Brazil have suffered a major setback ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, with star forward Neymar ruled out of the opening Group C match against Morocco because of a calf injury.   Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said Neymar could even miss the entire group stage as the 34-year-old continues his recovery. The veteran forward has not trained with the squad since being called up and also missed the team's warm-up matches.   Ancelotti said Brazil included Neymar not only for his footballing ability but also for his experience and leadership. However, the team will now have to begin its World Cup journey without its biggest star, with Vinicius Jr and other attacking players expected to carry the load.  

The United States kicked off its FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a star-studded opening ceremony in Los Angeles, where global music icons Katy Perry, Blackpink's Lisa and rapper Future headlined the celebrations. Brazilian singer Anitta, Nigerian star Rema and South African artist Tyla also performed, turning the event into a grand musical spectacle ahead of the USA's Group D match against Paraguay. Thousands of fans packed the stadium as football and entertainment came together to mark the beginning of the tournament, highlighting the global appeal of the World Cup. (PC: HT)

Co-hosts USA began their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey in dominant fashion with a convincing 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their Group D opener at Los Angeles Stadium. Folarin Balogun starred with two goals, while an own goal from Damian Bobadilla and a late strike by Gio Reyna completed the scoring for the hosts. Paraguay pulled one back through Mauricio in the second half, but it was not enough to trouble the Americans. Backed by a home crowd, Mauricio Pochettino's side produced an impressive display to move to the top of Group D and strengthen hopes of a deep run in the tournament. (PC: NDTV)

England's preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered an unexpected setback after training equipment was stolen from a team van while being transported to the squad's base in Kansas City.   According to reports, the shipment was travelling from England's pre-tournament camp in Florida when the theft took place. The missing items are believed to include football boots, training balls and other essential gear. Local police have arrested two suspects and launched an investigation into the incident.   Despite the disruption, England's coaching staff are working to replace the equipment quickly and keep the squad focused ahead of their opening Group L match against Croatia. The Football Association is cooperating with authorities as the investigation continues. (PC: X)

Bosnia and Herzegovina moved into a 1–0 lead over co-hosts Canada in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opening match after Jovo Lukic scored his first-ever goal for the national team. The strike handed Bosnia a surprise advantage in front of a packed crowd in Toronto, where Canada was playing its first World Cup match on home soil. Despite enjoying strong support and entering the tournament with high expectations, Canada struggled to break down Bosnia's organized defense. Lukic's historic goal not only marked a personal milestone but also put Bosnia in a strong position to claim a memorable result in their tournament opener.

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his country's opening FIFA World Cup match against Panama after the Canadian government denied his visa application. FIFA confirmed that Partey cannot travel from Ghana’s training base in Boston to Toronto for the June 17 fixture but stressed that visa decisions are solely the responsibility of host nations. Partey, who currently plays for Villarreal CF, remains eligible for Ghana’s remaining group-stage matches in the United States against England and Croatia. The 32-year-old is facing legal charges in the United Kingdom, which he denies. Canadian authorities have not publicly explained the visa refusal. (PC: India Today)

Co-host nation Canada began its FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a landmark opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto, marking the first World Cup match ever played on Canadian soil. The highly anticipated fixture drew a passionate home crowd as Canada sought a strong start in front of its fans. Led by a talented generation of players, the Canadians aimed to capitalize on home advantage, while Bosnia and Herzegovina looked to make an immediate impact in the tournament. The match represented a historic moment for Canadian football and showcased the country's growing presence on the global stage.

Indian football fans renewed criticism of Zee Entertainment during the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026, citing poor streaming quality on the Zee5 app during Mexico’s 2-0 victory over South Africa. Complaints flooded social media, with users describing the viewing experience as unsatisfactory and raising concerns over the absence of a 4K streaming option. The backlash follows an earlier controversy in which Zee reduced the number of devices allowed under its World Cup subscription plan from three to one, prompting widespread criticism before restoring the original offer. Fans also objected to highlights not being freely accessible. Zee later clarified that subscribers joining after 10 PM IST on Thursday would be limited to one device.

Brazil are using advanced player-tracking technology in their build-up to the FIFA World Cup 2026, gathering years of performance data on players across club and national teams. Sensor-equipped smart vests monitor metrics including sprint speed, heart rate, workload, fatigue and injury recovery, with information shared by clubs and integrated into the Brazilian Football Confederation’s database. Head of sports science Guilherme Passos said the system helps coaches assess player fitness, rehabilitation progress and tactical suitability despite limited time with international squads. The technology also assists in managing injuries and monitoring workloads during the tournament. Brazil will continue using the tracking systems throughout the World Cup, including during matches and recovery periods. (PC: Getty Images)

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has faced criticism over high ticket prices after several matches, including South Korea vs Czech Republic in Guadalajara, showed large sections of empty seats. Despite FIFA reporting hundreds of millions of ticket requests, thousands of tickets remain available for upcoming matches, including Canada’s opening game against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto. Fans and commentators have accused FIFA of refusing to lower prices, describing the situation as a “war of attrition” between supporters and organisers. Reports noted lower-tier tickets reaching $500 and hospitality packages exceeding $5,000. Average ticket prices range from $598 in Los Angeles to $2,096 in Mexico City. (PC: Reuters)