The Pulse of Football

Jun

2026

Preview: Germany kick off World Cup campaign against debutants Curacao

One of the tournament’s favourites face the smallest country – by population – to ever earn a place at the World Cup finals.

By Filip Mishov

The group E favourites meet the underdogs in Houston, Texas

Die Mannschaft kick off the hunt for the record-equalling fifth World Cup star on Germany‘s shirt in excellent spirit, as Julian Nagelsmann‘s star-studded squad recorded a couple of friendly victories against Finland and hosts, USA, prior to the tournament in North America, maintaining an unbeaten run that dates back to September last year.

That said, the 2014 World Cup champions have failed to progress from the group phase in each of the previous two finals, and even though the ultimate aim is to lift the illustrious trophy next month, their first goal, with significant pressure building back home, will be to reach the knockout stages.

Curaçao are the lowest-ranked (82) debutants at the 2026 World Cup, and the Blue Wave endured a tumultuous period ahead of the tournament with new coach, Fred Rutten, resigning from the national team on 11 May and Dick Advocaat returning to the helm just month after overseeing their qualifying campaign. At 78, the Dutchman will become the oldest coach in World Cup history.

The islanders have only suffered three defeats this calendar year, but finished their preparations with a dominant win (4-0) against Aruba, to raise the confidence levels before the most significant moment in Curaçao’s footballing history on Sunday.

Key players

Manuel Neuer‘s return to the national team was welcomed with both excitement and scepticism in Germany, as although Bayern München’s captain is still a high-quality goalkeeper, the 40-year-old’s fitness is questionable. The 124-cap international also ranks (6.78) behind both Oliver Baumann (6.81) and Alexander Nübel (7.33) in terms of his average FotMob match rating in the Bundesliga this season, and the pressure is on the experienced goalkeeper to silence the critics and justify Julian Nagelsmann’s faith in him.

Tahith Chong is one of the high-profile names in Curaçao’s squad alongside Riechedly Bazoer and the captain, Leandro Bacuna. The tricky winger confirmed his good form by scoring a goal in the friendly against Scotland at Hampden Park. The 26-year-old switched allegiance from the Netherlands to Curaçao just last year, but the Manchester United academy product already has three goals in six appearances for the Blue Wave, and his versatility to play off both wings is a valuable asset to Dick Advocaat’s squad.

Team news

Manuel Neuer missed the preparation matches for Germany through a calf injury, but the goalkeeper returned to first-team training and is expected to start, while everyone else is available with Assan Ouédraogo being the latest player called up to the squad after Lennart Karl suffered an injury.

Dick Advocaat boasts a full squad to pick from, and more importantly, Jürgen Locadia is back after serving a one-match suspension for his red card against Scotland with the Miami FC striker expected to lead the offensive line.

Prediction

Germany are undoubtably the favourites in Group E as well as one of the main contenders to go all the way at this World Cup, and Julian Nagelsmann’s squad should have no problems in securing a win against Curaçao, who’s fairytale journey to the tournament was inspiring. I expect a clear victory for Die Mannschaft.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from at the World Cup with FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, player ratings. Download the free app here.

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Jun

2026

Preview: Brazil start World Cup campaign against 2022 semifinalists Morocco

The World Cup’s most iconic national team has never gone more than five iterations without lifting the golden trophy, but Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil side are not front-runners this time around and face a tough opener against Morocco.

By Karl Matchett

Spain, France and England are all shorter odds to triumph than Brazil, and plenty of people have reigning champions Argentina – and Portugal – ahead of them too. That lack of top-tier favouritism is unusual for the Seleção, but underlined by finishing fifth in Conmebol qualifying – one point off second, but also ten off top spot.

Ancelotti juggles, Neymar the circus

It can be argued that the manager’s biggest task is getting buy-in from the stars on hand – Raphinha and Vinícius Júnior, primarily – to perform for the team as well as showing individual class. Carlo Ancelotti is a master at managing egos and guiding underperformers, but even so this squad is below the quality levels of previous years.

