- Reuters

(Getty Images)

After US defender Chris Richards told reporters Wednesday he's ready for the World Cup after being limited with an ankle injury, manager Mauricio Pochettino confirmed yesterday that Richards is available for selection.

"Chris is available to be selected, and then we will decide if he starts from the beginning of the game or is on the bench," Pochettino said.

Richards, 26, who sustained a pair of torn ligaments in his left ankle while playing for Premier League side Crystal Palace on May 17, missed the US's two warm-up friendlies against Senegal (May 31) and Germany (June 6).

However, he has been a full participant at practice this week for the first time since the injury.

"I'm ready to go," Richards told reporters Wednesday, adding that he has not been informed of any minutes restrictions.

"It's the World Cup. I was going to make myself ready regardless. ... If there's any time to sacrifice yourself, it's now. I know I'm able to play Friday but I don't make those decisions."

Pochettino said in his press conference that the decision regarding whether Richards will start or be available off the bench has been made.

However, he didn't disclose who would be in the starting 11, which he said is "already decided."

The teams have dropped for our second match of the day.

USA

(Supplied)

Mauricio Pochettino has made just a single change to the starting XI that lost 2-1 to Germany last week.

Chris Richards comes in at the back after recovering from injury.

Richards is one of the five players in the starting line up who will make their World Cup debut.

The others are Folarin Balogun, Alex Freeman, Matt Freese and Malik Tillman.

Five of the team who start today featured the last time these two sides met, on November 15, 2025.

The USA won that bad-tempered game 2-1. Folarin Balogun scored in the game while Sergiño Dest, Matt Freese and Tim Ream  all started and Alex Freeman came off the bench.

Paraguay

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Here's how Paraguay lines up, with Palmeiras skipper Gustavo Gómez also wearing the armband for his national team today.

In really good news for La Albirroja, Strasbourg winger Julio Enciso is fit and will start having been struggling with an injury in the lead up.

- with AAP

(Getty Images)

Türkiye captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu has fired early shots at the Socceroos, declaring he expects his team to dominate their World Cup clash because they are more talented.

The Socceroos, ranked 27th in the world, open their campaign against the world number 22, who have qualified for their first World Cup since 2002, at Vancouver's BC Place on Sunday AEST.

When asked about Australia, Çalhanoğlu was quite blunt.

"Of course, our coach analysed them with us together," the Inter Milan defender told media at training in Vancouver on Friday.

"So we know that they're a physical team, that they're good at the corner kicks and on the free kicks because they are tall and strong.

"But I think that we dominate tomorrow, the game, because we have more qualities and a more talented team, so we will see tomorrow what happens."

His comments will surely raise the eyebrows of Socceroos coach Tony Popovic and midfielder Aiden O'Neill, who are due to face the media later on Friday afternoon local time.

The Socceroos have already been written off by many pundits from the United States.

Çalhanoğlu's teammate Ozan Kabak said Türkiye didn't know much about Australia given they play in different confederations, but they had done their analysis.

"I think that we can beat them," Kabak said.

Tony Popovic is no stranger to World Cups, having playing in the 2006 edition.

Now, he's coached the side to another edition 20 years later.

Watch ABC Sport's interview with the Socceroos coach.

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- Reuters

(Getty Images)

Bosnia and Herzegovina were passive and did not capitalise on their chances, coach Sergej ‌Barbarez said, after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Canada in their World Cup Group B opener, although he was satisfied with the result.

"We left the initiative to Canadians, and we were playing in low blocks, and we were defensive," Barbarez told reporters.

However, both teams deserved the point and the result was satisfactory, he said.

Barbarez reserved special praise for his team in the face of a raucous home crowd, who cheered every time Canada pressed forward.

"You were playing an opening match in front of the full stadium, it was a full house, and there were 80 per cent of Canadian supporters," he said.

"This is huge pressure, and it's a huge compliment for my team to have not succumbed to that pressure."

Edin Džeko was an unused substitute on the day but Barbarez said he hoped he would play in the team's next game against Switzerland in Los Angeles.

Bosnia's defensive effort was typified by Sead Kolašinac's brilliant block to deny Canada an earlier equaliser early in the second half, but Barbarez said that he knew his veteran defender would step up.

"I expect him to hold the whole team together, to lead the team, and this is what he has done today in a top-notch way," he said.

The coach also took heart from the fight shown by his team and believes they will gain valuable experience from the match.

"I have to compliment the Canadian team. They were incredibly physical, incredibly intensive. They had their plan. They knew how to pull it through," he said.

- Reuters

(Reuters)

We did touch on this earlier, but it is worth repeating that the American President Donald Trump will not be in attendance when the United States opens its World Cup competition against Paraguay later.

That was confirmed by Andrew Giuliani, the CEO of the World Cup task force, in an interview with a radio station in the United Kingdom.

"He's not going to end up attending the opening game," Giuliani told TalkSport on Thursday.

"As we've said, his scheduling is tight. But I know he's going to be engaged throughout this World Cup.

He needs to be in Washington, D.C., later in the weekend. He is hosting the UFC Freedom 250 at the White House on Sunday, his 80th birthday.

• ABC Sport will have a live blog of UFC Freedom 250 on Monday morning, by the way.

While it is uncommon for a head of state from a host country to miss the nation's World Cup opener, it is not unprecedented and even happened earlier this tournament.

President Claudia Sheinbaum of co-host Mexico was not in attendance on Thursday when her nation defeated South Africa 2-0. The Mexican government held a contest to give away Sheinbaum's seat.

The US delegation will be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin.

The State Department confirmed their attendance in a news release earlier this week.

Giuliani, the son of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, said he wasn't sure when Trump would make an appearance.

"Having known President Trump for now 30 years, what I can tell you is: expect the unexpected. Always expect a cliffhanger with him," Giuliani said.

"Throughout the course of this tournament, it wouldn't surprise me if we see him engage more and more with the World Cup."

A sports fan, Trump has attended several big events while president, including Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden earlier this week. He was met with a chorus of boos.

While the wait for the next game goes indeterminably on, why not check out the latest from the ABC Sport Daily team?

With a new pod every single day of the tournament, check out the latest on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts from.

- AP

(AP Photo)

Ali Abdulla was over the moon when he learned his youth-soccer nonprofit would receive 20 free tickets to the World Cup round of 16 match next month in Seattle.

Many of the kids in his African Youth Sports Academy come from low-income, immigrant families, and with ticket prices hovering around $1,000, it was an incredible opportunity for them.

Then the US barred Omar Artan — the first Somali referee set to officiate in the World Cup — from entering the country.

Abdulla, himself a former semi-professional soccer player and Somali refugee, wanted to do something in solidarity, and first thought of giving up his position as a volunteer FIFA "ambassador."

But, he said, when he told parents and coaches about his decision, they suggested something even more significant: Give back the tickets.

"They all sent a message saying, 'We feel heartbroken, we feel betrayed,'" Abdulla told The Associated Press on Friday.

"We don't feel right to go celebrate while the only person in the history of our country [selected to referee the World Cup] is feeling pain and disappointed.

"I felt so emotional when the parents said that, because to return a one-time opportunity for solidarity with our boy — that made me very proud to lead this organisation."

The free tickets were among 1,400 distributed through a program organized by Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and the local FIFA World Cup organising committee.

(AP Photo)

Abdulla himself attended the announcement of the program and recruited about two dozen kids to be part of the mayor's social media video promoting it.

He said learning that his nonprofit was receiving the tickets was "the best news I ever had." The African Youth Sports Academy, which also offers mentorship and other services, decided to hold a soccer competition to help determine who would receive tickets.

The plan was to award the tickets to about a dozen youth, ages 13 to 16, and several of their parents, Abdulla said.

The kids "are very sad, man, very heartbroken," he said.

"We have to teach them to stand up for the right thing."

The mayor's office confirmed the tickets had been reallocated but otherwise did not comment on the decision.

Hana Tadesse, a spokesperson for the local FIFA World Cup organising committee, said they had gone to another community group: the Somali Health Board, which also sponsors youth soccer. That organisation did not immediately return an email seeking comment Friday.

The African Youth Sports Academy's decision was earlier reported by The Seattle Times.

- with Reuters

(Getty Images)

Sir David Beckham, the first English player to win league titles in four countries, was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday.

Rather than a traditional Hollywood red carpet, the ceremony featured a green soccer-themed pitch carpet to commemorate the occasion.

Radio host Ellen K introduced speakers including Tom Cruise and Beckham’s wife, Victoria Beckham.

(Getty Images)

Cruise praised Beckham’s journey, saying it was “a Hollywood story” of hard work, determination and global influence on sport and culture.

