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5 CommentsThe World Cup has already provided plenty of action.In the twenty four matches so far, 75 goals have been scored with the 3.125 goal per game ratio the highest it has been after the first set of group matches since 1958.Despite concerns about the extended nature of this World Cup, there is no problem with the competitive nature of the tournament either. Nine of the 24 matches have ended in a draw.The 37.5% draw ratio is actually the highest at this stage since 2010 - when it was the same - and has only been higher once since 1954.With the first round of games complete, here are the stand-out player stats at the World Cup so far.From one to 48 - every World Cup team ranked after first gameKane's double drew him level with Gary Lineker as England's all-time top scorer at the World Cup with 10 goals, while Messi's hat-trick saw him equal Germany's Miroslav Klose as the all-time top scorer in the tournament's history with 16 goals.Turkey's Arda Guler has taken the most shots at the tournament so far, although the fact that his eight attempts amounted to just 0.26 xG in total shows how optimistic his shooting was against Australia.While the Real Madrid youngster is obviously far more talented than the average player, the quality of shots he took means that historically a player would score once every 31 attempts.South Korea's Son Heung-min was the worst finisher in the opening round based on expected goals as he failed to score from six chances totalling 1.0 xG – a surprising fact given that the former Tottenham man was one of most ruthless finishers during his time in the Premier League.24 players have a 100% shot conversion rate so far but only two have taken more than one shot – Sweden's Yasin Ayari and New Zealand's Elijah Just, who have both scored twice.Seven players created five chances in their opening game but only Germany's Joshua Kimmich saw his teammates take advantage as he claimed two assists in the 7-1 win against Curaçao.Spain's Pedri did all he could to help his team break the deadlock against Cape Verde as he was the most creative player in the first round in terms of expected assists (1.23). He also won possession in the final third six times, twice as often as any other player at the World Cup.Ivory Coast's matchwinner Amad Diallo has been the best dribbler at the tournament so far. Despite only playing 34 minutes as a substitute, the Manchester United man has completed the most dribbles and has the best success rate among the 32 players to attempt five or more.Vinícius Junior scored Brazil's equaliser against Morocco but was unable to dribble past his opponent with any of his nine attempts in the game. No other player has attempted more than four dribbles without success at the World Cup so far.When it comes to players winning their individual battles, Panama's Jiovany Ramos and Senegal's Krépin Diatta were the kings of the 50-50s in the first round. Of the 158 players that battled in 10 duels or more, those two came out victorious more often that not, even if it wasn't enough to help their teams win overall.A special mention should go to Bosnia-Herzegovina's Jovo Lukic who was absolutely flawless in the air against Canada, winning all nine of his aerial duels. No other player at the tournament that has battled for the ball in the air more than four times has fallen back to earth undefeated.Everything you need to know about the World Cup

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Arsenal are prioritising the signing of a left-winger this summer and, as Sky Sports News reported at the start of the window, they have been stepping up their interest in Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers as they explore the conditions of a potential deal.Villa are still expected to listen to offers around the £80m mark for a player who also has interest from Chelsea and Manchester United.There has been no club-to-club contact between Arsenal and Villa at this stage. Rogers signed a new contract until 2031 last November, putting Villa in a strong negotiating position.Independent of their pursuit of Rogers, Arsenal have been looking into a deal for Club Brugge left-winger Christos Tzolis.It is understood Tzolis would cost in the region of £34m - a Belgian Pro League record. Club Brugge do not want to sell the 24-year-old, who signed a new contract until 2029 last summer.Morocco's Ayyoub Bouaddi caught the eye at the World Cup with his standout performance against Brazil - but he has had plenty of admirers in the Premier League long before this summer.Arsenal are among the top clubs in England that have followed the 18-year-old Lille midfielder closely.Central midfield is a position Arsenal want to strengthen this summer and Bouaddi is one of a number of players they have looked at.The teenager's price tag will be a consideration for the Gunners with Bouaddi having signed a new contract with Lille in December. That deal takes him to the summer of 2029.However, they have prioritised other midfielders this summer, agreeing a deal for Ederson with Atalanta and now pursuing Mateus Fernandes at West Ham.Exits are expected at Arsenal this summer with one source confirming to Sky Sports News that a "key player" could depart.There could be at least one departure in the Arsenal front line if they recruit in that position.Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli all have a year left on their contracts - though the club do have a one-year option on Martinelli.Jesus and Martinelli have seen their game time limited, while Trossard will turn 32 in December.Ethan Nwaneri is another player to watch. He spent the second half of last season on loan at Marseille after falling behind Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke in the pecking order.Nwaneri found game time hard to come by at Marseille and had his commitment called into question by manager Habib Beye, who succeeded Roberto De Zerbi midway through the season.The 19-year-old only signed a new Arsenal contract last August, which runs until the summer of 2030.Ben White is another player facing an uncertain future at Arsenal. A number of Premier League and European clubs continue to keep an eye on his situation.The defender's recovery from a medial ligament injury is understood to be progressing well and he remains on course to be back for pre-season.White has two years remaining on his contract, with Arsenal holding the option to extend for a further 12 months.Any decision on White's future could be impacted by the severity of Jurrien Timber's groin injury. Timber was forced to withdraw from the Netherlands' World Cup squad.Potential reinforcements in midfield could see Christian Norgaard look for a new club after just one season at the Emirates.The 32-year-old, signed from Brentford in a deal worth up to £15m, started just one Premier League game last season for Arsenal.His contract is up next summer with Arsenal holding a 12-month option.