There’s one more factor which will heavily influence Brazil’s success or failure: Neymar. Unfit heading into the tournament, he’s likely to be eased in over the groups before finding his role in the side…or not. And either outcome has knock-on effects for the squad dynamic, the media treatment, the fans’ belief and Brazil’s actual quality in the final third. Ancelotti believes he can offer something – but it needs to be far more than a star name if Brazil are to end their 24-year wait for a World Cup.

Atlas Lions’ big challenge

Morocco have already proved they are not a flash-in-the-pan – they’ve lost precisely one game of any kind since the end of the delayed 2023 Afcon. The caveat there is that it would have been two, had CAF not overturned last year’s chaotic Afcon final from a Senegal win to a Morocco one – but even so, their recent international record reads fourth place at a World Cup, Round of 16 at one Afcon and reached the final at the next. That’s impressive, consistent progression in a way that previous African nations have not managed to sustain after impacting on the global stage. Morocco set a record at the last World Cup by reaching the semis – it’s a different kind of pressure to repeat the trick. One unknown remains: Mohamed Ouahbi took over as boss in March, having won the U20 World Cup last year.

*Morocco are enjoying an all-time high in the FIFA rankings*

Recent form

Brazil saw off Panama with ease at the end of May and beat Egypt in their final warm-up, while Morocco beat Madagascar and drew with Norway.

Team news

Brazil saw Wesley go off against Egypt and he’s out the squad, while Neymar only returned to training this week. Morocco lost key winger Abde Ezzalzouli against Norway, a massive blow, while Nayef Aguerd also failed to recover from an injury – both will miss the finals entirely.

Key player

For Brazil’s attack to shine, the midfield pair must function in both directions. Over the past year Bruno Guimarães ranks 86% for touches, 91% for chances created and 48% by defensive actions among top European-based midfielders – he’ll have to excel to set a platform for those ahead, and do an awful lot of running for his central partner.

Prediction

With easier games ahead in Group C, it’s possible neither side will go all-out for three points – an entertaining draw is in store as a result: Brazil 2-2 Morocco.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the World Cup with FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Add FotMob as a preferred news source on Google by clicking – here.

Jun

2026

Preview: Scotland kick off World Cup return against Haiti

Scotland return to the World Cup finals following a 28-year break kicks off with an opening fixture against one of the tournament’s rank outsiders, Haiti.

By Ian King

Will it be eighth time lucky for Scotland in North America this summer?

It’s been 28 years since Scotland last played in a World Cup finals, and they return to the competition seeking to end a record of having never got through the group stage in their last seven attempts.

Their previous tries have seen them come close a couple of times, and it’s been 36 years since they won a game once there, a 2-1 win against Sweden in 1990. They qualified without the need for play-offs, but they left it late, with two dramatic stoppage-time goals edging them above Denmark with a 4-2 win and through to these finals.

Haiti are among the rank outsiders in this summer’s World Cup. They’ve only qualified once before. But like Scotland, they avoided play-offs, finishing as runners-up to Curaçao in their First Round CONCACAF group and then impressively winning their Second Round group, which also contained Honduras and Costa Rica.

Scotland will need to avoid echoes of their own past to proceed through the group stage

The concern for Scotland supporters as they head for North America will be the sheer variety of ways they’ve contrived to fail in the group stage in the past. The big echo from the past may be 1978, when one point from their opening two matches against what should have been modest opposition in the form of Peru and Iran left them with an insurmountable challenge in their final game against the Netherlands. Needing a three-goal win, they won 3-2, but failed to proceed.

Four years earlier, both Haiti and Scotland were in West Germany. Scotland were again undone by goal difference in a group which ended up with three unbeaten teams. Haiti, meanwhile, looked as though they might be on for what would have been one of the biggest shocks in the entire history of the World Cup when they took the lead in the first minute of the second half of their game against Italy. But Italy came back to win 3-1, Haiti lost their other two games, 7-0 against Poland and 4-1 against Argentina, and they haven’t been back since.

