We’re going to update you on the World Cup from this weekend. This will be short, quick blurbs to get you up-to-speed.
Pulisic Playing Down Injury Concerns
United States star Christian Pulisic played down injury concerns after he was hooked at half-time in the World Cup. He told journalists that it was just a precaution.
“I just got a bit of a kick in the first half, so I’m really hoping that it’s nothing. Taking a little bit of a precaution today. (June 13) But I’m hoping I’ll be fine in the next few days,” said Pulisic, according to the Associated Press.
The AC Milan forward is the US team’s talisman. He shoulders the weight of a nation’s expectations as they try to make history. All of their games will be played on home soil.
Italy Could Qualify For World Cup?
FIFA president Gianni Infantino joked that struggling Italy might manage to qualify for the World Cup if the event were expanded. He is talking about expanding from 48 teams to 64 teams in 2030. The four-time world champion, Italy, failed to qualify for Russia (2018), Qatar (2022), and now the North America (2026). This year’s edition is the first to feature 48 teams.
“We have had discussions about expanding to 64 teams. The matter was presented to the FIFA council,” Infantino told Brazilian digital broadcaster CazeTV on Thursday as reported by TheScore.
England’s Stolen Gear?
Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas said officials at “local, state, and federal levels” were investigating after the World Cup equipment belonging to England was stolen. This was ahead of the team’s arrival at their training base on Saturday (June 14). Balls and boots are reportedly among the items taken after vehicles transporting equipment to the team’s Swope Soccer Village base were broken into, according to the BBC.
Germany’s Neuer Overcomes Calf Injury
Manuel Neuer will start in goal for Germany against Curacao in his fifth World Cup, coach Julian Nagelsmann said on Saturday (June 14). “All the players are fit, and Manu will start,” Nagelsmann said at his pre-match press conference.
Germany dominated from the start, scoring seven goals in a 7-1 rout of Curaçao at Houston’s NRG Stadium. The win gave Germany a strong start in Group E, while Curaçao’s debut ended in a heavy defeat. Nagelsmann warned against complacency, calling it a “David versus Goliath” but stressing the need for a perfect performance.
Somali Ref to Receive Full Pay From FIFA
The Somali referee who was denied entry to the United States will still be paid his full tournament fee. A person with knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press that Omar Srtan will still be entitled to payment despite not officiating any matches. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The fee will be determined after the tournament ends next month.
Spain’s “Limitless” Pedri Becomes Natural Soccer Heir
Pedri watched his heroes, Xavier Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, beat the world from his family’s bar as a little boy. Now he’s chasing the same dream. The 23-year-old has already proven to be a fitting heir to Xavi and Iniesta at the club level with Barcelona. He’s won three La Liga titles. He was also part of the Spanish team that won the European Championships in Germany two years ago. Although he had an injury and did not play in the final stage.
On Monday (June 15), Cape Verde frustrated Spain. The match ended in a 0-0 tie. According to MSN, Spain had almost 75% possession. However, Cape Verde’s first match at a World Cup became a heroic exercise in resistance, discipline, and occasional survival.
UEFA Chief Criticized for Allegedly Saying Bigger World Cup = Less Appeal
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin was criticized on Sunday (June 14) by the soccer governing bodies of Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for allegedly saying the expanded 48-team World Cup creates uninteresting matches. He was quoted by the Slovenian websites, Zumal 24 and Dosi, as remarking on the subject last Monday at a conference in Ljubljana.
According to Zumal 24, Ceferin stated, “We have a huge number of matches that are completely uninteresting.” Adding to the expansion allows small countries to participate and experience the tournament’s excitement. UEFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Japan Fights Back Against the Netherlands
Samurai Blue fans were sent into a frenzy by Japan’s Daichi Kamada on a header from Koki Ogawa’s corner kick. This gave Japan a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in their World Cup opener on Sunday (June 14). The Dutch extended their unbeaten streak to 16 matches in group play. Their fans, the Oranje, were stunned by the late goal that left them at 21-2-11 in group play at the World Cup. The Netherlands most recent loss was before the elimination round in the World Cup in the United States (1994). Their defeat was at the hands of Brazil at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
In Group F, the Netherlands plays Sweden on Saturday in Houston. While Japan will play Tunisia in Monterrey, Mexico, on Saturday.
Please continue to follow The Unlocked Info for future updates and results.