prices, the peace prize and the rise of ICE. Maybe it was easier to ignore the venality of Fifa when the competition was further away, or maybe it’s actually got worse. I was initially planning to attend games, but the ticket prices and general ennui mean it’s unlikely. I’m waiting to see what the fan zones look like, but my expectation is that it will probably be another cash grab (and too hot to be out drinking for hours).In Philadelphia there are some posters around and some merchandise here and there, but not much excitement. It’s not something that comes up much in conversation – people often ask which “EPL” team I support when they hear my accent, but I don’t recall anyone mentioning the World Cup. I’m in two minds about the tournament: half of me wants to enjoy the games, the other half wants to see the whole thing fall apart so Fifa are not encouraged to keep bleeding the game dry of joy. James PowellI love the World Cup deeply, grew up watching games with my family, and will almost certainly be watching every single game this year. But the party I thought would descend on our region doesn’t seem to be coming. My friends planned to go to the fan zones together but we might not have any fan zones. I also thought we’d be able to attend at least one game, but the prices are just too high. I’m not willing to pay $250 to watch Austria v Jordan from seats in the stratosphere. If ticket prices drop substantially, I would love to attend the Paraguay v Turkey match because Turkish fans are incredible.I really wanted my friends to “feel” the World Cup. I wanted them to come join me and make friends with Paraguayans, Algerians, etc. But who is even coming? It won’t be the kind of World Cup where you walk down the street and know you’re in a host city.The most infuriating thing is how organisers are prioritising sponsors and VIPs over fans. I don’t think American sports executives understand the World Cup or why it matters on a fundamental level. Our host city committee CEO said the Super Bowl was the event they were preparing for the most, and that the World Cup is just a tier below. If we had event organisers who understood soccer, they would do everything in their power to channel the energy from fans and generate a World Cup atmosphere. Instead, they’ll probably just put on some concerts.A lot of people aren’t into soccer and don’t know the World Cup is this summer, never mind in our back yard. Others do know but don’t care. For the people who do care, it’s too expensive for them to attend. Everyone is depressed by the ticket prices. It’s worse than if the World Cup was halfway across the world. It’s here, but we can’t even take part. That’s heartbreaking. AliMy whole family is super-excited about the World Cup coming to Seattle. We attend Seattle Sounders games, follow the city’s sports teams and all four of us – my wife and I and our two daughters – applied to volunteer. The stadium is downtown and I will be attending the fan zones with my daughters as much as possible. My wife and I are from Bristol in the UK, so naturally we will support England and the USA, but we recently vacationed in Curaçao, so a bit of our hearts will be with that tiny island’s team.Seattle is a very sports-oriented city with several professional teams. Seattle Sounders have been playing here since 1974 with a solid set of fans. The population understands soccer and follows the game. Unsurprisingly, the mood is very positive, with banners around town ramping up the energy.On a serious note, security plans are being put in place for the games. The Seahawks won the Super Bowl this year and the resulting championship march drew a crowd of almost a million fans to downtown: good practice for World Cup event security. I hope fans in all the host cities have a super-fun time, and I’m looking forward to meeting fans from other countries and showing off what a great place Seattle is. Roger Paul Probert-BakerI’m very excited. Toronto is a unique city as all nations are represented here and during the World Cup our streets, bars, homes, back yards and stadiums are full of fans from every corner of the world. The World Cup was made for a city like Toronto. When Italy won it, a million Italians flooded Little Italy in the city. Germans, Portuguese, Cameroonians, French, Brits, Scots and Mexicans will all participate in friendly competition by honking their horns every time one of their teams scores – and they will flood the streets when they win. That’s amazing to witness.I live in a Portuguese neighbourhood and they are excited to see stars such as Ronaldo. Toronto lives and breathes World Cup football and this year it will explode. It’s a fun, beautiful game. I’m hoping all the games are moved to Canada and Mexico! Peter Nazir FaizI became a soccer fan in my teens and remember thinking it would be amazing to live in a World Cup host city. Now that I do, though, I’m not excited. The big things dampening my enthusiasm are how awful Fifa is, how monstrously large the tournament has become, and how expensive and inconvenient this tournament is for host cities. I won’t be going to games because ticket prices are insane. I plan to go to public viewings, though I’m not super-excited about the fan festivals, which seem like a bit of a cash grab despite general admission being free. There’s at least one unofficial public viewing area at Granville Island that I have high hopes for, though.There is not much anticipation in Vancouver. The politicians and bureaucrats are all in a tizzy, but the impression I have is that the average Vancouverite is both mildly interested in the tournament and mildly annoyed by the traffic and transit inconvenience that will come on matchdays.This is more a hope for the US, where I grew up, but I hope no one gets shot. My country of origin is a powder keg right now, and I don’t have a great deal of confidence in the ability of US authorities to keep fans safe, particularly at fan festivals and places that are not part of the stadium experience. Ian Holliday

Football News

Mexico has campaigned to eradicate the chantWorld Cup opener features Mexico at the AztecaThe Mexican soccer federation on Tuesday lost its latest appeal against Fifa punishments for fans chanting an anti-gay slur at opponents’ players.The latest ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) in a series of Mexico v Fifa appeal cases over more than 10 years comes as Mexico prepare to host South Africa in the World Cup opener on 11 June at Azteca Stadium, a venue where the chant is often heard.The chant, a one-word slur that means male prostitute in Spanish, usually occurs when the opposing goalkeeper is taking a goal kick.It went viral in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and was heard again at the next editions in 2018 in Russia and 2022 in Qatar. Mexico fans have defied requests and education programs by the federation aiming to control the abuse.The latest case at Cas followed Fifa prosecutions of incidents at games in 2024 against Bolivia, Uruguay, Brazil and the United States. The chant was heard by anti-discrimination monitors who also will work for Fifa at the World Cup’s 104 games in Mexico, the US and Canada.Cas said its judges upheld Fifa-imposed fines totaling 140,000 Swiss francs ($178,000). They lifted a sanction of closing part of a stadium at a Fifa-organized game such as the World Cup.The court said its judges at a hearing in Miami in March weighed the Mexican federation mitigation that it had “put measures in place since 2015 to educate, prevent and eradicate the chant.”“They [the judges] observed that the conduct of the fans was collective and widespread, and not merely a one-off occurrence,” Cas said in a statement.Noting the “unique nature” of the challenge facing Mexican soccer officials, the court said the federation should not escape liability.Mexico will also host World Cup group-stage games against South Korea in Guadalajara and the Czech Republic at the Azteca.

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Supporters of Japan in Osaka. Photograph: Masashi Hara/Getty ImagesImpressive results have fuelled belief that Hajime Moriyasu’s side can not just survive against the best but beat them tooThis article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June.Japan are no longer at a stage where speaking openly about “winning the World Cup” invites ridicule. Their historic victories over Germany and Spain in 2022 proved that they are capable of producing much more than just a one-off upset. Over nearly eight years in charge the head coach, Hajime Moriyasu, has built a side capable not merely of surviving against the world’s elite, but of defeating them too. This was backed up by wins against Brazil in October and England – at Wembley – in March.The expected system is a 3-4-2-1, though Japan also experimented with a 3-1-4-2 against England, suggesting tactical flexibility depending on the oppostion. Pressing aggressively from the top is important, with players such as Takefusa Kubo, Ritsu Doan, Keito Nakamura and Junya Ito all excellent at putting pressure on opponents.Leading the line is Feyenoord’s Ayase Ueda, who won the Eredivisie Golden Boot in 2025-26, scoring an impressive 25 goals in 31 appearances. The spine is strong with Parma’s Zion Suzuki in goal and Hiroki Ito, Shogo Taniguchi and Tsuyoshi Watanabe as key defenders.Kaishu Sano is set to anchor the midfield and the fact that players such as Takehiro Tomiyasu and Wataru Endo have to settle for a place on the bench at times is evidence that Japan’s squad depth has never been stronger. Injuries to Takumi Minamino and Kaoru Mitoma are very unfortunate but, again, this team are not so fragile as to collapse because of the absence of one or two missing star players. Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada will play an important role.Still, Group F will be tough with the two European sides, the Netherlands and Sweden, having strong squads while Tunisia may in fact turn out to be the most difficult stylistic matchup of the three.Hopes are high back home, though, and the former Japan coach Akira Nishino, who led the side at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, says of the current squad: “It’s not about individuals acting like egoists. This group of players fight together and within that unity, individuality emerges. There is a strength in these ‘Japanised’ individuals.”This team genuinely believe they can win the World Cup.As a player, Hajime Moriyasu played as a defensive midfielder for Sanfrecce Hiroshima and the Japan national team. Since taking charge of Japan after the 2018 World Cup, he has built the squad step by step. He has respected experienced players while gradually integrating a new generation that now forms the core of the team. His methods – focused on harmony, discipline and continuity rather than radical change – can at times appear conservative, but there is no denying his ability to create a stable and highly competitive environment. With the World Cup in sight, Moriyasu continues to shape his blueprint for success. “By making use of Japan’s ability to steadily build and the qualities