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​Australia and Türkiye meet in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener on Sunday, June 14, 2026 at 12:00 a.m. ET from BC Place Vancouver, Vancouver, BC. Australia, ranked 27th by FIFA, are appearing at their seventh World Cup, with their best finish a Round of 16 run in both 2006 and 2022. Türkiye enter Group D ranked 23rd by FIFA, appearing at their third World Cup, with their best finish a remarkable third-place result in 2002. Below, we'll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game. How to Watch Australia vs. Türkiye Australia vs. Türkiye Odds Australia World Cup Schedule Türkiye World Cup Schedule Learn more about Australia vs. Türkiye and check the full FIFA World Cup schedule on FOX Sports! Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily. Read More

​Brazil and Morocco meet in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. ET from New York New Jersey Stadium, New York New Jersey. Brazil, ranked sixth by FIFA, are appearing at their 23rd World Cup, with their best finish a record five championships (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002). Morocco enter Group C ranked seventh by FIFA, appearing at their seventh World Cup, with their best finish a fourth-place run in 2022 — when they became the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals. Below, we'll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game. How to Watch Brazil vs. Morocco Brazil vs. Morocco Odds Brazil World Cup Schedule Morocco World Cup Schedule Learn more about Brazil vs. Morocco and check the full FIFA World Cup schedule on FOX Sports! Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily. Read More

​Qatar and Switzerland meet in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group B match on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. ET from San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area, CA. Qatar, ranked 56th by FIFA, are returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2022, when they became the first host nation to lose all three group matches. Switzerland, ranked 19th by FIFA, are appearing at their 13th World Cup, with their best finish a quarterfinal run achieved in 1934, 1938 and 1954. The Swiss most recently reached the knockout stage in 2022 before losing 6-1 to Portugal in the Round of 16. Below, we'll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game. How to Watch Qatar vs. Switzerland Qatar vs. Switzerland Odds Qatar World Cup Schedule Switzerland World Cup Schedule Learn more about Qatar vs. Switzerland and check the full FIFA World Cup schedule on FOX Sports! Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily. Read More

​LOS ANGELES STADIUM — I knew this USA team could cook, but it threw some special sauce in on Friday night. And it wasn't just the players. Before I get into my ratings for them, a 20/10 performance from the crowd on Friday. I've been in that stadium multiple times, but I've never seen or felt it like that. From the moment players came out to warm up until the final whistle, there was an energy like no other in that building. Passion, pride, belief! The USA gave us a little bit of everything — and then some — in the first half of its win over Paraguay. Mauricio Pochettino’s team was dominant from the opening whistle to the final one. It was a masterclass. Nobody left the stadium early. The fans wanted to give this USA team the love it deserved, and they were rewarded for sticking around in the form of a brilliant Gio Reyna goal to make the scoreline 4-1. I want to note that these ratings come as a prisoner of the moment. It was an incredible night in Los Angeles as the United States dominated. Here we go. Starting XI Freese got the start over Matt Turner, but he wasn’t called upon too much Friday. I’m being generous, though. He didn’t have a starring role, and I don’t think he could do too much on the goal. From that positioning with Mauricio through on goal, I don’t think there was anything he could do. As I said, I’m feeling very generous today after that performance, so it’s an 8 for Freese. I thought Antonee Robinson was more involved in the attack tonight, while Alex Freeman was a bit more disciplined defensively on the right side and Sergiño Dest played further up the wing. Freeman looked like he belonged tonight. A really strong World Cup debut from the 21-year-old. I praised Freeman during the two friendlies against Senegal and Germany in the buildup to the tournament, and he looked like he belonged tonight. A very encouraging start to the tournament from both. Robinson scored a banger of a volley against Germany last week and continued to look like a threat down the left wing. He’ll be a key part of the U.S. attack on that side of the field. I thought Richards’ leadership was felt early on in this game, especially in the first half. The game started with a half-chance for Paraguay inside the box, but Chris helped calm things down after that alongside his 38-year-old partner. In the second half, they both made mistakes on the goal. Richards gambled maybe a bit too much and didn’t make contact with the ball on his first attempt, and then Ream kind of dangled out a leg and didn’t make any contact with a Paraguayan player with it. I also want to note