2025/26 was a difficult season for Andy Robertson

The Scotland captain Andy Robertson has now left Liverpool for Tottenham Hotspur, and his final season at Anfield was a difficult one, with the team falling short on the pitch and the personal tragedy of having lost team-mate and friend Diogo Jota in a car crash last summer. But Robertson came through it with admirable dignity, and he deserves a few weeks in the sun. He departed his former club with praise from fans for his service ringing in his ears, and he’s worked hard for this opportunity.

*Robertson’s final Premier League season with Liverpool*

Midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde may have had a disappointing season with Wolves, but he’s transformed Haiti since making his debut for them last year, with a particularly strong performance in their 3-0 win in Nicaragua in October. He’s one of two English-based players in their squad, alongside the Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor, who scored their goal in their last pre-tournament friendly match, a 2-1 defeat against Peru.

The other key players to look out for are goalkeeper and captain Johnny Placide of Bastia, who’s made 81 appearances for his country, and striker Duckens Nazon, who is currently playing his club football in Iran with Esteghlal. He’s Haiti’s all-time record goalscorer, with 44 goals, although he hasn’t scored a goal for club or country yet in 2026.

With goal difference potentially crucial, Scotland may need to go on the attack in this fixture

Haiti’s French head coach Sébastien Migné has, with the team unable to play matches in their home country due to an apparently perpetual security crisis, done an incredible job by getting his team here in the first place. He plays a 4-4-2 with attacking full-backs for width, which drops back to a 4-2-3-1 in defensive situations. They can be left a little short defensively at times, but have strong attacking options.

The Scotland manager Steve Clarke has an aging team, but the upside of this is that they have plenty of experience. Goal difference is always of exaggerated importance in the group stage of a World Cup, as Scotland have found to their cost before, and with their opponents’ biggest weakness being defensive and Scotland’s greatest strength being their midfield, Clarke is likely to go for a straight 4-4-2, with new Rangers striker Lawrence Shankland and Torino’s Ché Adams up front.

Scotland need a positive result from this match, with tougher challenges to come

There is a definite opportunity for Scotland to build up a little confidence ahead of far trickier-looking games to come against Morocco and Brazil. Haiti have only ever qualified once before, and are among the outsiders to win the tournament.

A positive result and performance from Scotland looks pretty essential from a match they really should win, which is particularly important this time around, given that the top eight third-placed teams will also be getting through to the round of 32.

But the warnings from history are right there, staring them in the face. In 1974, 1978 and 1982, they were eliminated on goal difference after failing to run up as many goals against their group’s minnows as their opponents.

Brazil are among the favourites to win the entire competition and Morocco reached the semi-finals four years ago, so there’ll be far tougher tests to come than this, but a 3-0 win from this fixture would stand Scotland in a decent stead for the challenges ahead.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game at the World Cup with FotMob this summer – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

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Jun

2026

Preview: USMNT kick off home World Cup against Paraguay

USA host Paraguay in their opening match of the World Cup in front of their home supporters at the Los Angeles Stadium.

By Matt Smith

It’s a huge occasion for Mauricio Pochettino‘s side as they look to get off to a strong start in front of expectant fans. They face a Paraguay side managed by Gustavo Alfaro, who will be playing with huge intensity and will be up for the event.

USA got the better of Paraguay when they met in a friendly back in November, but this is the first time they’ve met in the World Cup since 1930.

*Recent H2H results and a World Cup flashback*

Team news

There are unlikely to be too many injury concerns for either manager heading into this game, with it being the start of the tournament. You’d expect the likes of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams to feature from the start. Tim Ream could become the oldest player to appear for the US at a World Cup.

Crystal Palace centre back Chris Richards took the unusual step of declaring himself fit in the pre-match press conference!

Paraguay could be without Julio Enciso heading into this game, after he picked up an injury in a warm-up match against Nicaragua. It’s unconfirmed whether he will be fit enough to start this one after he was stretchered off.

