Argentine police raided national football headquarters and several top clubs Tuesday, in a sweeping money-laundering probe just months before the world champions defend their title.

Holders Argentina will meet Algeria in Kansas City in their opening match in Group J on June 16 before facing Austria and Jordan in Dallas.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said the world champions will stick to the same winning formula that delivered glory at the Qatar 2022 World Cup after on Friday finding out their group opponents for next year's global tournament.

France coach Didier Deschamps looked forward to a showdown between Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland after his side were drawn on Friday in the same group as Norway at the 2026 World Cup.

Spurred on by World Cup 2026 fever, US President Donald Trump said Friday that American football should be renamed as the game played with a round ball, soccer, was the one true football.

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti reflected on a "difficult" group after being paired with surprise 2022 semi-finalists Morocco at the 2026 World Cup draw on Friday.

The event will start at 11pm, Bangladesh Time, on Friday

Keisuke Honda, one of Japan's biggest football stars in the first two decades of the millennium, said on Tuesday his country has the potential to win the World Cup next year.

Frustrated Italy fans streamed out of the San Siro, bracing for more World Cup playoff drama, after their team slumped to a humiliating 4-1 defeat against Norway on Sunday in their last qualifier.

Iraq and the United Arab Emirates will attempt to overcome the disappointment of missing out on an automatic berth at next year's World Cup when they face off on Thursday for another shot at keeping their qualification dreams alive.

Fans from 212 countries and territories purchased tickets during the pre-sales period, which opened in mid-September, FIFA said in a statement.

France, World Cup winners in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, were without a host of players in Reykjavik including captain Kylian Mbappe and Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele, both out injured.

Iceland, with a population of around 340,000, became the smallest country to qualify for the global showpiece when they reached the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

No country has ever won the World Cup with a foreign-born coach but Carlo Ancelotti said Monday that there was "always a first time" as he eyes glory with Brazil.

An avalanche of goals for the Ivory Coast and Senegal on Friday put both on the brink of World Cup qualification, which they can secure with home success in their last group matches next week to advance to next year’s finals in North America.

Speaking ahead of Brazil's friendly against South Korea on Friday in Seoul, Ancelotti said that tactical development has been hindered by a lack of training sessions with the full squad.

Tango. Azteca. Telstar. The FIFA World Cup has produced a host of iconic footballs that have graced the tournament over the years.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he would consider relocating 2026 World Cup matches from cities he did not deem safe, months before the United States is set to co-host the quadrennial soccer showcase with Canada and Mexico.

Lionel Messi marked his final home World Cup qualifier with Argentina by matching two major records during a memorable night at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium on Thursday.

“It was a technical decision based on many factors,” Ancelotti explained ahead of tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier against Chile in Rio.