Key events
That concludes the blog for today. Back on Wednesday.
More club news: Stoke have appointed Arsenal Under-21s head coach Max Porter as assistant to Mark Robins.
Stoke sporting director Jonathan Walters: “Max arrives from one of the most elite and successful environments in the country, and we’re delighted to welcome him to Stoke City.
“He has built a reputation as one of the brightest young coaches in the game and has played an important role in the development of a number of exceptional young players during his time at Arsenal.
“What stood out to us was Max’s drive, energy and ambition. He is constantly looking to improve, challenge and develop those around him, and we believe he will be a tremendous addition to our environment.
“As we continue to strengthen and add quality to our backroom staff, Max is another important appointment for the club, and we’re excited to see the impact he can make as we prepare for the season ahead.”
Arsenal’s head of sports medicine Dr Zafar Iqbal departed the club on Monday.
Real Madrid make move for Atleti’s Alvarez
Real Madrid confirm they have submitted a €150m offer for Julián Alvarez, but Atlético Madrid rejected it and pointed to his €500m release clause.
That ends the guessing game Florentino Perez set in motion when calling on a presidential election on Sunday in which he beat Enrique Riquelme.
Communicado oficial
Real Madrid C. F. announces that, following the meeting of the Board of Directors held today, it has made an offer of 150 million euros to Club Atlético de Madrid for the federative rights of the player Julián Álvarez.
After reviewing and evaluating the offer, Club Atlético de Madrid has expressed its gratitude for the proposal, made within the framework of the good relations between both clubs, and has rejected it, referring to the player’s release clause.
Per PA Media: Scotland’s First Minister has contacted American officials after a number of members of the Tartan Army experienced sudden obstacles to their World Cup travel plans.
John Swinney said he would do “all I can to help” those who had their Electronic System of Travel Authorisation (ESTA) permit revoked with days to go before the national team play Haiti in Boston at the weekend.
An ESTA is usually required for UK citizens without a visa going to the US for up to 90 days.
Some Scotland fans reported their ESTA status changing from approved to pending at the last minute, leading to some seeking emergency appointments with the US Embassy in London.
Swinney: “I am aware that the United States Embassy has issued advice to individuals affected by ESTA refusals, indicating that they may apply for a visa through the Fifa pass system, and I have asked officials to convey our hope that they can resolve this so that Scotland’s fans do not miss out.
“I have asked for specific representations and engagement to be taken forward with the Consul General of the United States in Scotland – that has been undertaken and we will do all that we can to help out to resolve these issues.”
EFL news: Rochdale AFC: “We’re delighted to announce the appointment of Ian Watson as our new Head Coach, joining on a three-year contract.”
Watson takes over because former boss Jimmy McNulty departed for Stockport County, having previously handed in his badge at the end of Season Five of the Wire. McNulty oversaw Dale’s promotion from the National League playoffs, overcoming that last-day shock against York.
Talking of Craig Gordon, he’s been praising his former Hearts teammate Lawrence Shankland, who recently joined Rangers, and who was outstanding when Scotland gubbed (Scottish term) Bolivia on Saturday.
“I think he’s quite a complete forward now in terms of what he can bring to a team.
“He’s been fantastic for the last few seasons at Hearts, really ever since he joined, not only the goals he scored but the leadership qualities that he brought to Hearts and that’s really developed over the last few years.
“Since he got handed the armband, he never looked back. On the pitch, a really intelligent player. I think he’s added to that as he’s got older to the point where he’s no longer just a goalscorer. He links the game well, he’s a very intelligent, brings other players into play probably a lot more now than he did at the start of his career. He’s in great form just now and I hope he can continue that during the World Cup.”
Here’s today’s Football Daily, penned by, well me.
Jeff Rueter spoke to the American official called to the VAR room.
As one of many officials worldwide observed by Fifa throughout the World Cup cycle, Dickerson was in contention for either center officiating or video work for the tournament. He’ll be a voice in the ear of the referee to notify them of contentious plays being checked. He’ll call up those replays to help the official. He said the same initial reluctance to use the monitor will help him get the tone right as he asks a game’s official to take a second look.
“The vast majority of mistakes made at a World Cup by the best referees in the world are minor,” Dickerson said. “Well, minor’s the wrong word; they’re really difficult. They’re subtle, specific, or they were really hard to see. These are the ones that nobody ever faults referees for missing.”
The World Cup’s youngest player is set to be Gilberto Mora, Mexico’s 17-year-old attacker. He’s just signed a new three-year contract with Club Tijuana and will wear the No 10 shirt and is set to be the youngest player at the 2026 World Cup. He’s 26 years younger than Craig Gordon, the tournament’s oldest, who turned 17 on Millennium Eve 1999. Tijuana look to be signing him up now with a view to him shining for the co-hosts.
