Uzbek fans wave national flags ahead of the 2026 World Cup Group K football match between Uzbekistan and Colombia at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City on June 17, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
AFP

Colombia is heavily favoured to win their Group K opening match against debutants Uzbekistan in Mexico on June 17, 2026. Colombia team features a potent blend of European stars and young South American talent. Colombia has Luis Diaz, James Rodriguez, Richard Rios, Davinson Sanchez and Jhon Cordoba in its ranks. In its first-ever appearance in the World Cup, Uzbekistan (called as White Wolves) has Abdukodir Khusanov, Eldor Shomurodov and Abbosbek Fayzullaev in the ranks to lead the team from the front.

Uzbek fans wave national flags ahead of the 2026 World Cup Group K football match between Uzbekistan and Colombia at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City on June 17, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
AFP

Colombia is heavily favoured to win their Group K opening match against debutants Uzbekistan in Mexico on June 17, 2026. Colombia team features a potent blend of European stars and young South American talent. Colombia has Luis Diaz, James Rodriguez, Richard Rios, Davinson Sanchez and Jhon Cordoba in its ranks. In its first-ever appearance in the World Cup, Uzbekistan (called as White Wolves) has Abdukodir Khusanov, Eldor Shomurodov and Abbosbek Fayzullaev in the ranks to lead the team from the front.

The latest country to make its World Cup debut will also have the oldest coach ever in the tournament when Curacao plays traditional powerhouse Germany in a Group E match on Sunday in Houston.

At 78, Dutch-born Dick Advocaat will become the oldest on the bench and will end the ‌musical chairs of record-holders already in the early stages of this World Cup. On the other hand, Germany’s manager, Julian Nagelsmann, is the youngest in the tournament.

In fact, the record was set twice on Thursday, first by South Africa’s 74-year-old Hugo ⁠Broos (born April 10, 1952) vs. Mexico. Later, the Czech Republic coach Miroslav Koubek took the temporary title against South Korea. He is also 74 years old but was born on September 1, 1951.

Rest assured, no other coach in ‌the World Cup is older than Advocaat, who took over the Curacao program in January 2024 and coached them to 28 goals in 10 qualifying matches, the most ‌among all CONCACAF teams.

Brazil’s forward Vinicius Junior walks during a warm up ahead of the 2026 World Cup Group C football match between Brazil and Morocco at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on June 13, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
AFP

It’s Brazil vs Morocco now on June 14, 2026. Brazil is unbeaten in 20 World Cup openers since 1934, winning 17 going the match against African champion Morocco. Brazil is aiming for its sixth FIFA World Cup title. 

Brazil hasn’t won the title since 2002 and has moved past the quarterfinals just once since, a humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany in the 2014 semis on home soil in Belo Horizonte. 

Morocco became the first African nation to reach the World Cup semis, losing 2-0 to France four years ago. The Atlas Lions won their continent’s title controversially in January — they lost 1-0 to Senegal but were awarded a 3-0 forfeit victory because the Lions of Teranga left the field for 15 minutes during stoppage time in protest of a penalty kick awarded to their opponent.

Brazil is ranked sixth in the world and Morocco seventh.

Apart from this match, the other matches today are Haiti vs Scotland (Group C) and Australia vs Türkiye (Group D). Another match late in the night will be Germany vs Curacao (Group E).

The mega event started on a strong note on June 11, 2026 with Mexico and South Africa opened the campaign. Mexico won the match. This is the first time that Mexico had won a World Cup opening match. In the second match, South Korea defeated Czech Republic.

Today (June 14, 2026), Qatar is facing Switzerland in an Group B match. Akram Afif, Almoez Ali and Edmilson Junior are some of the players to watch out for in the Qatar team. Midfielder Granit Xhaka and goalkeeper Gregor Kobel along with Dan Ndoye and Ruben Vargas are the players to be watched out in the Switzerland team.

Apart from this match, the other matches today are: Brazil vs Morocco (Group C), Haiti vs Scotland (Group C) and Australia vs Türkiye (Group D). Another match late in the night will be Germany vs Curacao (Group E). 

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Bosnia and Herzegovina fans react in the stands before the match in Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada on June 12, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
Reuters

Bosnia-Herzegovina made it to the World Cup on the last day of European qualifying. Now it’s facing one of the three co-hosts, Canada, in its opener on Friday (June 12, 2026).

It’s Bosnia’s second World Cup appearance against Canada, a team that sits more than 30 places above it in the FIFA rankings.

Lineups:

Canada: Maxime Crepeau, Alistair Johnston, Luc De Fougerolles, Derek Cornelius, Richie Laryea; Stephen Eustaquio, ‌Ismael Kone, Liam Millar; Tajon Buchanan, Jonathan David, Tani Oluwaseyi.

Bosnia & Herzegovina: Nikola Vasilj, ⁠Tarik Muharemovic, Sead Kolasinac, Benjamin Tahirovic, ⁠Amar Dedic, Ermedin Demirovic, Ivan Basic, Amar ‌Memic, Nikola Katic, Esmir Bajraktarevic, Jovo Lukic. 

Also read: FIFA World Cup: Mexico wins opening game for the first time.

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Mexico’s Julian Quinones, left, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
AP

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is under way as host Mexico takes on South Africa in the Group A clash at the Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico on June 11, 2026.

Julian Quinones scored for Mexico in the 9th minute at the majestic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, where more than 114,000 people watched Diego Maradona’s Argentina beat West Germany in a five-goal thriller to lift the World Cup in 1986.

Yaya Sithole received a red card in the 50th minute, reducing South Africa to 10 men to put further pressure on the African side that has struggled under pressure from the Mexican players.

In Focus Podcast | FIFA World Cup preview: Who will take home the trophy?

Incidentally, Mexico and South Africa had also met in the 2010 World Cup opening game on June 11, 2010, at Soccer City in Johannesburg, which ended 1-1.

Group A has Mexico, South Africa, Czechia and South Korea. Mexico starts as the favourite to top the pool. South Africa is ranked 60th, the lowest in the group.

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