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Every morning from the US, the Football Daily podcast gets you closer to the biggest talking points at the World Cup 2026 - and there's extra insight, big-name guests and interviews from inside the England and Scotland camps.In recent episodes, the panel have been previewing England's opening game of the tournament against Croatia.But cast your mind back to the last time these teams met at the World Cup, in a huge semi-final in 2018.How many of England's starting line-up can you name from that game?

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CommentsWhen they face world champions Argentina in their final group match on 27 June, it may be Jordan's own World Cup final.But it will also be the deserved destination after decades of dreams, changing strategies, near misses and surprising managerial appointments – including two English football stalwarts.Jordan are one of four nations making their debut at the 2026 World Cup, with the country mad about football but lacking the success to match.Their tournament begins against Austria (Wednesday 05:00 BST, live on the BBC) and could culminate against Argentina - Lionel Messi et al - unless they cause a surprise by reaching the knockout stage.This first appearance on football's biggest stage has been a long time coming."In my childhood, I was brought up with the fact that Jordan is a home of football talent," Mustafa Arqawi, former communications director for the Jordan Football Association, told BBC Sport."It was talent that I used to see every day in schoolyards, alleyways and streets."Like almost every Jordanian citizen, I grew up with an unequivocal passion and a dream for our national team to compete at the top level."After gaining independence from the United Kingdom following World War Two, Jordan played their first international football match in 1953 – a 3-1 defeat to Syria.However, they did not enter World Cup qualifying until attempting to reach the 1986 tournament. They beat Qatar 1-0 at home for their first qualifying win but lost their other three matches and missed out.Until this year, the closest Jordan came to qualifying for the World Cup finals was in 2014. They fought their way through the byzantine Asian Football Confederation system, including two group stages, with notable home wins against Japan and Australia.Jordan reached the inter-confederation play-off against Uruguay, with the winner going to Brazil 2014.But it was no contest, as a Uruguay side featuring Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani swept to a 5-0 aggregate win.Jordan played 20 matches in 2014 World Cup qualifying, all for naught.What this adventure did, however, was put Jordan on the global football map and allowed them to attract some notable coaching names.In September 2014, the Jordan Football Association (JFA) prepared for 2018 World Cup qualifying by hiring former England captain Ray Wilkins as manager.Wilkins led Jordan to the 2015 Asian Cup, but following an exit at the group stage he was lured away by the offer of becoming Aston Villa assistant manager under Tim Sherwood.This sparked a period of turmoil, as Jordan went through three managers in less than a year and failed to even emulate their close call of 2014.The last of the appointments was that of Harry Redknapp, parachuted in for the final two matches of the second-round group stage, with only the winner progressing to the next round.The second game was Australia away – a winner-takes-all clash. Jordan lost 5-1, and Redknapp's time in charge ended after two games.Hiring Wilkins and Redknapp as coaches was the brainchild of former JFA president, Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein, who challenged Sepp Blatter for the Fifa presidency in 2015.But the failure led to a rethink in the JFA, and instigated an approach based less on eye-catching names and more on long-term strategy and culture.Since Redknapp, Jordan have had seven managers – six of them have been from predominantly Arabic nations, with two from Jordan itself."I basically witnessed a strategic goal evolving from blueprints on drawing board into a tangible result," said Arqawi."I observed top level talent management, and operational optimisation. It was a transformation built on lean management and restructuring of priorities and resources."In a nutshell, I witnessed how everything that had been right for many years needed just to be fine-tuned and arranged into its ideal form to achieve its full potential."A connection to Morocco – the first Arabic nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals, at Qatar 2022 – has proved fruitful.The emergence of Jordan as a regional power and a World Cup qualification contender started with the June 2023 appointment