Scotland edge Haiti as FIFA address VAR issue, Brazil held
Folarin Balogun hits a brace in USMNT’s World Cup opener vs Paraguay. Arsenal hold a 17.5% sell-on clause with Monaco, potentially netting millions if he moves after his LA showcase.
Vitinha says Portugal are contenders, not favourites, despite a squad featuring Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo. Portugal open vs DR Congo in Houston before Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K.
Switzerland’s Dan Ndoye was criticised for wasteful finishing in the Qatar draw, missing big first-half chances before a stoppage-time equaliser denied the Swiss.
New World Cup sleeve badges include a ‘DEBUT’ patch, but Brazil placed the main badge too low, leaving no 55mm space, forcing awkward placement that ignores Avery Dennison guidelines.
Tornadoes in Kansas City caused power cuts that interrupted Scotland fans’ World Cup viewing during the 1-0 win over Haiti. England’s public session was halted as players and 700 spectators were evacuated.
Somalia’s Omar Abdulkadir Artan was refused US entry for the World Cup but will receive full Fifa fee. Gianni Infantino said to ‘chill, relax’. Uefa later appointed him to PSG vs Aston Villa Super Cup.
Preview focuses on England’s expected XI to face Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday as their World Cup campaign begins.
John McGinn’s deflected strike earns Scotland a 1-0 win over Haiti in Boston, their first World Cup victory since 1990. Scotland go top of Group C, with Morocco and Brazil up next.
Amid a pre-tournament extension, Thomas Tuchel is warned he will be judged on England’s World Cup. Troy Deeney praises tough calls but notes his past ‘path of destruction’ and big omissions like Foden and Palmer.
Arsenal and Liverpool held talks for Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, who shone in Morocco’s 1-1 vs Brazil. Lille want €60m-€70m, with €50m ‘not enough’. Morocco next face Scotland in Group C.
Austria open Group J vs Jordan. Baumgartner is out, Ljubicic in. Alaba, Wimmer and Grillitsch are doubts, with Alaba expected to start. Arnautovic to lead the line, Sabitzer supports.
Julian Nagelsmann confirms Manuel Neuer, 40, will start against Curacao in Houston for his fifth World Cup, ending a near two-year Germany absence after a calf issue.
Dick Advocaat, 78, says debutants Curacao can ‘steal some points’ from Germany in Group E, praising exceptional team spirit. Captain Leandro Bacuna embraces the island’s identity.
BBC drop nightly World Cup highlights on TV, push iPlayer and app clips, base coverage in Salford, and proceed without Gary Lineker, drawing criticism as ITV broadcast from New York.
Manu Kone says France are adapting to US heat with cold drinks, water breaks and hydration checks. He warns Senegal are ‘very strong’ and backs Kylian Mbappe to deliver in Les Bleus’ opener.
Brazil draw 1-1 with Morocco after Ismael Saibari’s opener and a Vinicius Junior equaliser. Carlo Ancelotti says nerves affected Brazil but ‘you don’t win a World Cup based on your first match’.
Yasin Ayari backs Graham Potter’s Sweden to benefit from extra prep time before Group F opener vs Tunisia in Monterrey. The midfielder chose Sweden over Tunisia and expects a pragmatic approach.
Predictions: Germany heavy winners vs Curacao, under 2.5 in Netherlands vs Japan, Ecuador-Ivory Coast tight with Elephants draw-no-bet, and goals in Sweden vs Tunisia with Gyokeres fancied. Livescore
FIFA confirm a brief VAR tech outage in Qatar’s 1-1 draw with Switzerland. Two men are charged over an England kit theft in Kansas City, where tornado warnings disrupted preparations. Scotland beat Haiti 1-0, and Brazil draw 1-1 with Morocco.