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Convinced football is coming home? Lumping on Germany after scoring seven? Tipping Lionel Messi to retain it? Telling yourself that Sweden are dark horses? Writing off Spain, Brazil and Cristiano Ronaldo? Hold fire. Because the World Cup is an epic.Never more so than this time around in which the group stage will reduce the number of participants down to the 32 that were involved previously. It is what happens in the eighth game not the first that will dictate which team will lift the famous trophy.The lessons from history are there. Most famously, of course, the reigning champions Argentina were beaten by Saudi Arabia in their opening game in Qatar in 2022. Spain also lost to Switzerland in 2010. That is two of the last four World Cup winners losing their first match.This detail should be seen as more than a mere quirk. It is an indication that even over the course of a hectic summer, teams can evolve and emerge. Coaches find solutions. Sometimes the answers just present themselves. Player seize their opportunities.Alexis Mac Allister did not start Argentina's first game in 2022 but was man of the match by the third - the same game in which Enzo Fernandez and Julian Alvarez made the starting line-up for the first time. All three were pivotal in the team's eventual triumph.That Spain team in 2010 came to realise that they needed Pedro's runs in behind to stretch the opposition, dropping David Silva to accommodate him. Go through World Cup history and there are so many examples of winners looking very different by the end.Sir Geoff Hurst must be the most famous example, not making his bow until the quarter-final stage when he came in for the injured Jimmy Greaves. But not since Brazil's masterclass in 1970 has the winners' line-up been the same for the first game as the last.For West Germany in 1974, Rainer Bonhof came in and was instrumental in setting up the winning goal in the final. Four years on, Argentina changed both of their wingers with one of them, Daniel Bertoni, scoring the goal that sealed their 3-1 victory in the final.Italy changed personnel and formation in 1982, having not won any of their games in the first group stage. Famously, Paolo Rossi would go on to win the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball that summer in Spain despite not scoring in any of Italy's first four matches.Argentina's legendary 1986 triumph was all about Diego Maradona and the way that Carlos Bilardo built the team around him but even that was a system that developed out in Mexico rather than before. Going into the tournament, they were not fancied at all.Speaking to Pedro Pasculli, a striker in that squad, he made that clear. "The media in Argentina did not just underestimate us. Above all, they denigrated us saying that the team was too weak and did not have a chance of even getting out of the group."Pasculli started the opening game with Argentina deploying him and Jorge Valdano ahead of Maradona. He was still playing - and scoring the winner - in the round of 16 against Uruguay. But Bilardo opted to bolster the midfield for the game against England."He had to sacrifice a striker in order to do it. That striker was me," Pasculli told Sky Sports. "The unpredictable change of system was important against England. Hector Enrique, a midfielder with defensive skills, took my place, and Valdano moved up."Bilardo and Argentina stuck with the new 3-5-1-1 formation all the way through to beating West Germany in the final. "I can tell you that many of those journalists who did not believe in us, at the end they were the ones shaking our hands to congratulate us."The newly unified Germany also went more defensive during the course of their success at Italia '90, Thomas Berthold beginning in the back three but finishing at wing-back. Brazil even changed their captain from Rai to Dunga during the course of their victory in 1994.France started Thierry Henry in their first two games in 1998 with him scoring three goals in those matches. In fact, he was his country's top scorer at the tournament and had featured in all six games prior to the final. Henry found himself an unused substitute that night.Juninho lost his place in Brazil's team in 2002 with Kleberson preferred by the end. Italy changed four of the team in 2006. Mario Gotze began 2014 in the Germany team but was on the bench for the final - and still came on to score the extra-time winner.And those are just the winning teams. Argentina made the final in 1990 after being humiliated by Cameroon in the opening game. Salvatore Schillachi won the Golden Boot that summer despite not forcing his way into Italy's side until their third match.Then there are those who burn brightly before fading. Brazil won as many games as Italy in 1982 but lost the one that mattered. Denmark lit up Mexico '86 before being blown away. Argentina thrilled us in 2006, the Netherlands in 2014. Neither made the final.And even if you do get there, the narrative can shift under your feet. It was Ronaldo not Zinedine Zidane who was the best player at France '98. Indeed, Zidane was sent off during the group stage, missed the next two games and did not score until the final.What people remember is not Ronaldo's Golden Ball but his anxiety-induced nightmare in Paris. In 2014, it was Messi who endured the awkward experience of being awarded that prize after a final in which he not only lost but missed his team's best chance.The point is that the story of a World Cup sometimes has not yet emerged even on the morning of the final itself let alone a third of the way through the group stage one month prior. Plenty of time for hopes to be dashed. And for heroes to reveal themselves.

