Also known as: the World Cup · 2026 FIFA World Cup · 2034 FIFA World Cup · 2034 football World Cup · FIFA World Cup 2026 · this year's World Cup · FIFA World Cup · FIFA World Cup 26 · World Cup finals · World Cup 2026
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The Standard
Audio By VocalizeChinese football fans left without a national team to support at the World Cup have turned to referee Ma Ning -- nicknamed "Card Master" for his enthusiasm in booking players -- as the country's representative for the tournament. …
Ma Ning: 'Card Master' referee representing success-starved China fans at World CupThe Standard
Audio By VocalizeFormer Harambee Starlets defender Terry Ouko is set to represent Kenya on football’s biggest stage after securing a senior operational role at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. …
Ex-Harambee Starlets defender Terry Ouko lands key FIFA World Cup roleThe Standard
Audio By VocalizeSomalia has defended its referee Omar Artan after he was denied entry to the United States, preventing him from becoming the first Somali official to officiate at a World Cup finals. …
Somalia backs referee's 'integrity', pledges 'unwavering support'Citizen Digital
DR Congo to play final World Cup warm up in France By AFP June 08, 2026 10:58 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter DR Congo players and coaching staff celebrate after winning the match and qualifying for the Wor …
DR Congo to play final World Cup warm up in FranceCitizen Digital
Somali referee denied entry to US for World Cup By AFP June 08, 2026 09:50 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Referee Omar Artan who has made history as the first Somalian to be selected to officiate at the Wo …
Somali referee denied entry to US for World CupCitizen Digital
… Photo by JOHN LAMPARSKI / AFP Audio By Vocalize Six people were wounded Sunday in a stabbing at New York's Penn Station, the city's mayor said, as the metropolitan area geared up to host two major sporting events -- the NBA Finals and football's World Cup. …
Stabbing wounds six at New York's Penn StationCitizen Digital
Iran World Cup team heads to Mexico as US visa row rages By AFP June 07, 2026 11:45 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter ADEM ALTAN / AFP Photo by ADEM ALTAN / AFP Three Iranian national football team players an …
Iran World Cup team heads to Mexico as US visa row ragesCitizen Digital
… The latest flare-up came despite the United States moving ahead with allowing Iran's national football team to travel to the FIFA World Cup it is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico. …
Iran targets Bahrain and Kuwait after renewed US strikesCitizen Digital
FIFA to allow disposable water bottles at World Cup games after outcry By AFP June 06, 2026 12:02 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter A man poses for a photo in front of a giant replica of the FIFA World Cup tr …
FIFA to allow disposable water bottles at World Cup games after outcryCitizen Digital
US confirms Iranian footballers granted visas for World Cup By AFP June 06, 2026 09:03 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter ADEM ALTAN / AFP Photo by ADEM ALTAN / AFP Three Iranian national football team players …
US confirms Iranian footballers granted visas for World CupThe Democratic Republic of Congo's squad arrived in Houston for the FIFA World Cup 2026, despite an Ebola epidemic in eastern DRC that has killed 136 and infected 676 confirmed cases of the Bundibugyo strain. Members of the Congolese diaspora are supporting the team, with the US having imposed a 21-day isolation period on players in Belgium before allowing entry.
6 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
The Democratic Republic of Congo's squad arrived in Houston for the FIFA World Cup 2026, despite an Ebola epidemic in eastern DRC that has killed 136 and infected 676 confirmed cases of the Bundibugyo strain. Members of the Congolese diaspora are supporting the team, with the US having imposed a 21-day isolation period on players in Belgium before allowing entry.
6 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
Five-time World Cup winners Brazil play surprise 2022 semi-finalists Morocco on Saturday in one of the standout group-stage matchups at the expanded 48-team tournament.
8 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
France forward Ousmane Dembele has defended captain Kylian Mbappe, saying criticism of the Real Madrid striker has become excessive as the national team prepares for the World Cup. Mbappe has faced scrutiny since joining Real Madrid in 2024, with criticism intensifying after the club failed to win La Liga or the Champions League.
9 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is drawing minimal excitement in the United States, with fans citing high ticket prices (exceeding $1,000 for the opening match), visa denials, and locals' preference for basketball as reasons for poor turnout. The US co-host nation's opening match against Paraguay drew sparse attendance, and President Trump declined to attend.
10 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which permitted US spy agencies to collect foreign communications without a warrant, expired Saturday as Congress failed to pass a short-term extension. The lapse occurs as the United States co-hosts the World Cup with Canada and Mexico, amid ongoing deadlock over President Trump's intelligence leadership.
12 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
Empty seats at a South Korea–Czech Republic World Cup match in Guadalajara on June 11 renewed concerns over FIFA's ticket pricing strategy for the expanded 48-team tournament, with fans citing high prices as the reason for poor attendance at the 46,000-seat stadium.
12 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
Generative AI chatbots including ChatGPT, Claude, and others are being used to forecast the 2026 FIFA World Cup outcomes, with different systems predicting Spain, France, and Argentina as victors. The trend marks the first World Cup with widely available AI systems making predictions, a departure from Paul the Octopus, who gained fame for divining World Cup winners in 2010.
13 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
Cristiano Ronaldo said he was feeling "very positive" before Portugal flew to their World Cup base camp in Palm Beach, Florida, saying the team had prepared well and hoped to finish top of their group and perform well in the tournament.
21 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
Shabiki.com is running a World Cup Kishabiki campaign offering over Ksh 9 million in cash prizes, including weekly giveaways of Ksh 500,000 to 11 selected customers and daily free bets of Ksh 50,000.
12 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
President Daniel Noboa announced the removal of the Special Consumption Tax on beer and wine during the World Cup, reducing beer prices by more than 20 percent. The measure comes as Ecuador prepares for its World Cup appearance against Ivory Coast.
12 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Iran's footballers held a public training session in Tijuana on Thursday ahead of the World Cup, their first glimpse to journalists since arriving for the tournament. The squad moved their camp to Tijuana from Arizona, and only a dozen of 26 players were visible during the fifteen-minute session, with striker Mehdi Taremi absent.
12 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
DR Congo's coach Sebastien Desabre said he hopes his team will deliver a "good showing" at the World Cup after being allowed entry to the United States on Thursday, following a 21-day quarantine period. The team has qualified for their first World Cup since 1974 and Desabre expressed hope to bring pleasure to their compatriots.
12 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Across South America, expectant parents are naming children after popular footballers following the World Cup kickoff. In Ecuador, Neymar tops the naming trend with 3,847 namesakes, followed by Kylian Mbappe with over 2,800; Colombia's ranking reverses the order, with 836 Kylians ahead of 269 Neymars.
12 June 2026 · The Standard →
Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in the opening match of the World Cup at the Estadio Azteca, with Julian Quinones scoring the tournament's first goal and Raul Jimenez adding a second. South Africa finished with nine men after two players were sent off.
12 June 2026 · The Standard →
Shakira performed the tournament's official song at the World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico City before a crowd of 80,000, while outside the stadium fans and protesters clashed with police. Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in the opening match, and access to the official fan zone in Zocalo plaza was hampered by metal barriers erected to prevent protesting teachers from reaching the area.
12 June 2026 · The Standard →
Toulouse authorities announced a curfew from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am for unaccompanied minors under 16 in the city center during "high-risk" World Cup matches, including those involving France, Morocco, Tunisia, and the Netherlands, following unrest during Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League celebration.
11 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The World Cup, hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, launched Thursday with Mexico taking on South Africa, featuring 48 teams and projected to generate $13 billion in total revenue. The tournament has faced criticism over high ticket prices and visa issues affecting a top referee, Iranian team officials, and fans seeking entry to the United States.
11 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Omar Artan, a Somali referee who was denied entry to the United States for the World Cup, has been appointed by UEFA to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin praised Artan as an excellent and experienced referee who has proven himself at the highest level of African football competition.
11 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
New York City has temporarily renamed streets after Thierry Henry and Pele ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which begins Thursday and will culminate in a final at MetLife Stadium next month. The ceremony at West 50th Street and 6th Avenue in Manhattan unveiled "Thierry Henry Way," according to city officials.
11 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Africans are using the FIFA World Cup match between South Africa and Mexico as an online protest against South Africa's xenophobic attacks on immigrants, with Nigerians on X and TikTok urging others to support Mexico, citing Mexico's greater friendliness toward African arrivals compared to South Africa's treatment of African nationals.
11 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Brazil's Italian head coach Carlo Ancelotti marked his 67th birthday at a pre-World Cup training session attended by filmmaker Spike Lee, who watched the squad give Ancelotti a guard of honour. Ancelotti will lead Brazil against Morocco in their opening match at the 2026 tournament.
11 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Haiti qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974 and will face Scotland in Boston on Saturday. Ranked 83rd globally and grouped with Brazil and Morocco, the team hopes to make an impact and bring pride to their country amid ongoing challenges.
11 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The United States launched fresh attacks against Iran on Thursday, prompting Tehran to retaliate, marking the second straight day of tit-for-tat strikes amid a three-month war. US President Donald Trump accused Iran of dragging out negotiations and said it will "have to pay the price," while the strikes sent oil prices rising.
11 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
IOC President Kirsty Coventry said she was confident for the successful hosting of the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles despite describing "challenges" for the World Cup, which kicks off on Thursday and is co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
11 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
UEFA appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria. Artan was previously denied entry to the United States for the World Cup, and UEFA's appointment was announced as part of a cooperation accord with the African confederation.
11 June 2026 · The Standard →
Iran's Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said the team will stop matches if unauthorised flags are displayed or slogans against the national team are chanted at World Cup stadiums. Iran opens their Group G campaign against New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles.
10 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Chinese manufacturers are producing World Cup merchandise, including Messi plushies, betting on consumer spending on fan goods despite China failing to qualify for the tournament that begins in North America.
10 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will attend the World Cup, which is being jointly held in the United States, Mexico and Canada. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said he expects Trump to present the trophy to the winning team at the final on July 19.
10 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
UN rights chief Volker Turk called on the United States to reconsider its immigration practices ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada, after US authorities barred Somali referee Omar Artan and others from entering the country, raising concerns about racial profiling affecting the tournament.
10 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
US President Donald Trump accused Iran of taking too long to negotiate a peace deal and warned it would "have to pay the price," following renewed military exchanges between the two countries that strained a ceasefire established in April.
10 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →