England suffered a bitter blow on the eve of their World Cup 2026 opener against Croatia tomorrow, with defender Tino Livramento ruled out of the entire tournament through injury, and boss Thomas Tuchel calling up Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah as a surprise replacement.
Elswehere, Iran opened their politically-charged World Cup campaign by playing out an entertaining 2-2 draw with New Zealand in a controversial match that saw anti-regime protests ahead of kick-off, the national anthem booed and an Iranian player forced to defend himself over a ‘gun’ celebration.
Mohammad Mohebbi snatched a point for Iran in the 64th minute and appeared to do a ‘finger gun’ gesture during his celebration, sparking outrage. Mohebbi defended his actions, saying after the game: “The celebration came to mind, and I do this [gestures] for all of the fans, just a celebration, you know.”
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has reportedly been given permission by Fifa to lift the World Cup trophy alongside the winners next month, as he memorably and awkwardly did at last summer’s Club World Cup, while Miguel Delaney has written about Tuchel becoming the perfect man for the impossible job.
Follow all the latest from World Cup 2026 with our live blog below:
World Cup 2026 - live updates
- England defender Tino Livramento set to be ruled out of World Cup 2026 with injury
- Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah a potential replacement call-up ahead of Croatia clash tomorrow
- Resilient Iran draw 2-2 with New Zealand in their controversial World Cup opener
- Iran striker Mohammad Mohebbi defends 'gun' celebration after equalising
- Donald Trump reportedly given permission by Fifa to join winners in World Cup trophy lift
- How a German, Thomas Tuchel, became the perfect man for England's 'impossible job'
BREAKING: England defender expected to miss World Cup in blow for boss Thomas Tuchel
13:25 , Luke Baker
England defender Tino Livramento is expected to be ruled out of the World Cup with a suspected calf injury.
It is an early blow for Thomas Tuchel’s preparations for the tournament, coming just one day before the Three Lions’ opener against Croatia in Dallas.
Tuchel can replace Newcastle full-back Livramento in the squad with a deadline of 9pm (BST) on Tuesday – 24 hours before England’s first game of the tournament.
Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah is a contender to travel to the US as a last-minute replacement.
Harry Maguire opens up on ‘awkward call’ with Thomas Tuchel over England World Cup snub
13:18 , Luke Baker
“awkward” call with England manager Thomas Tuchel.
The Manchester United defender has previously described feeling “shocked and gutted” after he was left out of the 26-man squad for the tournament in North America, in what was widely considered one of the surprise selection decisions.
The 33-year-old, who featured at both the 2018 and 2022 editions, told Gary Lineker’s The Rest is Football World Cup podcast on Netflix that he felt he should have been picked after impressing this season for United and in England’s international friendlies in March.
Harry Maguire opens up on ‘awkward call’ with Thomas Tuchel over England snub
Iran striker Mohammad Mohebbi defends 'gun' celebration
13:04 , Luke Baker
Iran's Mohammad Mohebbi has sparked outrage across social media after and apparent 'gun' celebration during last night’s 2-2 draw with New Zealand.
Many social media users spotted the nature of his celebration after pulling Iran level against the All Whites in Los Angeles but Mohebbi has defended his actions as “just a celebration”.
“I wanted to say thank you to all Iranians who live in Los Angeles, they make a great atmosphere,” he said. “The celebration came to mind, and I do this [gestures] for all of the fans, just a celebration, you know.”
Vozinha becomes social media sensation with huge follower increase
12:39 , Luke Baker
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has gained over six million followers on social media since his heroics kept out Spain.
The 40-year-old produced an incredible performance in Monday’s 0-0 draw in Atlanta, which has seen his following on Instagram sky-rocket from 50,000 to over six million.
Only five England players in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad have more followers on the platform – Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice.
“That is insane, I didn’t expect that,” Vozinha told the Men in Blazers podcast of his increased social media following.
“Things run fast on Instagram, but I didn’t believe it. I still don’t believe, but it is what it is. Thank you to everyone.”
FA chief outlines stance on Gianni Infantino’s controversial run for Fifa re-election
12:14 , Luke Baker
The Football Association will decide their position on another term for Fifa president Gianni Infantino during a “board review... in due course”, according to chief executive Mark Bullingham.
A number of federations have already endorsed the controversial Swiss official, despite numerous issues around this World Cup and growing dissent within Fifa as a consequence.
The issues also come amid some misgivings about term limits, given that the Fifa president again being re-elected in 2027 without challenge would ensure he eventually completes 15 years in the role – precisely the kind of longevity that predecessors Sepp Blatter and Joao Havelange had been criticised for.