USA testing themselves in recent months

Perhaps a purposeful schedule from the USA heading into the World Cup, Pochettino’s side have faced some tricky tests over the last few months. The USA have faced Uruguay, Belgium, Portugal, Senegal and Germany in friendlies. All strong sides competing at this tournament.

It’s a clever move from the USA to face strong European sides especially, as it’s rare that they get the opportunity to do so. Although results were certainly mixed, it was a real opportunity for them to test themselves.

Paraguay held their own in qualifying

Although Paraguay finished sixth from ten in their World Cup qualification group, they certainly held their own. They lost just four times, fewer than Brazil and the same number of losses as Argentina, Colombia and Uruguay.

Although they finished sixth, they were just one point off second, and it was their defensive solidity that helped get them over the line. They might not have the same attacking flair as some of their fellow South American sides, but they’ll bring a rigid, structured system which could do well at the tournament.

Pulisic’s time to shine

It was a strong first half of the season for Pulisic in Serie A, and he finished the campaign with 12 goals and four assists from just 18 starts (none of those goals came post-Christmas). The 27-year-old showed what he can do on the international stage against Senegal late last month, setting up a goal and scoring one himself in the first half, before being substituted.

Pulisic is undoubtedly the talisman for Pochettino’s side, and if they are to have any success at the tournament, they’ll need him to perform. The former Chelsea man could be the player to watch in this game, hoping to better his three goal contributions from the previous World Cup.

Prediction

In front of a home crowd, the USA should be able to get off to a strong start. We’re going for a 2-1 victory to Pochettino’s men.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the World Cup with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, physical metrics, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Add FotMob as a preferred news source on Google by clicking – here.

Jun

2026

Preview: Canada seek first points in home World Cup opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina

Canada have lost all six of their previous Men’s World Cup matches, but they’ll back themselves to end that run as they co-host the tournament.

By Neel Shelat

Favourable draw promises success for Canada

11 years on from hosting their first football World Cup, Canada are prepared to welcome the FIFA Men’s World Cup to their shores for the very first time. Their women’s team kicked the campaign off with a last-gasp win over China back in 2015, but fans will hope for a less tense affair on this occasion.

Although Canada lost each of their matches in their previous two outings at the tournament — in Mexico ‘86 and Qatar ‘22 — they have good reason to be optimistic about their chances of advancing past the group stage this time.

American head coach Jesse Marsch has fashioned the team into a well-drilled unit with his trademark high press, and he has some star power to call on in the attack. Canada are the second-highest-ranked team in their group and won’t face Switzerland until the last matchday, so they could well seal a knockout spot in two games.

Bosnia and Herzegovina out to cause more upsets

Bosnia and Herzegovina shocked the world by defeating Italy on penalties in their World Cup qualification playoff final to seal just their second appearance at the tournament. They won’t be here just to make up the numbers, though, because they have every chance of creating history in this group.

Sergej Barbarez’s side have come away with results against the likes of the Netherlands, Austria and Wales in the last couple of years. Their defence has proven staunch on its day in the 4-4-2 formation, while they too have some potential game-winners in attack.

The Dragons have a nice mix of youthful exuberance and veteran experience in the squad, with nine players aged 23 or younger alongside the likes of Edin Džeko and Sead Kolasinac, who were both in the lineup for their nation’s World Cup debut in 2014.

Team news

Canada have been dealt a couple of significant injury blows in the lead-up to the World Cup, leaving them without attacker Marcelo Flores for certain. Defender Moïse Bombito and captain Alphonso Davies are serious doubts, while midfielder Ismaël Koné reportedly missed a recent training session due to fever.

Bosnian strikers Džeko and Haris Tabaković trained separately, with the latter being the major doubt due to a reported metatarsal fracture he picked up at the end of the 2025/26 season.

Key Players

Jonathan David is the star man up front for Canada and could have to take up greater all-round responsibilities amid their availability crisis. He will look to Tajon Buchanan for some support, while the experienced Stephen Eustáquio will be a key figure in midfield.

