Here are the latest developments from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. All times Eastern:
9:05 p.m.
Busy day and night in the Boston area with a Haitian fan , parties and Scottish fans — known as the Tartan Army — setting up camp and making their presence felt through kilts and random bagpipe performances. The game at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., is now underway. It’s the first World Cup game for both nations in years — Scotland last played in the 1998 tournament, while Haiti played in 1974.
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8:41 p.m.
There’s a heavy police presence outside BC Place Stadium in Vancouver ahead of tonight’s match between Australia and Turkey. With half an hour before gates open, dozens of officers are patrolling outside, some carrying rifles. Officers could also be seen posing with supporters who have started pouring toward the stadium for Vancouver’s first match of the tournament.
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8:34 p.m.
Moments after the final whistle of the 1-1 Brazil-Morocco draw — the only group stage match of the tournament between teams in the top 10 of the FIFA world rankings — the crowd full of more than 75,000 yellow-clad Seleção fans, were still buzzing about Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior’s highlight-reel moment.
With Brazil trailing Morocco more than 30 minutes into each team’s tournament opener Saturday, the soon-to-be 26-year-old left winger passed the ball to Bruno Guimarães to draw in three defenders and then did the rest himself.
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8 p.m.
Despite playing 10 minutes of stoppage time, Brazil and Morocco had to settle for an emotionally-charged 1-1 draw in their Group C opener. Brazil led in shots on target (5-4), yellow cards (2-0) and had a slight advantage in possession (54 per cent to 46). Scotland and Haiti, the other two teams in Group C, will play later tonight in Boston.
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6:55 p.m.
Brazil and Morocco are tied 1-1 after a thrilling first half of their Group C opener. Ismael Saibari chipped a ball past Brazilian keeper Alisson Becker to give Morocco a lead in the 21st minute. Vinicius Junior equalized in the 32nd minute by cutting in and curling a shot into the net.
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6 p.m.
Brazil’s quest for a sixth World Cup starts now. Brazil faces Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., to kick off Group C play. It’s a marquee matchup between a pair of top-10 teams, with Brazil in sixth and Morocco seventh in the FIFA rankings. Brazil last won the World Cup in 2002. Morocco, meanwhile, became the first African and Arab nation to reach the tournament’s semifinals in 2022.
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5:32 p.m.
Ramazan Kilic is one of thousands of Turkish fans gathering in Vancouver for tonight’s first-ever men’s World Cup match in the city. Turkey opens its tournament against Australia tonight at BC Place Stadium. Kilic says he will get goosebumps when Turkey’s national anthem rings around the venue. He bought four tickets for a total of $5,000, purchasing his seats before prices started to drop as matchday approached. He calls it “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
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5:09 p.m.
Boualem Khouki’s stoppage-time equalizer helps Qatar steal a 1-1 draw with favoured Switzerland in its World Cup opener, securing the country’s first-ever point at the tournament. Khouki headed in a cross from Homam El Amin to stun the Swiss, who dominated play with 68 per cent possession. The result creates a four-way tie in Group B after Canada drew Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-1 on Friday. Canada faces Qatar and Bosnia takes on Switzerland on Thursday.
Qatar players celebrate after scoring during the World Cup Group B soccer match between Qatar and Switzerland in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
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3:56 p.m.
Switzerland leads Qatar 1-0 at halftime in its World Cup opener. Swiss striker Breel Embolo calmly slotted home a penalty kick past keeper Mahmoud Abunada in the 17th minute to put the team ahead in a one-sided first 45 minutes.
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3 p.m.
Play is underway between Canada’s next two opponents to kick off today’s action. Qatar and Switzerland meet at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in the second Group B match, a day after Canada opened with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto. Switzerland sits 19th in the FIFA rankings and is favoured to win the group. Canada is ranked 30th, followed by No. 56 Qatar and No. 64 Bosnia-Herzegovina. Canada faces Qatar on Thursday and Switzerland on June 24, with both matches in Vancouver.
Members of the Swiss team warm up ahead of the start of the World Cup Group B soccer match between Qatar and Switzerland in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)
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1:26 p.m.
Two Peruvian police officers disguised as World Cup mascots Maple and Clutch helped arrest a suspected drug dealer during Thursday’s tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City. Maple is a moose representing Canada, while Clutch is a bald eagle representing the United States. Police in Lima said the undercover agents used a sledgehammer to break down a door before arresting 48-year-old suspect Carlos Cabrera. Authorities said they found 2,524 packets of cocaine base and a firearm.
Chief Operating Officer Canada for FIFA Peter Montopoli is joins by mascots from left to right, Maple, Zayu and Clutch during remarks to soccer fans who gathered on the grounds of the legislature to take part in the FIFA World Cup 2026 countdown celebration event in Victoria, B.C., on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
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12:10 p.m.
Police detained two people while investigating the possible theft of equipment from an England team vehicle in Kansas City, Missouri. The incident occurred last night as staff prepared the team’s base at Swope Soccer Village ahead of the squad’s arrival from Florida. The English Football Association confirmed the possible theft to The Associated Press but said it could not provide further information. England opens Group L play against Croatia on Wednesday at Dallas Stadium.
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10:32 a.m.
The World Cup has gotten off to a strong start for the three co-host nations. Mexico opened the tournament with a 2-0 win over South Africa on Thursday, the United States followed with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay last night, and Canada earned a 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina earlier in the day. Host nations now have an all-time record of 18 wins, one loss and seven draws in World Cup openers, with Qatar’s 2-0 defeat to Ecuador in 2022 remaining the only opening-game loss by a host country.
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10:23 a.m.
Canada is headed to Vancouver after opening its home World Cup with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto on Friday. Cyle Larin scored a late equalizer for Canada, which earned its first point in seven all-time World Cup matches. The Canadians will face Qatar on Thursday at BC Place before wrapping up group-stage play against Switzerland on June 24.
Science World, which has been transformed into a FIFA World Cup Trionda soccer ball, is seen near B.C. Place stadium, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
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10:20 a.m.
The FIFA World Cup arrives in Vancouver tonight when Australia faces Turkey in the first tournament match, 9 p.m., at BC Place. The game will provide the first World Cup test for the stadium’s new natural grass playing surface, a temporary pitch installed over artificial turf to meet FIFA requirements. The field is supported by irrigation, ventilation and UV-light systems and has undergone months of preparation ahead of the tournament.
Turkish fans cheer as the team arrives at their hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, June 11, 2026, ahead of the World Cup soccer match between Turkey and Australia. (AP Photo/Emma Peterson)
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10:15 a.m.
Ghana has protested Canada’s decision to deny Thomas Partey a visa for the World Cup and says it is considering legal action to overturn the ruling. The Ghanaian government said Canadian authorities found the midfielder inadmissible because he is awaiting trial in England on multiple rape charges, which Partey denies. Ghana opens its tournament Wednesday against Panama in Toronto.
FILE — Villarreal’s Thomas Partey sits on the bench during the Champions League soccer match between Tottenham and Villarreal in London, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Walton, File)
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10:10 a.m.
Day 3 of the FIFA World Cup features four group-stage matches, beginning with Qatar against Switzerland in Santa Clara, Calif. The day’s marquee matchup sees sixth-ranked Brazil take on seventh-ranked Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J. Haiti faces Scotland in a meeting of two teams returning to the tournament after long absences, while Australia opens its campaign against Turkey in Vancouver.
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With files from The Associated Press.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 13, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