Victoria Beckham said the honour felt timely ahead of the World Cup in Los Angeles.

Taking the podium, Beckham called the moment “surreal.” He reflected on growing up in East London with dreams of playing soccer, never imagining recognition in Hollywood.

He spoke about scepticism he faced after joining Major League Soccer's LA Galaxy in 2007, as many fans questioned why the US was so late to embrace the globally popular sport.

Beckham, who is now president and co-owner of Inter Miami CF, said he was proud of the sport's growing popularity in the US.

“I'm going to get emotional now. Kids, I hope you bring my grandchildren here one day and tell them about a boy who dreams big to make you all proud is my greatest achievement,” he said.

(Getty Images)

Tony Popovic has been at great pains to say Australia will, "one day ... go very far in the World Cup."

Is 2026 one day?

Find out what a pass mark would be in Tom Wildie's story right here.

- Reuters

Mahdi Mohammad Nabi (Reuters)

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has failed to deliver on promises to secure full access for the Iranian soccer federation to attend the team's three games in the United States, Iran's World Cup team supervisor told Reuters.

Mahdi Mohammad Nabi, who also served as Iran's supervisor in charge of squad operations at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Russia and Qatar, is among 15 Iranian soccer federation members denied a visa to travel to the US for the World Cup games.

He spoke to Reuters on Thursday evening, a day after Infantino gave a free-wheeling press conference in Mexico City in which he celebrated Iran's participation in the tournament as proof of his organisation's success in navigating complex political issues.

"We hope Mr Infantino will indeed implement the words and promises he made to the Iran national team," Nabi told Reuters on Thursday.

"The FIFA regulations and protocols must be properly followed by both member federations and hosts."

FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The US State Department said the visas had been rejected because it "will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the US under false pretences".

The difficulties facing the Iranian team, who also moved their training base at the last minute to Tijuana from Arizona due to the visa issues, have raised serious questions about the organisation of the 2026 World Cup.

The US has also denied visas to Iranian and African journalists covering the World Cup, implemented bond measures for countries flagged for high rates of visa overstays, and implemented travel bans against nationals from four countries that qualified for the World Cup.

Referee Omar Artan (Getty Images)

This week Somalian FIFA referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry despite having a valid visa for alleged links to "terror organisations".

But Iran is the only World Cup team that has seen large numbers of its federation denied entry into the US.

The denials unfold against a backdrop of escalating strikes between the warring countries, which have threatened to reignite a full-scale war that was paused in April when the two sides agreed to a fragile ceasefire.

This is the first World Cup since its inception in 1930 in which a host nation is set to receive a country it is at war with.

Nabi said he had never before experienced "such lack of coordination" at a World Cup.

The entire visa saga, he said, "has disrupted our players' ability to adapt" and put the team at a disadvantage compared to the other competitors.

Asked about the US State Department's allegation that Iran's soccer federation is trying to "sneak terrorists" into the US, Nabi declined to answer.

"We are here to talk about sports; we did not come to engage in any political activities," he said.

Saeid Ezatolahi (Getty Images)

Iran player Saeid Ezatolahi told Reuters the team accepted that the players cannot have their families attend the tournament to watch and support them because of visa restrictions. But he said FIFA had promised the federation that the staff would get visas.

"We need all of our staff and especially our main guys that can help us through this tournament," he told Reuters on Thursday.

Ezatolahi said the war in Iran has taken a heavy toll on the players, even as they try to concentrate only on training for the soccer games.

"We're taking this opportunity and have to step up to fight for what we call love. And this love for us is football."

(Getty Images)

Some interesting comments from former England striker Wayne Rooney on the collision between Nikola Vasilj and Tani Oluwaseyi in the second half of that game between Canada and Bosnia.

Vasilj came flying to the edge of his penalty area and made a brave challenge on the on-rushing Oluwaseyi, punching the ball clear before being barged to the ground.

However, the Bosnian keeper clearly made contact with the Canadian striker too and Rooney says that it should have been a penalty and a red card.

"It is a red card. It is a red card," he said on BBC's coverage of the match.

"I think it is a very dangerous play. I know he wins the ball, but the follow-through, he hits him in the temple. That is the worst place to be hit.

"He could get knocked out. He might come back in a week's time and have delayed concussion. For me, that is a clear red card."

(Getty Images)

The eventual decision was for offside against Oluwaseyi, but Rooney said that doesn't matter.