of Japanese people, I want football to change the belief that Japan cannot become the best in the world in a contact sport,” he says.The player who brings the greatest spark to Japan’s attack is Takefusa Kubo. Receiving the ball on the right flank, he draws defenders in with delicate touches and his unique sense of timing, exploiting even the smallest openings to create chances. Having been labelled the “Japanese Messi” early on in his career, he signed for Real Madrid at the age of 18 in 2019. Several loan spells followed before he joined Real Sociedad in 2022. There he has become the focal point of the attack and he continues to play a decisive role for the national team as well. Against Bahrain, he provided the assist for the opening goal before scoring another that in effect sealed Japan’s qualification for the World Cup.The man entrusted with keeping Japan’s goal safe is Zion Suzuki. Blessed with outstanding physical attributes, he also possesses every essential quality expected of a top-class goalkeeper. At the Asian Cup two years ago, his inconsistency drew criticism, exposing him to the harsh realities of being Japan’s No 1. Then, last November, he fractured his left hand, with his grip strength suffering as a result. Even so, he continued to gain experience at club level before returning to the national team’s goal. His potential is immense and he could be the face of Japan’s goalkeeping position for a decade.Standing at 1.88m (6ft 2in), left-footed and capable of playing centre-back and left-back, Hiroki Ito offers a rare combination of size, versatility and technical quality. Injuries have disrupted his progress at club level, but the very fact that a Japanese defender now plays for Bayern Munich speaks volumes about how much the landscape of the country’s football has changed. “In Germany I have had to learn how to defend smartly,” says the 27-year-old, who played a lot of futsal and spent some time with Santos in Brazil as a youngster.Japan’s supporters are widely regarded as one of the most disciplined fan groups in world football. The stands are filled with the national team’s signature blue, while chants of “Nippon” echo in rhythm with the drums. Unlike the overwhelming intensity or flamboyance often associated with European or South American crowds, Japanese supporters are defined by their organisation, discipline and respect for opponents.Their habit of cleaning up trash in the stands after matches drew international attention at both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, offering a glimpse into the sense of courtesy and responsibility often associated with Japanese culture. At this tournament, with more locally based fans expected to join them, the sea of blue inside stadiums will likely be even more visible than at the last World Cup.It is unlikely that the national team or the Japan Football Association will make any political statements regarding the United States or Donald Trump. Part of that stems from the longstanding relationship between Japan and the US, but it also reflects a broader Japanese tendency to avoid unnecessary controversy while showing respect toward the host nation. The feeling is mutual, with the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, recently saying: “Under President Trump, we have ushered in a new golden age for US-Japan relations that upholds a free and open Indo-Pacific and brings peace and prosperity to the region.”Written by Takashi Ogami for Shukyu Magazine.

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Just days away from the opener, the tournament has yet to feel fully real for fans and even some playersOrganizationally speaking, the 2026 World Cup began on 13 June 2018, when then-Fifa general secretary Fatma Samoura sternly instructed the delegates to cast their vote in a cavernous conference hall in Moscow.Yet mere days away from the tournament’s kickoff in Mexico City, it doesn’t really feel like the thing is here yet. At least, not in the US. And not in New York, the host city for the final.It can be oddly difficult to tell when and where a World Cup has well and truly started. It’s not when the draw takes place; there’s too much winter left, too much club soccer to be played. It also isn’t the opening match, or the preceding ceremony; if anything, those seem late. The thing exists tangibly in the weeks and months before that, as the world prepares and positions itself for the impending tournament.Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie, who will probably make up much of the United States men’s national team midfield this summer, were 19 when their home country was named as a co-host. That’s when they knew that their nation, for which both men had made their senior debuts on the same day seven months earlier, had qualified automatically as one of the three co-hosts.“For me, it started to feel real probably after [this past] season finished, because we had a lot of pressure at our club level,” said McKennie. “So I wanted to just finish my season off with Juventus and then, after that … I think it’ll start to hit me more. Obviously, whenever you get the message that you’re named to the roster, that’s another big moment where you realize, OK, it’s starting.”