that the passing out of the back was good. Ream had a few good balls forward to find Malik Tillman and Weston McKennie in midfield, which is what he’s expected to do with that left foot. Also, Richards quite literally did not miss a pass. He completed all 83 of the passes that he attempted, the most passes with a 100% accuracy rate since 1966. I thought the midfield three were all excellent, but for different reasons. The balance they afforded one another was a joy to watch. Tyler picked up a yellow card, but beyond that, he covered ground and moved all over the pitch to complement Tillman and McKennie. He remained more disciplined while allowing Tillman and McKennie to have the freedom to move further up the pitch. I thought Weston’s energy was incredible. The way he was consistently an option in the final third was encouraging, and that was clear on the first U.S. goal. He picked the ball up in midfield and had multiple Paraguayan players around him, but he was able to get the ball out to Christian on the left. The best part, though, is that Wes continued his run after playing the pass and got the USA touch before Damian Bobadilla put the ball into his own net. It was also an encouraging performance from Tillman, whose quality and calmness on the ball showed throughout. His ability to set the tempo was necessary and impressive. It also looked like he had a great understanding with Adams. A lot of pressure and responsibility on his shoulders. He came back into form just before this tournament in terms of finding the stat sheet with goals and assists. Hopefully, Pulisic’s calf injury was nothing too significant. Fantastic in the first half with his movement, creating chances, creating space for other players. His dribbling was sharp and quick, and he caused problems throughout the first half. That’s how the first goal for the U.S. came about. He skipped by two defenders and then picked out a pass to McKennie, whose attempted pass to Balogun was turned into the net. Also of note, Christian’s chemistry with Flo was excellent. If those first 45 minutes were any indication, the rest of the tournament better watch out. The only reason this rating isn't higher is that he only played 45 minutes. Hopefully, he's ready to go next week to face Australia. It’s the goals, it’s the way he took his goals, and it’s also his overall play, which I thought was excellent. Obviously, the two great finishes from Flo are worth celebrating, but there was more to his performance. The way he occupied both of Paraguay’s center backs was great. He was strong throughout the game, held up the ball and really powered the U.S. attack. Flo’s movement was spot on for a center forward. He ran into the channels very well and was able to play well with a defender on his back. He also led the Americans’ counter-press against the Paraguayan defense and was spot-on with his movement as a defender. He was a big reason that the Americans’ game plan worked so well. My man Peter Crouch suggested that Balogun might be looking at a Golden Boot with a start like that to his tournament. I’m encouraged to see where his tournament can go from here. I love Sergiño higher up the pitch. Initially, I wasn’t so sure. I liked him starting as an attacking fullback, but he thrived by having more freedom to simply start further up the pitch. His maintaining the width on the right wing with some silky smooth dribbling at times caused problems and kept the Paraguay left back, Júnior Alonso, wide, which helped create space for the midfield to run into. Sergiño's ability to start further up the pitch really makes him a wild card. He’s unpredictable. It’s hard to plan how to defend him because you don’t know where he’s going to play. Tonight, that caused so many problems for Paraguay. Bonus: A 10 for head coach Mauricio Pochettino. Poch got everything right tonight. First, he picked the right lineup in his debut as a World Cup manager (including the decision to bring on Gio Reyna late!). This lineup looked good against Germany without Richards, and his inclusion was a great addition. Second, the approach of how they wanted to create space and maintain width was spot on. The game plan was perfect, much like the USA for the majority of the match. Read More

​LOS ANGELES STADIUM — Matt Freese will start in goal for the U.S. men’s national team in its World Cup opener vs. Paraguay on Friday. Freese, who plays for MLS club New York City FC, made his debut for the Americans almost exactly a year ago on June 7, 2025. He has never played in a World Cup but has officially beaten out Matt Turner, who started every game at the 2022 tournament, for the job. The goalkeeper battle has been one of the biggest – and most mysterious – storylines entering this summer’s tournament on home soil. Turner started all four matches for the USA at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but was unseated by Freese ahead of the 2025 Gold Cup. He’s struggled to regain his spot, and manager Mauricio Pochettino has now made the final call. Chris Richards will also start for the USA, which is a huge relief for the team. Richards injured his ankle playing for Premier League club Crystal Palace last month and has been working diligently with the U.S. medical staff to get back in time for this match. Richards only participated in