The World Cup group stage continues on Friday with four more games played across the United States.
The United States will play Australia for a spot in the knockout stages, while Morocco will face Scotland in Boston. Five-time champions Brazil will face Haiti in Philadelphia looking for their first win in the tournament, while Tolkier will face Paraguay.
Off the field, Canada is celebrating their historic victory over Qatar, but they are also struggling to recover from a serious injury in key midfielder Ismar Kone.
Elsewhere, Mexico became the first team to qualify for the knockout stages, while the United States wait to see if captain Christian Pulisic is fit to face Australia.
Here’s what you need to know:
What is the schedule for Saturday?
USA vs. Australia, 12:00 PM PDT, 12:00 PM PDT, Scotland vs. Morocco, 6:00 PM ET, 8:30 PM ET, Boston Stadium, Foxboro, MA, USA, Brazil vs. Haiti (12:30 AM Friday, 12:30 AM ET) at Philadelphia Stadium, Torquier vs. Paraguay at San Francisco Bay, 8:00 PM PDT, Area Stadium, Santa Clara, CA, USA, 8:00 PM ET, 8:30 PM ET, Philadelphia Stadium.
What are your predictions for Scotland vs Morocco?
Scotland and Morocco have only met once before at the World Cup, with Atlas Lions scoring a memorable 3-0 victory in the group stage in France in 1998.
Morocco are no strangers to facing European opponents on soccer’s biggest stage, either. Since 2018, nine out of 12 World Cup matches have been against European teams, more than any other country. They have grown up through such encounters.
The Opta supercomputer has calculated that Morocco are the clear favorites to win in Boston, giving them a 54.2% chance of victory. 20.9% of simulations favor a Scottish win and 24.9% see a draw as the result.
What are your predictions for America vs. Australia?
According to supercomputer Opta, both teams opened the World Cup with victories, but the co-hosts go into this matchup as clear favorites.
After 25,000 pre-game simulations, Mauricio Pochettino’s team won in 58.5 percent of the scenarios, underscoring his confidence that the U.S. could go 2-2.
Australia won the first match, but the Socceroos only had a 20.6% chance of winning and a 20.9% chance of a draw.
What are your predictions for Brazil vs. Haiti?
The two teams have played three times so far, with Brazil winning all three times. The South American team scored 17 goals in these matches, but only conceded once.
According to the Opta supercomputer, Brazil is the overwhelming favorite to win, with an 87.3% chance of victory. Haiti has only a 4.3 percent chance of pulling off a major upset, but an 8.4 percent chance of a draw.
Despite failing to win their opening game, Brazil remains in a good position in Group C, with a 52 per cent chance of finishing first and a 90.3 per cent chance of making it to the last 32. Meanwhile, Haiti has only a 5.8 percent chance of advancing to the knockout stages after losing to Scotland.
What are your predictions for Tolkien vs. Paraguay?
Turkiye and Paraguay are set to meet for the first time at the World Cup, with both countries looking for a significant result after a long absence from soccer’s biggest stage. The only previous meeting between the two sides was a friendly in 1995 that ended goalless.
According to the Opta supercomputer, Tolkier was the slight favorite, winning in 49.4% of 25,000 pre-match simulations. Paraguay’s win rate was 23.7%, and draws accounted for 26.9%.
What else is shaping the World Cup?
Kone is seriously injured
Canada defeated Qatar 6-0 at BC Place in Vancouver, delivering one of the most memorable results in men’s national team history, pushing them to the brink of the finals and adding to the excitement of the co-hosts’ World Cup campaign.
However, the celebrations were overshadowed by a serious injury to main midfielder Ismael Kone. The 24-year-old was stretchered off in the second half following a challenge from Qatar’s Asim Madibo, who was shown a red card for a tackle.
Canada captain Stephen Eustaquio said it was immediately clear that the injury was serious, but coach Jesse Marsh later confirmed that Cone appeared to have broken his foot and was taken to hospital for surgery.
“Everyone was devastated when it happened,” Marsh said. “But we had to find a way to stay focused. We knew Ismael wanted us to finish the job.”
Despite the emotional setback, Canada continued to press forward, scoring a historic victory and putting themselves firmly on track to advance to the finals. Canada also became the first Concacaf team to score five goals in a World Cup match.
Mexico becomes first team to advance to finals tournament
Mexico won a hard-fought 1-0 match against South Korea, clinching a place in the finals and becoming the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Luis Romo scored the decisive goal five minutes into the second half after the ball was spilled in the penalty area from a dangerous scramble between South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu and defender Lee Ki-hyuk.
South Korea came close to tying the score late on, but Mexican goalkeeper Raul Rangel made two spectacular saves in quick succession to preserve their lead and bring celebration to the home crowd at Guadalajara’s Estadio Akron.