“Two days ago, I was playing against Nottingham Forest, hoping to achieve something,” said Adams, a Bournemouth player in the Premier League. “Yesterday, [I] got off the plane and we’re in Times Square. I think it’ll probably hit tomorrow, when we start training properly and really start preparing.”Adams and McKennie were speaking at US Soccer’s World Cup roster unveiling event at the swanky Pier 17 complex at South Street Seaport in Manhattan. In a bonanza of red, white and blue, the 26 players picked by head coach Mauricio Pochettino were announced one by one, trundling on to a large concert stage on the building’s rooftop. They emerged to loud music and from in between blasts of smoke, clad in grey suits over knitted T-shirts and white sneakers. Then they stood about as the rapper Gunna performed in front of them.The whole thing was a bit much. “That’s America,” Adams wryly noted.Yet such events exist exactly to signal that the World Cup really is here, that it isn’t just a far-off notion. This remains tricky in a country where, as much as the popularity of soccer has grown, the international game is still mostly treated like the Olympics, something to get into for a few weeks every four years. The NBA playoffs are near their apotheosis – with the New York Knicks in the finals, no less – while the hockey and baseball seasons are ongoing as well. There’s a lot going on, and the World Cup, for now, is just one of those things.The most evidence of the impending tournament can be found in the various businesses that sponsor the thing. Shop for a bucket of paint or a rake at a hardware chain and you may stumble on some signage, if you’re paying attention. Pharmacies have plush mascots for sale among other officially licensed trinkets. “To see all the different branding and things that are being put up around the country has made it that much more real in the past couple weeks,” said the US captain, Tim Ream.Weighing anticipation and the present is a tricky balance for players to strike. They are expected to live day to day, practice to practice, game to game. And for the US, absent a qualification process that stretched over a year or two, they lacked the usual signage that demarcates the cycle.“I think I kind of felt it on the horizon,” said Christian Pulisic. “Obviously, you’re focusing on what you’re doing at your club, but I’d say once I got here and kind of was with the team and felt these fans and support and buzz around the World Cup, is when I really started to feel it.”Players on the bubble experienced Monday’s Fifa roster deadline differently. “Probably within the last month was sort of when all these players were very, very nervous and wondering what was going to happen and hoping to be there,” said Gio Reyna, whose eventual inclusion felt unlikely for long stretches of the past year. “Coming down the last couple of weeks of the season, I think it was on everyone’s mind.”And now that the team has finally assembled, some members still don’t entirely sense that the moment is here. “Maybe that first game of the World Cup, being a part of that, maybe is when it will really hit; or maybe it will be a week after the entire World Cup – I’m not sure,” said defender Miles Robinson. “It’s slow to really sink in.”Leander Schaerlaeckens is the author of The Long Game: U.S. Men’s Soccer and Its Savage, Four-Decade Journey to the Top, or Thereabouts, which is out now. He teaches at Marist University.

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Germany’s fans have been trying to improve the atmosphere at games of late. Photograph: Alex Grimm/Getty ImagesJulian Nagelsmann will rely on a Bayern-based core, but individual class is in worryingly short supplyThis article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June.Predicting Germany’s tactics is not entirely straightforward because Julian Nagelsmann likes to change his lineup and system. The result was five mediocre to poor performances in the qualifiers, including a 2-0 defeat in Slovakia that could easily have been heavier. But they were convincing in the return fixture, sweeping their opponents aside 6-0, and won their group convincingly.Nagelsmann will probably base his team from that match in Leipzig and will demand passion from his players. “We have to play with emotion,” says Nagelsmann, who is regarded as a tactical obsessive and is often seen shouting and raging in the technical area.The team’s traditional recipe for success has been to adopt the things that work well at Bayern Munich and in 1974 and 2014 that led to World Cup triumphs. The chances of a repeat initially appear favourable: this season has gone exceptionally well for Germany’s only world-class club. Nagelsmann is therefore likely to rely on a Bayern core of Jonathan Tah, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Jamal Musiala and the impact substitute Lennart Karl (with Serge Gnabry out through injury) as well as Manuel Neuer, who ended his international retirement in May to play in his fifth World Cup.But can the Munich axis be relied upon? Musiala is out of form and in recent months was not much more influential for Bayern than Goretzka, who sat on the bench in all the important matches in the second half of the season yet still seems certain to start under Nagelsmann. And Kimmich will play in a different position for Germany than he does for Bayern: at right-back rather than in central midfield. It is a solution with risks.Kimmich embodies a problem in German football: there is a lack of individual class. He is certainly a master of the traditional virtues, but as captain, because of his shortcomings in tackles and one-on-ones, he does not measure up to predecessors such as Lothar Matthäus, Michael Ballack or Philipp Lahm. Germany also used to pride themselves on their goalkeepers and defenders. That, too, is lacking, despite the return of the 40-year-old Neuer. Nor are there any midfield