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43 CommentsWith more than 100 goals combined across club and country last season, France unleashed four of the game's best attackers in their final World Cup warm-up on Monday.But while Kylian Mbappe's bid to match Olivier Giroud's France goalscoring record fell short and, after winning the Champions League with PSG, Ousmenne Demebele and Desire Doue were kept relatively quiet, it was Michael Olise who stole the show against Northern Ireland.The Bayern Munich winger scored his first international hat-trick to give France a winning send off to Boston, Massachusetts.His first goal had a touch of fortune as he latched onto Dembele's deflected shot, but his second was a thunderous finish before he completed his hat-trick with a delightful, curling effort.Before the game, in his BBC Sport column, Gael Clichy, who coached Olise at the Paris Olympics, said he had the potential to be the breakthrough star at the tournament.For former France striker Louis Saha, the star showing from Olise was "what we expect from such a player" - and he has a big target in mind."Consistency is the hardest and from his point of view, you have to be in that conversation every time you want a Ballon d'Or," said BBC Sport NI pundit Saha."That is what he wants and that is why those performances are the norm for [Lionel] Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo. I think that is what he is dreaming of and that is what we want in the World Cup."When asked if 24-year-old Olise, who was born in England, can take a step into Ballon d'Or contention, Saha highlighted Olise's "mentality" during his three years at Crystal Palace as being pivotal, before he moved to Bayern Munich in 2024.And, referring to Mbappe and last year's winner Dembele, he added: "It is unbelievable in this [France] squad to have three possible Ballon d'Or winners."Olise scores hat-trick as France beat Northern IrelandWhy Olise can be one of France's very best - Clichy"Michael is amazing. You can see it, he's really confident right now," Deschamps said."He's decisive and clinical. For an offensive player, he's making the efforts to defend as well. We'll definitely need Michael at this level, and also other players too, of course."Deschamps said it took time for Olise to settle on the international stage. He did not score in his first five appearances but Monday's hat-trick has taken him to seven goals in 12 games.France head to the World Cup with a wealth of riches in attack. Aside from the four players who started in Lille, there is also the likes of Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki and Warren Zaire-Emery in their 26-man squad.But Deschamps feels that Olise is key if France are to win the World Cup for a third time."It took some time for him to feel relaxed. His temperament is really more of an introvert player," Deschamps added."It's our job also to move along with him, to help him integrate. We'll need him to play at his best level."Deschamps won the World Cup as a captain and manager with France, but said he would not be drawn into the emotion of his last game on home soil.His attentions are solely on France's World Cup opener with Senegal on 16 June in New Jersey, with further Group I matches against Iraq and Erling Haaland's Norway to follow.Before the game, there was a ceremony and Deschamps' name was sung on several occasions by the home support.After the match, when there was a lap of honour, a number of France's 2018 World Cup winners were on the pitch, including Giroud, who plays his club football in Lille, and Rapahel Varane."There have been many testimonies and messages, and it's really nice to hear so much love, to see so much love," Deschamps added."This is part of life. I'm not nostalgic. Just like the first day, each, every minute, I've been trying to enjoy as much as I can."While Olise shone in Lille, for Mbappe it was a night of frustration as his wait to equal Giroud's record of 57 of goals for France continued.Despite a club form of 42 goals in 44 appearances for Real Madrid, Mbappe has scored one goal in his past four international appearances.The 27-year-old had a goal disallowed on Monday after Doue was offside in the build-up, and he also spurned a number of chances as Olise stole the headlines.When asked by a French reporter if he was worried about Mbappe's international form heading into the World Cup, Deschamps gave it short shrift."You do what you want, but I'm not going to worry," he said."It's true that he's had a few occasions, a few opportunities."He hasn't been efficient, but he has said he is keeping that efficiency for the USA, so that's fine."

World Cup News

Diogo Jota's widow has urged Scotland captain Andrew Robertson to carry his former Liverpool team-mate in his heart when he lives their dream of playing at the World Cup.Jota died aged 28 in a car crash last July, after helping Portugal secure World Cup qualification.Jota, won 49 caps but never played at a World Cup after missing the 2022 tournament through a calf injury."I couldn't get my mate Diogo Jota out of my head today," defender Robertson said after Scotland secured World Cup qualification in November."We spoke so much about going to the World Cup because he missed the last one with Portugal and I did with Scotland. I know he'll be smiling over me today."In a letter to Robertson published by Fifa, Rute Cardoso, the mother of Jota's three children, said: "Diogo often spoke of you. Of the friendship you built, the battles you fought together, the challenges, the laughter, the conversations about football... and about dreams."The World Cup was one of those dreams, a dream that the two of you nurtured, side by side, with the same passion with which you took to the pitch."When I heard your words and learnt what you felt on that day when Scotland qualified for the World Cup, after so many years of waiting, I realised that Diogo never truly left the pitch."By achieving that moment and securing your place at the World Cup, you won't be going alone."You'll be taking his dream with you too. And when you step on to the pitch, I know it won't just be you walking out. Diogo will be with you in your thoughts, in your steps, in your heart."So today, I want to thank you. Thank you for not forgetting him. Thank you for taking him with you. Thank you for turning the pain of loss into strength and into something so beautiful."That's how we do it here at home too. Every day. He would be, and is, incredibly proud of you. Cherish that dream, Andy. Live it for yourself and for him."Robertson was filmed by Fifa reading out the letter and thanked Cardoso, saying it would stay with him for a "very long time".The World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July.Scotland, playing in their first World Cup since 1998, face Haiti on Sunday, Morocco on 19 June and Brazil on 24 June in Group C.Robertson, who has joined Tottenham since leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, said: "I'll carry him in my heart and I know he'll be with me come the first game, come the second game, come the third game and hopefully beyond that."He's always there. The memories are always something that we bring up and sometimes laugh, sometimes cry."And that will be no different, especially going into a tournament which is full of emotion. I know he'll be right at the front of my mind."I'm not only just playing for me. I'm playing for both of us."

