Aperçu Oita Trinita

The World Cup kicks off in Mexico City with the first of 104 matches. European teams are favoured to triumph, but there could be value elsewhere.

Barcelona and Spain superstar Lamine Yamal has officially been named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. The 18-year-old sensation will use his global platform to advocate for children's rights, specifically focusing on the essential need for safe environments to play and develop.

Four nations will make debuts at the 2026 World Cup, with Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan set to grace the grandest stage in international football for the first time. It will be the tournament with the most newcomers since 2006 and all will have ambitions of ending a 16-year wait for a debutant to reach the knockout stages.

The 2026 World Cup is almost upon us. Over the course of the next week, the time for talking will stop, and teams will have to prove their credentials with their performances on the pitch in North America. All roads, whether through the United States, Mexico or Canada, will lead to New Jersey on July 19, and the biggest football match on the planet: the World Cup final.