strategists in the mould of Toni Kroos or Mesut Özil.The hope lies up front. In the No 10 role, Nagelsmann has a wide range of options in Florian Wirtz, Musiala, Kai Havertz and Karl, all of whom possess outstanding skills. He will probably use Havertz as a deep-lying centre-forward as there was never any doubt about the Arsenal forward’s technical ability, only about his efficiency. Will he be more clinical than he was at Euro 2024? He will need to be because, with Niclas Füllkrug and Nick Woltemade still not established, this is a team without a classic goalscorer.Florian Wirtz combines the qualities of a playmaker with those of a tireless team player in a way that is exceedingly rare. “He is extremely hard-working and not a classic No 10 who only wants the ball, but someone who also puts in a lot of work,” said Nagelsmann, who defended Wirtz when he came in for criticism in the months after he moved to England. Wirtz did not have a terrible season at Liverpool, but measured against his class and his transfer fee it has not been a particularly good one. The same applies, to some extent, to the national team. Against non-elite opponents, as in the 4-3 win in Switzerland in March, Wirtz can blow everyone away with his technique and interplay with Havertz or Karl. But if Germany are to be successful the 23-year-old will have to perform against major sides.At the age of 10, Lennart Karl had a trial at the Bernabéu, but decided to stay in Germany. When he said in January that Real Madrid was his dream club and he definitely wanted to play for them one day, some Bayern fans took offence. Yet it is probably this mixture of self-confidence and carefree ease that defines the 18-year-old. A year ago, he was playing for Bayern’s under-19s; now his dribbling is feared everywhere. He made his international debut in March. “He is calmer than I expected,” said Nagelsmann. “I had absolutely no sense the hype had gone to his head.”Nico Schlotterbeck and Antonio Rüdiger attract more attention, but Germany’s best defender is Jonathan Tah. His strength in the tackle and his composure on the ball will be crucial. Tah is not a man of many words and comes across as quiet off the pitch. On it, however, he seems to have found his role, and in the United States he will play his first World Cup match at the age of 30. “It was never pleasant playing against me, because I have a certain physicality,” he told Zeit two years ago. “But now I’m even more unpleasant, because I always keep my opponent in view and stay right on him.”“Olé, super Deutschland, olé!” “Deutschlaand, Deutschlaaand, Deutschlaaaand!” German terrace chants cannot quite keep up with the creativity of Musiala’s or Karl’s dribbling and during the home Euros two years agoNagelsmann complained that Germany’s fans were too quiet. Being typically German, the DFB set up a working group in 2024 to improve the atmosphere: the AG Stimmung. “People want to sing, they just need someone to tell them what to sing,” said lead chanter Bengt Kunkel. However, Kunkel will not be travelling to the United States. He feels the same as many fans, for whom this World Cup is simply too big and too expensive. Even so, there will probably be a few more supporters in the US, Mexico and Canada than there were in Qatar.Much like German football, it has seen better days. At the end of April, Friedrich Merz criticised Donald Trump in front of school pupils, saying he had gone to war with Iran without any strategy whatsoever. Trump’s response was that Merz had no idea what he was talking about and was doing a terrible job. That it may not always be wise to say every thought out loud is something the chancellor and the national coach still have to learn, the latter having had to row back on several occasions in his career. No one should expect any sign of rebellion from the DFB in the United States. There was some discussion in Germany about boycotting the World Cup because of the Greenland crisis, but only briefly. The DFB still seems traumatised by the One Love armband affair at the World Cup in Qatar. “I’m no longer taking part in the political discussion,” said the captain, Joshua Kimmich. “We’ve seen that it’s not really productive when we players speak out politically.”Written by Nico Horn and Oliver Fritsch for Die Zeit.

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Moisés Caicedo’s status in Ecuador is shown by a mural in the capital, Santo Domingo. ‘We can’t settle for just qualifying,’ he said. Photograph: Rodrigo Buendía/AFP/Getty ImagesSebastián Beccacece has established a miserly defence and Moisés Caicedo’s ability in midfield could help team take the next stepThis article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June.La Tri arrive as one of the most solid and respected teams in Conmebol. They finished second in the qualifiers behind Argentina despite the points deduction from the 2022 Byron Castillo case, standing out for having one of the continent’s best defences and a long unbeaten streak.Sebastián Beccacece – influenced by Jorge Sampaoli and Marcelo Bielsa – relies on high intensity, aggressive pressing and quick transitions. He frequently uses 4-2-3-1 along with 4-4-2 or variations of it featuring a solid double pivot, a creative attacking midfielder and explosive wingers. The block remains compact, with emphasis on defensive solidity and vertical attacks. The defensive line is the team’s greatest strength: Willian Pacho (Paris St-Germain), Piero Hincapié (Arsenal), Pervis Estupiñán (Milan) and Joel Ordóñez (Club Brugge), who sometimes plays as a full-back, all provide balance and strength. In midfield, Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea) is the box-to-box engine; up front Enner Valencia (Pachuca) remains lethal, while Gonzalo Plata (Flamengo) brings pace and flair.After an inconsistent 2024 Copa América campaign, when they won only one game in the group before being knocked out by Argentina, the eventual champions, in the quarter-finals, Ecuador secured World Cup qualification with victories that showed collective maturity. This is not a team dependent on one superstar; it is young and balanced. However, goals remains a problem; they scored 14 , conceding five, n 18 games in the qualifiers.