There is a growing feeling that Infantino has pushed the constants of his position too far, most notably in the proximity to the Donald Trump administration and the awarding of the Fifa Peace Prize. Bullingham nevertheless stated that the FA have not yet set out their position.
“That’s a board review that we will do in due course,” the chief executive told media at England’s Kansas City base.
The surreal possibility hanging over Iran’s perilous World Cup campaign
12:01 , Luke Baker
For a full summary of all the issues Iran have faced, and why theirs is the most perilous World Cup campaign in history, check out Kieran Jackson’s superb piece:
The surreal possibility hanging over Iran’s perilous World Cup campaign
Iran claim they were forced to leave US minutes after World Cup opener
11:45 , Luke Baker
Iran have claimed they were forced out of the United States just minutes after their match against New Zealand concluded, with coach Amir Ghalenoei saying his team are the “most oppressed” at the World Cup.
The team’s build-up to the finals has been profoundly impacted by the conflict between Iran and the United States. The squad was forced to move their training camp to Mexico, with the Trump administration only allowing them into the country on matchdays.
They opened their World Cup with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand, roared on by a passionate Iranian-American crowd.
Coach Amir Ghalenoei welcomed the fans’ support, but said it had not been matched by those responsible for managing the team’s movements in what is believed to be a strong criticism of the US authorities.
Iran claim they were forced to leave US minutes after World Cup opener
Neymar dealt concerning injury update with Brazil star’s World Cup in doubt
11:32 , Luke Baker
Brazil's World Cup campaign continues to be overshadowed by uncertainty surrounding the fitness of star forward Neymar, who underwent further tests on his injured right leg on Monday.
Hopes that the 34-year-old would rejoin training were dashed as he instead attended a clinic for examinations on his right calf. The Brazilian football confederation has not yet released the results of these tests.
Neymar has been sidelined since sustaining an injury with Santos on 17 May and has not taken part in any full training sessions since Brazil commenced their World Cup preparations in New Jersey, ahead of their match against Haiti on Friday in Philadelphia.
Brazilian media reports suggest the medical team is aiming for his full recovery by the knockout stages.
The ‘generational’ Croatia star England must be wary of in World Cup opener
11:16 , Luke Baker
England could face a “generational player” in Croatia centre-back Luka Vuskovic in tomorrow’s World Cup opener in Dallas.
Highly-rated Vuskovic could start the Group L fixture after a breakthrough season in the Bundesliga with Hamburg and amid speculation over his long-term future at Tottenham.
Vuskovic is yet to make a competitive appearance for Spurs, but the north London club spent £12m in 2023 to secure the services of the teenage defender and he has emerged as one of the hottest prospects in Europe across recent loans.
A £30m bid by Brighton for the goalscoring centre-back was rejected by Tottenham last weekend but it could be the start of numerous advances for the 19-year-old.
The ‘generational’ Croatia star England must be wary of in World Cup opener
Bukayo Saka admits fitness ‘gamble’ ahead of England’s World Cup opener
11:03 , Luke Baker
Bukayo Saka will continue to “take the gamble” on his fitness to be involved in England’s World Cup campaign.
The Arsenal winger has been managing an Achilles injury that dogged the end of his domestic campaign, playing through the pain barrier, and Thomas Tuchel said during the pre-tournament camp in Florida that he does not think he can yet play 90 minutes.
Saka, who picked up the injury in March and missed a month of action, said he was “ready to go” for tomorrow’s opener against Croatia in Dallas, but revealed he had taken a fitness risk to be involved in Arsenal’s Premier League and Champions League run-in.
“As players, it’s the biggest gamble, especially if you’re not feeling your sharpest,” he said. “You have the choice whether you don’t play or you put yourself out there knowing people are going to judge you the same.
“At the end of the day, people don’t really care how you’re feeling, they expect you to deliver, they expect you to perform. I’m happy to take the gamble. It paid off, I’d say. I’m going to continue doing that.”
Tunisia sack manager just one game into World Cup
10:51 , Luke Baker
Tunisia have taken drastic measures following their 5-1 defeat to Sweden and have sacked manager Sabri Lamouchi with two World Cup 2026 group games still to play.
Lamouchi only took charge of the team in January and managed just five games before his dismissal. He won once, a 1-0 triumph over Haiti, and the Tunisian FA announced that Mondher Kebaier will take charge on an interim basis.
