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ShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleSteven McKenzieBBC ScotlandThe World Cup is forecast to result in rare late night and early morning peaks in energy demand, according to the company that runs the UK's power network.Scotland's group matches will come during what are usually the quietest hours for electricity use - including a 02:00 kick-off.England's group games will be late night in terms of UK time, with the latest of them kicking off at 22:00.The National Energy System Operator (Neso) said each of Scotland and England's group games could see about 600MW more electricity being used nationally - the equivalent of the total electricity demand for Glasgow and Leeds combined.Millions of TVs - and kettles being boiled for a half-time caffeine boost - along with fridges being opened and closed as people get cold drinks and snacks would cause surges, said Neso.Neso's job is to make sure supply meets the UK's essential energy demands every day of the week.Analysts at its Electricity National Control Centre have been forecasting what could happen during the World Cup, which starts later this month.Scotland's first game, against Haiti on 14 June, kicks off at 02:00, followed by 23:00 starts against Morocco on 19 June and Brazil on 24 June.England's matches against Croatia on 17 June and Ghana on 23 June both kick off at 21:00, before taking on Panama on 27 June at 22:00.Both countries will play their group games in the US.Neso said England's opening match against Croatia would likely draw the biggest audience.It said energy demand could rise by as much as 800MW - higher than the 600MW spike during England's 1966 World Cup win.Neso said demand would be expected to increase even more the further England and Scotland go in the tournament, with the biggest games attracting the most viewers.The current record was set during England's 1990 semi-final against West Germany, when a missed penalty in the shootout was followed by a 2,800MW surge - the equivalent to more than a million kettles being switched on at once.Highest demand is expected to be at half-time and full-time, and Neso said its control room was ready to use technologies such as battery farms and pumped hydro storage schemes to keep the system balanced.And it said this year's World Cup was likely to be the "cleanest" with about 40–50% of the electricity used expected to come from renewables.Neso said it was a "big change" from USA 94 when TVs were largely powered by electricity from coal-fired power stations.Director of system operations, Craig Dyke, said engineers would be working "around the clock" to balance supply and demand.He said: "Whether you're cheering on the home nations, your sweepstake side, or for me - wishing Wales were there - this year's World Cup has more games than ever before, meaning we're likely to see a surge in electricity demand across the longer tournament."While what happens on the pitch can always throw up surprises, watching this year's World Cup will almost certainly be powered by the cleanest electricity in history.Over the years, other TV moments have caused power surges.They include a 2001 episode of EastEnders when millions of viewers tuned in to watch the shooting of hardman Phil Mitchell.

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Liam Kelly looks perplexed after being told he has been singled out by some team-mates as Scotland's "hype man"."Aye, that happens naturally when you don't play a lot of games," he jokes. "You need to bring something to the party."The 30-year-old, with three caps to his name, is World Cup-bound as Scotland's third-choice goalkeeper after playing three games for Rangers in the past season.An injury crisis would need to occur for his handful of international appearances to increase in the United States, but his underrated influence in the squad does not go unnoticed."I don't do anything special," he tells BBC Scotland. "When the boys go into the game, I just want them to give it their full whack, know what I mean?"Don't disappoint the opposition by bringing half measures - just go for it."Discourse around squad selections can often get bogged down by people demanding that players who are playing and in form must be picked.But is there enough said about having a lad who will be relentless in bringing vibes to the group?"Liam's in there because he's a very good third goalkeeper," said head coach Steve Clarke.The Scotland boss adds: "He's good around the squad" - tick - "his character's