The 2026 FIFA World Cup has kicked off — and HuffPost is live-blogging every twist, turn and controversy 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 tough journey to the competition 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 have kept some fans and officials 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 everyone involved the last time the U.S. hosted the tournament, some 32 years ago, in 1994.President Donald Trump, left, received the FIFA Peace Prize from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, right, in December.Andrew Harnik via Getty ImagesOn the field, the men’s national teams from 48 countries are competing in a record 104 matches across the three host nations in what will be the biggest World Cup in history.The U.S. won its group by beating Paraguay 4-1, Australia 2-0, but losing 3-2 to Turkey. Team USA beat Bosnia & Herzegovina 2-0 in the Round of 32 and will face Belgium in Round of 16 on July 6.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.Check out the full games schedule on the FIFA website.Follow along with our coverage below:World Cup Player Draws Boos From Fans Amid Rape, Sexual Assault ChargesEngland fans made their feelings about Thomas Partey clear during Tuesday's World Cup clash with Ghana, booing the midfielder's early touches after England defender Djed Spence appeared to decline a pre-match handshake with him.Partey's participation at the finals has attracted scrutiny with the former Arsenal player facing seven charges of rape and two of sexual assault in Britain, allegations he has denied.Social media footage appeared to show Tottenham Hotspur defender Spence bypassing a handshake with the 33-year-old former Arsenal midfielder during the pre-match introductions following the national anthems.Partey, who missed Ghana's opening 1-0 win over Panama in Toronto after Canada refused his visa application, was then jeered whenever he received the ball.On Monday, Partey, who is now at Villarreal in Spain's La Liga, had said he felt "OK" and was "ready to play". He was a teammate of England's Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka at Arsenal.Latest Live UpdatesWorld Cup Weather Watch: Paraguay vs. FranceHere's what fans can expect in Philadelphia for the 2026 FIFA World Cup game between Paraguay and France on Saturday, including temperatures, the Fan Comfort Index level and any weather concerns.See more World Cup weather news on The Weather Channel.1/22/2World Cup Weather Watch: Canada vs. MoroccoHere's what fans can expect in Houston for the 2026 FIFA World Cup game between Canada and Morocco on Saturday, including temperatures, the Fan Comfort Index level and any weather concerns.See more World Cup weather news on The Weather Channel.1/22/2FIFA Reportedly Sticking To Schedule For Mexico v. England Game Despite Earlier Concerns Over WeatherNEW YORK, July 3 (Reuters) - FIFA will keep the scheduled kickoff time for Sunday’s World Cup last-16 match between Mexico and England, despite earlier concerns that severe weather could force changes, a source familiar with the discussions told Reuters.Mexico v England at the Azteca Stadium will remain at 6 p.m. local time (0000 GMT), while Brazil v Norway in New York is expected to go ahead at 4 p.m. local time (2000 GMT).FIFA had considered bringing forward the Mexico match because of the forecast conditions.Read more: FIFA Reportedly Mulling Kickoff Time Changes For Mexico-England And Brazil-NorwayMEXICO CITY/NEW YORK, July 3 (Reuters) - FIFA is considering changing the kick-off times of two World Cup last-16 matches on Sunday as severe weather, including a risk of flooding, in Mexico City threatens to disrupt the schedule, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.Mexico’s match against England at the Estadio Azteca could be brought forward because of the forecast conditions, one source said.Mexican media reported that the match would kick off at noon local time (1800 GMT), rather than its originally scheduled 6 p.m. start (0000 GMT).Any change to that fixture could in turn affect the timing of Brazil’s match against Norway in New York, currently scheduled for 4 p.m. local time (2000 GMT), another source said.Read more:Germany Has Iconic New Coach In Mind After World Cup MeltdownGermany's football association (DFB) will start talks with former Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp to take over as national team coach following the departure of Julian Nagelsmann, it said on Friday, as it looks to rebuild after a shock World Cup exit.Germany's defeat to Paraguay on penalties in the round of 32 marked a third consecutive disappointing World Cup campaign for the four-time champions after first-round exits in 2018 and 2022. They last lifted the trophy in 2014.The DFB board said it would start talks with Klopp, long seen as the ideal choice to succeed Nagelsmann."Regarding the appointment of a new head coach, the DFB leadership will now seek talks with Juergen Klopp. He has already signalled his general willingness to take on the role," the DFB said.The 59-year-old Klopp, currently a pundit for German television at the World Cup and global head of soccer at Red Bull, had indicated days ago that he would be open to such a proposal.He is also considered the most popular choice among Germany fans, but caused a stir earlier in the World Cup, and had to apologise, for hinting Nagelsmann's time on the Germany bench could be running out.One of the most successful German club coaches, Klopp, who won domestic league and Cup titles with Borussia Dortmund, was in charge of Liverpool from 2015 to 2024, leading the Merseyside club to almost every major honour during his nine-year spell, including Champions League and Premier League triumphs.Klopp is known for his direct, and at times vocal, communication, a stark opposite to Nagelsmann's style, which was sometimes perceived as abrasive or arrogant. NEW STARTNagelsmann, who immediately after the loss to Paraguay had said he was ready to stay onand fulfil a contract running to 2028, said the World Cup exit now required a new start."My top priority has always been the team's success. After such a bitter disappointment, they deserve the chance for a fresh start," Nagelsmann said in a DFB statement."A special thank you also goes to the fans. You carried us, you trusted us, you gave us energy, even during difficult times. It truly pains me that we disappointed