"Forget the offside... We have seen it before when players have gone through, and the whistle has gone, and it is a red card," he said.

The BBC have a former assistant referee from the Premier League, Darren Cann, on their coverage. He said play on.

"Even without the offside in my opinion it is not a penalty. It is not a red card," he said.

"The goalkeeper clearly plays the ball first and there's inevitable contact after that, so it is not serious foul play. The keeper clearly wins the ball and that for me clearly not a red card."

Former France striker Olivier Giroud is not so sure.

"As a striker, I would have been frustrated to not get a penalty on that one," he said.

"On the other hand … You hit the ball first and it is hard for him to get his hands off the striker's head."

- with Reuters

(Supplied)

Protesters unfurled a massive red banner on top of the World Cup logo near a busy highway in Toronto on Friday, denouncing FIFA's association with Israel.

The protesters covered the display along Lake Shore hours before Canada's first game kicked off.

The demonstrators also donned shirts that read "Jews for a free Palestine" mounted a nearby embankment and dropped the banner with the message "Kick Israel out of FIFA".

The banner was visible to commuters on the Gardiner Expressway - one of Canada's busiest - on their way to the home team's opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Toronto stadium.

Faisal Ibrahim, a spokesperson for the activists, accused FIFA of being complicit with Israel's actions against Palestinians.

"FIFA not only turns a blind eye to the Israel Football Association's playing of games on illegally occupied West Bank and Syrian territory, it actually actively broadcasts those games, thereby normalising occupation and erasure, which makes FIFA an active and complicit participant," he told Reuters.

(Supplied)

In March, global soccer's ruling body said it would take no action against Israeli clubs accused by the Palestine Football Association of competing while allegedly based in Palestinian territory, citing the unresolved legal status of the West Bank under public international law.

Israel's war in Gaza has killed tens of thousands, caused a hunger crisis, and led to assessments of genocide from scholars and a United Nations inquiry.

Israel strongly denies genocide accusations and calls its actions self-defence after Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages in an October 2023 attack.

UN experts have also appealed to FIFA and the Union of European Football Associations to suspend Israel from international football.

As you might expect, Mexico really had a great time yesterday, winning their World Cup opener and getting the party started with a superb opening ceremony to boot.

Amanda Shalala was on the ground in Mexico City and saw how the locals were partying first hand.

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As you'd probably expect, the US team received a phone call from President Donald Trump ahead of its opening game later today.

The president isn't going to be at the game today - which is very unusual for a head of state at a World Cup.

Instead, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be there, alongside Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin.

But in the president's call he said he hoped the US would go "all the way".

“Well, I just got to say you’re a fantastic guy, a fantastic coach, and you’re all about your record and your success, and I know how great the players are,” Trump said.

“I think you’ve got a really good chance of going all the way. I just want to wish you a lot of luck.”

So, there's a bit of time before our next game.

In the meantime, we'll keep you company with all sorts of interesting content.

We'll start with this - and not just because I wrote it - but because there are loads of really cool photos of cool stadiums, which is why I wrote it...

Anyway - from mock volcanos, temporary stands and enormous venues in Texas, here are the 16 stadiums where the World Cup is about to take place.

(Getty Images)

Everyone's favourite Canadian Ryan Reynolds was in the stadium for today's match.

(Getty Images)

Presumably still stinging that Bosnia Herzegovina knocked out his beloved Cymru — aka Wales — in the play offs, Reynolds was thrilled to see his homeland strike a blow back today.

It's Canada's first ever point at a World Cup, so I guess he had every reason to be happy.

(Getty Images)

Here's Canadian coach Jesse Marsch.

"I felt like we had them," he says of what he said in the three quarter time huddle.

"The subs came on and made a big difference and we could see that they were fading.

"So I told them that we've got them, now it's time to put our foot on the jugular."

He notes that his side were not as aggressive as they might have been in the first half.

I'd argue that they were plenty aggressive enough, but that their aggression was misplaced.

"I'm disappointed with the first half, I thought we were tentative, we didn't play as aggressive as I would have liked,' he says.

"When we say we want to be aggressive ... we've got to do it.

"We've got to learn our lessons and learn them quick.

"We still have everything in hand.

"We have to make sure the next performance is a reflection and a learning of what happened today."

He also called on the fans to keep pushing the team to believe that they can be world beaters.