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:World Cup Player’s Instagram Explodes Thanks To 1 Viral ClaimNew Zealand defender Tim Payne's social media profile has exploded over the last few days after an Argentine influencer decided he was the least known player at the World Cup.Valen Scarsini, known as "elscarso" on Instagram and TikTok, made a video encouraging his audience to give the Wellington Phoenix and All Whites defender's account likes, comments and follows.In the space of a couple of days, Payne's Instagram account went from 4,715 followers to 660,000 - outstripping New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, All Blacks rugby star Ardie Savea, and Scarsini."Was wondering why my socials were blowing up and found your post, man," Payne said in the message to Scarsini. "Appreciate the love! Gracias, hermano."Payne hit the headlines in 2020 during the COVID pandemic when he broke quarantine in Australia and was charged with a drink-driving offence for taking a golf cart on a joyride with a teammate. He was later fined A$700 ($498) by a Sydney court, according to media reports.The versatile 32-year-old has kept a relatively low profile since then and will be looking to add to his 50 New Zealand caps at the World Cup after being included in Darren Bazeley's squad for the tournament.New Zealand, the lowest-ranked team at the World Cup, open their campaign against Iran in Los Angeles on June 15 and also face Egypt and Belgium in Group G.Latest Live UpdatesDonald Trump Is Following Notorious Dictator's Playbook With World Cup, Expert WarnsPresident Donald Trump has made a serious effort to use sports to his political advantage.Just this year, he’s invited Lionel Messi and his team to the White House for a photo opportunity, attended UFC matches, began constructing a UFC arena on the South Lawn and shared plans to attend an NBA Finals game, all while his unpopular Iran war marches on.Now, with the FIFA World Cup less than a month away, one expert has revealed to HuffPost exactly how Trump is using the same “tried and true methods” that one notorious dictator used when his country hosted an early version of the tournament.“If you look at the way [Benito] Mussolini, for example, cozied up to the athletes at the World Cup in 1934, he just wanted to be around these kinds of macho guys,” said Jules Boykoff, a professor at Pacific University and an expert in international sports politics.“Well, you can see [that in] the same kind of thing that Trump does all the time.”Read more:DR Congo Says It's Cleared To Play In World Cup Amid Ebola ConcernsThe Democratic Republic of Congo said its national football federation and FIFA had confirmed its World Cup delegation is compliant with U.S. protocols related to the Ebola outbreak, clearing the way for the team to compete at the tournament.A team official had said on Saturday that preparations would continue as planned despite a U.S. requirement for individuals to complete a 21-day isolation period before entering the country.The United States is co-hosting the June 11 to July 19 World Cup with Canada and Mexico.The World Health Organization last week warned of a "very high" risk of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola spreading nationally in the DRC, with more than 1,000 suspected cases and 246 suspected deaths reported until now.Congolese authorities said their federation (FECOFA) had held talks with FIFA this week and that the delegation was now fully compliant with health and safety protocols, including cancelling a training camp in Kinshasa and relocating preparations abroad."I applaud FECOFA and FIFA for moving swiftly and decisively to make this responsible, reasonable determination," DRC Ambassador to the United States Yvette Kapinga Ngandu said in a statement on Wednesday. "The Leopards are ready, they are safe, and I have no doubt that the United States will embrace this team."Reuters has contacted FIFA for comment.Most members of the squad are based in Europe, reducing the risk of direct exposure, while staff members who departed Kinshasa earlier this month will complete at least 21 days in Europe before travelling to the U.S. in line with U.S. health guidelines."The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has done everything in its power to ensure they arrive in the United States prepared, protected, and ready to compete," Sports Minister Didier Budimbu said.Officials also raised concerns about fans who secured World Cup tickets but have been unable to obtain U.S. visas due to administrative restrictions, adding that discussions were under way with FIFA over possible refunds.The Congolese team, appearing at their first World Cup in 52 years, are set to be based in Houston. They open their Group K campaign against Portugal on June 17, before facing Colombia in Guadalajara on June 23 and Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 27.Saudi Player’s Wild Passport Ordeal Ahead Of World Cup Finally EndsSaudi Arabia defender Saud Abdulhamid will join the national team’s training camp in the United States on Thursday after resolving a passport issue that delayed his departure.The 26-year-old had been due to report to a preparatory camp in Riyadh on Monday before travelling with the squad, but his passport was stolen during a break-in in Amsterdam, where he had been attending his wedding ceremony with family.Local media said Abdulhamid, who is on loan at Ligue 1 side Lens from Roma, will now link up with coach Georgios Donis’s 30-man preliminary squad in New York.Abdulhamid thanked Saudi authorities for assisting him in securing a replacement passport, writing on social media platform X: “Let’s go to the World Cup.”Saudi Arabia have begun a series of training camps in New York and Texas, where they will fine-tune their preparations with friendlies against Ecuador, Puerto Rico and Senegal.They open their Group H campaign against Uruguay in Miami on June 15, before facing Spain in Atlanta on June 21 and Cape Verde in Houston on June 26.Neymar Injury Scare For Brazil World Cup SquadBrazil's World Cup preparations were jolted on Wednesday as Neymar