of Moroccan coach Hussein Ammouta.He brought a belief and discipline, playing into Jordan's status as continental underdogs with a solid defence and devastating counter-attack.That was witnessed in the 2023 Asian Cup. Having never won a knockout game at the tournament before, Jordan scored twice in stoppage time to beat Iraq 3-2 in the quarter-finals before stunning South Korea 2-0 in the semis.The Koreans, whose stellar attacking talents included Son Heung-min, failed to have a shot on target.Jordan lost the final 3-1 to Qatar – conceding three penalties for the goals – and Ammouta left in June 2024, but the foundations were there. Another Moroccan coach, Jamal Sellami, pounced on the loose ball and has delivered.Jordan finished above Saudi Arabia in the first group stage during an impressive 2026 qualification campaign, before a runners-up spot to South Korea in the second round was enough to earn a spot at the expanded World Cup.Yes, Jordan have benefited from the World Cup becoming a 48-team tournament, but qualification still has to be earned - just ask Italy.For a country of just over 11 million people – 0.7% of the population of China, a continental rival who will not be at the World Cup – to reach their debut World Cup is no mean feat for Jordan."This achievement comes after years of hard work from players and the Jordan FA," said Sellami, after the team's place in the final was made certain with a 3-0 win over Oman."This historic qualification is for all the people who believed in us."Jordan have prepared by taking on World Cup regulars.In the March international break, they earned 2-2 draws against Costa Rica and Nigeria – two more nations you would expect at a World Cup, but who missed out while the Jordanians progressed.They have since lost to Switzerland and Colombia in warm-up friendlies before their opening group match against Austria in San Francisco (Wednesday 05:00 BST).Jordan have been placed in Group J, a tricky pool also featuring Algeria and Argentina. If they progress, it will need an A-grade performance.They have the benefit of the first two games both being in Santa Clara, California, allowing a base for Jordan's fans while the team travel down from their temporary headquarters in Portland, Oregon.Then on 27 June, in Arlington, Texas, comes the date with the Argentines.Jordan's standout player is captain and leading goal threat Musa Al-Taamari, who plays for Rennes in Ligue 1.He told BBC World Service: "For us, it's not about the money, it's about the jersey. What we have. We have Jordan in our heart. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Emirates - they have good money, they have really good teams but for us, like I say, we just play for us to be happy. You give everything."Striker Ali Olwan has 29 senior international goals, making him the joint second highest scorer in Jordanian history.At the back, FC Seoul defender Yazan Al-Arab is the cornerstone, while Qatar SC midfielder Nizar Al-Rashdan is the main playmaker.But after years of false hopes, blind alleys and broken promises, Jordan can finally call themselves a World Cup nation."What Jordan represents to me as a fan is beyond naming key players, specific coaches or a particular achievement," said Arqawi. "It represents a source of pride."Iran v Iran in the stands as politics and football intertwineAre billions flooding into Saudi Pro League helping national team?Meet the Iraq player set to make history for Pakistan

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Lawrence, a college town of about 100,000 in northeastern Kansas, has embraced Les Fennecs with a fervor that has surprised everyone but the people who live thereYou’ve probably seen it by now: The video of a sweet elderly man overcome with emotion, standing outside in the rain and thunderstorms of Lawrence, Kansas, as Algeria arrived at its base camp.The video and several more have gone viral as the surprise love affair of the World Cup has emerged from what seems like the unlikeliest of places – at least to those on the outside.Algeria and Lawrence, Kansas, are apparently a match made in heaven.“Seeing five to six hundred people that first evening, fans that were waiting outside our hotel, it really gave me goosebumps,” said Algeria head coach Valdimir Petković ahead of Tuesday’s showdown with Argentina.Lawrence is located a little over 40 miles from Kansas City, a roughly 40-minute drive from the Metropolitan area that is hosting the base camps of Argentina, the Netherlands, and England for the World Cup. All three are staying at boutique hotels around the city. Algeria? Well, they chose the humble Lawrence DoubleTree.So where did this come from? According to Stan Herd, a local artist, you have to go back to April, when it was officially announced that Lawrence would host Algeria.