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After helping to shock Italy in the playoffs, the Bosnia and Herzegovina captain is out to upset co-hosts Canada in their opening match on Friday“Sometimes there is an end for all of us, maybe mine is coming soon,” says Edin Dzeko, though first there is the small matter of captaining Bosnia and Herzegovina at only their second World Cup, lessons learned. “When I was 17, 18, people were telling me: ‘Experience is something you get by playing for so many years,’” he says, screwing up his face a little, “when you think like a 17-year-old.” A smile unravels on Dzeko’s face. “But when you arrive at this age you know experience is fundamental.”When he was sold by the Sarajevo-based Zeljeznicar to the Czech team Teplice as a teenager, few envisaged him forging an elite career that has taken him to Europe’s best leagues and the biggest stages in the game. He is one of seven fortysomethings who could feature at the tournament this summer, along with Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric and, just like those two, inevitably much of the intrigue in Dzeko is rooted in longevity. To cut to the chase, what are the secrets to his success?“I didn’t think I would be playing at 40,” he says. “If you asked me 10 years ago, I would have said ‘no’, but I’m listening to my body and doing a lot of work before and after training to help my body because I’m not the youngest any more and I need to take care of my legs, my body. I’m still feeling good and I still feel that I can help the team when I’m playing, which I did in the last four months at Schalke and the national team.“Maybe when you’re young, you don’t think a lot about coming earlier to training and staying 30-45 minutes before training in the gym, doing the prevention work and then also staying after the training, like 30-45 minutes, or one hour, and doing some other prevention works. Maybe as a young player, when you’re 20, you say: ‘I don’t have time for this. I want to go out for coffee or something with friends or lunch.’ When you get older, you realise your body needs, your legs need, something like this if you want to compete at the best level and stay so long in football.”After an unusually fruitless six months at Fiorentina, whom he joined last summer, he signed for Schalke in January until the end of the season. “They just needed another push, let’s put it like this,” he says of returning to Germany, where he first established himself as a prolific goalscorer at Wolfsburg. He replicated that form across the continent, winning two Premier League titles – including 2012 – and an FA Cup with Manchester City and proved a big hit in Serie A with Roma and Inter, before breezing into double figures in both of his seasons at Fenerbahce.He soon got to work at Schalke, too, scoring 20 minutes into his debut, one of six goals that ultimately helped fire the club back to the Bundesliga after three years away. Miron Muslic, who fled genocide in Bosnia as a boy, was his manager. For Dzeko, it proved an inspired move and one that prevented him coming into March’s World Cup playoffs from a standing start. It was Dzeko’s headed equaliser against Wales in Cardiff, his most recent goal, that put Bosnia and Herzegovina on the path to this point. “Ah, sorry, Welshman,” Dzeko says, putting his thumbs up by way of an apology to the Welsh employee facilitating this interview on behalf of the Bundesliga.A few days later they triumphed on penalties against Italy in Zenica, sparking scenes of jubilation, flares and fireworks, on the streets of Sarajevo and beyond. Dzeko believes Bosnia and Herzegovina’s performance got lost in the wreckage of Italy’s latest failure. “I think that in those days there was a lot of talk about our stadium, how small the field is, the balconies around, that Italy might not go to a third consecutive World Cup,” he says. “Almost no one talked about us as a team, that we truly are an excellent team with many young players who then also demonstrated their value against Italy.”His first World Cup was in Brazil in 2014, Lionel Messi scoring what proved to be the winner for Argentina on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s debut in Rio de Janeiro. The memories, including his disallowed opening goal in a defeat against Nigeria that culminated in elimination, invariably linger. “I wish I could have enjoyed [it] even more because playing games, you cannot enjoy the beautiful country so much,” he says. “For us, it was the first big competition and to play it in Brazil, in the country of football, was amazing. And then having to play the first game at Maracanã against Argentina, even more so. The only thing that was missing was to go through to the next round.”Dzeko and the nation, led by a former forward in Sergej Barbarez, hope for a different story this summer. They are in Group B alongside co-hosts Canada, who they face in their opener on Friday, then Qatar and Switzerland. “Oh, I love the Swiss mountains,” says Dzeko. “When I was playing at Inter, from Milan it was so close and I was often there with my wife and with my kids … I will definitely go back. Switzerland are definitely the favourites in our group because they have so many good players, a very experienced team and the team that always plays big competitions. And obviously then the other teams would think maybe a little bit more about second and third place.”For now, Dzeko, who grew up playing football between war-torn buildings and shelters in Sarajevo, is determined to savour his latest adventure. Questions about how long he will continue can wait.“First, I have to talk with Schalke to see what their plans are, and then we’ll decide,” he says of his future. “This is a great club with great fans and I can see already they have so much love for me as well. I have to say everything that happened in the last four months was even better than expected.”

