The greatness of Lionel Messi has taken the 2026 World Cup by the scruff of the neck with even superstar Erling Haaland laughing: "He is a madman!"
Dave Skretta
Portugal are among the favourites for the tournament, while an experienced Colombia are no slouches - but neither are underrated Uzbekistan and DR Congo.
Ben Smith
The Iranian Football Federation has received mixed news with a player visa issue resolved but confirmation of the team's marching orders after each game.
Staff Writers
Austria have won a World Cup game for the first time since 1990 with veteran Marko Arnautovic scoring in his World Cup debut.
The Socceroos have been on the receiving end of barb after barb from American pundits in the months leading up to their World Cup clash — and now, their chance to respond is only days away.
Josh Kempton
Awer Mabil, one of four former refugees in the Socceroos' World Cup squad, says Australia's multiculturalism is what makes it the 'best country in the world'.
Anna Harrington
Iraq endured plenty of drama en route to the United States, but their Australian coach Graham Arnold couldn't be prouder after their opening World Cup match.
A Lionel Messi hat-trick against Algeria has got Argentina off to the perfect start as they attempt to defend their World Cup crown in North America.
Defender Alessandro Circati hopes the Socceroos are starting to gain more respect and that players attracting attention from big clubs can help achieve that.
Socceroos defender Alessandro Circati is ready for a repeat of the physical battle that characterised their last meeting against USA when Australia take on the World Cup co-hosts in Seattle.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has netted a double to ensure Norway didn't suffer an opening shock at the World Cup against Iraq.
The United States insist they are more aggressive than the last time they faced the Socceroos ahead of their bumper World Cup clash.
Players were blindsided after their opening game and they haven’t got the response they wanted.
Jim Vertuno and Seung Min Kim, AP
A Kylian Mbappe double after halftime has sparked two-time world champions France to an entertaining 3-1 win over Senegal in New Jersey.
Italian giants AC Milan have appointed former Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim as their replacement for Massimiliano Allegri,
Socceroos boss Tony Popovic appears ahead of the curve with how he has handled the drinks breaks introduced at this year's World Cup finals.
Graham Arnold’s Iraq will face some tough opposition in Group I at the World Cup, which also includes the runners-up of the last edition of the tournament France and dark horses Norway and Senegal.
The US pundit is standing by his Socceroos take-down despite his colleagues distancing themselves from it.
Harrison Reid
Midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler, the son of former Socceroos captain and current assistant coach Paul Okon, put his own name up in lights on his World Cup debut.
Not content with sealing Iraq's first World Cup berth in 40 years, former Socceroos boss Graham Arnold is out to rock football's grandest stage all over again.
The Iranian soccer team has been ordered out of the United States after opening their World Cup campaign in Los Angeles, says the team's coach.
Uruguay have become the fourth nation from South America to play at the World Cup and fail to win, held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabia.
History, injuries and shock results elsewhere aren't playing on the mind of Argentina ahead of the start to their World Cup title defence.
From physical recovery to dealing with an early kick-off and not getting carried away with their opening game win, here’s how the Socceroos are preparing to take on co-hosts USA.