Sassuolo defender Tarik Muharemović will need to put in a big shift at the back for the visitors. They will look to attacking starlets Esmir Bajraktarević and Kerim Alajbegović to light up the wings and test Canada’s back line.

*Jonathan David’s Serie A season with Juventus*

Prediction

A close contest should be expected, but Canada might have enough to come away with a 2-1 victory.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the World Cup with FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Add FotMob as a preferred news source on Google by clicking – here.

Jun

2026

How to follow the World Cup on FotMob

Ahead of the big kick off tonight, here’s a guide to getting the best out of your FotMob app during the 2026 World Cup.

By Bill Biss

As always, our aim is to make following football easier, so here are some of the ways we will be trying to do that over the next few weeks – both in the app, and via our social channels.

First of all, the starting point: Make sure you navigate to the World Cup page in the app, hit ‘Follow’ and then tap the bell icon to control what match alerts you want set for the upcoming games.

From here, if you have an iPhone, we have also added the ability to turn on ‘Live Activities’ for all games. This will allow you to get live scores pinned directly to your lock screen, meeaning you don’t even have to open your phone to keep track of the action.

Android users can also now use live activities, subject to the right system updates being available for your device.

In the app, we will, of course, have all the live stats you would expect from us – including xG, heat maps, momentum, shot maps, ball possession, the FotMob match ratings, and countless other data points.

If you want to learn more about any of the nations who have qualified for the finals, you can click on their profile in the app to read an extensive preview that will give you all the info you’ll ever need to know – here, for example, is a look at debutants Curaçao.

You’ll also be able to follow and interact with our enhanced live text commentary. Our editors would love to hear your thoughts so send us an email to live@fotmob.com and you never know, you may even see yourself on FotMob.

Post-match, we’ll have fast, human-written match reports, and official highlights so even if you’ve missed the game, or you couldn’t stay awake for it – we’ve got you covered with everything you need, when you need it.

And our last tip, pre-tournament, is something that has been going viral across social media: Sync all the World Cup fixtures directly to your calendar.

To do this, please follow the steps as laid out in this handy guide – HERE.

Quem criou isso merece um prêmio 🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/iaLhzMh0to
— MALU (@1910mluiza) June 9, 2026

And if you fancy showing off your ball knowledge, there is still time to enter our free Predictor challenge. Looks for the FotMob Predict page in the app, or click through this link to play.

Predict the scores, create a mini-league for the group chat or the office, and collect those bragging rights when the points start racking up.

Beyond the app, have a read of the first of our World Cup daily editions of The Assist, the free FotMob newsletter.

Early each day during the tournament, we’ll be bringing you all the latest information and talking points you may have missed from the games played overnight, and also take a look at all the unmissable action that is coming up. All in an easily digestable five minute read.

You can read and subscribe to The Assist – HERE.

And last, but not least, our social teams will covering the tournament on the ground in North America for our followers on Instagram, TikTok, and X (formally Twitter).

Follow our channels for exclusive content from around the grounds and soak in that special World Cup atmosphere.

If it’s good enough for England international, Eberechi Eze, we think there’s something for you too.

📲🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Wise words from Arsenal and England star Eberechi Eze… particularly on the best app to follow football. pic.twitter.com/Lwka8NrTy5
— FotMob (@FotMob) June 11, 2026

(All images via FotMob and IMAGO)

You can follow the World Cup with FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Add FotMob as a preferred news source on Google by clicking – here.

Jun

2026

Kai Havertz could be the perfect forward to spearhead an unexpected German World Cup challenge

Germany and their Premier League-winning forward should be taken seriously as genuine contenders to win the 2026 World Cup.

By Graham Ruthven

Kai Havertz is a big game player. He proved that even as Arsenal lost to Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest, becoming only the third player to score in two Champions League finals for two different clubs after Mario Mandžukić and Cristiano Ronaldo. The big occasion brings the best out of the German.