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Rangers will begin life under Derek McInnes at Dundee United on July 31, live on Sky Sports.The Friday night clash, which will kick-off at 8pm, marks the start of a groundbreaking opening weekend that will see all six Scottish Premiership games shown live on Sky Sports for the first time.The fixture will be McInnes's first competitive match in charge after he replaced Danny Röhl as Rangers manager on Wednesday.His Premiership Ibrox bow will come against Hibernian the following week on August 9, before the visit of St Mirren on August 22 and a trip north to face former club Aberdeen on the 29th to round out the month.McInnes will take his Rangers team to Celtic Park for the first Old Firm clash of the season on Sunday September 20, live on Sky Sports, where he will be looking to banish the memory of that final-day title heartbreak with Hearts last season. Rangers will then host Martin O'Neill's side on Saturday January 2, 2027 before the final pre-split meeting back in Glasgow's east end on Saturday February 27.The new Rangers boss will return to Tynecastle on league business for the first time since his exit from Hearts on Wednesday October 28 in a midweek clash under the lights at Gorgie which could see title rivals going head to head once again.Hearts then visit Ibrox on Saturday December 19 as part of a packed month with Rangers in action six times. They host Dundee United on Wednesday December 2 before travelling to Easter Road to play Hibernian three days later. Rangers are on the road again the following week as they go to St Johnstone on Saturday December 12 before a Boxing Day visit to Rugby Park to face Kilmarnock. They welcome Steven Pressley's Dundee side to Ibrox on Wednesday December 30 as they round out their 2026 fixtures.In full: 2026/27 Scottish Premiership fixturesRangers' final pre-split fixture takes place on Saturday April 10 at Dundee, with the league campaign concluding on the weekend of May 15/16.Rangers enter Europa League qualifying at the third qualifying round, with their first leg on August 6, six days after that Premiership opener at Tannadice.The return fixture is a week later, with their league game against Hibernian (August 9) sandwiched in between. Should Rangers progress to the play-offs, they will take place on August 20 and 27.Their Premiership clash against St Mirren on Saturday August 22 could be delayed at the request of the Ibrox club, should they wish to have more days to prepare for the second leg of the play-off clash.31: Dundee United (a) - 8pm, live on Sky Sports20: Celtic (a) - 12pm, live on Sky Sports

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Hearts will kick off their 2026/27 Scottish Premiership season at Aberdeen on August 1, live on Sky Sports.The Saturday evening clash at Pittodrie, scheduled for 5.30pm, is part of a groundbreaking opening weekend that will see all six Scottish Premiership games shown live on Sky Sports for the first time.The Tynecastle Park club, who are searching for a new head coach after Derek McInnes left for Rangers, then host Dundee United the following weekend before a trip to Falkirk on August 22 and the visit of St Johnstone to Edinburgh on August 29 round out the opening month.September starts with a bang in the capital with Hearts travelling to play Hibernian in the first Edinburgh derby of the season under the lights at Easter Road on Wednesday, September 2. David Gray's side then travel to Tynecastle for the reverse fixture on Boxing Day before the pair meet again in the final pre-split fixture on April 10 back in Leith.Hearts will return to Celtic Park on league business for the first time since their final day title heartbreak last season on October 17 before welcoming Martin O'Neill's side to Tynecastle on November 28. Former boss McInnes will return to Gorgie with Rangers on Wednesday, October 28 before Hearts travel to Ibrox on December 19.Indeed, with no winter break, December is a busy month in the Premiership with Hearts in action six times. They host Aberdeen on Wednesday, December 2 before travelling to St Mirren three days later. Motherwell travel to the capital on December 12 before those massive fixtures against Rangers and Hibernian, with a trip to St Johnstone on December 30 rounding out the league fixtures for 2026.The post-split league campaign concludes on the weekend of May 15/16.In full: 2026/27 Scottish Premiership fixturesHearts enter the Champions League at the second qualifying round, with the first and second legs of their fixture against Sturm Graz taking place before their Premiership campaign gets underway.Should Hearts progress, their next game would kick off potentially three days after the league campaign begins - with the first leg on August 4/5 and the return game on August 11, either side of their clash against Dundee United on August 8.They have a League Cup game on August 15/16 ahead of what would be the first leg of their play-off tie, be that in the Champions League or Europa League, should they drop into that.They are then due to face Falkirk on August 22, however, the Tynecastle Park club are allowed to request that league game is postponed in order to prepare for the second leg of the play-off the following week.1: Aberdeen (a) - 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports

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Striker will miss match against Germany in TorontoWas arrested over alleged ‘organised fraud’ in Ligue 1The Côte d’Ivoire striker Elye Wahi, who is being investigated for alleged fixing, has not been authorised to travel to Canada for his team’s World Cup match against Germany, the Côte d’Ivoire football federation (FIF) said on Thursday.FIF said Wahi would not be able to travel with the squad for Saturday’s game in Toronto because “the necessary administrative authorisations for his entry into Canadian territory could not be obtained at this stage”.Wahi started for Côte d’Ivoire when they beat Ecuador 1-0 in their opening game in Philadelphia on Monday. He will remain in the United States pending the team’s return, FIF said.The French football league said on Wednesday that an “unusual amount of bets” were placed internationally on Wahi receiving a yellow card during a Ligue 1 game with Nice in May. It was alerted by partners monitoring betting markets about suspicious activity at international level concerning Nice’s home game against Metz on 17 May, which ended 0-0, and in which Wahi was shown a yellow card. The French league said it passed this information to relevant police and gambling authorities, as well as to the French football federation.The Marseille prosecutor’s office said “a 23-year-old professional football player, competing in France’s Ligue 1 championship, was arrested on 29 May 2026 as part of their investigation”.The office added “the investigation concerns alleged offecses of organised fraud, organised sports corruption, receiving stolen goods, and money laundering”. The player was questioned while in police custody and released without being detained. The office added the investigation was ongoing.Wahi’s representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.FIF said it had not been officially notified “of any judicial or administrative proceedings” concerning Wahi. “During this particularly delicate period, the FIF offers its full support to the player and reaffirms its confidence in him. Elye Wahi remains an important member of the Côte d’Ivoire national team.”Wahi joined Nice on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt in January and scored nine goals in 19 games, helping Nice reach the French Cup final.

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Ivory Coast international Elye Wahi has been denied entry to Canada for his country's World Cup group game against Germany on Saturday.The Nice forward was reportedly, external arrested last month before the World Cup over alleged involvement in spot-fixing in Ligue 1.Wahi, 23 - who started Sunday's World Cup win over Ecuador – has been accused of deliberately earning a yellow card while playing for Nice against Metz in May.Spot-fixing is the practice of deliberately affecting match incidents in a way that allows people to profit through betting markets.A statement to the Athletic from the public prosecutor's office in Marseille confirmed a 23-year-old football player, competing in France's Ligue 1, was arrested, without naming Wahi.On Wednesday, Ligue de Football (LFP) confirmed they had been alerted to "an unusually high volume of bets placed on a warning involving the player Elye Wahi".The Ivory Coast's football federation (FIF) say they had not been told of any "judicial or administrative proceedings" against Wahi, but confirmed he had not been able to obtain authorisation to enter Canada."The Ivorian Football Federation has taken note of the various articles and information published on this Wednesday, June 17, 2026, concerning the Ivorian international Elye Wahi," it said in a statement."To date, the FIF has not been officially notified of any judicial or administrative proceedings involving him."In this particularly delicate period, the FIF extends all its support to the player and reaffirms its confidence in him. Elye Wahi remains an important element of the Ivory Coast national team."The FIF also informs that the player will not be able to join the delegation's trip to Canada. Indeed, the necessary administrative authorisations for his entry into Canadian territory could not be obtained at this stage."Elye Wahi will therefore remain in the United States pending the team's return."After facing Germany in Toronto, the Ivory Coast then play Curacao in Philadelphia next Thursday.The statement from the Marseille public prosecutor's