2026 — The Tournament Of A Lifetime

World Cup News

Bayern Munich star set to return for co-hosts Teams set to meet in Vancouver for crucial match Asked how he’s handling the scrutiny of coaching a World Cup co-host – where even apparently insignificant comments can end up in the headlines – Jesse Marsch was quick to flash a grin. “Maybe we’ll get through this one without creating news cycles,” Marsch quipped a day before his Canada team welcome Qatar to Vancouver for a pivotal Group B clash. The teams are level on one point each after the first round of games, leaving the group wide open. Marsch and midfielder Ismaël Koné refused to look beyond Thursday’s match though. Koné pushed back against one reporter’s insinuation that the players are more anonymous in Vancouver than in Toronto, the site of their draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina last week. But training in British Columbia since Monday has allowed Marsch and his men to ease the pressure of being co-hosts. “The bigger the event, there’s going to be more distractions,” Marsch said, “so we’ve tried to minimize that. But at the same time, it’s really difficult to prepare for everything, the madness that surrounds … a World Cup.” Perhaps one injury update has allowed Marsch to breathe a little easier. Alphonso Davies has trained this week and is available to make his debut at this World Cup, at the stadium where he started his club career. Davies, a regular starter at Bayern Munich when healthy, is Canada’s best player. He is also the face of the program, cropping up (along with Jonathan David) whenever Canadian broadcasts hit a commercial break. On the field, Davies will help Canada’s build-up play. He offers an outlet out wide, freeing up space for Koné and Stephen Eustáquio to pull the strings in the middle of the park. While that points to a more proactive approach than Canada managed against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Koné emphasized that the result matters far more than the style – especially for a nation still searching for its first men’s World Cup win. “I think there will be a lot of people who are proud and who will support us,” Koné said. “So we’ll want to make a good game, but first of all, it’s to earn three points. We’re in a tournament, every point is important. So we’re going to go get them. If it goes well, we can try to have fun, but most importantly, for 90 minutes, we will try to make sure we get out of this match with victory.” While they have never faced Canada, Qatar have become familiar to Concacaf nations after participating in the 2021 and 2023 installments of the Gold Cup. That means they’ll be used to the travel across North America – they played their World Cup opener in the San Francisco Bay Area – and won’t be afraid of the physical style that’s often synonymous with Concacaf soccer. Marsch offered plenty of respect to Qatar. Perhaps he was mindful of the media storm he set off last week when he remarked on US players’ attitudes to their national anthem. “Look, whether it’s been coaching in the Premier League, the Champions League, the different countries I’ve worked in, the one thing you get with me is I kind of just answer questions with what I think,” Marsch admitted. “That’s not normal. I understand that in this business, a lot of people watch their words a lot more carefully. I choose to think about the teams that I coach and the players that I work with, and try to represent everything that we want to be at all times.” In general, Marsch said the atmosphere at camp in Vancouver has been “calmer” than the build-up to Canada’s opener. With a historic first point secured, all focus is now on the team reaching the knockout round for the first time at a men’s World Cup. With Davies back and others like Koné and David proven game-changers at this level, all that’s left is the work on the field – with an assist from tens of thousands of supporters. “I know this is a football town, Vancouver,” Marsch said. “We’ve seen it many times before, and we expect this place to be rocking, man. I mean, red everywhere, rocking, supporting these guys, supporting their players, their team, their country. These guys will be ready to perform, and we want to make sure that Qatar feels not just the team but the crowd. So show up, be loud, use the echo in the stadium, and make sure that we have a 12th man.”

