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Pulisic scores and assists in first half to break rotten runSergiño Dest opens scoring just seven minutes inUS final tune-up comes v Germany on 6 June in ChicagoChristian Pulisic broke a nearly six-month period without a goal on Sunday, assisting on the US opener and scoring a lovely goal himself not long afterward to lead the US to a 3-2 victory against Senegal in Charlotte, North Carolina.Playing in front of 57,741 in the first of two send-off matches ahead of this summer’s World Cup, the US looked lively throughout the match, a far cry from the dour pair of performances they put in against Portugal and Belgium in March. And the sterling performance from Pulisic, perhaps their most important attacking player, offers plenty of reasons for optimism for a program that had few of those after the two-loss March international window.The encouraging effort did leave lingering questions, though, about the US’s ability to defend and manage games. Senegal’s Sadio Mané scored just before and after half-time, with both goals coming off of US defensive breakdowns, continuing a troubling trend for the Americans.In other cycles, send-off matches have served largely as a celebratory tour for the team, an opportunity to make tiny adjustments and build confidence. The buildup to this World Cup has felt different, as US head coach Mauricio Pochettino has faced a bevy of questions ahead of an all-important tournament on home soil.Pulisic’s poor form aside, Pochettino has yet to name a starting goalkeeper and neither Matt Turner, who started on Sunday, nor NYC FC’s Matt Freese has emerged as a clear frontrunner. Questions have lingered, as well, about the US’s mentality, and about the exclusion of a handful of players from Pochettino’s 26-man roster.Pochettino’s lineup on Sunday was a mix of locked-on starters and reserves. Midfielder Gio Reyna made his first start for club or country since November 2025, when the US beat Paraguay in a friendly. Turner, fresh off a run of excellent club form with the New England Revolution, got the nod in goal. Pochettino also started Pulisic, perhaps seeking to give the Milan midfielder another chance to break his dry spell.Pulisic did so 19 minutes into a match that already felt firmly in the US’s grasp. PSV forward Ricardo Pepi, who was excellent throughout his 45-minute stint, found Pulisic with a through ball 20 yards from goal. A deft first touch towards the far side of the box took Senegal goalkeeper Mory Diaw out of the play and Pulisic’s right-footed, angled finish put the US ahead 2-0.Pulisic was involved in the US opener, as well, which was among the nicer team goals they’ve scored in quite some time, a 10-pass sequence capped off by PSV wing-back Sergiño Dest. US captain Tim Ream found Fulham’s Antonee Robinson at the near sideline. Robinson found Pepi further upfield, who slyly found Pulisic running towards goal. Pulisic’s pinpoint cross across the face of goal was touched home by Dest.The assist was Pulisic’s first international goal contribution since September 2025, when he notched an assist in the US’s 2-0 friendly victory over Japan.Senegal entered Sunday’s match having put together convincing wins over the Gambia and Peru in March. Arguably Africa’s best team – they somewhat controversially won the 2025 Afcon final before being stripped of the title – the Lions of Teranga are preparing for their fourth World Cup. Mané’s well-taken goal came off an errant pass from Robinson, with Tyler Adams beaten to the final ball as well.The US made wholesale changes at half-time, replacing every player on the pitch except for midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and, surprisingly, inserting Brady in goal. Brady, the presumed third-choice for the US, has been arguably the best keeper in MLS in recent months, thrusting him back into the already-murky pecking order. He did little to help his case on Sunday.Just minutes into the second half, Senegal equalized. Miles Robinson’s poor back pass was pounced on by Mané, who crashed goalwards. Brady was late off his line and unable to intervene.Conceding within minutes of half-time has become a habit of the US, who gave up goals within 10 minutes of the half-time whistle in both March friendlies. In their 2-0 loss against Portugal, they very nearly did so on both sides of it.The US’s third and final goal came off the right foot of Folarin Balogun in the 62nd minute. Weston McKennie, who found himself in the final third after pressing Senegal’s backline moments earlier, controlled the ball at the near edge of the area, feeding Timothy Weah out wide. His well-hit cross was deflected but found Balogun, who sealed the victory for the US.For as many conclusions may be drawn from this game, there’s no clear correlation between how the US play in send-off matches and how they perform at a World Cup. The US beat up on Venezuela and Latvia in 2006 before laying an egg in the group stage not long after. In 2002, just before the USassembled their best World Cup finish in the modern era, they played a lackluster friendly against the Netherlands.The US have never lost both send-off matches ahead of a World Cup, though – and Sunday’s result ensures they won’t break that record. More importantly, the win served as a much-needed boost of confidence to US players and fans alike.

