World Cup 2026 live: Fifa releases statement on empty seats and investigation into theft at England camp

It’s early, sure, but the only man in the tournament so far with two goals is Folarin Balogun, who now has a great shot at winning the Golden Boot by leading the line for the USA. His form, too, suggests potential for more joy against Australia and Turkey.

The connection with Christian Pulisic, who endured an injury scare with his half-time withdrawal, is magnificent, while the USA’s energy and commitment to get runners in and around the Monaco man ensures he has enough space to thrive.

Having blamed vacant seats during the opening night encounter between South Korea and Czechia on fans choosing to stay on the concourse in Guardalajara, Fifa big wigs will have spotted hundreds of empty spots in Toronto, the tournament’s smallest venue with a capacity of just over 45,000.

The official attendance was given as 43,008, with swathes of empty rows in the most expensive areas during the start of the first half as those who had paid top dollar chose to, it would seem, enjoy some refreshments rather than the action.

Toronto saw more empty seats despite excitement surrounding Canada, while SoFi Stadium even had a sprinkle of empty seats before the USA hammered Paraguay.

Thomas Partey will not play for Ghana in their Group L opener against Panama in Toronto in the early hours of Thursday having been denied entry into Canada owing to the former Arsenal midfielder awaiting trial for a number of sex offences, all of which he denies.

The now Villarreal player has been granted entry to the US, meaning he will be able to feature against England in their second game, in Boston, on Tuesday, June 23, and the group concluder versus Croatia in Philadelphia on Saturday, June 27.

Fifa said in a statement that “Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana’s team base camp … to Canada for their first match against Panama … as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government. Fifa is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas.”

There was a bemusing moment on US broadcaster Fox when former striker turned pundit Clint Dempsey was left fuming by the sight of his compatriot Marsch singing the Canadian anthem prior to the Bosnia match kicking off. Marsch had previously said he would need to “beg” American players to sing their anthem, which prompted Dempsey to react strongly.

“We are investigating a possible theft of equipment from a team vehicle that arrived in Kansas City with items missing this evening,” police said. “The investigation is ongoing. Two subjects of interest were taken into custody pending further investigation.”

Vehicles transferring the training equipment were broken into, according to reports, while the players travelled separately. The items of training equipment were sent ahead of the arrival of the players on Saturday.

England have suffered a theft of training equipment ahead of their arrival to their World Cup training base in Kansas City, with the team’s match boots, balls and training equipment stolen.

Local police are investigating the incident, which came as the team were in transit from their pre-tournament base in Florida to the Swope Soccer Village in Missouri, where England were due to arrive on Saturday.

“We are investigating a possible theft of equipment from a team vehicle that arrived in Kansas City with items missing this evening,” police said. “The investigation is ongoing. Two subjects of interest were taken into custody pending further investigation.”

England play their opening match of the tournament against Croatia in Dallas in Wednesday.

Mauricio Pochettino had spent the past few days summoning belief in what the USA might achieve in the face of scepticism. Can they win the World Cup, he was repeatedly asked, to which his stock response was: “Why not? We can dream.” After this hugely impressive 4-1 win over Paraguay in Los Angeles, perhaps Pochettino’s task now is to manage inflated expectations, to temper America’s wildest dreams.

Fifa has defended its attendance figures at South Korea’s opening-day win against the Czech Republic at the World Cup by insisting that some fans “stood in concourses rather than in their assigned seat.”

There were thousands of empty seats, in just the second match of the tournament, to further raise questions surrounding Fifa’s ticket prices for the world spectacle. South Korea defeated Czech Republic 2-1, in a gripping Group A contest in Guadalajara.

The World Cup 2026 is beginning to find its rhythm with the remaining co-hosts getting their campaigns underway on day two – 2,210 miles apart.

Canada battled back to draw 1-1 with Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto thanks to substitute Cyle Larin after a tepid opening ceremony and an angry reaction to the sight of their American head coach Jesse Marsch heartily singing the anthem.

After then it was the turn of the USA, the primary hosts of this tournament, who got their campaign underway with an emphatic 4-1 thrashing of Paraguay in Los Angeles.

Here is everything you need to know from day two of the super-sized tournament