World Cup News

The opening night against South Africa was met with mixed feelings but Thursday night’s South Korea clash promises to spark feelgood factor The mood in Mexico City last Thursday night, after a 2-0 win over South Africa in the opening game of the World Cup, was gleeful. Fans crowded around the Angel of Independence, and Calle Río Sena was not merely rammed but carried the smell of urine and spilled beer that tends to characterise mass celebrations. The big roundabout at Insurgentes, where the night before a Beatles tribute act had entertained students, was packed with green shirts. And yet there was a sense that something was missing. This was in Roma Norte, a relatively wealthy area an hour or so north of the Azteca, and it was notable how many of the shirts seemed box-fresh. A significant proportion of those there were Mexicans who lived in the US. A persistent theme over the first few days of the tournament is how the fans who regularly go to Liga MX games have been priced out. A few minutes from the stadium, in a simple bar just off Avenida del Imán, where the tables were upturned barrels and a sweating teenager grilled burritos on a hot plate, the mood was slightly more ambivalent. Couples danced in the street outside, and there was a general sense of relief. After a group-stage exit in 2022, Mexico can at least now be relatively sure of making the last 32. And there was delight for Raúl Jiménez who, in his fourth World Cup, finally scored his first goal. But there were also two gripes. Firstly, and probably most significantly, that it felt an overly Mexican event. For a World Cup, there was not much evidence of the world. Yellow shirts in the stadium were notable for their paucity – which, given cost, perhaps is not surprising. One South African family, who lived in the US, described paying $1,000 each for their tickets. A number of Mexicans have spoken over the past few days of wishing they could have hosted Scotland or the Netherlands, or that Ireland had qualified. There is a desire for that mixing of fan groups that represents the World Cup at its best. Colombia have since begun to offer at least some of that in Mexico City as their fans arrive for the game against Uzbekistan. The big hope, though, is for Thursday night in Guadalajara, where Mexico face South Korea. Fans of the two countries have shared a warm relationship since the 2018 World Cup, when South Korea’s unexpected 2-0 victory over Germany in their final group game put Mexico into the last 16. Amid the celebrations in Mexico City, South Korea’s ambassador was carried shoulder-high along the street in front of the embassy as local fans chanted, “ ¡Coreano, hermano, ya eres mexicano ! ” – “Korean, brother, you are Mexican now!” The chant has been resurrected in Guadalajara, where South Korea beat Czechia 2-1 in their first group game. When a group of Korean fans visited the wrestling, the arena DJ played Gangnam Style to welcome them. Mexican social media has been flooded with videos of Guadalajarans and Koreans performing PSY’s horse dance together. The other concern surrounds how Mexico played. Their early dominance against a weirdly passive South Africa perhaps created unjustified expectation, but in the 17 minutes between Sphephelo Sithole’s red card and the second goal there was booing from the stands. It was not universal, by any means, but it was discernible, stemming from a longer-term frustration at Javier Aguirre’s perceived negativity. One change will be forced on Aguirre with the captain César Montes suspended after his late red card in the opener. Edson Álvarez, who spent last season on loan at Fenerbahce from West Ham, looks likely to replace him in the heart of the back four. But there could be two other changes, with Jorge Sánchez seemingly set to come in for Israel Reyes at right-back and the 17-year-old Gil Mora, who came off the bench against South Africa, perhaps replacing Brian Gutiérrez at the front of the midfield. A final training session in Mexico City on grass that, at Aguirre’s insistence, replicates the turf in Guadalajara was interrupted by a storm, meaning the squad was delayed in setting off for the flight to Guadalajara on Tuesday. About a dozen fans turned out to see them off. One of them, María Isabel Castro, clutched a homemade sign reading: “Effort and courage, always forward, may God always watch over and protect you.” She felt Mexico had been insufficiently “brave” against South Africa and was frustrated that Aguirre had insisted on closed training, accusing him of shutting out fans who cannot afford tickets. Much of the buildup to the opening game centred on protests from a wide cross-section of society, from teachers to retired judges to the families of Mexico’s 134,000 disappeared, and the possible disruption that might cause, and there was also anxiety about how Mexico might perform. The buildup to their second game, though, has tended to focus on the party most seem to be expecting in Guadalajara. Working from home has been mandated, and schools closed in both Mexico City and Guadalajara. It feels as though for many in Mexico, last Thursday was a ceremonial occasion and this Thursday is when the World Cup really begins.

World Cup News

⚽️ Kick-off: 3pm local time/4pm EDT/9pm BST/6am AEST ⚽️ Player guide | Bracketology | Golden Boot | Email Scott It’s day seven of the 2026 World Cup, and finally England are on their way. They are Tom’s 26. Hear the roar, of the red, white and … ah who remembers that cheesy old song anyway? Point is, after an interminable wait, England are at long last getting down to business. Whether they’d have hand-picked Croatia as their first opponents is a moot point. On the one hand, England are a young and vibrant team, the sap rising, while most of Croatia’s first choice are in their 30s and their captain and talisman Luka Modric is now into his fifth decade. But on the other, this is a team that reached the final in 2018 and the semis last time round, and all of that Croatian experience has got to count for something. Continue reading...