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Hakan Calhanoglu is the elder statesman in a new-look Turkey team. Photograph: Armend Nimani/AFP/Getty ImagesVincenzo Montella has created harmony in the squad to mould one of the country’s strongest teams ever around a generational talent in Arda GulerThis 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 last time Turkey made it to the World Cup, Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz were not even born. After a 24-year hiatus, the Crescent Stars ended their exile by navigating a tense playoff path, eliminating Romania and then Kosovo. The coach, Vincenzo Montella, has guided the national team to back-to-back international tournaments with arguably their strongest squad ever.Turkey lost one game in their qualifying campaign – against Spain, the reigning European champions – picking up 13 out of 18 points. “I wouldn’t trade these players for anyone,” Montella said after the Kosovo win. “They have shown they can make sacrifices.”Guler and Yildiz were just breaking into the team at Euro 2024; the team now revolves around the duo. Turkish football has built a reputation for throwing around the term wonderkid loosely, but Guler, of Real Madrid, and Yildiz, of Juventus, merit the title.Ugurcan Cakir is a safe pair of hands and heads into the tournament having lifted the league title with Galatasaray. A centre-back pairing of Abdulkerim Bardakci and Merih Demiral provide a fairly solid defence. The right-back Ferdi Kadioglu is well known to Brighton fans after a terrific season. Hakan Calhanoglu is now the elder statesman and has assumed a deep-lying playmaker role, while Besiktas’s Orkun Kokcu is in hot form and could make a name for himself.The team is young, but the spine remains largely unchanged from the Euros two years ago. And the same problem persists: Montella does not have a proven striker. The position is up for grabs, with Eintracht Frankfurt’s Can Uzun a contender. The side will enter the World Cup capable of magic and madness.Vincenzo Montella has been the architect behind the national team’s resurgence since his appointment in 2023. L’Aeroplanino – ‘the little airplane’ – has fully immersed himself in the culture and he definitely gets the Turkish psyche. “Turkish culture is very close to that of the place where I spent my childhood. I was born and raised near Naples,” he says. Montella has managed the team better than most Turkish coaches of the past. Gone are the major fractures or squabbles between players and staff. The Italian’s default is a 4-2-3-1 setup, but he is not afraid to mix things up and has proven to be an astute tactician. Montella is a stylish, composed, likable character who has built one of the strongest Turkey teams in modern history.Arda Guler has successfully managed the transition from prodigy to established force at Real Madrid. The 21-year-old is unfazed by pressure, which is a blessing considering the weight of the country’s expectations are on his shoulders. Described by Thierry Henry as “an undisputed, elite world-class talent”, he is the creative spark in this team with an eye for goal. The midfielder has risen to the occasion for his country when called upon. The national team is not short on talent, but there is no doubt that Guler is a gamechanger.An argument could be made for Kenan Yildiz – whose surname does mean star – being just as important and talented as Güler. Long tipped for success since making a name for himself in the Bayern Munich academy, Yildiz has come into his own at Juventus and is poised for a breakthrough on the world stage. The charismatic forward has technical elegance and physical power in equal measure, a joy to watch for the neutral, and loves to take on defenders. While Montella is not yet clear on who his No 9 will be, Yildiz is a winger with an eye for goal. With 11 goals and 10 assists for Juventus last season, and three goals in qualifying for Turkey, he could be the outlet for his team.Orkun Kokcu’s move from Benfica to Besiktas last year appeared strange on the face of it. But it made more sense after he revealed it was a childhood dream to play for the Black Eagles and it has turned into an inspired move. A hard worker who does the dirty work that often gets unnoticed, he also plays a key role in attack. Kokcu scored 10 goals and provided nine assists for Besiktas in all competitions; impressive numbers for a central midfielder. The 25-year-old possesses impressive technique and passing range and, like Ferdi Kadioglu, was born in the Netherlands.While not comparable to the Turkish diaspora in Europe, there is a sizeable community in the US, with estimates ranging from 250,000 to 500,000. Turkey fans do not get the opportunity to see the national team often at the World Cup, but considering the distance and the exuberant price of travel and tickets there will not be many organised ultra groups making the trip. Expect lots of flags, but not so many flares.Turkey-US relations are less complicated than some of their neighbours in the region. There are no major diplomatic rows and Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Donald Trump get along well. After a phone call on 20 May Trump said: “Isn’t it nice to have relationships with some very tough people? He’s a tough guy, and I have a relationship with him that nobody else has.” Hopefully, though, the focus will be on football, which is a relief considering Turkey and the US are in the same group.Written by Emre Sarigul for Turkish-Football.com.

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Álex Arce of Paraguay celebrates after qualifying for the World Cup. Photograph: Christian Alvarenga/Getty ImagesAfter a public holiday was declared to celebrate World Cup qualification, expect a physical Paraguay side well prepared for intense conditionsThis 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.Paraguay earned their place on football’s greatest stage by going back to their roots: defensive strength and collective intensity. For years the team tried to play a possession-based game without succeeding in either defence or attack. Then, in August 2024, Gustavo Alfaro arrived with a clear message from day one: “Paraguayan DNA, intensity and clean sheets. That’s what will take us to the World Cup.” He was not wrong.The Argentinian coach remained faithful to the 4-4-2 formation in almost every match, only switching to a back five in the high-altitude games against Ecuador and Bolivia. At the World Cup he seems most likely to favour that classic 4-4-2, with perhaps an occasional 4-2-3-1.Since replacing Daniel Garnero – sacked after a dismal Copa América – Alfaro has transformed the team. From his first match, away against Uruguay in Montevideo, Paraguay looked a different side. Subsequent home victories against Brazil and Argentina convinced even the biggest skeptics that the “new” Albirroja was real.During qualifying, Paraguay lost only once away under Alfaro, against Brazil. They earned heroic draws in Bolivia, 4,100m above sea level, in Ecuador at 2,800m, and in the suffocating heat and humidity of Barranquilla against Colombia. Qualification was sealed with a tense 0-0 draw at home against Ecuador. The result triggered euphoria and the country’s president, Santiago Peña, declared the following day a national holiday.While Paraguay’s greatest strength lies in their intensity and physicality, they can also produce good football, building smoothly from the back and relying on the gamechanging talent of Julio Enciso.Gustavo Alfaro has inspired the rebirth of the national team after years of failure. The Argentinian retired as a footballer in 1992, aged 30, to concentrate on a burgeoning coaching career. Relying on toughness and defensive discipline, Alfaro