FIFA World Cup 2026 - players.bio

Kane hails England preparation as squad arrives at base camp

KANSAS CITY, USA: Harry Kane said England had enjoyed “great preparation” ahead of their World Cup campaign as the squad touched down in Kansas City — their base camp for the tournament. Thomas Tuchel’s men arrived in the Midwest on Saturday following a camp in Florida, where they played two friendly matches, against New Zealand and Costa Rica, winning both. They are one of the favorites to win the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States after coming close to winning silverware at recent major tournaments. England captain Kane said preparation for their opening match against Croatia next Wednesday in Arlington, Texas, had been “top drawer.” “The way we worked, the way we trained, the preparation for games, the way we played and also just the togetherness, the way we reconnected,” he said. “The relaxation away from it as well, the recovery part of it.

Raya relaxed despite Spain goalkeeper debate

CHATTANOOGA, USA: David Raya believes Spain “are in good hands” no matter who starts the World Cup in goal as he battles with Unai Simon and Joan Garcia to be Luis de la Fuente’s number one. Raya enjoyed an outstanding season at Arsenal, helping the Gunners to a first Premier League title in 22 years and reach the Champions League final. Garcia also shone as Barcelona won La Liga, but they are reportedly set to miss out as Simon is expected to start. The Athletic Bilbao stopper has been Spain’s number one at the past three major tournaments, including when La Roja won Euro 2024. “I think Spain is in good hands, whoever plays,” Raya told a press conference on Saturday at Spain’s training base in Chattanooga. “Since Unai debuted, he has performed at a really high level. We have won the Nations League, the Euros with him and he’s a great goalkeeper who has given us these titles.” Raya, 30, has spent the vast majority of his career in England. He moved to Blackburn as a teenager and spent a loan spell at sixth-tier Southport, before making his name in the Premier League with Brentford. In three years at Arsenal, he has won the Golden Glove award for most clean sheets in the Premier League every season. But much of the debate in his homeland has centered on whether Garcia should be selected ahead of Simon rather than Raya. “I have spent a lot of years abroad and I remember the first time I came to the national team sometimes they asked who I was,” he added on whether he has been overlooked in Spain. “I am doing my job for my club to be the best I can be and to be able to represent my country, which is the most important thing.

Cucurella hopes his wife’s pyjama top will be his lucky charm at World Cup

ATLANTA: Spain midfielder Marc ‌Cucurella, who set up Mikel Oyarzabal’s late winner against England at the Euro 2024 final, is hoping that his lucky charm — a pyjama top worn by his wife during that European triumph — will bring him good fortune at the World Cup as well. The 27-year-old Chelsea player’s luck ‌favored him ‌throughout Euro 2024 as no ‌penalty ⁠was given when ⁠the ball struck his hand in the box during extra time in the quarter-final against Germany.

Turkiye captain Hakan Calhanoglu says his ‘more talented’ team will ‘dominate’ Australia in World Cup

VANCOUVER: Turkiye are back in the World Cup for the first time since 2002 and, despite the long absence, captain Hakan Calhanoglu has made some bulletin-board worthy comments about his team’s first opponent. “I think we will dominate (Saturday), the game, because we have more qualities and a more talented team,” Calhanoglu said Friday of Australia, Turkiye’s opponent at BC Place. “So we will see (Saturday) what happens.” Turkiye have had their share of continental success throughout much of this century but did not qualify for the past five World Cups.

Bielsa’s new-look Uruguay test Saudi dreams of another World Cup upset

MIAMI: Saudi Arabia will attempt to ‌recreate their World Cup magic from 2022 when they face Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay in their Group H opener on Monday, but this time it is uncertainty rather than confidence driving the Gulf nation’s campaign. Saudi Arabia arrive under new coach Georgios Donis, who has no international tournament experience and was appointed less than two months before the World Cup when Herve Renard was dismissed in April. Renard had secured his place in Saudi football history four years ago when he masterminded a stunning 2-1 victory over eventual champions Argentina in Qatar, one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history. Brought back in 2024 after Roberto Mancini’s brief and unsuccessful tenure, ‌the Frenchman ‌was expected to restore the intensity and organization that had ‌made ⁠Saudi Arabia tricky ⁠opponents in Doha. Instead, inconsistent performances and concerning defeats, including a 4-0 loss to Egypt and a 2-1 setback against Serbia in friendly matches, prompted a late managerial change before a daunting group featuring Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde. Donis, a former Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United midfielder with extensive managerial experience in Saudi club football, now faces the challenge of reviving confidence in a squad that has struggled to build momentum. Captain Salem ⁠Al-Dawsari remains the team’s talisman and greatest attacking threat, with ‌memories of his iconic winner against Argentina still ‌fresh in Saudi football folklore.

Saudi World Cup fans buzzing in Miami as players countdown to Uruguay opener

RIYADH: Saudi soccer fans in the US took part in a celebratory march in Miami on Saturday as the countdown begins to the Green Falcons’ opening World Cup game.

Brazil enter the fray at the World Cup

LOS ANGELES: Five-time winners Brazil roll into the World Cup on Saturday when they play surprise 2022 semifinalists Morocco in one of the standout group-stage matchups. On the first day featuring four matches at a tournament expanded this year to 48 teams, Scotland return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998 and take on debutants Haiti in Boston. In other games, 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar play Switzerland in Santa Clara before Australia take on Turkiye in Vancouver to close out the day. Co-hosts the United States launched their home World Cup in emphatic fashion Friday, thrashing Paraguay 4-1 to delight a star-studded 70,000-strong crowd in Los Angeles that included Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Cruise and David Beckham. On Saturday, all eyes will be fixed on Brazil in New Jersey. The Selecao might not be the force they once were, but they remain one of the most glamorous draws in world football. Carlo Ancelotti has been drafted in to try to end the Brazilians’ 24-year wait for another global crown. Ancelotti, making his World Cup debut as a coach, says he is convinced he has a team capable of competing with the very best. “It’s a new experience, it’s a new responsibility to represent the country of football,” the Italian said on Friday. “We have a team that can compete with every team in the world, we’re convinced of that.

Ghana chides ‘unfair’ Canada for denying visa to midfielder Partey

ACCRA: Ghana’s government ‌on Saturday called Canada’s decision to deny midfielder Thomas Partey a visa for his country’s World Cup game against Panama next week “high-handed and extremely unfair.” The West African nation’s foreign ministry said in a statement that it understood the decision to be based on pending criminal proceedings in Britain. The 32-year-old Partey, a former Arsenal midfielder who now plays for Villarreal, faces allegations of rape and sexual assault in Britain. He has denied the charges.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 Sport News

Kane hails England preparation as squad arrives at base camp

Raya relaxed despite Spain goalkeeper debate

Cucurella hopes his wife’s pyjama top will be his lucky charm at World Cup

Turkiye captain Hakan Calhanoglu says his ‘more talented’ team will ‘dominate’ Australia in World Cup

Bielsa’s new-look Uruguay test Saudi dreams of another World Cup upset

Saudi World Cup fans buzzing in Miami as players countdown to Uruguay opener

Brazil enter the fray at the World Cup

Ghana chides ‘unfair’ Canada for denying visa to midfielder Partey