World Cup News

US House leader Jeffries says fees have been waived ‘No mother should miss the chance to watch their child’ Goalkeeper fueled shock goalless draw with Spain The mother of Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha will be able to receive a visa to enter the United States and watch her son play at the World Cup after cost issues prevented her from attending their historic draw against Spain earlier this week, US House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries announced Wednesday. Cape Verde was named by the US government on a list of countries whose citizens must post a returnable bond of $15,000 (£11,200) to travel to the United States, in addition to a visa fee. The Trump administration last month dropped the requirement for World Cup ticket holders, but by that point the high costs had ruled out the trip for Ana Candida Evora, the mother of Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper. Jeffries said Wednesday that the visa fees have been waived and Evora will be able to attend Cape Verde’s next match against Uruguay on Sunday in Miami. He thanked Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, and the state department for their efforts. “Cape Verdeans in America and throughout the diaspora have been celebrating the underdog grit and resilience of the Blue Sharks, joined by soccer fans from nations throughout the globe,” Jeffries said in a statement. “That joy was tempered a bit when Vozinha tearfully revealed that his own mother was unable to watch her son’s iconic performance in person due to visa complications. No mother should miss the chance to see her child make history. “Upon learning of this development, I spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and asked the State Department to do everything in their power to ensure that his mother can attend Cabo Verde’s next match. It is a privilege to announce that Vozinha’s mom will be able to secure a visa in time to attend their game this Sunday against Uruguay. All fees have been waived consistent with official policy. Travel arrangements are now being made for mother and son to reunite in Miami. I thank Secretary Rubio, US State Department officials, the government of Cabo Verde and Fifa for working together to make this possible.” Vozinha, 40, is Cape Verde’s most beloved footballer and has been their starting goalkeeper for 13 years. He has been a breakout star of this World Cup, helping to earn his country’s first-ever point and accumulating millions of new followers on social media. “I cried because I grew up with my grandparents and unfortunately they were not here; they died a few years ago,” he said after Monday’s result. “They were everything for me, for my life. I also cried because my mum didn’t manage to be here because of the visa. Because of the money we had to pay for the visa, we didn’t manage to [get it done] on time. I would like her to be here, but I’m also very happy. “I have worked my whole life for this moment. I’m 40 years old. I started playing football professionally when I was 25, in 2012. I thought about leaving but I continued because of this dream. This is for everyone. I was named man of the match but this is for all of my teammates because without them nothing would be possible. I will continue to work for Cape Verde and for the people.” Evora, a 59-year-old house cleaner, told Reuters that she watched the match from home in São Vicente, one of Cape Verde’s 10 main islands. “I said that no ball would enter his goal, and that is exactly what happened,” she said. “He is a great goalkeeper. I am very proud to be Vozinha’s mother, and I hope ​he continues to save every ball that comes his way.”

World Cup News

Australia lean into their underdog status while fans and media build hype around highly anticipated Group D match The poisoned words have added sizzle to the Socceroos’ clash against the USA, and underlined the Australians’ belief in their status as underdogs. Commentators have described the Socceroos as a “lay up” for the Americans. That they don’t have any good players. That they are nothing but an average team with a “smug” coach. USA midfielder Sebastian Berhalter – even as some teammates took a more conciliatory tone on Wednesday – chose to continue the war of words: “I think one [of this team’s core beliefs] is that we’re American. We don’t take shit.” It was a surprisingly aggressive contribution to the escalating hype around the match which has not often been respectful. Socceroos defender Alessandro Circati offered a simple reply to Berhalter later in the day. “I’ve got no response to that,” he said. “I mean, we don’t take it [shit] either. We’re just out there to play a game of football, to win, and to do our best.” The slandering began late last year when the USA were drawn against Australia. Former professional player and now TV pundit Mike Grella said the Socceroos represented a “lay-up” for the hosts. Grella addressed the backlash to his comments on Wednesday: “I’ve got tell you something, I don’t think they’ve ever been more united as a football side. If they do something in this tournament – which they won’t – if they do something in this tournament, they should make a statue of me there in Australia, because I’ve unified an entire country.” The barbs didn’t stop with him. Former USA player Landon Donovan also dismissed the Socceroos’ chances after the draw, and took aim at Australia’s “smug” coach. “You can get on the Qantas airplane and head back home,” he said. Circati, asked to offer his own adjective on Wednesday to describe Popovic, used the word “smart”. “He doesn’t let these things get to him,” the defender said. “People spoke probably about him before Turkey … and he sort of just shut them all up because we got a result.” The team have also been targeted by Alexi Lalas, another former USA player, who described the Socceroos as “average”. He doubled down, encouraging the Australians to use his words as motivation. “I hope that they print it out,” he said. “Make sure you spell my name correctly. I hope that it’s wallpaper all around the Australian dressing room, because they’re going to need all the help they can get.” Australian fans and media jumped on the comments, inflaming tensions ahead of an already a highly anticipated clash which is likely to decide the winner of Group D. Harry Kewell even weighed in, claiming he hadn’t heard of Grella even though the American had a brief stint at Kewell’s former club Leeds. Former Australian rugby league player Josh Mansour asked Socceroos goalkeeper Maty Ryan about the vitriol on his podcast two weeks ago. Ryan’s response was seen as controversial, even if it was offered half in jest. “I’ve heard there’s been some Americans saying comments and to be honest I have a chuckle to myself because actions speak louder than words and I try to let my football do the talking,” he said, adding he was confident Australia could beat the hosts. “Ain’t no C-word scoring against me.” Strictly speaking, the goalkeeper may have been right, given he lost his place to Patrick Beach. But the contributions from Ryan and Berhalter are the exception, as the players appear to be going out of their way to avoid giving their opponents any additional motivation. USA midfielder Tim Weah said the rhetoric from TV pundits was “nonsense” and the Australian team “has a lot of fight, a lot of grit, and a lot of hunger, just like us”. His teammate Tyler Adams addressed Grella’s comment specifically: “It’s not going to be a lay-up. If anything, it’s going to be one of the most difficult games we play.” Circati and USA winger Christian Pulisic are friends – both playing in Serie A. “I know him very well and I think he’s a great player,” the Australian said. “His season has been a little bit stop and start, but keeping that aside, I think he’s phenomenal.” The negativity towards the Socceroos has mostly been confected by broadcasters and commentators with incentives to inflame in the polarised age of social media. But there is no doubt the Socceroos go into the match as underdogs, despite their impressive victory over Turkey. The USA have three highly rated Premier League players in midfielder Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), defender Chris Richards (Crystal Palace) and fullback Antonee Robinson (Fulham) – while the Socceroos have none. Pulisic is at AC Milan, with teammates playing in Germany’s Bundesliga and France’s Ligue 1. By comparison, the only Australian at a top-division European club is Ryan, and he just lost his job as No 1 goalkeeper to Beach. After his heroics against Turkey, Beach said that whatever people say, the Socceroos know they are outsiders and that is motivation enough. “They are a great opposition, they’ve got great players, and we just don’t worry about that stuff,” he said. “We know we’re the underdogs in the minds of a lot of other people and a lot of teams, and we’re happy with that.”