guided humble Arsenal de Sarandí to glory winning the 2007 Copa Sudamericana and the 2012 Argentinian Primera División. Those triumphs defined his whole career and he is still regarded as a defensive coach. He once used a quote widely attributed to the former basketball player and executive Pat Riley to explain his philosophy: “If I want to build an offensive team, the first thing I have to do is work on defensive discipline, otherwise my ass is going to be out of here.”One of his greatest achievements came when he led a young Ecuador side to the 2022 World Cup. A well-read man, who often uses philosophical phrases in press conferences to explain things, Alfaro is also known as “El Cazador (The Hunter)” in reference to the book he wrote after taking La Tri to Qatar, titled Cazadores de Utopías Imposibles, Hunters of Impossible Utopias.Julio Enciso. One of the greatest players produced by Paraguayan football in the last 20 years. La Joya (The Jewel) amazed with his talent in Libertad – who gave jobs to both his mother, a house cleaner, and his father, a street vendor, to convince them to move to Asunción when their son was just 12 – and debuted for the national team at 17 before making the bold leap to the Premier League. He had some good moments in Brighton, scoring a Puskás Award-worthy screamer against Man City, however injuries and managerial changes gradually eroded his impact.Enciso got married and found a new beginning in Strasbourg, where he currently plays. Fast and direct, a difference-maker, a gamechanger in the final third, Enciso is a special talent. In honour of his grandfather, he fulfilled his dream of playing in a World Cup: “I dedicate this to him. He’s surely watching me from heaven.”Damián Bobadilla. Unlike his father, the former goalkeeper Aldo Bobadilla, Damián Bobadilla never put on the gloves. And it’s a good thing he didn’t – he has become an excellent midfielder. But his father remains his great hero. “My dad didn’t have a cape, but he flew from post to post,” he once said affectionately. Bobadilla burst onto the scene at his boyhood club Cerro Porteño in 2021, showing all the strengths of a high-quality box-to-box midfielder: physicality, calmness, and clever decision-making. Since 2024 he has been playing for São Paulo in Brazil’s top division, where he has already established himself as one of the team’s key players. Now 24, if he continues performing at this level he looks ready for the next big step in his career.The entire team structure relies on Andrés Cubas. He provides balance, wins duels and fights for every ball as if it were his last challenge. Although he is primarily a defensive midfielder, Cubas is also capable of initiating quick transitions into attack after regaining possession. Born in Argentina, and a former Argentina international at under-20 level, Cubas promised his mother – who was born in Paraguay – that he would represent her country if he was given the chance. At 5ft 6in he is not physically imposing, but his intelligence, positioning and tenacity more than make up for it.Travel agencies in Paraguay are offering round-trip packages to the United States that include tickets to all three group-stage matches, with prices starting from US$20,000 (£15,000). Considering the average monthly wage in the country is around $450 it is an enormous sum. Nevertheless, thousands of Paraguayans fans are expected to make the journey to the World Cup after a 16-year absence. The streets of Inglewood and Santa Clara are likely to be filled with red, white and blue – not the stars and stripes, but the traditional Tricolor of Paraguay and the Albirroja jersey. And those colours will be joined by the iconic chanting: “La Albirroooo, la Albirroooo, la Albirroja, la Albirroooo!” on repeat.Paraguay and the US have been long-term allies and there has been little to suggest that is about to change: Peña, the 47-year-old who has served as president of Paraguay since 2023, described Donald Trump’s reelection as “a dream come true”, while Marco Rubio described Peña as a “strong American ally”. Earlier this year, however, Trump described his Paraguayan counterpart as a “young, handsome guy”, which turned out not to be as positive as it initially appears. “It’s always nice to be young and handsome. It doesn’t mean we have to like you,” Trump continued. “I don’t like young, handsome men. Women, I like. Men, I don’t have any interest.”Written by Christian Pérez and Óscar Gómez for VS Sports.

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Injuries forced late decisions, but Jesse Marsch remains convinced this is the strongest squad Canada has ever assembled. Now comes the harder question: can they finally deliver on home soil?The only surprise is that we were surprised. In his final moments of deliberation Jesse Marsch looked at the options in front of him and chose speed. Why change the habit of a lifetime?Jacob Shaffelburg was the final winner on Friday night as Marsch named his 26-man World Cup squad in a primetime TV address to the co-host nation. The LAFC winger was likely Mr 26 as Canada’s American head coach cut six names from a group of 32 he’d named earlier in the week. Fitness, particularly in defense, was the factor which had forced Marsch to bring the expanded group to camp in Charlotte. Most acutely, the health or otherwise of captain Alphonso Davies occupies so many Canadian thoughts and will continue to do so. The Bayern Munich man didn’t make it as far as North Carolina but will join his 25 teammates on home soil in the coming days.In his late shuffling Marsch stacked defense and midfield and named four strikers. Nonetheless he’s adamant that the slew of health issues won’t affect his squad on their mission to deliver history at home.“Guys are getting healthy, I promise you,” said Marsch. “The reason we put this squad together is because these guys are all trending in the direction, they’re looking ready to go. We have really our best group of 26 players that this country has ever assembled at any one time.”It is both a quirk and a concern that the one area of the roster which was fully known ahead of time also contains Canada’s biggest unknown.Marsch has done many things in two whirlwind years at the helm where Fifa ranking and World Cup expectations rose. What he hasn’t done, remarkably, is pick a No 1. His indecision between Maxime Crépeau and Dayne St Clair rolls on to Edmonton on Monday night where Canada face Uzbekistan in the first of two pre-tournament tests. Both will get 45 minutes, continuing this prolonged timeshare between the posts.What hasn’t helped is that both come into the World Cup on the back of struggles in MLS. Just as Crépeau felt slightly favored he’s been torched for 38 goals in 14 games this season. His experience and authority may swing it but the indecision must end.The first men’s World Cup to land on Canadian soil took its sweet time getting here. For Marsch’s injury-ravaged defense, every extra minute has been priceless.The past 15 months have been spent with the entirety of what had emerged through the 2024 Copa América odyssey as Canada’s first-choice back four absent. Marsch’s leading central defensive options tell the tale: Moïse Bombito (broken leg) hasn’t played a club match since October; Derek Cornelius (hamstring) not since November and Alfie Jones (ankle ligament) December.Yung duo Ralph Priso and Jamie Knight-Lebel travelled to Charlotte with hope but Marsch clearly saw enough from the recuperating trio to stick with them, Luc de Fougerolles and veteran Joel Waterman offering cover. Barring setbacks, Bombito and Cornelius will surely start the opener against Bosnia & Herzegovina.Marsch has all but ruled Davies out of that historic day in Toronto, Canada’s captain recovering