ATLANTA, GA – The 2026 FIFA World Cup is finally here, and fans across North America are ready to cheer on their favorite teams.

And many young soccer fans will get the chance to cheer on those teams while standing on the grandest stage itself.

At every World Cup game, children between the ages of 6 and 10 will escort players onto the field before kickoff.

It’s a tradition that dates back to 2002, when UNICEF and FIFA partnered for the “Say Yes for Children” campaign.

SCOTTISH FANS DRANK EVERY BEER ON FLIGHT TO U.S. AHEAD OF WORLD CUP

This year, FIFA’s breakfast sponsor, but also the sponsor for the player escort program, is Quaker Oats. 

“Together, we teamed up with 30+ community organizations across 11 United States host cities to give 1,400 young people from underserved communities the chance to walk players onto the pitch,” Quaker says in a press release.

In Atlanta, that community organization chosen for all eight World Cup games, is Soccer in the Streets. A nonprofit giving kids across the greater Atlanta area a chance to learn about soccer no matter their economic or social status. 

Soccer in the Streets is the official sponsor for player escorts at the World Cup games in Atlanta, GA. (Chelsea Torres)

This year alone, 2,500 kids will benefit from Soccer in the Streets programs. 

“Access starts with making it free for all kids so that no one is, has a barrier of cost to playing this beautiful game,” says Soccer in the Streets Executive Director Kaseem Ladipo.

Ladipo says with a partnership with Common Goal, another national organization, their free inner-city soccer league, StationSoccer is the official player escort at the World Cup games in Atlanta. 

FIFA IMPLEMENTS MANDATORY WATER BREAKS

Under StationSoccer, each soccer field is conveniently located near six different train stations across Atlanta.  

150 kids from the nonprofit Soccer in the Streets will get to escort players at all eight World Cup games at Atlanta Stadium. (Chelsea Torres)

Ladipo says 150 of their players will be escorting players at the eight games at Atlanta Stadium.

“They’ll have an opportunity to be hand in hand with a FIFA legend or soon-to-be FIFA legend.”

WATCH THE WORLD CUP FINAL ON FOX ONE

Two of those 150 play at the West End location. 

“It’s definitely turned our household into a football household,” says Erica Holloman-Hill, a mom of four boys who play for StationSoccer. 

Erica says she’s still learning about the sport, but says her boys playing in this free league has helped them grow in more ways than she imagined. 

The youngest, Asun, is 8. Then Asir, 10; Asad, 12 and the oldest, Asim, 14. Erica named them the “A-team.”

Mom of four, Erica Holloman-Hill sits with her four boys and nephew at the StationSoccer — West End location.  (Chelsea Torres)

When asked what their favorite part of playing with each other is, Asad immediately said, “we get to teach each other skills, and we get to see how good they are.”

Erica tells FOX when she first heard about the vision for StationSoccer, she was hesitant. But now her four boys are going strong two years in. 

And with the world’s largest tournament in their backyard, her two youngest sons will get a chance of a lifetime. 

Under the Quaker Oats partnership, Asun and Asir were chosen to attend a ‘Breakfast Academy’ hosted by Quaker. 

“We learned a lot of things about the fine grains, whole grains, half grains, water, fruit and all the other stuff,” says Asun. 

After learning about nutrition and showing great leadership on and off the pitch, Asun and his brother Asir, were selected to walk alongside players at the South Africa vs Czechia game on June 18th at Atlanta Stadium. 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Asir says he’s excited, but also, “a little bit kind of nervous because I never escorted anyone.”

He says every day he’s thinking about being on the pitch, but even when he’s not awake. 

“I think about it in my sleep, too.”

Ben Kohles rose six days ago in Greenville, S.C. with a dream.

In the next three days, he thought, he’d have ample opportunity to see at least one of his golf dreams realized. Probably through a victory at that afternoon’s BMW Charity Pro-Am, where Kohles awoke with a healthy lead . But maybe through U.S. Open Final Qualifying in Maryland on Monday afternoon, where he was scheduled to play.

The whirlwind that has followed in the last six days has proved so totally disorienting, so remarkable, that Kohles never even considered the possibility he’d wake less than seven days later having achieved both of those dreams. And if that’s true, it’s impossible to believe he saw this weekend coming, where Kohles finds himself contending for his first-ever PGA Tour victory.

I mean, how could he have seen it coming? Six days ago, he wasn’t in the field.

