With 48 matches remaining in the World Cup, total attendance could conceivably nearly double the 1994 record, which came during an era in which the World Cup contained only 52 matches. Stadiums have been more than 99% full on average.

This gallery captures the raw, kinetic energy of a giant-killing.

Pepe's somewhat unlikely brace in this Group E finale helped the Ivorians (2-1-0, 6 points) finish second while eliminating debutants Curacao from contention. Les Elephants finished third in their group in their three previous World Cup appearances from 2006-14.

Needing a win -- or a miracle -- to keep their hopes alive, the South Americans suffered the worst possible start when already-qualified Germany struck in the second minute, with Leroy Sane opening his account at a major international tournament in his 15th appearance at one.

The item, which the auctioneers describe as the “holy grail” for collectors, could fetch a price comparable to the $9.2 million paid in 2022 for Maradona’s match-worn shirt from the same game, according to the auction house.

The 30-year-old played 56 times for the national team, scoring 26 goals.

If not Neymar, then who? The answer to that question, often asked whenever doubts emerge around Brazil, is being delivered by Vinicius Junior at this World Cup -- perhaps without the attention he deserves, but certainly with greater conviction than ever before.

If observed closely enough, post-goal rituals can serve as a Rorschach test for a squad’s internal dynamics, occasionally revealing hairline cracks in the armour that a flashing scoreboard tries to hide.

Messi is not alone. Five other players in Argentina's squad trace their roots to Italy

More than four years after the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, FIFA on Thursday indicated that it was opening the way for Russia to enter an international youth competition.

Advocaat also insisted his side still has plenty of energy despite Sunday's defensive effort.

Before Ancelotti took charge, Vinicius had scored a paltry six goals in 39 appearances for Brazil. Since the Italian‘s arrival, however, the picture has changed sharply as he has netted seven times in 13 games, and has found the net in every game of Brazil's World Cup campaign so far.

"I went to the locker room, all alone, and I shed a few tears," Neymar told reporters after Brazil finished top of Group C.

Nepal is currently ranked 175th in FIFA's world rankings. The women's national team ranks 88th.

Among the eliminated teams so far -- involving three Asian sides, one African and two from the North and Central America and the Caribbean -- Haiti leave with perhaps the most encouraging story.

From Lionel Messi rewriting history at 39 to Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland relentlessly closing in, while Vinícius Junior leads Brazil’s charge with flair and authority, the battle to finish as the tournament’s top scorer is fast becoming one of the World Cup’s defining subplots.

With 50 matches still left to be played in North America, and the vast majority of Matchday 3 finales still ahead, this 161-goal opening salvo means the 2026 tournament is mathematically projected to shatter past the 280-goal milestone, setting a baseline that may not be touched for decades.

Due to the structural tree of the expanded 48-team tournament, a dream World Cup final between the two South American heavyweights - Argentina and Brazil - is mathematically impossible.

“There is a player more dangerous than Cristiano Ronaldo… it’s Cristiano Ronaldo who didn’t score in the previous match.”

The African team, playing in the tournament for the fourth time, finished second in Group A behind co-hosts Mexico, who had a perfect record of three wins out of three.