from yet another muscular issue. In spite of all the progress made under Marsch and the proliferation of Canadian talent across European leagues, Davies remains the one indisputably world class player on the roster. Getting him back for either Qatar or the final group game against Switzerland feels imperative.In such circumstances, the fitness and form of right back Alistair Johnston is pivotal. The versatility and dependability of Niko Sigur could tell too.The system which Marsch honed at club level has, with some tweaks, worked a charm with this gifted Canadian generation. Much of the relentlessness of the Rouge Bull way starts with vice captain Steph Eustaquio haring across every inch of the middle. His partnership with Ismaël Koné is locked in. After a stellar Serie A campaign Koné feels primed to put a major imprint on this tournament. Anderlecht’s Nathan Saliba is another on the rise and will offer energy off the bench.The biggest dilemmas for the coaching staff were out wide. While Tajon Buchanan owns the right, the left looked stacked. While Ali Ahmed has looked to make the position his own, Liam Millar finished his season in brilliant form, helping Hull City reach the Premier League. Meanwhile Marsch heavily recruited Canadian-born Mexican international Marcelo Flores and after a January switch, saw Flores light up the March window. That piled pressure on MLS duo Jayden Nelson and Shaffelburg, a breakout star of that Copa América run which gave the Marsch era instant lift-off.Nelson, ultimately, misses out but with some cutting up top, Marsch found room for Shaffelburg, another on his way back to fitness. But could a man with a moniker as good as the Messi of the Maritimes really have been omitted?An irony of the year leading into this tournament was that Canada’s defense was threadbare yet water-tight while its attack was fully-healthy but mostly anemic. An irony and a serious concern.Marsch insists his team will score. Jonathan David, as ever, is likeliest to do so even if his maiden season at Juventus was the least prolific of his career and in Marsch’s system he’s deployed deeper. Cyle Larin’s World Cup prospects looked grim around Christmas but the veteran has been invigorated on loan at Southampton and will lead the line in front of David.The only thing that could stop Promise David scoring goals in Belgium proved to be a ruptured hip flexor. His rapid recovery has been, according to Marsch, “a revelation”. The always-quotable powerhouse put it another way this week: “I think I could regrow a limb if I lost it.”Tani Oluwaseyi rounding out a leaner attacking corps meant last-minute cuts for both Jacen Russell-Rowe of Toulouse and Daniel Jebbison, who switched his allegiance to Canada in 2025 but hadn’t yet found his feet.(First-time World Cup indicated with an asterisk, caps and goals listed in parentheses)Goalkeepers (3) Maxime Crépeau* (Orlando City, 30/0) Dayne St. Clair, (Inter Miami, 19/0), Owen Goodman* (Barnsley, 0/0)Defenders (9) Moise Bombito* (Nice, 19/0), Derek Cornelius (Marseille, 42/1), Alphonso Davies (Captain; Bayern Munich, 58/15), Luc de Fougerolles* (Dender, 11/0), Alistair Johnston (Celtic, 56/1), Alfie Jones* (Middlesbrough, 1/0), Richie Laryea (Toronto FC, 73/1), Niko Sigur* (Hajduk Split, 17/2), Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire, 17/0)Midfielders (4) Mathieu Choinière* (LAFC, 22/0), Stephen Eustaquio (LAFC, 54/4), Ismaël Koné (Sassuolo, 38/4), Nathan Saliba* (Anderlecht, 13/2)Attacking midfielders/wingers (6) Ali Ahmed* (Norwich City, 24/1), Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal, 58/8), Marcelo Flores* (Tigres, 2/0). Liam Millar* (Hull City, 39/1), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC 89/9), Jacob Shaffelburg* (LAFC, 31/6)Strikers (4) Jonathan David (Juventus, 75/39), Promise David* (Union SG, 8/3), Tani Oluwaseyi* (Villarreal, 22/2), Cyle Larin (Southampton, 88/30)

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Mauricio Pochettino hold new Nike footwear during USMNT training. Photograph: John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty ImagesOptimism is not high for Mauricio Pochettino’s co-hosts, who are under pressure to justify fans’ considerable outlay on ticketsThis 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.Host nations get a direct runway to the tournament field, but a qualifying campaign would have likely helped clarify the USA’s ideal approach.While Mauricio Pochettino has overseen immense tactical fluctuation throughout his half-cycle in charge, the aim is always to retain at least shared custody of proceedings. The USA had about 60% of possession against lower-ranked opponents such as Paraguay, Australia, and Ecuador last autumn, while clashes with presumed favorites (recently: Uruguay, Japan, and Belgium) saw closer to a 50/50 split. Pochettino’s longtime penchant for high pressing has largely been absent in this role, instead focusing on establishing a mid-block defense to try limiting the opponent’s final-third touches.In possession, the USA works to string passing sequences up the channel, recently utilising a pair of attacking midfielders and a double-pivot behind them to better navigate the middle of the park. Width almost entirely falls on full-backs or wingbacks, with midfielders occasionally drifting off-center to create numerical advantages.Despite a thin center-back corps, Pochettino saw great success with a back three and wingbacks last fall … only to revert to a 4-2-3-1 in a disastrous 5-2 thrashing against Belgium in March.Both formations largely operate the same, with a 3-2-5 in possession and a 4-4-2 or 5-3-2 when defending. It’s a classic predicament of personnel: will Pochettino get his team in its best structure with five defenders (the 5-1 win over Uruguay), or get more of his best players on the pitch in spite of the tactical ramifications (the Belgium bummer)?“Belgium and Portugal have, in the top 100 players, [a] few or some players in that top 100. I think we don’t have [any],” Pochettino said after a 2-0 loss to Portugal. It was their final match before his squad was named. Gulp!While they may not be world-beaters, Pochettino’s 26 picks have received the more welcome WhatsApps and emails than those left off the squad. There are proven glue guys who help the squad regardless of their on-field roles, and a determination for a more harmonious environment than four years ago. Once the whistle blows, this group remains determined to show they can control games more than the bunker-and-counter iterations of bygone World Cups. All that’s left for them to do is to play in such a stylish manner and get results against top opposition.One of a few celebrity managers at this tournament, Mauricio Pochettino opted to test international soccer after a grueling and thankless stint with Chelsea. As a player, he represented Argentina at the 2002 World Cup, offering physicality and sharp tactical reading at center-back. He’s forever a beloved figure in some parts of north London after guiding Tottenham through its best stretch of the modern era. Appointed in 2024 after the USMNT went out in the groups at a home Copa América under Gregg Berhalter, Pochettino is expected to return to the club scene following this tournament.While Pochettino and the Guardian’s voting panel have omitted him from the top 100 players in the world, Christian Pulisic is a proven match-winner for the USA and Milan alike. The 27-year-old has been the face of the program since it missed out on the 2018 World Cup, bearing immense pressure to lead the USMNT into a brave new era of contention rather than competence. This year has been tough for the Hershey-born forward, goalless since last December in all arenas. Nonetheless, his ability to bypass opponents