The World Cup 2026 is almost upon us with just a day to go until the opening match in Mexico City – but England have been rocked by a Bukayo Saka injury worry on tournament eve.
Thomas Tuchel’s side conclude their preparations for the tournament with a friendly against Costa Rica in Florida tonight, and the England manager revealed he had concerns over Saka’s readiness to play a full part in the campaign as he manages an achilles issue. Saka, a presumed starter in Tuchel’s first-choice side, had to play through the pain to help Arsenal to Premier League triumph this year, but will he be able to do so again for England in North America?
Elsewhere, anticipation is building as co-hosts Mexico prepare to take on South Africa to kickstart the tournament, but the sorry saga of a Somali referee denied a visa to enter the United States rumbles on. The Trump administration has claimed that Omar Abdulkadir Artan was not allowed to enter the country because of links to “suspected members of terror organisations” after Fifa confirmed that he would not officiate at the tournament.
Follow all of the latest news and more with our live blog below:
Iran fans and an African referee: All the people unable to enter Trump’s United States for World Cup
It isn’t just Omar Abdulkadir Artan who has had issues entering the United States. Kieran Jackson explores all of those blocked from attending.
Fifa and Gianni Infantino have questions to answer after the scandalous treatment of Omar Abdulkadir Artan
Fifa’s role in the Omar Abdulkadir Artan situation does not, perhaps, reflect well on the organisation. Miguel Delaney explains why Gianni Infantino has questions to answer:
Trump administration says it denied entry to Somali referee over links to ‘terror organisation’ suspects
Elsewhere, the sorry saga of the Somali referee denied entry to the United States rumbles on. The Trump administration has now claimed that Omar Abdulkadir Artan was a “national security threat”, Flo Clifford writes:
England prepare for final tune-up before World Cup
News of Saka’s potential setback is untimely for Thomas Tuchel as England prepare to face Costa Rica in Florida this evening. The manager might have hoped to get a look at his first-choice XI in action, which would surely have included the Arsenal forward – what now?
England reveal Bukayo Saka injury worry ahead of final warm-up friendly
England conclude their preparations for the World Cup with a friendly against Costa Rica tonight – but Thomas Tuchel has revealed he has concerns over the fitness of Bukayo Saka after the Arsenal winger played through the pain for his club this season. Michael Jones has the details:
Diogo Jota widow pens moving letter to Andy Robertson ahead of World Cup
Andy Robertson has pledged to carry Diogo Jota in his heart at the World Cup after receiving a moving letter from his former teammate’s widow.
Robertson said he “couldn’t get my mate Diogo Jota out of my head” after helping seal a first World Cup appearance for Scotland back in November, revealing how much both had talked about going to a World Cup before his tragic death last July.
In a letter to Robertson published by Fifa, Rute Cardoso, the mother of Jota’s three children, said: “Diogo often spoke of you. Of the friendship you built, the battles you fought together, the challenges, the laughter, the conversations about football… and about dreams.
“The World Cup was one of those dreams, a dream that the two of you nurtured, side by side, with the same passion with which you took to the pitch.
“When I heard your words and learnt what you felt on that day when Scotland qualified for the World Cup, after so many years of waiting, I realised that Diogo never truly left the pitch.
“By achieving that moment and securing your place at the World Cup, you won’t be going alone.
“You’ll be taking his dream with you too. And when you step on to the pitch, I know it won’t just be you walking out. Diogo will be with you in your thoughts, in your steps, in your heart.
“So today, I want to thank you. Thank you for not forgetting him. Thank you for taking him with you. Thank you for turning the pain of loss into strength and into something so beautiful.
England players enjoy ‘mint’ round of golf with five-time major winner at Florida World Cup camp
England captain Harry Kane and several teammates swapped the football pitch for the golf course last week, enjoying a round with five-time major winner Brooks Koepka during their World Cup training camp in Florida.
Shooting near England team’s World Cup base in Kansas City leaves nine with injuries
At least nine adults were taken to nearby hospitals after police responded to reports of shots fired on 79th Street and Troost Avenue around 4 a.m. Saturday, police said. The intersection is roughly 4.6 miles from England’s base camp in Swope Soccer Village.
How a Lucozade pouch is helping England’s stars to cope with the heat at the World Cup
England’s national football team will use a new high-carbohydrate liquid pouch this summer, designed to help cope with the World Cup rigours this summer.
The Football Association has meticulously prepared for the tournament’s unique stresses, including travel, time zones, heat, and humidity in North America.
Michel Platini files criminal complaint against Fifa president Gianni Infantino days before World Cup
Fifa president Gianni Infantino is the subject of a criminal complaint from his former boss at Uefa, Michel Platini, just days before the World Cup kicks off.
Former Uefa president Platini, one of the most gifted footballers of the 1970s and 1980s, had been favourite to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA chief in 2016 until the launch of an ethics probe into a payment he received from Blatter in 2011.
Platini was banned for eight years by Fifa’s ethics committee in 2015 – a sanction which was later reduced to four years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Platini and Blatter also faced criminal proceedings regarding the payment, but both were acquitted by the Swiss federal criminal court in 2022 and then by the appeals court in 2025.
Now Platini has launched criminal and civil proceedings in the French courts over the matter, with Infantino one of the individuals named.
The criminal complaint, as confirmed by his lawyer Olivier Baratelli, alleges that Infantino and others “worked to exclude (Platini) from the race for the presidency of Fifa”. The complaint alleges that Infantino was the one “first and foremost” seeking to achieve this.
