Netherlands Soccer Coach Makes Bold World Cup Claim

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in June — and HuffPost will be live-blogging every twist, turn and controversy from the buildup through the final of what’s widely shaping up to be the most political soccer tournament of all time.From the action on the pitch to the potential chaos off it, the storylines are already piling up: Iran’s possible non-participation amid Donald Trump’s war, the president’s close relationship with FIFA’s Peace Prize-awarding President Gianni Infantino, and simmering tensions between the U.S. and fellow host nations Mexico and Canada fueled by Trump’s tariffs and divisive rhetoric.Trump’s travel bans could keep some fans out, there’s been fury over soaring ticket prices, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents could be present at games as the Trump administration continues its anti-immigration crackdown.Not to mention extreme heat concerns that scorched all those involved the last time the U.S. hosted the tournament some 32 years ago, in 1994.And that’s all before a ball has been kicked.U.S. President Donald Trump received the FIFA Peace Prize from FIFA President Gianni Infantino in December.Andrew Harnik via Getty ImagesOn the field, the men’s national teams from 48 countries will compete in a record 104 matches across the three host nations in what will be the biggest World Cup in history.Mexico will take on South Africa at the iconic Mexico City Stadium in the opening game on June 11. The U.S. will play Paraguay in Los Angeles on June 12, Australia in Seattle on June 19 and Turkey back in Los Angeles on June 25, in the group games, before potentially competing in the later knockout rounds.The final will be held on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, which is being temporarily rebranded as the New York/New Jersey Stadium for the competition.Current European champions Spain are favorites to lift the trophy. Defending champions Argentina, of Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi fame, along with France, England and Brazil, are also expected to be in the mix.Check out the full games schedule on the FIFA website.Follow along with our coverage below:Netherlands Soccer Coach Makes Bold World Cup ClaimNetherlands manager Ronald Koeman says his side have more than enough quality to beat any team at the World Cup even if they are not being widely tipped as title contenders.The Dutch, who have finished runners-up three times at the tournament, play Japan in their opening Group F game before facing Sweden and Tunisia.Holders Argentina, 2018 winners France and European champions Spain are among the favourites to win the June 11 to July 19 World Cup in North America, but Koeman has confidence in his squad."People may not see us as one of the favourites to win the World Cup. But the strength of the Netherlands is that we can beat anyone because the ability is there in our squad,” he told FIFA in an interview published on Monday.The 63-year-old, who is yet to name his World Cup squad, returned as coach in 2023 after Louis van Gaal led the side to the quart-finals at the previous edition in Qatar."I think this team is on track,” he added.“What I'd like people to say about my team is that they play with a lot of intensity, that they can't say we didn't do enough. I want them to play with confidence, with personality, understanding what their qualities are."And to always respect every opponent despite the fact there may be so-called smaller nations at the World Cup. They are all matches in their own right and you must ensure you're not caught off-guard by a smaller nation.”Latest Live UpdatesCristiano Ronaldo To Play In Sixth World Cup As Portugal Pays Poignant Tribute To Late TeammateCristiano Ronaldo will embark on a sixth World Cup at the age of 41 after Portugal coach Roberto Martinez on Tuesday named a 27-man squad for the tournament, with a symbolic 'plus one' in memory of the late Diogo Jota.Speaking at Cidade do Futebol before a packed auditorium, Martinez confirmed that fourth-choice goalkeeper Ricardo Velho of Genclerbirligi Ankara will travel with the squad but can only be added to the official 26-man list in the event of an injury to one of the three registered keepers.Portugal, the reigning Nations League champions, open their Group K campaign at the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada against the Democratic Republic of the Congo on June 17 in Houston. They then face Uzbekistan at the same venue on June 23 and conclude the group stage against Colombia in Miami on June 27. The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19.Martinez said his selection comprised "27 players plus one", a reference to Liverpool forward Jota, who died in a car accident in July last year aged 28."He is our strength, our joy," Martinez said. "Losing Diogo was an unforgettable and very difficult moment, but the very next day it was up to all of us to fight for Diogo's dream and for the example he always set in our national team. Diogo Jota's spirit, strength and example are the +1 and will always be the +1."The coach defended his decision to name four goalkeepers and five fullbacks, while leaving out players including Mateus Fernandes, Ricardo Horta and Pedro Goncalves."The complexity of the tournament is very important – the