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Portugal’s Bruno Fernandes celebrates with Gonçalo Guedes and Pedro Neto after a goal against Chile in a pre-World Cup friendly. Photograph: Rodrigo Antunes/ReutersA last World Cup – surely – for Cristiano Ronaldo, and Portugal are in great shape for a long run in the competitionThis 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.Portugal secured their ninth World Cup appearance, and their seventh in a row, with relative ease, even if a home draw against Hungary in October and a defeat in Ireland in November delayed the celebrations until the final matchday. In that final game, Roberto Martínez’s side (without Cristiano Ronaldo, who had been sent off in Dublin) thrashed Armenia 9-1.Variety is the key quality here. Martínez capitalises on the tactical versatility of his squad: João Neves and Matheus Nunes can operate as full-backs or midfielders (sometimes in the same match); João Cancelo and Diego Dalot play comfortably on either flank; and Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva constantly rotate roles. Despite this fluidity, the coach’s selections remain stable. The starting XI has at least seven “untouchable” spots. The spine is well defined, led by figures such as Diogo Costa, Rúben Dias, Fernandes, Silva and Ronaldo, with Nuno Mendes and Vitinha also serving as undisputed starters.“We won 10 games in a row on the road to Euro 2024, but the team wasn’t as prepared then as it is now. Challenges help you grow,” Martínez noted after qualifying. “Back then, we lacked the resilience needed to win titles. In the Nations League, it was different. We reacted when Germany scored, when Spain scored, and we won the tournament. That is where we are now. We must prepare well.”The head coach wants his players to give everything and bring the values of the Portuguese people to the pitch but there is also a more personal mission this time around after the tragic events of 2025. “It is a responsibility to fight for Diogo’s dream,” says the coach, who, since the deaths of Jota and his brother André Silva, has included the former’s name on his squad announcements. “He [Jota] is our strength and our joy. His spirit, his strength and his example are the driving force, and they always will be.”Roberto Martínez was close to leaving the national team a year ago (with José Mourinho waiting in the wings), but winning the Nations League earned him a vote of confidence from the new FPF president, the former international referee Pedro Proença. Although he suffered his first defeat in a qualifying phase after 43 matches, the Spanish coach secured his third World Cup appearance, having gone twice with Belgium, without much stress. However, this doesn’t mean the cycle with Portugal won’t end this summer, even with success. “The president and I are aligned: the focus is the World Cup. It’s not a matter of wanting or not wanting; it’s not on the table. The World Cup cannot wait, but the manager’s situation can,” he said in March, keeping the mystery alive.It seems unlikely that he’ll celebrate his 1,000th career goal during this World Cup, but being so close to that milestone speaks volumes about the ambition of Cristiano Ronaldo. At 41, he is participating in the tournament for a record sixth time (with 22 matches and eight goals in previous editions). Already a legend, the captain symbolises the hunger of a nation wanting to pair a World Cup trophy with their Euro 2016 title. He remains a magnet for fans and defenders alike, destined to inspire chants, selfies and viral moments. “The dream ended,” Ronaldo wrote on social media in 2022 after Portugal’s quarter-final exit against Morocco. Four years later, the forward returns to attack “the biggest and most ambitious dream” of his career one last time. No one is willing to bet on when this incomparable journey will end. “People think when I talk about retiring soon, it means in six months or a year. I’m joking!”“Inácio was a backup left-back for the under-23s and under-19s. Some players can surprise you.” Those are the words of Ruben Amorim, the man responsible for Gonçalo Inácio’s rise at Sporting. Despite his discreet and introverted nature, the centre-back became a pillar for his club and one of its captains. He sheds his shyness with every line-breaking pass, a trademark skill that will be vital for Portugal in this World Cup. Having already featured at Euro 2024 and played a part in last year’s Nations League win, he enters this tournament with bolstered status as the primary candidate to partner Rúben Dias in the heart of the defence.He may still have fans to win over globally due to the lower visibility of the Portuguese league, but Diogo Costa is a guarantee of safety. The Porto captain is a worthy successor to Vítor Baía for both club and country. Portugal’s No 1 since 2022, he is heading into his second World Cup. Cat-like between the posts and exceptional with his feet, he is also a penalty-saving specialist; he famously stopped three consecutive penalties against Slovenia in the Euro 2024 last 16. “Portugal’s secret is Diogo; he is European football’s best-kept secret,” Martínez said at the time. Costa was equally decisive in the Nations League final a year ago, saving a crucial Spanish penalty.While a World Cup in North America is expensive, Portuguese fans are fiercely loyal. They will be present in large numbers, especially as the team progresses. They might not always dominate the stands numerically, but their presence will be felt. While some supporters can’t leave club rivalries behind (even in their choice of attire), the green and red of the flag will predominate, often seen on jerseys bearing Ronaldo’s name. Support is typically loud but non-aggressive, characterised by encouraging chants and a touch of humour. Portuguese fans are generally relaxed, peaceful, and leave a positive impression on host countries.Donald Trump divides opinion in Portugal just as he does elsewhere. The use of the Lajes air base in the Azores for American military operations remains a point of political debate. The football federation has sought to avoid delicate debates regarding the tournament’s organisation, with fans focusing more on the high cost of tickets and travel. While Trump rarely mentions Portugal specifically, he hosted Cristiano Ronaldo at the White House in November during a visit by the Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

