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. beat Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles on June 12 and won 2-0 against Australia in Seattle on June 19. The USMNT will be back in Los Angeles on June 25 for the final group game before 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:Mamdani Goes Global, Talks World Cup And Trump During British Radio InterviewNew York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Thursday went on an overseas charm offensive during a wide-ranging interview with the BBC, the British state broadcaster.Fresh off successes in the city’s primary elections, Mamdani appeared on radio station 5 Live's “Football Daily Podcast,” which was broadcasting from a diner in New York City as part of the BBC's World Cup coverage.The Democratic Party politician, a staunch fan of English soccer team Arsenal, was questioned by host Mark Chapman about the tournament, his love of sport, and President Donald Trump.Mamdani, who was born and raised in Uganda before moving to New York City at age 7, spoke about how playing chess helped him to feel a sense of belonging when he arrived in the U.S.“Initially I fell in love with chess, and then very quickly it became soccer, football,” he said.On the World Cup, he argued New York City would benefit from not having to build “white elephant” new stadiums, and instead has focused on “lasting investments” that will help support the next generation of U.S. soccer stars.But he was critical of how organizer FIFA has left American taxpayers and consumers on the hook for some costs, including the infamous $98 round-trip train ticket to New Jersey's MetLife Stadium.“There's more than enough money that's generated in this World Cup, as well as any World Cup, for those kinds of costs to be covered,” he said.Mamdani was asked about Trump's notorious Game 3 appearance at the NBA Finals, and how that might compare to his expected attendance at the World Cup Final. He noted that there is “a lot more of a buffer zone, to put it in one way, with the larger public” at MetLife Stadium.As the 15-minute interview wound down, Mamdani, 34, also impressed Chapman with his knowledge of English cricket team players from the mid-2000s, including legends Freddie Flintoff and James Anderson.“I even remember the commentators, who obviously were former players, but I just grew up with listening to [former England captain] Nasser Hussain,” Mamdani said.“Amazing,” replied the host.Mexico World Cup Celebration Ends In Chaos After Car Injures 17Over a dozen people were injured on Wednesday night when a vehicle drove through a crowd in the popular tourist resort of Cabo San Lucas during a celebration of Mexico’s World Cup match victory, Los Cabos’ city hall said in a statement.“According to preliminary information, the vehicle was surrounded by a group of people and, for reasons to be determined by the competent authority, drove through the crowd, injuring several people,” the city hall added.A total of 17 people received medical treatment, the statement added, including the driver, who was arrested.Read more here:Team USA Faces Turkey Thursday In Final World Cup Group-Stage MatchThe U.S. men's national soccer team will play its final World Cup group-stage match against Turkey at SoFi Stadium (rebranded as Los Angeles Stadium for the tournament) in Inglewood, California, on Thursday.Kickoff is set for 10 p.m. ET.The Americans have already secured the top spot in Group D after beating Paraguay 4-1 and Australia 2-0.Turkey has already been eliminated from the tournament.The U.S. has also clinched a place in the knockout stage, where it is expected to face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32.Check the weather forecast for the match here.World Cup Weather Watch: Paraguay vs. AustraliaHere's what fans can expect in the San Francisco Bay Area for the 2026 FIFA World Cup game between Paraguay and Australia on Thursday, 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: Curaçao vs. Ivory CoastHere's what fans can expect in Philadelphia for the 2026 FIFA World Cup game between Curaçao and Ivory Coast on Thursday, 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: Ecuador vs. GermanyHere's what fans can expect in New Jersey for the 2026 FIFA World Cup game between Ecuador and Germany on Thursday, 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: Turkey vs. USAHere's what fans can expect in Los Angeles for the 2026 FIFA World Cup game between Turkey and the U.S. on Thursday, 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: Tunisia vs. NetherlandsHere's what fans can expect in Kansas City for the 2026 FIFA World Cup game between Tunisia and the Netherlands on Thursday, 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: Japan vs. SwedenHere's what fans can expect in Dallas for the 2026 FIFA World Cup game between Japan and Sweden on Thursday, including temperatures, the Fan Comfort Index (FCI) level and any weather concerns.See more World Cup weather news on The Weather Channel.1/22/2Fresh Travel Drama Hits Iran's World Cup Team In The U.S.U.S. host officials "caused problems" for Iran forward Mehdi Taremi and assistant coach Saeed Alhoei, delaying their delegation as they travelled to Seattle for the World Cup match against Egypt, Iran's football federation said on Wednesday.Iran's ISNA news agency, citing the federation, said team members were waiting for Taremi and Alhoei to rejoin the group.The reported incident comes days after U.S. authorities eased travel restrictions on Iran's World Cup delegation following complaints from Tehran and the team that strict entry rules were disrupting preparations.It was not immediately clear what caused the latest delay. U.S. authorities did not immediately comment. U.S. officials had previously required Iran, who are based in Tijuana, Mexico during the tournament, to enter the United States only shortly before matches and leave soon afterwards.Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei had criticised the arrangements as unfair and said repeated cross-border travel left his players fatigued. U.S. authorities this week allowed the team to arrive in Seattle two days before their match against Egypt on Friday, granting greater flexibility than for their earlier games.Relations between Washington and Tehran have added political sensitivity to Iran's participation in the World Cup, with the team facing heightened travel and security restrictions throughout the tournament.World Cup Coach Calls For Major Change To Controversial Hydration BreaksParaguay coach Gustavo Alfaro once again voiced his disdain for World Cup hydration breaks on Wednesday, calling for them to be used only in special cases to prevent matches from becoming games of four quarters.The straight-talking Argentinian, among the most outspoken figures at this World Cup, said football's continuity was being threatened and cooling breaks should only be used in extreme conditions, with agreement from both teams."These are more than hydration breaks. I know this applies to everybody, but I like continuity. Football is continuity and continuity is broken," he told a press conference that lasted close to an hour.Alfaro vented his frustration on Sunday at the drinks breaks, saying they were for commercial interests, while accusing football's business elite of hurting fans with eye-watering ticket prices in a sport played and followed primarily by the working classes.FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended cooling breaks, saying their usage was driven purely by sporting considerations.LONG AND DISRUPTIVEOn Wednesday, Alfaro said the enforced breaks were too long and had prevented his team from getting back into the game during their 4-1 drubbing by the United States, and disrupted their momentum in chasing a second goal in their win over Turkey."We end up having four quarters instead of two halves," he said. "If this were optional as in the past, people would agree before the match and take into account the temperature and other factors, they would agree on having a break. That's it.""But now it's mandatory. We cannot discuss it," he added.Paraguay are seeking to make history against Australia in Thursday's final Group D match in the San Francisco Bay Area, hoping for their first-ever back-to-back wins at a World Cup.With the United States having already sealed top spot in Group D and Turkey eliminated, Australia and Paraguay will battle for second place to earn what could be an easier opponent in the round of 32.Alfaro said his team would approach the game with patience and caution and use tactics that would consider the capabilities of Australia and factor in the Socceroos' height advantage.Reaching the next round was Paraguay's only goal, he said, whether in second or third place, and his players had the commitment, soul and spirit to get there."You know, we believe in divine justice and I think at some point that needs to favour us," he said.Homophobic Chant Returns In Mexico's World Cup Match Against The Czech RepublicFans at Mexico’s final World Cup group stage match on Wednesday chanted a slur that has previously led to fines and other sanctions against the country’s soccer federation.The slur, which literally means male prostitute in Spanish, could be heard at the Azteca stadium toward the end of the first half when Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar took a goal kick.The chant has cost Mexico hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines levied by FIFA. It rose to popularity roughly 25 years ago and is used to intimidate goalkeepers when they take goal kicks.Read more from the Associated Press here: FIFA Will Not Prevent Fans From Bringing Pride Flags To Egypt vs. Iran MatchFIFA will not prevent fans in Seattle from bringing Pride flags to Friday's match between Iran and Egypt, despite objections from both teams, according to a report from The Telegraph.The "Pride Match" coincides with Seattle's annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. “The FIFA World Cup 2026 is an inclusive event that welcomes people from all backgrounds. Fans of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome at matches and events," a FIFA spokesperson told The Telegraph. Iran and Egypt had heavily lobbied FIFA against scheduling the match during Seattle's PrideFest, which attracts more than 200,000 participants annually, per the report. The Egyptian Football Association said in a statement on Tuesday that it was "categorically rejecting any activities related to supporting homosexuality during the match."According to Human Rights Watch, members of the LGBTQ+ community in Egypt are often subject to persecution, with the government refusing to "recognize the existence of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender."Same-sex couples can face the death penalty in Iran. Read more from The Telegraph here:Viral Sensation Merlín The Duck Takes A Trip To The World Cup, But FIFA Rules Keep Him OutOne of the biggest folk heroes of this World Cup, Merlín the duck arrived outside Mexico City’s stadium on Wednesday to great fanfare — but was ultimately told he could not remain for Mexico’s match against the Czech Republic.After winning hearts across social media, supporters had launched an effort urging organizers to allow the beloved bird to attend the match alongside his family. In less than two weeks, Merlín went from waddling through the streets of Mexico City during Mexico’s opening victory to visiting the presidential palace. But on Wednesday, his proverbial flight was cut short.Merlín was granted access to the Azteca Stadium grounds to film a segment with Televisa, one of Latin America’s largest television networks. Under strict security protocols, Merlín traveled comfortably inside a transport crate, accompanied by owner Carla Gómez and her son Cristian, as curious fans gathered to catch a glimpse of the tournament’s most unexpected