demands of the weather, the time zone, everything we already experienced in March," Martinez said. "There are positions where we need to have more than two players per position. And we need five fullbacks."He highlighted the versatility of Diogo Dalot, Joao Cancelo and Matheus Nunes, and pointed to attacking options such as Joao Felix, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Francisco Trincao operating between the lines, with Rafael Leao, Pedro Neto and Francisco Conceicao providing width.Martinez added that Velho understood his role as a training goalkeeper, noting that FIFA rules only permit replacement in the event of injury during the tournament.Portugal warm up against Chile in Oeiras on June 6 and Nigeria in Leiria on June 10. FIFA has stipulated that the squad must be in their Palm Beach, Florida training camp at least five days before their opening match. PORTUGAL WORLD CUP SQUADGoalkeepers: Diogo Costa (FC Porto), Jose Sa (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Rui Silva (Sporting CP); Ricardo Velho (Genclerbirligi Ankara);Defenders: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United); Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Nelson Semedo (Fenerbahce SK), Joao Cancelo (FC Barcelona), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting CP), Renato Veiga (Villarreal); Ruben Dias (Manchester City); Tomas Araujo (SL Benfica);Midfielders: Ruben Neves (Al Hilal), Samuel Costa (Mallorca), Joao Neves (PSG), Vitinha (PSG), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City);Forwards: Joao Felix (Al Nassr), Francisco Trincao (Sporting CP), Francisco Conceicao (Juventus), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Goncalo Guedes (Real Sociedad), Goncalo Ramos (PSG); Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr).Mexico City Scrambles To Finish Key Renovations For World CupWith under a month to go before the start of the soccer World Cup, Mexico City is scrambling to finish key renovations, including to metro stations and the main airport, as the rush to be ready for the tournament's opening game on June 11 runs to the wire.Some locals are frustrated by the disruption caused by the works, which many say feel aimed at visitors more than Chilangos, as city residents are known.On Calzada de Tlalpan, one of the capital's main thoroughfares, work crews are building a pedestrian and bicycle corridor that runs for nearly two kilometers, or just over a mile, and is scheduled to open in late May. The construction has led to lane closures and congestion along one of the busiest routes in the city."We understand it's to improve our city and present a good image to visitors," said Blanca Abascal, a teacher who lives in the area. "But it has also been somewhat chaotic... At night we can hardly sleep because of the noise."This year's World Cup will be co-hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States. Mexico City will host five games, beginning with a Mexico group match against South Africa on June 11.At metro stations such as San Antonio Abad and Auditorio, located in central and western areas of the city, renovation work is underway to upgrade stained glass, entrances, and platforms."The projects focus more on aesthetics than on structural maintenance," said Halim Castro, a 22-year-old university student. "Resources could be allocated to more essential improvements, such as maintaining the metro system, which is already very old."Mexico City authorities, who say the metro system carried more than 1.2 billion passengers last year, describe the works as necessary upgrades. Metro director Adrián Rubalcava said preparations for the World Cup have helped accelerate needed work."It provides an opportunity to carry out deeper work at stations that require urgent attention and that will leave them in better condition for users in the long term," he said.Some residents have also raised concerns about the distribution of public investment."There are improvements in more visible areas, but in other parts of the city there are still significant gaps in transport and services," said Arturo Castro, a retiree, who called for broader urban planning.At Benito Juárez International Airport renovations have closed parts of the airport, disrupting passengers arriving into the capital."The situation at the airport is simply unsustainable: the never-ending renovations, disorganization, flight delays, total chaos," said Francisco Ramos, a 42-year-old architect who used the airport last week.President Claudia Sheinbaum has said the projects are progressing as scheduled, including the upgrades to Benito Juárez airport and the city's other airport, Felipe Ángeles."They will be completed on time to receive millions of visitors and athletes," she said last week.World Cup Diplomacy: Spain’s King To Attend Game In Mexico After Colonial RiftSpanish King Felipe VI will visit Mexico to attend a World Cup match, the Mexican president said on Monday, in a sign of warming ties after recent tensions between the two countries over colonial-era abuses.President Claudia Sheinbaum did not invite King Felipe, who is head of state in Spain, to her 2024 inauguration after the monarch declined to apologise for wrongs committed during the Spanish conquest.However, after he acknowledged colonial abuses in March, saying Spain could not feel proud