The 1,000th FIFA World Cup match is held at the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico, with Japan defeating Tunisia 4β0 in the group stage. 2026-06-20
Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey is denied a visa to enter Canada, thus missing his team's World Cup opener against Panama in Toronto. The IRCC cites ongoing legal proceedings stemming from charges of rape and sexual assault in the UK. He has pled not guilty to all charges. 2026-06-12
In association football, the 2026 FIFA World Cup consisting of 48 national teams for the first time begins with matches in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. An opening ceremony is held at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. 2026-06-11
The Iran national football team moves its squad's base to Tijuana, Mexico, with approval from FIFA to avoid visa-related issues with the United States. 2026-05-23
World Cup co-host United States allows the DR Congo football team to participate in the upcoming games in the country despite ebola concerns. 2026-05-19
Cape Verde qualifies for the FIFA World Cup for first time in its history after defeating Eswatini 3β0 during CAF World Cup qualifiers. 2025-10-13
In association football, Uzbekistan and Jordan qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time, with Uzbekistan securing a top-two finish in Group A and Jordan advancing from Group B following Iraq's loss to secure their places in the 2026 tournament. 2025-06-5