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The pressure of wearing the Brazil shirt can be heavy but also creates a positive kind of responsibilityPlaying in a World Cup is a huge experience; when you’re with the national team, your entire focus is on the squad’s schedule – the hotel, the training centre, the stadium – basically, everything revolves around the matches.I lived that routine daily at the 2022 World Cup and realised the immense dedication the tournament demands. In this 2026 edition, as fate would have it and as I am still recovering from my injury, I’m discovering a different side of the World Cup: a World Cup of reunions, with countless events happening simultaneously across the cities and countries, creating opportunities for conversations and extraordinary experiences.Over the course of two afternoons in New York I ran into true legends, icons, and friends I’ve made through football. They were precious moments where I could listen, exchange ideas and receive support from stars such as Marcelo, Kaká, Paul Pogba and Zinedine Zidane. What started as a scheduled appearance for a shared sponsor turned into a casual, friendly chat from different generations united by the passion football ignites. We were right there, close to the fans. Five guys representing Brazil and France, greeted by hundreds of fans from all over the globe, all hoping for a brief moment of proximity, a photo, or a wave. And yes, I have idols too; I managed to get an autographed shirt from Zidane, my former coach and a giant in the history of the sport.Sharing that space in the centre of the event arena next to the Brooklyn Bridge, we talked about past experiences, the energy that spreads everywhere during the World Cup, and, of course, the matches that had already taken place. Naturally, everyone expects the best from the Brazilian national team, and in football “the best” means victory. But it is important to remember the opening draw against Morocco was the first step on the journey; Brazil fell behind in the game and securing a draw was important for the road ahead.The World Cup presents challenges unlike any other competition. Scenarios shift constantly, and almost nothing is set in stone. If things don’t go as planned in the first game, it doesn’t mean the rest will follow the same pattern. By the same token, a big win does not guarantee the next match will be any easier or that performance levels will remain consistent.It is a sprint-paced marathon with stages that feel independent of one another, creating opportunities for change throughout the journey that makes up the whole. There are eight decisive matches on the road to the title and, in the group stage, not every setback means that you are going home. A single team can be several different versions of itself over the course of the tournament – and that is one of the factors that makes the World Cup incomparable.When we are on the pitch for a World Cup match, our eyes and minds have one undisputed priority: to perform our best. We have done everything possible to arrive in the best possible physical, technical, tactical, and mental shape. Everyone there defends the team and the country with everything they can.Before and after matches, opponents are fellow professionals and friends. But once the game kicks off, everyone focuses on their job and gives their all to help the Seleção advance. You can’t predict the result, but you can guarantee dedication and the right attitude by leaving everything on the pitch.The pressure of wearing the Brazil shirt can be heavy but also creates a positive kind of responsibility. That pressure exists solely because of the greatness of our football, the titles we’ve won, and our historic standing in the sport. The fans’ mood often hinges on the result, which is only natural in a country so used to winning regularly.So, as a player you have to realise that a barrage of criticism isn’t the end of the world, just as a massive wave of praise doesn’t mean everything is sorted out and that you will win the tournament. It is crucial to distinguish facts and balanced analysis from comments born of raw emotion and frustration.Players aren’t immune to what is said on social media. I believe in using a filter: a process of separating what is relevant, what deserves a response or consideration from what is simply garbage, intended to cause hurt and completely detached from reality.A World Cup player’s daily routine involves dedicating a vast amount of time to the profession. Yet, the player is a human being who communicates – even if only online – with friends, family, professional contacts and fellow players. Consequently, social media comments can easily reach them through any of these channels. Among the messages received, there may be content intended to cause distress or trigger stress. A football player is a human being who can be affected by such photos, videos or comments – just like anyone else. We do not go out of our way to seek them out or read them; most players do not actively look for comments and have a support team that handles the filtering process.At times, though, the sheer volume means some of it reaches us. Then the focus must remain on performance on the pitch. It is up to us to ensure that our on-field performance is what truly speaks loudest.

