Page 6 – The Pulse of Football

Jun

2026

Preview: Goalless Ecuador face free-flowing Germany

The Group E leaders meet Ecuador in the final round of the group stage at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

By Filip Mishov

The toothless Ecuadorians must cause an upset to avoid an early exit

La Tri are one of only four national teams without a single goal scored at the World Cup after two rounds played, and Sebastián Beccacece‘s squad are under pressure to break the deadlock and deliver against the Group E leaders in the final round.

Despite recording an xG of 2.84 (from 15 shots on target) and enjoying 75% of ball possession, Ecuador failed to find a way past Curaçao’s outstanding goalkeeper, Eloy Room, and remain in third place behind Ivory Coast, in desperate need of a positive result if Moisés Caicedo & co. are to secure a place in the round of 32.

Germany, with nine goals, boast the highest-scoring squad at the tournament so far, and the 10th-ranked internationational team have already booked a ticket to the knockout phase for the first time since the 2014 World Cup – Die Mannschaft’s first objective in North America.

Furthermore, Germany are destined to finish top of the group following their stoppage-time victory against Ivory Coast, taking the pressure off Julian Nagelsmann and allowing room to rest players in this game.

Key players

Enner Valencia is nearing the end of his legendary career in La Tricolor shirt and Thursday’s clash might be the final World Cup match for Ecuador’s leading all-time goalscorer (49 goals). The 36-year-old is expected to lead the forward line once again in hope of unlocking Germany’s defence, and the captain will be extra motivated to find the back of the net in order to extend his national team’s stay in North America.

Deniz Undav is in elite company alongside Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, as one of the most efficient players at the World Cup 2026 with the in-form striker scoring three goals and adding a couple of assists in just 56 minutes of action.

The 29-year-old came off the bench against both Curaçao and Ivory Coast and recorded a FotMob rating of 8.8 and 8.7, respectively, while being selected as the Player of the Match on the latter occasion following his match-winning brace. In spite of the coach’s public criticism ahead of the tournament, Undav is becoming too good to ignore, and a place in the starting XI seems inevitable.

Team news

Nico Schlotterbeck suffered an ankle injury against Ivory Coast and the centre-back will miss the rest of the tournament, which is a big blow to Germany’s defence. Antonio Rüdiger is set to replace him. Nadiem Amiri is among the players pushing for a start after his positive cameo off the bench, with Nagelsmann expected to reshuffle the starting line-up.

Everyone is fit and available within Beccacece’s squad and the coach must decide whether to deploy a more attacking formation with a place in the Round of 32 on the line for Ecuador.

Prediction

Even though Germany were far from impressive against the Ivory Coast, Nagelsmann’s star-studded squad managed to complete a full comeback thanks to the superior quality in squad depth (and Undav’s brilliance), and even if the coach once nicknamed ‘Baby Mourinho’ decides to rotate the squad against Ecuador, I expect another win and maybe even a repeat of their last meeting from the World Cup 2006.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Jun

2026

The Hydration Break: FIFA’s great disruptor for the 2026 World Cup

As the 2026 World Cup continues to provide great entertainment for the most part, we are seeing football go from a game of two halves to a game of four quarters right before our eyes. We need to talk about hydration breaks.

By Tom Hancock

Announcing the new measure back in December, FIFA explained: “Players at the FIFA World Cup 2026 will benefit from three-minute hydration breaks in each half of games as FIFA prioritises player welfare throughout next summer’s tournament co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.”

A cynic would argue football’s world governing body are prioritising profit. The hydration breaks just so happen to be sponsored by Powerade (an unmissable detail given the size of the big screens at many of the USA’s World Cup venues – including those with air con, hardly the most parching of environments).

They’ve proved unpopular with fans – who routinely greet these unwelcome interruptions with choruses of boos – and players alike. Well, at least one player, Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk, who said: “Hydration breaks are a bit interesting because I was obviously watching almost all the games up until today, and every time going to commercial is a bit…Not really that I like it.