World Cup News

The durable core of Croatia's side continues to defy the ageing process. Their third place at the 2022 World Cup followed on from being runners-up four years earlier. Six players remain from the 2018 tournament, in which they beat England in the semi-finals, with the majority of the regular midfielders and forwards now well into their 30s. Ranked 11th in the world, Croatia will once more provide a stern test for England in Wednesday's Group L opener. BBC Sport takes a look at five key players England need to watch out for. Club: Tottenham Hotspur Age: 19 Position: Defender Caps: 5 Goals: 1 The 6ft 4in teenager greatly enhanced his reputation on loan in Germany in 2025-26 as promoted Hamburg finished 13th. Vuskovic was shortlisted for both the Bundesliga player of the season and rookie of the season awards, as voted for by fans, clubs and selected media. He could be the main beneficiary if Croatia play with a three-man defence - his four starts for his country prior to the World Cup all came in the middle of a back three and he scored in the March friendly win over Colombia. Head coach Zlatko Dalic said in April that Vuskovic "will be one of the pillars of our national team for the next 10 years". Gvardiol only returned on 13 May after a four-month absence caused by a fractured shinbone in his right leg during a Premier League draw against Chelsea. He started all 14 of Croatia's games across the past three major tournaments, with their opening Euro 2020 defeat by England marking his first start for the national side. It made him Croatia's youngest ever player in a major tournament, aged 19. Gvardiol was hailed as "the best centre-back in the world" by Croatia's head coach Zlatko Dalic during the 2022 World Cup. He played every minute for Croatia in Qatar and gave them the lead with a diving header in the third-place play-off victory over Morocco. He will likely play in central defence if Croatia opt for a back three or else at left-back in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Club: AC Milan Age: 40 Position: Midfielder Caps: 198 Goals: 29 Croatia's captain and talisman has recovered from a fractured cheekbone on 26 April to stay on course for his 200th cap this summer. Modric, the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner, is yet to decide on his future following AC Milan's failure to qualify for the Champions League. He was heavily relied on to dictate the team's tempo in 2025-26 and played his most league minutes (2,788) in a season since 2010-11 with Spurs. A glorious 13 years at Real Madrid began ignominiously when he was voted 'worst signing of 2012' in a poll by Madrid-based sports daily Marca. But Modric more than proved his worth - claiming 28 trophies, including six Champions Leagues and four La Liga titles at Real. Club: Inter Milan Age: 22 Position: Midfielder Caps: 17 Goals: 1 An emerging force, Sucic has won the domestic double in his first season in Italy and become a regular in central midfield for Croatia. He made six starts in World Cup qualifying - five in a box-to-box role and one in an advanced position at home to the Faroe Islands when Croatia switched to a 3-4-2-1 system. Renowned former Croatia international Robert Prosinecki said of him last summer: "Inter has found a player who can cover every midfield role, and I'm sure Sucic will become a pillar of the new era." He was born in Bosnia to Croatian parents and spent his childhood on the family farm there in a small village, helping to milk the cows in the mornings. Cousin Luka Sucic, who plays for Real Sociedad, is also part of Croatia's World Cup squad. Club: Hoffenheim Age: 34 Position: Forward Caps: 116 Goals: 36 The evergreen attacker is the third-highest goalscorer in Croatia's history, two behind Ivan Perisic and nine off Davor Suker's record prior to the World Cup. He scored six goals in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, aided by finally playing regularly in his preferred position behind the striker after years of spearheading the attack or playing out wide. Leicester City's one-time £9.7m record signing started all seven of Croatia's World Cup games in 2022, scoring twice in a group win against Canada. Kramaric scored 15 goals for Hoffenheim in 2025-26. He has spent a decade at the German club and is their all-time top scorer with 158 goals. Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions. We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do. The team will find out everything you need to know and be able to call upon a network of contacts including our experts and pundits. We will be answering your questions from the heart of the BBC Sport newsroom, and going behind the scenes at some of the world's biggest sporting events. Our coverage will span the BBC Sport website, app, social media and YouTube accounts, plus BBC TV and radio.