office said the arrest was made "as part of an investigation opened by the Marseille public prosecutor's office into allegations of organised fraud, organised sports corruption, handling of proceeds of crime and money laundering".The player was released after being interviewed in police custody and the investigations remain ongoing, officials added.Wahi's booking in the game was his fifth in the league so earned him a suspension for the first leg of Nice's relegation play-off against Saint-Etienne on 26 May.That game ended in a 0-0 draw but Wahi returned for the second leg in which he scored twice in a 4-1 victory to help Nice keep their place in the top flight.BBC Sport has contacted Wahi's representatives and Fifa for comment.The LFP said: "At this stage, and given the ongoing investigation and the confidentiality requirements imposed by the police authorities, the LFP will not make any further comments and has not initiated disciplinary proceedings. However, it reserves the right to do so depending on the progress of the investigation."The LFP reiterates that it remains fully committed to ensuring the integrity of its competitions and that it will act with the utmost firmness against any behaviour that could compromise it."Wahi is the second World Cup player to be denied entry to Canada after Ghana's Thomas Partey was refused a visa because of ongoing criminal proceedings in the UK.Former Arsenal midfielder Partey pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022 and is scheduled to stand trial next year.Partey wrongly told officials in Canada he had never been arrested or charged with a crime and missed Ghana's World Cup win over Panama as a result.The Ghanaian government sought permission for him to enter the country briefly to take part in the game but that appeal was rejected at a federal court in Ottawa.Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor gameEverything you need to know about the World Cup

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England have been drawn to play Greece in round one of the 2027 Women's World Cup play-offs.The Lionesses must get through two rounds of home and away ties to qualify for the tournament in Brazil.Should England beat Greece, they will face the winners of Slovakia v Ukraine with the away fixture played first.Fixture dates are to be confirmed, but matches will take place in October, November and December.Despite England securing five wins from their six qualifying matches, Spain finished top of the group and secured the one automatic spot.Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland also found out who they will be playing for a place at the World Cup.In round one, Wales face Albania, Scotland play the Czech Republic and Northern Ireland take on Portugal.Meanwhile, the Republic of Ireland will play Kazakhstan.Northern Ireland or Portugal v Croatia or IcelandIsrael or Switzerland v Kosovo or AustriaCzech Republic or Scotland v Lithuania or SwedenBelgium or Poland v Kazakhstan or the Republic of IrelandTurkey or Slovenia v Hungary or NetherlandsBBC Sport women’s football news reporterEngland did not want to go through the play-offs but were given an unkind draw in the qualifying groups when they met world champions Spain.It does mean, however, that Sarina Wiegman's side are in a strong position for the play-offs and will fancy their chances with a kind trip to Greece in October.They beat potential round two opponents Ukraine in both matches in the qualifying group stage, which will give them confidence too.There is a tricky tie for Northern Ireland, who come up against a talented young squad from Portugal in round one. Portugal twice beat Northern Ireland in Euro 2025 qualifying.Their task gets trickier if they make it through to round two with potential opponents Iceland proving to be difficult to break down in their matches against England this year.Scotland are hoping to reach just their second Women's World Cup finals having failed to qualify in 2023.They performed well in this year's qualifying group stages, including draws with Belgium that showed they can compete with Europe's strongest teams.They will need to produce their best in round two if they meet big-hitters Sweden, who have been semi-finalists in the past two Women's World Cup finals.Wales have never beaten a top-20 ranked nation in a competitive fixture and are likely to need to do so to qualify - and their away form needs improvement.But Rhian Wilkinson's side face familiar opponents in round one. They thrashed Albania 4-0 in their qualifying group so who says they can't do it again?Meanwhile, having performed superbly in qualifying, the Republic of Ireland have a tricky play-off route with established European opposition Belgium potentially waiting in round two.First, Carla Ward's side will have to navigate a 3,100-mile trip to Kazakhstan, against relatively unknown opposition.

