Expected lineups

England : Pickford – James (ou Spence), Konsa, Guéhi, O’Reilly – Rice, Anderson – Saka (ou Madueke), Bellingham, Gordon (ou Rashford), Kane.

Croatia : Livakovic – Caleta-Car, Sutalo, Gvardiol – Stanisic, Modric, Kovacic, Perisic – Pasalic, Kramaric – Budimir.

Always well-placed without ever claiming a second title in its history, modern England launches its World Cup 2026 against Croatia. Vice-champions of Europe begin with the toughest side of Group L, a clash against the team of 40-year-old veteran in Arlington, Texas, before facing the less-favoured Ghana and Panama.

Thomas Tuchel’s selection choices have already sparked controversy ahead of the tournament, with debate over team composition and squad depth continuing to dominate headlines, but England arrive as one of the tournament’s genuine contenders, boasting a golden generation of attacking talent. 

Croatia, meanwhile, continue to punch above their weight on the world stage, defying expectations for a nation of their size with a remarkable run to the 2018 World Cup final. 

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, Reuters and AP)

Vozinha has become a cult hero after his performance against Spain, attracting millions of new followers on social media.

He has earned 91 caps for his country and currently plays club football for Chaves in Portugal’s second tier, after a career that has included spells in Slovakia, Angola, Moldova and Cyprus.

“I cried because I grew up with my grandparents,” said Vozinha following the goalless draw. “Unfortunately, they were not here. They died a few years before. They were everything to me, everything in my life.

“And also because of my mum. She didn’t manage to be here because of the visa. Because of the money you have to pay for the visa, we didn’t manage it in time. I would like her to be here.”

At 40 years and 12 days, Vozinha became the oldest player to appear in a nation’s debut World Cup match.

“I started playing professional football when I was 25 years old, in 2012. It was too late for a person like me,” he added.

“I thought about leaving the national team, but then I continued because of this dream.

Cape Verde face Uruguay on 21 June, followed by Saudi Arabia on 27 June in Group H.

England supporters can still make it to bed at a reasonable hour tonight

England fans who have been eagerly-anticipating tonight’s opening game against Croatia will be glued to their TV screen to see if Thomas Tuchel’s men can make a strong start to their World Cup 2026 campaign.

Many will have a slight trepidation and some nervous energy when considering the team on the opposite end of the pitch. Croatia are familiar foes and many will be quick to recall memories of when Zlatko Dalić’s side famously ended England’s 2018 World Cup dream in Russia.

As the Group L opening clash gets underway, supporters planning their evening are asking one key question: What time will the final whistle blow?

Everything you need to know about tonight’s match timings

Tonight’s match takes place at Dallas Stadium in Texas at 3pm local time, meaning a late-night viewing schedule for fans tuning in from the UK.

Fans of the Three Lion’s should feel lucky however, as none of England’s group stage games begin later than 10pm, compared to the Scots who played their opening match against Haiti at 2am on Sunday.

Tonight’s game gets underway at 9pm and the final whistle is expected to blow at around 10.50pm.

While a standard football match lasts for 90 minutes, with halftime and expected modern stoppage time additions, you should factor in just under two hours for the complete broadcast window.

In keeping with recent FIFA tournament directives, referees are strictly calculating time lost for goal celebrations, substitutions, and VAR interventions. Expect at least 3 to 5 minutes of added time per half, pushing the final whistle closer to 10.55pm. TV coverage will end at around 11.40pm.

Because this is the opening match of Group L, the game will conclude after the standard 90 minutes plus injury time and there will be no extra-time or a penalty shoot-out.

If the scores are level at the final whistle, both teams will take a single point, and the match will finish at the scheduled time without any extra periods or a penalty shootout.

For those watching live from home, coverage begins on ITV1 at 8pm. The match can also be streamed live via ITVX.

A video from Monday’s Iran-New Zealand World Cup game at SoFi Stadium outside of Los Angeles appeared to show a man’s Israeli flag getting confiscated, while adjacent Palestinian flags were able to remain in the stands.

The Instagram reel, posted by @blackandjewishunity, showed a man, who later identified himself to Fox News Digital as Rony, with an Israeli flag draped over his shoulders approached by two members of Apex Private Security at the stadium. One staff member said that “the house, which is the facility here, is asking to remove this flag” for Rony’s “safety.”

