- The 2026 World Cup gets underway in Mexico City today, as co-hosts Mexico take on South Africa in the opening game in Group A – the game kicks off at 8pm BST (3pm ET).
- Mexico’s opening ceremony is scheduled for 6.30pm BST (1.30pm ET) ahead of the game at the Estadio Azteca, it’s the first of three opening ceremonies across the three host nations.
- The other game in Group A sees South Korea take on the Czech Republic in Guadalajara – the game kicks off at 3am BST on Friday morning (10pm Thursday ET).
- A major point of contention is the denial of a US visa to Somali referee Omar Artan, with the US administration alleging connections to "suspected members of terror organisations," a claim Artan refutes, insisting he possessed valid documentation.
- In preparation for the tournament, England celebrated a 3-0 victory against Costa Rica in their final warm-up game, with goals from Declan Rice, Anthony Gordon and Ollie Watkins.
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