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Scotland fans in the Massachusetts city awaiting their game against Morocco have continued to make an impression on the localsOn Thursday afternoon, local broadcasters in Boston went live to an event hosted by the city’s mayor, Michelle Wu. It was a significant moment, with Wu confirming a deal that would commemorate a new chapter for the city. Representatives of the other party were also present, and they were easy to spot. Particularly the one guy in a kilt and a T-shirt reading: “I’m not perfect, but I am Scottish, and that’s kind of the same thing.”The agreement signed will see Boston and Glasgow become twin cites. Officially, according to Wu, the arrangement will “create new opportunities for meaningful cooperation and mutual growth”. But who was she kidding. A more telling line was the one that reflected “longstanding ties between Scotland and the United States” and, of course, “the goodwill generated during the Fifa World Cup 2026”. In other words, Boston’s love affair with the Tartan Army is now official.Just 10 days since they first began arriving in New England, Scotland fans have managed to bring yet another nation under their thrall. Carrying a letter of support from FC Cologne, the last place to fall for the Scots two years ago, they have charmed, amused and fascinated the locals in Boston and beyond. Following the antics of the Scottish fans, their discovery of tailgating or their dancing at the baseball, appears to have become an American pastime, with clips ubiquitous on everyone’s social media feeds.In the week since their nervous and necessary victory over Haiti at Boston Stadium, some fans have returned home from New England. Many more have arrived to replace them, however, and most of them have been met at the Logan airport arrivals hall by TV cameras. A topic of particular fascination for the media has been the Tartan Army’s ability to drink, especially after slightly breathless reports of the Sam Adams taproom at the heart of downtown being “drunk dry” by fans. It turned out supplies never ran out, but extra did have to be ordered after the bar sold 3,000 pints of its Boston lager over the course of 48 hours.Other bars were equally shocked or delighted. The Irish hostelry Hennessey’s proclaimed sales that were three times those of St Patrick’s Day. The Dubliner, next door to the Fifa fanfest in the city and a key Tartan Army destination, said it had had the busiest week in its history and while it hadn’t run out of beer, their distributor had. So concerning was the situation to so many that Tennent’s felt the need to put out a statement reassuring their clientele. “We’ve been planning for this since December and made sure we had plenty of Tennent’s in the US,” said Hazel Alexander, a senior brand manager, from the UK. “So we’re confident that supplies will continue to meet the demand.”The welcome extended to Scottish fans has been warm across the board, according to Adam Robb from Aberdeenshire. “The locals are just incredible, they’re so happy to see us,” he said. “Surprised to see us, I think, in these kind of numbers, but the reception has been unbelievable.”By way of evidence, Robb cites the fact he had been bought breakfast by Boston police that morning after he lost his passport on a hiking jaunt between matches. “I reported it as missing and I was at the police station,” he said. “The cops bought me an egg and cheese muffin while I was waiting, which was amazing.” With no ticket for Friday night’s match against Morocco, Robb is keeping a keen eye on resale sites, but prices are rising. “I think we’re up to about £700,” he said. “It was down to £350 before the Haiti game, but I think all these videos are going about and people getting the FOMO. They’re like: ‘Oh, we’re going to have to get part of that.’ I think a lot of them will be Americans.”Robb intended to count down the time to the game by checking out some of Boston’s culture and staying off the booze “for a few hours”. Others will be doing similar. Or perhaps they will continue the new tradition of sticking traffic cones on Boston statuary (apparently tribute to a longstanding practice on Glasgow’s Buchanan Street). Or maybe they’ll visit the off-licence which has become a must-see destination for Scottish tourists, not for its contents, but its name. Thousands have already made a pilgrimage to Jobi Liquors, which means a very different thing in Scotland to the US. “They’re all coming in and saying ‘shit’,” Jobi’s owner, Jim, told the Daily Record in another viral video. “Boston is loving all the Scottish people. Screw the British, the Scottish are coming!”

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BBC Scotland's chief sports writerPublished1 hour agoLast weekend in Boston, Scotland played their most important game of international football in 28 years, a walk on the wildside against Haiti, a game that put the heart sideways in every Scot but, ultimately, sparked the party to end all parties in the city they called Beantown.Boston has been overtaken by Ball Boys, full-time dreamers and relentless ambassadors for their country. There isn't a cop in the city who hasn't been charmed by them, nor a local business that hasn't benefitted hugely from the Tartan Army dollar.They've been a happy whirlwind, a force of nature that will be missed when it blows out of town in the coming days.Before the exodus, though, there's a job to be done. Such is the rarefied air they're breathing at this World Cup, what we said in previewing Haiti can be said again in looking forward to Morocco.Scotland's Boston love affair one for the agesThis one, if it goes well, could be the greatest of them all, not just in 28 years but, arguably, in the 154 years since Scotland played England at the West of Scotland Cricket Club in the first international match ever played.Then, as now, Scotland were captained by a man with firm roots at Queen's Park. A 0-0 draw then would go down a storm now.Stalemate against Morocco would almost certainly send Steve Clarke's boys into the promised land of knockout football for the first time in the nation's history. Even a narrow defeat would be good news given the way the permutations are shaking up for the best third-placed qualifiers.Robert Gardner was the man who led Scotland in that pioneering contest of 1872. A full Victorian moustache and well-groomed beard, it's nice to imagine him up there in football heaven, his whiskers twitching as he watches the action from the Boston Stadium, a little bit of a step-up from the arenas he'd have been used to.Summoning up history is appropriate because even before Scotland set foot in the States they were doing it themselves, manager and players laying it on the line about what their target was - becoming the first of their kind to make it out of a group in a major championship.It was hairy against Haiti; a deflected winner, a Grant Hanley handball in the box not deemed a penalty, a magnificent Hanley block denying a near-certain goal, a late Frantzdy Pierrot header that went just wide instead of going where many thought it was going - into the back of Angus Gunn's goal.Scotland had their moments, too, of course, but it was a sticky effort and none of the players are arguing otherwise. A brilliant victory in a pressure-filled, must-win game, but a performance that was beneath them.These players are capable of more than they delivered against Haiti. And now is the time to prove it.At various points in qualification, good fortune shone brightly on Scotland, but luck always runs out in the end. The likelihood of Morocco, ranked the sixth best international side in the world, being held or beaten on the back of big breaks going the way of the underdogs is a dream too far.Scotland are going to have to be resilient, organised and inspired to get a draw or even a one-goal loss. To win, they need to put in the best display we've seen from them since Clarke took over.Anything below par and Morocco, with their speed and creativity, will give them a rough night. The jeopardy is intoxicating.In their 1-1 draw with Brazil on Saturday, Morocco bossed the show early on. They ran rings round the South Americans for a spell.In the first 30 minutes, they had 12 shots on goal. When they scored, it was a microcosm of their class, a lethal moment of accuracy and brilliance.Brahim Diaz's pass was threaded between Gabriel, Premier League winner with Arsenal, and Marquinhos, double Champions League winner with Paris St-Germain. Ismael Saibari's lobbed finish was gorgeous and too much for Liverpool's Alisson.That's a slight lack of concentration from two world-class defenders and one of the finest goalkeepers on the planet undone by two touches.Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti made two substitutions at half-time. Casemiro was hooked because a teenager was making him look like an old man.Ayyoub Bouaddi is 18 and is the breakout star of the tournament so far. He plays for Lille, but soon he's going to be playing for one of Europe's elite clubs and they'll be paying plenty for him. Current price tag: £61m.Bouaddi has technique and vision. He made his Conference League debut at 16 - the youngest player to have featured in a Uefa club competition. He's also the youngest to have played a top-flight game in France in the 21st century.Morocco haven't lost a game in two and a half years. There's an asterisk beside that stat, of course. They were defeated by Senegal in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in January only to be awarded a 3-0 victory later on by the Confederation of African Football.Senegal were sanctioned for walking off in protest for 15 minutes after a penalty decision went against them. Chaotic doesn't begin to cover it.Despite winning all of these games, Scotland's opponents don't tend to score many goals, which is a surprise. In Diaz and Saibari and