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1 CommentsYou already know about the superstars who could light up the 2026 Fifa World Cup, but what about the next wave of talent?A record 1,248 players can feature in the USA, Canada and Mexico and, while there are few total unknowns, 891 of them are at their first World Cup, including plenty of unfamiliar faces looking to announce themselves on the global stage.Here, BBC Sport's TV and radio World Cup commentators pick out 20 players from outside the Premier League and Scottish Premiership who are worth watching out for this summer.Age: 19 Position: Winger Club: RB LeipzigSteve Wilson: One of the most sought-after signatures of the summer will be RB Leipzig's teenage winger though the German club are naturally unwilling to see him go.The winner of the Bundesliga rookie of the season award, Diomande only joined from Spanish side Leganes in July 2025 for a bargain 20m euros (£17.2m) and promptly registered 21 goal contributions (12 goals and nine assists) in 33 league appearances to help Leipzig qualify for the Champions League.Diomande spent three years living in Florida after moving to the United States aged 15 so he should feel at home for the next few weeks.He missed Ivory Coast's March friendlies against South Korea and Scotland with a shoulder injury but started last week's shock World Cup warm-up win over France and looks certain to keep his place once the tournament kicks off.Age: 17 Position: Midfielder Club: TijuanaRadio 5 Live football correspondent John Murray: The youngest of all the players at this World Cup is a 17-year-old attacking midfielder who was described as a wonderkid at last summer's Gold Cup, when he became Mexico's youngest senior player aged 16.Not only that, coach Javier Aguirre then picked him in the team to start the final that Mexico won by beating Mauricio Pochettino's United States 2-1 in Houston.Steve Wilson: Mexico's young sensation is the youngest goalscorer in Liga MX history, getting off the mark for Tijuana in August 2024 when he was still 15.He is the player on whom many home hopes will be pinned when they kick off the World Cup against South Africa in the Azteca - if he can find a starting berth in Aguirre's side.Spanish-born Alvaro Fidalgo's decision in February to represent Mexico rather than wait for a Spanish call-up, which would be unlikely to come, may mean that Mora has to begin the tournament on the bench.Age: 20 Position: Midfielder Club: SC FreiburgSteve Bower: Switzerland have a record of getting to finals and giving young players the stage to make a name for themselves - at past tournaments it was Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye. Now it could be Manzambi's turn.Some people will have seen him play a big part in the Freiburg side that went all the way to the Europa League final.Manzambi can play in various positions in midfield and is pretty good in the final third too. He carries the ball really well and I know the Swiss fans have got big hopes for him - Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka has done an interview praising him as well.Vicki Sparks: The youngest player in Switzerland's squad, Manzambi has impressed for Freiburg this season. In the words of Swiss coach Murat Yakin, "he has this incredible hunger to score goals that I have rarely seen".Steve Wilson: Manzambi was named Uefa's Europa League revelation of the season as his club side reached the first European final in their history.His seven goals from midfield last season included a wonder-strike against Braga in the semi-final which put Freiburg in front for the first time in the tie. His 33 attempts at goal across the whole European campaign were 11 more than any of his team-mates managed.Geneva born and bred, Manzambi has been used in central midfield or as a number 10 and sometimes as a right-sided forward by Yakin, for whom Manzambi scored his first international goal in a 4-0 win over the United States in Nashville last summer.Ian Dennis: It's only a matter of time before Manzambi's head is turned by a bigger club in Germany or one from the Premier League.He caught my eye in Istanbul when I thought he was Freiburg's best player in their Europa Final League defeat by Aston Villa.He can operate in an attacking midfield role or play deeper. He made his senior Swiss debut last June and has featured in all of their 11 internationals since. Definitely one to watch.Age: 23 Position: Striker Club: PSV EindhovenJonathan Pearce: The pressure will be immense for the joint hosts to clear their group and go far. I doubt they'll achieve that but they could have a shining star in PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi.He banged in 19 goals, including six in his last five games, as PSV won last season's Dutch title. Pepi also has 13 goals in 35 internationals but only played 36 minutes for the US between November 2024 and April this year, which seems strange.He was back in the starting line-up for the win over Senegal at the end of May, providing an assist in a 3-2 friendly win, and also came on against Germany last week.The US need someone to come up with goals for them and Ricardo could pep up home hopes.Steve Bower: Paz played a big part in Italian side Como's magnificent success story under Cesc Fabregas last season and he's also massive back home in Argentina.Because he's left-footed and because he's a number 10, the Messi comparisons started a while back. I wouldn't go down that line because he has got a long, long way to go but his favourite position is just behind the striker and he can drift out to the left as well.He gets goals, creates goals, presses well and he has really come on under Fabregas' coaching this season.He is in the Argentina squad but how Lionel Scaloni uses him, we will have to wait and see. It may be as an impact player or as part of any rotation. But he is the type who, if he he gets an opportunity, is likely to grab it.Steve Wilson: The son of Argentine international defender Pablo Paz - who was part of their 1998 World Cup squad. Unlike his father, Nico is a winger or number 10.Paz has broken through at Como under the guidance of Fabregas although, when Real Madrid sold him in 2024, they wisely inserted a buy-back clause that extends into 2027.Paz completed more dribbles than any other player in Serie A this season, providing 13 goals and eight assists. He also scored his first international goal in March, against Mauritania, one of an eclectic mix of opponents for Scaloni's side in friendlies played this year.Age: 20 Position: Right-winger Club: StrasbourgLiam McLeod: Moroccan wildcard Yassine was on Barcelona's radar before he swapped French second-tier side Dunkerque for big-spending Strasbourg, who paid around 7m euros (£6m) to take him to Ligue 1 in January.He helped his nation win the Under-20 World Cup under new Morocco head coach Mohammed Ouhabi, who replaced Walid Regragui after the latter surprisingly departed after the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in January.Gessime has featured in all their recent friendlies since, making his debut against Ecuador in March as he attempts to break into a side that reached the semi-finals in Qatar.Ian Dennis: After shining at the Under-20 World Cup last October, Yassine will now hope for a chance on the biggest stage of all.He is a left-footed right-winger who has excellent close control and loves to dribble.Yassine signed a four-and-a-half-year deal at Strasbourg in January so is surely on the radar of their partner club Chelsea but has already been linked with Barcelona. He is very highly rated.Age: 18 Position: Centre-back Club: Colorado RapidsJohn Murray: This young Australian central defender was recommended to me by a friend who knows the game well there.He is from Brisbane and only moved to the US in January for a club-record fee, and has done well enough in Major League Soccer to win a place in the Australian World Cup squad.Age: 18 Position: Winger Club: Red Bull SalzburgVicki Sparks: Alajbegovic had such an impressive campaign at Salzburg that his former club, Bayer Leverkusen, have exercised their buy-back clause after just one season.Despite his young age, he has already proved that he can hold his nerve on the big stage, scoring the winning penalty in Bosnia-Herzegovina's play-off semi-final against Wales. He also scored in the shootout victory over Italy in the final.Billed as the new poster boy for Bosnian football, the German-born winger has often been used as a substitute at international level, including both play-off ties, but started both friendlies before the World Cup.Age: 20 Position: Midfielder Club: Eintracht