“I think everybody’s surprised at it,” Herd said. “We’re not.”Local organizers wanted to make sure that the country felt welcome in their city, according to Herd. So much so, they’ve commissioned artwork, and signs appear on the lampposts with the phrase “1,2,3, Viva l’Algérie!” Even McDonald’s drive-thru windows have signs welcoming Algeria and soccer fans to Lawrence.Herd says Lawrence is “a blue city in a red state”. The city of nearly 100,000 is home to 27,000 college students from the University of Kansas. Roughly 30% of that student population is minorities or international students.“Make sure you mention Sajedah,” Herd said. “She’s the one who reached 70,000 Algerians [via social media]. She’s a University of Kansas student, and she made this happen.”Sajedah wanted to find a way to bring her college town and her local Algerian Diaspora together. Thousands of Algerians live in the southern suburbs of the Kansas City metropolitan area, along with Sajedah, her sister, and her mother, Karima. They helped organize the support of the team’s arrival at the airport, through the creation of an Instagram account and Facebook page titled “L’Algerie fi Kansas City”.Two days after Algeria’s arrival, the account helped organize a gathering at Kanza Market, an Algerian-owned business in Olathe, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City, roughly 40 minutes from Lawrence. Hundreds showed up, mostly Algerians from the community.Two days later, thousands showed up at Rock Chalk Park, the home of the University of Kansas women’s soccer team, where Algeria trains daily. A blend of locals, soccer diehards, Lawrence residents trying to find out about all the hype, and the local Algerian community, ready to see its team.Of all the mandated community sessions held by teams based in the Kansas City area, Algeria’s was the most community focused. Algerian music played over the loudspeakers the entire session. And the “clinic” ended up being a massive kickaround on the infield of the neighboring track stadium, with hundreds of kids kicking the ball around with the likes of globally recognized names like Riyad Mahrez, Ibrahim Maza, Aissa Mandi, and Amine Gouiri.The University of Kansas Band learned the Algerian National Anthem and played it perfectly as the team came out to train. Mahrez made sure to share his thanks via social media the next day.“We saw that there were so many US citizens who had scarves for us,” said Petković. “They showed so much support, and they really wanted to celebrate this moment with our team.”Two brothers, Aaron and Ethan Downey, met Karima and Sajedah at the team’s arrival in Lawrence. When they reunited at the community session in Lawrence, Karima had gifts for the boys: Algeria jerseys in their correct size.One was a diehard Borussia Dortmund fan who got his new Algeria jersey signed by Ramy Bensebaini. After he got his shirt signed, he bounded back up the steps of Rock Chalk Park, where Karima sat. The two shared a deep embrace.“We as Lawrence residents didn’t adopt the team,” said Aaron. “I think the Algerians adopted us. They brought all the vibes, the culture, the acceptance, to the residents of Lawrence. I think that’s what made us so close and made this what it is.”Everything that has taken place in the city of Lawrence flies in the face of many narratives. Herd bemoaned rhetoric and the disdain for immigrants that has come from American political figures and the dark corners of social media.“There’s a lot of unnecessary anger at people who don’t look like us, and pray like us, and walk like us, and cheer like us,” Herd said. “In Lawrence, we are wide open to embracing something new. That’s the difference.”Days later, both Downey brothers joined Herd, and 600 others, gathering around Herd’s field art rendition of the Algerian flag. They sang songs and danced around the flag, Algerians and native Lawrence residents hand in hand.In tears, Karima said the support was beyond anything they could have ever imagined.As Algeria take on Argentina on Tuesday, it will be the minority of support in the stands. Argentinians and Messi fans have descended on Kansas City in the thousands in recent days. And on the field, Algeria will be the underdogs at Kansas City Stadium.But the events of recent weeks will, without a doubt, mean that a few local attendees will end up pulling for Algeria, the adopted team of Lawrence, Kansas.“I hope that we can behave in the right way in terms of the way that we conduct ourselves on and off the pitch, that we can certainly give a positive response to absolutely everyone,” said Petković. “But, I hope that we can make it through to the knockout stage and maybe everyone from Kansas can travel with us to another city.”

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Iran have hit out at their treatment in the United States, with their head coach Amir Ghalenoei saying his team are the "most oppressed" at the World Cup.The team's build-up to the tournament has been profoundly impacted by the conflict between Iran and the US, with the squad forced to move their training camp to Mexico.They earned a 2-2 draw against New Zealand in their opening Group G fixture on Tuesday, roared on by a passionate Iranian-American crowd after their anthem had been jeered by some sections of the 70,000-strong attendance at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.Iran were not expected to even be at these finals when co-hosts the United States, alongside Israel, began a bombing campaign in February.While a peace deal may have finally been agreed on Sunday, the build-up to the game only served to highlight the complexities and polarised views around the team's participation, with Ghalenoei appearing to aim strong criticism at the US authorities."We've spent so much time commuting in the air," he said. "They didn't even give us time to recover after the game today. They said we had to leave immediately."It's very important for us to have time for recovery and yet we were asked to return to Tijuana and we are really troubled by that.World Cup 2026 fixture schedule - your day-by-day guide"We do not know why they are returning us. I think it's very strange. It seems like others are doing the planning for us, decisions are made elsewhere, we were supposed to arrive two nights before the game and we were not permitted, we were supposed to stay tonight and return tomorrow lunchtime but I have no idea why, and they haven't told us."Our team is the most oppressed one in the whole World Cup."The federation is absent here. Our media isn't here. Our management team, many of them aren't here. We used to have a part of a coaching team to help with substitutions but we didn't have that. Many in the technical area had to deal with that."Iran captain Mehdi Taremi described their treatment as a "disaster" and revealed FIFA president Gianni Infantino had been in the dressing room, offering to "help" the team.Footage of Infantino published on X sees him telling the players "you are stronger than everything", "this is just the beginning" adding that the team were "writing history, the whole world is watching you".Infantino is also understood to have told the players he would do what he could to ensure more of the Iranian delegation, who did not receive visas, could travel to the USA for their remaining group games.Taremi added: "We don't have our President, and no one from staff, also, which is so important for us. Our manager, for example, has come here doing the job of the media, and you know everything is like a disaster for us."Protestors gathered outside the stadium before kick-off, calling for change in Tehran.The Iran national anthem was greeted by audible boos within the stadium but minutes earlier, there had been loud cheers when images of the team in the tunnel appeared on the giant screens above the pitch, and the team also had strong vocal backing once the match kicked off.The Iranian community in Los Angeles is primarily comprised of those who fled the country around the time of the 1979 Islamic revolution, or the children of those who did, and as such anti-regime sentiment is strong here.Protesters had promised "hell" in the build-up to the match and while some aggressive anti-regime slogans were chanted around SoFi Stadium, describing the leaders in Tehran as "terrorists", many attending the match were keen to separate the team from the state they represent.

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Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei says they are the "most oppressed" team at the World Cup after having last-minute travel restrictions imposed on them.Speaking after his side's 2-2 draw with New Zealand on Monday night, Ghalenoei said they had expected to stay in Los Angeles overnight and have a recovery session the following day but were told after the final whistle to immediately return to their training base in Mexico.Iran were originally due to be based in Tucson, Arizona, for the duration of the World Cup but moved their camp to Tijuana, Mexico in late May after encountering logistical and visa issues."After the game they said to us, 'you have to leave immediately'," Ghalenoei said."We've been asked to get on a plane and return to our camp in Tijuana and we are really troubled by that."They are forcing us to go back early. They are making the situation more and more difficult, more hurdles, but we're not going to let that stop us from doing our best."Iran's involvement in the World Cup has been plagued with uncertainty, linked to the ongoing war in the Middle East and related security concerns.Multiple "integral" members of their backroom staff were denied entry visas for the US while the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) called on Fifa to "uphold the principles of neutrality, fairness, and established regulations" after their allocation of tickets was revoked on the eve of the tournament.Iran will return to Los Angeles for their meeting with Belgium (21 June, 20:00 BST), with their final Group G game against Egypt in Seattle (27 June, 04:00).Motherwell's Just scores twice but New Zealand held by IranIran v Iran in the stands as politics and football intertwine"We were supposed to arrive two nights before the game but they didn't permit [it]. We were supposed to stay here tonight to recover and return tomorrow lunchtime."I think our team is the most oppressed one in the whole World Cup. Our federation isn't here, our media isn't here, our management isn't here."Iran captain Mehdi Taremi echoed his coach's thoughts, labelling his side's situation a "disaster".Although he praised Fifa's Infantino for visiting the team dressing room and allowing them to express their concerns, he urged the governing body to do more to support the national side."It's not good for us. It's not good for the football, because in a World Cup, you have to prepare good for the next game, because it is a lot of stress for the players and staff and everyone," said Taremi."But we don't have that support, and I think Fifa have to help us more than this."Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor gameEverything you need to know about the World Cup

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One thing about Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa is that he is definitely his own man.Whether it is his nickname of 'El Loco' (The Crazy One), his obsessive attention to detail or sitting on an ice box during matches, the former Leeds manager is well known as a maverick.And the 70-year-old seems to have kept up his reputation in his official Fifa portrait for the World Cup.Unlike most players and managers who play up to the camera and enjoy their moment in the spotlight, Bielsa stared stonily downwards rather than straight into the lens looking like he would rather be at the training ground or analysing yet another match.After his side's opening 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia in Miami on Monday, he was unimpressed with journalists querying his stance, amid suggestions it might be some kind of protest."I don't have to give any explanation, the picture was taken the way it was taken," he said.The Argentine, one of the most respected coaches in the game, who is managing his third nation at a World Cup after previously achieving the feat with Argentina and Chile, was then asked a different question, but he returned to the same subject."There is a limit in terms of what we need to explain," he added."If I'm wearing glasses, why am I wearing glasses?"You look somebody in the eye, why do you do that?"There is nothing wrong about wearing glasses or looking into somebody's eyes or looking down."Uruguay's second pool game is against tournament surprise package Cape Verde on Sunday (23:00 BST).Video vault and Leeds litter picking - inside the mind of BielsaEverything you need to know about the World Cup

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Packed streets of Amman and Tashkent will be lively with Asia’s debutants determined they are not just here to make up the numbersBefore eagerly awaited meetings with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo comes slightly less glamorous but hugely important first ever World Cup games for Asia’s debutants. Jordan take on Austria on Wednesday before meeting Algeria and Argentina, while Uzbekistan kick off against Colombia, then Portugal and DR Congo.Jordan v Austria has been used as an example of a game that will challenge Fifa’s dynamic pricing system but regardless of how full the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium is, the cafes in Amman’s Prince Muhammad Street and all around the country will be packed. They were a year ago, as fans watched Portugal beat Spain in the Uuefa Nations League final, just three days after the World Cup spot had been secured with the city still buzzing with the thought of Al-Nashama (The Chivalrous Ones) taking on the superstars of the world and … here they are.But while Jordan may be more about team spirit, organisation and counterattacking, they have stars of their own. In the days after qualification, the faces of the big three forwards featured on billboards everywhere you looked, though they have had differing fortunes since.The talismanic striker Yazan al-Naimat is out after a cruciate ligament injury in December and while Ali Olwan, who scored all three in a win over Oman that sealed the World Cup spot, has not played competitively since February, he should be fit to start. Musa al-Taamari, a softly-spoken baker’s son from Amman, is the main man and is used to that role as a rare Jordanian export to Europe, where the fast and hard-working winger has had a fine second season for Rennes. Odeh Fakhoury should start in attack in the absence of Naimat, the 20-year-old scoring his first international goal on 31 May against Switzerland.That was, however, in a 4-1 defeat and was followed by a 2-0 loss to Colombia in San Diego, so there is some concern. The head coach, Jamal Sellami, a firm proponent of 3-4-3, said it was all part of the learning process and the former international goalkeeper Amer Shafi agrees with the taciturn tactician from Morocco.