“I think for the neutral watchers on TV, it’s also not great. If it’s really hot, obviously it would be good to put them in. But I think you have to look at it in every game, separately, in my opinion…”

France skipper Kylian Mbappé offered a more balanced view: “You shouldn’t ask players for their opinion because our opinion changes a lot. If my team is dominating, it ruins the rhythm. If it’s hot, I’m happy. Everyone complains when there are new rules. We’ll have to see how it goes in the long run.”

Incidentally, there was no second-half hydration break after France’s game against Iraq was delayed by more than two hours due to thunderstorms (so they don’t have to be taken?), but Mbappé is right on the money when he says hydration breaks disrupt the rhythm of the game. These aren’t brief stoppages as they should be (go pour a glass of water now and see how long it takes you to drink it): they’re officially meant to last three minutes between the referee whistling to pause play and again to restart it. It feels like someone’s hitting a great big reset button twice each match.

But let’s take a look at what the numbers say about the impact of FIFA’s latest great innovation…

Unsurprisingly given the expansion from 32 teams to 48, the 2026 World Cup reached the 100-goal mark quicker than any previous edition of the tournament. And of the 140 goals scored across the first two rounds of group games, 31 (22.1%) have come in the five minutes preceding or following a hydration break. Eighteen of those 31 goals have changed the state of the game (i.e. been an equaliser or given a team the lead), with the goals scored before a hydration break doing that the most (14 out of 18).

*Match momentum from Germany’s win over Curaçao*

Six of the sides who have equalised or gone ahead in the five minutes leading up to a hydration break have gone on to win; six have drawn. Curaçao are the big outlier here, drawing level with Germany just before the first-half hydration break but going on to lose 7-1.

How do we attempt to explain this phenomenon, then? Well, a sensible theory would be that teams are consciously upping their intensity for a brief period, safe in the knowledge they’re about to get a breather. Of course, either side could decide to do that, but one would imagine it would be to the benefit of stronger teams with greater strength in depth when it comes to the crunch in the knockout stage.

While goals just before hydration breaks have, so far, more often altered the game state than goals just after hydration, it’s a much more balanced affair where lead-extending goals are concerned. Six of the 20 goals in the five minutes before a hydration break have done that, as have six of the 11 goals in the five minutes following a hydration break. For a team already in the ascendancy, it seems, hydration breaks might be more of a help than a hindrance – with only five teams conceding an equaliser five minutes either side of a hydration break.

*Match momentum from Japan’s win over Tunisia*

Arguably no side has taken better advantage of this than Japan, who went 2-0 up against Tunisia four minutes after the first-half hydration break and made it 3-0 two minutes before the second-half hydration break, going on to win 4-0. No other team has scored before and after hydration breaks in the same game – though Canada have done so in separate matches.

The argument that, fundamentally, hydration breaks are the same for both teams is a valid one, but their introduction has undeniably and unnecessarily distorted football as we know it. Player welfare is paramount – above a certain temperature threshold, such intermissions are undoubtedly necessary – but would they have been brought in ubiquitously had this World Cup not been held predominantly in the USA, home to four-quartered sports like American football and basketball?

There is some good news, though: UEFA have already confirmed there will not be mandatory hydration breaks at the next major tournament, Euro 2028 in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Then again, with sweltering temperatures like we’ve seen across Europe this week, perhaps we’ll all make like true football fans and fickly welcome hydration breaks with open arms in two years’ time.

(Images from IMAGO)

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

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Jun

2026

Lionel Messi peaking at the perfect time for Argentina’s World Cup Campaign

Lionel Messi has scored all kinds of goals, and plenty of them, over the course of his career, but one kind of goal in particular stands out as his calling card and it was the kind he scored to send Argentina on their way to another World Cup victory.