the left-sided midfielder, Bilal El Khannouss, they have hugely dynamic attackers.And, in Achraf Hakimi, they have one of the best right-backs in the world, if not the absolute best. Hakimi is the heart of it. Born in Spain to a street vendor father and a mother who was a cleaner, he has spoken often about how his upbringing shaped him.In February, the Paris St-Germain defender said he is set to face trial after an allegation of rape was made against him. Hakimi vehemently denies all charges.Hakimi is a magnificent footballer, at his best when going forward, an explosive force down the right for Morocco, a Serie A winner with Inter, twice a Champions League winner with PSG, a World Cup semi-finalist with his country four years ago.Morocco are a team drawn from the diaspora. Of the starting line-up that drew with Brazil, their goalkeeper was born in Canada, two of their defenders hail from Spain, another from France and another from the Netherlands.Neil El Aynaoui, the midfielder, was born in France, Bouaddi and Saibari in Spain, El Khannouss in Belgium. In the rest of the squad there are another nine players who originated in Spain, Belgium, France and the Netherlands. Clearly, though, they are Moroccan to the core of their beings.They represent a ferocious test for Scotland - and also an opportunity. Only a handful of Clarke's team produced their best stuff against Haiti and none of them are hiding from that.Scott McTominay was one of them. Maybe still feeling the impact of a tummy bug or, perhaps, weighed down a touch by the burden on his shoulders, the talisman was not all that talismanic.He ran his heart out - with all nations having played one game, he ranked sixth overall in terms of kilometres covered - but he wasn't the influence he can be. Nor was John McGinn, despite his goal.It didn't matter on the day, but it will matter against Morocco. Scotland's totems need to turn up.Clarke is likely to drop a striker and bring in an extra midfielder to cope with Morocco's energy and class, to stifle while also retaining the capacity to strike out on their own. This can't be backs-to-the-wall for 90 minutes.Everything screams 'the biggest test of their international lives', but, also, everything we know about this Scotland team tells us that they are up for a fight. They go again.A day of tears, scuffles & history as injury mars Canada's moment

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The rules are simple. Each day there's a new footballer and the challenge is to guess who they are in as few attempts as possible.After each wrong guess you unlock a new clue. Guess the answer after as few clues as possible to score more points.Three is a good score, four or five points is exceptional.So, take part and return for more tomorrow.Today's player and clues are set by BBC Sport's Huzaifah Khan.After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device.What information do we collect from this quiz?More 'Who am I?' quizzesWho am I? Guess World Cup star No 10Quiz: Name every nation at the Fifa World Cup 2026Can you name the 10 Lionesses with most England caps?World Cup quiz: Name these top nations' leading scorers

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Iran permitted to arrive in LA just 24 hours before Belgium gameFederation will express its ‘dissatisfaction’ over logistical issuesIran plan to lodge a formal complaint with Fifa regarding the “restrictions imposed by the organisers” on the team at the World Cup, after being told they will only be permitted to arrive in Los Angeles 24 hours before Sunday’s crucial game against Belgium. After Iran’s Group G opener with New Zealand, their head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, argued they are the “most oppressed” team at the tournament. Iran’s captain, Mehdi Taremi, said the logistical issues meant recent weeks had been a “disaster”.The comments stemmed from Iran being informed they had to fly to their team base in Tijuana, Mexico immediately after their draw at Los Angeles Stadium, rather than return the following day after a recovery session.Iran are understood to feel compelled to complain to Fifa after being advised that, as before their 2-2 draw with New Zealand, they will not be allowed to arrive in the US two days before the match. The federation are understood to have presented their case for wanting longer to prepare in the host city.They are particularly unhappy at those constraints on this occasion because it is a midday kick-off local time in LA on Sunday, leaving Iran to travel to Los Angeles International airport on Saturday. Their opening game was a 6pm kick-off local time.In a statement released on Friday, the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) said: “The football federation of Iran believes that such restrictions are inconsistent with the principle of providing equal conditions for all participating teams and may negatively affect teams’ preparation processes.“Consequently, the federation will formally express its dissatisfaction and lodge an official complaint with Fifa through the appropriate channels. Despite these limitations, Iran’s national team will continue its preparation program [sic] and remain fully focused on its upcoming match against Belgium.”

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1 CommentsThere is no bigger shop window in football than the World Cup - and goalscorers are certainly taking their chance to shine.The goals are flying in at the tournament - 89 in 28 games in Mexico, Canada and the United States to date, while there have been two wonderful hat-tricks.Could some of those goalscorers move to the Premier League soon?After Lionel Messi, 38, turned back the clock to produce a masterclass for the ages in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria, Jonathan David also hit a treble in Canada's 6-0 rout of Qatar in Group B.It earned the co-hosts a first win at the eighth attempt on the World Cup stage as more than 50,000 fans in Vancouver witnessed an historic night.David's exploits came after Switzerland substitute Johan Manzambi wrote his name into the World Cup history books.Aged 20 years and 247 days, he became the youngest player in the tournament's history to score two or more goals in a game as a substitute as Switzerland dismantled Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-1, also in Group B.Over the years, players have earned moves based on performances at the World Cup.Both David and Manzambi have been linked with moves to the Premier League.Are their scoring exploits likely to lead to a move to England in 2026-27?Canada thrash nine-man Qatar but Marsch in tears over Kone injurySubstitute Manzambi inspires Switzerland to World Cup win over BosniaFirst Juventus player to score World Cup hat-trick for 44 yearsItaly's absence from this World Cup - and the two before it - has been well documented but at least David gave Juventus fans something to cheer about.David, 26, became the first Juve player to record a hat-trick at the World Cup since Italy's Paolo Rossi in 1982 against Brazil.The Brooklyn-born forward has made a name for himself in Europe playing for Gent in Belgium before turning into a Ligue 1 goalscoring machine at Lille - and attracting interest from Premier League clubs.After 87 goals in 178 league appearances, he moved to Juventus in 2025 and is being monitored by English clubs once more.There are reports that Newcastle are interested, external in Canada's all-time leading scorer - who has 39 goals in 78 international appearances - and that Juventus would be willing to let him go to free up their summer budget.Leeds United, external have reportedly also been made aware of his availability, while several other Premier League clubs have also been linked.Former England forward Dion Dublin, who witnessed Canada's win for BBC Radio 5 Live, was impressed with what he saw from David."He has been great, got himself a nice hat-trick," Dublin said. "Really good centre-forward play."Manzambi was once a goalkeeper for his youth team - and his first footballing idol was Germany's Manuel Neuer.Now he is a creative midfielder who enjoys getting forward.And his goalscoring exploits against Bosnia-Herzegovina suggests he could be far more than just a "super-sub" at this World Cup.He broke into the Freiburg first XI last season and helped the German club reach the Europa League final.Manzambi started against Aston Villa in the final and although he could not help his side win - they were beaten 3-0 - he has been linked with moves to Napoli, Chelsea and Manchester United.His performance on Thursday at the Los Angeles Stadium suggests there could be more competition for his services this summer.It could have been even better had he been allowed to take his side's 97th-minute penalty, with captain Granit Xhaka stepping up to convert instead,If Manzambi had taken it and scored, he would have become the third-youngest player to hit a World Cup treble, after a 17-year-old Pele for Brazil against France in the semi-finals in 1958 and 19-year-old German Edmund Conen against Belgium in 1934.Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea were all linked with Manzambi in March and, if he continues making an impact like this, the interest will only increase.Speaking about Manzambi's first goal to give Switzerland a 1-0 lead, former Crystal Palace forward Clinton Morrison told BBC Radio 5 Live: "It's a brilliant finish."Switzerland needed to make changes because they weren't doing anything, they were dominating possession but weren't a threat."It's a fantastic volley and great technique to give Switzerland the lead."

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Mexico became the first nation to secure a spot in the World Cup round of 32 and they can thank a Seung-Gyu Kim goalkeeping error as South Korea were beaten 1-0 in Guadalajara.In a far-from-thrilling Group A encounter, the two goalkeepers decided the game with two contrasting experiences. Kim dropped a Raul Jimenez header into the path of Luis Romo, who lifted the ball over the red-faced shotstopper.Late on, down the other end, as South Korea chased, Raul Rangel's double save to deny second-half substitute, Gue-Sung Cho with a double save, wrapped up the three points for Mexico.With maximum points after their opening win over South Africa, Mexico are now in control of Group A and are well-placed to secure top spot. First would ensure they will play their round of 32 match in Mexico City. Javier Aguirre's side could meet England in the round of 16 should both nations win their group and progress past their first knockout game.South Korea, who generated just one shot on target either side of half time, can still qualify for the knockout stages but must beat South Africa to ensure smooth progression. Up next for Mexico is the Czech Republic.16: BRILLIANT GOAL-LINE CLEARANCE! Alvarez acrobatically hooked away Heung-Min Son's attempt at a lob.20: SAVE! Alvarado curls in a sumptuous ball into the area. It finds Quinones, who manages to beat his marker to head towards goal but Kim makes the stop.50: GOAL! Seung-Gyu Kim drops a Jimenez header and gifts Romo and Mexico a goal.77: CLOSE! Hyun-Jun Yang and Hyun-Gyu Oh very nearly combine superbly for an equaliser but there's too much on the former's ball into the area.87: HUGE CHANCE!! Rangel denies Gue-Sung Cho with a pair of vital double saves late on.90+4: Vazquez gets across to deny Gue-Sung Cho an attempt at Rangel's goal. It's superbly timed defending. South Korea are pushing, but is it too little too late?Aguirre reacts to difficult South Korea test"It was difficult. We know them very well. They put us under a lot of pressure. They didn't give us any space, and neither did we. In the end, it felt like one mistake was always going to make the difference one way or the other."It wasn't a great match, and the opposition didn't allow us to do much"."We played just as we planned. The way we conceded was disappointing. We will give everything in the last game of the group stage.""I asked the players to remain calm and play our game. It wasn't bad. We kept our composure throughout the game. We will focus on preparing for the next game now."

