Intensity key to dream start, says USA captain Ream

Sun, 14 Jun, 2026

Intensity key to dream start, says USA captain Ream

Los Angeles: United States captain Tim Ream said an "intense" training camp was vital to his team's dream FIFA World Cup 2026 start, as a 4-1 thrashing of Paraguay turbo-charged the co-hosts' hopes of unlikely glory.

The US squad has spent three weeks with head coach Mauricio Pochettino since assembling for pre-tournament friendlies. Preparation ratcheted up several gears last weekend as they arrived at their California base camp.

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Group D: Australia 2-0 Turkiye

Sun, 14 Jun, 2026

Group D: Australia 2-0 Turkiye

Vancouver: Australia scored a stunning 2-0 upset over Turkiye in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D opener on Saturday as head coach Tony Popovic's bold selection gamble paid off.

Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe scored the goals and rookie goalkeeper Patrick Beach produced a string of crucial saves to help secure a famous Australian victory at Vancouver's BC Place Stadium.

Group B: Qatar 1-1 Switzerland

Sun, 14 Jun, 2026

Group B: Qatar 1-1 Switzerland

Santa Clara: Qatar's Boualem Khoukhi stunned Switzerland with a late equaliser as the sides played out a 1-1 draw in their opening Group B match at the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Saturday.

A Breel Embolo penalty had broken the deadlock for Switzerland early in the first half in the San Francisco Bay Area, before the wasteful favourites were made to pay as Qatar earned their first ever point at a FIFA World Cup.

Group C: Brazil 1-1 Morocco

Sun, 14 Jun, 2026

Group C: Brazil 1-1 Morocco

East Rutherford: Vinicius Junior scored a brilliant equaliser for Brazil in a 1-1 draw with Morocco on Saturday as the five-time FIFA World Cup winners made an uncertain start to the tournament in New Jersey.

Ismael Saibari ran through to give Morocco a 21st-minute lead with a clever scoop in the Group C opener, but Vinicius produced a moment of magic to ensure Brazil came away with a point.

Group C: Haiti 0-1 Scotland

Sun, 14 Jun, 2026

Group C: Haiti 0-1 Scotland

Foxborough: A scrappy finish by John McGinn allowed Scotland to mark their return to the FIFA World Cup after a 28-year absence with a nervy 1-0 win over outsiders Haiti on Saturday.

Aston Villa captain McGinn fired in with the aid of a deflection just before the half-hour mark at the Gillette Stadium just outside Boston, which was filled to its 64,000 capacity with a majority of Scottish fans.
 
They have travelled to the United States in large numbers to follow Scotland's first World Cup campaign since 1998, and were able to celebrate a rare victory at the tournament as they go top of Group C.

Mixed feelings for Canada's Marsch

Sat, 13 Jun, 2026

Mixed feelings for Canada's Marsch

Toronto: Canada head coach Jesse Marsch said he didn't do enough to ready his side for the first half of the co-hosts' FIFA World Cup 2026 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday and wants to see more "self-belief" in their next match.

Marsch said his second-half substitutes made a "big impact", particularly Cyle Larin, whose equaliser in the 78th minute earned Canada a 1-1 draw and their first-ever FIFA World Cup point.