about them, she extended an invitation to the World Cup."It is a completely different moment," Sheinbaum told reporters, confirming the visit. "With the exception of a few who still defend (Spanish conquistador) Hernan Cortes... the vast majority of the Spanish people do recognise that there was a period of abuses," she added.Madrid's conservative regional leader Isabel Diaz Ayuso cut short a 10-day trip to Mexico earlier this month after provoking tensions by paying homage to Cortes during the visit and saying that Spain had brought civilisation, hope and joy to the Americas.In the 16th to 18th centuries, Spain ruled one of the world's largest ever empires that included much of Latin America, where it practiced forced labour, land expropriation and violence against Indigenous peoples.Spain will face Uruguay in their third Group H match on June 26 in Guadalajara, with Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia completing the group. It will mark Spain's first game on Mexican soil in a tournament also being hosted by the United States and Canada.Spain Teenage Superstar Lamine Yamal To Miss World Cup Opener: ReportForward Lamine Yamal is not expected to play in Spain's World Cup opener on June 15 against Cape Verde at Atlanta because of a hamstring injury, The Athletic reported Monday.Yamal's FC Barcelona teammate Fermin Lopez was less fortunate after he was essentially ruled out for Spain's World Cup run because of a right foot fracture that will require surgery. The midfielder was injured during the first half of Sunday's win against Real Betis.Yamal tore his left hamstring in an April 22 game for Barcelona and was ruled out for the remainder of his club team's season. The injury occurred when he scored on a penalty kick against Celta Vigo.Yamal, 18, had been expected to be available for World Cup play, although he is also doubtful to play in Spain's second Group H game against Saudi Arabia on June 21 at Atlanta.Spain's third and final Group H game will take place June 26 against Uruguay at Guadalajara, Mexico.Spain, currently No. 2 in FIFA's latest men's world rankings, is scheduled to announced its 26-player World Cup team next Monday.Spain won UEFA Euro 2024 in part due to contributions from a then-16-year-old Yamal. A sublime playmaker and finisher, Yamal has six goals in 25 career appearances for the Spanish national team.In 28 La Liga matches for Barcelona, Yamal scored 16 goals, with 24 goals in 45 matches across all competitions.Neymar Makes Brazil's World Cup RosterNeymar will make his fourth World Cup appearance after Brazil named him to their 26-man squad on Monday. The decision was not a guarantee as questions surrounded Neymar's fitness since his ACL tear more than two years ago."(Neymar) has improved his fitness," Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said Monday following the squad announcement at a gala in Rio de Janeiro. "He will be an important player in this World Cup."Brazil's all-time leading goal-scorer (79), Neymar rejoined his boyhood club Santos last year after a stay with Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal.Neymar has collected eight goals through his three World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022) and will try to guide the Selecao to their first title since 2002.Chelsea forward Joao Pedro was the most notable omission from the roster. Some expected he would make his first World Cup roster at 24 years old, and he has played for Brazil in international competition in the lead-up to this cycle, but Ancelotti favored Neymar, Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, Bournemouth's Rayan, Brentford's Igor Thiago and others at that position."It was very difficult to choose these 26 players," said Ancelotti. "Why? Because the competition in this country is very, very high. I know some players who have been with us this year will be unhappy."BRAZIL WORLD CUP ROSTERGoalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahce), Weverton (Gremio)Defenders: Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Danilo (Flamengo), Douglas Santos (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Gabriel (Arsenal), Roger Ibanez (Al Ahli), Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Wesley (Roma)Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al Ittihad), Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo)Forwards: Endrick (Lyon), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Luiz Henrique (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Neymar (Santos), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rayan (Bournemouth), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)Iran Soccer Squad Lands In Turkey Amid World Cup UncertaintyIran’s national soccer squad landed in Turkey for a training camp on Monday ahead of their planned trip to the U.S. for the World Cup, with uncertainty still hanging over the team's participation after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February.FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom told Reuters on Saturday that he held a constructive and positive meeting with Iran's FA (FFIRI) President Mehdi Taj, expressing confidence about the country's participation in the World Cup.The players and officials filed out of Antalya Airport in black team outfits, many pulling black suitcases, before heading