World Cup News

The Americans have the advantages on paper, but the Socceroos’ strengths are in their defensive organization and the power of the unknown It is the showdown to determine the world’s best “soccer”-playing nation: the much-anticipated Group D clash between two countries in which football has more than one meaning. Neither will be distracted by nomenclature, however, when the United States run out against Australia in Seattle on Friday in a contest set to captivate both sides of the Pacific. The hosts are ranked higher than the Australians and have an internationally renowned manager. They have greater depth of talent and will enjoy home support. The Socceroos entered the tournament widely tipped to finish bottom of the group stage, but their shock 2-0 victory over Turkey has flipped expectations and made this a showdown for Group D’s winner. It goes without saying now, but for the USMNT this fixture is no “layup”, as one American television pundit had put it, turning to a basketball analogy. Nor is it a penalty kick, a tap-in or a simple finish. The task ahead of Mauricio Pochettino’s side is more like a corner kick. Yes, the situation is looking promising – any side would prefer to have a corner than defend one. Just don’t sleep on the counterattack. One need only look back to last October and see a recipe for a Socceroos victory. In a friendly between the sides in Colorado, Australian left wing-back Jordan Bos scored the opener out of nothing. A throw-in led to one bobble then two amid uncertain defending before Bos slotted home to stun the home fans. It was the visitors’ only shot on goal in the first half in a performance founded on their now-customary conservative play. Bos looms as the main threat for the Socceroos at this World Cup. The 23-year-old is in the conversation as the best left-back in the Dutch Eredivisie, where he helped Feyenoord to second place behind PSV. With a similar posture to Gareth Bale, he is well suited to the 3-4-2-1 system preferred by Australian coach Tony Popovic. The setup is founded on defensive organization, with three central defenders and two holding midfielders. Bos, on the left sideline, is given license to attack past Australia’s inverted wingers. His deep starting position and pace will be a key counterattacking outlet, and his jink against Turkey that left Kerem Aktürkoğlu sliding on the Vancouver turf perfectly illustrated his confidence. In USMNT right-wing-back Sergiño Dest, however, the Americans have a man well-placed to curb Bos’s threat. Dest’s PSV beat Bos’s Feyenoord twice last season on the way to the Eredivisie title, and the American knows Bos’s tendencies as well as anyone. As if to make the point, Dest was injured for the October friendly where Bos ran rampant. The USMNT recovered in that match to win 2-1, thanks to two goals from Haji Wright. The first came from a neat through-ball by Cristian Roldan, who pierced the Socceroos’ mid-to-low block to find Wright. For the second, a quick free-kick to Wright in behind caught out Australian defender Cam Burgess. Australia will be better prepared for both of these situations, and likely to be far less generous in Seattle. In the Colorado friendly, as dominant as the USMNT may have been – the home side enjoyed almost two-thirds of possession – the result was uncertain to the end. Australian forward Nestory Irankunda came close to equalizing in the 89th minute. He outmuscled Miles Robinson, leaving the defender on the turf, produced two stepovers in the area then hammered a low shot that was well saved by Matt Freese. Irakunda had a promising if uneven campaign for Watford in the Championship, scoring four goals. In a friendly for Australia against Curaçao in March, he scored two in just 23 minutes. A confidence player, one of droughts and storms, the 20-year-old showed his threat against Turkey by scoring the opener – a blink-and-you-missed-it counterattack made possible by his pace. That unpredictability and power of the unknown may be Australia’s biggest weapon. Mo Touré, 22, is set to lead the line, and the incisive striker is only just finding his potential. He starred for Norwich after a January move, with nine goals in 11 matches in the Championship. If the recent emergence of Touré and his close friend Irankunda hasn’t made life hard for USMNT staff trying to prepare for the Socceroos, two last-minute selection surprises surely have. The Socceroos called in two forwards just before the tournament who may yet become X-factors even if they are to demonstrate their potential in yellow. Cristian Volpato is a left-footed right winger who plays for Sassuolo in Serie A. The former Italy youth international was born and grew up in Australia, and changed his allegiance days before the squad deadline last month. He has only played one half for Australia – in the warm-up match against Switzerland – but is known for his ball control and delivery. Tete Yengi is a striker who stands 6ft 6in, and has had a promising year for Machida Zelvia in Japan. He scored on his debut against Switzerland and played the last 20 minutes against Turkey. Alongside Yengi, Australia’s towering captain Harry Souttar and perhaps back-up Lucas Herrington – the 18-year-old Colorado Rapids player who has only arrived on the national scene this year – will pose a threat at set pieces. Aside from Chris Richards, central defense and goalkeeper are positions of weakness for the Americans, a fact that won’t have been missed by Popovic, himself a former Socceroos center-back.