By Graham Ruthven

As has become customary over the years, Messi started the attack in the centre of the pitch before spreading the play out wide. From there, he delayed his run to the penalty spot, arriving at the right time to sweep home a finish with his left foot from a cut back. Everyone knew the sequence Messi had drawn up in his head, yet there was no way to stop it.

There has been no way to stop Messi in general at this World Cup. The 38-year-old has netted five goals in just two games to become the competition’s all-time top scorer, surpassing the record previously held by Miroslav Klose. Messi now has 18 World Cup goals to his name and there’s still plenty of time for him to add to his tally.

*adidas Football visualise Lionel Messi’s 18 World Cup games*

Not so long ago, there was doubt over Messi’s role for Argentina leading into this summer’s tournament. He limped off in Inter Miami’s final match before the World Cup break citing an ambiguous fatigue injury that had many speculating over the true fitness levels of a player Lionel Scaloni needed in peak condition.

Some also had questions over the level Messi is competing at in MLS. When Argentina last won the World Cup in 2022, Messi was still at Paris Saint-Germain in a Big Five league. Now, he’s operating in a league that is outside the best in the world. It was discussed whether MLS would keep Messi sharp enough to remain Argentina’s main man.

So far, though, all concerns have been allayed by Messi’s first two performances in the USA. He is leading the scoring charts ahead of Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and everyone else, finishing all of Argentina’s five goals at the 2026 World Cup so far. He would have scored six out of six had Messi not scuffed a penalty wide against Austria.

Scaloni may choose to rest Messi for Argentina’s first group game against Jordan on Saturday considering the defending champions are already through to the last 32 as Group J winners. It would make sense to preserve the 38-year-old for the latter rounds of the competition.

Far from limiting Messi at the 2026 World Cup, it’s possible his decision to join Inter Miami has allowed him to peak at the right time for the tournament. In MLS, he has the freedom to manage his own minutes. He’s also only a few months into his club season rather than being at the end of a gruelling European league season.

There were signs that Messi was gearing up for another blockbuster World Cup. He signed off for the World Cup break by contributing 12 goals and assists in just five matches. It was reported that he was doing double training sessions with Argentina and Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul to be ready for the summer.

In the two games he has played so far at the 2026 World Cup, Messi has been at the peak of his powers. His movement has been explosive and his finishing efficient, albeit with the notable exception of the missed penalty kick against Austria. He is dominating another World Cup.

Celebrating Lionel Messi's record 18 goals with adidas football.

From 2006 to 2026, from the Teamgeist to the Trionda. pic.twitter.com/3QeDtxzg70
— FotMob (@FotMob) June 23, 2026

Of course, Argentina play to Messi’s strengths. Scaloni sets up his team to revolve around the former Barcelona and PSG playmaker who has the license to preserve his energy for maximum impact in the final third. Messi doesn’t track back much. He doesn’t offer much on the defensive side of the ball. He spends a lot of the time static, often with his hands on his hips.

However, Argentina’s capacity for managing games makes carrying a difference-maker like Messi completely viable. The 2022 World Cup winners have cruised through their opening two matches against Algeria and Austria at the 2026 tournament and Messi is scoring goals for fun. He will surely extend his all-time record beyond 18 goals before the World Cup is over.

It’s true Argentina have yet to face a true challenge in their World Cup defence. Messi and co. were drawn in a favourable group compared to some of their rivals. Nonetheless, there’s already enough evidence to suggest the 2022 winners will take some toppling this summer, especially with Messi in his current form.

2022 was the culmination of Messi’s entire international career. The moment he’d waited a lifetime for as Argentina finally lifted the World Cup for the first time since the days of Diego Maradona. Any debate over Messi being the country’s best-ever was ended then and there. Three-and-a-half years on, he’s making sure of that.

(Cover image from IMAGO, additional images courtasy of adidas Football)

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

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Jun

2026

Preview: Scotland clash with Brazil in final round of group fixtures

Three points against Haiti was the absolute requirement for Scotland and they achieved that – but to reach the knockout phase there’s a real chance that they’ll need to pull off a shock result against Brazil.