This is good news for Julian Nagelsmann whose Germany team enter the 2026 World Cup as relative outsiders for a country that has lifted the trophy four times before. After exiting the last two World Cups in the group stage, confidence is low that Germany can make a deep run this summer.

In Havertz, though, they boast one of the game’s most accomplished attackers even if he doesn’t always receive the appropriate credit. What’s more, there are signs Havertz might be set to produce his best form when it matters most for Germany this summer. He could be one of the defining figures of the whole tournament.

*Havertz player traits compared to similar strikers in top five leagues*

Last season was a frustrating one for Havertz who suffered a serious injury on the opening day of the 2025/26 campaign. It wasn’t until January that the German was able to regularly contribute for Arsenal who had to do without their best all-round forward for a number of months.

When he returned, though, Havertz was a difference-maker. This was certainly true in the final few weeks of the season when the 26-year-old registered a goal contribution against Burnley and Crystal Palace at a time when Arsenal really needed an extra push over the line in the title race.

While many players will start this summer’s World Cup weary from a long club season, Havertz should be fresh. The German only played 584 minutes in the Premier League, starting just twice in the Champions League. It certainly wasn’t by design, but this could be to Havertz’s benefit at the World Cup.

There remains some debate over Germany’s forward options and who should start in the number nine position this summer. Nick Woltemade is capable of playing as a focal point even if he is more comfortable as a nine-and-a-half while Deniz Undav is fresh from a season at club level that saw him score 19 goals in 30 Bundesliga games for Stuttgart.

“We have many options [in attack],” said Havertz when asked about the competition within the Germany squad. “It is a very good problem to have. It is much better to have more good players than fewer in the team. There is variety. We need all the players and many capable of playing in different positions.”

Under Nagelsmann, Germany have struggled for consistency. While they showed signs of heading in the right direction at Euro 2024, they were ultimately eliminated by the first high-calibre opponent they came up against in the shape of Spain. Two years on, it’s still difficult to gauge where Nagelsmann’s side are.

And yet it’s possible they’re being underestimated. From back to front, Germany bost top-level quality even if they don’t have the sort of talent that has carried them to World Cup glory in the past. Not many countries willl take a stronger squad to the 2026 World Cup than the 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014 winners.

Manuel Neuer is back as Germany’s number one following a brief retirement from international football while Antonio Rüdiger, Nico Schlotterbeck and Jonathan Tah give Nagelsmann a variety of proven centre backs in front of the veteran goalkeeper. Their backline will be rock-solid.

In central midfield, Aleksandar Pavlović and Felix Nmecha will offer security while Joshua Kimmich will push into the centre of the pitch from right back to dictate Germany’s use of possession. Meanwhile, Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz will give Nagelsmann the sort of final third creativity that most World Cup managers could only dream of.

Havertz will have the support system around him to make an impact on the tournanent as Germany’s primary penalty box presence. While the 26-year-old hasn’t always been considered an elite-level number nine, his movement and appreciation of space in and around the opposition area shouldn’t be undervalued.

Nor should his ability in the air or capacity for surprising bursting into open space, as he did for both goals he has scored in Champions League finals. If Germany can provide Havertz with the sort of service required to get in behind opposition backlines, the Arsenal man could be a serious threat in quick transition.

For someone who is now a Premier League winner as well as a former European champion, Havertz still doesn’t get the credit he deserves. It might take a standout World Cup campaign for that to change and there’s every reason to believe German’s best all-round forward could be one of the superstars of this summer’s tournament.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every Germany game on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Add FotMob as a preferred news source on Google by clicking – here.

Jun

2026

Adidas unveil individual player awards for the 2026 World Cup

Today, Day 1 of the 2026 World Cup, adidas have launched the official player trophies that will be handed out to the Golden Ball, Golden Glove, and Golden Boot winners at the end of the tournament.

By Bill Biss

Each trophy has been uniquely crafted to reflect adidas’ deep-rooted connection to the game, combinding performance-led heritage with striking design.

The Golden Ball, awarded to the most outstading player at the World Cup finals is based on the TRIONDA, the official match ball introduced for this tournament.