FrankfurtSteve Wilson: A German-born attacking midfielder who has delighted fans of Eintracht Frankfurt since joining from Nuremburg two years ago.He scored five goals and provided three assists in Frankfurt's first five Bundesliga games of last season, only for hamstring injuries to limit his involvement through the winter.A playmaker for his club, he is yet to nail down that position for his country with manager Vincenzo Montella likely to see him as an option from the bench should anything befall Orkun Kokcu or Kenan Yildiz.Age: 23 Position: Striker Club: Chivas de GuadalajaraJohn Murray: Gonzalez, who scored 25 goals for Guadalajara last season, won his first cap for Mexico in November and scored his first international goal in February.They say he has something of Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez about him and he will doubtless have learned from the former Manchester United and West Ham striker who returned to Guadalajara to end his playing career just as Gonzalez was maturing.Jonathan Pearce: The goalscoring hopes for the joint-hosts would appear to rest heavily on the shoulders of Fulham's Raul Jimenez but they also have a brilliant prospect for the future in Gonzalez.His goals for Guadalajara in their run to the title play-off round semi-final of Liga MX saw him break through to the national side.He's only netted once for Mexico in his first seven games - against Iceland - but there's more to come from him. Watch out for him as a super sub.Steve Bower: I saw Bouaddi play for France Under-21s but he was not called up for France's senior side and last month he said he was going to play for Morocco.I know they are delighted about that and they think it quite a coup. He has been like a new signing, with his first appearances coming in their warm-up games but he is new to the top level.Bouaddi made his debut for Lille in the Conference League three days after turning 16 and has played Champions League and Europa League football too, so he has a lot of experience and maturity already.He is a holding midfield player, who will operate as a deep-lying number six in a double pivot, and I think he will make a big difference in that area of the pitch and get the team playing.Age: 27 Position: Midfielder Club: Al-IttihadJonathan Pearce: I fancy Algeria could repeat the thrills Morrocco gave us four years ago so I've picked a trio of their players to look out for.Aouar is the first of those and I've watched him closely since he came through as a teenager at Lyon.A gifted midfield playmaker who scored 15 goals this season for Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League, he has rediscovered the form that made him one of Europe's hottest properties a few years ago.Age: 22 Position: Centre-back Club: ParmaVicki Sparks: Circati has been a regular in the heart of Parma's defence in Serie A this season, as he builds up to his first major tournament.The former Italy youth international, who moved to Australia as a one-year-old, became the Socceroos' youngest captain since 1981 when he took the armband against New Zealand last September, and is set to be a key part of their backline.Age: 22 Position: Left-winger Club: Como (loaned to Al-Najma in 2025-26)Steve Wilson: Jasim was the top-scorer at the Under-23 Asian Cup in early 2024, catching the eye of Como who decided to take a gamble on a player who had already left his native Iraq once for an unsuccessful shot at playing in Turkey.Como took a look and quickly loaned him to the Netherlands and then to Saudi Arabia, where he seems to have settled with Al-Najma.Iraq's Australian coach Graham Arnold has consistently selected him over the past 12 months and Jasim is one who may catch the eye in a side given the daunting task of taking on Norway, France and Senegal in Group I.Age: 26 Position: Striker or winger Club: WolfsburgJonathan Pearce: My second Algerian player, Amoura scored 10 goals in their last six qualifiers and although he suffered relegation with Wolfsburg this season, his international form has been better than his club displays.He will lead the Fennecs' attack this summer and can also play wide leftLiam McLeod: He may not produce the same headlines as his Uruguayan namesake but the Sporting striker has ripped it up in Portugal this season, scoring an incredible 38 goals in his first season at the club.He had big boots to fill as well after Viktor Gyokeres departed for Arsenal with the Colombian his direct replacement.Suarez also set up another nine goals in an impressive maiden season after arriving in Lisbon from Almeria in the Spanish second tier. Now he looks to take this World Cup by storm.Age: 22 Position: Midfielder Club: Chivas de GuadalajaraJonathan Pearce: Born in Illinois, this attacking midfielder actually played twice for the US in 2025 before switching allegiance to the country of his parents last November.Gutierrez moved from Chicago Fire to Guadalajara in January and helped them reach the title play-off round semi-final of Liga MX.He has played a role in seven of Mexico's eight games in 2026, operating as a bright spark in a 4-1-4-1 formation, and could get the home crowd really excited.Age: 20 Position: Left-winger Club: HoffenheimSteve Wilson: In a World Cup with more than its fair share of late-30 or even 40-somethings, thank goodness for Ivory Coast. Not only do they have Yan Diomande but also Bazoumana Toure.The left-winger joined Hoffenheim from Swedish side Hammarby in January of 2025 and fairly soon after the phrase 'Bazoumania' was coined.In 30 league games this season, he has provided 12 assists for Hoffenheim and also scored twice in three substitute appearances at last winter's Afcon, leading to calls for national coach Emerse Fae to find a place for him in their starting XI.That won't be easy with Diamonde and Amad Diallo in possession of the places on the flanks.Age: 20 Position: Midfielder Club: Bayer LeverkusenJonathan Pearce: My final Algerian pick. Maza is only 20 but really shone at Bayer Leverkusen this season and scored a couple for his country at the Afcon at the turn of the year.The young Berliner is a gifted attacking midfielder who can also play up top. There is far more to come from himSteve Bower: I have watched Maza this season for Leverkusen and can see why he is getting a lot of plaudits.He is a technician who likes to get on the ball in those areas between midfield and defence and, already in Algeria, they are making comparisons between him and Riyad Mahrez, who has obviously been the poster boy of their national team for a long time.Maza has played over 40 times for his club this season and has 15 international caps so has plenty of experience for his ageIf he gets the opportunity, he could be a player that makes a bigger, more global name for himself if Algeria are successful at this tournament.Age: 19 Position: Centre-back Club: Tottenham (loaned to Hamburg 2025-26)Steve Wilson: Tottenham have not been renowned for making many great decisions in the transfer market in recent years but when they signed Luka Vuskovic from Hajduk Split in the summer of 2025, they were ahead of the curve.In fact, it was a deal that had been agreed 18 months earlier. Then Vuskovic, who made his Hajduk debut at 16, spent a successful season on loan in Belgium with Westerlo and accelerated through the Croatian youth set-up to under-21 level.He spent last season on loan at Hamburg not only forging a reputation as a commanding central defensive presence but also popping up with six goals.He will return to Spurs after the World Cup expecting to play.

