Main event of the night

Later in the day, attention shifts to Group F where the Netherlands face Japan in what could be one of the most competitive opening matches of the group stage. Ronald Koeman’s side have been hampered by injuries, with key players including Jurrien Timber, Matthijs de Ligt, Jerdy Schouten and Xavi Simons unavailable. The Dutch will therefore rely heavily on captain Virgil van Dijk, Frenkie de Jong and Ryan Gravenberch to guide them through a tricky opener.

Japan arrive with concerns of their own after captain Wataru Endo was ruled out of the tournament, while winger Kaoru Mitoma is also absent. However, the Samurai Blue still possess plenty of attacking quality through Takefusa Kubo, Junya Ito and Ayase Ueda, and will look to continue their reputation as one of the World Cup’s most dangerous giant-killers.

Germany vs Curacao probable starting XI

FIFA World Cup 2026 live telecast: The live telecast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches will be available on the Unite8 Sports Network.

FIFA World Cup 2026 live streaming: The live streaming of the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches between will be available on the ZEE5 app and website.

Trainer Lloyd Kennewell is weighing up a trip north or a spell for Straand Deal to prepare for the spring carnival, after the gelding notched up his third consecutive win at Sandown.

The victory in the Sportsbet Same Race Multi Handicap (2400m) on Saturday was Straand Deal’s first at the distance, following earlier wins over 2014m at Morphettville and 2100m at Sandown.

The race was billed as a contest between two lightly raced, developing stayers, with Simurgh setting the pace while Straand Deal was ridden conservatively by Billy Egan.

Straand Deal ($4.20) eventually wore down the $3.20 favourite Simurgh to score by a head, with Oceana Dream ($8) finishing a further three-quarters of a length back in third.

Kennewell indicated that the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast on July 4 would be considered if they decided to press on, otherwise the gelding would be given a break to prepare for the major spring races.

Last year’s Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup winner, Half Yours, had won the Caloundra Cup en route to his dual Cups success.

“He’s a nice stayer in the making,” Kennewell commented.

“I’ll have to have a chat to Gerry Harvey as to whether we push to a Caloundra Cup or whether I stop and reset.

“He might be a horse that can get into a nice race off a lightweight as he’s got so much more to give. He’s got a big tank, and I don’t know if I want to gut him or not.

“I think you dream big and you have to in this industry as how many chances to you get with a horse to get to a Caulfield or Melbourne Cup.

“He might not be the right horse, but he might be, but if you don’t try you don’t know.

“People pay millions overseas and I’ve got one in my backyard that has won three on the bounce and is a nice horse.

“If I think he’s had enough, I will stop on Monday and he can have a spell with Mbube, otherwise he could be on a plan to Caloundra.”

The win of Straand Deal completed a double for Kennewell, who also won the opening race, the Sportsbet Fastform Handicap (1000m), with debutant Mbube.

Check out the latest online bookmakers for the best racing odds.

Taylor Marshall has captured his maiden Group One victory in Queensland’s premier race, the Stradbroke Handicap, almost four decades after his late father John Marshall claimed his second win in the event aboard Robian Steele.

Partnering the Toby Edmonds-trained Spicy Martini ($13), Marshall guided the mare to a thrilling victory in Saturday’s $3 million Eagle Farm showpiece. She surged from the pack to hold on by a length over the fast-closing Sepals ($31), with Von Hauke ($41) a further three-quarters of a length back in third.

Marshall, who began his riding career in 2013, had previously achieved his greatest success at Group 3 level. As Spicy Martini hit the front, he contemplated the advice his esteemed father might have been offering.

“I was thinking of Dad saying, ‘patient, patient’. But what a thrill,” Marshall shared. “Every jockey needs that one horse to put them on the map, so to speak, and I’m hoping she’s that one.”

“She has already proven to jag a Group One, and not only a Group One, but Queensland’s most prestigious race. I’m lost for words.”

John Marshall, a champion jockey who rode frequently for Bart Cummings, partnered Rogan Josh to win the 1999 Melbourne Cup. His two Stradbroke Handicap wins aboard Campaign King and Robian Steele, both in 1989, were also for the legendary trainer.

John Marshall sadly passed away in December 2018 at the age of 60.

Spicy Martini has been an outstanding acquisition for trainer Toby Edmonds, who purchased her online for $8000. She has now won six of her twelve starts and earned nearly $2.7 million in stakes.

This victory provided Edmonds with his second Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) crown, and he was pleased to savour this one, as his first with Tyzone in 2020 occurred during the height of the Covid pandemic.

“To win it twice is big. It’s big for me. I’m sixty years of age now, I don’t know how many more years of training I’ve got to go,” Edmonds said. “I’ll tell you one thing, you give me a horse like this, I’ll win another one too.”

The top mare Fangirl did not handle the heavy conditions well but showed great determination, finishing fourth. Jockey James McDonald rated her performance as one of the best of her career.

“She always runs her heart out, but today under trying circumstance she was superb,” McDonald commented. “I thought it was one of the better runs of her career. She doesn’t really handle it (heavy track), but she had the audacity to fight on.”

Trainer Chris Waller indicated earlier this week that Fangirl would continue racing next season, with a potential return in the Winx Stakes (1400m) in August.

Compare the latest betting markets for the Stradbroke Handicap at Australian betting sites.

The Estadio Azteca in Mexico City becomes the first stadium to host a third World Cup opener on Thursday, further cementing its status as one of the most iconic grounds in footballing history after welcoming the 1970 and 1986 editions.

The hallowed venue, modernised for the occasion, plays host to the curtain-raiser between Mexico and South Africa, with the home nation desperate to end the curse that has seen them fail to win on each of their previous seven opening-day World Cup matches.

Read moreFootball and politics collide as World Cup kicks off in shadow of war, travel bans

“We must break that trend,” coach Javier Aguirre told reporters at the Azteca, four decades after sporting Mexico’s green jersey as a player the last time the country hosted a World Cup.

The choice of the Azteca for the curtain-raiser, a day before co-hosts Canada and the United States stage their first games, is a nod to the venue’s historical significance. This is where the great Pelé lifted his third World Cup title – a feat unmatched to this day – at the 1970 edition, regarded by many as the finest ever.

Days before Brazil’s victory in the final, the Azteca had also hosted the “Game of the Century” between Italy and West Germany, a seven-goal classic that saw an injured Franz Beckenbauer soldier on with his arm in a sling and Gigi Riva’s Azzurri prevail in overtime.

Sixteen years later, 112,000 delirious fans packed inside the Azteca witnessed the two most famous goals in football history, both scored by Maradona at the 1986 World Cup, the first with a little help from the “Hand of God”.

Read morePelé’s third, Baggio’s miss and the ‘Hand of God’: Iconic World Cups in Mexico and the US

“Cosmic kite, what planet are you from that you can leave so many Englishmen in your wake?” shouted Victor Hugo Morales in his famous live commentary, sobbing with joy after the Argentinian star sliced through the England defence to score his second, memorable goal.

Full circle

The Azteca has been upgraded and refurbished since those heady days, with capacity brought down to just over 80,000 seats ahead of the 2026 tournament. Still, South Africa’s coach Hugo Broos has warned his players to block out an expected wall of sound as they take on the co-hosts in Thursday’s opener.

“They will have 85,000 Mexicans shouting and singing. But we have to focus on our game,” said the Belgian coach. “And if we can do that, if we are not too influenced by the noise of 85,000 Mexicans, then we can have a good game.”

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It will be a full-circle moment for Broos, who was part of the Belgium team that lost to Aguirre’s Mexico at the Azteca in 1986. He plans to retire after this tournament, wrapping up a 56-year football career.

“No one in Hollywood could have scripted it better – I played in a World Cup opener and now, four decades later, I will be one of the coaches in a World Cup opener,” he said. “It was a fantastic event and ‌something I will never forget, 40 years ago when we played our opening game ⁠against Mexico. That was when I felt how special the World Cup is.”

For South Africa, the fixture carries its own echoes. They opened the 2010 World Cup against Mexico in Johannesburg, drawing 1-1 after Siphiwe Tshabalala scored one of the tournament’s most memorable goals to the deafening soundtrack of vuvuzelas.

The buzzing horns remain intimately associated with the first World Cup on African soil, which also gave us Shakira’s anthem “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)”. The vuvuzelas have been banned this time, but the Colombian superstar is back for the curtain-raiser at the Azteca with her latest ode to football, “Dai Dai”.

As Manchester United continue to make some huge decisions regarding Michael Carrick’s team and beyond, a huge deal has been made

Manchester United have taken out an additional $125million (£108m) in long-term debt after refinancing the borrowings linked to the 2005 Glazer Family takeover. This loan became apparent in documents filed to the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission.

They stated the club has restructured its $425m (£318m) senior secured notes, which were initially due for repayment next year.

As a result, $550m (£412m) stands as the refinanced debt, which carries an interest rate of 5.36 per cent, when it was 3.79 per cent back in 2015. This increase is understood to be worth around £9.7m a year.

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While they were due for repayment this time next year, this deadline has been pushed back to 2031, but the annual interest payments will rise by around £10m – in the 2024-25 campaign, United shelled out £37m for interest costs.

United have two main branches of debt, with one being the senior secured notes and a secured term loan facility understood to be valued at $225m (£168.3m).

These can be traced back to Malcolm Glazer’s highly controversial takeover which saw £604m of debt be piled onto the club.

When all is considered, United’s overall debt will stand at £728m with £485m being backdated to the Glazers’ leveraged takeover. However, within the notes to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, an extra £93m in cash has been earmarked for “general corporate purposes”.

United have already been active in the transfer market. They have all but signed Brazilian midfielder Ederson from Atalanta, who is expected to cost around £39m.

In addition, they are the favourites to sign £80m rated West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandez. The signings for Michael Carrick’s first season as United’s full-time manager may not end there.

United are also believed to be in the market for a left-back, a forward, a back-up goalkeeper and a central defender. The extra funds generated from the above refinancing could be put towards these transfer endeavours.

Moreover, the club may also look to access a £250m fund from a revolving credit facility, having repaid around £110m of it since April. United’s campaign last season has proved to be a valuable one.

Their Champions League qualification and third placed finish is believed to have banked the Reds around £191.5m when prize money and other financial implications are considered.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

The Sunday sports schedule is loaded with the 2026 World Cup continuing, UFC Freedom 250 taking place at the White House and Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, making it a perfect day to claim the latest DraftKings promo code to earn $200 in bonus bets instantly after your first $5 wager. We’ve used the SportsLine Projection Model and our team of experts to craft our Sunday best bets, which include sports picks from Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador in the World Cup 2026, Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Final, and Diego Lopez vs. Steve Garcia on the UFC White House card, which begins at 8 p.m. ET. Claim the latest DraftKings promo code, where new users get $200 in bonus bets instantly after your first $5 wager: 

Check out our DraftKings promo code review for full details.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model entered the 2026 NBA Finals on a sizzling 26-10 roll (72%) on top-rated NBA spread picks this season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.

Sunday best bets at DraftKings Sportsbook

• Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador: Under 2.5 goals scored (-250)
• Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes: Vegas to win outright (-105)
• UFC Freedom 250: Diego Lopes to beat Steve Garcia (-148)

Combining the three picks into a Sunday parlay at DraftKings would result in a payout of +358 (risk $100 to win $358, odds subject to change). Claim $200 in bonus bets after your first $5 wager at DraftKings here:

Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador: Under 2.5 goals scored (-250)

“If you LOVE high scoring matchups with fierce attacks, then please, I beg you, stay away from this match. We have a match between two incredible defenses, who prioritize sitting back and parking the bus,” SportsLine soccer expert Jon Eimer said. “Ivory Coast won their group stage without conceding a single goal over 10 matches. Ecuador finished second in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers, conceded just five goals over 18 matches. Neither team has a great attack, but both teams are absolute walls on defense. I think this ends 0-0.” Back the Under here and claim $200 in bonus bets with your first $5 bet as a new user:

Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes: Vegas to win outright (-105)

Vegas has its back against the wall going into a Game 6 at home after suffering a 4-2 defeat in Carolina on Thursday to fall behind 3-2 in the series. However, this has been a seesaw series and the energy level should be high on home ice tonight. Mitch Marner was held without a point in Game 5 and he’ll need to make a much larger impact on Sunday as the leader point producer in the NHL this postseason. The model predicts that he helps the Golden Knights come through in 53% of simulations. Back Vegas at DraftKings here and claim $200 in bonus bets instantly after your first $5 wager as a new user:

UFC Freedom 250: Diego Lopes to beat Steve Garcia (-148)

“This is the one fight in which the underdog has seen some steady action, but we like Lopes on the reduced price from an opener of -200. Lopes came up short in two title bids against Volkanovski but should have the edge in this matchup,” UFC expert Josh Nagel said. “Steve Garcia is a dangerous brawler but the last time Lopes saw a similar matchup, against Jean Silva, he took him out in short order. Capitalize on the discount price here.” Back Lopes at DraftKings here and claim $200 in bonus bets instantly after your first $5 wager as a new user:  

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This evening, the UFC will host an unprecedented event at the White House, putting on a series of fights to celebrate 250 years of the United States.

The UFC’s cage has been constructed on the South Lawn, where seven fights will take place – on the 80th birthday of US president Donald Trump, coincidentally.

Trump is a close friend of UFC president and CEO Dana White, who promised the greatest card in MMA history. And although fans have expressed disappointment in the actual quality of the bout list, it is still a strong collection of contests.

Here’s all you need to know:

When is the UFC White House event?

The event, named ‘UFC Freedom 250’, will take place on Sunday 14 June. The fights will begin at 5pm PT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET (1am BST on Monday).

How can I watch it?

The event will stream live on Paramount+ in the US and UK. TNT Sports and HBO Max also allow access to the fights in the UK. It was thought that CBS could show some of the action in the US, but Dana White said at the final pre-fight press conference: “It’s very simple, it’s on Paramount+. The whole show is on Paramount+.”

Who is fighting?

Subject to change; ‘C’ denotes champion:

Ilia Topuria (C) vs Justin Gaethje (lightweight title) – related: Topuria teases Trump in Oval Office meeting

Alex Pereira vs Ciryl Gane (interim heavyweight title)

Sean O’Malley vs Aiemann Zahabi (bantamweight)

Derrick Lewis vs Josh Hokit (heavyweight) – related: Hokit throws up at weigh-in; ‘So what? I was drinking’

Mauricio Ruffy vs Michael Chandler (lightweight)

Bo Nickal vs Kyle Daukaus (middleweight) – related: Daukaus claims he doesn’t deserve to fight at White House

Diego Lopes vs Steve Garcia (featherweight)

Who can attend? Can I get a ticket?

There will be no general admission for the White House fights, which are expected to be invite-only. However, fans were able to apply for free tickets to watch the fights from the Ellipse park, next to the White House.

White, 56, said in May: “[Trump] wants this to be mostly for the military, so there’s gonna be 4,300 people there. I just literally went over it right now; 4,300 people, and most of them will be military. 100 per cent [it’s a ‘thank you’ to the military].

“We’re gonna give away about 85,000 tickets [to the Ellipse]. There’s a process, you have to register for tickets, and they’re free […] For those who don’t know, the Ellipse is a massive park. Literally, you’ll be able to see the fight[s] from the Ellipse, but we have screens, we’ve got stages, we’ve got music.”

What other events will take place this week?

A press conference took place at the Lincoln Memorial on Friday 12 June. On Saturday 13 June, a fan festival will play out at the Ellipse, a large park located next to the White House. That will begin at 12.30pm PT / 2.30pm CT / 3.30pm ET (8.30pm BST). Thereafter, the ceremonial weigh-in for the fight card will get started at 5.30pm PT / 7.30pm CT / 8.30pm ET (1.30am BST on Sunday), followed by a concert from the Zac Brown Band at 6.30pm PT / 8.30pm CT / 9.30pm ET (2.30am BST on Sunday).

Finally, the fight card itself will take place on Sunday 14 June, beginning at 5pm PT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET (1am BST on Monday).

What will security be like?

Speaking last September, White said: “The last time I was at the White House, I went up on the roof of the White House, and they’ve got snipers with .50 cals all over the roof of the White House. It’s pretty crazy. But yes, I mean, the security is gonna be a massive issue, because at the end of the day, secret service’s job is to protect the president.”

In late April, Mr Trump was seemingly targeted by a shooter at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, and alleged suspect Cole Allen was later charged with attempted assassination.