The Golden Glove, awarded to the best keeper, stands as a bold tribute to those oft-misunderstood artists between the posts.

And finally, the Golden Boot, given to the top goalscorer at the World Cup, reimagines adidas’ iconic Predator football boot. First introduced as the Goldon Shoe in 1982, the trophy has evolved through one of the games’ most influencial boot franchises, symbolising precision, control, and goalscoring excellence.

Past winners of the Golden Boot:

Spain ’82: Paulo Rossi (Italy)

Mexico ’86: Gary Lineker (England)

Italy ’90: Salvatore Schillaci (Italy)

USA ’94: Oleg Salenko (Russia), Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria)

France 98′: Davor Šuker (Croatia)

South Korea / Japan ’02: Ronaldo (Brazil)

Germany ’06: Miroslav Klose (Germany)

South Africa ’10: Thomas Müller (Germany)

Brazil ’14: James Rodríguez (Colombia)

Russia ’18: Harry Kane (England)

Qatar ’22: Kylian Mbappé (France)

Together, the three new trophies showcase a cohesive design language – elevated, modern, and unmistakably adidas – while celebrating the individual brilliance that will come to define this World Cup.

(All images courtesy of Adidas)

You can follow the World Cup with FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Add FotMob as a preferred news source on Google by clicking – here.

Jun

2026

Preview: Mexico and South Africa kick off biggest-ever World Cup at the Azteca

Mexico faced hosts South Africa for the 2010 World Cup opener in Johannesburg on June 11. Exactly 16 years after that day, the roles are reversed as the two sides meet again to kick off the first-ever 48-team World Cup.

By Neel Shelat

Pressure on for El Tri

Mexico are set to become the first nation to host the FIFA Men’s World Cup three times. The team made it to the quarter-finals on each of the previous two occasions, and fans will be hoping to see at least a repeat of that this time around.

El Tri had reached the knockouts of each of the last seven World Cups before 2022, so the end of that streak in Qatar was a source of great disappointment. Now on home soil, they will have various edges that can get them over the line in the group stage.

Besides the raucous backing of passionate supporters, Mexico’s home advantage includes the altitude factor. It will be particularly effective at the Estadio Azteca — the venue of the opener — which sits 2,200 metres above sea level.

Broos’ boys gunning for the knockouts

South Africa have never reached the knockout stage of the men’s World Cup, but the expanded format presents them with a decent chance.

Veteran head coach Hugo Broos has great memories in Mexico from his playing days, as he was a part of the Belgian squad that reached the semi-finals in 1986. This is his first World Cup as a coach, though, and it will also be his last; he will retire after the tournament.

In his five years with the team, Broos has shaped South Africa into a solid unit that can move the ball really nicely, but the lack of an attacking edge has always been the main challenge. Bafana Bafana will hope that their newest contingent of young forwards can help overcome that on the biggest stage.

Team news

Left-back Aubrey Modiba is a doubt for South Africa going into this game, though there are encouraging signs as he was spotted in training on Tuesday. Bafana Bafana are flexible between a back four and five, so it will be interesting to see how they shape up going into this match.

Javier Aguirre has a big call to make in midfield, where the injured Marcel Ruiz is a big miss for the tournament. At the base of it, team captain Edson Álvarez’s spot could well be under threat from Cruz Azul’s Érik Lira.

Key Players

Johan Vásquez, now established as a solid centre-back in Serie A with Genoa, will need to showcase the best of his defensive and on-ball qualities. Clinicality up front will be key to Mexico’s approach, so Saudi Pro League top-scorer Julián Quiñones and veteran forward Raúl Jiménez could get chances to become the heroes.

South Africa will look to be careful with the ball when they have it, so elegant midfielder Teboho Mokoena will be one to watch. Orlando Pirates starlet Relebohile Mofokeng could be the difference-maker going forward, while goalkeeper Ronwen Williams is capable of the spectacular with his feet and hands.

