World Cup 2026: Daily live news tracker – Injuries, squads, storylines and updates  

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— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 20, 2026

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is finally here as the countdown to the biggest tournament in football officially begins.

The competition kicks off on Thursday night with hosts Mexico taking on South Africa at a packed Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The opening fixture will set the stage for the largest World Cup ever staged, with 48 nations battling for football’s biggest prize across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

USMNT Ready for World Cup Opener

Attention will quickly turn to the United States men’s national team, who begin their campaign on Friday night at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles against Paraguay.

There was positive news for the Americans ahead of the clash after defender Chris Richards declared himself fit and available for selection. The center back had been sidelined with an ankle injury suffered last month and missed recent friendly matches against Senegal and Germany during the build-up to the tournament.

His return offers a major boost for the USMNT as they prepare for a crucial opening match on home soil.

Teams Settling Into Base Camps

National teams have now completed their arrivals and preparations are intensifying across North America.

Iran touched down in Tijuana on Sunday morning despite uncertainty surrounding travel logistics and visa processing in the lead-up to the competition. The Asian side is now fully focused on final preparations ahead of its group stage campaign.

Defending champions Argentina also appear to be hitting form at the perfect moment. Lionel Scaloni’s side recorded comfortable shutout victories over Honduras and Iceland in their final warm-up matches before the tournament.

There had been concerns surrounding Lionel Messi’s fitness heading into June, but the Argentina captain eased fears after featuring in the closing stages against Iceland. Messi came off the bench for the final 20 minutes and calmly converted a penalty shortly after his introduction.

FIFA Reveals Individual Award Trophies

FIFA has officially unveiled the trophies that will be awarded to the tournament’s standout performers.

The Golden Ball will be presented to the best player of the tournament, while the Golden Boot will go to the competition’s leading goalscorer. The Golden Glove, meanwhile, will honour the best goalkeeper at the World Cup.

At the 2022 edition in Qatar, Lionel Messi claimed the Golden Ball after inspiring Argentina to the title. France star Kylian Mbappé finished as the tournament’s top scorer to win the Golden Boot, while Emiliano Martínez secured the Golden Glove award.

Biggest World Cup Ever Set to Deliver Drama

Although only a handful of nations are considered genuine contenders for the trophy, the expanded format means more countries than ever will believe they have a chance to make history.

The 2026 tournament has increased from 32 teams to 48 teams, making it the biggest World Cup ever staged. The new structure also allows eight of the 12 third-placed teams to progress into the Round of 32, opening the door for surprise qualification stories and potential knockout-stage upsets.

With anticipation continuing to build ahead of kickoff, fans around the world are preparing for a month of unforgettable football drama across North America.

Stay tuned for the latest World Cup injury updates, squad news, transfer developments, match previews and breaking stories throughout the tournament.