Football world news and reviews
17
Jun
Switzerland are heavy favourites to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina when the two meet in their second Group B fixture at the 2026 World Cup. The match takes place on Thursday 18 June at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, with kick-off at 8pm BST.
The Swiss arrive with far greater World Cup experience, having qualified six times in a row and sitting inside the world's top 20, while Bosnia needed two penalty shootouts in the playoffs – against Italy and Wales – just to get here. The gap in pedigree is wide, but Bosnia could make awkward opponents in a group...
16
Jun
England face Croatia for the first Group L match of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The game kicks off at 9:00 pm UK time on Wednesday, 17th June at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, USA.
In the last 10 years, the two teams have faced each other four times. England won 2 matches, Croatia won one, while one ended in a draw.
The Croatia football team is headlined by captain and veteran midfielder Luka Modrić (AC Milan) and Manchester City’s Mateo Kovačić. Striker Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) leads the English team, along with midfielder Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), and forward Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).
If...
15
Jun
The last time France and Senegal met at a World Cup, it ended in one of the tournament's great ambushes: Senegal beating the reigning champions 1-0 in the 2002 opener.
Twenty-four years on, the two meet again, this time to open Group I at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Kick-off is 8pm BST on Tuesday 16 June. France arrive among the favourites for the whole thing. Senegal will play remembering exactly how vulnerable the French can be on day one.
France vs Senegal – Betting Odds
The bookmakers have made France clear favourites for this one, but the France...
12
Jun
Belgium face Egypt on Monday, 15th June, for Group G’s first match of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The game kicks off at Lumen Field, Seattle, at 20:00 BST.
Each group has 6 teams playing round-robin matches. The top two from each group and the eight best third-place teams will advance to the Round of 32.
While Belgium and Egypt have not played any official head-to-head matches, both have a strong lineup of international players. The Pharaohs have Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) and Omar Marmoush (Man City) as their forwards. The Red Devils have an even deeper lineup with Kevin De Bruyne...
12
Jun
Thirty-two years ago, Ronald Koeman captained the Netherlands in Dallas for the final cap of his playing days, a 3-2 quarter-final defeat to Brazil. On Sunday he returns to the same city as a head coach, the slate wiped clean.
Japan instead have spent recent years turning the game's hierarchy on its head, with Germany and Spain both beaten in Qatar and neither result an accident. The Netherlands could have definitely drawn a kinder opener than this one.
The Group F first match kicks off at 9pm UK time on Sunday 14 June at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas – an...
12
Jun
One of the biggest events in the footballing calendar returns on June 11, as fans eagerly await the FIFA World Cup fixtures. The first opponent that the football titan Brazil will face is the rising Moroccan side. The match is scheduled for Saturday, 13th June at 11 PM (UK time). Although the action will take place in the New Jersey Stadium, viewers can catch it live on BBC and ITV.
This will be the first fixture of Group C, in which, based on the teams’ form, the Brazilians have a slight advantage. However, Morocco had also displayed an outstanding performance...
11
Jun
The event that football fans all around the globe have been waiting for for the past four years is finally back! FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to start its group stage on Thursday, 11 June. It will continue until 27 June before the tournament progresses into the knockout stage. This marks the 23rd edition of the championship.
On Friday, 12 June, Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina will meet on the field of the BMO Field in Toronto, Canada as the first match in Group B. The kick off time is 8:00 pm BST, or 3:00 pm local time. In...
10
Jun
The FIFA World Cup is the biggest footballing festival, and it will kick off on Thursday, June 11. The opening match for 2026 is Mexico vs South Africa, scheduled at 8:00 PM (UK time). While the action will take place at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico, viewers in the UK can catch it live on BBC and ITV.
Looking at their last five international friendly games, Mexico boasts three wins and two draws. Meanwhile, South Africa has one victory, two draws, and two losses. Considering the past performances and team form, Mexico has a slight edge while playing in their...
09
Jun
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will introduce the biggest format change in tournament history. For the first time, 48 national teams will compete instead of 32, increasing the number of matches, expanding qualification opportunities, and changing how the group stage and knockout rounds work.
The updated 2026 World Cup format affects scheduling, tournament structure, qualification pathways, and football betting markets. It also restructures how teams approach group-stage matches, squad rotation, and qualification scenarios.
This article explains the 2026 World Cup format, how the expanded tournament works, and what these changes mean.
What Is the 2026 World Cup Format?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup...