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. The Americans beat Bosnia & Herzegovina 2-0 in the Round of 32 but lost 4-1 to Belgium in the Round of 16.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:Team USA Just Pulled Off A World Cup Ratings RecordThe United States' World Cup knockout victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday was the most-watched English-language soccer broadcast in U.S. history, according to Fox Sports.Fox reported a record-breaking average viewership of 24.429 million, citing Nielsen preliminary data. The peak audience clocked in at 31.883 million during the 9:45-10 p.m. ET window as the match neared its conclusion.The co-hosts of this year's tournament, the United States played the round of 32 match in Santa Clara, Calif. It helped that the match began in prime time on the East Coast at 8 p.m. ET.With goals by Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman, the U.S. beat Bosnia 2-0 to win a World Cup knockout stage for the first time since a round of 16 victory in 2002. They advanced to face Belgium on Monday in Seattle.The average viewership came close to the numbers for the New York Knicks' title-clinching Game 5 win against the San Antonio Spurs last month, which posted 24.5 million viewers on average. Similarly, Game 7 of the World Series last fall, in which the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays, put up an average of almost 26 million.Latest Live UpdatesJimmy Fallon Puts Trump's Iran War Debacle In World Cup TermsJimmy Fallon on Monday put President Donald Trump’s Iran war ceasefire collapse into terms that World Cup fans could understand. Read more below.Astonishing New Detail Emerges In Trump’s World Cup Red-Card InterventionJust one FIFA disciplinary official made the World Cup-rocking decision to reinstate Folarin Balogun after the American star was issued a red card in the round of 32, the Times of London reported Sunday. Read more below.Mamdani Puts Gloss On U.S. Defeat: 'We Too Are A Soccer Country'New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday pointed to the positives to be taken from the World Cup despite President Donald Trump's meddling and the U.S. team’s World Cup exit at the hands of Belgium.Speaking to reporters while announcing the Gotham FC women's team's move to a new soccer stadium in the city, Mamdani was asked about Trump's efforts to get Folarin Balogun’s red card reversed ahead of Monday's 4-1 loss to the Belgians.Mamdani, who had previously only posted a classic soccer meme by way of comment on the situation, said it was a “cruel red card” but would not be drawn further. Instead, the staunch Arsenal fan said: “It was a very difficult night, and yet the difficulty doesn't take away from our pride in the players, our pride in the team, and in the fact that across the nation people were united in not only an appreciation of what we've seen out there over the last few weeks, but also a recognition of the fact that we too are a soccer country, and we're so excited to see what that's going to look like in the days and weeks and months and years to come.”U.S. Coach Pochettino Addresses Future After World Cup ExitMauricio Pochettino certainly sounds open to staying on as coach of the United States men's national team, but said he will take time after Monday's 4-1 loss to Belgium before making any final decisions.Pochettino, 54, signed a contract in the summer of 2024 that expires after this World Cup, but he reportedly has an offer on the table to continue leading the USMNT through the 2030 World Cup."We have built a good relationship," Pochettino said of the United States Soccer Federation. "But now is not the time to talk about that. Right now, it's about resting a little bit, to have some recuperation."He led the USMNT to the top of the Group D standings and a round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina before Monday night's defeat. Despite admitting the three-goal loss "hurts," Pochettino said he has seen significant growth in the US team since taking over."To grow, it's not like you're on a rocket," he said. "In one year I see this team can play football, can play soccer. We can compete. And a young generation of players coming behind."We know the process is always about four years. Now we have a complete assessment about a lot of players. We have set the foundation to be successful in the future."The Argentine previously managed England's Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur and France's Paris Saint-Germain, among other clubs.If he signs up for another four-year cycle, Pochettino would look to take the U.S. through CONCACAF qualifying for the 2030 FIFA World Cup that will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain.World Cup Weather Watch: Argentina vs. EgyptHere's what fans can expect in Atlanta for the 2026 FIFA World Cup game between Argentina and Egypt on Tuesday, including temperatures, the Fan Comfort Index (FCI) level and any weather concerns.See more World Cup weather news on The Weather Channel.1/22/2Hundreds Of Drones Have Been Seized Near World Cup VenuesU.S. agencies have seized over 600 drones near FIFA World Cup venues and fan zones since the start of the tournament on June 11, the Transportation Security Administration said on Monday.On match days, all aircraft operations, including drones, are prohibited within a