Young Lions · Premier League · Midfielder · #3 · Japan · 18 yrs
Later today, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will get underway. There are two matches on Thursday’s docket: Host team Mexico gets things started against South Africa, while a little later South Korea will square off with Czechia. And in short order, the other 44 teams will join the fray. Here, we are keeping track on […]
Elijah Just was left "a little disappointed" despite scoring twice as New Zealand started their World Cup with a 2-2 draw with Iran that had BBC pundit Chris Sutton suggesting had "added a couple of zeros" on to the Motherwell midfielder's transfer value. The 26-year-old became the first Well player to score at a World Cup - and his country's top scorer ever at a finals - with two sublime finishes at Los Angeles Stadium. "It is a memory that'll last me for the rest of my life," Just said while paying tribute to captain Chris Wood, the 34-year-old Nottingham Forest striker, for setting up both goals.
If the opening days of the tournament have taught us anything, it’s that reputations count for very little once the FIFA World Cup gets underway.Upsets continue to pile up, unexpected heroes are ste...
Norway coach Solbakken backs striker to make impact‘He’s played better and better in training,’ 58-year-old saysThe venue where one footballing great’s World Cup journey ended will witness the beginning for another. Little did anybody know at the time that Diego Maradona’s appearance for Argentina against Nigeria in 1994 would be his last on football’s biggest stage. It was then the Foxboro Stadium. Fast forward 32 years. Same place, different name. At the Boston Stadium, Erling Haaland will play in the World Cup for the first time as Norway face Iraq on Tuesday.Careers can be defined by this tournament. It is a reference point, for example, that George Best never featured in one. “I think he is the world’s best goalscorer,” said the Norway head coach, Ståle Solbakken. “He is physically fit. I think he has gradually played better and better in training. Continue reading...
Iran and New Zealand will square off in Matchday 1 of the FIFA World Cup group stage. Here’s everything you need to know to watch this game live in the United States. Here are all of the details of where you can watch Iran vs New Zealand on US television and via legal streaming: WHO Iran vs New Zealand WHAT 2026 World Cup WHEN 9:00pm ET / 6:00pm PT • Monday, June 15, 2026 WHERE Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling, Peacock Premium, FS1, Telemundo and Hulu + Live TV STREAM WATCH NOW Match Overview Iran enters their opening match of the 2026 tournament as the clear favorite, backed by a strong qualification campaign and a higher FIFA ranking. However, their preparations have been significantly disrupted by geopolitical issues, casting a shadow of uncertainty over a team that otherwise looks poised to make a statement. For Team Melli, securing three points is essential to build momentum in a challenging group that also features Belgium and Egypt. New Zealand arrives in North America as the lowest-ranked nation in the competition, but this clash represents a golden opportunity to achieve a historic first-ever win at the finals. While their path to qualification was far less demanding, the All Whites are determined to prove they can compete on the global stage. For them, this match is less about pressure and more about seizing a rare chance to upset the odds and make history. Tactical Analysis & Match Context The journey to this tournament for these two nations could not be more different. Iran navigated a grueling 16-match AFC qualification gauntlet, suffering only a single defeat and demonstrating their quality against tough continental competition. In stark contrast, New Zealand dominated a five-match OFC qualifying schedule against lower-ranked opposition, raising questions about their readiness for this elite level. Tactically, this match projects as a clash between Iran’s technical skill and New Zealand‘s disciplined structure. Iran showcased a potent attack during qualifying, averaging an impressive 2.11 expected goals (xG) per 90 minutes, complemented by a defense that conceded just 0.75 goals per game. New Zealand will likely adopt a defensive posture, looking to frustrate Iran and capitalize on counter-attacks or set-piece opportunities centered around their towering forward, Chris Wood. For both squads, the motivation is crystal clear: this is a must-win fixture. With European powerhouse Belgium and a strong Egyptian side rounding out Group G, securing an early victory is paramount to any hope of advancing to the knockout stages. A win here could pave the way for a potential third-place qualification spot, making the stakes incredibly high from the very first whistle. Head-to-Head Record & Historic Trends Historically, these two nations have met only twice, with Iran holding the advantage. Their most recent encounter was in the 2003 AFC-OFC Challenge Cup, where Iran secured a decisive 3-0 victory in Tehran. The only other meeting was a friendly match in 1973 that ended in a goalless draw. This will be their first-ever meeting in a major international tournament. With the last match played over two decades ago, past results offer little insight into the current dynamics of these teams. This fixture is a completely fresh encounter on the world’s biggest stage, with both sides entering uncharted territory. Iran has never faced a team from Oceania in the finals, while New Zealand has never played against an Asian confederation opponent in the tournament. Key statistical trends point toward a potentially low-scoring affair. Iran’s defensive solidity was a hallmark of their qualification run, and they have historically maintained a tight ship in tournament play. Meanwhile, New Zealand has struggled to find the net against higher-caliber opponents in recent friendlies, failing to score in seven of their last ten matches leading into the competition. Squad News & Projected Lineups Both teams are navigating key fitness concerns, with Iran
