World Cup 2026 live: Bukayo Saka injury latest ahead of England’s final warm-up friendly (original) (raw)
Miguel Delaney on players and referees being denied entry to the US for World Cup
The World Cup 2026 is almost upon us with just a day to go until the opening match in Mexico City – but England have been rocked by a Bukayo Saka injury worry on tournament eve.
Thomas Tuchel’s side conclude their preparations for the tournament with a friendly against Costa Rica in Florida tonight, and the England manager revealed he had concerns over Saka’s readiness to play a full part in the campaign as he manages an achilles issue. Saka, a presumed starter in Tuchel’s first-choice side, had to play through the pain to help Arsenal to Premier League triumph this year, but will he be able to do so again for England in North America?
Elsewhere, anticipation is building as co-hosts Mexico prepare to take on South Africa to kickstart the tournament, but the sorry saga of a Somali referee denied a visa to enter the United States rumbles on. The Trump administration has claimed that Omar Abdulkadir Artan was not allowed to enter the country because of links to “suspected members of terror organisations” after Fifa confirmed that he would not officiate at the tournament.
Follow all of the latest news and more with our live blog below:
Gianni Infantino set to speak later
You may remember Gianni Infantino’s pre-tournament press conference as one of the more compelling and curious parts of the last World Cup. One wonders how he is feeling today, with the Fifa president due to speak later with some questions to answer over a chaotic build-up to the tournament.
That press conference in Mexico City is set for a 7.30pm BST start.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino (Getty)
Harry Latham-Coyle10 June 2026 14:00
Jamie Carragher believes Jude Bellingham’s England role will ‘dominate airwaves’ during World Cup
Jamie Carragher has expressed concerns that Jude Bellingham’s role within the England squad at the upcoming World Cup could "dominate airwaves" throughout the summer tournament.
Bellingham, a Real Madrid midfielder, was named in Thomas Tuchel’s 26-player squad for the competition, but his place in the starting XI for the opening match against Croatia on 17 June is not guaranteed.
Aston Villa attacker Morgan Rogers is currently tipped to feature in the number 10 position, leading Carragher to hope that Tuchel’s management of Bellingham does not detract from England’s pursuit of World Cup success.
Harry Latham-Coyle10 June 2026 13:45
John Terry claims at least 11 England players are not good enough to win World Cup
Former England captain John Terry has criticised England manager Thomas Tuchel’s squad selection for the World Cup, suggesting that 11 of the 26-man squad were not good enough to win the tournament.
Tuchel has shown himself to be unafraid to make unpopular or difficult calls, leaving the likes of Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Harry Maguire out of the squad which arrived in the US last week.
Foden and Palmer both had underwhelming seasons for their clubs and in the March internationals, with Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham the beneficiaries of their decline in form.
Harry Latham-Coyle10 June 2026 13:30
Mexican protesters block road to Azteca Stadium
The issues in the US are well-documented but fellow co-host Mexico is also dealing with problems.
Thousands of protesters blocked the road to the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on Tuesday for a number of hours.
There have been ongoing teacher protests in the Mexican capital and Tuesday’s demonstrations were led by a breakaway group of the CNTE union, demanding a salary raise and the reversal of a pension law.
Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum has been unimpressed, calling protests a “provocation” but has resisted using force to disperse the demonstrations. “They want us to resort to repression in the lead-up to the World Cup,” Sheinbaum said last week. “We are not going to fall into the trap.”
A police blockade prevented the demonstrators from reaching the Azteca Stadium, where the opening World Cup match between Mexico and South Africa will be held on Thursday, and the protest died down after three hours or so.
Thousands of protesters blocked the road to the Azteca Stadium (AFP/Getty)
Luke Baker10 June 2026 13:19
What to expect in the opening ceremony
The tournament launches tomorrow with Mexico hosting the first of three (!) opening ceremonies in each of the trio of nations co-hosting this World Cup. They are normally spectacular, if somewhat strange, affairs.
Harry Latham-Coyle10 June 2026 13:15
World Cup kit rankings
The start of this World Cup will be dominated by the discussion over some heavier issues, but there is still time for something lighter. The battle between kit manufacturers can be fascinating as bigger brands look to cash in on a strong selling opportunity – our Lawrence Ostlere has ranked every kit at the tournament.
Harry Latham-Coyle10 June 2026 13:00
How Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo can still define World Cup 2026 despite their waning powers
They are the figures that have defined a footballing generation, two all-time greats driving each other to almost unprecedented heights. But is this the end for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo? Their powers may be on the wane, Miguel Delaney writes, but they could still have a pivotal role to play over the next few weeks.
Harry Latham-Coyle10 June 2026 12:45
Why Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and the rest of the World Cup’s old guard just can’t say goodbye
Lionel Messi appeared to have the perfect World Cup ending four years ago – but he’s back for more in 2026, like a number of others of his generation. Richard Jolly examines why the old guard just can’t say goodbye.
Harry Latham-Coyle10 June 2026 12:30
Lionel Messi’s passport details leaked in security blunder at pre-World Cup friendly
Passport details for the entire Argentina team involved in a pre-World Cup friendly were accidentally leaked in an embarrassing security blunder just days before football’s summer showpiece kicks off.
Occasionally team sheets, issued by teams to match officials a little over an hour before kick-off, include passport numbers, but these are normally blurred out before being released to the media.
Not so when Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina faced Iceland on Tuesday, when the likes of Lionel Messi, Lisandro Martinez and Enzo Fernandez all had their passport numbers exposed in the official team sheet - which was then reproduced by several local media organisations.
Flo Clifford10 June 2026 12:15
How Fifa lost control and made the World Cup a rip-off for fans
There is much to worry about at this World Cup, but travelling fans have long been fretting about the sky-high prices for everything from tickets to transport. Miguel Delaney explains how this tournament became a rip-off.
How Fifa lost control and made the World Cup a rip-off for fans
While the Fifa president Gianni Infantino boasts about how the US commercialisation of sport is ‘reaching different levels’, fans are left to pay the exorbitant cost of this World Cup. ‘It’s a lesson in how to suck the joy out of it.’ By Miguel Delaney
Harry Latham-Coyle10 June 2026 12:00