“There is no cause for concern,” said Shafi, who made 179 international appearances for Jordan. “One of the best things about them is losing in order to learn from mistakes and go into the competitive games with sufficient knowledge of the team’s strengths and weaknesses.” Shafi added that he expects Jordan to reach the knockout stage.Jordan are ready for a physical battle and would not have minded taking on their Alpine opponents in hotter and more humid conditions than Silicon Valley can offer. Football is played hard in the country which does not have the riches of some of the neighbours. This team dug deep to get to the final of the 2023 Asian Cup, outclassing South Korea in the semi-final. A repeat of that performance and the cafes of Amman will have a bumper day.And the plov restaurants of Tashkent could enjoy something similar even if it will be breakfast time when Uzbekistan take on Colombia in Mexico City. Asia’s other debutants brought in Fabio Cannavaro as manager soon after sealing their spot. His coaching career is not anything to write back to Naples about, but he did captain his nation to the 2006 World Cup win before returning in 2010 with a dismal first-round exit. Nobody in Central Asia expects the former but a good start and fears of the latter will recede.Like Jordan, Uzbekistan rarely face non-Asian opposition but do have a squad with European experience. Much attention will be on the Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov but there is talent in Abbosbek Fayzullaev, a winger who fought homesickness to go to CSKA Moscow as a teenager before the lack of international football on offer brought a move to Turkey. A good tournament this time could see the 22-year-old move farther west.Since qualifying behind Iran, Uzbekistan have lost 2-1 to Uruguay but defeated Gabon and Egypt before final warm-up defeats to Canada and the Netherlands. The latter came thanks to two penalties from Cody Gakpo with the Liverpool forward scoring the winner in the 99th minute, not long after Uzbekistan had equalised to achieve what they thought was going to be a morale-boosting result. It was an important lesson about concentration and focus.Underestimating the White Wolves would, however, be a mistake. “Uzbeks are tough: people who fight, who never give up,” Cannavaro says. “Playing against them is a pain in the arse. We played Uruguay: we had nine injured players, they weren’t at their best, but my players are tough. It’s not easy to play against them and we only lost 2-1.”The veteran midfielder Jaloliddin Masharipov has a back problem but excitement and optimism remain high. More than Jordan, perhaps, there is a confidence that whatever happens in the next few weeks, this is just the beginning for the former Soviet republic. The rise of Uzbekistan in Asia after independence in 1991 has been fascinating, if little noticed outside. Repeated near misses at the World Cup brought a label of Asia’s chokers but also resulted in investment. Trophies at youth level are translating into senior success.“[It] has not come overnight, and we have produced consistent results over a number of years to emerge as one of the leading Asian football nations,” Otabek Umarov, the first vice-president of Uzbekistan’s Olympic committee, says. “People abroad might not realise, but as the first country from central Asia to qualify for the World Cup, this will be a moment where the entire nation stops to cheer on our heroes.”As it is in Tashkent, so it will be in Amman.

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A former Manchester United prospect will make men's World Cup history if he steps on to the pitch for Iraq on Tuesday - but not for the country he is representing.The moment will instead be monumental for fans in Pakistan, a nation of more than 240 million people – the fifth largest population in the world – whose football team have never reached a World Cup.In fact, they have won just one qualifying game in their entire history.Placed 198th in the Fifa world rankings, the South Asian country sits among the 15 worst-performing nations in the sport, and its people have never been able to cheer on anyone who represents them on the biggest stage.Utrecht's former Manchester United midfielder Zidane Iqbal, representing Iraq, is poised to become the first player of Pakistani heritage to play in a men's World Cup.He says he was "surprised" when he found out about the honour - but his heritage is something he is proud of."To be honest, I didn't even know it myself," he told BBC Sport. "I followed the account that posted it [that he was the first player of Pakistani heritage to play at a men's World Cup] and sent it to my dad straight away. I think we were both surprised. When I tried to qualify for the World Cup with Iraq, I didn't think of anything like this."My dad is Pakistani. He's my father, the man I respect the most in my life, who helped me so much in my career."I play for Iraq, grew up in England, but my dad was born in Pakistan. My grandad was a first-generation there, so I have a lot of respect for that side of my family."Iqbal was born and raised in Manchester. He is Pakistani through his father and Iraqi through his mother. The talented midfielder says he takes pride in representing both nations and shows this when he takes to the pitch by wearing both countries' flags on his boots.Asked why he chose to play in boots that showcase his heritage, the 23-year-old reiterated his "respect" for both sides of his family's background."I wear the Iraqi flag on my left side and the Pakistani flag on my right side," he said. "I think that's because I respect both sides."When people ask me what I feel more connected to, I can't answer. For me, they're both equal. It's about respect and something I carry with a lot of pride."This is not the first achievement Iqbal has had in regard to his background. Known to keen-eyed English football fans as a player who came through the Manchester United academy, he became the first British South Asian for almost 20 years to play in the Champions League.The Iraq international hopes his story can serve as inspiration for the next generation."I'm still young, but I'll be the first Pakistani player to play in the World Cup, so hopefully a few kids that aspire to be a footballer will look at that and believe they can do it too, because football is a hard journey," he said."I think if you ask any professional, it's not easy at all and everyone has their ups and downs."A lot of commitment and hard work is needed. So hopefully when kids see people trying to be a professional footballer, or me, they see those of South Asian heritage or even of any heritage, that you can make it from any background, any area, wherever you're from, any religion. Hopefully they see that, and it inspires them."Ahmed Shahzad, who runs the social media account Pakistani Talents, which highlights the growth of football in the nation and how players of Pakistani heritage around the world are developing, gave an insight into how many football fans in the country will be supporting Iqbal and Iraq at the World Cup."Every Pakistani football fan knows about Zidane Iqbal," Shahzad told BBC Sport. "Historically, there's been very little Pakistani representation at the top level of football, especially on the global stage like the World Cup - the highest global stage."And that is a big inspiration for a lot of young Pakistanis, even locally and in the diaspora - the British Pakistanis - and seeing someone openly embrace their identity, as Zidane Iqbal does about competing at the highest level, makes football feel a lot more believable for us of Pakistani backgrounds who play football and want to make it in football."I see a lot of people saying that Pakistan now has a nation to support at the World Cup, and they won't be just backing Zidane Iqbal, they will be backing Iraq to go as far as they can in that tournament."Wars, sanctions and punishments: Iraq's 40-year World Cup waitIt is an accomplishment that is long overdue for the Asian country after their only other appearance came 40 years ago at Mexico 1986, when they finished bottom of their group and scored just one goal.If they make it out of the group stage, Iqbal believes his country will "shock the world" as they are set to come up against two-time winners France, a Norway side led by world-class talents Martin Odegaard and Erling Haaland, and Africa Cup of Nations finalists Senegal."I think we've got a free shot," said Iqbal. "We go there, it's our first World Cup in 40 years. Funnily enough, that 1986 World Cup was in Mexico, and now this World Cup is in Mexico. I think that's beautiful as well."But for us, I think we're going there with no pressure. We're the underdogs. I think if we lose, people expect us to lose. If we win, we shock the world."Of course, we're all going to work hard. I think we're all excited and when you're excited and you work hard, anything can happen in football. So, let's wait and see what happens."Everything you need to know about the World Cup

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12 CommentsTunisia have sacked head coach Sabri Lamouchi following the side's defeat in their opening World Cup 2026 fixture.Sweden inflicted a heavy 5-1 defeat on Tunisia in Sunday's Group F tie at the Estadio Monterrey in Guadalupe, Mexico.Reports after that loss suggested Lamouchi had been immediately sacked but sources told BBC Sport that the 54-year-old took training on Monday.However, the Tunisian Football Association has now confirmed that the Frenchman's contract has been terminated by "mutual agreement"."Plans are under way ‌to appoint ‌Mondher Kebaier as the national team ‌coach," the Tunisian FA said in a statement.Lamouchi's departure means he is the first manager in World Cup history to be sacked after just one game.The former Nottingham Forest boss was only appointed in January replacing Sami Trabelsi, who left his role following a last-16 defeat to Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations.Speaking after the defeat by Sweden, Lamouchi said the loss was "painful"."Starting the competition with this bad of a loss is indeed difficult," Lamouchi said."We made too many mistakes, and this is not something that we can do. We are shooting ourselves in the foot, we are hurting ourselves."The 54-year-old won just one of his five games as Tunisia head coach - a 1-0 victory over Haiti in his first game in charge.In their two warm-up games for the World Cup earlier this month, they lost 1-0 to Austria before suffering a 5-0 thrashing by Belgium.Tunisia face Japan and Netherlands in their remaining Group F fixtures.Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor gameEverything you need to know about the World Cup