The 2026 World Cup is well underway and so is the race for the prestigious Golden Boot - the award given to the tournament's top scorer. There's a long and winding road to be navigated as 48 nations battle for the top prize, but which star will take home the illustrious award? Here, GOAL tracks the tournament's most prolific stars.
Four nations made debuts at the 2026 World Cup, with Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan gracing the grandest stage in international football for the first time. It is the tournament with the most newcomers since 2006 and Cape Verde have achieved the feat of ending a 16-year wait for a debutant to reach the knockout stages, with the African nation to face Lionel Messi's Argentina on Friday.
Mexico witnessed the arrival of a new star in Gilberto Mora and celebrated the career of a legend in Guillermo Ochoa as they secured a 3-0 win over Czechia. For the first time, El Tri finished a World Cup group stage with nine points, and Javier “Vasco” Aguirre now has his team in the best possible shape heading into the knockout rounds.
Mexico have already secured first place, but Javier Aguirre still faces key decisions as El Tri prepare to face Czechia before the World Cup knockout rounds.
A late, controversial penalty converted by Teboho Mokoena salvaged a crucial point for South Africa against Czechia, keeping their 2026 World Cup hopes alive. The 1-1 draw ensured that both nations remain firmly in the hunt for knockout stage progression.
South Africa attacking midfielder Themba Zwane has been slapped with a three-match suspension by FIFA following his controversial red card during Bafana Bafana's opening 2026 World Cup defeat to Mexico. The severe punishment means the 36-year-old veteran will miss the remainder of the group stage, dealing a massive blow to Hugo Broos and his squad as they desperately seek progression.
It's so close you can almost touch it. After years of build-up, the 2026 World Cup will kick-off on Thursday when co-hosts Mexico face off against South Africa in a repeat of the opening game from 2010. Over the next five-and-a-half weeks, records will be broken and legacies rewritten as a number of modern greats do battle to win the most recognisable trophy in all of sport.
FIFA has announced a significant protocol modification that will see every squad member take part in the pre-match national anthems at the upcoming World Cup. Moving away from traditional sporting custom, football's global governing body has mandated that both starting line-ups and substitutes congregate together on the pitch ahead of kick-off.
Adam Hlozek of TSG Hoffenheim has been included in the Czech Republic's World Cup squad, despite logging just 37 minutes in the Bundesliga. His manager has now explained the reasoning behind the selection.
FIFA has confirmed the key dates and squad regulations for the 2026 World Cup. Nations must submit their final player lists by June 1, with strict rules in place regarding injuries, replacements and goalkeeper selections.
The Czech Republic went to a penalty shoot-out twice – and both times the team kept their nerve. After two real nail-biters, the team has now qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 20 years.