good" - tick - "the players respect him" - tick - and "he works ever so hard in camp" - tick.Oh, and he apparently "shaves Grant Hanley's back", according to Kenny McLean. For the sake of Kelly - and our imaginations - we can all hope that is a joke.McLean also told BBC Scotland that Rangers' back-up goalkeeper is the "most positive guy you will meet".Perhaps the red-tinted sunglasses he wears at night to help replenish his melatonin have something to do with that.When Norwich midfielder McLean scored that goal against Denmark in November, Kelly was one of the first to empty the Scotland bench and lead the chasing pack.He shares a strong bond with the 34-year-old and other senior figures within the group, such as Andy Robertson. He sits beside the captain on international commutes.Nobody has a bad word to say about the former Motherwell player and optimism just always seems to be oozing out of him despite two seasons of limited minutes.Game time was not a problem at Fir Park, where Kelly was first choice for four years before moving back to Rangers, where he started his career as a young prospect.Long-time pal and former team-mate Andy Halliday played with him at both clubs.He remembers Kelly's impact in the Motherwell dressing room, controlling fines, organising days out and running a Traitors-like card game, which some of the Scotland squad got involved in during Sunday's long-haul flight to the US."That's just his way of making sure everyone bonds together," Halliday tells BBC Scotland.At Rangers, his first impressions of the then teenage Kelly were his character standing out despite his age. "Typical Glasgow boy, gallus," he adds.The fact Kelly's three closest mates at Ibrox at that time - Halliday, Lee Wallace and Kenny Miller - were all of an older age told the former midfielder a lot about his personality.And Halliday is in no doubt that the goalkeeper's nature will be having a positive impact among the Scotland squad, even if time on the park will inevitably be restricted."He's opinionated in a good way, whether he's playing or not," Halliday tells BBC Scotland. "Experienced players will go to Liam and have chats around the game."Liam will accept himself his role won't involve many minutes on the pitch. A lot of it will involve what he can bring off the pitch."Everything you need to know about the World Cup

World Cup News

ShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleJames W KellyLondonFootball fans who were at Wembley Stadium on 30 July 1966 have marked the nearly 60 years since the England men's team's greatest sporting triumph, recalling a day of "magic, nerves, and yet unrepeated history".Three men who witnessed England's 4-2 victory over West Germany in the World Cup final came together at Hendon Hall in north London, where England's squad were based during the tournament under manager Alf Ramsey.A hotel until 2018, Hendon Hall has since been converted into a care home.As part of Care Home Open Week, residents and guests gathered in the building's Bobby Moore Bar, surrounded by World Cup memorabilia, for a special rerun of the full match.Among those watching was Jeff Goldston, who secured a spot directly behind the goal at Wembley on that fateful afternoon."My ticket for the final was 10 shillings and sixpence, which is 55p," Goldston told the room. Adjusted for inflation, he researched that the ticket would cost £8 in today's economy."It is astonishing how things have changed," he said.Recalling the heart-stopping moment Geoff Hurst completed his hat-trick to seal England's 4-2 win, Goldston said: "I was literally behind the net."Hurst was running towards me, and then he just hit it, and the net bulged towards me and everybody just went mad. It was just incredible."The screening brought back the intense anxiety felt by the 93,000-strong crowd as West Germany scored a last-minute equaliser to force extra time.Edward Cohen, an 87-year-old Hendon Hall resident and former judge, remembered the collective shock in the stadium."And then to our horror... Head in hands time. Head in hands time, and, 'Oh, no,'" Cohen said.The match is partly remembered for Geoff Hurst's controversial second goal which struck the underside of the crossbar.Goldston admitted: "We saw it hit the underside of the bar, but we didn't know anything after that. We didn't know it had gone in."Cohen, who watched the drama unfold from just 12 rows from the front, added: "I couldn't see whether the ball was over the line or not."But who am I to say? The linesman makes the decision, and the referee