By Karl Matchett

Maths and maybes

Of course, it’s likely that at least one team goes through with only three points, but the problem Scotland have is that in playing their final group game relatively early, they won’t know what’s really required until much later.

Only eight of the 12 third-placed teams will progress to the round of 32, and already – with a game to play – there are four nations in third in their groups with a win on the board. Scotland are one of them but it’s more than feasible that the likes of DR Congo or Bosnia and Herzegovina move to four points by the time all the groups are done. Goal difference is very likely to come into play, so if they have to suffer defeat, Steve Clarke’s men dare not let the game get away from them.

Minus one is feasible; if it starts to reach two, three or more, they are in trouble. It’s tough to play to draw, but the Scots are organised, hard working and have incredible team spirit – but they must counter-attack when the chance is there, too.

Are Brazil really contenders?

After all, the Seleção have already shown they have a soft underbelly. They are susceptible to fast breaks, they are ponderous through the centre of the pitch and there are no shortages of players who don’t particularly relish tracking back to make up the numbers, even under Carlo Ancelotti. That said, they retain an array of attacking talent who are match-winners, and the depth to switch matters up if they’re not working. Going direct might be reductive for Brazil, but if the one-on-one speedsters don’t have their day, a poacher or two from the bench could still decide the group. Beyond that? We’ll be looking for a lot more from the team before placing them among the genuine contenders – at present they’re on course to face Netherlands or Japan and you wouldn’t feel it’s a guarantee they even triumph there.

*Brazil’s starting line up and match ratings vs. Haiti*

Recent form

Scotland beat Haiti 1-0 then lost to Morocco by the same scoreline after a first-minute goal. Brazil laboured to a draw with the Africans, then trounced Haiti without getting out of second gear.

Team news

Scott McKenna, Kieran Tierney and Aaron Hickey are injury doubts for the Scots, while Raphinha is out for Brazil – but Neymar could be fit enough to return.

Key player

Assuming Brazil dominate play, it’s Lewis Ferguson who will be key for Scotland in the holding midfield role. Across European midfielders he ranks ahead of 70% over the past year for defensive actions and 93% for aerials won – and at the World Cup so far he ranks 99% for fouls and duels won. He’ll need to keep that up.

Prediction

Brazil really haven’t impressed much…but it only takes a momentary lapse for some of these quality attackers to break through. The Scots will give them that: Scotland 1-2 Brazil.

(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.

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Jun

2026

Preview: England meet Ghana as Three Lions target the knockout stages

England will be looking to continue their perfect start at the World Cup as they host a Ghana side who limped over the line against Panama.

By Matt Smith

Thomas Tuchel‘s side secured a 4-2 victory over Croatia in their opening match after a professional second half saw them take all three points.

It took a 95th-minute winner for Ghana to defeat Panama in their opening game, putting them in second place behind England in the group.

It’s been a while since these two sides faced each other, with their last meeting coming all the way back in 2011.

Tuchel’s game-changing team talk

England manager Tuchel will be hoping that he doesn’t have to provide an influential team talk at half-time when they face Ghana, but he certainly proved he can do so if needed. England were relatively disappointing in the first half against Croatia, but they produced some of their best attacking play in recent years in the second half.

England produced a phenomenal nine shots on target, with 22 touches inside the opposition box in the second half, with a lot of those coming from the left-hand side. Tuchel made incredibly positive changes, with the likes of Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, and Morgan Rogers all coming off the bench.

Ghana going through tricky period

Although Ghana managed to qualify for the World Cup, there’s no doubt they’ve endured a difficult period over the last 20 years or so. Ghana currently rank 73rd in the FIFA rankings despite being 14th in 2008.

Ghana’s victory over Panama also ended a run of seven games without a win, losing six of those matches. They did manage to top their group in qualifying, but there is no doubt they had a favourable set of sides to face.

They’ll certainly have to improve on their performance against Panama if they want to beat England, and they’ll need more from the likes of Antoine Semenyo.