missed the national team's first training session to undergo medical tests, leaving his place in the squad hanging in the balance.The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed the 34-year-old forward, who is recovering from an injury in his right calf, did not take part in the closed session at their facilities in Granja Comary and was referred to a private clinic in Teresopolis for imaging tests.In a statement, the CBF said "no further information will be released until the Brazilian national team's medical staff have completed their assessments", but Neymar's absence quickly became the dominant storyline on the second day of Brazil's training camp for the 2026 World Cup.Brazil will hold three further sessions at Granja Comary before Sunday's friendly against Panama at the Maracana.Manager Carlo Ancelotti is already without three players for that fixture. Defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and Marquinhos, along with forward Gabriel Martinelli, are involved in Saturday's Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.Neymar's recall last week generated widespread excitement because he had not featured in Ancelotti's plans during the Italian's year in charge.Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances, Neymar has not played for his country since 2023. His return to the fold came amid scrutiny over his fitness and form following years of injury trouble and an underwhelming spell back at Santos.The timing could hardly be more delicate. After facing Panama, Brazil meet Egypt in Cleveland in their final friendly before opening their World Cup campaign against African champions Morocco on June 13 in New Jersey. Brazil and Morocco have been drawn in Group C alongside Haiti and Scotland.In an interview with Reuters in early May, Ancelotti made clear that reputation alone would not secure Neymar's place.He said that Neymar would receive no special treatment and that his place in the squad would be strictly based on fitness and form, not sentiment.For now, Brazil wait on the medical verdict — and on whether their most recognisable name will be fit to take centre stage next month.Haitian Soccer Player Still Awaits U.S. Visa As Trump Travel Ban Disrupts World Cup PlansSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The only member of Haiti’s national soccer team who is based in the troubled Caribbean country is awaiting a U.S. visa to join the squad in Florida just weeks before the start of the World Cup.Woodensky Pierre is a defensive midfielder who plays for Violette AC in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. An estimated 70% of that city is under siege by violent gangs.The other 25 players on the World Cup squad play outside the country, coming from leagues in places like England, France, Portugal, Canada and the United States.This year’s World Cup will be only the second for Haiti in its history — the country’s only other appearance on soccer’s biggest stage was in 1974.Haitian soccer federation spokesman Thecieux Jeanty said all but one player on the 1974 World Cup team was living and playing in Haiti at that time.The U.S. visas for Pierre and nearly a dozen other officials with the Haitian soccer federation have yet to come through as the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump continues to expand travel restrictions from countries including Haiti.Read more:Letitia James Is Going After FIFA For World Cup Ticket GougingFIFA faces a subpoena from the states of New York and New Jersey as part of an investigation into details surrounding pricing and accuracy of seat locations for the 2026 World Cup. Read more below.U.S. Coach Defends ‘Diabolical’ Way He Cut Players From World Cup SquadMauricio Pochettino, the head coach of the U.S. men's national soccer team, has defended the way players were informed they had failed to make the squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a method former star Herculez Gomez slammed as "diabolical."Players who did not make the final squad for the tournament, which starts on June 11, were informed by email.Critics argued a phone call would have been more dignified."What am I going to tell a player?" Pochettino, who months ago said he wouldn't be calling the axed players, told The Guardian on Tuesday. "Am I supposed to lie? I am going to say that another player is on the roster because today, in this period, he is a better option. I am not going to say that he is a better player or that you cannot make the roster in the future."The coach also pointed to the size of the provisional squad pool."There are 55 players on the provisional roster — and now I need to call [all]? Do I need to do that in March? In January camp? That is not the way."Read more on The Guardian:Canada Extends Soccer Coach's Contract Before World Cup Even StartsManager Jesse Marsch signed a four-year contract extension with Canada through the 2030 World Cup, Canada Soccer said on Monday.The American took charge in 2024 after succeeding John Herdman and guided Canada to a fourth-place finish at the 2024 Copa America as well as a FIFA ranking of 26 last year, its highest."From day one, I've felt a deep connection to this team, to this country, and to the direction of the program," Marsch said in a statement."I'm thrilled to make a longer-term commitment here, helping develop this program for years to come and continuing to push this group to the highest level."Canada, who will co-host the World Cup alongside the United States and Mexico, qualified automatically for the tournament and are preparing to announce their final squad later this week.Marsch, formerly coach of Leeds United and RB Leipzig, has compiled a record of 12 wins, 12 draws and five defeats with Canada.Canada Soccer said the extension was largely funded by five Canadian families and supporters connected to the men’s national team program.Canada host Uzbekistan in a June 1 friendly before facing Ireland on June 5 in their final World Cup warm-up.Marsch's side open their World Cup campaign on June 12 against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto before facing Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24 