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BBC Scotland's chief sports writerPublished39 minutes agoArgentina '78 - the story of Scotland daring to dream and waking up in a nightmare never gets old. It's a footballing farce, a sporting tragicomedy. Some of the gold is provided by the Tartan Army and the extraordinary lengths some of them went to in order to be part of history. Not the kind of history they were getting, but history all the same.How many books, or chapters of books, have been written about 1978? How many newspaper and magazine articles? How many documentaries? And yet there's still a buzz about a telling of what went on in Argentina.Ally MacLeod's bravado was of Muhammad Ali proportions.Had the manager been canny and well prepared then Lord knows what this excellent squad might have achieved and what impact on Scottish political history it might have had.His confidence in his team led him to say that he'd cleared a place in his wardrobe for his World Cup winner's medal. He spoke at times about how the World Cup final date would come to be known as National Ally Day.In 1978, Scots roamed across the British football landscape like gods. In the August of 1977, Kenny Dalglish, whose famous goal against Wales helped secure the finals place, had become Britain's most expensive footballer when arriving at Liverpool. Five months later, Gordon McQueen would set a new transfer record when joining Manchester United.Liverpool had just won the European Cup with Alan Hansen, Graeme Souness and Dalglish the spine of the team. Ipswich had just won the FA Cup with John Wark and George Burley. Nottingham Forest had won the First Division title and the League Cup with Kenny Burns, Archie Gemmill, John McGovern and John Robertson. Burns was the player of the year in England. A fine Rangers team had won the domestic treble.And Scotland? In the qualifiers for the '78 World Cup they'd eliminated Czechoslovakia, the reigning champions of Europe.By that summer, MacLeod's squad had in its ranks almost 60 individual medals, from champions of Scotland and England, to Scottish Cup and FA Cup winners, to European Cup, Uefa Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup winners. His group was loaded with quality.The manager was perfectly entitled to think to himself that they might be good enough to win the World Cup. Saying it out loud again and again and again was where his problems started.No research was done on the opposition. A television company offered MacLeod an all expenses paid trip to watch Peru before the tournament, but he turned it down. In qualifying, the Peruvians had topped their section ahead of Chile and had put five goals past Bolivia, who had already knocked out Uruguay, but Scotland's players knew none of this. Peru played Brazil and lost just 1-0.Iran were a poor side but no work was done on how to expose them. That was the ultimate sin. MacLeod was in too much of a rush to get to the final to worry that much about how he intended to get there.With a hugely disappointing one point from two games, a three-goal victory over the formidable Dutch was required.When Archie Gemmill waltzed through to score his second of the game, it put Scotland 3-1 up with 22 minutes remaining in Mendoza. However, a thunderbolt from Johnny Rep soon burst the balloon.The players dispersed and carried on winning trophies by the bundle. The success they had with their clubs just reinforced the gigantic failure they experienced in Argentina.There's a mesmeric quality to this story of '78, a legend of how a man and a country lost the run of itself. The team didn't endure, but the tale of the struggle will live forever.

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Aaron Souttar was the cooler big brother.Young John and younger Harry wanted their hair like his. They bought the same clothes and the same shoes. They copied his music taste.A talented golfer and a lover of football, Aaron also played a significant role in shaping the careers of Harry and John, who will represent Australia and Scotland respectively in the World Cup this summer.He was a role model in every sense, yet still more than that. Aged 18 years older than Harry "he was like a second dad," says the Leicester City defender."I had him on a pedestal. He was the cool one."In July 2022, Harry and John lost their hero. Aaron died at the age of 42 after a long battle with motor neurone disease, but his influence lives on.Inside the fairytale journey of Scotland captain Robertson"I'd always love it," says the 27-year-old, who is eligible for the Socceroos through his Australian-born mum, Heather."Playing and looking at the side and seeing him there, I was always trying to impress him."The hope was for both brothers to be drawn in the same World Cup group, but instead the family will have to split games across the United States and Canada.Aaron's absence will be sorely felt. "He would be over here with his pals in a pub, drinking all day and playing a bit of golf," says Harry.The Leicester defender and fellow centre-back John will each have tattoos of their big brother to remind themselves of the impact he had - and still continues to have.John has endured serious injury trouble throughout a career that has taken him from Dundee United to Rangers via Hearts.When the 29-year-old returned from one lengthy setback and scored his first Scotland goal in a World Cup qualifying victory against Denmark, he dedicated that moment to Aaron as he battled illness."My brother Aaron, he's at home," he said in November 2021. "He couldn't make it tonight, but that was for him because he helped me a lot during my rehab."Even after a period of unimaginable grief that still goes on, Harry - who spent last season on loan at Sheffield United - is able to find a crumb of comfort from a tragic period."When Aaron became ill, it did bring me and John a lot closer together, certainly after his passing as well," he says."Not that me and John were never that close or anything like that, but with me living in England and him playing in Scotland, we didn't really speak a lot."In the wake of tragedy, their bond has become stronger.Texts and calls have now become more frequent, even if it is just to "talk about random things"."The one good thing to come from it, if you could say it's a good thing, would be that it's brought me and John closer," Harry adds.Both brothers kick off their World Cup schedules on Sunday, with Scotland facing Haiti (02:00 BST) directly before Australia take on Turkey (05:00)."It's just great that we're both here," Harry says. "I know John missed out on the Euros a few years ago, which he was absolutely gutted about."I'm absolutely over the moon that he's here. And it's one that the family are all filled with pride with. For me, I'm proud of him as well."Everything you need to know about the World Cup