Kane the obvious danger man

It’s not just Harry Kane‘s finishing ability that the likes of Ghana need to worry about at the World Cup. The Bayern forward can dictate games from deep, despite being a centre-forward on paper, while also getting into the box to score goals.

Kane created two chances against Croatia while also scoring twice, having more touches in the opposition box than any other player. When you have players like Noni Madueke, Anthony Gordon, Rashford or Saka running in behind, Kane dropping into deeper areas doesn’t even limit England’s attacking play.

Ghana will have to do everything they can in order to try to keep Kane quiet, but many clubs and countries have tried and failed to tame the deadly forward.

Prediction

England should get the job done considering Ghana’s recent struggles over the last few years. We are going for a 3-1 victory to Tuchel’s side.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Jun

2026

Preview: Spain look to kickstart World Cup campaign vs. Saudi Arabia

Spain are expected to bounce back from their shock goalless draw against Cape Verde in their second group game.

By Graham Ruthven

Point to prove

While nobody has written Spain off as World Cup contenders, the European champions have a point to prove against Saudi Arabia after their insipid 0-0 draw against Cape Verde. Indeed, Luis de la Fuente will expect much better from his team.

Spain had 27 shots without scoring against Cape Verde, a joint-record number in World Cup history. The pre-tournament favourites must demonstrate a much sharper edge to make the most of their superior possession and territorial advantage in the opposition half.

Saudi Arabia could be difficult to break down if their performance against Uruguay is anything to go by. The 2034 World Cup hosts defended their penalty box well and posed a threat from set pieces in a display that was similar to how Cape Verde frustrated Spain.

At some point, Spain are expected to click into gear at this World Cup. However, they could face a similar test to the one they failed to overcome against Cape Verde. Saudi Arabia will recycle the game plan that worked so well for the Africans.

Key players

Spain need Lamine Yamal available. Without the Barcelona winger fit from the beginning, the European champions lacked a direct threat, making them much easier to play against. By the time Yamal was introduced in the second half, Cape Verde were closing up space in their low block.

In central midfield, Pedri, Rodri and Fabián Ruiz will give Spain control of the ball in the centre of the pitch while Ferran Torres could be moved into the centre forward position after starting against Cape Verde on the right wing.

Marc Cucurella gave Spain a way to get in behind down the left side while Aymeric Laporte was their dominant defensive presence at the back.

Salem Al-Dawsari could pose the biggest threat to the Spanish goal down the left side. The Al-Hilal attacker scored the winning goal for Saudi Arabia against Argentina at the 2022 World Cup and is accustomed to delivering on the big stage.

Realistically, Mohammed Al Owais will need to be in top form for Saudi Arabia to take anything from their encounter with Spain. The goalkeeper made a number of big saves in the draw against Uruguay, but was also at fault for the equalising goal.

Team news

Yamal’s fitness remains a big talking point as does Nico Williams. The Athletic Club winger only came off the bench for the final few minutes of the draw against Cape Verde and is still searching for sharpness at the tournament.

Otherwise, de la Fuente has a full squad to choose from, meaning he could afford to shake up his forward line to ensure Spain have more joy in front of goal.

Similarly, Georgios Donis also has no new injury or suspension concerns. Saudi Arabia will have the license to field a full-strength team against the European champions.

Prediction

The European champions should find a way to win in Atlanta: Spain 2-0 Saudi Arabia.

(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.

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Jun

2026

Preview: Germany and Ivory Coast battle it out for top spot in Group E

After racking up the biggest result in the first round of World Cup fixtures, Germany face a much tougher test against a well rounded-looking Ivory Coast side, with top spot in Group E at stake.

By Karl Matchett

It is, of course, advantage Germany when it comes to being in the driving seat for top spot, purely on account of that massive 7-1 win over Curaçao.

Rotate or roll again?