in Vancouver.U.S. Declined To Host Iran Squad For World Cup: Mexico PresidentIran's national soccer team will sleep in Mexico and travel to the U.S. on the days of its three World Cup matches after Washington declined to host the squad for the tournament, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday.Sheinbaum said FIFA approached her government after U.S. authorities said they did not want Iran staying in the country throughout the June 11-July 19 competition, even though Iran is scheduled to play three Group G matches there. "We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico," Sheinbaum told her daily press conference.Iran is due to face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 and Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The White House and the State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.U.S. President Donald Trump said in March that Iran was welcome to participate in the World Cup but that he did not believe it was appropriate for Iran's team to be in the United States "for their own life and safety."Mehdi Taj, head of Iran's football federation, said on Saturday the team's base would be moved from Arizona to the Mexican border city of Tijuana during the tournament. FIFA confirmed the move on Monday.Taj added that the swap would help avoid visa-related complications and allow direct Iran Air flights to Mexico.Iran's World Cup plans have been under scrutiny since late February, when the United States joined Israel in attacks on Iran, triggering a war that raised doubts over whether Tehran would send its team to play in one of the host countries.In March, Taj said Iran was in talks with FIFA about moving its group matches to Mexico on safety grounds, and Sheinbaum said Mexico would be open to hosting them. FIFA kept the schedule unchanged.The uncertainty fueled wider speculation about Iran's place at the tournament. In April, Trump's envoy for global partnerships, Paolo Zampolli, suggested Italy should replace Iran, prompting a dismissive response from Italian officials and FIFA.Iran qualified for a fourth consecutive World Cup by topping its group in the third round of Asian qualifying last year.U.S. Reveals Final World Cup Squad, And There Are Some Big CallsJust over three weeks out from the opening match on June 12, the roster representing the United States at this summer's home World Cup has been finalized.After years of buildup and months of conjecture, the 26-man United States roster, assembled by manager Mauricio Pochettino, was unveiled Tuesday at a televised event in New York."We are confident this is the best group of 26 players to help us achieve success at the World Cup," Pochettino said. "These were very difficult decisions, and we are thankful to all the players who were part of this journey. This group is very focused and ready to give everything they have to represent the United States and deliver performances that will make the fans and the country proud."As expected, the roster is anchored by a number of longtime American standouts playing in Europe: AC Milan forward Christian Pulisic, Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams and Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie.Each are among the 13 players returning for their second World Cup appearance, paired equally with 13 players who made their first World Cup.Pulisic leads all members of the U.S. squad in appearances (84) and goals (32) at the international level. He scored the lone goal of the Americans' only win at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a 1-0 triumph which lifted the U.S. through to the knockout round."I'm so proud to represent this country," Pulisic said Tuesday. "I'm going to do my best to make you guys proud."There were plenty of uncertainties, though, about the roster heading into the reveal.Most notably, 23-year-old midfielder Gio Reyna has made the roster for his second World Cup despite not making a start for the USMNT since last December. That inclusion likely came over Lyon midfielder Tanner Tessmann, who was left off the roster even though he's expected to recover from the muscle strain he's been sidelined by before the World Cup begins next month.Another somewhat surprising roster addition was 28-year-old midfielder Alejandro Zendejas, who likely beat out Real Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna for the spot.The United States squad ranks 16th in the current FIFA/Coca Cola World Ranking. That's been the American team's range since the last World Cup, ranking somewhere between 11th and 18th since 2021.While the United States has qualified for seven of the last eight World Cups since a drought from 1954-86. But the country has advanced past the Round of 16 just once in its last nine appearances, a run to the quarterfinals in 2002.Pochettino, while of Argentinian descent, is a big fan of the 1980 U.S. men's hockey team which stunningly won gold at the Lake Placid Olympics. That has been a rallying camp in the build-up to this home World Cup."We talk with the players about, ‘Why not us? Why not us?' I think it's important to really believe," Pochettino said on the broadcast. "In sport, the first thing is to believe. And then work really hard to try to earn what you want."The U.S. is in Group D of the World Cup, opening play June 12 against Paraguay in Inglewood, Calif., before matches against Australia (June 19 in Seattle) and Turkiye (June 25 in Inglewood, Calif.).The team's final tune-up friendlies are against Senegal (May 31 in Charlotte) and Germany (June 6 in Chicago).UNITED STATES WORLD CUP ROSTER:Goalkeepers: Chris Brady, Matt Freese, Matt TurnerDefenders: Max Arfsten, Sergiño Dest, Alex Freeman, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson, Joe Scally, Auston TrustyMidfielders: Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter, Weston McKennie, Cristian RoldanAttacking midfielders/wingers: Brenden Aaronson, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Malik Tillman, Tim Weah, Alejandro ZendejasForwards: Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Haji WrightSee All Updates