In fact, White was present and said afterwards: “It started to get noisy. Tables started getting flipped over, guys running with guns and they were screaming ‘get down!’ I didn’t get down. It was f***ing awesome, and I literally took every minute of it in. It was a pretty crazy, unique experience. We were sitting right in front of the table, right in front of where the president was. Nobody got tackled but guys came in looking for shooters, I thought the shooter was over by us or something.”

Australia made a dream start to their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with an impressive 2-0 victory over Turkey in Vancouver, Canada.

Goals from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe secured all three points for the Socceroos, who joined the United States at the top of Group D after the Americans defeated Paraguay 4-1.

Although Turkey enjoyed large spells of possession and created several chances, Australia showed discipline, organisation and clinical finishing to claim a famous victory.

Taking Chances Matters

One of the biggest lessons from the match was the importance of taking chances when they come.

Turkey spent much of the game attacking and finished with more shots, but they struggled to convert their opportunities. Australia, on the other hand, were ruthless in front of goal.

Irankunda opened the scoring in the 27th minute after a quick counter-attack, finishing calmly to put his side ahead. Metcalfe then sealed the victory in the 75th minute with a powerful low strike from outside the penalty area.

The difference between the two teams was simple – Australia made their chances count.

Australia’s Defence Was Outstanding

Another major lesson was the strength of Australia’s defence.

Turkey constantly pushed forward and delivered crosses into the box, but the Australian back line stood firm throughout the contest.

Defender Harry Souttar was a giant presence at the heart of the defence, winning aerial battles and blocking dangerous efforts. Whenever Turkey looked like finding a way back into the game, Australia had an answer.

Their defensive discipline frustrated Turkey and played a huge role in securing a valuable clean sheet.

Patrick Beach Seized His Opportunity

Goalkeeper Patrick Beach was one of the surprise selections before the match, but he justified the decision with an excellent performance.

The young goalkeeper remained calm under pressure and produced several important saves, including a smart stop from a Hakan Calhanoglu free-kick late in the game.

Beach showed confidence beyond his years and proved he can be trusted on the biggest stage.

The Counter-Attack Can Be a Powerful Weapon

Australia demonstrated how effective a counter-attacking approach can be against possession-based teams.

While Turkey controlled much of the ball, Australia stayed compact and waited for opportunities to break forward quickly.

The opening goal came from exactly that approach, with Irankunda using his pace and composure to punish Turkey on the break.

It was a game plan that coach Tony Popovic’s side executed perfectly.

Group D Is Wide Open

The victory has placed Australia in a strong position after the opening round of matches.

With three points already secured, the Socceroos have taken a major step towards reaching the knockout stage. However, they cannot afford to relax.

Future opponents will study this performance and look for ways to break down Australia’s defensive structure. The challenge for the Socceroos now is to maintain the same level of concentration and efficiency in their remaining group matches.

For now, Australia can celebrate a memorable victory. They may not have dominated possession, but they showed organisation, resilience and clinical finishing – qualities that could make them one of the surprise packages of the tournament.

Official lineups for Mexico – South Africa

Mexique : Rangel – Sanchez, Montes, Vasquez, Gallardo – Lira – Gutierrez, Alvarado, Fidalgo, Quinones – Jimenez

Afrique du Sud : Williams – Sibisi, Okon, Mbokazi – Mudau, Mokoena, Sithole, Adams, Modiba – Rayners, Foster

For the third time in its history, Mexico’s iconic Azteca Stadium will host the opening match of the World Cup on Thursday at 3pm ET as Mexico take on South Africa in the first of the tournament’s 104 matches. 

Bafana Bafana and El Tri faced each other in the opening match of the 2010 World Cup, drawing 1-1 in Johannesburg. South Africa’s most recent major tournament ended in January when they were knocked out by Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16.

Mexico are unbeaten in their last eight matches, equalling their longest undefeated run heading into a World Cup and giving Javier Aguirre’s side a timely boost in confidence ahead of the tournament. More than 80,000 fans are expected to pack the renovated Azteca Stadium for the opening match in what promises to be a festive atmosphere.

The match will be preceded by a 15-minute opening ceremony featuring, among others, Colombian superstar Shakira, who will perform the World Cup anthem “Dai Dai” alongside Nigerian singer Burna Boy.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)