Sometimes football's most powerful stories emerge far from the spotlight

Alvarez was the regular starter heading into the tournament, but Scaloni opted for Martinez - echoing their triumphant Qatar 2022 campaign, when the Inter Milan player began as first-choice striker but Alvarez took over from the third match onwards.

Alongside assistant referees Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt, Penso became only the second woman referee to officiate in a men's FIFA World Cup match.

Luis Romo's goal just after half-time put Mexico through as Group A winners with a match to go following a goalkeeping error.

"It’s incredible, it’s the first brace of my entire career," Manzambi said.

The five-times champions needed a flash of brilliance from Vinicius Jr to rescue a point in their opener after Ismael Saibari had given Morocco an early lead.

Qatar's Assim Madibo upended Kone with a clumsy challenge from behind to leave the Italy-based midfielder writhing in agony and clutching his left leg.

Canada thrashed nine-man Qatar 6-0 to secure their first ever World Cup victory on Thursday.

Neuer, a 2014 World Cup winner who is 40 years old and playing his fifth consecutive World Cup as Germany's starting keeper, had retired after their Euro 2024 quarter-final exit on home soil.

The result gave the Swiss a strong chance of reaching the knockout round as one of the top two teams in Group B.

Speculation over the health of 68-year-old Jorge Messi has intensified after Argentina skipper Messi broke down in tears after scoring the first of his three goals in a 3-0 World Cup victory over Algeria on Tuesday.

Far from diluting the competition, the tournament’s expansion has given emerging football nations a larger stage on which to demonstrate how much the global game has evolved.

England have won opening games before. They have won major-tournament matches before. What they have rarely done is leave supporters wanting to watch them again immediately.

Teboho Mokoena's penalty kept South Africa's dream of reaching the World Cup knockout stages for the first time alive after a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic in Atlanta on Thursday.

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane all made blistering starts to the World Cup. And then there was Cristiano Ronaldo.

From established names finally experiencing football's biggest stage to young talents announcing themselves to the world, several first-time World Cup participants have already played decisive roles for their countries.

Ronaldo, 41, played all 90 minutes and did not record a shot on target, extending the decorated forward's scoreless streak to five straight World Cup matches and 10 consecutive contests at major tournaments.

The 23-year-old player reportedly is under investigation in a suspected match-fixing incident with his French club team that led to his arrest last month.

The 2026 World Cup has exploded into a vivid kaleidoscope of pure fan passion.

As ever, De Paul acted as both the engine and the emotional compass of Lionel Scaloni’s side, of which he is a cornerstone. His relentless intensity, tireless dedication and instinctive reading of the game embody many of the qualities that underpin La Albiceleste’s success.