Daniel Villar Pardo

After shining for several years, France arrives established as one of the best national teams in the world. However, they will not be able to count on Hugo Ekitike, being a key absence heading into the offensive facet.

Despite Spain arriving as the clear favorite to claim the victory, Cape Verde managed to resist brilliantly. As a result, Lamine Yamal’s debut at the 2026 World Cup ended in a disappointing draw, following the late decisions of head coach Luis de la Fuente.

Spain and Cape Verde face each other in their 2026 World Cup debut. While Luis de la Fuente’s team arrives as the main protagonist, the uncertainty lies with Lamine Yamal, who is returning from injury and whose participation remains a major question mark.

Cape Verde secured their first-ever World Cup appearance, earning their place in the 2026 edition following all of FIFA’s adjustments. With this, they will have the opportunity to climb positions in the FIFA World Ranking.

The Netherlands and Japan played to a draw in a closely contested match in Group F of the 2026 World Cup. Although Crysencio Summerville appeared to have scored the winning goal for Ronald Koeman’s team, Daichi Kamada equalized in the final minutes of the match.

Despite not arriving as the favored team, Curaçao have managed to establish a highly competitive game against Germany. After Felix Nmecha's early goal, Livano Comenencia responded consistently, scoring the first goal in his national team's history at the World Cup.

Japan arrive consolidated as one of the best national teams in Asia. Under head coach Hajime Moriyasu, they promise to make a great impact at the 2026 World Cup. However, Kaoru Mitoma will be absent from the tournament, being a major loss for the national team.

After surpassing Jamaica in the CONCACAF qualifiers, Curaçao will compete in the 2026 World Cup for the first time in its history. As a largely unknown national team, fans are paying close attention to its position in the FIFA World Ranking.

For the first time in their history, Curaçao will compete in the World Cup, having qualified for the 2026 edition. Beyond their soccer skills and competitiveness, they are the smallest country in the tournament, surprising soccer fans around the world.

Mexico managed to demonstrate their individual quality and collective brilliance, defeating South Korea 2-0. Despite this, head coach Javier Aguirre revealed that he was frustrated with the team's performance and justified César Montes' red card, explaining an issue within the team.

Although the game started off fairly even, Mexico ended up defeating South Africa in a decisive victory. While Julian Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez shone as goal scorers, the three red cards stole the show.

Despite once being regarded as one of Mexico's brightest prospects, Diego Lainez has been left out of the 2026 World Cup squad. While he is an undisputed starter for Tigres UANL, head coach Javier Aguirre has decided not to include him in his plans since January 2026.

Eager to take center stage, Mexico and South Africa will face off in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup. To that end, both teams aim to put on an offensive spectacle, fielding their top stars to secure victory.

After four years of waiting, Mexico and South Africa will face off in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup. Although neither team is considered a favorite to win the trophy, they will be hoping to deliver a competitive contest. Wilton Sampaio will be in charge of officiating the encounter.

Unlike previous editions, FIFA has introduced numerous changes for the 2026 World Cup. They have even decided to make some changes to halftime, but only on one specific occasion, in an effort to attract a larger audience.