and set up a shot makes him a marking priority in every match.Following the exits of Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey, the USA got through the 2022 cycle with a striker-by-committee approach. It was a coup, then, when Folarin Balogun committed to his birth nation over England and Nigeria: an Arsenal-raised striker worth more than $40m in the transfer market. Balogun is a fine finisher, with the requisite movement to earn tap-ins away from opponents and the turn-and-shoot chops to fire from just about anywhere inside 25 yards with the right service. His form with Monaco has fluctuated but he was largely in-form this spring. He’s the latest danger man to wear the No 20 shirt for the USA, following Brian McBride.Aside from possibly Tyler Adams, no player is more irreplaceable in this USA roster than Chris Richards. An FA Cup winner with Crystal Palace in 2025, Richards is the surest presence along the backline in the program, a modern center-back with strong defensive rates on the ground or aerially and the range of passing to work into possession schemes. His club exploits were largely overshadowed by Marc Guéhi’s until the England man’s departure; similarly, his partnership with Tim Ream was an unheralded strength for much of this cycle. A dependable set of shifts this summer could inspire the next generation to appreciate the art of defending.Optimism is in short supply after the calamitous March window, coupled with feeling wrung out for every dollar with this World Cup’s pricing model. The rates are so lavish, in fact, that it’s hard to guarantee similar support to past tournaments with far friendlier pricing models. The four-figure get-in point could alter morale in the stands with more pressure to justify the outlay. You know the rest: red, white and blue, “U-S-A! U-S-A!” and cosplayers as Revolution patriots and bald eagles abound.While hosting the 1994 World Cup catalyzed this nation’s interest in the game, 2026 was seen as a trampoline upon which the sport would spring to even more prominence. Domestic leagues have synced their mid-to-long-term planning with this summer hoping to maximize reach to newcomers. If fans don’t flock (again: it’s insanely expensive to get in) to find their local club, some worry about attrition among the investor class.As for the lads on the field: last-16 exits in 2010, 2014, and 2022 have left the program without a quarter-final showing since 2002. They were once hyped as a possible golden generation and a deep run would make amends for an up-and-down cycle and justify Pochettino’s lavish wages. If not, fans will be eager to get on to the next generation in hopes of becoming a bona fide top-10 team worldwide.

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Brahim Díaz of Morocco misses a penalty during the controversial Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal in January. Photograph: Sébastien Bozon/AFP/GettyExpectations were raised after a first semi-final at Qatar 2022 and Mohamed Ouahbi’s side will hope history can repeat itselfThis 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.Four years after reaching the semi-finals of a World Cup for the first time, Morocco set sail for North America with ambitions high and a squad with even better pedigree than at Qatar 2022.Sometimes history does repeat itself and Morocco will hope that happens this time. Just as in 2022, the head coach was recently sacked. Mohamed Ouahbi, who won the Under-20 World Cup with Morocco last year, replaced Walid Regragui in March.That switch means the Atlas Lions will not have much time to get used to the coach’s tactics and philosophy. In late March, Morocco drew 11- against Ecuador and beat Paraguay 2-1, showing signs of improvement compared with their recent form under Regragui. Ouahbi prefers a 4-2-3-1 formation that can morph into 4-2-2-2 to create a lane of space in front of the captain, Achraf Hakimi, on the right flank.The biggest challenge will be to live up to the expectations. In 2022, they made an unexpectedly deep run. Now the team is ranked eighth in the world and the pressure will be constant. “I am aware of the expectations, but very honoured,” Ouahbi said at his unveiling. “I am committed to working with seriousness, humility and determination and also a lot of patriotism to continue on the path of progression of this team.”This team had already broken a couple of glass ceilings (reaching the aforementioned semi-final, plus their top-10 ranking), but in January, Morocco experienced one of the most bizarre episodes in its footballing history. In the Afcon final, Senegal’s players left the pitch in protest over a penalty awarded to Morocco. After a long delay Brahim Díaz missed his Panenka spot-kick and Senegal went on to win 1-0. Two months later, however, the Confederation of African Football, Caf, awarded the title to Morocco.Senegal have appealed to the court of arbitration for sport. Whatever happens, the Afcon final was a trauma, the repercussions of which could burst out at any time if results don’t Morocco’s way. “We all lived a trauma as Moroccans. That final was a difficult moment, but I think what matters the most is continuity”, Ouahbi said. Continuity meaning to do as well, or better, than in Qatar.Born in Brussels, Mohamed Ouahbi first chose a career in education. However, his first experiences as a teacher were difficult and he was approached by local club Maccabi Foot Brussels (MFB), where he started coaching and discovered the importance of pedagogy and communication. “At the time I wasn’t really comfortable in front of a group [of people],” he said. “MFB helped me impose myself and discover the job of a coach.” Having spent 17 years in the Anderlecht academy, Ouahbi has seen many talented players grow into superstars. In 2022, he took charge of the Morocco Under-20 team. He not only took the Atlas Cubs to their first World Cup in two decades, they won a maiden title in Chile. He is expected to bring the same energy and decisiveness at the top level.Achraf Hakimi is, without doubt, the biggest star Moroccan football has known. If Larbi Ben Barek, Noureddine Naybet and Yassine Bounou have all enjoyed the love and respect of fans, Hakimi is on another level. He has been consistently successful for some of the world’s best teams. After starting his career at Real Madrid, he has represented Borussia Dortmund, Inter and Paris Saint-Germain, where he won the Champions League in 2025. “I don’t know if Luis Enrique changed my career,” he said. “But his arrival has changed how the world of football sees me.” In February, it emerged he will face trial after an allegation of rape against him. He denies the accusation.He became a Morocco international last September, but Neil El Aynaoui is already considered one of the Atlas Lions’ best players. Son of Moroccan tennis legend, Younes El Aynaoui, he is a multifunctional midfielder, strong in recovering the ball and keen to join attacks. After a convincing stint at Lens he joined Roma last summer and, despite the fans’ initial scepticism and few appearances at the start of the season, he became an important player for them. If Morocco are to be successful in North America El Aynaoui will be an important piece of the jigsaw.Noussair Mazraoui is a soldier on the field. Framed as a right-back, “Nous” is much more than that. At Manchester United he has been used in six positions, ranging from central defence to attacking midfield. For the national team Mazraoui is a left-back, and helps as a third centre-back when Achraf Hakimi is on the attack, which is often the case. But Mazraoui is definitely important when the team needs a leader, especially when Hakimi is not there. Mazraoui is keen to make sure his teammates do not lose focus and