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Sports editor in Mexico CityPublished52 minutes ago218 Comments"Simply the greatest event that humanity, that mankind, has ever seen".The words of Fifa president Gianni Infantino when hailing this summer's World Cup across the United States of America, Mexico and Canada.Never afraid to hype football's showpiece event, the head of the world governing body has portrayed the first pan-continental version as the most inclusive, welcoming and unifying to date.But many others would choose different superlatives.The most politicised, for instance. And the most expensive. Potentially the hottest, or the most polluting. Certainly the most lucrative for Fifa.Whatever one's perspective, it seems certain that away from the on-field spectacle, this super-sized World Cup could be among the most contentious ever.From controversy over the costs to fans, the impact of geopolitics and immigration policies, to security, extreme weather, sustainability and the role of US President Donald Trump, it inspires trepidation as well as excitement.So what will be the principle issues? How did we get here? And what is at stake?Listen on SoundsAs the eyes of the footballing world focus on Mexico City before Thursday's opening match, the co-hosts provide a vivid snapshot of what makes the next few weeks so compelling and challenging.Here in this footballing hotbed, a city that has provided the tournament with some of its most iconic moments, the legendary Estadio Azteca is ready to make history as the first venue to host the start of three different World Cups.It is a tantalising prospect. But just as in the neighbouring US, where around 75% of the matches will take place, the high cost of tickets has caused concern, as has security in a country that has suffered from major cartel violence this year.World Cup player statues in the capital have been toppled by protesters, with teachers demanding higher wages threatening to disrupt matches if their wishes are not met.Meanwhile, in Tijuana, the presence of the Iran squad is a consequence of the complex political tensions surrounding the sporting action.No other World Cup has been spread over three countries. Nor has it involved as many as 48 teams and 104 matches.But beyond its sheer scale, this tournament is unprecedented in other ways. Never before, for instance, has a host country been at war with a participating nation.Just last month, Fifa confirmed the Iran team had moved its base from Arizona to Mexico, the latest result of the military campaign launched in February, when the US and Israel attacked Iran, sparking retaliatory strikes across the Middle East. While a ceasefire came into effect in early April, strikes between the two sides have continued.In the past few months, confusion has surrounded Iran's participation, with President Trump at one stage warning it was not "appropriate" for the team to participate "for their own life and safety". His special envoy even suggested that Iran should be replaced by four-time winners Italy, who had failed to qualify.Iran now look set to take part in a fourth consecutive World Cup, although the country has accused the US of denying visas to some executives and backroom staff, with an official claiming the players had been told they must enter and leave the US on the same day of their three group matches there. Iran's embassy in Turkey also accused the US of "politically-biased interference in sport".With Fifa reportedly set to ban the pre-revolutionary Iran flag from tournament venues, their games will be politically charged, especially with the first two taking place in Los Angeles, home to a large Persian community.Eight years ago, Fifa awarded the 2026 World Cup to United States, Mexico and Canada as it was trying to recover from the existential corruption scandal sparked by the hugely controversial votes in 2010 for Russia and Qatar to stage the tournament in 2018 and 2022.With both those countries forced to deny allegations of bribery, a World Cup in North America must have seemed much less risky, with stadium infrastructure already in place.The other major attraction was financial. Fuelled by multi-billion dollar broadcasting and sponsorship deals, the expanded tournament in the world's most commercialised sports market will be the most lucrative event in sports history, with Fifa set to make a record $9bn (£6.74bn) this year alone.Such riches will enable it to redistribute $2.7bn to the national football associations over the next four years. That helps the game's global development and will increase the chances of Infantino winning a third re-election next year.But controversy over the way in which much of this money is being generated has defined much of the build-up to the World Cup.Back in 2018, those behind the bid said tickets to the final would cost a maximum of $1,550 (£1,174). However, when they went on sale to members of each country's official supporters' club in December, the most expensive was listed at $8,680 (£6,581).The costs were described as a "monumental betrayal" by a leading supporters' group and Fifa then announced a small number of $60 (£45) tickets. But the pricing strategy, and the first use at a World Cup of 'dynamic pricing' - with fees dependent on demand and timing - sparked a major backlash, along with fears that many of the most passionate and loyal supporters could be priced out.On the official resale platform, fans faced paying vastly inflated prices, with Fifa taking a 30% fee from each ticket sold.Last month, officials in New York and New Jersey officially launched an investigation, with Fifa facing allegations of "artificially inflating prices" and "misleading fans" over ticket sales.Yet BBC Sport has found thousands of tickets for matches involving the smaller nations are available well below face value across both Fifa's own resale site and secondary marketplaces. It has also been accused of dumping inventory it now cannot sell on SeatGeek.There has been dismay at other costs too. Train tickets normally priced at $12.90 (£9.50), from central New York to the nearby Met Life stadium in New Jersey (where the final will be staged) were ramped up to $150 (£111), before being reduced to $98 (£73), with the New Jersey governor blaming Fifa for refusing to subsidise transport expenditure.Mood among fans worsened last week when Fifa said they would not be allowed to take reusable water bottles into venues because of safety concerns, in a late policy change that many believed was down to commercial reasons.With temperatures at 14 of the 16 host venues set to exceed dangerous levels according to researchers, there were fears this bottle ban could put fans' health at risk. Amid a major outcry from supporter groups and politicians, Fifa backed down, permitting fans to take in sealed, disposable water bottles after all."In 1994 the soccer market was very nascent in the US, and today we have thriving professional leagues, and some of the world's great stadiums," US Soccer chief executive JT Batson told BBC Sport. "This summer is an incredible opportunity for us to transform what soccer looks like in America."But according to a recent poll, a majority of people in the US feel it is too expensive, external for the average American to attend a game at the tournament.With a recent survey of hotels revealing that bookings were well below expectations in almost every host city, there is a growing sense that the record costs, along with the political backdrop, has been a deterrent."There will have been a lot of people priced out of it," Thomas Concannon, leader of the Football Supporters' Association England fan group, told BBC Sport. Between 12,000 and 15,000 England fans will be at each of the team's three group matches in Dallas, Boston and New Jersey."It feels like those numbers are a little bit disappointing given the excitement that was building up. We thought there would be more."Back in 2017, during Trump's first term, Infantino had suggested a US travel ban on citizens from six majority-Muslim countries was incompatible with tournament regulations, and could invalidate the country's hopes to host the tournament in 2026."It's obvious when it comes to Fifa competitions, any team, including the supporters and officials of that team, who qualify for a World Cup need to have access to the country, otherwise there is no World Cup," he warned.And yet, as