you and couldn't give you any more memorable nights of football at this World Cup."Nagelsmann, 38, who took charge in 2023 and became the youngest coach to lead a team in a World Cup knockout match in four decades, had said after the defeat that he was "not someone to say 'I'm stepping down' just because we were eliminated."His team had reached the quarter-finals at Euro 2024 on home soil in his first tournament in charge.After the team's return to Germany, the DFB's decision to part ways with Nagelsmann came following a three-hour meeting on Thursday."The German Football Association expressly thanks Julian Nagelsmann for his work since September 2023," DFB President Bernd Neuendorf said in a statement."He is characterised by a high level of commitment and extraordinary ambition. Julian Nagelsmann is also an extremely responsible and sincere person whom we all value."Slick Switzerland Sweep Past Algeria Into World Cup Last 16Switzerland's Breel Embolo struck early and Dan Ndoye added a second after the break as they cruised to a 2-0 win over Algeria on Thursday and into the last 16 at the World Cup, where they will meet Colombia or Ghana back in Vancouver next week.The victory was Switzerland's first in the knockout stage since 1938, and they will fancy their chances in the next round after a tactical masterclass orchestrated by coach Murat Yakin.They shifted formations and laid traps for Algeria before hitting them with two sucker-punch goals that decided a contest short on excitement, but full of intrigue and nuance.Pitted against a familiar foe in Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic, who had seven years at the helm of Switzerland between 2014 and 2021, Yakin set his team up to absorb early pressure and strike on the break, and that is exactly what they did."We couldn't underestimate Algeria and we had to be clinical, that clinical finishing made the difference today," striker Embolo said."It gave us the energy we needed in the first half. We could have been even more ruthless in the second half. We played with great maturity. We have to stay humble and keep working."SWISS GRAB EARLY LEAD THROUGH EMBOLOSwitzerland's opener was as simple as it was effective.They won the ball in their own half and sent 20-year-old Johan Manzambi off down the left on the counter, and he squared for Embolo to steer the ball into the net from close range in the 10th minute.The lead secured, Switzerland shifted to a five-man midfield out of possession, snuffing out the space and challenging the Algerians to play through them, but Petkovic's charges struggled to break their opponents down.Algeria's best chance came in first-half stoppage time when Ibrahim Maza dragged a snap shot wide of the near post, one of few efforts on goal they managed in the game.The Swiss struck again almost immediately after the break, attacking down the right before a half-hearted clearance from Rafik Belghali ended up at the feet of Ndoye and the winger placed his shot beyond the dive of goalkeeper Luca Zidane.Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez could have pulled a goal back moments later but he fired straight at a defender from a central position, summing up a frustrating evening for the Algerians.With Granit Xhaka steering Switzerland's defensive shape, they went back to their original game-plan of ceding possession and launching lightning-fast counter-attacks, but the Algerians were wary of committing players forward lest they concede again.Despite the sell-out crowd at BC Place, the last 15 minutes were played in virtual silence, only broken by cheers and then groans as Swiss substitute Fabian Rieder somehow contrived to miss with the goal at his mercy, scuffing his shot back across goal where a grateful Zidane was able to avert the danger.Fortunately for Switzerland it had no bearing on the outcome as they celebrated moving into a last-16 clash on Tuesday.Ndoye capped a superb performance with his well-taken goal, revealing he had waited a long time for it."Before the World Cup, I hadn't played for a long time, so I had to get back into the swing of things. I was really looking for that goal, and sometimes when you look for it too much, it doesn't come," the Nottingham Forest said."Today, I started playing by telling myself, 'Just play the way you know how, don't overthink it,' and it came naturally. Our strength is knowing how to play as a team."Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez announced that the game was his last for the national team."The goal was to progress, and I think it was a game that was within our reach. We conceded two goals on mistakes, and at this level, we pay dearly for that," he said.Asked if Thursday's defeat would be his last match at the World Cup, the 35-year-old went one step further."It's my last appearance even with the national team. It was my last game," he said.Germany Coach OUT After World Cup DisasterGermany coach Julian Nagelsmann has been asked to step down after the team's early World Cup exit, the country's football association DFB said on Friday, saying the 38-year-old had agreed to go following talks with senior German soccer officials."The German Football Association expressly thanks Julian Nagelsmann for his work since September 2023. He is characterised by a high level of commitment and extraordinary ambition. Julian Nagelsmann is also an extremely responsible and sincere person whom we all value," DFB President Bernd Neuendorf said in a statement.'Brutal' World Cup Weather Warning: Argentina vs. Cabo VerdeHere's what fans can expect in Miami for the 2026 FIFA World Cup game between Argentina and Cabo Verde on Friday, including temperatures, the Fan Comfort Index (FCI) level and any weather concerns.See more World Cup weather news on The Weather Channel.1/22/2World Cup Weather Watch: Colombia vs. GhanaHere's what fans can expect in Kansas City for the 2026 FIFA World Cup game between Colombia and Ghana on Friday, including temperatures, the Fan Comfort Index (FCI) level and any weather concerns.See more World Cup weather news on The Weather Channel.1/22/2World Cup Weather Watch: Australia vs. EgyptHere's what fans can expect in Dallas for the 2026 FIFA World Cup game between Australia and Egypt on Friday, including temperatures, the Fan Comfort Index (FCI) level and any weather concerns.See more World Cup weather news on The Weather Channel.1/22/2See All Updates