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Iranian support in LA included supporters of past and present regimes, and opponents of both, but a match that captivated all could not dissolve troubles Soccer unites. This is what we are told. It swoops in, majestic in the players’ grace, and gives a people – any people – a thing to rally around in good times and bad. And it’s true, that does happen on occasion. But other times, as in Monday’s 2-2 draw between Iran and New Zealand here in southern California, the magic of this ridiculously simple game lies in its power to make one, or several, or several thousand, forget. Before the game, Iranian people worldwide had been divided by decades of political and cultural difficulty and the Iran team were hamstrung by interrupted preparations for what should be the pinnacle of any players’ career. After the final whistle, those same divisions and problems still existed. Perhaps, in some cases, they had become worse. But then there were those glorious intervening minutes, featuring four goals and numerous big chances, crunching tackles and passionate play in front of a heaving, heavily partisan crowd in the city with the largest Iranian expat population in the United States. You got the sense that most within the stadium’s confines, to say nothing of the millions watching elsewhere, were given a welcome dose of temporary amnesia. Several hours before that point, though, those deep and bitter divisions running through the country’s diaspora were obvious around the perimeter of the stadium. In their shirts and accessories, fans heading inside declared which Iran they were there to support. Did they don the lion and sun flag, closely associated with the shah, or the modern version, with a stylized “Allah” written in script in the middle? Or did they do neither, obscuring the central element one way or another, writing over it, or simply choosing a clothing item that omitted the flag in favour of more neutral imagery? All could be seen in numbers. A protester with a megaphone outside a western entrance spent hours telling passersby that the Iranian team was an instrument of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, that they represented terrorists. On the east side, a larger group, reportedly numbering about 200 or so, shouted similar slogans at those entering. Behind them flew lion-and-sun Iran flags from pre-revolution times, with one adorned with “MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN”. Others nearby flew a combined US/Israel flag. There were arguments between people and some small scuffles were captured on phones. That geopolitical conflict made buildup to the match more fraught than perhaps any other in World Cup history. Iran had planned to train for the tournament in Tucson, Arizona before group games in Los Angeles and Seattle. The outbreak of hostilities threw the country’s very participation in the tournament into doubt. Iran changed their training plan’s viability once it was determined they would play on. After a hasty switch to set-up camp in Tijuana, Mexico, 15 members of Iran’s delegation were then denied visas to enter the United States. That number was reduced to 11 before their opening game, but still included their entire media relations staff, some analysts, and federation president, Mehdi Taj. US officials said the visas were denied to ensure the Iranian team did not “sneak terrorists into the United States”. “This kind of tension undermines that joy [of a World Cup],” said the striker and captain Mehdi Taremi. “This World Cup could have provided a better atmosphere than it has.” But then the stadium filled and soon provided among the best atmospheres of the tournament. While boos and jeers during Iran’s national anthem were loud enough to obscure the audio track as players sang along, there was no such conflict when Ramin Rezaiean scored Iran’s opening goal. It elicited a single cacophonous roar, trailing for several minutes after the strike and raising the intensity level considerably. It was the first of two huge moments in a man-of-the-match performance for Rezaiean, who can now be considered something of a World Cup hero for the country, having scored the game-sealing goal in 2022’s group-stage win against Wales. Afterwards, the questions were about what came before – the anthem, the booing and how Rezaiean felt. “Everyone in the world now knows about my people,” he said. “If there is any problem between us? This is our business, is none of your business. I respect you, but this is something between us, and we’re going to settle it.” With just hours to go before the match, a local court upheld Fifa’s ban on displaying Iran’s pre-revolutionary flag at the game. Videos on social media showed a few instances of stadium security confiscating lion-and-sun insignias, but they remained numerous and obvious. In pockets of the crowd, some were waved after each of New Zealand’s two well-taken goals. But the vast majority, including some of those same pockets, waved them in the air exuberantly after goals; Mohammad Mohebi’s well-placed header off a pinpoint Rezaiean cross to equalize for the second time in the 64th minute set off wild celebrations on the field. “We are enjoying [celebrating goals], just like since we were six years old, seven years old, 10 years old,” Taremi said. “We just follow the football, and we’re always looking for the football, which is so important for us, more than everything. When you score, when your team scores, you celebrate, and it’s a lot of joy, and we want to bring this joy for our supporters too.” Despite a game that had provided joy for large portions, Taremi’s thoughts were elsewhere. There in the locker room was the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, telling them they had performed well, and reminding them that their circumstances had been difficult. Then another reality check: the team was told that instead of staying in Los Angeles that night, as they expected, they would be heading back to Tijuana in a matter of hours. “They are making the situation more and more difficult, more hurdles, but we’re not going to let that stop us from doing our best,” the head coach, Amir Ghalenoei said. “Everything is like disaster for us,” said Taremi. Iran has continued to thrive despite periods of political and cultural unrest at home and sanctions damaging the economy from abroad. They have qualified for four consecutive World Cups, usually with some comfort. But on the big stage, often, they have wilted, or fallen so agonizingly short of a first appearance in the knockout round. Monday’s game offered the best chance they have had to put that run behind them. Three points would have given them a solid foothold for a spot as one of the eight best third-place teams. On Monday, Iran indulged in that hope and allowed others to forget anything else.