that says a lot about how involved he is.As in Russia and Qatar, Morocco fans will fill their allocated seats in North America. As well as a growing fanbase that can afford to follow the national team wherever it plays, Morocco can count on a large diaspora on the other side of the Atlantic. There are approximately 30,000 Moroccans living in New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts, as well as many in Canada. So expect fans to add colour and positive noise, inside and outside stadiums. The highlight is likely to be the national anthem.Morocco has strong ties with the co-hosts of the tournament going back to 1777, when it became the first country to recognise US independence. Trump, meanwhile, during his first mandate, proclaimed that the US recognised Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, which made him very popular. US culture, especially Hollywood and music, has a huge influence in everyday Moroccan life.The main issue is not political – and not even with the US – but rather with Fifa and the ticket prices. Moroccans are prepared to pay to see a national team game, but the pricing for this tournament has reached new highs.Written by Amine El Amri for SKWAD by 2M TV

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As a skint 23-year-old I did two weeks in the US. It remains a personal favourite tournament 32 years laterYou never forget your first World Cup, and the tournament’s return to American shores this year will stir vivid memories for anyone who attended USA 94. It was a curious and distinctive tournament, one that heralded the World Cup’s more expansive, commercialised future, while also seeming a world away from the jamboree that returns 32 years later, twice as big and at least twice as lucrative.I managed to do two weeks of it as a skint 23-year-old earning £9,000 a year, alongside my mate Paddy, a student. We took in only two games – both goalless draws – but soaked up enough of the occasionally raucous, often tepid, atmosphere for it to remain a personal favourite World Cup all these years on.Now, in an age when US investment pumps up pretty much every level of the English professional game, it’s difficult to overstate how distant and mutually suspicious the footballing relationship was between Europe and the US in 1994. Host media seemed fixated on hooliganism and other nefarious perceived threats to the American way of life – England’s failure to qualify did little to dispel this – while Europeans were wont to sneer at an assumed audience of couch potatoes lacking the sophistication or concentration span to appreciate the beautiful game. The Fifa president, João Havelange, unhelpfully stirred the pot in this regard by suggesting splitting games into quarters.But these fears did not materialise and USA 94 was a joy to attend. Sometimes in spite of itself, but a joy nonetheless. The football and crowds surpassed expectations – the former needed to after Italia 90’s cynical stodge, the latter setting a World Cup finals average-crowd record of 68,991 that still stands.This, remember, was two years before the inception of Major League Soccer. In 1994 football felt like a countercultural phenomenon in the States, the secret reserve of convivial geeks and obsessives buttressed by the interest of immigrant communities. And while TVs in bars were fixated on OJ Simpson, whose dramatic car chase by LA’s finest dominated the airwaves in the opening week, there was fandom to be found.Which brings us to New York, and Ireland v Italy, one of the few occasions when the World Cup took over a city in the manner it might be expected to in Milan, Munich or Barcelona. Our attempt to buy tickets foundered on the huge sums quoted in various East Side and Midtown bars, so we watched in a marquee at an Irish festival in Queen’s. On arrival an Italian bloke who was married to an Irish woman thrust beers into our hands, and we were away.Ireland in New York was much more than a football gathering – it was a huge diasporic celebration of first-, second-, third- and beyond-generation Irishness: Dubliners, New Yorkers, London Irish, Glaswegian lads in Celtic shirts. A guy from Belfast implored us: “Don’t go back, lads,” reflecting America’s promised-land lure and an uncertain moment in wider Irish social history, with the first ceasefire still a couple of months away and the Celtic Tiger hype yet to kick in.And of course Jack Charlton’s side pulled off perhaps the best result in Ireland’s history, when Paul McGrath produced what at the time I considered the finest individual defensive performance I’d seen. Not being in the stadium really didn’t matter – the party was the thing, and it continued late into the night back on Second Avenue, where even police drawing batons and herding people back inside the Green Derby bar could not dampen the mood. Here was that centre-of-the-world feeling every World Cup needs.Another striking feature of USA 94 was the sheer number of British supporters there as neutrals, kickstarting a trend for less partisan, more curious spectatorship seen at most tournaments since. At the first game we attended, South Korea 0-0 Bolivia at Foxboro Stadium in Massachusetts, a large group of Cardiff fans made themselves known. Southampton and Derby supporters sat behind us, and a groundhopper from Bury regaled us with red-hot stadium chat on the train from Boston. It was the nerds’ World Cup, all right. And all for $25 ($55 today) for a decent seat close behind the goal.The stadium experience in some respects reflected those pre-tournament fears: officious stewarding, obtrusive sponsorship and an excessive police presence that jarred with a low-key game between two well-behaved, well-supported teams who would fail to make the knockouts. Games in Boston also reflected a common drawback of the US stadiums: venues this far from city centres are not conducive to the kind of spontaneous street festivities so integral to the tournament experience. Vast crowds would spring up at the grounds, then disappear again.Twenty-four hours earlier, USA had achieved their most impressive World Cup result since toppling England in 1950 – a 2-1 win over Colombia that subsequently acquired tragic notoriety with the killing of Andrés Escobar, scorer of the own goal that put the Americans ahead. The talk of the Boston bar where we watched this one? OJ.Our next port of call was Giants Stadium and Ireland’s crucial final group game against Norway. Pub word-of-mouth had put us in touch with a ticket tout based in Trump Tower – named after a bloke I’d not heard of at that point – who relieved us of $120 each (and the chance of affording anything to eat on the final day of our trip) for the privilege of watching the notoriously sluggish 0-0 that took Charlton’s side through and dumped the Norwegians out. Boy was it hot.Yet some brilliant football was played in those temperatures: Bulgaria’s sensational quarter-final toppling of Germany in New Jersey also took place in a middle-of-the-day scorcher, as did Romania’s 3-2 win over Argentina in the last 16, a generational classic, in Pasadena.Though only a handful of teams’ supporters travelled in large numbers to the first North American World Cup, it built on the culture that had begun to take off in Italy four years earlier, in which fans could blag, doss and drink their way around a tournament on relatively modest means. That way of World Cup life, stymied at the past two tournaments, will be difficult to revive at this summer’s most politically charged of events, where prices will limit the chances of the many World Cup debutants to enjoy the kind of melting-pot merriment enjoyed in 1994, and where the biggest threat of violence is from forces of the law rather than those they might be policing.