“We wanted to maintain the defensive solidity the team already had … but also release the chains to maximise the players’ individual strengths,” said Beccacece. The head coach has had some mild criticism for sometimes being too cautious and his declarations are no longer as well received by a significant portion of fans, something that may not be as visible abroad.Ecuador are a dangerous dark horse: disciplined, athletic and eager to get through Group E against Germany, Côte d’Ivoire and Curaçao to repeat the success of advancing beyond the first round like they did at the 2006 edition in Germany.The Argentinian Sebastián Beccacece took charge in August 2024 when Félix Sánchez was sacked after Ecuador’s Copa América quarter-final defeat. A former assistant to Sampaoli with Chile and Argentina, Beccacece previously coached Racing, Independiente and Elche, but this is his first experience as a national head coach. He has brought structure, intensity and tactical flexibility and under his leadership, Ecuador breezed to second in Conmebol’s qualifications. His rock star-like style has rejuvenated La Tri and although some still criticise him for a style of play that does not fully excite fans he is focused on the majority: “The most rewarding and satisfying thing since we’ve been at the helm is seeing the fans reconnect with the players and rekindle their love for the national team. The fans have fallen back in love with the national team, particularly with this group of players.” He is one of the continent’s most respected – and talked about – coaches.Moisés Caicedo. A relentless midfield engine, he recovers balls, distributes with precision and constantly arrives in attacking areas. He is considered one of the best in the world in his position, with top-level experience in the Premier League and Champions League. Alongside Willian Pacho and Piero Hincapié, he forms the core of Ecuador’s new European-based generation. “It’s a short competition and we have to make the most of it,” Caicedo said. “We can’t settle for just qualifying: we know we’re capable of more. We’re raring to take that next step so that the days when simply qualifying was the be-all and end-all are confined to the past.” A future captain in the making, Caicedo combines physicality, technique and leadership. Ecuador no longer depends solely on Antonio Valencia; Caicedo is the axis that makes everything work.Kendry Páez remains Ecuador’s biggest emerging talent, although his European career has not exploded as expected. After his multimillion-dollar move to Chelsea, he struggled for consistency and has been far from the level many predicted, leading to loan spells at Strasbourg and River Plate. At River, he has earned only sporadic playing time and in recent weeks has not been a regular part of the squad. Even so, Beccacece continues to trust his dribbling ability, vision and immense potential. This could the perfect opportunity to prove why he is considered one of South America’s most exciting prospects. A rough diamond that needs to shine now.Willian Pacho and Alan Franco are Ecuador’s silent heroes. Pacho is the elegant left-footed centre-back who organises the defence with composure in buildup play and flawless duels. He does the quiet work that allows Ecuador to press high without taking unnecessary risks. Franco, meanwhile, is the all-action midfielder responsible for the dirty work: recovering balls, covering spaces, helping defensively and bringing balance to midfield. They do not steal headlines like Caicedo or Valencia, but they are fundamental to Ecuador’s collective solidity.Ecuadorian fans are expected to travel to the US in strong numbers thanks to the proximity and they will be boosted by the large migrant community. Expect bright yellow everywhere, giant flags, hats and nonstop joy. Supporters loudly sing “¡Ecuador, Ecuador!” and “Sí se puede”. The atmosphere will be vibrant, festive and generally peaceful – more dancing than fighting. Fans are expected to turn the venues into a true tricolor celebration filled with colour, drums and unconditional support as they seek revenge after Qatar 2022, where the team exited in the group stage. Bring sunscreen and patience for the traffic.Ecuador, under president Daniel Noboa, maintains a cordial and pragmatic relationship with the US and Donald Trump: cooperation against drug trafficking, trade agreements and generally good chemistry. Trump has spoken positively about Ecuador regarding economic matters. The national team and the Ecuadorian federation remain politically neutral and focused on football (Beccacece is Argentinian, so he avoids political comments) and fans appreciate the proximity because many Ecuadorians live in the US. Overall, the vibe is good between the countries: fans will arrive ready to enjoy the World Cup with no major political drama … just some reggaeton and ceviche.Written by Francisco Limongi for Studio Fútbol.