“It wasn’t a great game, but they didn’t let us do too much,” Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said. “We were able to score with that mistake and create a couple more chances.”
Bosnia’s enthusiastic World Cup anthem captures the nation’s spirit
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s World Cup campaign was accompanied by an unexpected cultural phenomenon. It’s a soccer anthem made from a satirical song about immigrants.
Sarajevo-based band Dubiosa Collectif reworked their 2011 hit “USA” into “I Am From Bosnia, Take Me to America,” turning a song about the American Dream into a celebration of Bosnia’s trip to the World Cup.
The updated version quickly gained traction among supporters during the tournament, racking up nearly 2 million views on YouTube in just a few weeks, and became the soundtrack for Bosnia’s long-awaited return to soccer’s biggest stage.
Band members said they were surprised to see fans embrace the song’s lyrics as a rallying cry, giving new meaning to the song, which originally poked fun at a desire to leave the Balkans. Instead, it became a symbol of national pride and the excitement generated by Bosnia’s World Cup campaign.
Messi’s father is recovering from health problems
Lionel Messi’s family announced Thursday that his father, Jorge Messi, is recovering from a health problem and is “developing well” under the supervision of doctors.
In a statement, the family did not specify the nature of Jorge’s symptoms, but thanked supporters for their concern and asked for privacy as Jorge continues his recovery.
The update comes as speculation about Jorge Messi’s health intensified after Argentina’s World Cup opener against Algeria, in which Lionel Messi appeared emotional after scoring a goal. The Argentina captain later said that he was going through a difficult period personally, unrelated to football.
The family also pushed back against rumors circulating in Argentina and called for responsibility and respect when reporting on personal health issues.
Jorge Messi has played a central role throughout his son’s career, acting as his long-time advisor and agent while overseeing many of the off-field aspects of one of soccer’s most successful players.
Group stage will take shape after the opening game
All 48 teams have played their opening games for the 2026 World Cup, providing the first meaningful information on potential teams, surprise packages and early trends.
One team that is already making history is Mexico. The victory followed the games against South Africa and South Korea. Javier Aguirre’s side are secure at the top of Group A and are guaranteed to progress comfortably.
However, the battle for the remaining spots remains wide apart in most groups, with co-hosts Canada and the United States having made strong starts and putting themselves in good positions, while defending champions Argentina and other favorites are also setting an early mark.
Pulisic to undergo second-half fitness test
The United States could be without captain Christian Pulisic for Friday’s World Cup game against Australia after training separately from his teammates for the fourth straight day due to a calf injury.
Pulisic felt discomfort in his left calf during America’s first game against Paraguay and was substituted at halftime, and has since been limited to individual recovery.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino said that although Milan’s players were feeling better, it was still an in-game decision and the final decision would be made after consultation with the team’s medical and performance staff.
“Let’s wait and see,” Pochettino said. “If he can’t play tomorrow, he’ll be available for the next game.”
The 27-year-old remains a key figure in the USA squad and his fitness will be closely monitored ahead of the match, which could see the co-hosts secure a spot in the knockout stages.
From Barrancas to the World Cup: Díaz inspires a generation
Al Jazeera’s Alessandro Lampietti visited Barrancas, the hometown of Colombian star Luis Diaz, and the winger’s influence extends beyond football.
On the city streets and soccer pitches, Dias is celebrated not only for his success with Liverpool and Bayern Munich, but also for his efforts to give back to the communities that shaped him. Through his foundation, new artificial pitches and sports facilities are being built across the region, creating opportunities for young athletes in areas where resources remain limited.
His father, Luis Manuel Diaz, recalled that he noticed his son’s talent from an early age.
“He was very good and fast. He loved playing against defenders and always wanted to have the ball at his feet,” he said. “At that moment, Lewis knew he could make it as a professional footballer, but he never imagined he would reach the level he is today.”
For many young people in Barrancas, Díaz is a symbol of possibility. Diego Jimenez, 17, said the Colombian forward’s success showed local kids that reaching the top is achievable.
“He’s a role model here in town and everywhere,” Jimenez said. “Young people don’t have many opportunities here, but Luis Diaz is giving them a chance. He gives them resources and support so they can continue to develop.”
Despite the challenges the family has faced, including the kidnapping of their father in 2023, the Diaz family remains committed to investing in their community.
“What happened to me is in the past,” Luis Manuel Diaz said. “What’s important now is that there are kids here who dream of becoming the next Luis Diaz. We have to help create more stories like his here.”
As Colombia continue their World Cup campaign, Diaz’s impact is already being felt in his country, not just through his goals and assists, but through the opportunities he is creating for the next generation.