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Fans took to the streets of Port-au-Prince in November when victory over Nicaragua secured World Cup qualification for Haiti for the first time in 52 years. Photograph: Mentor David Lorens/EPAThe manager Sébastien Migné has never set foot in the country, but there will be pride, passion and no little ability from the Caribbean nationThis 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.Haiti’s World Cup qualification is one of the most inspiring stories of a football generation. More than a sporting achievement, the Grenadiers’ success represents an extraordinary human triumph forged through adversity, sacrifice and resilience.At a time when the country continues to grapple with deep political instability and a relentless security crisis, the national team had to play every qualifying match away from home, deprived of the passion and energy of their supporters. Yet even in exile, they refused to break. Against all odds they carried the hopes of a nation and secured Haiti’s return to the biggest stage for the first time since the legendary squad of 1974.The French head coach, Sébastien Migné, has created a fierce and disciplined side built on intensity, tactical organisation and rapid transitions. They are able to defend with discipline before bursting forward in dangerous counterattacks. The experience and composure of leaders such as Duckens Nazon, Frantzdy Pierrot and Ricardo Adé give the squad a crucial balance.Haiti qualified by finishing second behind Curaçao in Concacaf Group C and then winning their third-round qualifying section with key victories against Costa Rica and Nicaragua, establishing themselves as one of the Caribbean’s most respected footballing nations.Migné has shaped Haiti into a modern, vertical, transition-based side. His 4-4-2 employs attacking full-backs for width and crossing, often shifting to a 4-2-3-1 in defence. Sometimes the striker drops deeper to create overloads in midfield and, if the midfielders maintain the shape when the full-backs push forward, it gives Haiti a strong platform. Recent results suggest it is working.Migné has never hidden his ambition. “In one match anything can happen. The idea is to write a new story with these players,” he said as he prepared his team to face Brazil, Scotland and Morocco in Group C. The Frenchman told Fifa.com: “We’ve been handed a tough group … but looking on the bright side, we’ll certainly be in the limelight, which is a tremendous reward for the boys. We’ll now have to go out there and prove that we’re up to the challenge.”Key players are Johny Placide, the veteran who holds the defence together; Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, who is the midfield engine; and Wilson Isidor, the main attacking threat with his pace, movement and technical ability.Since his appointment in June 2024 Sébastien Migné has become more than a head coach: he is the architect of a remarkable national footballing revival. A former assistant to the renowned manager Claude Le Roy, the French tactician sharpened his experience with managerial spells at African national teams including Congo and Kenya, before taking charge of the Grenadiers. Arriving during one of Haiti’s most difficult periods, Migné quickly brought discipline, unity and belief back into the squad. He has never set foot in the country. “It’s impossible because it’s too dangerous,” he told France Football magazine. “I usually live in the countries where I work, but I can’t here. There are no more international flights landing there.”With the explosive Duckens Nazon leading the charge, Haiti are daring to dream. The prolific striker has become far more than a goalscorer, embodying the passion, resilience and pride of a nation that breathes football. The buildup to the tournament has not been smooth because he plays for a club in Iran. “I was about to take a plane to go to Istanbul or Paris, then the steward told everybody to get off because the war had started,” he told BBC. “I was stuck at the border for maybe 48 hours. They refused me, sent me back to Iran and I slept at the border. But I was so lucky because, before the war started I bought an eSIM. After that, they cut the internet in Iran. The eSIM saved my life.”Largely unknown on the world stage, the 24-year-old Ruben Providence could emerge as one of Haiti’s breakout stars. Quick, fearless, and dazzling in one-on-one situations, the young winger possesses the explosive creativity capable of changing a match in seconds. Born in France, he came through some of Europe’s biggest clubs, spending time at Paris Saint-Germain and Roma before finding stability with Almere City in the Dutch second division, where he is turning heads with his technical flair, sharp movement and confidence under pressure.Often overshadowed by flashy forwards and headline-grabbing stars, Danley Jean Jacques remains an indispensable engine of Haiti’s national team. Tireless in midfield, he breaks up attacks, dictates tempo and brings balance with a quiet efficiency that rarely gets the spotlight it deserves. Often unspectacular but absolutely vital, he plays his club football at Philadelphia Union, whom he joined from Metz in 2024. “Changing countries and discovering a new culture forces you to step out of your comfort zone,” he told the club website. “I’ve had to take on more responsibilities and grow as a person. I’m calm, respectful, a good listener, and quite reserved. As a teammate, I’m always there for the team, to defend the club’s colors and represent our fans.”Fans at Haiti’s matches can expect an atmosphere charged with raw emotion and pride. From Port-au-Prince to Miami, Haitians are preparing to flood stadiums and watch parties dressed in blue and red, transforming every match into a celebration of national identity. Despite insecurity, economic hardship and electricity shortages at home, supporters remain determined to stand behind the Grenadiers as one people. The Haitian diaspora is expected to bring energy, drums, chants and passion.One controversy has sparked outrage beyond football. Under travel restrictions tied to the Trump administration, many Haitians without existing US visas may be unable to support the Grenadiers in America. While the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, promised that “fans from all over the world will be welcome” the US Department of State has confirmed that no special exceptions would be made for Haitian supporters. Ticket prices is another problem. “We are happy Haiti is back in the World Cup after 52 years,” Julio Midy, founder of Boston-based Radio Concorde, which caters to the local Haitian community in the city, told Al Jazeera. “But tickets are very, very expensive and, unfortunately, we cannot afford it.”