But Julian Nagelsmann will have seen a few aspects of his team’s performance that could do with improving all the same and, regardless, the calibre of opposition will ensure that was seen as not much more than an additional warm-up match. It leaves the manager caught between seeing how the team really plays against a notable opponent, and resting or rotating to keep others involved, knowing that even a draw puts Germany in with a great chance of topping the group.

Wing wonders

The African side started their win over Ecuador with two unbelievably quick wide forwards on the flanks – and both ply their trade in Germany. Bazoumana Touré is direct, a tremendous crosser of the ball and a hard worker; Yan Diomande is the primary outlet, an absolute dribble monster and capable of the spectacular. Even if Germany dominate play, the threat at the other end will remain constant because of these two, with Diomande in particular the subject of transfer interest from Liverpool.

He topped the Bundesliga charts last term among wingers and attackers for successful dribbles, racking up 4.3 per 90 minutes on average, while he also ranked at 96% for touches in the box. Against Ecuador he had the most (12) in that latter stat of anyone on the pitch and made the most chances (5) too. If that duo wasn’t enough, Amad Diallo came off the bench to score the winner – he could feature anywhere along the attacking midfield line, including in place of Touré from the start or as a No. 10.

Recent form

Germany beat Switzerland and Ghana in March, Finland and USA before the World Cup started and then Curaçao last week. Ivory Coast lost 3-2 to Egypt in the Afcon quarter-final in January but have won four straight since then.

Team news

Manuel Neuer has confirmed he’ll retire (again) after these finals but is certainly available for the next few weeks, which has understandably irritated a few other German goalkeepers. Neither side have any injury worries and Ivory Coast have striker Elye Wahi available after he was initially denied entry into Canada.

Key player

There will be a lot more defensive requirement on the German midfield this time around, so Aleksandar Pavlović is the one to watch as nominally the ball-winner against those regular and speedy Ivory Coast breaks. Last season in the Bundesliga he was dribbed past 0.55 times per 90 minutes and Bayern Munich conceded an average of 1.42xG while he was on the pitch – his timing and pitch coverage will have to be on point here.

Prediction

Germany will have to raise their game, but the expectation is that they will. Control against counter-attack, and a few goals could be the result: Germany 3-2 Ivory Coast.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Jun

2026

FotMob Profile: The World has woken up to Ayyoub Bouaddi

There aren’t many better ways to announce yourself onto the global stage than by delivering a dominant midfield performance against Brazil at a World Cup. That’s exactly what Morocco’s Ayyoub Bouaddi did in the Atlas Lions’ 1-1 draw with Carlo Ancelotti’s side in their Group C opener on June 15 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

By Alex Connor

To put it simply, the 18-year-old was everywhere against the Seleção, recording 87 touches, three successful dribbles, four tackles, six recoveries and was dribbled past zero times. Veteran Brazil midfielder Casemiro was chasing Bouaddi’s shadow, and the chasm between them was so immense that the five-time Champions League winner was hooked at half-time.

The first half was dictated by Bouaddi’s eye-catching combination of youthful exuberance, technical excellence and untameable energy. Ancelotti’s sub gave tangible form to what everyone was thinking and saying. He had to act in an attempt to regain control from Morocco’s irresistibly slick Moroccan midfielder.

Speaking as a pundit for BBC Sport on the game, former Premier League striker Olivier Giroud said his friends likened Bouaddi to both Patrick Viera and Sergio Busquets: an eclectic mix that illustrates the well-rounded nature of his capabilities.

On just his fourth cap for his country, Bouaddi demonstrated maturity well beyond his youth, but for those of a Lille persuasion, this display was the teenager’s second coming-of-age performance. On his 17th birthday in October 2024, on his Champions League debut, he played the full match for Lille against a stacked Real Madrid midfield of Federico Valverde, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga and Jude Bellingham, helping the French outfit to a 1-0 victory over the then-reigning European champions. Bouaddi’s brilliance was serenaded by the Lille Ultras, who sang a belting edition of Joyeux Anniversaire to underline their appreciation for the club’s next phenomenon.

Again, for those involved with Lille, this striking display was no surprise. In October 2023, Bouaddi made his senior debut for Lille in a Conference League outing against Faroese side Klaksvikar Itrottarfelag just days after turning 16. To say he’s been rated from early would be an understatement. In fact, he’s been prophesied into greatness.

Bouaddi’s intelligence transcends way beyond the football pitch. In 2023, he entered the Eloquence Competition organised by the non-profit entity Prométhée Éducation for players enrolled at professional academies in France, held at the Élysée Palace. In front of the first lady, Brigitte Macron, and various other high-ranking individuals within sport, culture and politics, Bouaddi won the contest with a speech on the open-ended question: “Is the result superior to the method?”

*Bouaddi’s season summary with club side Lille*

Following this, the footballer’s academic endeavours have continued, and he’s currently doing a degree in mathematics and physics. These achievements are a testament to Bouaddi’s elite mindset, providing further evidence that he is a grounded, innovative young man who is rapidly flourishing in professional senior football.

Born in Senlis, a commune in the northern French department of Oise, Bouaddi joined Lille’s academy in 2013. His rise in international football initially began with France, and in November 2024, he became the third-youngest player to feature for Les Bleus’ under-21s side, before progressing to captain at this age group.

Bouaddi’s switch of international allegiance from France to Morocco was only approved by FIFA in May. Since then, in just over two months, he’s played in friendlies against Burundi, Madagascar and Norway, before being chucked into the deep end in New Jersey. But Bouaddi’s swift ascent into an already undroppable force in midfield, when (quite literally) the whole world was watching, indicates that we are dealing with a special player.

For Morocco, it looks almost impossible for the Atlas Lions to replicate their heroics of the 2022 World Cup, where they became the first African nation to reach the competition’s semi-finals, before eventually being knocked out by France. In Qatar, Morocco finished top of their group, ahead of Croatia, Belgium and Canada, before overcoming Spain and Portugal in the knockouts. It was a wonderful, record-breaking journey for the Atlas Lions, who look well-positioned for another deep run into the tournament.

Despite this notable success on the global stage, it’s a new era for Morocco with Mohamed Ouahbi appointed in March 2026, just a matter of months before the World Cup, following Walid Regragui’s resignation as manager in the wake of the chaotic African Cup of Nations final. It’s a fresh chapter spearheaded by a potentially generational world-beater.

Unsurprisingly, Lille will be braced for this summer’s transfer scramble for a player they’ve nurtured and developed over many years. The Tartan Army will be the next set of spectators who will get to closely observe Bouaddi’s powers, and he’ll undoubtedly be determined to burst Scotland’s World Cup bubble.

Bouaddi jumped his first global hurdle with unerring ease and the expectation has been set. All eyes are on him, and he well and truly has the world at his feet.

(Images via IMAGO)

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Jun

2026

Preview: Scotland looking to upset Morocco in Group C

Scotland and Morocco go head-to-head at the Gillette Stadium on Friday as Steve Clarke’s side look to extend their lead at the top of their group.

By Matt Smith

The Scots secured a 1-0 victory over Haiti in their opening game of the tournament, which was a crucial victory due to the two difficult games they have remaining. Morocco held Brazil in their opener after Ismael Saibari‘s goal was cancelled out by Vinícius Júnior.

These two sides last met back in 1998 in the World Cup, with Morocco securing a 3-0 victory in a game that saw Scotland’s Craig Burley sent off.

Team news

Scott McKenna could miss out for Scotland due to a calf problem, meaning he is a doubt heading into the game. An unchanged 11 from Clarke’s side certainly wouldn’t be a surprise after their victory in the opening match.

Morocco may also be unchanged after their impressive performance against Brazil. Ayyoub Bouaddi was the star of the show in midfield, running the game at the age of 18.