agreed it, so there it was."Also in the audience was fellow resident Sidney Perez, who recounted the early tension of the afternoon."We were 1-0 down fairly early on. It was exciting but worrying," he said.The screening concluded with Kenneth Wolstenholme's iconic commentary line: "Some people are on the pitch! They think it's all over... it is now!"For Cohen, the screening brought back a long-running family joke about where the match ranks among the best moments of his life.Addressing the room, he said: "Marion went around telling our friends that Edward says that he's had three magnificent days in his lifetime: the day we got married, the day our first child was born, and the day England won the World Cup. But not necessarily in that order."Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk

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Do you have an affinity for world champions Argentina or perhaps a connection with debutants Uzbekistan?The World Cup starts on Thursday, 11 June and if you are a neutral in need of a team, or just fancy following a second side, we have got you covered.Answer our questions and we will tell you your team!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?Related topicsFootballFIFA World Cup 2026Play more quizzesQuiz: Name every nation at the 2026 World CupWorld Cup quiz: Name every player in England's squadWorld Cup quiz: Name every player in Scotland's squad

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Australia midfielder takes aim at ‘rubbish’ from United States punditsFormer US defender Alexi Lalas called Socceroos an ‘average team’Socceroos midfielder Connor Metcalfe has heard every barb coming Australia’s way from the United States – and he’s had a gutful of it. Since Australia were drawn in Group D along with the co-hosts in December, the Socceroos have proved the punching bag for pundits based in the USA.Former striker Landon Donovan labelled Socceroos coach Tony Popovic as “smug” and tipped the Australians to finish fourth behind the US, Turkey and Paraguay and exit in the group stage. “Thanks for coming, Aussies and your smug coach – you can get back on the Qantas airplane and head back home, pal,” he quipped.CBS pundit Mike Grella described the Australia fixture as a “lay-up” for Mauricio Pochettino’s world No 16 American side. This week, former US international Alexi Lalas threw more fuel on the fire when he described the Socceroos as an “average team” after the 27th-ranked side’s 1-0 loss to Mexico.While coach Popovic has laughed off the jibes coming Australia’s way, it’s clearly given fuel to the fire for his players. But there are still almost two weeks until that clash on 19 June (20 June AEST), with Australia focused on a friendly against Switzerland then their opener against Turkey.“I mean, I’ve seen all the US stuff, and I’m just sick of it, to be honest - I just am,” Metcalfe said on the eve of the friendly on Saturday. “Like all this talk – it’s just – let’s just wait for the game, whatever happens, happens.“It’s just so much rubbish and I’m just sick of it. So we’ll just wait and we’ll play - it’ll be a good game. We had a friendly against them. It was tense, it was feisty, and probably going to be the exact same.”In that game, in Colorado in October, the US dealt Australia their first defeat under Popovic.The 2-1 defeat was a fiery, physical game, with US defender Chris Richards at one point ready to square up to Socceroo Jason Geria after skipper Christian Pulisic was injured in a challenge.Popovic declared Cristian Volpato “fit and available” to face Switzerland and expected him to get minutes, after the attacker arrived in camp too late to play Mexico. The Socceroos boss said Volpato was looking his best since switching his allegiance from Italy and joining the camp, having needed to get up to speed as his conditioning was behind other players.“There’s no doubts about him as a person or as a player,” Popovic said. “We’ve just got to get him fit. He hasn’t played a lot of football and he had eight to nine days off before he joined us.“He’s working hard. He’s trying to get up to speed and we’ve seen some good inroads in the last couple of days.”Metcalfe batted away a question regarding whether Volpato’s late change of allegiance had been an issue within the squad.“It’s been pretty smooth sailing. I mean, he’s come in, he’s a really nice, relaxed guy,” he said. “We see it online and we know the past and what’s been done, but we’re not here to talk about that. Whatever’s said is done, so it’s fine.”