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Andy Robertson (left) and John McGinn are amongst manager Steve Clarke’s go-to men when fit. Photograph: Ben Roberts/Danehouse/Getty ImagesAfter dramatic qualification, an experienced squad could progress beyond the group stage if they beat Haiti in their opening gameThis 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.Scotland qualified for the World Cup in dramatic circumstances that absorbed almost three decades of frustration. This marks a first appearance in the event since 1998 and it was achieved on a spine-tingling Hampden Park occasion when Denmark were eventually vanquished 4-2. Scott McTominay scored with a stunning overhead kick and Kenny McLean wrapped up the win from the halfway line in added-time.The intervening months have proved tricky. Defeats without scoring against Japan and Cote d’Ivoire, added to audible frustration from Steve Clarke over his contractual scenario, seemed to dampen the Tartan Army’s mood. Earlier, there was euphoria. “The number of people that come up to you and just want to shake your hand to say ‘thank you and well done’, it’s pretty special to feel that,” Clarke recalled. “You’re walking through the airport and every second person wants to shake your hand.”Now for the trickier part. Clarke has an ageing squad which is light on goal threat if midfielders – primarily John McGinn and Scott McTominay – do not contribute. The goalkeeping position has been a problem for a concerted spell now. At centre-back, the Scots are adequate rather than strong, having operated with a back three or four. McGinn, McTominay, Andy Robertson and Ché Adams are the manager’s go-to men when fit. Umpteen others have been alongside Clarke for a number of years; this is a Scotland squad high on cap numbers.Clarke is pragmatic in approach but it will be a shock if he does not start with two strikers for game one against Haiti. Victory there and Scotland have a genuine chance of progression from the first round for the first time. There is also a lingering reason for Clarke to at least appear bold; he was castigated by supporters for negative tactics in a must-win match against Hungary at the last Euros.A more defensive style is likely and understandable against Morocco and Brazil, who simply put are better teams than Scotland. Clarke’s team can be useful in such a situation; they are excellently drilled and carry a counterattacking threat.Scotland were in the doldrums, with tournament participation supposedly an unattainable dream, when Steve Clarke took on the position in 2019. History will look very favourably upon the former Chelsea player, given he has taken his nation to three out of four finals. Clarke is rarely expressive in public, which can count against him, but retains huge respect from his squad. He takes a hands-on training-ground approach and has a menacing side which players are acutely aware of. Clarke’s speech to Scotland’s team before that make-or-break qualifying tie against Denmark made a massive impact. “It is up there with the best I have ever heard before a game,” said Andy Robertson.Scott McTominay has evolved from bit-part player at Manchester United to a hero in Naples. He has grown in stature and significance for Scotland while reviving his club career and his overhead kick in the Denmark win is etched in history as one of the finest goals ever witnessed at Hampden Park. Alex McLeish’s second tenure is regarded by many as unmemorable but it was Clarke’s predecessor who convinced this English-born midfielder to declare for Scotland. McLeish’s gift to his nation with that move alone proved a significant one. Scotland rely heavily on McTominay’s gamechanging talent.Ben Gannon-Doak’s switch from Liverpool to Bournemouth has been disrupted by injury but the winger still gets pulses racing among Scottish fans. Gannon-Doak’s directness and pace mean he is different to those alongside him. Clarke has urged caution among media and fans, wanting the 20-year-old to be given space to develop, yet the nature of his game is such that the noise is understandable. Gannon-Doak memorably reduced Josko Gvardiol to a quivering wreck when Scotland faced Croatia in Glasgow. He will absolutely relish the World Cup stage.Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie has quietly established himself as a player with a good Premier League career and is closing in on 75 caps. The midfielder is technically impressive, carries energy and offers a goal threat. Yet the Inverness-born player often seems overlooked when praise is being issued to those within Clarke’s squad. One obvious explanation for that is that two of those routinely deployed alongside him, McTominay and McGinn, are Scotland’s main stars. At 31, this may not be Christie’s last World Cup but it will unquestionably prove the only one of his prime. It would be no shock to see him make valuable contributions.It is no exaggeration to suggest Scotland’s support might outshine the players. The Tartan Army will travel en masse and in fine spirits. They have earned a reputation for their good nature, regardless of results. A World Cup return after 28 years means scores of people who have never sampled this environment before booked up instantly, regardless of whether they were likely to source match tickets. Expect colour, kilts, bagpipes and a level of alcohol consumption that will make an enormous contribution to the GDP of the United States.A little known fact is that 34 of the 45 presidents of the United States have Scottish roots. None, though, are as strong as that of Trump, whose mother was born and raised in the Western Isles. Trump owns golf resorts in Scotland, meaning a continuing connection. The president’s love for Scotland can best be described as an unrequited one but it is surely fair to assume Steve Clarke’s men will be Trump’s second favourite team in the competition. The Tartan Army, meanwhile, make it their business to be non-political. The Scottish FA is closely aligned with Fifa so a protest or noise from Scotland at the World Cup is highly unlikely.