The World Cup hits full gear on a massive Saturday with USA, Brazil, and Scotland making headlines
The World Cup has officially kicked off, featuring exciting matches, surprising performances from teams like the USA, and notable player issues.
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The 2026 World Cup officially kicked off on June 11 with an expanded format featuring 48 teams. The United States made a significant impact in their opening match on June 12, securing a dominant 4-1 victory against Paraguay in Los Angeles, marking their largest winning margin in a men's World Cup game in 96 years.
Brazil is set to commence their tournament play today, June 13, against Morocco, while Scotland also returns to the World Cup stage after 28 years to face Haiti. However, the tournament is already marked by a notable number of high-profile player absences due to injuries, with Brazil's Rodrygo and Scotland's Billy Gilmour among those unable to participate. Concerns about extreme heat in some host cities also pose a challenge for player performance.
What each outlet emphasizes
- CNN: The World Cup hits full gear on a massive Saturday; Brazil hopes to end a 24-year wait for World Cup glory
- BBC: USA start World Cup in style; Scotland gripped by football fever; the trauma and hope behind Haiti's rare World Cup appearance
- AJ: World Cup Day 3: Brazil begin campaign; USA hit Paraguay for four in dream start; Thomas Partey denied entry into Canada
- The Guardian: World Cup Daily USA blast out of the blocks and Canada get first ever point; Ghana football team criticises Canada for denying Thomas Partey a World Cup visa
- AP: FIFA blames empty seats at World Cup match in Mexico; Visa denial sidelines Thomas Partey for Ghana’s World Cup opener
Read it at the source
sportlondon.com ↗ cbsnews.com ↗ fifa.com ↗ sportsmole.co.uk ↗ theguardian.com ↗