a result of the immigration policies implemented by Trump during his second term in office, there will be four competing countries - Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast - whose fans have faced full or partial travel bans, with the White House referencing a need to manage security threats.In fact, analysis of travel data by the BBC shows that fans from more than a quarter of the 48 countries taking part in the World Cup are facing travel bans, tighter restrictions or high visa rejection rates.It was only last month that visitors from Algeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cape Verde and Tunisia were granted exemptions from having to pay a deposit of up to $15,000 (£11,000) before obtaining a US visa.At the weekend, the International Sports Press Association complained about "a long-standing and unacceptable problem for us journalists - the denial of entry visas to regularly accredited colleagues".And on Monday, Fifa said that Omar Artan, who was set to be the first Somalian to referee at the World Cup finals, had been dropped from the list of officials after he was denied entry to the US. No reason was issued by US immigration authorities, but Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by the Trump administration."This is a tournament where players, fans, and officials are not walking in free of risk, if they can get in at all," according to Craig Foster, a former captain of Australia's 'Socceroos', and now a rights campaigner."For a sport that has trumpeted its commitment to its own human rights policy for a decade now, that is nothing short of disgraceful."This should obliterate the idea, that has still been somewhat prevalent in the world, of a separation between politics and sport. Unlike any other sporting tournament I can recall in modern times, this is a deeply politicised World Cup."Since taking power in 2016, Infantino has regularly cosied up to the leaders of countries hosting his events. But his controversial awarding of a Fifa Peace Prize to Trump at the World Cup draw last year underlined the close relationship he has forged with the US president.Since then, the US has taken military action in Venezuela, Nigeria and Iran, with Trump hinting at possible operations in Greenland, Mexico, and another World Cup participant, Colombia.There have also been tensions between the three co-hosts on trade, immigration and drug-trafficking. Indeed, only last week, the president referred to Canada as "the 51st state", although there are also hopes that the tournament could provide an opportunity for diplomacy.To add to the mix, the US is celebrating the 250th anniversary of America's independence, with Trump expected to take centre stage at the tournament, just as he did at the Club World Cup final last year, and then at the World Cup draw in December.After both Russia and Qatar were accused of exploiting the past two World Cups in a bid to improve their reputations, Human Rights Watch claims this summer's event will be a "bonanza of 'sportswashing"., external Amnesty has also said it risks becoming "a stage for repression",, external highlighting "abusive, discriminatory and deadly immigration enforcement and mass detention in the USA", and warning of "significant risks" to those attending.Much of the scrutiny has centred on the role of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with the agency part of the overall security apparatus for the event. Earlier this year, ICE agents shot and killed two American citizens as part of an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.In response to such criticism, the White House's World Cup Task Force has vowed that the tournament will be "the safest, and most welcoming sporting event in history" and that it was working to deliver an event "that highlights America's hospitality, commitment to security, and spirit of excellence".Just weeks ago, White House officials warned that the reopening of the Department of Homeland Security - responsible for much of the security operation at the tournament - was "essential" after a man was charged with attempting to assassinate Trump at an event in Washington DC.A dispute over funding between members of Congress had led to a long-running partial shutdown of the department. It has now officially ended, but it exposed some of the challenges facing officials."This entire country's police force is leaning in," Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House World Cup Task Force, told ESPN last week., external"It is an unbelievable problem set when I think about what local law enforcement is going to have to do over this 40-day stretch. It is unprecedented. We're going to do everything in our power to make sure that nothing goes wrong."Giuliani said that he and other security planners had been "planning with one hand tied behind our back" due to the shutdown, saying "we are still plugging a few of those holes".As if the task was not challenging enough, authorities must now contend with mounting concerns over the outbreak of Ebola, centred on the Democratic Republic of Congo. The country's team has matches in Houston, Atlanta and Guadalajara.A US State Department spokesperson confirmed that the US was co-ordinating an approach "to protect our citizens, including the millions of visitors, fans, athletes and tourists expected during the Fifa World Cup".Indeed, environmentalists claim it will be "the most climate-damaging" in the event's history, with the high reliance on air travel meaning it will generate more than nine million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent - almost double the average for the past four World Cups.In their original bid book, the three prospective host nations unveiled a preliminary estimate of 3.6m tonnes of CO2e, referencing hopes that it would "establish new standards for environmental sustainability in sport".Just weeks ago, a group of world-leading scientists warned Fifa that its current heat safety measures for the World Cup were "inadequate" and could put players at risk of serious harm.But there is set to be intense scrutiny on the impacts of extreme weather, including the long delays if matches are halted due to electrical storms - Saudi Arabia's warm-up match against Puerto Rico in Texas on 6 June was stopped for nearly two hours - and whether Fifa may be contributing to the problem.Lightning halts pre-World Cup friendly in TexasThe coming weeks will determine if this sporting and commercial phenomenon finally breaks America.Or whether the tournament itself risks being broken by the costs and politics that swirl around it.The stage is set for the sport's biggest stars to shine. But it could also show just how much expansion and inflation the game - and those that follow it - are willing to accept.Everything you need to know about the World Cup

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The rules are simple. Each day there's a new footballer and the challenge is to guess who they are in as few attempts as possible.After each wrong guess you unlock a new clue. But, if you get your answer in as few guesses as possible, you get more points.Three is a good score, four or five points is exceptional.So, take part in quiz number two and return for more tomorrow.Today's player and clues are set by BBC Sport's Joe Rindl.After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device.What information do we collect from this quiz?Related topicsFIFA World Cup 2026FootballPlay more quizzesQuiz: Name every nation at the 2026 World CupCan you name every player with 100 Premier League goals?Can you name the 10 Lionesses with most England caps?