FIFA World Cup 2026 - players.bio

Curacao faces daunting first World Cup game against 4-time champion Germany

Qatar lost all three of its matches as a World Cup host four years ago and appeared to be headed toward another in its 2026 opener against Switzerland. Boualem Khoukhi changed his country’s course at the last possible moment, scoring a tying goal on a header in the fourth minute of stoppage time to give Qatar a 1-1 tie against Switzerland on Saturday. The late equalizer gave Qatar its first World Cup point and left the mighty Swiss wondering what happened. “We’re looking at ourselves,” Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka said. Brazil managed to extend its unbeaten streak in World Cup openers to 21. Morocco didn’t make it easy. Morocco controlled play early and took the lead in the 21st minute on a goal by Ismael Saibari. Brazil tied it on Vinícius Júnior’s goal in the 32nd minute and ended up in a 1-1 tie to avoid its first loss since 1934 against Spain. Scotland, making its first appearance in the tournament since 1998, beat Haiti 1-0 on John McGinn’s deflected shot in the 28th minute.

Australia spoils Turkiye’s return to the World Cup with a 2-0 victory

VANCOUVER: Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe scored and Australia spoiled Turkiye’s return to the World Cup for the first time in 24 years with a 2-0 victory on Saturday night. Goalkeeper Patrick Beach made eight saves for the Socceroos in their group opener as FIFA President Gianni Infantino looked on. Australia was playing in its sixth straight World Cup and seventh overall. Turkiye reached the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup but then missed five straight tournaments before qualifying this year by beating Kosovo in a playoff. Irankunda broke through for the Socceroos in the 27th minute with a low shot while pursued by three defenders.

‘Limitless’ Pedri emerges as Spain’s natural heir to Xavi, Iniesta

ATLANTA: Pedri watched his heroes Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta conquer the world from his family’s bar as a boy, now Spain’s latest midfield maestro is chasing the same dream. The 23-year-old has already proven to be a fitting heir to Xavi and Iniesta at club level with Barcelona, winning three La Liga titles. He was also part of the Spanish side that became European champions in Germany two years ago, although an injury in the quarter-final win over the hosts saw him miss the final stages. Fitness problems had been a persistent problem after he burst onto the scene as a teenager. After a superb breakthrough season in 2020/21, Pedri’s starring role as Spain reached the semifinals of Euro 2020 meant he played 73 matches for club and country, a toll which was too much for his developing body. Barcelona turned to a specialist myopathy laboratory in the USA for solutions and a study of Pedri’s genetics helped create an individual plan that has brought him back to among the world’s best midfielders. Alongside Lamine Yamal, Gavi, Fermin Lopez and Pau Cubarsi he is part of another hugely talented generation of Barca youngsters that have helped the club overcome financial difficulties to remain La Liga’s dominant force. - “It’s like a movie” -

Two men charged over England World Cup ‘heist’

Kansas City: Two men were charged Saturday over the theft of $18,000-worth of kit and equipment from the England team at the World Cup, a US prosecutor said. Mustafa Salik and Erfan Kamal each face one count of receiving stolen property, according to a statement from the office of Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson. The offense under Missouri law carries a prison sentence of up to seven years. The equipment was stolen from vehicles as it was transferred from England’s training camp in Florida to their World Cup base in Kansas City. Johnson’s office said in a statement that the stolen property is estimated to be worth about $18,000. “Jackson County will not tolerate any criminal activity that targets World Cup visitors, including the international teams that have traveled here to compete,” Johnson said. “We thank the Kansas City Police Department and our on-call attorneys for their quick work investigating this incident and filing charges immediately.” Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas praised the police and the prosecutor’s office “in resolving an investigation across several states, helping crime victims recover goods stolen in transit.” Earlier, England reserve goalkeeper Dean Henderson said he had his boots back after it was reported that most of the items had been recovered. “I got them back, so it’s all good,” the Crystal Palace goalkeeper said after England’s first training session at Swope Soccer Village. “I think they got everything back, so it’s all good.” Defender Dan Burn was relaxed about the episode. “Obviously it was to do with the police,” he said. “So I don’t know how much people know about it.

Scotland hang on for first World Cup win since 1990 with 1-0 victory over Haiti

BOSTON: Scotland, roared on by their Tartan Army of traveling fans, savoured their first World Cup win in 36 years on Saturday when they edged past Haiti 1-0 thanks to a first-half strike by John McGinn. The Scots — needing three points against a side ranked among the minnows of the game before facing tougher opposition in the shape of Brazil and Morocco in their other Group C games — went ahead in the 28th minute. A close-range effort by Che Adams was saved by Johny Placide only for the ball to fall to McGinn whose shot was deflected over the Haiti goalkeeper and ‌into the net. Eleven ‌minutes earlier, Scott McTominay had smacked a shot ‌against ⁠a post and, ⁠although Haiti showed glimpses of their electric pace and put pressure on Scotland in the closing stages, Scottish goalkeeper Angus Gunn barely had a save to make. The win puts Steve Clarke’s men top of Group C ahead of five-times world champions Brazil and 2022 semifinalists Morocco who drew 1-1 earlier on Saturday. Under FIFA’s expanded tournament format, three points and a decent goal difference ⁠at the end of the group stage would offer ‌a good chance of qualifying for the ‌knockout stage of the competition, something that has eluded Scotland in all of ‌their previous eight World Cups. The Scottish supporters made the most of their ‌return to the global stage after an absence of 28 years, giving a lung-busting rendition of “The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond” before kickoff as well as their familiar tribute song for McGinn. He repaid the compliment with his goal, less than ‌a month after he lifted the Europa League trophy as captain of England’s Aston Villa, while winger Ben ⁠Gannon-Doak threatened with ⁠his pace. Haiti – playing at their first World Cup

Brazil and Morocco share the spoils in blockbuster World Cup clash

RIYADH: One of the most anticipated matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage came to a close with neither side able to find a winner.

Netherlands’ Van Hecke seeks to emulate uncle’s success

DALLAS: If Netherlands defender Jan Paul ‌van Hecke is to keep up family tradition, he will need to go all the way to the World Cup final.

Khoukhi equalizer secures historic point for Qatar in opener against Switzerland

RIYADH: It did not look like it for 94 minutes, but Qatar managed to secure a valuable and historic point against Switzerland to blow Group B at the 2026 FIFA World Cup wide open. It might not have been the showing Qatari fans desired after their disappointing campaign at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but a late equalizer from veteran Boualem Khouki sealed a 1-1 draw against the group’s heavyweights.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 Sport News

Curacao faces daunting first World Cup game against 4-time champion Germany

Australia spoils Turkiye’s return to the World Cup with a 2-0 victory

‘Limitless’ Pedri emerges as Spain’s natural heir to Xavi, Iniesta

Two men charged over England World Cup ‘heist’

Scotland hang on for first World Cup win since 1990 with 1-0 victory over Haiti

Brazil and Morocco share the spoils in blockbuster World Cup clash

Netherlands’ Van Hecke seeks to emulate uncle’s success

Khoukhi equalizer secures historic point for Qatar in opener against Switzerland