to waiting buses to travel to their hotel at the training base in the nearby resort of Belek, where several national teams have held camps in recent years.Iran are scheduled to play all three group matches in the United States but the team's participation in the June 11 to July 19 tournament has been in question since the attacks by the U.S. and Israel.Iranian officials and FIFA have said U.S. visa applications for the team would be handled in Turkey. Uncertainty over the visas was fuelled after FFIRI's Taj was refused entry to Canada for the FIFA Congress in Vancouver this month because of his links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).The U.S. and Canada, who are co-hosting the World Cup with Mexico, classify the IRGC as a "terrorist entity" and have made clear they will not admit people with links to the elite military force.Iran had asked for their World Cup matches to be switched to Mexico but FIFA President Gianni Infantino insists that all games must be played at the grounds originally scheduled.Iran's squad is scheduled to move to their U.S. base at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona in early June.Iran are scheduled to get their World Cup campaign under way against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. They are also due to play Belgium and Egypt in Group G.Haiti World Cup Star Recounts Dramatic Escape From Iran: ‘Now You Start Survival Mode’Haiti’s record goalscorer Duckens Nazon was already strapped into his seat, the aircraft on the tarmac at Tehran airport ready to take off, when his phone lit up with a message from a friend playing in Israel.“The alarm, the war alarm in Israel was just ringing,” Nazon, 32, recalled his friend saying. “I said, wow, I’m so lucky because I’m on the plane right now, ready to take off.”Ten seconds later, his luck ran out.Read more here:Iran's Attacking Talisman Left Out Of Preliminary World Cup SquadIran's attacking talisman Sardar Azmoun was a notable absence from coach Amir Ghalenoei's preliminary World Cup squad as the team gear up for the tournament in North America amid diplomatic tensions surrounding their participation.Ghalenoei did not explain the reason for omitting Azmoun, who has scored 57 goals in 91 internationals, but Iran's state news agency IRNA reported that the former Bayer Leverkusen and AS Roma striker was left out due to injury.Azmoun, who plays for Shabab Al-Ahli in the United Arab Emirates, was also omitted from the Iran squad in March, with local media reporting he had been expelled from the national team for a perceived act of disloyalty to the government.Azmoun posted a picture on his Instagram feed in March of a meeting with Dubai’s ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Iran had launched rocket and drone attacks on the UAE, following air strikes by the United States and Israel, which killed the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah ‌Ali Khamenei.The 30-man squad was announced on Saturday, before Iran head to Turkey next week to continue their tournament preparations.Veterans Mehdi Taremi, who plays for Olympiacos, and former Brighton & Hove Albion winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh were included in the squad.Iran's participation in the June 11 to July 19 tournament has been in question since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February.Iran's Football Federation (FFIRI) President Mehdi Taj was refused entry to Canada for the FIFA Congress in Vancouver in April because of his links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).The U.S. and Canada, which are co-hosting the World Cup with Mexico, classify the IRGC as a "terrorist entity" and have made it clear they will not admit people with links to the elite military force.Iran requested that their matches be moved to Mexico, but FIFA President Gianni Infantino said all games would be played as originally scheduled.Iran are scheduled to play all three of their group matches in the United States. They will take on New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 in Los Angeles, and Egypt five days later in Seattle.Iran Squad:Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand, Seyed Hossein Hosseini, Mohammad Khalifeh, Payam NiazmandDefenders: Danial Eiri, Ehsan Hajsafi, Saleh Hardani, Hossein Kanaani, Shoja Khalilzadeh, Milad Mohammadi, Ali Nemati, Omid Noorafkan, Ramin RezaeianMidfielders: Rouzbeh Cheshmi, Saeid Ezatolahi, Mehdi Ghaedi, Saman Ghoddos, Mohammad Ghorbani, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Mohammad Mohebi, Amir Mohammad Razzaghinia, Mehdi Torabi, Aria YousefiForwards: Ali Alipour, Dennis Dargahi, Hadi Habibinejad, Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh, Amirhossein Mahmoudi, Kasra Taheri, Mehdi TaremiWorld Cup Legend Named As New Manager Of ChelseaChelsea have appointed Xabi Alonso as their new manager on a four-year contract starting in July, the Premier League club said on Sunday as they tasked the Spaniard with reviving their fortunes after a turbulent and trophy-less season.The 44-year-old Spaniard's appointment comes a day after Chelsea were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City in the FA Cup final, ending the London club's hopes of salvaging a disappointing campaign with silverware."Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club," Alonso said in a statement on the club's website."From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition."Alonso will look to steady the ship after a turbulent season in which the club dismissed two managers -- Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior -- with the latter sacked in April after a run of seven defeats in eight matches across all competitions.With two Premier League games left, five-time Premier League winners Chelsea are ninth in the table although still have an outside chance of qualifying for Europe."We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies," Alonso said.The move also marks a return to English football for Alonso, who racked up 210 appearances for Liverpool before leaving for Real Madrid in 2009 and later ending his playing career with Bayern Munich in 2017.PROVEN MANAGERIAL PEDIGREEAfter retiring as a player, Alonso began his coaching career with Real Madrid's youth academy and later managed Real Sociedad's reserve team.He rose to prominence as a manager at Bayer Leverkusen, where he took charge in 2022 and guided the club to a historic unbeaten Bundesliga title in the 2023-24 campaign, along with the German Cup and a run to the Europa League final.That success earned him a return to Real Madrid as head coach, though his spell was reportedly affected by internal tensions, including clashes with several senior players such as Federico Valverde and Vinicius Jr.He was sacked by Real Madrid in January, less than eight months after taking charge.As a player, the former Spain international made 236 appearances for Real Madrid between 2009 and 2014, winning LaLiga, two Copa del Rey titles and the club's 10th European Cup.He also made 114 appearances for the national side, finishing his international career with a World Cup trophy and two European titles.CHELSEA SEEKS STABILITYAlonso becomes the fifth permanent appointment under Chelsea's big-spending BlueCo ownership, following Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Maresca and Rosenior.This season began with Chelsea as FIFA Club World Cup champions but after a reasonable start it unravelled into poor form amid managerial upheaval and fan protests.Chelsea have spent 1.8 billion pounds ($2.40 billion) on signings since BlueCo took charge in 2022 but there has been little sign of consistent progress.Fans' group Not a Project staged a protest against the running of the club before Saturday's Wembley showpiece.It will now be Alonso's task to try and mould a team capable of re-establishing themselves at the top of the Premier League."There is great talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club," Alonso, who had been linked with a possible return to Liverpool, said. "Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture and winning trophies."Current caretaker manager Calum McFarlane will continue in his role until the end of the season with a home game against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Tuesday.Brazil Star’s Final World Cup Audition Hit By Stunning Substitution BlunderAn apparent mistake by the fourth official forced Neymar off the field during Santos' 3-0 home loss to Coritiba in a Brazilian league match on Sunday, the last chance for the star striker to impress before Brazil's World Cup squad is announced.The 34-year-old Neymar, who has struggled to be fit since he tore his ACL in October 2023, has tried for more than a year to show Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti he deserves a place in the squad.The incident took place in the 65th minute, when Coritiba was already leading 3-0 and Neymar, whose form has improved in recent weeks, was having a quiet match for relegation-threatened Santos.Neymar was on the field having his right calf sprayed by a doctor when the referee told him to go to the sidelines, where the treatment continued. In a matter of seconds, the fourth official raised the substitution board which indicated that No. 10 — Neymar — would be leaving for Robinho Jr., who immediately stepped onto the pitch.“I knew Robinho was coming in, but I wasn’t even watching it,” Neymar said. “I didn’t know I had been substituted, I had not seen the board. It was a very serious mistake by the officials, by the fellow who puts the numbers on the board.”Santos coach Cuca and Neymar himself informed the fourth official and referee Paulo Cesar Zanovelli that a mistake had been made with defender Gonzalo Escobar — No. 31 jersey — the intended player to be substituted.Zanovelli gave Neymar a yellow card for refusing to accept the substitution. The striker then took the official substitution request sheet and showed it to broadcasters at the Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo, with Escobar's number on it instead of his own.“It is a mistake (of the fourth official) indeed. But it wasn’t the reason why we lost, it would be unfair to place blame on this,” Santos coach Cuca said in a press conference.Brazil's soccer confederation, which organizes the country's league, is yet to comment publicly about the incident.Ancelotti will announce Brazil's squad on Monday in Rio de Janeiro.Brazilian media reports said that Neymar's chances of being in the 26-player squad have increased recently because his inclusion is favored by other players who Ancelotti is certain to take to the World Cup.See All Updates