The 2026 World Cup kicks off on Thursday with a record 48 teams vying for the most coveted prize in football and a slew of controversies over ticket prices, geopolitical tensions and visa restrictions imposed by the Trump administration casting a pall over the beautiful game’s quadrennial extravaganza.
Football and politics collide as World Cup kicks off in shadow of war, travel bans
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Story Timeline
Fri 07:48 - Al Jazeera
Netherlands’ World Cup 2026 team preview: Players to watch, group, squad
Sat 08:05 - Al Jazeera English
Senegal’s World Cup 2026 team preview: Players to watch, group, squad list
Sat 11:44 - Fox News
WWE Clash in Italy 2026 preview, predictions and more
Sun 11:01 - Al Jazeera English
From AFCON to World Cup 2026: How Morocco became a football powerhouse
Sun 15:28 - Al Jazeera English
Germany World Cup 2026 team preview: Players to watch, group and squad list
Mon 11:16 - Al Jazeera English
England World Cup 2026 team preview: Players to watch, group and squad list
Mon 15:24 - BBC Headlines
World Cup: Every squad as they are announced
Tue 04:00 - Euronews
Boston: A travel guide to the 2026 World Cup host city
Tue 07:16 - Die Welt
To make more money – Fifa decides to hold the World Cup without players
Tue 08:39 - Al Jazeera English
France World Cup 2026 preview: Players to watch, group matches and squad
Tue 11:57 - Al Jazeera English
What are the FIFA World Cup 2026 squads for all 48 teams?
Tue 16:02 - Fox News
2026 NBA Finals preview: New York Knicks vs San Antonio Spurs best bets for series, MVP player props
Tue 19:59 - France 24
2026 World Cup: Are US stadiums unprepared? Viral Senegal ball bounce clip sparks pitch fears
Wed 04:00 - Euronews
San Francisco Bay Area: A travel guide to the 2026 World Cup host
Wed 04:30 - Euronews
Seattle: A travel guide to the 2026 World Cup host city
Wed 06:02 - Euronews
You can’t miss these: Best World Cup 2026 squad announcement videos
Wed 07:15 - Al Jazeera English
Unfancied Brazil will stay sharp at the World Cup, Casemiro says
Wed 09:21 - Euronews
2026 World Cup fuels tourism boom in North America with Canada in the lead
Wed 10:44 - Al Jazeera English
Morocco World Cup 2026 preview: Players to watch, group and squad list
Wed 15:31 - Al Jazeera English
Which World Cup 2026 stadiums will host matches in US, Canada and Mexico?
Thu 08:18 - DW Top
2026 World Cup: 6 things you need to know
Thu 08:18 - DW All
2026 World Cup: 6 things you need to know
Thu 08:38 - Al Jazeera
World Cup 2026: What are the key dates from the opening match to the final?
Thu 10:29 - Al Jazeera
Mehdi Taremi: Iran’s journey to the 2026 World Cup
Thu 11:18 - Al Jazeera English
Quiz: World Cup 2026 – player and team records, key statistics
Thu 12:55 - Die Welt
How the DFB wants to bring the 2042 World Cup to Germany
Thu 15:57 - France 24
Mexico set for unprecedented third turn as World Cup host
Fri 09:33 - Al Jazeera English
FIFA World Cup 2026 talking points: NFL-style half-time show, kits and more
Sat 04:00 - Euronews
Vancouver: A travel guide to the 2026 World Cup host city
Sat 05:00 - Euronews
Philadelphia: A travel guide to the 2026 World Cup host city
Sun 04:00 - Euronews
Toronto: A travel guide to the 2026 World Cup host city
Sun 05:00 - Euronews
Guadalajara: A travel guide to the 2026 World Cup host city
Sun 12:33 - Al Jazeera English
World Cup 2026 in numbers: Key statistical goals, titles and age records
Sun 15:51 - Euronews
2026 World Cup: five key facts about FIFA's biggest ever tournament
Mon 06:40 - Euronews
Watch: Forget the football—the money game behind the 2026 World Cup
Mon 09:43 - DW All
So much is wrong with the 2026 World Cup
Mon 09:43 - DW Top
So much is wrong with the 2026 World Cup
Mon 09:43 - DW Top
What is wrong with the 2026 World Cup
Mon 09:43 - DW All
What is wrong with the 2026 World Cup
Tue 10:19 - DW All
Will Ebola have an impact on the World Cup?
Tue 10:19 - DW Top
Will Ebola have an impact on the World Cup?
Wed 09:03 - France 24
High ticket prices shroud 2026 FIFA World Cup in controversy
Wed 13:57 - France 24
2026 World Cup set to be the most expensive ever
Wed 19:51 - Euronews
Infantino defends World Cup ticket prices, says fans 'should chill' about ref denied US entry
Wed 20:48 - France 24
Fact-checking claims that Senegal’s football team were treated like ‘criminals’ at US airport
Wed 22:26 - France 24
Infantino defends World Cup ticket prices, dismisses referee US entry dispute
Thu 05:21 - France 24
Football and politics collide as World Cup kicks off in shadow of war, travel bans