his first full training session with the team on Monday. He will start in defense alongside captain Tim Ream. The rest of the starting XI is business as usual. Alex Freeman, who is the youngest player in the squad at 21 years old, will start in his first World Cup game in the back line. Malik Tillman and Folarin Balogun are starting in their first World Cup games, as well. Ream, Sergino Dest, Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic are the holdover starters from four years ago. Players were informed of the starting lineup on Friday morning. On the other side, here's a look at Paraguay's full lineup for its first World Cup match this summer: GK: Roberto "Gatito" Fernández RB: Juan José Cáceres CB: Gustavo Gómez (C) CB: Omar Alderete LB: Junior Alonso CM: Andrés Cubas CM: Diego Gómez RM: Damián Bobadilla LM: Miguel Almirón FW: Antonio Sanabria FW: Julio Enciso Read More

​Alisson Becker feels for Carlo Ancelotti, the Italian expected to bring Brazil a record sixth World Cup title. "His position perhaps has more pressure than being the president of the country," the Seleção's top goalkeeper said. Brazil is unbeaten in 20 World Cup openers since 1934, winning 17 going into Saturday night's match against African champion Morocco. Having conquered the globe with Pelé, samba soccer and canary yellow jerseys, Brazil was once the nation others emulated. No more. Brazil hasn’t won the title since 2002 and has moved past the quarterfinals just once since, a humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany in the 2014 semis on home soil in Belo Horizonte. "We're here to try to change history, try to put Brazil back to where it never should have left, which is at the top," striker Vinícius Júnior said Friday through an interpreter. "We are at the same level as the other major teams." Morocco became the first African nation to reach the World Cup semis, losing 2-0 to France four years ago. The Atlas Lions won their continent's title controversially in January — they lost 1-0 to Senegal but were awarded a 3-0 forfeit victory because the Lions of Teranga left the field for 15 minutes during stoppage time in protest of a penalty kick awarded to their opponent. Brazil is ranked sixth in the world and Morocco seventh. "In modern football, there is no — how we say? — small-time team," Ancelotti said through an interpreter. "They are definitely up to the task." In their one World Cup meeting, Brazil won 3-0 in the 1998 group stage behind goals from Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Bebeto. "We all respect Brazil. Some people say it’s not the Brazil of before. Well, it’s still Brazil," Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi said through an interpreter. "They're passionate. They love football. They have great qualities. They really want to win this World Cup." En route to the title during the 1994 World Cup in U.S., Brazil became famous for the baby-rocking goal celebration by Bebeto, joined by teammates Romário and Mazinho. Ancelotti wouldn't mind more prancing. "It's not banned to dance in the new regulations of FIFA. This is not forbidden," he said. "They want to optimize the time of play, but you can still celebrate and dance." Brazil Faces Great Expectations Back Home Brazilian fans don't anticipate a title. Some expect one and others demand it. "We have a possibility to compete to win," Ancelotti said, switching to English. "We have a good feeling." Ancelotti, the first non-Brazilian to coach the team at a World Cup, took over in May 2025 from Dorival Júnior. He has win a record five Champions League titles leading AC Milan and Real Madrid, and he is the only coach to win championships in all five major European leagues. "I respect him very much. I’ve read all his books," Hakimi said playfully. "Maybe I’ll have an advantage over him. I know all his secrets." Hot Weather Expected In New York Area A temperature of 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31 Celsius) is forecast for kickoff at MetLife Stadium, site of the final on July 19. "We are used to the heat. We’re Africans," Hakimi said. Morocco And Brazil Captains Are Friends — But Not For The Next 5 Weeks Hakimi and Brazil captain Marquinhos are Paris Saint-Germain teammates and on May 30 they helped their club win a second straight Champions League title. Hakimi said he took two days off before starting World Cup preparations. "When we play together at PSG we have a good laugh and we said on the (World Cup) pitch we’re not teammates," Hakimi said. "We will talk, of course, but we each want to win and may the best win." Neymar Is Still Sidelined With A Calf Injury Picked for his fourth World Cup at age 34, Neymar is still recovering from a torn right calf and Ancelotti said the nation's career leader with 79 goals won't be ready to play Saturday. "We hope that he can be back in full training next week," Ancelotti said. "When we called up Neymar we didn’t only call him up for his footballing qualities, which are undoubted, but also for his experience, because he can be an example for the young players that we have in the squad." Reporting by the Associated Press. Read More

