Shafaq News- Foxborough

The stage is set for Iraq’s first World Cup match in 40 years after FIFA on Saturday appointed Gabonese referee Pierre Atcho to officiate the Lions of Mesopotamia’s Group I opener against Norway.

FIFA also named Gabonese officials Boris Ditsoga and Amos Abeigne Ndong serving as assistant referees. Egyptian referee Amin Mohamed was appointed as the fourth official.

The match officials for @FIFAWorldCup matches 17, 18, 19 and 20 have been appointed. 🤝

— FIFA (@FIFAcom) June 13, 2026

The match will be played at Boston Stadium, FIFA's tournament name for Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, at 1:00 AM Baghdad time on Wednesday. The venue has a capacity of about 65, 000 and will host seven tournament matches, including a quarterfinal.

The referee appointment adds one of the final official details before Iraq return to football’s biggest stage, where Graham Arnold’s side will seek the country’s first World Cup point. Their 2026 return came after a long qualifying campaign and a playoff victory over Bolivia, sealing the final place in the expanded 48-team tournament.

The expanded format gives Iraq more than one route to the knockout stage, with the top two sides from each group advancing along with the eight best third-placed teams.

Norway also arrive after a long absence, returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1998. Their comeback is led by Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, giving Iraq an immediate test against two of Europe’s most recognizable players.

Shafaq News- Kansas City

England’s World Cup preparations suffered a setback after training equipment was stolen while being transported to the team’s base in Kansas City, days before their Group L opener against Croatia.

Kansas City Police said they were investigating a possible theft from a team vehicle that arrived with items missing after equipment was transported from England’s pre-tournament camp in Florida to Swope Soccer Village in Missouri. Two “persons of interest” were taken into custody.

The incident occurred before Thomas Tuchel’s squad arrived at their World Cup training base, where England are set to prepare for matches against Croatia, Ghana, and Panama.

The Guardian reported that boots, official tournament balls, and training equipment were among the missing items, while The Times said England’s essential custom-made boots and elite performance gear were not taken, and missing items mainly included spare footwear and training balls, with some later recovered.

England’s players, including captain Harry Kane, were reportedly reassured that their personalized equipment remained safe ahead of the squad’s first training session in Kansas City.

England open their World Cup campaign against Croatia at Dallas Stadium on June 17 before facing Ghana and Panama. Tuchel’s squad arrived in North America carrying high expectations, with Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Declan Rice, and Cole Palmer among the players expected to lead England’s bid for a first major men's title since 1966.

The England camp had already completed a warm-weather preparation period in Florida before moving to Kansas City, where the team’s training base was selected as part of a wider plan to manage travel, recovery, and match preparation during the expanded 48-team tournament.

Separately, a decomposed body was found inside the trunk of a car parked near Estadio Caliente, where Iran’s national team have been training in Tijuana. Mexican authorities have not linked the case to Iran’s squad.

Shafaq News- Tijuana

Mexican authorities discovered adecomposing body inside the trunk of an abandoned vehicle parked directlyacross from Caliente Stadium in Tijuana, where Iran's national football teamhas been preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Tijuana prosecutor's officeconfirmed Friday.

Police located the body in the trunkof a gray Toyota SUV with California license plates, parked in the lot of asupermarket directly opposite the stadium. Forensic specialists in whiteprotective suits examined and removed the remains at the scene, with AFPjournalists present.

The Tijuana prosecutor's office saida patrol unit responded to the area following reports from nearby residents.Authorities believe the vehicle had been abandoned since Wednesday, and withtemperatures in Tijuana reaching 28 degrees Celsius, investigators suspect thebody had been inside the car for several days before the odor prompted thediscovery.

The victim's identity has not beenconfirmed, and the circumstances of the death remain under investigation.

Prosecutors stated there was noimmediate indication that the discovery was linked to the Iranian delegation orthe World Cup. Iran's team convoy departed the stadium just minutes afterforensic personnel removed the body from the scene.

Iran had originally planned to holdits pre-tournament camp in Arizona but shifted its base to Mexico amid ongoinghostilities with the United States. Since it arrived in Tijuana, the team hasbeen under heavy security and is escorted between its hotel and the stadium byarmed soldiers.

Tijuana, situated on the US-Mexicoborder, recorded more than 1,200 homicides in 2025 alone, according to officialstatistics, making it one of the most violent cities in the region.

Iran, known as Team Melli, isscheduled to open its 2026 World Cup campaign against New Zealand on Tuesday.The team will subsequently face Belgium and Egypt in Group Seven, with allthree matches to be played in the United States.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraqi clubs have intensified their summer transfer activity ahead of the 2026-27 season, with several teams securing new signings, contract renewals, and coaching appointments.

Al-Jolan re-signed Omar Mujbas "Amrosh" from Al-Karmah and added goalkeeper Mohammed Hameed and Khudr Ali, while Gaz Al-Shamal renewed goalkeeper Saif Jameel's contract.

Mosul retained key players Robert Bauer, Cedric Naje, and Mideranda, while Al-Gharaf is close to signing defenders Saad Natiq and Ali Faez. Defender Ruslan Hanoun has left Al-Suqoor and is reportedly nearing a move to Al-Talaba.

On the coaching front, Diyala appointed Tunisian coach Kais Yaacoubi, Zakho hired fellow Tunisian Maher Kanzari on a one-year deal, and Duhok named Iranian coach Yahya Gol to lead the team next season.

Shafaq News- London

A World Cup winner's medal awarded to Brazilian soccer iconPele during the 1958 tournament is expected to fetch about $670,000 at anauction in England later this month, sports memorabilia specialists BUDDSreported on Friday.

The medal, earned when Pele was only 17 years old, is partof a collection of 450 World Cup-related items with an estimated value ofaround $2.7 million.

Another centerpiece of the sale is the Brazil jersey worn bythe legendary forward in the 1958 World Cup final. BUDDS expects the shirt tosell for more than $6 million during an auction in New York running from June29 to July 16, ending three days before this year's World Cup final.

Pele scored two goals in Brazil's 5-2 victory over hostnation Sweden in the 1958 final, helping secure the country's first World Cuptitle.

That triumph marked the beginning of Brazil's record fiveWorld Cup championships. Pele went on to win three of those titles and becameone of the most influential figures in soccer history, earning the nickname"The King."

Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pele died in December 2022at the age of 82 after a battle with colon cancer.

The British auction will also feature the England goalkeeperjersey worn by Gordon Banks when he produced his famous save from a Pele headerduring the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. emorabilia from England's 1966 WorldCup-winning campaign will likewise be offered, including Banks' winner's medaland the shirt worn by Alan Ball in the final.

Shafaq News

Saturday’s World Cup schedule brings two different tests forregional audiences, with the United States opening their home campaign againstParaguay before Qatar face Switzerland in a Group B match carrying redemption,pressure, and upset potential.

The US meet Paraguay at 4:00 a.m. Baghdad time in LosAngeles, while Qatar face Switzerland at 10:00 p.m. at Santa Clara, California.

US Under Home Pressure

Mauricio Pochettino’s side begin Group D at Los AngelesStadium, with the expectation that comes from co-hosting the tournament andplaying in front of home supporters.

All 26 US players are available for selection, includingdefender Chris Richards, who had been working his way back from an ankleinjury. Pochettino has already settled on his starting lineup, although he hasnot publicly confirmed whether Matt Turner or Matt Freese will start in goal.

Christian Pulisic remains the headline name for the US, withWeston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, Gio Reyna, and Yunus Musah amongthe players expected to carry the hosts through a group that also includesParaguay, Turkiye, and Australia.

The US’s Argentine coach said the team must play withpassion and make supporters proud of what they see on the pitch, while alsowarning that Paraguay are dangerous opponents despite the hosts being favored.

Paraguay arrive in Los Angeles for their first World Cup matchsince 2010, when they reached the quarterfinals before losing narrowly toeventual champions Spain, and their return gives Group D a difficult openingedge for the US.

The team bring the kind of defensive discipline, physicalcontest, and set-piece threat that can turn a home opener into an uncomfortablenight. Pochettino pointed to Paraguay’s qualifying campaign as evidence, notingthat they beat both Argentina and Brazil on the road to the World Cup.

Coach Gustavo Alfaro has also made clear that Paraguay arenot in North America just to participate –his side will try to slow the game,test the US back line, and drag the match away from the rhythm Pochettinowants.

Julio Enciso remains one of Paraguay’s key attacking names,while Miguel Almiron gives them experience and direct running. Against a USside still carrying questions in goal and defense, Paraguay’s first objectivewill be to survive the early pressure and make the hosts nervous.

Qatar Chase First World Cup Point

Later on Saturday, Qatar begin their second World Cupcampaign with a very different target: proving that 2022 was not the limit oftheir story. Four years ago, Qatar hosted the World Cup but lost all threegroup matches and scored only once.

They return in 2026 as back-to-back Asian champions, with amore experienced core and a new test against Switzerland. The match gives Qatara chance to chase their first World Cup point, but it also places themimmediately against one of Europe’s most consistent tournament teams.

Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui leads a squad built mainlyaround players from Qatar’s domestic league, with Akram Afif and Almoez Aliagain carrying the main attacking burden.

Afif remains Qatar’s creative reference and one of Asia’smost decorated players, while Almoez Ali is the country’s all-time top scorer.For Qatar to trouble Switzerland, both will need enough service and space tomove the match beyond survival mode.

Switzerland, meanwhile, enter as favorites, but theirpressure is different; they are playing a sixth consecutive World Cup and havebecome one of Europe’s most reliable qualifiers.

Switzerland have repeatedly reached the knockout stage, onlyto hit the Round of 16 ceiling. A World Cup quarterfinal has eluded them forseven decades, despite their consistency in qualification.

Coach Murat Yakin’s side still carry a strong, experiencedspine. Granit Xhaka leads the midfield in his fourth World Cup, while ManuelAkanji and Ricardo Rodriguez bring defensive experience. Breel Embolo gives theSwiss a central attacking threat, with Gregor Kobel among the goalkeepingoptions and Dan Ndoye adding fresh pace.

Yakin has warned against treating Qatar as an easy opponent,describing them as a serious side and pointing to Saudi Arabia’s shock win overArgentina in 2022 as the kind of opening-match surprise Switzerland must avoid. 

Shafaq News- Lisbon

Portugal has the quality to compete for the 2026 FIFA WorldCup title, Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo stated on Friday.

Ronaldo, 41, said ahead of departure to the United Statesthat he remains confident in the current generation of national team’s playersand their ability to compete at the highest level. We arrive with hope," henoted.

When asked about his fitness, Ronaldo replied, "Haven'tyou been watching the games?" adding that friendly matches should not beviewed as a definitive measure of a team's prospects. He dismissed concernsabout his physical condition ahead of what is expected to be the sixth andfinal World Cup of his career.

Portugal will begin its Group K campaign against theDemocratic Republic of the Congo before facing Uzbekistan and Colombia.

Shafaq News- Massachusetts

Norway's football team completed preparations for itsopening match against Iraq at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 16 at GilletteStadium in Massachusetts, USA, striker Erling Haaland told reporters on Friday.

Haaland said that “excitement was building ahead of thetournament kickoff,” pointing to the importance of making a strong start."We need to start strongly from the first moments and apply high pressureagainst Iraq. That is the approach we want to implement, and we hope to deliverour best performance and begin the tournament positively."

Norway will open its Group I campaign against Iraq beforefacing Senegal on June 22 and France on June 26.

Read more: Iraq prepare for historic World Cup return against Norway

Shafaq News- Guadalajara

Empty seats appeared across sections of Guadalajara Stadiumduring South Korea and the Czech Republic's World Cup match, with ticket pricesand travel costs drawing renewed attention despite FIFA's claims of strongdemand for the tournament.

The venue logged an official attendance of 44,985 at itsnearly 46,000-seat stadium —a figure that sat well below the competition openerin Mexico City, where more than 80,000 fans filled Azteca Stadium.

The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted across the United States,Mexico, and Canada, carries ticket prices that dwarf those of the 2022 editionin Qatar. The most expensive final seat at that tournament was $1,604,according to BBC Sport. At the 2026 edition, the same category reached $10,990at open sale, a price set under FIFA's dynamic pricing model, which adjustscosts according to demand at each sales phase.

Opening-match seats range from $560 to $2,735, against $55to $618 four years ago. Group-stage tickets average around $400, compared with$11 to $220 in Qatar. Final tickets run from $2,030 to $6,370, up from a rangeof $206 to $1,607 for the Lusail decider.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the pricing at hispre-tournament news conference in Mexico City earlier this week, pointing outthat ticket costs were consistent with comparable sporting events and that thegoverning body had sold more than six million seats across the tournament.

Football Supporters Europe filed a complaint with theEuropean Commission in March, accusing FIFA of pricing ordinary fans out of thecompetition and stating that the lowest-tier tickets were largely unavailableduring public sales.

Shafaq News- Toronto

World Cup 2026 faced its first weather-related disruption after Toronto evacuated and canceled its FIFA Fan Festival because of a lightning risk, hours before Canada’s opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Organizers halted the event while fans were watching Mexico face South Africa in the tournament opener, citing severe weather concerns and the danger of lightning. The cancellation turned weather into an early operational issue for the largest World Cup in history, with 48 teams, 104 matches, and 16 host cities spread across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Toronto’s fan festival is part of the tournament’s public viewing program, offering match broadcasts, food, and entertainment through the July 19 final. The city is also hosting six World Cup matches, beginning with Canada’s Group B opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Toronto disruption came amid wider concern over summer weather during the tournament. Weather outlets reported before the opener that the World Cup could face above-normal temperatures, high humidity, thunderstorms, and severe weather across parts of North America during the competition.

Some venues face heat and humidity concerns, while others are more exposed to storms that could affect fan zones, transport, public screenings, training sessions, and matchday operations.

Heat is also a player-safety issue. Experts cited by Reuters pointed to wet-bulb globe temperature, a measure that combines heat, humidity, sunlight, and wind, as a better indicator of physical strain than air temperature alone.

World Weather Attribution also warned that roughly a quarter of matches could be played in conditions exceeding recommended safety limits, while Climate Central research found that climate change has increased the likelihood of performance-affecting heat at 97 of the tournament’s 104 matches.

FIFA has already introduced a tournament-wide measure for player welfare, with every World Cup 2026 match including a three-minute hydration break midway through each half, regardless of venue, stadium roof, temperature, or weather conditions.

The referee will stop play 22 minutes into each half to allow players to rehydrate, with the measure applied across all matches to ensure equal conditions for teams, FIFA said. The match schedule was also designed after technical analysis of venues, including average temperatures, cooling infrastructure, public transport, and security.

The weather issue is not new for FIFA. The Qatar 2022 edition of the tournament was moved away from the traditional June-July window and staged from November 20 to December 18 because of concerns over summer heat in the Gulf. FIFA had recommended the November-December period in 2015, citing cooler conditions, before the tournament became the first World Cup held in the Middle East.

Qatar also used stadium cooling technology during the tournament, according to FIFA, which explained at the time that cooling systems were fitted in seven of the eight Qatar 2022 stadiums. The systems used spot cooling, cooled and filtered air, and venue-specific designs to lower temperatures in areas used by players and fans.

Shafaq News- Zapopan

South Korea came from behind to beat Czechia 2-1 at Guadalajara Stadium on Thursday, opening their World Cup 2026 Group A campaign with three points.

Czechia, back at the World Cup for the first time since 2006, took the lead in front of 44,985 fans in Zapopan in the 59th minute when captain Ladislav Krejci headed in from a long throw.

South Korea responded eight minutes later through Hwang In-beom, who leveled the match in the 67th minute before setting up substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu in the 80th minute to complete the comeback and give South Korea their first World Cup opening-match win since 2010.

Son Heung-min, South Korea’s captain and biggest name, started in attack and carried much of the spotlight before kickoff, but he did not score. The decisive contribution instead came from Hwang, who finished the match with a goal and an assist.

Shafaq News- Mexico City

Mexico opened its 2026 World Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory over South Africa on Thursday at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

The hosts took an early lead through Julián Quiñones in the ninth minute after the forward found the net with a composed finish. Raúl Jiménez doubled Mexico's advantage in the 67th minute, securing the tournament's first win and three points for the hosts.

The match saw three red cards. South Africa's Sfivelo Sithole was sent off in the 50th minute for bringing down a Mexican attacker through on goal, while teammate Themba Zwane received a second red card in the 84th minute. Mexico finished the game with 10 men after César Montes was dismissed in stoppage time.

The result puts Mexico temporarily top of Group A, which also includes South Korea and the Czech Republic.

Shafaq News- Guadalajara/ Toronto

The World Cup moves into its second wave of group-stage pressure on Friday, June 12, with South Korea facing Czechia in Mexico before co-host Canada open their tournament against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto.

After Mexico and South Africa launched the 2026 edition in Group A, attention turns to two matches that carry very different stakes: South Korea and Czechia trying to avoid an early chase in the same group, and Canada trying to turn home advantage into the country’s first World Cup win.

South Korea vs Czechia

South Korea begin their Group A campaign against Czechia at Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan, where superstar Son Heung-min remains the face of a team trying to prove that its run to the last 16 in Qatar was not a one-off.

The Taegeuk Warriors have become one of Asia’s most consistent World Cup sides, and their attack still runs through Son, supported by Hwang Hee-chan, Lee Kang-in, and a defensive core led by Kim Min-jae.

However, midfielder Bae Jun-ho is unlikely to feature after suffering an ankle injury in a 5-0 friendly win over Trinidad and Tobago, while defender Cho Yu-min has been ruled out of the tournament with a foot injury.

That leaves coach Hong Myung-bo balancing experience, pace, and fitness before a match that could define South Korea’s path in the group, completed by Mexico and South Africa.

Czechia’s return to the World Cup ends a 20-year absence, and coach Miroslav Koubek has built his side around discipline, physical strength, and a spine of experienced European-based players.

West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek and Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick are the headline names, while Adam Hlozek, Ladislav Krejci, Pavel Sulc, Vladimir Darida, and teenager Hugo Sochurek give the squad a mix of power, experience, and fresh legs.

Koubek has already acknowledged Son as South Korea’s main threat but insists Czechia has the tactical structure to contain him.

The head-to-head history is limited and carries no World Cup precedent. Czechia beat South Korea 5-0 in a 2001 friendly, while South Korea won 2-1 in their most recent listed meeting in 2016.

The match kicks off at 5:00 AM Baghdad time.

Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina

Many hours later, the tournament shifts to Toronto, where Canada begin their home World Cup against Bosnia and Herzegovina at BMO Field.

For Canada, this is the first men’s World Cup match on Canadian soil and one of the biggest nights in the country’s football history.

The pressure is obvious –Canada have played six World Cup matches across 1986 and 2022 and lost all six. Under Jesse Marsch, however, belief has grown after Canada reached the Copa America semifinals in 2024 and developed a more aggressive identity built around pressing, speed, and transition.

The problem is the injury list, however. Captain Alphonso Davies, scorer of Canada’s first World Cup goal in 2022, will miss the Bosnia opener with a hamstring injury. Marcelo Flores is out of the tournament with a knee injury, while defender Moise Bombito remains a concern after his return from a broken leg stalled in a warm-up match.

That puts more responsibility on Jonathan David, Canada’s all-time leading scorer, to carry the attack. Maxime Crepeau is also set for a major personal moment in goal after missing the 2022 World Cup because of a broken leg suffered shortly before the tournament.

Bosnia, the “Dragons,” are back at the World Cup for the first time since 2014 and are chasing their first knockout-stage appearance.

Their story still begins with Edin Dzeko: at 40, Bosnia’s captain remains the country’s all-time leading scorer and the center of the squad. He is one of only two players in the current group who were also part of Bosnia’s 2014 World Cup appearance, alongside defender Sead Kolasinac.

Head coach Sergej Barbarez has leaned on that experience while building a younger side around energy, physicality, and quick transitions. Esmir Bajraktarevic also enters the tournament with a growing profile after scoring the decisive penalty that helped Bosnia reach the finals.

Canada and Bosnia have no previous senior head-to-head record, which gives the match a clean slate and a sharp edge. Canada will have the crowd, the occasion, and the home energy, while Bosnia will have Dzeko, tournament hunger, and the chance to spoil Canada’s biggest football night.

Kickoff is 10:00 PM Baghdad time.

Shafaq News- Washington

Iraq's national football team on Thursday released its official World Cup portraits, marking the final days before the Lions of Mesopotamia begin their long-awaited return to football's biggest stage.

The photo session came as head coach Graham Arnold held meetings with his technical staff in the United States to evaluate the team's training camps in Spain and Chicago and review player assessments ahead of finalizing his starting lineup.

Midfielder Amir Al-Ammari described Iraq's qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a historic achievement and a moment of pride for Iraqis after a 40-year absence from the tournament.

The 2026 World Cup kicked off earlier today with hosts Mexico facing South Africa at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca, the first stadium to host World Cup matches across three different editions of the tournament.

Iraq will begin its campaign on June 17 against Norway in Group I, with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 a.m. Baghdad time.

The team enters the tournament after a mixed run of preparations, drawing with Spain, defeating Andorra, and losing 2-0 to Venezuela in its most recent friendly.

That defeat saw Iraq slip one place to 57th in FIFA's live world rankings, falling behind Qatar after losing five ranking points.

The World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19, with the final set to be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Shafaq News

The World Cup title is not the only race beginning in North America. As 48 teams enter the biggest tournament in football history, the chase for the Golden Boot and Golden Ball brings another layer to the 2026 edition.

The Golden Boot goes to the tournament’s top scorer. The Golden Ball goes to the best player. One rewards goals, the other rewards influence, leadership, and the ability to shape the biggest matches.

The tournament has expanded from 32 to 48 teams, with 12 groups, a new Round of 32, and 104 matches across Mexico, the United States, and Canada. More teams and more knockout fixtures mean more opportunities for forwards, especially those playing for countries expected to go deep.

Golden Boot Race

Kylian Mbappe begins as the clearest name in the Golden Boot conversation. The France captain won the award in 2022 with eight goals and already has 12 World Cup goals, placing him within range of German national Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16. France also have the squad depth to give Mbappe a long tournament, which is often the real key to winning the top-scorer race.

Erling Haaland is playing his first World Cup and arrives as one of the most feared finishers in football. Norway are not among the traditional favorites, but with Martin Odegaard creating chances behind him, Haaland has the profile of a striker who can turn a group stage into a personal scoring run.

Harry Kane is another obvious contender. The England captain won the Golden Boot in 2018 with six goals and remains one of the most reliable scorers in international football. England’s route, penalty duties, and attacking depth keep him firmly in the race.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo give the award another historic edge. Both are set for a sixth World Cup, and both could use the tournament as a final chance to add to their World Cup scoring records. Messi enters with 13 World Cup goals, while Ronaldo remains Portugal’s all-time scoring icon and is still chasing the one title missing from his international career.

Golden Ball Race

The Golden Ball is harder to predict because it usually follows the tournament story; the best player award often goes to someone whose team reaches the final stages. Messi won it in 2014 and again in 2022, Luka Modric won it after dragging Croatia to the 2018 final, and Diego Forlan took it in 2010 after leading Uruguay to the semifinals.

That makes Mbappe one of the strongest candidates again. If France reach another semifinal or final, his goals, speed, and role as captain will put him near the top of the race.

Messi also remains impossible to ignore, as Argentina arrive as defending champions, and if they survive deep into the knockout rounds, every Messi performance will carry award weight.

Spain’s Lamine Yamal could be the tournament’s great new-generation story. Spain are among the strongest favorites, and Yamal’s mix of youth, creativity, and final-third danger makes him one of the most watched players in the competition.

The Golden Boot will reward the scorer who turns chances into numbers. The Golden Ball will reward the player who turns numbers into a tournament story.

Shafaq News- Mexico City

The 2026 FIFA World Cup opens Thursday with a ceremony in Mexico City at 8:30 PM Baghdad time, launching the largest tournament in football history and a 39-day event expected to draw more than five million fans across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

The ceremony at Mexico City Stadium begins 90 minutes before co-host Mexico face South Africa in the opening match, setting off a 48-team World Cup that will feature 104 matches, 12 groups, 16 host cities, and a new Round of 32.

FIFA said Shakira and Burna Boy will perform “Dai Dai,” the official World Cup 2026 song, while Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná, and Tyla are also part of the Mexico City lineup.

The show opens a tournament spread across three host countries for the first time, with Mexico, Canada, and the United States each staging ceremonies around their opening matches.

The football begins with a fixture already tied to World Cup memory. Mexico and South Africa also opened the 2010 tournament in Johannesburg, when Siphiwe Tshabalala scored one of the most famous opening goals in World Cup history before Rafael Márquez equalized in a 1-1 draw.

The 2026 format gives more teams a path to the knockout stage –the top two teams from each of the 12 groups will advance, along with the eight best third-placed teams, creating a 32-team knockout field before the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, third-place playoff, and final.

That expansion makes every point and goal difference matter, especially for teams outside the traditional elite.

Ones to Watch

Spain enter as one of the clearest favorites, backed by a generation built around technical control, speed, and young attacking talent. France, finalists in the last two World Cups, arrive with an elite squad led by Kylian Mbappe.

Argentina begin as defending champions, with Lionel Messi set for another World Cup campaign alongside a younger core that has already carried the pressure of a title defense. Brazil, England, Portugal, and Germany also enter with enough quality to believe they can survive the longest route in World Cup history.

The tournament also brings together football’s icons and its next wave.

Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo remain the global names, Mbappe leads France into another title push, Erling Haaland finally gets his World Cup stage with Norway, and Jude Bellingham gives England a midfield leader for the knockout nights. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane carry Egypt and Senegal into another major tournament.

Younger players could define the month as well. Spain’s Lamine Yamal enters as one of the brightest talents in world football, while Germany’s Florian Wirtz, Brazil’s Endrick, France’s Désiré Doué, and Mexico’s 17-year-old Gilberto Mora are among the names capable of turning the tournament into a breakthrough stage.

The expanded field also gives underdogs more room to dream. Morocco return after their historic semifinal run in 2022. Japan enter after a dominant qualifying campaign and years of steady growth, while Colombia bring speed, creativity, and tournament edge.

Cape Verde, Uzbekistan, and Jordan will play their first World Cups, turning the expanded edition into a platform for new football stories.

In Group I, Iraq return to the World Cup for the first time since 1986. The Lions of Mesopotamia have been drawn with France, Senegal, and Norway in one of the tournament’s most demanding groups. Graham Arnold’s side will aim for Iraq’s first World Cup points after ending a 40-year absence through a long qualifying campaign and an intercontinental playoff against Bolivia.

The new format could matter. Iraq may not need a top-two finish to stay alive if they can compete for one of the eight third-place qualification spots. That makes every point, every goal, and every defensive stand important.

Ones to Miss

Even with 48 teams, several major football nations and stars are absent. Italy are the biggest missing name after failing to qualify for a third straight World Cup, leaving Gianluigi Donnarumma and Sandro Tonali outside the tournament. Nigeria also miss out, keeping Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman away from North America.

Poland’s absence means Robert Lewandowski is likely denied one final World Cup stage, while Georgia’s failure to qualify leaves Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at home. Other notable absences include Chile, Cameroon, and Costa Rica.

Over 39 days, the tournament will show whether expansion creates chaos, whether the favorites can hold their ground, whether new teams can break through, and whether Iraq’s return after 40 years can become more than a moment of pride.

The opening ceremony starts the show. The football will decide the story.

Shafaq News- West Virginia

Iraq are entering the final days before their first World Cup match in40 years with head coach Graham Arnold moving to settle the core of his teamfor the Group I opener against Norway.

Arnold is set to hold a key meeting with his technical staff in theUnited States to evaluate Iraq’s preparation camps in Spain and Chicago, reviewplayer reports, and define the early shape of the lineup expected to carry theLions of Mesopotamia into the tournament.

Iraqi Football Association member Ghalib Al-Zameli told Shafaq News thatArnold is expected to identify an initial core of 16 players and draw the mainoutlines of the starting team he will rely on during the World Cup.

The Lions of Mesopotamia return to football’s biggest stage for thefirst time since 1986 and open their campaign against Norway on Wednesday, June17, at 1:00 a.m. Baghdad time.

The opening test will come at Boston Stadium in Foxborough,Massachusetts, where Iraq will face Norway in the 65,000-seat venue, knownoutside the tournament as Gillette Stadium, which will host seven World Cupmatches, including a quarterfinal. The match will be played far from Baghdad,Basra, Erbil, and Najaf, but not far from Iraqi emotion. The team's arrival inthe United States has already drawn visible support from fans, with Iraqisupporters greeting the squad at Chicago's O'Hare Airport despite travelcomplications in the buildup.

For midfielder Amir Al-Ammari, the return is already a national moment.Speaking to FIFA Today, he described Iraq’s qualification as a historicachievement and a long-awaited joy for all Iraqis after four decades away fromthe World Cup.

“The qualifying journey was long and difficult, with several challengesalong the way, but [Iraq] overcame them through the determination of theplayers and the backing of supporters who stood behind the team in everycircumstance.”

That road, Al-Ammari added, built a stronger and more united squadbefore one of the tournament’s most demanding groups.

Iraq’s group offers little margin for error; Norway arrive with one ofEurope’s most dangerous attacking profiles in Erling Haaland and MartinOdegaard. France, the 2018 champions, enter with an elite pedigree and anotherdeep attacking unit built around Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise,and Desire Doue, while Senegal bring a different test: pace, power, andexperience through Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, and IdrissaGueye.

Facing those major international names gives Iraq extra motivation toproduce their best level, Al-Ammari said, stressing that the team will enterthe tournament with a fighting mindset and confidence.

“[Iraq] aim to present an honorable image of Iraqi football and show thepassion, strength, and will of the Iraqi player.”

Read more: Iraq opens World Cup camp under shadow of ticket scandal

Shafaq News- Mexico City

The 2026 FIFA World Cup —the largest in the sport's history, featuring48 teams and 104 matches across the United States, Mexico, and Canada— opensThursday at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, with co-host Mexico facing SouthAfrica.

June 11, 2026, falls precisely 16 years after Siphiwe Tshabalala'slong-range strike sent Soccer City into eruption at the 2010 World Cup openerin Johannesburg, with Rafael Márquez equalizing to end the match 1-1.Thursday's kickoff (10:00 PM Baghdad time) at the Estadio Azteca reverses the geography and the host nation,and reopens a chapter both sides remember differently.

With 80,000 fans expected inside the Estadio Azteca, Mexico enters thetournament carrying the weight of a nation that has reached the quarterfinalsonly twice, in 1970 and 1986, both on home soil, and has never advanced beyondthat stage. Their elimination in the group stage at Qatar 2022 has sharpenedthe pressure on co-host El Tri, who have not won a competitive match at theWorld Cup since 2018.

Mexico head into Thursday's match off the back of eight successiveunbeaten friendlies in 2026, including wins over Ghana, Australia, and Serbia,the latter by a 5-1 scoreline. César Montes, Edson Álvarez, Luis Chávez, andAlexis Vega were all dealing with injuries in the buildup but playedsignificant minutes in Mexico's June 5 friendly against Serbia.

South Africa, currently ranked 60th in the world, returns to the WorldCup for the first time since 2010 and has never advanced beyond the groupstage. Coach Hugo Broos' preparations have faced several setbacks, and his sidearrives in Mexico City having drawn 0-0 with Nicaragua and 1-1 with Jamaica intheir final pre-tournament friendlies. Broos has said his team must be readyfor "Mexico's quality and the force of the home crowd."

Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is the only player from either squadto have featured in both the 2010 and 2026 World Cups, though he was on thebench for the 2010 opener in Johannesburg.

An opening ceremony is scheduled 90 minutes before kickoff at theAzteca, headlined by Shakira, alongside Colombian performer J Balvin and SouthAfrican artist Tyla.

Seven hours after the opening whistle in Mexico City, the second Group Afixture takes place, with South Korea facing Czechia. The top two teams fromeach group advance to the Round of 32.

Shafaq News- Tehran

The Iranian national team will immediately stop playingat the 2026 FIFA World Cup if political chants, slogans, or symbols appear instadiums during its matches, Iran's Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali announcedon Wednesday.

"If we witness any unauthorized flags or signs inthe stadium during matches, the team manager is strictly responsible forstopping the game," Donyamali said, adding that Iran could refuse tocontinue playing until the issue is fully resolved.

Iranian authorities had already informed FIFA of thedecision, he stated.

The United States, Canada, and Mexico will host the2026 FIFA World Cup, set to kick off on June 11.

Read more: Iran condemns US over 2026 World Cup visa rejections

Shafaq News- Baghdad

The Iraqi government reaffirmed on Wednesday itscommitment to providing all necessary resources for the national footballteam's FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign.

In a meeting with the Iraqi Football AssociationPresident, Younis Mahmoud, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi stressed that Iraq’squalification for the FIFA World Cup represents an important nationalachievement that “reflects the aspirations of the Iraqi people and requires theconcerted efforts of all parties to deliver a performance worthy of Iraq’s nameand standing.”

Led by Australian manager Graham Arnold, theIraqi team, known as the "Lions of Mesopotamia," has qualified forthe FIFA World Cup 2026, capturing the 48th and final available spot in thetournament to end a historic 40-year qualification drought.