Making the World Cup can have that kind of power for a small or troubled country. The Haitian flag will fly with those of some the world's most powerful nations. Haiti's citizens, however, will not be able to travel to the United States to cheer them on, a reality that stings for Haitians at home and in the diaspora. Haitians, like citizens from Senegal, Ivory Coast and Iran, face almost a complete travel ban under Trump Administration policy.
Misfortune struck Marc-Andre Ter Stegen when he suffered a tear in his left hamstring only days after joining Girona on loan from FC Barcelona in the January transfer window. The 33-year-old goalkeeper underwent surgery to treat the problem in Finland and is now staring at a lengthy spell out on the sidelines. Reports suggest that Ter Stegen could be out for at least three months, making it unlikely that he will play much this season.
The best thing that can be said about James Rodríguez signing with Minnesota United is that it's a low-risk deal for both sides. That speaks volumes about both the positives and the negatives of what is clearly a marriage of convenience. Rodríguez, 34, has signed a six-month contract with the Loons, with a club option to finish the 2026 season in the Twin Cities. Both sides appear to be getting what they need.
Calls are growing for European countries to boycott the 2026 FIFA World Cup later this year in opposition to President Donald Trump, as many of the games are set to take place in the United States. The World Cup will be held in multiple locations across three countries in North America (Mexico, Canada, and the U.S.), with most games happening in the U.S. Many fans are concerned about traveling to the U.S., noting not only the high ticket and travel costs, but also difficulties getting travel visas due to Trump's immigration policies and the invasive surveillance measures his administration is implementing against people entering the country.
Here's what matters: whether Argentina's premium justifies costs, how Kansas City's limited public transit affects logistics, what BBQ actually tastes like when prepared correctly, and whether geographic centrality creates advantages or just sounds good in marketing copy. This guide will walk you through the city and stadium essentials, in an effort to make it easier for any fans planning to get the tickets for the Kansas City matches.
When the 2026 FIFA World Cup arrives in North America, it will be one of the largest travel moments in modern history. The expanded 48-team tournament will bring matches to cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico -and with them, millions of international fans booking flights, reserving hotel rooms, and building itineraries around match days. For the US, that translates to a massive tourism surge: millions of visitors converging on 11 cities from New York and Miami to Los Angeles and Seattle.
Since returning to the White House for his second term, Trump has signed several executive orders that have sought to strip and crackdown on the rights of LGBTQ+ people, specifically trans folks. These orders have included proclaiming the official policy of the US is that there are "only two sexes", banning transgender people from serving in the military, restricting gender-affirming healthcare for trans youngsters under the age 19 and barring trans women and girls from female sports.
In an interview with the Hamburger Post (via welt.de), Göttlich was asked if he was calling for a boycott, after having previously questioned in a social media post whether European national teams should participate in a tournament hosted by a country "that is indirectly and possibly soon directly attacking Europe." To this, Göttlich aswered that it was time to "think about it and talk about it concretely."
The live UK broadcast selections for the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been announced. There will be matches every day for 17 days from the opening game of the tournament between Mexico and South Africa. The finals are being staged by three different nations for the first time, taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
In all honesty, between round-of-16 appearances against eventual champions Italy and Argentina, the drought-breaking win over Japan in 2006, the knockout-stage-securing win over Croatia in that same tournament, or group-stage games against defending champions such as France and Spain, it would struggle to break into the top 10. But when Tony Popovic's side run out to face the Americans in Seattle on June 19, it might just be one of the most hyped games that the Socceroos have ever played.
He left in the summer of 2021 for a second spell in charge at Real Madrid but says he still has fond memories of being Everton manager. Speaking to TNT Sports, Ancelotti said: "I loved the period at Everton. "It was a difficult period because it was COVID there but I have a good memory of the environment there and I'm looking always to the result of Everton."
Next summer's tournament, which will kick off June 11 in Mexico City with Mexico facing South Africa, will be the largest, most complex single-sport competition in history, with 48 teams playing 104 games across three countries before the July 19 final in East Rutherford, N.J. It will also be the first World Cup to be played in the U.S. in 32 years. And for the players, that means everything.
Panama, I don't know much about Panama at the moment but we will find out about it before the tournament starts, of course. For me, I'm only experienced group football in Champions League formats and the way to approach it was to always give it the biggest respect and to put all the focus into winning the group. It always seems difficult like our group now but we are confident and we will be well prepared when we arrive.
Germany's opponents at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be Ecuador, Ivory Coast, and Curaçao. Germany have only played Ecuador once, in the 2006 World Cup that they hosted. The hosts won 3-0 in Berlin, with Bayern alumni Miroslav Klose (twice) and Lukas Podolski scoring the goals. As for Ivory Coast, Germany have also only faced them once, a 2-2 friendly draw in 2009.
On this snowy Friday morning in DC, the 48 teams participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be split up into opposing pairs at a Kennedy Center bash that will host Donald Trump, Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian prime minister Mark Carney. The event taking over DC's beleaguered performing arts center is a big production: in addition to the world leaders whose nations will host World Cup matches next year, the event will feature performers including Kevin Hart, Andrea Bocelli, Nicole Scherzinger, and Trump's favorite, the Village People.
It's time! The eyes and fate of several nations will be focused on Washington, D.C., for the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage draw. Follow along for live updates, key statistics and instant reaction as we discover how the 48 teams will be placed across the United States, Mexico and Canada. Twelve groups of four will shape the road toward lifting soccer's biggest prize next summer in North America.
The World Cup draw on Friday will separate 48 teams (and placeholders) into 12 groups of four teams each. Each team will play three games in the group stage, one against every team in its group. The top two teams in each group advance to the knockout stage, as in previous years. But the expansion of the tournament from 32 teams will create an additional round of knockout matches.
Sheinbaum is making her first trip to the US as president at a time when her government is still negotiating with Trump over tariffs he imposed on Mexican goods. Sheinbaum has won delays to some levies in past negotiations with Trump. The trio of nations are also set to review the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement next year. Sheinbaum said Mexico maintained one of the best commercial positions globally amid Trump's tariff push.
It really did happen, you know. Scotland are going to the 2026 World Cup. Maybe it will all feel real when Heidi Klum and Kevin Hart begin co-hosting duties at Friday's draw? Hmm, probably not. What about when the Village People take their turn to perform on stage? Or Robbie Williams? Or Andrea Bocelli? Or Nicole Scherzinger? Guess we will have to wait for some famous former footballer to awkwardly crack open a small plastic ball to reveal 'Scotland' on an unfolded piece of paper for it all to sink in.
MLS will pause from May 25 through July 16 as the World Cup takes place across North America to allow for players to report to their respective national teams. The league has previously only taken short pauses during the World Cup, with a nine-day break during the last summer World Cup in 2018 and two weeks off in 2014. The World Cup begins on June 11 with the opening game in Mexico City.
Qualification for the 2026 World Cup has thrown up some brilliant storylines. Jordan, Uzbekistan, Cape Verde and Curacao will all debut in Canada, Mexico and the United States, Scotland and Norway will be at the tournament for the first time since 1998, while Haiti are appearing for the first time in over 50 years, and their manager has never even stepped foot in the country.
The FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System, or FIFA PASS, is meant to help the Trump administration balance a strict immigration system while ensuring that visitors for the global soccer tournament can enter the United States without issue. "America welcomes the world," Infantino said in a statement. "We have always said that this will be the greatest and most inclusive FIFA World Cup in history -- and the FIFA PASS service is a very concrete example of that."
