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World Cup 2026 today: Live updates, news as World Cup draws near - June 9
The World Cup is now just two days away and we will bring you all of the latest news throughout the day.
The World Cup is almost here! Time for the football to do the talking
All of the pretournament noise will be drowned out by events on the pitch when the 2026 World Cup finally -- finally! -- kicks off on Thursday.
AROUND THE TOURNAMENT
World Cup 2026 today: Live updates, news as World Cup draws near - June 9
The World Cup is now just two days away and we will bring you all of the latest news throughout the day.
World Cup Rank: The 50 best players in the 2026 tournament
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature the world's best talent. Let's rank the top 50 players who will be there!
The World Cup record that will be broken three times in first week
While the World Cup is always a chance to see bright new talents, 2026 also provides a chance to celebrate longevity both on the pitch and on the bench.
Top Headlines
WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR THE HOME NATIONS?
England's route to the 2026 World Cup final: Potential Brazil, Argentina knockout fixtures and why topping Group L is crucial
What awaits England if they top Group L? And how dramatically does the picture change if they don't? ESPN looks into Thomas Tuchel's route to the final.
Scotland's route through 2026 World Cup knockouts: France? Potential England tie? Can Steve Clarke's men spring a surprise?
Scotland will compete in their first World Cup campaign since 1998 but who are they playing in the group stage and who could they meet in the knockout stages?
AFRICA ON THE BIGGEST STAGE
Could this Nigeria XI at the FIFA World Cup beat, say, England?
While Nigeria may be absent, Nigerian football will be on display at the FIFA World Cup, and ESPN's starting XI could beat quite a few teams on offer. England, maybe? USA?
Gyan? Diouf? Hakimi? - Ranking Africa's 10 greatest World Cup players
Some of Africa's greatest footballers have graced the FIFA World Cup, but while certain icons struggled to translate their brilliance to the tournament itself, others rose to the occasion.
Predicting every game of the entire World Cup: All the teams and all the winners
ALL THE BUILD UP
Meet England's 2026 World Cup squad: All 26 players picked by Thomas Tuchel and why
ESPN takes a look at every player named in the England squad for the 2026 World Cup.
Meet Scotland's 2026 World Cup squad: All 26 players picked by Steve Clarke and why
Scotland manager Steve Clarke has named the 26 players he believes can make an impression at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
QUIZ TIME!
Test your England knowledge in our World Cup quiz!
How many penalties have England missed in shoot-outs? Who scored England's first goal in Qatar four years ago? Take our World Cup quiz to find out!
FIFA WORLD CUP
Free World Cup 2026 predictor: Simulate your road to the final
Put your football knowledge to the test with ESPN's free World Cup 2026 predictor games and forecast every twist and turn of the tournament.
FIFA WORLD CUP
GAMES BEGIN JUNE 11
Get ready for the biggest men's World Cup ever! What you need to know about all 48 teams
ESPN's experts are here with what you need to know at a glance about every team.
Which World Cup records are most likely to be broken in 2026?
This summer's expanded tournament in North America could be one to rewrite the record books.
World Cup sticker shock: The ugly cost of the game's grand event
WORLD CUP INFO
World Cup's new rules explained: VAR for corners, no GK 'timeouts,' red card for covering your mouth
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has made some big changes to soccer ahead of the World Cup. But what do they mean?
Japan have mapped out a plan to win the World Cup by 2050.
Japan's "100 Year Vision" is well ahead of schedule, but are the Samurai Blue ready win the World Cup now?
FIFA World Cup
Mexico vs. South Africa - Is anyone expecting Bafana to win this match?
South Africa will kick off the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a reverse fixture of the 2010 opener as they face Mexico in Mexico City on Thursday, June 11 - precisely 16 years after Siphiwe Tshabalala's screamer united a nation.
Australia
FIFA World Cup
Jackson Irvine has ridden a roller coaster season to a third World Cup
The past year has been a tough one for Jackson Irvine. From injuries, to off-field incidents and a failed relegation battle, Irvine experienced it all. But the midfielder is all set for his third FIFA World Cup, cherishing the experience more than ever.
Australia
FIFA World Cup
Socceroos World Cup Daily: Earning the trust of Tony Popovic
Join Joey Lynch and Alex Hatzikostas each day as they go behind the scenes in the Socceroos camp and give the inside word on all the action at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
France
FIFA World Cup
Leboeuf: Mbappé was clumsy and didn't track back in warm-up friendly
FIFA World Cup
U.S. Soccer CEO's message to fans concerned by ticket prices
United States
FIFA World Cup
Has U.S. Soccer started looking for Pochettino's replacement?
FIFA World Cup
Burley: Mbappé's problem is his reputation of doing what he wants
Top Headlines
- Mazraoui ok to train, waiting on Ezzalzouli - Morocco
- Argentina to avoid 'risks' with Messi set to play
- World Cup ref from Somalia denied entry to U.S.
- U.S. defender Richards full participant on Monday
- Brazil: MRI shows Neymar making 'good progress'
- Cleared Platini files suit against FIFA's Infantino
- Timber misses World Cup through injury
England at World Cup 2026
- Marcio Machado - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Who is playing at the 2026 World Cup and when? Kick-off times and how to watch in the UK
The World Cup is right around the corner - here's everything you need to know about who is playing when, and how you can watch them in the UK.
- Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images
England at the 2026 World Cup: Schedule, results, how to watch, news, analysis, injuries, more
ESPN rounds up everything you need to know ahead of England's World Cup campaign.
- Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images
Scotland at the 2026 World Cup: Schedule, results, how to watch, news, analysis, injuries, more
ESPN rounds up everything you need to know ahead of Scotland's World Cup campaign.
What you need to know
- Michael Regan - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
2026 FIFA World Cup: Format, groups, full match schedule, more
Check out the groups for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, along with everything you need to know about the tourney's format.
- Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
World Cup group stage explained: Tiebreakers, third-place teams, more
Here's everything you need to know about what teams need to do to reach the knockout rounds of the 2026 World Cup.
- Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images
How does offside work in soccer? Explaining one of the sport's key laws
Here's what you need to know about offside, why it exists and how it will be implemented at the 2026 World Cup.
World Cup trends
- Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images
VAR explained by former referee: How will it work at World Cup?
VAR will again take center stage this summer. Here's what to know about how it works and what's new for the 2026 World Cup.
- Getty Images
Ranked: World Cup 2026 favorites most likely to crash out
At every World Cup, a front-runner collapses and exits the tournament early. Which team will it be in 2026?
- Perry McIntyre/ISI Photos via Getty Images
USMNT's final World Cup roster has Pochettino taking risks
USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino stayed true to himself, but his risks in the midfield could have a domino effect at the World Cup.