radius of three nautical miles and up to 3,000 feet (914 meters) above ground level around the stadiums unless specifically authorized by air traffic controllers. The FBI said drones have been seized from restricted airspace across all 11 U.S. host cities.The FBI said that 130 drones had been seized in Miami alone, and over 70 in Dallas during five matches.The Federal Aviation Administration has barred drones from flying over matches and related fan gatherings across the United States.At fan gatherings, drones are barred within a one-nautical-mile radius and up to 1,000 feet above ground level.Drone operators who enter restricted airspace without approval can face fines of up to $100,000, along with criminal charges and confiscation of their drone, the FBI said. The FBI has teams stationed around World Cup stadiums to detect and disable unauthorized drones.Cristobal Torres Alvarez, a 40-year-old Mexican national, was charged last week with flying a drone in restricted airspace around Dallas Stadium ahead of a match.In 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to bolster U.S. defenses against threatening drones, and the Homeland Security Department has installed new counter-drone defense systems at the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas.There have been numerous drone incidents in prior years over major U.S. sporting events.In 2025, a man pleaded guilty after he was charged with violating defense airspace by flying a drone over a National Football League playoff game in Baltimore.Trump’s Infamous Post Comes Back To Haunt Him After U.S. World Cup LossDonald Trump was mercilessly trolled on social media after the United States’ World Cup dream ended with a 4-1 defeat in the Round of 16 to Belgium on Monday.Read more here:France World Cup Star Fires Back At Paraguayan Senator's Racist AttackFrance striker Kylian Mbappe hit back at a Paraguayan senator, describing her as a “despicable woman” on Monday after she launched a racist attack on him following Paraguay’s elimination from the World Cup.Read more here:Belgium World Cup Star Suffered 'Serious Injury' Against U.S.Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said Amadou Onana suffered a "serious injury" in Monday's 4-1 victory over the United States that will almost certainly keep the midfielder out of Friday's World Cup quarterfinal match against Spain.Onana went down in the 19th minute while marking the US's Christian Pulisic and grabbed his right knee in obvious pain. The 24-year-old attempted to continue but was replaced two minutes later by Hans Vanaken, who went on to score the Red Devils' third goal.Garcia said after the match that Onana's injury was serious and called it the "one dark cloud over tonight."Onana had played a significant role in Belgium's quick start at Seattle Stadium, consistently disrupting the United States' midfield connections and helping to execute the Red Devils' plan to create a high-pressing game plan.He was seen on crutches and wearing a brace on his right knee during Belgium's post-match celebration on the pitch."It's not good news for him as an individual or for us as a team," Garcia said. "I do have the feeling that he is out."U.S. Coach Delivers Brutally Honest Verdict After Crashing Out Of World CupUnited States coach Mauricio Pochettino said his side failed to show their true level in a crushing 4-1 defeat by Belgium in the World Cup round of 16 on Monday, as he declined to blame off-field distractions for the hosts' exit.Roared on by a fervent home crowd in Seattle and buoyed by impressive wins in the group stage and round of 32, the U.S. had entered the match with belief they could upset a Belgium team many considered vulnerable.Instead, Pochettino's side produced their most hesitant display of the tournament and were punished by a clinical Belgian team. "We didn't show our real quality as a team," Pochettino told a press conference. "We never connected with the game. Belgium were better than us, and that's it. It was a very bad day. It wasn't our day, collectively or individually. In a tournament like the World Cup, when that happens in a knockout stage, you are out and you need to go home."The U.S. briefly appeared to have found a foothold when Malik Tillman scored to make it 1-1, but Belgium quickly regained control, leaving Pochettino frustrated by his team's inability to build on the equaliser. "Even when we scored, in the next action we conceded," he said. "Normally you cannot concede in that moment."Pochettino rejected suggestions that controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun's availability, after FIFA suspended his red-card ban and Belgium's appeal was dismissed, had affected the team's performance."We were not good enough today. We don't need to find excuses," he said. "All that was happening around was around, but it wasn't a situation that affected us."Pochettino's contract expires after the World Cup, and he said no decision had been made on whether he would continue."Now is a moment to rest a little bit, to think, to have conversations and then see what the decision is from the federation and from us," he said.Despite the heavy defeat, Pochettino defended the team's progress, saying the U.S. had taken major steps in the past year."We need to keep improving," he said. "But I am proud. I think we settled the principles for the future."See All Updates