So what happened to take Kohles from there to here, rising on Saturday morning T14 at the RBC Canadian Open? Well, it all started on Sunday evening at the BMW Charity Pro-Am, where the latest sign of Kohles’ resurgence as a 35-year-old touring pro arrived in the form of a four-shot victory. As Kohles collected his hardware, Korn Ferry Tour camera crews were rolling as he sprang into motion: Literally running from the trophy ceremony to his car, where a 90-minute drive up to Charlotte International Airport and a short flight to Washington-Reagan Airport awaited.

Kohles made his flight and arrived in Rockville, Maryland — the site of Monday’s final qualifying effort — late on Sunday night. With adrenaline still riding high, he grabbed a few choppy hours of sleep. He woke the next morning before 6 in order to make it to the golf course in time for his 8:32 a.m. tee time, and soon after, began the all-day test of guts that is U.S. Open Final Qualifying.

He might not have felt it, but Kohles’ game traveled with him to Woodmont Country Club, where he fired a 7 under score over 36 holes to clinch the second of four qualifying spots for the U.S. Open. He hustled into the scorer’s tent to the side of the range at Woodmont shortly after 7:30 p.m. — 11 hours after his opening round began — and then made a quick call back home to share the good news: It was time to book travel for Shinnecock.

“I feel like my head is still spinning,” he said. “It’s easily the craziest 24-hour stretch of my golf life.”

With his qualifying result settled, Kohles quickly jumped into action again: This time boarding a flight from Maryland up to Toronto, where he was one of the alternates for the RBC Canadian Open.

“It’s obviously not too far from next week up here, so I thought I would have a pretty good chance to get in on Monday or Tuesday,” Kohles said. “No one really withdrew.”

Eventually, on Wednesday, the phone call came — Kohles was one of the final alternates into the field at TPC Toronto. He picked up right where he left off on Thursday, firing an opening-round 67 to put himself in the mix heading into Friday. Then, his exhaustion caught up with a second-round 71. On Saturday, though, Kohles locked into form — shooting a bogey-free, five-birdie, third-round 65 to vault himself to 7 under for the tournament, good for T14 as of the time of this writing.

It was, not counting practice rounds, Kohles sixth competitive round in the last six days. Five of them have come in under par.

Time will tell of Kohles’ third-round effort was enough to push him into legitimate contention come Sunday afternoon in Toronto. But there is little doubt he’ll be playing for a hefty paycheck by the time the balls get in the air.

Come Sunday evening, there might be time for a few minutes of reflection of all the good that has come into his life over this one truly wild week. But not too many of them.

He’s due in Shinnecock on Monday.

For Germany, Sunday’s opening Group E match against Curacao is supposed to be the start of a redemption story.

For Curacao, it is already history.

When the two teams walk onto the pitch in Houston, one will carry the weight of four World Cup titles and a legacy built over nearly a century of football excellence. The other will represent an island of just 158,000 people making its World Cup debut and becoming the smallest nation ever to compete at football’s biggest tournament.

The contrast could hardly be starker.

Yet that is precisely what makes the fixture one of the most intriguing opening-round matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Germany arrive with a point to prove

Few nations have experienced the highs and lows of international football quite like Germany.

The four-time world champions enter the tournament seeking to restore their standing after suffering group-stage exits in both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. For a nation accustomed to challenging for titles, those failures remain fresh wounds.

Under coach Julian Nagelsmann, Germany appear to be rebuilding momentum.

The Germans arrive on a nine-match winning run, including a 4-0 victory over Finland and a 2-1 win against World Cup co-hosts the United States in their final warm-up fixtures.

“We aren’t among the absolute top favourites — there are three or four others,” said Germany national team director Rudi Voeller.

“The two wins from our last two friendlies give us a good feeling and we want to maintain that here.

“There is no guarantee if you win the first game that is the way the tournament will go for you. We have to go through the group as the top team, there is no discussion about that, it’s our goal.

“But we know how important an opening win is. We are here and want to be a team that is difficult to beat. We want to top our group and then assert ourselves in the knockout stage.”

Any result other than victory would immediately raise uncomfortable questions back home.

The smallest nation ever to reach a World Cup

While Germany are chasing a fifth title, Curacao are simply embracing the moment.

The former Dutch colony, located in the southern Caribbean Sea, has a population of around 158,000 — smaller than many towns around the world.

On Sunday, it will become the smallest nation ever to play at a FIFA World Cup.

For a country that is not recognised independently at the Olympics and often sees its sporting talent represent the Netherlands internationally, qualification itself has been a landmark achievement.

The squad features players who largely ply their trade in the Netherlands and lower European leagues, but that has done little to dampen belief inside the camp.

“We are not here to just be here,” midfielder Ar’jany Martha said. “We want to show ourselves and get good results.”

Defender Livano Comenencia described the squad’s close bond.

“I (would describe us) as one big family. If you see us on the bus or outside the bus, in the hotel, we are always with music, always happy. Everybody is around each other.”

Dick Advocaat’s final World Cup chapter?

If Curacao’s players are making history, so too is their coach.

At 78, Dick Advocaat will become the oldest coach in World Cup history when he takes charge against Germany.

The Dutchman has previously managed the Netherlands and South Korea at World Cups and brings decades of international experience to football’s grandest stage.

His opposite number could hardly be more different.

At 38, Nagelsmann is the youngest coach at the tournament.

The 40-year age gap between the two managers is the largest ever recorded at a World Cup.

Despite the disparity, both coaches have expressed admiration for one another.

“I think he’s a really cool coach,” Nagelsmann said of Advocaat.

“I think it’s really cool and a great compliment for his work. I got to know him a few times and he’s always kind. As a young coach I always can learn from people like him.”

Advocaat returned the compliment.

“He must have something special and he has that otherwise he wouldn’t be the coach of the national team,” he said. “He’s an excellent coach.”

  Neuer’s return adds experience

Germany have received another boost ahead of the opener.

Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has recovered from a calf injury and is set to start.

The Bayern Munich captain is the only remaining member of Germany’s 2014 World Cup-winning squad and will make his fifth World Cup appearance, equalling the German record held by Lothar Matthäus.

Nagelsmann believes the veteran goalkeeper remains central to Germany’s ambitions.

“(He’s) definitely fit enough to start the game and he got better and better,” Nagelsmann said.

“He didn’t really have the rhythm, but now he found the rhythm. He played a lot, we trust him a lot and I think in order to have a good World Cup, we need Manuel in top performance and I think he can bring that.”

The 40-year-old’s presence could prove invaluable for a squad featuring several players making their World Cup debuts.  A mismatch on paper

The numbers heavily favour Germany.

Germany’s squad includes established stars such as Kai Havertz, Florian Wirtz and Neuer, while Curacao are appearing at the tournament for the first time.

The two nations have never met in an international match.

That unfamiliarity offers one of the few unknown variables heading into the contest.

Everything to win, nothing to lose

Advocaat is realistic about the challenge awaiting his players.

“Germany are of course clear favourites in the group,” he said.

“They are still a big footballing country. Starting off against Germany is fantastic. We will find out immediately where we stand.”

The veteran coach also believes the pressure lies firmly with Germany.

“We are a minor, very small country compared to Germany and we’re going to make life very difficult for them.

“We’re going to be a very unpleasant team to play.”

That mentality has shaped Curacao’s approach throughout qualifying and now accompanies them into the biggest match in their history.

For Germany, Sunday is about avoiding another World Cup stumble and launching a title challenge.

For Curacao, it is about proving that football’s greatest tournament still has room for dreamers.

Whatever the outcome, when the whistle blows in Houston, one of the most remarkable underdog stories of World Cup 2026 will officially begin.

Vinicius Junior scored a brilliant equaliser for Brazil in a 1-1 draw with Morocco on Saturday as the five-time 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.

Brazil are chasing a record sixth World Cup title, 24 years after last lifting the trophy, but this performance suggests there is a lot of work to be done by Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Kaka were all members of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning squad and were among those in attendance at MetLife Stadium.

Brazil have turned to the hugely successful Ancelotti a bid to end the country’s title drought. He is the first foreign coach to lead Brazil at football’s biggest tournament.

A fifth-placed finish in South American qualifying underlined the scale of the challenge facing Ancelotti. However, the Italian insists Brazil possess a squad capable of competing with anyone in the expanded 48-team tournament.

Read moreKenya: World Cup fever hits Kibera’s second-hand jersey market

He was without Neymar for the start of the competition, with Brazil’s all-time record goalscorer still recovering from a calf injury, having not played for his country since 2023.

