In the Strait of Hormuz, US warships menace Iran's oil tankers, while in Washington President Donald Trump demands "complete victory." But in Tucson, they're getting ready to welcome the Iranian football team as if nothing were amiss.

Sweden coach Graham Potter announced his World Cup squad on Tuesday but there was no place for Tottenham Hotspur forward Dejan Kulusevski, who has been out of the game for a year with a knee injury and has not recovered in time for the tournament.

Mexico canceled plans to shorten its school year ahead of the World Cup after widespread backlash from parents, think tanks and local authorities, the government said Monday.

In the mornings, Pak Doo-ik worked with a dental drill as an army dentist. In the afternoons, he played football.

Ochoa is set to become one of the few players to appear at six World Cups, alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, having previously represented Mexico at Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.

Advocaat, who at 78 will become the oldest manager in World Cup history, resigned in February for family matters.

The Argentine Football Association on Monday unveiled Argentina’s preliminary squad for the 2026 World Cup, with coach Lionel Scaloni naming a 55-man roster from which the final 26-player squad will be selected later this month.

The decision has reignited hope among Brazilian supporters eager to see their talisman return on football’s biggest stage.

Bosnia manager Sergej Barbarez opted for a blend of experience, youth and new faces when he announced his World Cup squad on Monday, with veteran striker Edin Dzeko leading the line and uncapped midfielder Ermin Mahmic also included.

To fully grasp the story, we must return to 1994. In the Rose Bowl in California, when Italy’s Roberto Baggio missed his penalty

Just a month left before the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins, but as anticipation builds for football’s grandest stage, anxiety is proving an equally dominant emotion.

The FIFA World Cup is more than just a football tournament held every four years -- it is a vibrant global spectacle that often transcends the battles on the pitch. Yet, the excitement surrounding the tournament is not confined to goals or trophy triumphs alone.

And it is not just ticket prices that have spiralled.

With each nation allowed up to 26 players, the tournament could feature as many as 1,248 footballers — the largest player pool in World Cup history.

He helped Inter win the Serie A title this season, proving a super sub for the Italian club with five league goals.

Education Secretary Mario Delgado said the decision to end the school year 40 days early was made in part due to a heat wave impacting several states.

That night in Rome, the moon was out, but there was no light. Beneath the vast galleries of Stadio Olimpico, the night slowly sank into a gloom as if the world itself already knew that a king would soon fall. Just as the air grows heavy before every tragedy, it felt that way that night. The smell of fatigue lingered on the grass, mingling with the crowd’s screams of fear, and there stood Diego Maradona in the midfield, looking utterly alone.

Neymar has received the backing of former teammates Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho to play for Brazil in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, set to begin on June 11 across the USA, Mexico, and Canada.

The 2026 World Cup will feature a trilogy of opening ceremonies, with each of the host countries -- Mexico, the United States and Canada -- getting its turn at a star-studded celebration.

Lionel Messi says Argentina fans are right to dream of a second straight World Cup crown, but warns other contenders, including France and Spain, "are in better shape".