Kebaier previously led the national team between 2019-2022 and will likely be in charge for the rest of the World Cup campaign in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Cape Verde hero in tears as mother couldn’t afford US visa to watch him at World Cup
10:37 , Luke Baker
The hero of Cape Verde’s stunning 0-0 draw with Spain, 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, was left in tears after the match and revealing his mother couldn’t afford the US to come and watch him at the World Cup.
Vozinha made seven saves to deny pre-tournament favourites Spain but the returnable bond of up to $15,000 (£11,200) that Cape Verde residents must pay to enter the US, meant his mother was unable to complete her application.
“I cried because I grew up with my grandparents and unfortunately they were not here; they died a few years ago,” he said. “They were everything for me, for my life.
“I also cried because my mum didn’t manage to be here because of the visa. Because of the money we had to pay for the visa, we didn’t manage to [get it done] on time. I would like her to be here, but I’m also very happy. I have worked my whole life for this moment.”
Chinese World Cup fans robbed at gunpoint soon after arriving in Mexico
10:24 , Luke Baker
Two Chinese football fans who had travelled to Mexico to watch the World Cup were carjacked and robbed at gunpoint by masked men.
The two men, Wang Kun and Li Zhe, arrived in Mexico City on 10 June and were robbed later that evening while travelling from Benito Juárez International Airport to the city centre.
The masked assailants, who were riding a motorbike, intercepted their vehicle and pointed a firearm at them before stealing their luxury watches, cash and passports and fleeing the scene.
The Chinese embassy said on Monday that one of the suspects had been arrested. The two men returned to China on Friday.
Chinese World Cup fans robbed at gunpoint soon after arriving in Mexico
New Zealand boss admits disappointment at World Cup draw
10:11 , Luke Baker
New Zealand twice led against Iran last night but couldn’t see out the victory as they only drew 2-2 – frustrating boss Darren Bazeley.
“We created loads of chances,” Bazeley told TVNZ. “I thought we were really, good in possession, defended pretty well for the majority.
“We've come off disappointed not win a game because we're leading twice, scored two great goals, had some moments which was really good.
“It's going to hurt a little bit because we had a chance to make history tonight and win a game at a World Cup and we came really close. We didn't lose, we kept in it and played really, really well.”
The real reason why England must top their World Cup group
10:00 , Luke Baker
If the first few days of the 2026 World Cup have taught us anything, it is that predicting how the tournament will pan out makes fools of us all. Cape Verde were not meant to shut out Spain, many people’s favourites. Australia were not meant to beat a talented Turkey. Morocco were not meant to match the might of Brazil.
We can try, of course. Theoretically, there should be a material benefit in topping each group.
For England – on paper, at least – winning Group L is almost a necessity. Lawrence Ostlere explains why:
The real reason why England must top their World Cup group
Marcelo Bielsa refuses to participate in photoshoot
09:48 , Luke Baker
It’s fair to say that Uruguay boss Marcelo Bielsa wasn’t feeling the photoshoot he was supposed to be taking part in...
Marcelo Bielsa refused to engage with his World Cup photoshoot ❌ pic.twitter.com/IU0zLzjAYV
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 16, 2026
Donald Trump reportedly given permission to join winners in World Cup trophy lift
09:35 , Luke Baker
Fifa has reportedly given permission to Donald Trump to join in with the World Cup trophy lift next month, setting up a scene similar to last summer’s awkward World Club Cup trophy presentation.
It is being reported by talkSPORT that Fifa has no objection to the US president no objection to Trump breaking presentation protocol and handing the World Cup trophy directly to the winning captain, before remaining in the thick of the celebrations.
Normally, the trophy remains on a plinth and is carried by a member of the winning team onto the celebration podium.
In the Club World Cup last summer, Trump awkwardly and memorably stayed next to Chelsea captain Reece James as he lifted the trophy, causing bafflement, with Cole Palmer looking particularly confused.
Why Fifa has banned Iran’s pre-revolutionary flag at World Cup
09:26 , Luke Baker
Iranian-Americans initiated protests at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles before Iran’s World Cup 2026 opener against New Zealand and others displayed the banned pre-revolutionary flag despite Fifa’s ban being upheld.
Some had called on Iranians to unite and forget politics but others displayed symbols of protest against the government.
Here’s why the flag is banned:
Why Fifa has banned Iran’s pre-revolutionary flag at World Cup
'Oppressed' Iran claim they were forced to leave US straight after New Zealand game
09:16 , Luke Baker
Iran have claimed they were forced to leave the US just minutes after completing their World Cup opener against New Zealand.
Restrictions on Iranian players entering the US mean they had to move their training base to Tijuana, Mexico and are only travelling into the United States the day before the game.