Prior to France's debut, Kylian Mbappe stated that he's open for another World Cup final against Lionel Messi's Argentina as he'd like to "change the course of destiny." Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi were the central figures in one of the greatest games in soccer history, the 2022 World Cup final that saw Argentina claim the trophy over France in a penalty shootout. Now with the 2026 edition underway, Mbappe has made clear he would welcome another shot at the Albiceleste, saying he would like to “change the course of destiny.” In an interview with Le Parisien, France teammate Warren Zaire-Emery asked Mbappe which moment of his career he would choose to relive, and the answer left little room for interpretation: “There are many. Especially the defeats, because if you relive them, maybe you can change the course of destiny. For example, I would change Argentina 2022. That final comes to my mind more than the one we won.“ Mbappe went on to reflect on the particular cruelty of losing a World Cup final, noting that many of his current France teammates were not even part of that squad in Qatar. “The cruelty is right there, meaning we did all that just to lose on penalties. I don’t believe in luck; penalties are not a lottery. It is a technical action, but it remains the cruelest way to lose a World Cup final,” the striker added. Had France won, they would have become the third nation in history to claim consecutive World Cup titles, following Italy in 1934 and 1938 and Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Mbappe also opened up about his emotional state in the immediate aftermath. “I am often asked why I didn’t cry in 2022. Simply because the tears wouldn’t come, I was stunned. If I could have cried, I wouldn’t have held back my tears. It’s just that I was knocked out!,” he explained over the final. Kylian Mbappe of France walks past the FIFA World Cup trophy in 2022. “If we win the World Cup tomorrow and I have to cry, I will cry. If only because it’s every four years. You don’t know where you will be in four years. Now, for example, there are only 10 or 11 guys left from 2022,” Mbappe concluded. As he noted, of the 26 players who reached the final in Qatar four years ago, only 12 remain in this year’s squad, with the other 14 having departed through retirement or omission. Winning that final would have been a personal crowning moment for Mbappe, who also claimed the Golden Boot with eight goals and became only the second player in history to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, after Geoff Hurst. Despite that extraordinary individual performance, the loss to Lionel Messi‘s Argentina is clearly something that continues to occupy his thoughts. Is another Mbappe vs Messi final possible at the 2026 World Cup? With the 2026 World Cup now underway, Mbappe enters the tournament at 27 and in the prime of his career, while Messi, 38 and set to turn 39 in the coming weeks, carries the weight of defending the title. While an exact replica of the 2022 final is not possible, the bracket has been drawn in a way that a late showdown between the two nations remains very much on the table. According to FIFA’s bracket structure and rules, if both Argentina and France advance as group winners from their respective sections, they would be placed on opposite sides of the knockout bracket. That means the only scenario in which they could meet would be a final, giving the 2026 World Cup the potential for a dream rematch on the biggest stage. Should either team advance as group runners-up, the two nations could end up on the same side of the draw, in which case a meeting in the semifinal becomes a possibility. Either way, the bracket has left open a path for Mbappe and Messi to cross swords again before this tournament is over.
Forget the Olympic and the rest. People across the planet remember where they were for their biggest World Cup matchesThe connection between King Lear and the 1966 World Cup is little known, mainly because it affected very few people at a now defunct boarding school. I had been a surprise selection to act in the school’s production of Lear (yes, I played the Fool; yes, I was typecast). The day before one of the performances I fell and twisted something and was a doubtful starter for a part that required a lot of dashing about.Matron prescribed sleeping pills. That night England were playing Mexico in that now-sanctified tournament – almost a must-win after a goalless start against Uruguay. I went to bed early, tucked my transistor under the pillow to hear the commentary, went spark out and only heard the result next morning: England 2 Mexico 0. The rest is national history. Continue reading...
Brutally tough return to tournament awaits, but the stature of opposition feels less important than the fact of being here at allIt was an arrival worth more than half a century of waiting. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) players strolled into the arrivals hall of George Bush airport on Thursday kitted out in tuxedo suits and leopard-print sashes, channelling La Sape vogue for snappy dress that swept Kinshasa in the 1970s. A throng of local volunteers cheered them through and, in a climate where little can be taken for granted, their welcome to Houston was a genuinely wholesome moment.The DRC’s squad looked appreciative although perhaps they were simply relieved to see new faces. The joy of a first World Cup since 1974, when they competed as Zaire, has been complicated by the Ebola outbreak in their homeland and a 21-day isolation period imposed by the US authorities. The players and staff formed a bubble in Belgium, playing one friendly against Denmark and being forced to cancel a scheduled meeting with Chile in Cádiz. Continue reading...