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi urged his players not to fear Brazil, and his message appeared to resonate as the 2022 semi-finalists started brightly in one of the standout matches of the first round.

After Neil El Aynaoui and Achraf Hakimi threatened the Brazil goal, Saibari made the breakthrough when he latched onto a fine pass from Brahim Diaz.

The PSV Eindhoven forward raced beyond Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhaes, holding his nerve with a clincal chipped finish over the advancing Alisson Becker.

Brazil drew level 11 minutes later through Vinicius, who will have a vital role to play if Brazil are to shine this summer.

The Real Madrid star received the ball from Bruno Guimaraes on the left side of the area before cutting back onto his right foot and hammering into the far corner past Yassine Bounou. 

It belatedly breathed life into a lacklustre Brazil and Lucas Paqueta saw his acrobatic effort pushed away by Bounou before half-time.

Bounou saved well from Igor Thiago as Brazil caught Morocco napping with a quick throw-in after the break, while Raphinha and Danilo shot right at Bounou as the Selecao pressed for a winner.

Morocco nearly snatched it at the death when Alisson parried a long-range effort from El Aynaoui and had to react sharply to block the follow-up from Chemsdine Talbi.

Brazil next face outsiders Haiti while Morocco take on Scotland in their second match.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Shubman Gill taking a catch during first ODI vs Afghanistan.© X (formerly Twitter)

Was Switzerland’s Remo Freuler offside before he was brought down by Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada?

It is the question that remains unanswered after a fault with the semi-automated offside system kept everyone guessing.

And it led to a penalty, converted by Breel Embolo, as the teams drew 1-1 in Saturday’s World Cup Group B match in Santa Clara.

Before the tournament, Fifa put a lot of stock in its new, enhanced semi-automated offside system.

World football’s governing body scanned every player at the World Cup to create unique, lifelike avatars of each one.

It was supposed to provide the most accurate illustration of offside decisions we have ever seen.

Yet after a wait of more than four hours for the evidence to prove that Freuler was onside, Fifa released a statement saying “a brief technical outage prevented the onside animation graphic from being generated”.

It went on to say the lines drawn by the video assistant referee (VAR) showed no offside and released two images – which remain unconvincing – but not the usual avatar images.

The statement said: “The workflow of the VAR was not affected by this issue and followed the normal procedure in checking the on-field decision.

“The lines used by the VAR to check the position of the relevant players did not show the attacking player to be in an offside position in either of the two situations immediately before the penalty decision.”

“We all think it here [that it was offside],” Gary Neville said on ITV before the statement was released.

“Everybody at home thinks it. Fifa are the host broadcaster and they have the semi-automatic decision that they can show us.

“There is a massive question over that because it is offside in my eyes until they prove to me different.”

If there is one thing that is guaranteed to create doubt it is delay. It creates a vacuum that feeds conspiracy theories. It might give the impression Fifa is hiding something.

Scotland beat Haiti 1-0 in their World Cup 2026 Group C opener on Saturday, with John McGinn opening the scoring in the 28th minute. After Che Adams won possession, McGinn collected the ball at the edge of the box and fired a shot that took a deflection past goalkeeper Johny Placide.

The early goal settled the Tartan Army, who then sat deep and invited Haiti to come forward. Scott McTominay had earlier struck the post with a rasping drive from distance, a moment that could have made Scotland’s task easier.

Haiti’s attacking forays lacked precision in the opening 45 minutes despite creating opportunities through Ruben Providence and Louicius Deedson, while Jean-Ricner Bellegarde tested Angus Gunn with an ambitious long-range effort that sailed high over the bar.

Les Grenadiers returned with renewed intensity after the break, pressing Scotland relentlessly and creating multiple chances. Providence came close with shots from inside the box, while Wilson Isidor tested Gunn with a powerful effort from distance.

The Haitian midfield tried repeatedly to unlock the Scottish defence, with Bellegarde firing from the edge of the area and Isidor’s movements creating space in dangerous areas. However, their lack of clinical finishing proved decisive, chances were squandered, crosses went unrewarded, and Scotland’s disciplined defensive approach kept them at bay.

Historic win for the Scots

Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal ran a tight ship, issuing yellow cards to Haiti’s Bellegarde for a late challenge and Scotland’s Aaron Hickey for a harsh tackle.

