On the eve of the game, the Uruguayan plane didn\u2019t have clearance to fly from Cancun, where the team have been based, to the US, which left the squad stuck at the hotel until a solution was found, with the Uruguayan FA pinning the blame on Fifa, who in turn claimed it was an issue with the airline.<\/p>\n
Iran <\/a>captain Mehdi Taremi<\/a> has also criticised Fifa for the impact<\/a> that his nation\u2019s war with the US has had on preparations for their first game against New Zealand tonight, having been forced to move their base to Mexico, visa issues plaguing members of their delegation and travelling fans being stripped of match tickets. \u201cI have felt the tension from the first moment we arrived at this World Cup,\u201d said Taremi. \u201cThis kind of tension, it undermines that joy and it undermines the message of Fifa and our people, which is that football brings about peace. I feel like this World Cup could have provided a better atmosphere than it has.\u201d<\/p>\n As England<\/a> continue to build up to Wednesday\u2019s game <\/a>with Croatia, Jordan Henderson<\/a> has leapt to the defence of teammate Jude Bellingham<\/a>, claiming external criticism is way off the mark. \u201cI know a lot gets written in the media and I really find it hard to read sometimes because I just know how big an influence he is on this team, how good a teammate he is off the field,\u201d said Henderson. \u201cAnd what he gives us is just something really special, he really gives us the X-factor in our team. We all know what he can do, and how much we all love him inside the camp, and I suppose that\u2019s the main thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Follow all of the latest from our writers in North America with our live blog below:<\/p>\n World Cup 2026 – live updates<\/a>Lamine Yamal faces fitness race for Spain opener<\/p>\n Lamine Yamal is touch-and-go to be fit for Spain\u2019s World Cup opener against Cape Verde this evening.<\/p>\n The 18-year-old superstar has been out since late April due to a left hamstring injury but is now back in full squad training.<\/p>\n Boss Luis de la Fuente has suggested he is ready to play some minutes but may be cautious with the teenager, who lit up the Euros as a 16-year-old two years ago.<\/p>\n \u201cThe good news is that Lamine is in perfect condition,\u201d De la Fuente said in a pre-match press conference on Sunday. \u201cHe’s arrived at this point in the state in which we wanted him to be. He\u2019s fine, just like Nico [Williams] and Victor [Munoz]. They’re all available, although some won’t play the entire game.<\/p>\n \u201cThe doctors say Lamine can play tomorrow without any issues. Not to play 90 minutes, but to play some minutes, yes… The process [with Williams] is similar. They’ve been working together a lot of days, a lot of hours, and with the relationship they have, they’ve been happy. They could play, if we think the game demands it.\u201d<\/p>\n Luke Baker15 June 2026 09:50<\/p>\n <\/a>Tornado hits Kansas City hours after England arrive at World Cup base with players told to shelter<\/p>\n It seems like everyone was alright \u2013 but it was a pretty hairy welcome to Kansas City for England over the weekend<\/p>\n Luke Baker15 June 2026 09:42<\/p>\n <\/a>Germany hit seven but Curacao\u2019s moment justifies new format<\/p>\n Kai Havertz scored a brace as Germany opened their World Cup campaign with a dominant 7-1 victory over debutants Curacao in Houston.<\/p>\n Felix Nmecha opened the scoring just six minutes in, but Germany were slightly stunned when Livano Comenencia levelled for minnows Curacao, making their maiden appearance at a World Cup, suggesting that the expanded new format is worthwhile when nations can produce moments that inspire generations.<\/p>\n However, a Nico Schlotterbeck header and Havertz penalty soon restored Germany\u2019s advantage at half-time. A comfortable display saw further goals in the second half from Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown, Deniz Undav and Havertz as Germany wrapped up three points in their first Group E game.<\/p>\n Luke Baker15 June 2026 09:30<\/p>\n <\/a>Japanese fans leave their mark off the pitch at World Cup<\/p>\n Japanese fans had plenty to celebrate after their 2-2 draw with the Netherlands at the Dallas Stadium in Texas but once again they will make headlines for an incredible gesture after the full-time whistle of the World Cup 2026 clash.<\/p>\n As usual in sporting events of this size, the stands of the stadium became littered with rubbish, such as food trays and empty drinks cups, but Japan\u2019s supporters remained behind and cleaned up before departing the stadium.<\/p>\n Experts in Japanese culture cite a proverb: “tatsu tori ato wo nigosazu” which, when translated into English, means “stand up, take care of it, without leaving any traces behind” as one reason why Japan supporters tidy up after themselves.<\/p>\n Luke Baker15 June 2026 09:21<\/p>\n <\/a>Sweden\u2019s deadly duo Isak and Gyokeres both off the mark in win over Tunisia<\/p>\n One of the big challenges for successive Sweden managers has been how to get the best out of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres on the same pitch, at the same time. Graham Potter\u2019s solution against Tunisia was to play a 3-5-2 formation in which his star strikers were paired together, and it paid off with a 5-1 win in which both players got on the scoresheet \u2013 as Brighton\u2019s Yasin Ayari scored two belters from range against his mother\u2019s country.<\/p>\n The forward pair were helped by some poor Tunisian defending and goalkeeping, and there remain some question marks over their link-up play. At one point during the second half, Gyokeres should have played Isak through on goal but the Arsenal striker dallied and when he eventually passed, Isak was offside. Gyokeres\u2019s goal might technically have been an Isak assist, but Isak was trying to score himself and the ball only ran to his strike partner when he lost control under pressure.<\/p>\n So perhaps there is still something to work on to develop a thriving partnership in which they are as happy to pass to one another as to take on the shot. But for Potter and Sweden, just seeing their star duo play together is a huge boost after Isak\u2019s season of injuries. Group F rivals Netherlands and Japan will be wary of the threat Sweden pose.<\/p>\n Luke Baker15 June 2026 09:11<\/p>\n <\/a>Jordan Henderson defends England teammate Jude Bellingham: ‘We all love him’<\/p>\n As England continue to build up to Wednesday\u2019s game with Croatia, Jordan Henderson has leapt to the defence of teammate Jude Bellingham, claiming external criticism of the Real Madrid midfielder is way off the mark. <\/p>\n It has been suggested that one of the reasons Thomas Tuchel wanted veteran Henderson in his World Cup squad was his good relationship with Bellingham, who has developed a reputation externally as something of a tricky character.<\/p>\n \u201cI know a lot gets written in the media and I really find it hard to read sometimes because I just know how big an influence Jude is on this team, how good a teammate he is off the field,\u201d said Henderson. <\/p>\n \u201cAnd what he gives us is just something really special, he really gives us the X-factor in our team. <\/p>\n \u201cI do think a lot of the media and the stuff that gets written isn\u2019t all true to be honest, or a lot of it is actually untrue. But we all know what he can do, and how much we all love him inside the camp, and I suppose that\u2019s the main thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Luke Baker15 June 2026 08:58<\/p>\n <\/a>The unwanted Premier League reality exposed by Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne\u2019s World Cup showdown<\/p>\n For two ageing greats who contested an epic rivalry over years, the World Cup could provide a last duel. Not Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi \u2013 or not definitely, anyway, given the number of results required to ensure that Portugal actually do meet Argentina in the Kansas City quarter-final \u2013 but Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah.<\/p>\n They have met in the Community Shield, the Champions League and the Carabao Cup but theirs is primarily a Premier League battle. Now for the north-west of the United States not the north-west of England. They meet in Seattle as captains of Belgium and Egypt and arguably the Premier League\u2019s two best players of the last decade. <\/p>\n There are cases for Harry Kane and Virgil van Dijk, one for Erling Haaland that is based on a much briefer stay in the division, but De Bruyne and Salah allied creativity with class, assists with goals, medals with magnificence, individual exploits with collective achievement.<\/p>\n Richard Jolly analyses a final showdown between two Premier League greats:<\/p>\n Luke Baker15 June 2026 08:54<\/p>\n <\/a>Iran captain Mehdi Taremi criticises Fifa over impact of USA war at World Cup<\/p>\n Iran captain Mehdi Taremi has criticised Fifa, with his team is having a challenging World Cup experience amid the multifold disruptions created by their nation’s war with the US.<\/p>\n The Iranians arrived in the Los Angeles area on Sunday from their training base in Tijuana, Mexico, ahead of their clash with New Zealand this evening, while visa issues have plagued members of their delegation and travelling fans have been stripped of match tickets. <\/p>\n \u201cI have felt the tension from the first moment we arrived at this World Cup,\u201d said Taremi. \u201cThis kind of tension, it undermines that joy and it undermines the message of Fifa and our people, which is that football brings about peace. I feel like this World Cup could have provided a better atmosphere than it has.\u201d<\/p>\n Luke Baker15 June 2026 08:50<\/p>\n![\"Lamine](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2281567770...jpeg\")
Lamine Yamal may start on the bench against Cape Verde (Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Alexander](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781513843_827_download...jpeg\")
Alexander Bernhardsson (left), Benjamin Nygren (10) and Alexander Isak (9) celebrate with Viktor Gyokeres (17) (AP)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2246571283...jpeg\")
(Getty)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2281600014...jpeg\")
(Getty)<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2268670294...jpeg\")
(Getty)<\/p>\n