Scotland will need to step it up a level

It was an impressive result from Scotland to secure the 1-0 victory over Haiti, but they were certainly under a lot of pressure in the second half. After John McGinn scored the opener in the first 45 minutes, Scotland sat back in the second half, having just 36% possession.

Morocco might look to dominate proceedings with Scotland implementing a defensive counter-attack in style, but there is no doubt they will have more quality than Haiti. As a result, Scotland will need to step it up a level if they want to secure a victory. Although there is every chance that they will be happy with a draw.

Morocco need the three points

Although it was an impressive performance against Brazil, Morocco still only secured one point. They’ll be expecting to beat Haiti, but if they draw their second game and head into the final match with just two points, things could start to look a little tetchy.

Morocco need to ensure they secure all three points against Scotland, which could potentially see them top the group heading into the final game.

Scotland must limit Bouaddi

There has been a lot of hype surrounding Bouaddi after his performance in the opening game, and rightly so. The 18-year-old was everywhere in the middle of the park, winning nine ground duels while also completing 91% of his passes.

Stopping him from being able to control the game would be a smart move for Scotland, but unfortunately it’s never that simple. The Lille midfielder bossed the middle of the park despite coming up against experienced professionals in Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães.

Prediction

Morocco should have too much quality if Scotland are going to sit deep and invite the pressure. We’re going for a narrow 2-1 victory to Morocco.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Jun

2026

Preview: USMNT and Australia looking to back up big wins

Co-hosts United States face Australia in the second round of fixtures at the World Cup, with both teams in with a chance of sealing a knockout spot before their final group games.

By Neel Shelat

Free-flowing USMNT have found an attacking formula

How Mauricio Pochettino would set the United States men’s national team (USMNT) was not entirely clear coming into the World Cup, but it should be now after an emphatic 4-1 win over Paraguay in their opener.

The co-hosts tore apart the South Americans’ player-oriented mid block with a very dynamic attacking performance, running rings around the opposition defence with constant movement. While they lined up in a 4-1-2-3 formation on paper with Sergiño Dest on the right of a front three, they moved into a back three in possession with Antonee Robinson advancing on the left flank and freeing Christian Pulisic to drift infield. Tyler Adams operated as the lone defensive midfielder as the two number eights caused all sorts of problems with their forward runs.

All of that contributed to the USMNT’s first World Cup win, so they will be high on confidence as they prepare to take another step towards the knockouts.

Another test for Australia’s defensive resolve

Australia showcased excellent defensive discipline as they got the better of Türkiye in Vancouver.

Having taken the lead in under half an hour, they bunkered into a low block and sought to frustrate their opponents. The Socceroos did exactly that, giving up precious few clear looks at their goal. Though they faced 30 shots, the majority of them were from outside the box. Goalkeeper Patrick Beach worked hard to earn a clean sheet on his competitive international debut, keeping out all eight shots on target that he faced.

While Tony Popovic’s side kept out Türkiye’s technicians with sheer numbers at the back, they will face a different sort of test against a more dynamic USMNT.

Team news

Pulisic is the only doubt across both squads after he was brought off at half-time against Paraguay. He has been training separately due to a left calf issue, so the extent to which he will be available is uncertain.

Key Players

The USMNT will need their attacking stars to step up if they are to find a way through the Australian defence. Tillman’s clever runs in and around the box will be important, while Folarin Balogun will be keen to add to his brace from the opener. At the back, Alex Freeman will have an important role to play in limiting the Socceroos’ counterattacking threat.

Australia can expect Beach to face some more tests in goal, but they will hope that the back line shields him as far as possible. 6′ 6″ centre-back Harry Souttar will have a big role to play in that, and he will also be a significant threat from set-pieces at the other end. Nestory Irankunda will hope to lead the attacking charge again after scoring a wonderful opener against Türkiye to become the Socceroos’ youngest World Cup scorer.

Prediction

A close contest between two cohesive units should be in the offing. The USMNT may be on the front foot for longer stretches, but might have to settle for a score draw.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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