That picture of Harry Kane bowling – in line to replace Ben Stokes? – comes from the England training session currently being attended by the media. Reports to follow but here’s the PA Media take.
Thomas Tuchel worked with 31 players on the eve of England’s final World Cup warm-up friendly against Costa Rica.
The Euro 2024 runners-up have been in Florida since last Monday acclimatising to the North American heat, training at their temporary West Palm Beach base.
Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze are pushing for game time in Orlando after the Arsenal quartet linked up on Saturday, a week on from the agonising Champions League final loss to Paris St Germain.
They formed part of Tuesday’s 31-strong session, which included 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha following his man of the match debut against New Zealand.
Fellow training squad members Alex Scott, Josh King and Ethan Nwaneri also took part along with Jason Steele, who will aid the goalkeeping unit this summer.
Ewan Murray’s World Cup Q&A is imminent. He’s at the Scotland camp, taking your calls.
Guardian Australia reporter Jack Snape interviewed Mo Touré, the Socceroos potential star man.
Touré – whose nickname is Mo – has sparked the most excitement in Australian football fans for a Socceroos striker since Mark Viduka, who emerged at Melbourne Knights close to four decades ago. As one of the faces of the Socceroos’ current World Cup campaign, the hype is something Touré is starting to get used to.
The comparison to Arnold Schwarzenegger, however, is new. “Maybe some people have described me with similar traits, of being always serious or playing hard, but no one’s ever called me a Terminator,” Touré says from camp in California ahead of the opening clash against Turkey on Sunday.
Chris A gets in touch: “Ian Wright is correct: most Americans are embarrassed by the way that the federal government has been handling the situation from day one. The lack of appreciation for the dignity of this remarkable event is appalling, and unfortunately just one of a host of isolationist actions which sever the country from the rest of the globe. Sadly, while I live close to Seattle, I’ve not considered the possibility of traveling there due to all of this mess – and I know many superfans of international football who are doing the same.”
The latest team guide is here:, the ever-colourful Colombia.
Colombia had a rollercoaster ride to this World Cup. Their qualification campaign included moments of glory, such as the 2-1 victory against Brazil or the revenge over Argentina for their 2024 Copa América final defeat. But then came a 1-0 defeat in Bolivia that started a run of six matches without a win and endangered their place in the finals. In the end two thrashings of Bolivia and Venezuela sealed their spot.
You may have seen Ian Wright’s social media clip earlier, in which he expressed his feelings on the immigration issues overshadowing the “World Cup of chaos”.
“I’ve just read that the Somalian referee has been denied entry. Every few hours it’s another story, another story about fans denied, players denied, officials denied, journalists denied, now refs. You know something I’m laughing but it’s not funny, it’s actually not funny and something has to be said.
“The expensive tickets, the most expensive tickets ever, expensive accommodation, transport through the roof. It has to be said. Is this how the hosts behave really for the greatest game, the greatest tournament in the world, is this how the hosts behave?
“Are we not hearing more? Are we seeing how Qatar got dragged, are we not hearing more? Is this the spirit of football, really? You know who I feel for? I feel for the American fans who are desperate for this, American soccer fans who are desperate for this, how embarrassed they must be. How embarrassing for them this must be.
“This is the World Cup, this is a World Cup of chaos. Whoever wins this World Cup is going to have to go through some serious chaos to get this done.’
A club line; they’re content providers, too, you know, and have to keep the pot boiling.
Divine Mukasa has signed a new deal with Manchester City, keeping him at the Etihad Stadium until 2030. An England youth international, Mukasa made his senior City debut in September 2025 and has now totalled six appearances for our first team. He was at Leicester on loan and that club’s troubles doesn’t seem to have slowed his progress. He will go on the club’s summer tour.
Good afternoon, football.
Time for me to tag in John Brewin, who will tenderly guide you through the next few hours. Ta-ra!
Let’s hear/read more from Didier Deschamps on the wonderful Michael Olise, who scored a hat-trick in France’s 3-1 win over Northern Ireland last night.
He’s been shining brightly this season at Bayern and he’s done great things for us. He’s brimming with confidence, he’s so decisive.
On top of that, as an attacking player he also has a remarkable capacity for hard work.
He’s not a very expressive character. He’s rather introverted, but he’s very endearing.
Time for another dip into our archive of stunning World Cup moments. This time, Saipan.
This piece from Alex Reid on World Cup mascots is loads of fun, and includes memorable phrases like “The angular football-headed monstrosity” and “soulless, corporate, anthropomorphic animal slop”.
Here’s more from our Crystal Palace expert Ed Aarons on the news that Pierre Sage will succeed Oliver Glasner.
Palace to appoint Sage as head coach
Some significant non-World Cup news. Sky Sports News are reporting that Crystal Palace have agreed a deal in principle to make Pierre Sage their new head coach.