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Côte d’Ivoire players celebrate after a goal against Gambia. Photograph: Sia Kambou/AFP/Getty ImagesReturning to the world stage after 12 years the 2023 African champions are ambitious and have plenty of options in attackThis article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June.Côte d’Ivoire return to the world stage for the first time since the golden years of the early 2010s. They do not quite have the star power of old but their squad is packed with recognisable faces to fans in Europe’s top leagues. The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations winners, on home soil, usually play 4-3-3 although there are questions over who will play in arguably the most important position: holding midfield. Jean Michaël Seri, the 34-year-old former Fulham and Hull midfielder, had made the position his own but hasn’t been the same since spending a year out of the game with an ankle injury. Nottingham Forest’s Ibrahim Sangaré is expected to step into the breach.The coach, Emerse Faé, prefers a style of play that prioritises defensive solidity and relies on the individual qualities of wingers on the counterattack. Les Éléphants did not concede a single goal in 10 qualifying matches to get here. Their defence, which sometimes evolves into a back three, is led by Roma’s Evan N’Dicka, whose revolving defensive partners include Atalanta’s Odilon Kossounou and Reims’ Emmanuel Agbadou. Franck Kessié, formerly of Barcelona and Milan, still runs the midfield and wears the captain’s armband. Then Faé has a wealth of options in attack such as Nicolas Pépé, Amad Diallo and Yan Diomandé. Evann Guessand may bear the weight of expectation in the absence of a Didier Drogba-type figure up front.Absent in 2018 and 2022, Côte d’Ivoire want to make the most of their return to the big time and the president of their federation has set expectations high. “The fixed objective is to play at least six games, which is the quarter-finals,” said Yacine Idriss Diallo. He will want to move on from a disappointing Afcon defence in January, exiting to Egypt at the quarter-finals in Morocco. Friendly wins in March (1-0 v Scotland and 4-0 v South Korea) showed signs of promise.“I’m not going to the United States for a holiday,” Emerse Faé has said. “I’m a competitor and my objective is to go as far as possible. Why not win it?” The former midfielder has been on the coaching staff since 2022, initially as an assistant to Jean-Louis Gasset. After Gasset was sacked, remarkably mid-tournament at a home Afcon in 2024, Faé stepped in and led the hosts to their third continental title. This has been the 42-year-old’s first job as a head coach after he had spells in charge of youth teams at Nice and Clermont in France. This is his second World Cup experience having played for Côte d’Ivoire at their debut in 2006.Nicolas Pépé arrives at the World Cup in perfect shape to lead Côte d’Ivoire from the front. The former Arsenal winger was nominated for the player of the season award in La Liga after a fine campaign with third-place Villarreal that included eight goals and eight assists. The left-footer excels coming in off the right wing but can also play as a second striker. His main qualities lie in his dribbling but he’s not shy of letting fly when in range. Absent from Afcon in Morocco owing to personal reasons, this is a first, and probably last, World Cup for ‘Nico’ after winning his first cap 10 years ago. “I’m 30 now and I don’t see myself staying with the national team until 34 to play at the next World Cup,” he has admitted.Christ Inao is the present and the future of the Côte d’Ivoire side. The 19-year-old is a risk-taking midfielder who has enjoyed a breakthrough season in senior football with Trabzonspor in Turkey. He won his first cap last November and played his way into the starting lineup during the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. After impressing in the Super Lig and winning the Turkish Cup, Trabzonspor hope to make a handsome profit on any future sale of Inao. Some standout displays this summer could increase that margin.Franck Kessié has been a Côte d’Ivoire international since 2014, winning his first cap a few months after their last World Cup appearance in Brazil. Now, at 29, he is the captain and yet still goes under the radar. The box-to-box midfielder provides much-needed balance to Faé’s team and does a lot of the dirty work. He left Barcelona for Al-Ahli in 2023 and has won back to back AFC Champions League titles with the Saudi Arabian club, being named best player in the competition this past season. A serial winner, Kessié also has league medals from Serie A and La Liga.Not many Ivorians will make the trip to North America owing to a number of administrative constraints placed on citizens of Côte d’Ivoire who want to enter the United States. It will be down to the diaspora already in the States to bring the noise, although their group fixture against Germany will take place in Toronto. The other two are in Philadelphia, where the team are based. Expect to see some familiar colours: the flag is very similar to Ireland’s and the team strip is like the bright orange of the Netherlands. Song and dance, and a dose of humour, form the base of the Ivorian support.Everyone in Côte d’Ivoire is happy to be back at a World Cup for the first time in 12 years. No comments have been made by the federation or players regarding politics in any of the host nations, including the United States, nor about the ticket costs. The Trump administration said in May that Côte d’Ivoire fans would be exempt from paying the $15,000 visa deposit to enter the US if they had valid match tickets, but that was way too late for the majority of people who had considered going. Côte d’Ivoire was one of a number of countries affected by the Trump administration’s cuts to USAID, with bilateral deals for public health aid agreed instead.Written by Prince Akabla for Le Kpakpato Sportif.