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Germany forward Lennart Karl has been ruled out of the 2026 World Cup with a thigh injury.The highly rated 18-year-old suffered the issue in Germany's final training session before a warm-up game against World Cup co-hosts United States.Bayern Munich's Karl started in Germany's 4-0 win against Finland in a friendly on Sunday, during which he set up one of the goals, but he will now be replaced by RB Leipzig's Assan Ouedraogo."I feel incredibly sorry for Lenny," said Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann."It's a huge shock for him and all of us that he's missing the World Cup. It's only a small consolation that he's young and has many tournaments ahead of him. We would have loved to have him on the team."With Assan Ouedraogo, we're now getting a player who, like Lenny, had a fantastic start with us. He's also highly talented and we expect him to play with courage and freedom."The game against the US is Germany's last before they start their World Cup campaign against Curacao on 14 June.Nagelsmann's side then have further Group E games against Ivory Coast on 20 June and Ecuador on 25 June.The rise of Bayern's 'special' teen Karl who 'plays Messi style'Everything you need to know about the World Cup

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Though four-time winners, Germany's last World Cup knockout match was the victorious final of 2014. Two group exits followed, painting a picture of faded glory.But hosting Euro 2024 touched up the colours somewhat. It reminded many of the 2006 World Cup, that sun-blessed home tournament which ushered in a fresh, young, creative team that the nation adopted as its self-image.Once more there was optimism, there was flamboyance, there was.... another 119th-minute heartbreak at the hands of the eventual champions.Last year's Nations League Finals were a reality check, and they then lost to Slovakia in qualifying. So the picture is complex. At the last two World Cups they lost their opening game and failed to recover.So all eyes on Curacao on 14 June in Houston – will Germany have a problem?Elite attacking midfielders, such as Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz roaming and creating, is Germany's strongest department.The 11th-hour return of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has soothed concerns at the other end.Musiala is unlikely to be 100% fit and the candidates to play striker have had mixed seasons, through injury or being played out of position.Finding the right balance from the double midfield pivot will also be a challenge.However, the greatest obstacle to progress could be that France are looming in the last 16.Much hinges on the fitness of Bayern Munich playmaker Jamal Musiala, who returned to action in January after breaking his leg and dislocating an ankle at the Club World Cup last summer. He played his first 90 minutes since March against Finland on 31 May.Whether to play with a recognised striker or not has been a debate in Germany for years. The current plan is a 4-2-3-1, with Arsenal's Kai Havertz up top.The last remaining link with the 2014 triumph, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer shocked and/or delighted much of the nation by coming out of international retirement for one last World Cup, his fifth.It's a decade since Julian Nagelsmann, then 28, took over at Hoffenheim and led them into the Champions League. He then took Leipzig to the semi-finals, but at Bayern he was sacked. He is 16 months younger than goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.They recovered from an opening defeat in Slovakia – only their fourth-ever loss in World Cup qualifying – to win four in a row and top the group.All of Germany's matches will also be covered live on the BBC Sport website and app with updates, analysis, and fan reaction. Come and be part of it!With no traditional centre forward in the Germany squad, the excited recipient of the Number 9 jersey is Stuttgart winger Jamie Leweling.Upon hearing the news, he changed his profile pic on Instagram to an image of his face, with Ronaldo's (in)famous triangle haircut from 2002.Ultimately, it was a Japanese cross, kept in play by millimetres before being bundled into the Spanish net, that caused Germany's group-stage exit from Qatar 2022. The thickness of a thermally-bonded polyurethane panel – the difference between going on, and going home.But even the most die-hard fan of Die Mannschaft would accept there were more macro factors at play to explain Germany's second World Cup failure in a row.Some commentators said their traditional values, centred around physicality, were outdated, and that the coaching system should instead promote freedom of expression. In defence of tradition, Germany legend Bastian Schweinsteiger blamed former Bayern coach Pep Guardiola for importing "short-pass" football into the Bundesliga, which spread contagiously, wiping out those traditional values.It's doubtful any of the old guard, who triumphed through mental fortitude and reliability, would ever have imagined a German World Cup campaign unravelling in chaos as the goalkeeper lost possession while dribbling around the edge of the opposition box, as Manuel Neuer did in 2018.So coach Julian Nagelsmann has had to wrestle with the arguments above – what should his Germany be? The available evidence suggests a marriage of flair and solid fundamentals. The former, at least, shouldn't be a problem.How have Germany's done at previous World Cups?Germany's tally of eight finals is a record. Since winning their fourth World Cup in 2014 they have gone out of the group stage in both Russia and Qatar, winning only one game at each tournament.

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In 2022, Brazil entered this tournament as the highest-ranked team. But despite their big billing they exited at the quarter-final stage.This year they arrive as the world's sixth-best side, their lowest-ever rank prior to a World Cup since Fifa began compiling its list in 1992.Head coach Carlo Ancelotti knows he must find the correct blend between defence and attack.A 4-2-4 formation left the midfield exposed in the recent friendly with Panama, so expect him to instead pivot to a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1."I have a very talented squad," said the Italian. "I'm convinced we're going to have a great World Cup."Creating chances and scoring goals is unlikely to be an issue and only a handful of teams can boast a better array of attacking talent.They have a strong spine and are blessed with two elite centre-backs.Brazil's head coach is an all-time great and his man-management skills and fluid tactical style could prove decisive.Brazil are the only South American side at this World Cup who suffered six defeats in qualifying – to put that into context, they only lost five qualifying games over the past 20 years combined.They did lack depth in central midfield - something Carlo Ancelotti appears to have rectified by selecting Ederson as a late injury replacement - but some critics still believe their squad is unbalanced.Carlo Ancelotti's decision to include Neymar sparked global headlines. "He might play; he might not; he might be on the bench and come on," said the Italian. Brazil's record goalscorer is a generational talent and - despite recent injury concerns - he could make a meaningful contribution, even in brief cameos.Casemiro remains a vital cog in this side. But the 34-year-old could struggle if he is forced to anchor the midfield in a 4-2-4 formation.Vinicius Junior has been accused of underachieving at international level despite being involved in five of Brazil's seven goals in Qatar. If anybody can push him to reproduce his club form in a Brazil shirt then it's his former Real Madrid coach.Carlo Ancelotti will become the first foreign coach to take charge of the Selecao at a World Cup.He is widely regarded as one of the greatest managers in the history of the game, an opinion cemented by the fact he is the only manager to win league titles in each of Europe's top five divisions and five Champions Leagues.The charismatic Italian extended his Brazil contract for another four years in May, taking his reign up until the next global tournament in 2030.Brazil kept up their record of playing at every World Cup but did not qualify with their usual swagger. Instead they finished fifth in the South American table and lost six matches.All of Brazil's matches will also be covered live on the BBC Sport website and app with updates, analysis, and fan reaction. Come and be part of it!Former West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta is actually known by a nickname.His full name is Lucas Tolentino Coelho de Lima and Paqueta is simply a nod to the place where he grew up – a small island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro with 3,000 inhabitants.The World Cup's most successful team are attempting to end a remarkable 24-year drought in this competition. Returning to the scene of former glories could prove the necessary catalyst.The Selecao emerged victorious the last time the World Cup was held on North American soil. They defeated Italy in a penalty shoot-out 32 years ago and the only member of their current squad who can claim to remember Roberto Baggio's famous miss is third-choice goalkeeper Weverton. He was six at the time.Their current head coach, however, had a front row seat in Pasadena's Rose Bowl stadium that day.Carlo Ancelotti was assistant to Italy manager Arrigo Sacchi throughout USA '94 and despite the eventual outcome, he labelled it an "incredible experience".Ancelotti has gone on to amass 31 trophies during a glittering managerial career, a total which includes five Champions League titles, and his encyclopedic knowledge of European football may help the Brazilians clear one very specific hurdle.They have exited the World Cup to European opposition in each of the past five editions, a run which includes their humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany on home soil in the 2014 semi-finals.How have Brazil done at previous World Cups?The last of Brazil's record five World Cups came 24 years ago, when they beat Germany 2-0 in the 2002 final.They're the only country to appear at every tournament and their 67% win rate prior to 2026 (76 victories in 114 games) is unrivalled.