Prediction

A tense affair is to be expected. South Africa may have enough to hold on to a 1-1 draw.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Jun

2026

Mexico wonderkid Gilberto Mora is one to watch at the World Cup

The youngest player at the 2026 World Cup could be one of the breakout stars of the tournament.

By Graham Ruthven

When the 2026 World Cup kicks off at the Estadio Azteca on Thursday, the eyes of the world will be on Mexico as one of the tournament’s three co-hosts. One Mexican player in particular might shine a little brighter than the rest. Indeed, 17-year-old Gilberto Mora is the wonderkid El Tri are pinning their World Cup hopes on.

As the youngest player in the tournament, Mora has already achieved something notable. The teenager, however, is in Javier Aguirre’s squad for more than just his potential. Mora could be the difference-maker Mexico need to make a deep run at their own World Cup. There’s a lot resting on Mora’s shoulders.

Mora has been on the radar of most Mexican fans for a long time. At 15 years, 10 months and five days old, Mora became Tijuana’s youngest-ever player and the third-youngest player to ever make the field in Liga MX. He then became the youngest player to ever find the back of the net in Mexico’s top flight.

Quickly, Mora was fast-tracked into the national team and made his Mexico debut in January 2025, this time setting a new record as the youngest player to ever represent El Tri. The young attacker wasted no time in earning himself a reputation as Mexican football’s best prospect in a generation.

It was at the 2025 Gold Cup, though, where Mora truly broke through, starring for a Mexico outfit that went all the way to lift the trophy. The teenager started the majority of Mexico’s matches, including the final against the United States. That the tournament’s Young Player award went to Guatemala’s Olger Escobar and not Mora was a travesty.

One year on, Mora is part of Aguirre’s World Cup squad, although the last 12 months haven’t been easy for the teenager who missed a number of months earlier this year due to injury. Mora has struggled with pubalgia, the same groin injury that has afflicted Lamine Yamal recently, raising doubts about his true fitness level.

If, however, Mora is fully fit and match sharp, the 2026 World Cup could be the launchpad for a special career in the same way Euro 2024 propelled Yamal to another level. Every major tournament produces one or two breakout stars and Mexico’s wonderkid is primed to make his mark.

“He’s surely on the radar of several huge clubs around the world and it fills me with pride to see him being talked about on the global stage,” said Aguirre when asked about Mora’s incredible potential ahead of Mexico’s World Cup opener against South Africa at the Azteca.

Mexico is a country steeped in the traditions of the World Cup having hosted it twice before with the Azteca the setting for some iconic moments. Diego Maradona’s infamous Hand of God goal and individual dribble and finish for Argentina against England were scored at the fabled Mexico City venue.

It would be unrealistic to expect Mora to produce a Maradona-esque moment at the World Cup, but the teenager could be Mexico’s primary creative force. He could be their spark in the final third. His technical ability is greater than any other player’s on El Tri’s roster with Mora quick to play forwards whenever possible.

Parallels have been drawn to Yamal given the pair’s comparable age, but a better comparison would be to Pedri. While Mora tends to position himself slightly closer to goal than the Barcelona and Spain midfielder, his natural skill set is that of a playmaker. His passing range and eye for a threaded ball are some of Mora’s best qualities.

Versatility is another one of Mora’s traits. While his preferred position might be as a number 10 behind a central striker, the teenager can also operate in a deeper role or even on the wing. This gives Aguirre the option to use Mora in several positions over the course of the World Cup in which Mexico will play a game every five days.

Brian Gutierrez is another youngster who could be set for a big tournament. The 22-year-old switched allegiance from the USA to Mexico in November and has already shown his ability for El Tri. Gutierrez could start on the right side against South Africa to give Mexico some invention in the final third.

In Mora, though, Mexico could have a generational talent. This won’t be his one and only World Cup. Instead, this summer could be the start of Mora’s career at the top level for club and country. The 17-year-old’s club future will be resolved after the World Cup and a sparkling tournament could increase the interest in his services.

(Images from IMAGO)

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