They wanted to stay overnight in Los Angeles following the game but captain Mehdi Taremi and coach Amir Ghalenoei reported that they were forced to depart almost straight after the match instead.
“Everything is like a disaster actually for us,” said Taremi after the game. “Still we have some problems because we are supposed to be training tomorrow morning – recovery – then leave for Tijuana.
“But we have to leave Los Angeles right now, and it’s not good for us. It’s not good for the football, because in World Cup, you have to prepare good for the next game.
“Because it is a lot of stress for the players and the staff and everyone. But we don’t have that support and I think Fifa have to help us more than this.”
Ghalenoei confirmed that, adding: “We were supposed to stay here tonight to recover and return tomorrow lunchtime, but they haven’t permitted us. To be honest, I have no idea why. I think perhaps our team is the most oppressed one in the whole World Cup.”
Fifa issue verdict on World Cup referee’s white supremacy accusations as VAR official explains viral moment
09:01 , Luke Baker
Fifa World Cup 2026 official Shaun Evans has denied “intentionally” making a gesture that some perceived to be connected to an expression of white supremacy.
The Australian referee, working as part of the VAR team in Dallas at the World Cup broadcast centre, was seen making an “OK” symbol with his right hand in front of his right leg when the official broadcast of Germany against Curacao on Sunday cut away from pre-game footage to show the team of video review analysts.
The match, played in Houston, led to many complaints over the gesture, which sees a thumb and forefinger touched in a circle and other fingers outstretched and was interpreted as a hate symbol by the New York-based Anti-Defamation League in 2019.
Fifa issue verdict on World Cup referee’s white supremacy accusations
Inside Thomas Tuchel’s England reign and how the ‘impossible job’ became perfect for a German
08:48 , Luke Baker
If you want to read Miguel’s full deep dive into the Tuchel reign, then we’ve got that here.
There’s some great insight in there:
How England’s ‘impossible job’ became the perfect role for a German manager
WATCH: 'How England's impossible job became a dream job for a German: Tuchel loves it'
08:36 , Luke Baker
The role of England manager has long been described as ‘the impossible job’.
Yet Thomas Tuchel, a German, appears to be the perfect man for it as our Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney explains.
Iran national anthem booed at World Cup before New Zealand game
08:29 , Luke Baker
The Iranian national anthem was booed by some spectators inside the SoFI Stadium in Los Angeles on Monday evening as Iran began their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Group G.
The match took place hours after President Donald Trump announced a preliminary US-Iran peace deal had been signed to end America’s’ war with Iran.
Iran national anthem booed at World Cup before New Zealand game
Resilient Iran defy World Cup obstacles to salvage draw against New Zealand
08:21 , Luke Baker
Iran drew their World Cup opener with New Zealand but emphatically won the support of the Iranian community inside SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, having overcome unprecedented obstacles just to play at these finals.
The Asian team hit back twice through Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi to force a 2-2 draw, with Eli Just grabbing a brace for the All Whites.
A World Cup had never kicked off with a host at war with a participant before. Iran have faced the threat of being unable to take their place at the tournament ever since the United States and Israel launched a bombing campaign back in February, been forced to change training venue from the US to Mexico to combat visa issues, and still had 11 non-playing officials blocked from entering the States for the team’s matches.
‘Lion and Sun’ flags – the emblem of Iran before the 1979 Islamic revolution – were in evidence within the stadium despite Fifa’s efforts to ban them and there was definitely booing of the anthem before the game from Los Angeles’ Iranian diaspora in attendance.
Overwhelmingly though, the fans had decided the team were not the regime, and roared them on from the outset.
Full report:
Resilient Iran defy World Cup obstacles to salvage draw against New Zealand
Iran striker Mohammad Mohebbi defends 'gun' celebration
08:18 , Luke Baker
Iran's Mohammad Mohebbi has sparked outrage across social media after and apparent 'gun' celebration during last night’s 2-2 draw with New Zealand.
Many social media users spotted the nature of his celebration after pulling Iran level against the All Whites in Los Angeles but Mohebbi has defended his actions as “just a celebration”.
“I wanted to say thank you to all Iranians who live in Los Angeles, they make a great atmosphere,” he said. “The celebration came to mind, and I do this [gestures] for all of the fans, just a celebration, you know.”
World Cup 2026 - live
08:12 , Luke Baker
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s continued live coverage of the 2026 World Cup.
Iran got their campaign underway in controversial circumstances last night, while England are preparing for tomorrow’s opener against Croatia and Donald Trump is in the news again.
Stick with us for all the news