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The holy grail for Scotland remains reaching the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time.They have participated at 12 prior to this summer, with a win ratio of just 17% from 35 matches. Their last major tournament victory was at the Euros 30 years ago.However, the expanded format of this World Cup, which includes an additional elimination round in the last 32 - along with a very winnable opening match against Haiti – presents perhaps Scotland's best chance of breaking that unwanted record.Expect solidity, aggression and a band-of-brothers mentality from a settled squad who appear to genuinely cherish being together.The new deal signed by head coach Steve Clarke in May has cemented Scotland's stability at an important time.Much depends on the experience of Scotland's midfield.Aston Villa's John McGinn has just enjoyed his finest club campaign in terms of goal contributions, while Scott McTominay has continued the form that saw him win Serie A player of the year in 2024-25.An in-form Lawrence Shankland could answer the cry for goals at the highest levelScotland lack for strength in depth and cannot afford to lose any marquee players.Preferred right-back Aaron Hickey has played 92 club minutes since February, while 43-year-old Hearts keeper Craig Gordon may start in goal. Alternative goalkeeping options, Rangers' Liam Kelly and Nottingham Forest's Angus Gunn, have not been first choice at their clubs this seasonSteve Clarke has not used a back five in a competitive game since Euro 2024, but he could return to this formation against tougher teams with Celtic full-back Kieran Tierney at centre-back.John McGinn led Aston Villa to a first European trophy in 44 years this season. Ten goals and seven assists are the highest number of goal involvements in his club careerScott McTominay's overhead kick in the decisive qualifier against Denmark is now so famous it has made it onto a special edition Scottish banknote. The 2024-25 Serie A player of the year has been directly involved in 15 goals for Scotland since the start of 2023 – six more than anyone else.Lawrence Shankland has scored 21 more goals than any other player in the Scottish Premiership since 2022-23. He's never been first choice for Scotland but still averages a goal every 86 minutes in international footballThree major tournaments as head coach is a Scottish record and Steve Clarke has achieved this feat in just seven years.He's the first man to take Scotland to back-to-back European Championships and the first to a World Cup since Craig Brown in 1998.Qualification was secured in stunning fashion with an overhead kick, a 22-yard stunner and goal from the halfway line in a 4-2 win in their final qualifier against Denmark at Hampden Park in NovemberAll of Scotland's matches will also be covered live on the BBC Sport website and app with updates, analysis, and fan reaction. Come and be part of it!Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon can become the second-oldest man to play at a World Cup after Essam El Hadary, who played in goal for Egypt against Saudi Arabia at the age of 45 in 2018.When Scotland faced Denmark at Hampden Park at 7.45pm on 18th November, the brief was clear: defeat the nation then 18 places higher in Fifa's rankings and qualify for a first World Cup since 1998. Lose, and face the gut-wrenching unpredictability of the play-offs.One of the most famous nights in Hampden's 122-year history followed.A rip-roaring 4-2 win featured an overhead kick scored by Scott McTominay after just three minutes, which has hung as a picture in the National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh, an injury-time 22-yard screamer by full-back Kieran Tierney – just a second goal in 53 caps at that stage – to put Scotland ahead on the night.Then, a goal from the halfway line by Kenny McClean after 98 minutes, the crowd celebrations of which equalled the seismic activity of a small earthquake.Scotland have reached two previous major tournaments under Steve Clarke but failed to win a game at either Euro 2020 or Euro 2024.Their last win at the European Championships was a 1-0 victory against Switzerland in 1996. Their most recent at the World Cup was against Sweden 36 years ago.If Scotland are to reach the knockout stage of a major tournament for the first time in all 13 attempts, an opening encounter against a Haiti team ranked 83rd in the world looks crucial, with Morocco and Brazil to come.How have Scotland done at previous World Cups?