​The 2026 World Cup is finally underway as all 48 teams begin to fight it out for the universally coveted trophy. While the collective prize is the main objective for all competitors, some will be hoping to make their claim as the best player of the entire tournament. But who are the top contenders, and who is leading the race for the prestigious Golden Ball? The illustrious Golden Ball is about more than just goals. Voted for by media representatives, it offers the chance for the tournament to award players for their all-round excellence and impact on the tournament. While it has largely gone to strikers over the years, midfielders and even a goalkeeper have been crowned. Paolo Rossi, Diego Maradona, Salvatore Schillaci, Romario, Ronaldo, Oliver Kahn, Zinedine Zidane and Diego Forlán are among the previous winners of the prize, while two active stars - Lionel Messi and Luka Modrić - are also on the list. Messi, the only player to have won it twice with his 2014 and 2022 victories, will hope to go one further by claiming it for a second time in a row. However, the likes of 2022 runner-up Kylian Mbappé, Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, Spain sensation Lamine Yamal and England captain Harry Kane are vying for the honor, too. At 41 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo is looking to complete his collection by guiding Portugal far in the competition, while Vinícius Júnior and Raphina have it in them to fire Brazil to a sixth championship. With 48 teams in the competition, there is plenty of potential for a surprise contender to pop up, with quality spread throughout the competition. Here, GOAL's World Cup 2026 Golden Ball Power Rankings track the top candidates for the award. Lamine Yamal | Spain Fresh off the back of a La Liga title-winning season with Barcelona that saw him named the division's best player, Ballon d'Or runner-up Lamine Yamal is crucial to Spain's hopes in North America. He has already shown his ability to shine on the international stage after his decisive role in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph as he turned 17 years old. Now two years older and thoroughly established as one of the world's best players, he will become the first teenager to be crowned World Cup Golden Ball winner if he pulls it off this year. Harry Kane | England With a whopping 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern Munich last season, European Golden Shoe winner Harry Kane will strike fear into any defence he comes across in this competition. He has scored 11 in his last 12 games for England and with the likes of Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford in support, he is expecting excellent service as Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions aim to go all the way in 2026. Kylian Mbappe | France It may be premature to consider 27-year-old Kylian Mbappe a World Cup great on the face of it, but considering he has both gold and silver medals under his belt and has the same goal record as Brazil icon Pele (12 in 14 games), his status is undeniable. His second season at Real Madrid may have ended without major honors, but the Frenchman finished the season as both the Champions League and La Liga top scorer. Spearheading a France team that is rife with quality, Mbappe's penchant to create chances as well as finish them off will put him in good stead to win this prize. Lionel Messi | Argentina Now he's just getting greedy! Lionel Messi has won it all in his career — most of it on more than one occasion — and is well aware of what it takes to win the Golden Ball. He already has two in his trophy cabinet and with his 39th birthday coming up during the World Cup, it is a testament to his longevity that he remains a pre-tournament favorite yet again. The Argentine sensation put on a sensational run of displays, scoring seven goals and setting up three, to beat Mbappe to the prize in Qatar four years ago. Can he do it again? Ousmane Dembele | France He's the current Ballon d'Or holder, a reigning two-time European champion with PSG, and a vital component of one of the world's strongest national teams, so who would dismiss Ousmane Dembélé's chances of taking home the Golden Ball? Much of the attacker's France career has been plagued by injuries and struggles at club level, but his resurgence in recent years puts him in the conversation. Raphinha | Brazil Raphinha has struggled with injury at various points this season, but he has the ability to change matches in Brazil's favor. The confident winger is aware of it, too, "When it comes to attacking space, I think he is the best player in the world," Carlo Ancelotti said, and the coach will hope to bring out the best of him in North America. Vinícius Júnior | Brazil Despite a chaotic season with Real Madrid, Vinícius Júnior's quality shone through with a respectable 21 goals and 10 assists across La Liga and the Champions League. He has been a mainstay for Brazil for the last five years and shares a long history with coach Ancelotti. Who better, then, to rise up and lead the Selecao to global success in the absence of the perennially injured Neymar? Pedri | Spain He was the engine for Barcelona as they secured a second straight La Liga title under Hansi Flick, and his importance to the national team can hardly be overstated. Playing in a midfield that includes options such as Rodri, Fabrian Ruiz, Gavi and Mikel Merino, the 23-year-old's quality is obvious as he sets the tempo of his team's play and cuts through opponents with his passing, making him key to Spain coach Luis de la Fuente's style. Bruno Fernandes | Portugal Manchester United may have been miserable for much of the season, but Bruno Fernandes' performances over the course of the campaign left many in awe. He broke the record for most assists in a single Premier League campaign to earn the division's Player of the Season award, helping lift the Red Devils to what seemed an unthinkable third-place finish. He will be fired up to partner Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva and Co in the battle to improve on their quarter-final finish in 2022. Michael Olise | France Harry Kane may have got the lion's share of the goals in Bayern Munich's blistering campaign, but it was Michael Olise who captured the hearts of many fans. The Bundesliga player of the year's electrifying pace, immense control and fantastic finishing ability saw him net 20 goals and register 25 assists across the German top-flight and Champions League, where Bayern reached the semi-finals. He showed no sign of slowing down heading into the competition — despite the intensity of the schedule he has just completed — by firing France to a 3-1 win with a hat-trick against Northern Ireland in their last friendly. Read More

​In the 26 games in which Christian Pulisic scores, the U.S. men's national team has lost just twice with an astounding 21 wins to go with four draws. Let that sink in as the World Cup co-hosts open Group D play against Paraguay on Friday night in Los Angeles. At just 27 years old, Pulisic has already made 84 appearances for the U.S. men's national team. He has averaged more goals per game than U.S. greats Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan. Yet heading into Friday's opener, Pulisic, who ranks No. 79 on our Top 100 Players in the 2026 World Cup List, only has one goal for the USA since November 2024. If "Captain America" finds the back of the net against Paraguay, history suggests the United States will be in good shape. In fact, a goal would put Pulisic in exclusive company. He would join Dempsey, Donovan and former U.S. standout Brian McBride as the only Americans to score in multiple World Cups. In other words, if the U.S. wants to open tournament play with a victory, it needs its captain to deliver. "Set him up for success and it all rolls downhill after that," FOX Sports' Colin Cowherd said of Pulisic during a recent airing of "The Herd." "We've got other top players. Weston McKennie has been around. Sergiño Dest is very good. Tyler Adams is a tough guy. But it will all begin and end with Christian Pulisic." Former U.S. men's national team coach Bruce Arena agreed, emphasizing the importance of getting the Americans' top scorer involved early and leaving Los Angeles with three points. "Obviously, the starting point is to get three points tonight," Arena told Cowherd when asked what to expect from the U.S. during the World Cup. "If they do that, then they position themselves to win the group." A victory would put the United States in a strong position atop a Group D field that also includes Australia and Türkiye. Arena noted that winning the group could lead to a favorable Round of 32 matchup and potentially open a path to a deeper tournament run. "There are a lot of positives ahead, but it is critically important that we win tonight and position ourselves to win the group," Arena said. The U.S. is 5-2-2 all-time against Paraguay, including a 2-1 victory in the teams' most recent meeting last November. This marks the second World Cup matchup between the two sides, with the Americans winning the first meeting, 3-0. All eyes will be on Mauricio Pochettino's squad Friday night, especially Pulisic, whose importance to the Americans' success cannot be overstated. "If he has a goal or an assist, we are exceptional," Cowherd added. "If he doesn't score, we are slightly above average. "It's about players, not plays. That's all competition. This is easily our most talented squad. It will all come down to keeping Pulisic healthy." Read More

​This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. The Polymarket Promo Code FOX unlocks a $50 bonus just as the U.S. men's national team kicks off its World Cup campaign against Paraguay. The World Cup returns to America for the first time since 1994 and Christian Pulisic leads the USA attack with Weston McKennie, Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman. Paraguay presents a tough first test with a young squad led by leader Miguel Almiron. With the last of the host nations taking the pitch for the opening game, the USA has a golden opportunity to make a statement. Claim your $50 bonus with the Polymarket promo code FOX and make the USA vs. Paraguay showdown even more exciting. For more information and full terms and conditions, visit our Polymarket promo code page. How to Claim the Polymarket Promo with Code FOX USA vs. Paraguay Chances *Odds/Probability are subject to change* More markets are available on Polymarket. The USA is ranked 16th by FIFA, appearing at their 12th World Cup as the tournament's host nation. Paraguay enter Group D ranked 41st by FIFA, appearing at their ninth World Cup, making a return since their last World Cup in 2010. How to Watch United States vs. Paraguay Read More