“Why can’t you remove that flag?” Rony asked, pointing to a Palestinian flag just two rows behind him. “You guys aren’t removing this flag but you guys are removing my flag?

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Fans of Iran hold flags of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match between Iran and New Zealand at Los Angeles Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on June 15, 2026. (Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)

“It seems like a little antisemitism is playing a part here.”

Romy told security that if the Palestinian flag were removed, he would remove his Israeli flag. Another staff member said if Rony did not give up his Israeli flag, he would have to leave the stadium.

The second staff member said it was the “call” of apparent nearby FIFA employees to have the Israeli flag removed, while he and Rony both had their hands on the flag.

“I don’t make the rules… I’m just doing what I’m told,” the staffer said, adding that Rony would be able to get the flag back at a later time.

Later on in the video, a female Apex security member said, “The only flags that are allowed to be out are the teams that are playing.” When she was notified that the Palestinian flag was not confiscated, she responded, “Oh, I don’t know.”

Neither Israel nor the Palestine men’s national team are in the World Cup. Only Israel has qualified in each team’s history, back in 1970.

When Rony attempted to get his flag back, he approached a first responder and said that security said they would give him his flag back. The first responder answered, “No they didn’t. FIFA took it.”

Representatives for FIFA and SoFi Stadium did not immediately respond to emails from Fox News Digital. The Los Angeles Host Committee deferred Fox News Digital to FIFA.

Rony told Fox News Digital he is a Los Angeles resident who surprised his father with World Cup tickets as “avid” soccer fans. Rony said he is rooting for Team USA and wants to attend a USA game at SoFi Stadium.

“We love our boys,” Rony said.

Rony said that he did not expect backlash from fans aside from the usual “bad apples giving us a hard time.”

“Even when we came into the stadium, we didn’t have any problems with anyone…We were actually getting a lot of love and support. I was not expecting this outcome whatsoever,” Rony said.

Iranian fans display Palestinian and Iranian flags ahead of the 2026 World Cup Group G match between Iran and New Zealand at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 15, 2026. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

IRAN WORLD CUP TEAM FORCED TO LEAVE US AFTER TOURNAMENT OPENER IN APPARENT CHANGE OF PLANS

Rony said he was told that staff was “pointing at me and singled me out” in a sold-out stadium.

“I saw flags from all around the world. There’s flags from Lebanon, Mexico, everywhere, from all walks of the world, there’s flags. So it took me by surprise that they were doing that to me and singling me out.”

Rony said he was also told by security that the “head of FIFA didn’t care about” the Palestinian flag behind him, “and they only cared about my flag in particular.”

“They said they don’t have a problem with their flags, and they only have an issue with ours,” Rony said, citing a “double standard. “They had no marching orders in order to take their flag, or anyone else’s flag. It was pretty embarrassing…

“We thought we lived in America in 2026, not Nazi Germany in the 30s.”

Rony did mention that most of the stadium staff and security were “apologetic and on my side” and even “distraught myself.”

“We’re just proud, Israeli Jews who are just out there, just like everybody else, looking to have a good time and represent our country,” Rony said.

Getty Images captured photos of a Palestinian flag at both the Brazil-Morocco and France-Senegal matches on Saturday and Tuesday, both of which took place at MetLife Stadium.

FIFA rule 4.2.23 states that World Cup attendees must only use flags “in a festive and friendly manner,” and “upon the request of the Event Organisers, Ticket Holders must immediately remove, stop demonstrating and/or permit the confiscation of any flags, banners or poster.” FIFA also prohibits “materials” that are of “political…nature.” A Los Angeles judge upheld FIFA’s ban on Iran’s “lion and sun” flag that was used up until 1980, following the Islamic Revolution.

Fans of Iran pose with a pre-revolutionary Iranian flag joined with an Israel flag during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match between Iran and New Zealand at Los Angeles Stadium on June 15, 2026. (Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)

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Many Israel flags were spotted throughout the Iran-New Zealand game amid the war between the two Middle Eastern countries. Iran’s next game will be on Sunday, also at SoFi Stadium, against Belgium.

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TNT Tropang 5G’s Chris McCullough during Game 7 vs Justin Brownlee and Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings in the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Chris McCullough may have fallen short of a championship, but the TNT import believes this PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals will be remembered for a long time.

While he would’ve loved to see his Tropang 5G win the whole thing, McCullough still took pride in how he performed against grizzled Justin Brownlee and Barangay Ginebra in seven games.

“Like I said before the start of this, everything, it was going to be one of those series,” he said after TNT’s 88-76 Game 7  loss at the hands of the Gin Kings at Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.

“Even if I lost, this series will forever be talked about.”

McCullough did everything he could to help TNT defend its Commissioner’s Cup crown with 28 points and 22 rebounds in the do-or-die.

Brownlee, meanwhile, gave him a run for his money with 30 points, 14 rebounds and five assists to lead Ginebra back on top.

McCullough, a former San Miguel Beer import, was proven right when he said it would be a special series.

After all, it produced one of the most memorable import duels in league history, with two imports scoring at least 50 points against each other for the first time in 37 years.

That came in Game 6, when McCullough scored 53 points while Brownlee poured in with 52 in TNT’s 98-90 victory that forced the deciding Game 7.

Rico Verhoeven has shared his reaction after the decision of his appeal over his controversial loss to Oleksandr Usyk was revealed.

Kickboxing legend Verhoeven challenged Usyk for his heavyweight crown at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt last month, in a bout that most people expected to be a big mismatch.

It certainly didn’t transpire that way though, as the Dutchman went toe-to-toe with Usyk for 11 rounds, with it appearing the challenger could be on the verge of one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.

During the closing stages of round 11, Usyk finally found a shot that dropped Verhoeven, and while the kickboxing star was able to get back to his feet, a further flurry in the corner led to referee Mark Lyson stopping the contest, many fans believing prematurely.

Further controversy arose when it transpired that the bell to signal the end of the round had already rung before the stoppage took place, leading to Verhoeven filing a formal appeal against the defeat.

The Dutchman has now announced the outcome of the appeal in a statement on social media, revealing that he was unsuccessful with his challenge as the commission found that the factors at play didn’t change the outcome of the contest.

“On 24 May, we filed a formal protest because we genuinely believed there was a serious question around the way the fight was stopped. On 16 June, we received the Commission’s decision.

“The ruling confirmed that the bell ending Round 11 had already sounded before the referee physically waved off the fight. The official timekeeper said exactly that. The ringside doctor also confirmed that I showed no signs of confusion or disorientation after the bout. The Commission’s view was that none of those findings changed the outcome.”

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Despite failing with his appeal, Verhoeven once again made it clear that he thinks Usyk should do the right thing and grant a rematch.

“Look, this has never been about taking anything away from Oleksandr. He’s one of the greatest fighters of this generation and I have nothing but respect for what he’s achieved. What stays with me is the feeling that, after eleven unforgettable rounds on one of the biggest and most epic stages in the world, the story simply stopped before it reached its ending.

“I truly believe everyone deserved the chance to see how this fight was meant to end. The fans were denied a 12th round. After everything we’d both put into that fight, they deserved to see how it ended.

“So for me, the conclusion is actually very simple. Let’s finish the story and give the fans that immediate rematch!”

For now it appears that Usyk has one of two options for his next bout, with it either being the rematch with Verhoeven, or a clash against WBC mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel.

Argentina began their 2026 FIFA World Cup title defence in impressive fashion with a 3-0 victory over Algeria, thanks to a stunning hat-trick from captain Lionel Messi.

The 38-year-old showed once again why he remains one of football’s greatest players. On his 200th appearance for Argentina, Messi scored all three goals to help the reigning champions secure an important opening win in Group J.

His hat-trick took his World Cup goals tally to 16, drawing level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose as the competition’s highest scorer in history.

Here are three major lessons from Argentina’s victory.

1. Lionel Messi Is Not Done Yet

Many wondered why Messi decided to continue playing for Argentina after winning the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

The veteran forward answered those questions with a brilliant performance against Algeria.

Just days before his 39th birthday, Messi produced moments of magic, scoring a beautiful curling opener before adding two more goals in the second half.

He also became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick and proved he still has the quality to lead Argentina’s attack on the biggest stage.

If this display is anything to go by, Messi is far from finished and remains one of the key players in Argentina’s quest for another world title.

2. Argentina Look Ready to Defend Their Crown

Argentina’s previous World Cup title defences ended badly. They lost their opening matches in both 1982 and 1990 after entering those tournaments as champions.

This time, things were different.

Despite facing a determined Algerian side, Argentina stayed patient and controlled important periods of the match. The team looked organised, confident and experienced.

With players such as Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Nicolas Gonzalez providing quality, Argentina showed signs that they have what it takes to challenge for another World Cup trophy.

3. Algeria Must Learn From Costly Mistakes

Algeria showed flashes of quality and even had a goal ruled out during an exciting first half.

However, costly errors proved expensive. Goalkeeper Luca Zidane’s mistake allowed Messi to score Argentina’s second goal, while defensive lapses gave the Argentine captain too much space.

The North Africans will need to improve defensively if they hope to progress from Group J.

Despite the defeat, Algeria showed enough attacking promise to believe they can bounce back in their remaining matches against Jordan and Austria.

Argentina will now turn their attention to their next group game against Austria, with Messi aiming to move ahead of Klose and become the outright leading scorer in World Cup history.

“I too would have been interested in it had it not worked out [for me],” Joshua Kimmich said. “It’s interesting to learn new things in a different culture and country. They all have a scholarship, which is a cool thing. I had the feeling they were happy with the path they had taken. I think it’s a really interesting option.”

The words of the Germany captain were in reference to three young German footballers playing just five minutes from the fields of Wake Forest University where the likes of Manuel Neuer, Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala are training to realize Germany’s World Cup ambitions.

Linus Musielak (22), Noah Vasilev and Fynn Mewes (both 23) changed their summer plans for the chance to be closer to their football heroes.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Vasilev told DW.

The trio came to the USA to play football for a university on a scholarship. A 2020 survey from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) revealed that 367 men and 126 women from Germany played college soccer in the country. That number is expected to have risen since the last survey and international recruitment is a trend that is now redefining the way college soccer is developing here.

Football dreams and reality

With the college leagues finished, the trio chose to play for Salem City FC in USL League Two (USL2). The league, which operates in the summer, has 158 clubs across 37 states and acts as a pre-professional platform, with the best players drafted into the MLS. All of this will change considerably from 2028 when American college soccer enters an existential revamp, but none of that was decisive for the German lads. The most important factor was it was right around the corner from the four-time World Cup winners.

Roots in Germany, blossoming in the USA

Musielak, who still has ambitions to play professionally, played for amateur club TSC Eintracht Dortmund before making the move across to the US, where he plays college soccer in Boston. Vasilev is from Würzburg and played for Würzburger Kickers youth teams before a lecture on the concept of college soccer helped him make his mind up and move to Chicago. Meves, from Münster, joined him there, after playing for Osnabrück’s youth teams and later fourth-tier Rödinghausen SV.

“Once I started training with the first team more often, I just realized that it probably wouldn’t be enough for the really big leap—like the Bundesliga,” Meves told DW. “I just noticed a lot of them [players] didn’t really have a backup plan. I decided I’d rather have a safety net, and because I realized that it’s hard to build that safety net in Germany, I decided to do this here and take a different path.”

The trio have carved out an education and a life in the US thanks to their footballing ability. Their hopes of meeting their heroes were rewarded when the trio briefly met Nico Schlotterbeck. They talked about the facilities at Wake Forest, and how the pitch is a bit drier than they are used to back home. Vasilev and Meves got even luckier, bumping into Germany captain Joshua Kimmich and goalkeeper Oliver Baumann by chance at a cafe near the campus and ended up talking for about 15 minutes.

A summer of soccer in the USA ― and beyond?

With the New York Knicks sealing the NBA title and the Carolina Hurricanes winning the Stanley Cup, there is hope that America’s sporting radar has a bit more space for the World Cup after a slow start. The three young Germans believe the tournament can change soccer’s standing in the country.

“(Lionel) Messi, along with other stars like Marco Reus, moving to the MLS helped the league and football grow,” said Musielak, a left-footed forward who grew up watching Reus. “College soccer has more international players, the sport is smaller here but is growing and the World Cup will play a large role in that.”

Vasilev is also hopeful that the tournament can change the landscape.

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“Soccer has never really been much of a thing at the big universities,” he said. “First and foremost, it’s always football. And then there’s a long gap, and then comes baseball, basketball, and (ice) hockey, and eventually soccer. Of course, I hope for us, too, that soccer might become a bigger deal.”

Although they miss German bread and the taste of a doner kebab, the trio are an example of another way to make the most of sporting talent. The Bundesliga isn’t the only end goal, and in this case three young men have given themselves a platform to succeed in professional life through the sport they love. And the best part is that this summer, they were able to do so with their football heroes as their neighbors.

Edited by: Chuck Penfold