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It should have been a moment of pure joy.Canada, 40 years after playing in their first World Cup, secured their first-ever win at the tournament in emphatic fashion, thrashing Qatar 6-0 in front of a packed and loud Vancouver Stadium.They are almost certain of a place in the last 32. But celebrations were overshadowed by a dreadful injury to Ismael Kone.The incident happened eight minutes into the second half, with Canada leading 3-0. Their former Watford midfielder Kone, shortly after receiving the ball, was caught late and badly by Assim Madibo as he challenged for possession.Kone's reaction, and that of the players around him, said it all.The 24-year-old Sassuolo midfielder looked anguished and in shock, with his leg visibly broken. His distraught team-mates rushed to him as the referee halted play so the medical staff could come on, while Madibo had his hands on his head.A scuffle broke out between the two teams as frustration and anger over what had happened bubbled over.Kone, though, despite suffering an injury that has ended his World Cup, lifted his thumb to the crowd as he was taken off on a stretcher."You saw that he was waving to the crowd and almost making everyone at ease," boss Jesse Marsch said after the game."It is a statement about Ismael, but also this is an incredible team. I have been telling people for years about the character of this group."You got see how everyone was crushed but we had to find a way to stay focus."Focus they did - as from then on, the crowd and the players were united as Canada pushed on to score three further goals.During the second-half hydration break, Marsch was in tears. Nathan Saliba - who had replaced Kone - held up his team-mate’s shirt after he scored his side's fourth.“He will be back stronger than ever and he will continue to have a great career,” said Marsch of Kobe.“I said at the water break that he would want us to finish this game - and that is what the guys did.”Marsch confirmed after the game that Kone had gone to hospital, but also revealed that Qatar's Madibo had apologised to the former Marseille midfielder."He came into the dressing room to apologise," added Marsch."I don't think he meant such a gruesome tackle, I don't fault him for that but I don't understand their reaction from their bench."Madibo had been sent off for the tackle, leaving Qatar to finish the match with nine men - as Homam El Amin had been sent off for a professional foul on Tajon Buchanan in the first half.The job is not done yet for Canada but they are within a point of guaranteeing their place in the last 32 of the World Cup - an incredible achievement for a side who had never before registered a point at the tournament until their opening 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina.They next face Switzerland knowing a win will ensure top spot in their group, and staying in Canada for the knockouts.“You can see the brotherhood,” added Marsch.“It is one of the first things I noticed when I took on this role, how close they are and how connected they are.“In a moment like this, I don't think they need me so much, they have each other. Their families are here and we have a family barbecue tomorrow and we will enjoy that and he [Kone] will be on our minds.”While Kone and his injury was very much at the forefront of Marsch and his players' thoughts, they allowed themselves a moment to celebrate their historic result at the final whistle.They grouped together in a huddle before Marsch led them on a lap of honour round the jubilant stadium, with the ex-Leeds boss thumping the air to the sound of Seven Nation Army over the speakers.Marsch was appointed by Canada in May 2024, given the opportunity to rebuild his reputation, having been sacked by Leeds a year earlier, and then been snubbed for the role as head coach of his native USA."The big carrot was a home World Cup, " he said. "But it was also to change the sport in the country, to create an identity for what Canadian soccer can be."No-one will forget this. No Canadian will forget this day. There will be 40 million people who said they were here when this happened."It is an incredible, seminal moment in this country."Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor gameEverything you need to know about the World Cup

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It wasn’t pretty, distinguished by little other than its black v lilac colour scheme, but Mexico became the first side at the 2026 World Cup to secure their place in the knockout stage. If they and England both top their groups, the path is open for an apocalyptic meeting at the Azteca in the last 16. The question for Mexico and South Korea after their opening wins was whether they had been good or their opponents bad, and this offered a fairly clear answer: neither is over-blessed with creative edge.The only goal came after 50 minutes and was a gift from South Korea. Kim Seung-gyu, the goalkeeper, came to claim a looping header, but did so over the top of Lee Ki-hyuk, jarring his elbow on the defender’s head and spilling the ball for Luis Romo, who hooked in his fifth international goal on his 64th appearance. Romo was one of three changes made from Mexico’s line-up for the opener, coming in for Álvaro Fidalgo as Javier Aguirre resisted the popular demand to give a start to the 17-year-old Gilberto Mora. A remarkable double save from Raúl Rangel in the closing minutes preserved the lead as he got down to parry Cho Gue-sung’s header and had the core strength to twist and gather Yang Hyun-jun’s sliced follow-up.This was the first time Mexico had ever played a World Cup game in Guadalajara, yet still there were a number of empty spaces. It was nothing like as empty as it had been in South Korea’s win over Czechia last week, but plastic seats were visible in clear patches, particularly in the corporate tier that runs round the centre of this stadium like the cream in a Victoria sponge.This is not the old 71,000-capacity Estadio Jalisco, where Gordon Banks kept out Pelé’s header in 1970 and the France forward Bruno Bellone, in whose garden Grace Kelly died, scored in the shoot-out in the 1986 quarter-final against Brazil with a penalty that hit the post and bounced in off the head of the goalkeeper Carlos. This rather is the Estadio Akron, about 15 miles west of the Jalisco, which opened in 2010. The outside covered in turf, it rises unshowily from a flat plain to the west of the city of Zapopan, which borders Guadalajara, like the sort of venue an ambitious hobbit might erect on an industrial park on the fringes of the Shire’s green belt.Both sides lacked the urgency of their opening fixtures, perhaps as a result of the format. With a win already on the board, a draw as good as secured their progress, unless both were to lose their final group games and all four sides in the group ended on four points. There was little risk or adventure from either side. The crowd seemed broadly accepting – more patient certainly than the fans at the Azteca who, demanding more, had booed in Mexico’s opening game when they led 1-0 against 10 men – but eight minutes before half-time they too had had enough and an extended spell of South Korean passing provoked furious whistles. Not that it made much difference.South Korea and Mexico have a close relationship and, for the first half at least, the game was played in that spirit. Work began on a free trade agreement between the nations in 2012; although that is yet to be concluded, South Korea is now Mexico’s sixth-largest trade partner globally. Korean migration to Mexico began in 1905 when a ship called the Ilford brought 1,033 passengers across the Pacific, the majority subsequently settling on the Yucatán Peninsular. There’s a Friendship Pavilion donated by the South Korean government in the seniors garden in Chapultepec Park in Mexico City.What sealed the spirit of goodwill, though, was what happened during the 2018 World Cup, when South Korea, having already been eliminated, beat Germany 2-0 in Kazan so that Mexico went through to the last 16. Fans gathered outside the South Korean embassy in Mexico City and, when the ambassador came out, he was carried shoulder-high along the street by a crowd chanting, “¡Coreano, hermano, ya eres Mexicano!” – “Korean, brother, now you’re Mexican!”But friendliness goes only so far, and if a team is going to present a goal on a platter, as Kim did, Mexico were never going to reject the gift. Kim did later make a fine close-range block from Raúl Jiménez, but nobody is going to remember that.South Korea’s preparations had been disrupted when video emerged of two people, assumed to be journalists, making disparaging comments about Son Heung-min’s abbreviated term of military service. In protest, players refused to perform media duties two days before the game. Son himself struggled again. He is only 33 but looks older, struggling to cope with Mexico’s offside trap, and unable to dislodge the ball from between his feet when a chance presented itself. He was substituted soon after.A win against South Africa in their final game would still take South Korea through, and a draw may be enough, but it’s hard to see this limited side going much further. Mexico, meanwhile, may have won two out of two, but so far they’ve shown little beyond a functional competence.