In what will now be his only season at Lens, Sage’s team won the Coupe de France and were runners-up in Ligue 1. They finished only six points behind a truly great Paris Saint-Germain side and equalled the club’s highest finish since they won the league for the only time in 1997-98. PSG came eighth that season, proving once again that the past is a foreign country.
Ben Fisher
Wolves are poised to re-sign Raúl Jiménez after the Mexico striker agreed a two-year deal to return to Molineux. Wolves have been quick to get to work in search of an immediate return to the Premier League, last week signing the former England defender Kieran Trippier.
Jiménez, who is part of Mexico’s World Cup squad, is a free agent after three seasons in the top flight at Fulham. He was a big hit in his first spell at Wolves but a fractured skull injury left him sidelined for nine months and hampered his final seasons at the club.
Martin Belam
For successive men’s World Cup tournaments Fifa has managed to bulldoze its way through costly immigration and entry requirements. In 2014, Brazil passed a law granting free temporary visas to ticket holders, and for Russia and Qatar, the respective autocracies bypassed traditional border friction using Fan IDs and Hayya cards as makeshift visa entry documents that also provided free public transport.
Not so in 2026, where Fifa has found its tournament squarely caught up in the second Trump administration’s aggressive border restrictions. Here are some of the people that have been affected.
Another stunning World Cup moment from the archive: Haiti give Italy an almighty shock in 1974.
After 1,143 minutes, and having frustrated many of the greatest forwards in the sport, Zoff’s record had been broken by an unheralded 22-year-old who earned $200 a month playing for Don Bosco of Pétionville.
South Africa face Mexico at the Azteca Stadium in Thursday’s opening game. Their coach is Hugo Broos, a 74-year-old Belgian who was part of the Belgium team that reached the semi-finals of Mexico 86. Neatly, he played at the Azteca in Mexico’s opening game of the tournament.
It was a fantastic event and something I will never forget, 40 years ago when we played our opening game against Mexico. That was when I felt how special the World Cup is. I was so happy as a player, motivated and excited. Now I am back here 40 years later, it is amazing it happened. Again I am excited.
It will be a special and fantastic experience for us because many of my players have never played football in a situation like this before. It will be very important for us to stick to the game plan and not pay attention to what is happening in the stands.
Broos, who has been coaching since 1988, will retire at the end of South Africa’s tournament.
After the World Cup, I will stop, go to my family, and enjoy the next 20 years with my grandchildren
Over the past few years, I have often thought about quitting. I no longer want to be involved with football every day. I no longer have the energy… Sometimes I have to drag myself to my computer just to watch a match again.
He’ll not struggle to find the necessary energy on Thursday.
Scotland World Cup reader Q&A with Ewan Murray
Roll up, roll up, log on, for our Q&A with Ewan Murray, our Scotland correspondent, who will be online to answer your questions at 5pm BST.
The early days of the internet were so innocent. Here’s Gary Lineker during the 2002 World Cup, poking fun at an American report of their game against Mexico.
Except…
64 min: GOAL Mexico 0 – 2 USA. Two soccer points to no score! Eddie Lewis makes a cross-pitch play from the left zone, finding Landon Donovan alone in the danger area. He top-bodies the sphere into the score bag, and Mexico have a double-negative stat!
Our Experts’ Network have, well, networked to bring you comprehensive guides to all 512 48 teams at the World Cup.
Here’s an extract from’s Jesús Valdéz’s guide to one of the co-hosts.
Mexico will arrive at their home World Cup carrying a strange mixture of excitement, pressure and a need to reconnect with themselves. Co-hosting the tournament alongside the United States and Canada spared them the grind of a long qualifying campaign, but it also removed the chance to build competitive rhythm. That is why their manager, Javier Aguirre, has turned friendlies and regional competitions into character tests.
Aguirre’s footballing idea is far more pragmatic than aesthetic. Mexico do not try to dominate through endless possession; they play with intensity, aggressive pressing and quick transitions. Aguirre wants to make his team uncomfortable to face, something that was evident in the recent friendlies against Portugal and Belgium. As he puts it: “At a World Cup, the team that plays the prettiest football does not always win. The team that knows how to compete does.”
A flexible 4-3-3 that can become a 4-2-3-1 or even a 4-4-2 depending on the opponents is most often used. Edson Álvarez operates as the midfield anchor, Érik Lira acts as the silent worker who balances everything while Gilberto Mora, Brian Gutiérrez and Álvaro Fidalgo provide movement between the lines. Out wide, Alexis Vega and Roberto Alvarado bring pace and unpredictability, while Raúl Jiménez and Armando González alternate as attacking outlets.
Here’s more on today’s big news: Iran’s football federation says their World Cup ticket allocation has been revoked on the eve of the competition.
We’ve come a long way since the days of trying to force Shoot! magazine’s league ladders into the appropriate slots