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29 CommentsThe first set of matches at the 2026 World Cup is complete.We have seen all 48 teams in action across three countries over a jam-packed seven days, with 75 goals scored and a smattering of upsets, individual brilliance and controversy.As the biggest World Cup in history gathers pace, BBC Sport take a look at five talking points from the opening week of the tournament.What information do we collect from this quiz?Europe and South America won't have it all their own wayBefore a ball had been kicked, there were concerns that the expanded tournament - featuring a record 104 matches - would produce a number of boring, one-sided contests.But it has taken less than a week for those fears to be allayed.The traditional powerhouses of Europe and South America - the continents that hold 15 of the top 20 slots in the current Fifa rankings - have not had things entirely their own way.Brazil, Uruguay and Switzerland were all held to draws by so-called 'lesser' nations, while Spain were frustrated by debutants Cape Verde in one of the World Cup's biggest surprises of all time.The fact that the third-smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup was able to hold their own against the reigning European champions helped dispel the myth that this tournament would be riddled with mismatches.Others have had their moments: Fellow debutants Curacao scored against Germany - despite being drubbed - Jordan pushed Austria for long periods and DR Congo held Portugal.Asian Football Confederation countries have been particularly impressive, with Australia and South Korea winning, Japan holding the Netherlands and Qatar and Saudi Arabia picking up creditable draws.The caveat here is its very early days. We are only a third of the way through the group stage, and the bigger teams can perhaps afford an off-day when 32 of the 48 sides will go through to the next phase.United States' women's manager Emma Hayes told ITV: "There has been a lot of the talk about the expansion, but you can see it is bringing out the best in teams."Record draws and Europe's slow start - is the World Cup lacking jeopardy?Canada picked up their first-ever point, after Mexico opened the tournament in style with victory over South Africa - accompanied by two colourful opening ceremonies - but it was the USA who really took the plaudits.Their impressive 4-1 demolition of Paraguay silenced a few doubters - and home reaction suggested the States is ready to become invested if their team do the business.The US have demonstrated they have potential to progress in the tournament, with Folarin Balogun and Christian Pulisic showing they are ready to become national heroes.With the NBA championship now done and dusted, is the USA about to fall in love with soccer? More performances like their thrashing of Paraguay will help.USA start World Cup in style - but will they finally join the elite?Hydration breaks have quickly become one of the World Cup's frustrations.Over the past seven days, supporters have had to get used to referees halting play in the middle of each half to allow players to rehydrate.The mandatory three-minute breaks - introduced to help players cope with stifling heat - have quickly been exploited by managers.This has led to the stoppages becoming an annoyance not only for supporters, but also for some managers and players.United States manager Mauricio Pochettino said he did not like the breaks during his side's 4-1 win against Paraguay, adding they were "unnecessary" when conditions were tolerable.One of the main issues is that the hydration breaks are not being used primarily for the purpose for which they were introduced - allowing players to take on water in difficult conditions.Instead, managers are using the stoppages to pass on tactical instructions, with fresh ideas and plans often changing the momentum of matches almost immediately.That was the case during Brazil's 1-1 draw with Morocco last week. The five-time champions were trailing when the hydration break arrived, allowing manager Carlo Ancelotti to pass on new instructions to his players.Less than 20 minutes later, Brazil had levelled through Vinicius Jr, with Ancelotti later acknowledging the break had helped his side assert control.Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk said the interruptions were frustrating for supporters watching at home.But, for the millions of fans around the world, hydration breaks appear to be here to stay.World Cup hydration breaks - who are the winners and losers?Not only were ticket prices set astronomically high, with Fifa introducing a controversial dynamic pricing model, but only a limited number of tickets were made available to fans of each participating nation.It initially appeared as though the pricing and distribution strategy might leave Fifa red-faced, as there seemed to be thousands of empty seats during the match between South Korea and the Czech Republic on the tournament's second day.According to figures released by football's governing body, stadiums have been more than 99% full.Whether those numbers are entirely accurate is difficult to know but one thing we can be sure of is there is no evidence of the swathes of empty seats seen at certain games in previous tournaments.It seems as though World Cup fever has taken hold in the United States, Mexico and Canada - despite the hefty prices.What information do we collect from this quiz?The superstars are bringing their gamesJust a glance at the top scorers table is proof enough that the world's best mean business.Lionel Messi: 3. Erling Haaland: 2. Kylian Mbappe: 2. Harry Kane: 2The first three names on that list lit up the World Cup on Tuesday, before Kane joined the party a day later.Germany's Kai Havertz is also on two goals, along with a number of lower-profile players who have also shone - Balogun, New Zealand's Eliah Just and Sweden's Yasin Ayari.But do not be surprised to see the established order steal the show again when it really matters.Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor gameEverything you need to know about the World Cup