As the match wore on, fatigue crept in and the pace dropped noticeably. Both teams made substitutions in search of fresh impetus, Scotland introducing Lyndon Dykes and Ryan Christie, while Les Grenadiers brought on Lenny Joseph and Josue Casimir. The final exchanges remained tense but ultimately sterile, with neither side managing to create clear-cut opportunities. Scotland’s defence held firm under sustained pressure, with Gunn barely troubled in the final quarter. 

Read moreWorld Cup 2026: Brazil and Morocco draw in heavyweight Group C opener

The victory marks Scotland’s first World Cup win since 1998, when they last faced Brazil and Morocco, the same opponents that are now in their group. For Haiti, their first match since returning to the World Cup after 52 years ended in defeat, though they proved they can compete with more experienced nations. Scotland’s three points put them in a strong position in Group C, while Haiti must respond immediately.

Anthony Joshua has not ruled out a third encounter with Oleksandr Usyk, despite training alongside the Ukrainian ahead of his next outing.

The two heavyweights first squared off in 2021, back when Usyk became a two-weight world champion by unanimously outpointing and dethroning ‘AJ’.

Their immediate rematch then ended in a split decision defeat for Joshua, who gave a stronger account of himself but ultimately failed to reclaim his belts in 2022.

Since then, their careers have looked vastly different, yet now they train under the same roof as Joshua prepares for his clash with Kristian Prenga on July 25.

The 36-year-old will return to action in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, following his sixth-round finish over Jake Paul in December.

This is also his first outing since being involved in a tragic car crash that same month, when two of his closest friends lost their lives in Nigeria.

The carrot being dangled, meanwhile, is a long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury, which is set to take place in either the UK or US towards the end of this year.

At the same time, though, Joshua has told Ring Magazine that he thinks it would be ‘amazing’ to facing Usyk in a trilogy bout, which could potentially be explored if he emerges victorious against Fury.

“Usyk? It’s up to him. But I think it would be amazing, respectfully. It’s just friendly competition. Before, it was different – there was real animosity – but now it’s just friendly competition.”

While Joshua has expressed his interest in reclaiming a world title, it remains to be seen whether Usyk will even be competing, let alone still hold a belt, by the time their possible clash can be considered.

Australia scored a stunning 2-0 upset over Turkey in their World Cup Group D opener on Saturday as 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.

Australia coach Popovic had pulled off a massive shock in his starting line-up, dropping experienced captain and goalkeeper Maty Ryan in favour of Beach, winning only his third cap.

Vice-captain Jackson Irvine was also dropped in favour of 21-year-old midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler in a starting XI that featured 10 World Cup debutants.

Both of those selections proved to be inspired, with Beach pulling off a string of fine saves to deny Turkey, who dominated possession and territory but could not find a way past the Australian goalkeeper.

Okon-Engstler meanwhile was instrumental in setting up the opening goal in the first half, unfurling a long ball that split the Turkish defence and sent Irankunda racing in on goal to score.

Read moreWorld Cup 2026: Brazil and Morocco draw in heavyweight Group C opener

Turkey – playing in the World Cup for the first time since finishing third at the 2002 tournament – arrived in North America dreaming of making a serious run in the knockout rounds.

But their talented team made up largely of players who regularly compete in the European Champions League were unable to get to grips with a well-organised Socceroos line-up.

One of Turkey’s best chances came in the 27th minute when Real Madrid‘s Arda Guler forced a smart save from Beach with a rasping shot.

Just seconds after that chance though Australia took the lead.

Beach picked out Okon-Engstler deep in the Australia half, and the 21-year-old midfielder pumped the ball upfield for Irankunda.

The Australia winger still had plenty to do but a clever first touch took him clear of the covering defence before he tucked away a low finish.

Irankunda celebrated by sprinting to the edge of the pitch and pretending to box the corner flag, mimicking former Australia skipper Tim Cahill’s signature goal celebration.

Turkey thought they had equalised three minutes later after Abdulkerim Bardakci’s piledriver from outside of the area hurtled towards goal.

But Beach got the slightest of fingertips to divert the ball onto the post and Australia survived again.

Beach kept up his commanding form in the second half, turning a Guler free-kick wide for a corner on 57 minutes.

With Beach continuing to make save after save, Australia made the game safe in the 75th minute when Metcalfe picked the ball up in midfield, advanced on goal and shot home from 25 yards.

The win leaves Australia level on three points with Group D leaders the United States, with the two teams due to meet in Seattle on Friday.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)