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Australia pose following victory in the Fifa Series match between the Socceroos and Curacao. Photograph: Graham Denholm/Getty ImagesTony Popovic has brought discipline and structure as the Socceroos target their first knockout win in a World CupThis article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June.The Socceroos are stepping into the unknown as much as any side with a new crop of eye-catching attacking talents playing alongside a more experienced midfield and defensive core. Qualification for a sixth consecutive World Cup was sealed without needing to tread carefully through the playoffs for the first time since 2014, but only after a change of direction when Tony Popovic replaced Graham Arnold as the head coach.The renowned disciplinarian demanded a greater physical intensity and defensive zeal in all areas of the field, with results quickly improving and building into an eight-match unbeaten run that locked in a World Cup spot. The Socceroos have suffered from mixed fortunes since then as Popovic has cast the net wider to give opportunities to fringe players and the next generation.The side have become better organised defensively with three centre-backs, two wing backs and a pair of battle-hardened midfielders, a common set up especially in first halves when Popovic likes to keep contests tight. The emergence of young forwards Nestory Irankunda and Mohamed Touré – and Jordan Bos on a wing – adds a spark to the lineup and can be especially threatening on a counterattack late in games. The inclusion of Cristian Volpato, who switched his allegiance from Italy to Australia at the last minute, offers another potentially exciting option.After reaching the last 16 for the second time, in 2022, the hope is that the Socceroos can win a first knockout game. It will be easier said than done while starting in an evenly matched group but, as is his way, Popovic has insisted the side are up to the challenge. “We’re always deemed as the underdog or the team that will be fighting for the bottom spot and we have an opportunity through our actions and our performances and results to show that that can be different,” the Socceroos coach said in early May.Tony Popovic coaches like he played as a hard-nosed defender in his 58 matches for the Socceroos, including being part of the renowned 2006 World Cup squad. The 52-year-old values substance over style, but finds a way to make it work with a coaching record that includes two A-League premierships and an Asian Champions League crown. Popovic quickly put his fingerprints all over the Socceroos when taking charge in September 2024 with their World Cup qualification hopes floundering. His steely determination and the side’s newfound sharper edge booked their ticket to a sixth consecutive global showpiece. Now they are ready to face arguably the trickiest group.The Socceroos lack star power, but Nestory Irankunda is their human highlight reel. The 20-year-old attacker launches rockets from outside the area, beats defenders with pace and has a bag full of tricks. He often celebrates his goals with a backflip and a Michael Jackson dance move. This tournament can be the stage for Irankunda to bring those talents to the world. Meanwhile, Mohamed Touré may just upstage his childhood friend if he can carry his red-hot goalscoring form from club to country.Jordan Bos has become a darling among the most ardent Socceroos fans. He could soon bring himself to the attention of the country. The 23-year-old has lit up the Eredivisie in his first season with Feyenoord, becoming the first Australian to win a player of the month award in the Netherlands’ top flight. Bos’s pace, power and technique down the left flank are a huge asset for club and country, whether he is picked as an attack-minded wingback or as part of the midfield. He can also be dangerous near goal and recently scored in three consecutive appearances for the Socceroos.Alessandro Circati flies under the radar with a role at centre-back, but the 22-year-old has quickly emerged as one of the most important pieces of Popovic’s Socceroos puzzle. His physicality sets the tone while his composure calms the nerves – while also having the skill and polish on the ball that helps turn defence into attack. Circati’s standing within the team was revealed when he became the youngest player to captain the side, in a friendly against New Zealand last year. The defender has also risen through the ranks at Parma in line with the club’s rise from Serie B to Serie A and should relish the opportunity to test himself at the highest level.When it comes to the World Cup, Australia’s fans fall into three groups. The national sporting psyche is subconsciously activated and even the most sport-agnostic find themselves shaking their fists at the TV. The sport-appreciators quickly rekindle their love of the round-ball game and wonder why they don’t watch more. The tried and true Australian football devotees shout from the rooftops “we’ve been here all along” as the country duly unites around them and the men in green and gold. Some will make the trip, but many may have been turned off by costs and uncertainty on the ground. At home, the unusually agreeable kick-off times lend themselves to full pubs, watch parties or office huddles. A national crisis was averted when the decision to ban screenings of matches at Melbourne’s Federation Square was overturned in less than 24 hours.While Australian politicians toe the line on Donald Trump, refusing to call out even his most egregious statements for what they are, one outspoken Socceroos veteran has not been shy. The St Pauli captain and midfielder Jackson Irvine has become the leading critic of Fifa among current players and took aim at football’s governing body for awarding a peace prize to the US president. “As an organisation, you would have to say decisions like the one that we saw awarding this peace prize makes a mockery of what they’re trying to do with the human rights charter and trying to use football as a global driving force for good and positive change in the world,” Irvine said.