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From Zagreb to Wembley and Moscow, the Croatia great has derailed the Three Lions on many occasions. Now he’s ready for one last dance in Dallas When Luka Modric first played against England, Tony Blair was still in office. Arsenal had just moved from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium, Italy were newly crowned world champions and Pep Guardiola retired as a player after a six-month spell in Mexico with Dorados. Twitter was less than three months old and Facebook had been made fully public earlier that year. Amy Winehouse’s album Back to Black was about to be released, while the much-hyped film Borat was coming to cinemas. At the very moment that Gary Neville sent a backpass to Paul Robinson, Borat’s image appeared on Maksimir Stadium’s advertising boards; the ball bounced awkwardly on the edge of the six-yard box, the England keeper missed it and it went into the net with Sacha Baron Cohen’s grin and moustache in the background, adding to England’s misery. For Modric, who played the whole match that Croatia won 2-0, that was already his 11th cap; his first came that year in a friendly in which Lionel Messi scored his debut goal for Argentina. And so beckoned the Modric era for Croatia, without anyone being aware of it. The young midfielder did not quite have a key role in the team just yet – he would assume it years later – but, in retrospect, the win marked the beginning of a long process that would transform the national team of a tiny country into one of the most successful in the world. It really is an era, because there is no Modric generation; the players have come and gone, with only himself remaining as a constant, like a traveller who intervenes in the past and in the future, defying the linear nature of time. At some point – and no one can tell when it was exactly any more as it seems to keep changing – he made the team his own, not only through his leadership but also in terms of his indestructible never-say-die mentality. At the past two World Cups combined, Croatia won no less than seven knockout round games without beating or even outplaying anyone in 90 minutes before succumbing to the eventual winners on both occasions. England played an important role in building the team over the course of that era. Since that first match in October 2006, they played eight more times; there were wins, losses and draws, with Modric missing only one, due to a broken fibula – the 5-1 defeat at the hands of Fabio Capello’s team in 2009 – but two of those were key. A year after the surreal Borat incident, there was the infamous “wally with a brolly” game at Wembley. Croatia had already qualified for the Euros and had nothing to play for, while England needed only a draw to do the same. But the visitors, led by Slaven Bilic, proceeded to beat them only because they could and that win soon became legendary as it psychologically shaped the team, giving them a massive confidence boost. Croatia performed well at the tournament, but it still lacked the Modric mentality. Maybe Modric, who agreed to a transfer from Dinamo Zagreb to Tottenham before the Euros, lacked it himself back then. Croatia stormed through the group with three wins but they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Turkey in the most shocking of ways, taking the lead after 119 minutes only to concede a last-moment equaliser and lose on penalties, with Modric missing. The other important game was the 2018 World Cup semi-final, when Croatia overturned an early England lead to beat them in extra-time at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow to reach the final against France. Modric didn’t seem to have a key role in that match either but, by that time, he was already a decorated leader who had carried the team through years of ill-advised coaching appointments and bitter underachievement. In Russia, Croatia were managed by Zlatko Dalic, who was the first national team coach to really connect with Modric. Now, almost 20 years after they first met, the 40-year-old playmaker is ready to face England again. It will be his 199th appearance for his country. On the surface, he’s not what he once was and neither are Croatia. If the World Cup warm-up defeat by Belgium was any indication – and they were specifically chosen as preparation for Thomas Tuchel’s team – Croatia will play a back three and sacrifice their own attacking capacity for defensive stability. But they look likely to struggle with England’s speed and energy. Modric will be 41 in September. He won’t say it, but he is likely to retire after the World Cup. Can he inspire his team to provide one more knockout blow to England in Dallas? With his history against the Three Lions – and his pedigree – no one will bet against him.

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Assistant coach Hayden Foxe backs Socceroos to handle match hype Australia meet co-hosts on Friday after both won Group D openers Australia’s players are mature ⁠enough to handle the ⁠hype ahead of ​their high-profile World Cup match against co-hosts the United States and do not need staff to tell them to get off ⁠social media, assistant coach Hayden Foxe has said. The Socceroos meet the USA in Seattle on Friday, with both sides pumped up by home media and ⁠football pundits after winning their Group D openers against Turkey and Paraguay respectively. Several US commentators ​have written off Australia as a problem ‌for the co-hosts, including ‌former centre back Alexi Lalas who judged them an “average team by any measure” in his ‌pre-tournament rankings of the 48 participating nations. Foxe said there was no need to shield Australia’s players from the outside noise. “We can’t baby them. They’re their own selves, we want them to be their own selves,” the former Socceroos centre-back said. “Social media’s out there, they’re aware of media and the comments and what’s being said. “But we’re ‌concentrated on us. They’re old enough and mature enough to understand what gets said and what doesn’t get said.” Australia, who have never got past ​the round of 16, enjoyed a dream start in upsetting Turkey 2-0 with classy goals by livewire attacker Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe. Irankunda said Australia’s players were fired up by Turkey captain Hakan Calhanoglu describing his team as more talented than the Socceroos. “It did piss off a few ⁠boys, but at the end of the day, these guys can talk ​all the shit ... we ​don’t really care,” he said. Metcalfe ​said Tony Popovic-coached Australia would go into the US match “full of energy, ​full of confidence”. Foxe warned ‌his players not ​to get too ​carried away, though, reminding how everyone got excited at Qatar 2022 when Saudi Arabia upset eventual champions Argentina only to crash out of the group. “Fantastic win against Turkey. Memorable, great. Enjoy that moment,” he said. “Now that’s gone. Now we move on to the US.”

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ShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleGeorge Carden,in Gatwick AirportandJoshua Askew,South EastEngland fans heading to the World Cup have said they cannot wait to watch the football. Waiting for a flight at Gatwick Airport to the US, Andrew and Kelly and their 10-year-old son Christian told the BBC they thought the Three Lions would do "really well". "I hope they bring it home," said Christian. The family, from Stockport, will spend a week in Las Vegas and then watch the England-Ghana game in Boston on 23 June. "It's going to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip, especially as I am bringing my son with me," said Andrew. "It does not matter how much the cost is as long as we enjoy it." Emeline, from Corby, said she was "over the moon" to be heading to the World Cup with her family. Matches are being played in the US, Mexico and Canada. "It's been on my bucket list for the last 30 years to watch an England game," she said. "I am very happy we get to enjoy this as a family," added her husband Norbert. Also speaking to BBC Radio Sussex at Gatwick Airport, the trio said they would be watching England's match against Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday. "I think England have a really strong squad this year," said Emeline. "But I have been saying that for years." "It has been 60 years of hurting," she added. However, Emeline's daughter Savannah said she was most excited about the food. "America has so many things I have wanted to try since I was little," she said. "I have been dying to go to Target since I was eight." George Dolce, a US citizen who studies in the UK, said he had just returned from watching a match in his home country. "It was amazing," he told BBC Radio Sussex. "The crowd was electric. "It was like nothing I have ever seen." Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook , X , and Instagram and listen to BBC Radio Sussex on Sounds . Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.

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If you live in one of the 16 cities in Mexico, Canada and the US hosting games, we would be delighted to hear from you The game between Mexico and South Africa on Thursday kicked off the biggest World Cup in history: 48 teams playing 104 matches over 39 days in 16 host cities. If you live in one of those cities, we want to hear from you. How’s it going so far? This is a diverse tournament, with a different feel and vibe across the various countries and venues. With that in mind, we want to know what the mood is like in your home city during the tournament, as part of our My World Cup series. Is there a buzz? How are businesses faring with an influx of fans from around the world? Is the mood one of excitement, exhaustion, apathy or anxiety that the sporting action will be overshadowed by geopolitics? Whether you are a diehard fan, a casual observer, a business owner or someone who wants to avoid the whole thing, let us know what the atmosphere is like in your city as the matches begin. We’d really appreciate your submissions and it would be helpful to know whether you would feel comfortable sending us short videos during the World Cup too. The full list of host cities is: Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey; Toronto and Vancouver; and Seattle, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Atlanta, Miami, Boston, Philadelphia and New York/New Jersey. If you’re having trouble using the form, click here.