star. However, he could not remain for the match, as FIFA regulations prohibit animals from entering venues in order to safeguard their well-being.A FIFA tournament spokesperson confirmed Merlín was permitted to enter the perimeter but not the stadium, and did not offer further comment.Read more from the Associated Press here: A World Cup Player Facing Rape Charges Was Apparently Snubbed By An Opponent — And It's Going Super ViralAs far as World Cup soccer games go, yesterday's 0-0 face-off between England and Ghana was pretty uneventful. But one on-pitch moment has still given people plenty to talk about.Footage from the game in Boston showed that one England player, Djed Spence, appeared to refuse a handshake from Ghana's Thomas Partey.Partey is currently facing seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault regarding allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges and is due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court in London next year.The apparent snub from Spence was not shown during the live TV coverage, but photos and video of the moment have sparked online reactions.Read more here:FIFA Keeps Saudi And Iraqi Flags Off Ground During World Cup CeremoniesFlags of countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq will not be placed on the ground during pre-match activities at the World Cup as they bear sacred Islamic text.At World Cup matches across the United States, Canada and Mexico, massive flags of the two teams have been unfurled in each half of the pitch and placed on the ground as the squads line up near the centre circle for the national anthems.However, when Saudi Arabia and Iraq play, the flags of both teams are held up over the ground, ensuring the pre-match pageantry can continue while respecting the religious significance of the Islamic inscriptions that adorn the flags."As part of the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony enhancements, FIFA introduced a new fan-centric presentation," a FIFA spokesperson told Reuters. "In delivering these ceremonies, FIFA worked closely with the participating teams to accommodate reasonable presentation requests."The flag of Saudi Arabia contains the Shahada, the Islamic declaration of faith, which says: "There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."Meanwhile, the flag of Iraq contains the phrase "Allahu akbar", which translates to "God is Greatest." Muslims consider it disrespectful if the flags are placed on the ground or floor where people walk.Trump-Allied FIFA President Insists World Cup Hydration Breaks Aren't A Money-Making SchemeFIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the introduction of hydration breaks at the World Cup, insisting that for football's governing body they are driven purely by sporting considerations and not commercial interests.Mandatory three-minute breaks, introduced in the 22nd and 67th minutes of every match at the tournament, have drawn criticism from players, coaches and fans since the opening round of fixtures.The breaks, introduced to help players cope with high temperatures across North America, have opened up additional advertising windows for broadcasters.This has fuelled debate over their impact on the game, with some viewers complaining about being exposed to commercials during the three-minute stoppages."There is no additional revenue for FIFA, as all commercial agreements were signed well in advance. So, this is not a financial issue for us. For us, it is purely a sporting matter," Infantino said in a statement on Wednesday.The breaks allow coaching staff to give in-game tactical instructions, a shift critics say disrupts match momentum and fundamentally alters the nature of the game.England manager Thomas Tuchel said the additional break "interrupts and changes the identity of the football match", while Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa said dividing matches into shorter segments takes away the fundamental characteristic of the game.Spain coach Luis de la Fuente and Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk have supported the intent behind the rule in extreme heat, but questioned the need for it in cooler conditions and at covered venues."The main reason is the heat, but we also have to understand that in a competition like the (FIFA) World Cup, played over 39 days, with teams potentially playing eight matches in those 39 days, having a moment to rest is extremely important,” Infantino said."What matters even more to us is ensuring that all teams, in every match, are playing under the same conditions."It's very difficult to accept that a coach might have the opportunity to influence a match by making adjustments simply because it's hotter, while in another match, where the temperature is slightly lower, the same coach doesn’t have the same opportunity."Infantino added that the breaks had not reduced the intensity of matches, suggesting players were able to maintain a high level of performance throughout games.World Cup Weather Watch: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. QatarHere's what fans can expect in Seattle for the 2026 FIFA World Cup game between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Qatar on Wednesday, 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 Warning: Scotland vs. BrazilHere's what fans can expect in Miami for the 2026 FIFA World Cup game between Scotland and Brazil on Wednesday, 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: Morocco vs. HaitiHere's what fans can expect in Atlanta for the 2026 FIFA World Cup game between Morocco and Haiti on Wednesday, including temperatures, the Fan Comfort Index (FCI) level and any weather concerns.See more World Cup weather news on The Weather Channel.1/22/2FIFA Confirms Trump Will Get Chance To Make World Cup Final All About HimselfU.S. President Donald Trump will be on hand to present the World Cup final trophy on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Tuesday.Read more here: