FIFA news: Socceroos injury fears on eve of World Cup opener

World Cup daily news. We will bring you the latest from around the world as we countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

The Socceroos have a fresh injury fears just days out from their opening World Cup clash against Türkiye.

Word from the USA is that Mo Toure took no part in Australia's latest training session - only part of which was open to the media.

The Norwich striker was at the facility and was included in the team photo but was nowhere to be seen afterwards.

Defender Milos Degenek has assured onlookers that Toure will train at tomorrow's open session.

“Mo’s expected to train tomorrow. There you go,” he said.

“Answered that before you asked it.

“I didn’t notice he wasn’t out there because a lot of the session was separate parts, attack, defence.

“But you’ll see him tomorrow. And I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to speak to you guys.”

Toure suffered from a hamstring injury with Norwich during the season, sidelining him for a number of weeks in the lead up to the World Cup.

Star left back Jordan Bos also commented on Mo's absence.

“I actually don’t (know), it was during training I noticed he wasn’t in there,” said Bos.

“I don’t know why he wasn’t (there).

“He’s a big asset to us, been doing really well for his new club, scoring goals, his power and everything about him – great asset for us.”

Should Toure not be available this weekend, it leaves Australia with just one fit striker in Tete Yengi who has only played for Australia once.

“Chill, relax” - Infantino defends negative World Cup lead-up

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended his organisation’s running and handling of the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

Story after story of people being denied entry into the USA along with seemingly extortionate ticket, travel and accommodation prices has already tarnished the tournament before a ball has been kicked in anger.

Not to mention the ongoing situation with Iran.

Despite the negativity surrounding the World Cup thus far, Infantino reckons we all need to “chill” and “relax”.

“We don’t live on the moon, we live on planet Earth,” Infantino said at a rare press conference in Mexico City.

“We have to respect that we are not kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces. We are a sports organisation that does as much as we can.

“It’s important sometimes to chill, relax. We work on everything. Sometimes screaming and shouting does not find a solution.”

He added: “When I say chill I don’t mean sit and do nothing. I mean trust us that we are trying to find solutions. Sometimes we are successful, sometimes we are not.”

Infantino staunchly defended FIFA’s ticketing which has seen prices soar.

“Until today we have sold over six million tickets,” he said further.

“The demand has been unprecedented, not by a little bit, but by a factor of 10 or more.

“The World Cup is a unique event that takes place every four years, and when you’re in one country you need to deal with local habits and local customs. Our entry price at $60 is the lowest of all the American sports in the playoff phases. Our average price of $500 is lower than the average price for American playoffs.

“You can at least compare the World Cup with the playoffs. When we put tickets on sale on the secondary market they are sold at a much higher price, which shows the original price was accurate.

“What’s most important in all of this is that every dollar we generate goes back into football. If we were selling our TV rights to pay-TV, like everyone else, we would generate four times as much revenue. And we could give all the tickets away, but they would still end up on the black market.

“As FIFA president we have to strike a balance. We invest in countries where no one else does – South Sudan, Bhutan. No one else is doing this.”

The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off Friday morning at 5am AEST when one of the three host nations - Mexico - meets South Africa in Mexico City.

Why Man Utd great is frightened for England

Gary Neville is frightened for England’s chances in the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

The former Manchester United right-back, who played 85 times for England, is worried that Thomas Tuchel’s squad is lacking a key element to go all the way in the tournament.

The main reason being they do not have enough possession-based players to match it with the likes of Portugal, France, Spain and Brazil.

“The bit that frightens me to death and and I’m pretty sure it will cost us - I hope I’m wrong,” Neville said on The Overlap podcast.

“England have been knocked out of tournaments for 20-odd years. In the last three Finals that we’ve played - against Croatia in a Semi Final (World Cup 2018), Italy in a Final (Euro 2020), Spain in a Final (Euro 2024) - when we play in conditions later in a tournament, slightly fatigued, and teams keep the ball off us, we are unable to get through that match at the last stages of a tournament.

“And it will happen again.

“Because with the squad that he’s picked any option of us being a possession team has gone. We are not a possession team in this tournament, which I don’t mind. We are a counter-attacking team against the top teams.

“You’ve got Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon - you can’t keep possession with those. You’ve got Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka on this side (the right), you’ve got a midfield of Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson who won’t be able to compete with the best midfields of Portugal, France, Spain and Brazil when it comes to rotation and keeping the ball.

“You’ve got Harry Kane who drops in with probably a Jude Bellingham or a Morgan Rogers, so you’re not keeping possession against the top teams, it’s impossible.

“I’m telling you now, those four teams that I’ve named will keep the ball a lot longer than ours.

“At that point when you’ve played up to six games, you’ve travelled all over America and elsewhere, I think that will be the point where the engine goes and the petrol runs out.

“That is my concern again that we’ve picked (a team that won’t hold possession).

“I’m hoping Thomas Tuchel proves me wrong. He needs to find a way to get over the line somehow.”

England kicks off their Eorld Cup campaign against Croatia at 6am AEST next Thursday, June 18.

England winger's World Cup in doubt

It's been 60 years since England won the World Cup and they've run into a major injury concern ahead of this year's event with news Bukayo Saka is not fit.

The Arsenal winger, who played through the pain to help his club claim the Premier League title, is sitting out of training sessions in America with just days until England's opening clash.

An Achilles injury is hampering his preparations.

“Bukayo is still getting there, playing through discomfort at the end of the season, but obviously managing it and playing at a high level," England manager Thomas Tuchel said.

“But he is still not 100 per cent for us. Some things are missing for Bukayo in terms of consecutive training.

“Arsenal took very good care of him and were very aware of it. So step-by-step, he is at the moment not able to do every training session through the week and then play.

“I didn’t say Bukayo was not ready to start. But I think it is very unlikely Bukayo starts and finishes the matches all from now on.”

"Trump World Cup is a disgrace": Aussie icon unleashes

Australian legend Craig Foster has unleashed on Donald Trump and the USA for the relentless headlines involving visas, refusal of entry and political turmoil surrounding the World Cup.

On Tuesday, Somalian referee Omar Artan - who was set to make history as the first person from his country to officiate at a World Cup - was denied entry to the USA because of the Trump administration's immigration regulations.

Artan was selected among 51 others for this year's tournament.

His story is not the first relating to the World Cup that details individuals or groups being denied entry to the USA whihc will play host to the 48-nation tournament along with Canada and Mexico.

"While it was inevitable, the events of the past few days have been as bad as anticipated," Foster said in a lengthy LinkedIn post. "A Somalian referee denied entry though on a diplomatic passport and visa, players stopped from entering the US, staff not allowed to travel of multiple teams, staff and fans given single entry visas to the US so they can’t see matches in Canada or Mexico.

"The 2026 Trump World Cup is a disgrace to the essence of the beautiful game, which is about the players, first, and the fans.

"It has always been a tool for national propoganda, all major sporting events are, and there have been many instances from 1934, 1978, 2018, 2022 with fascist governments, military juntas, anti-gay laws and annexation of Crimea being waved away and worker fatalities in Qatar which were awful, but never have the players, staff and fans been treated as criminals, and different countries given such disparate welcomes.

"We’ve seen some teams, ally countries of the US welcomed warmly, while others are searched, mass security presences around the team buses, the idea being that they’re all potential criminals with staff denied entry, players delayed and searched, and a Somalian referee’s visa revoked.

"This is unprecedented. But this is Trump’s US. Thank god the football is starting soon. But the discussion about the lack of ethics, morality and principles of FIFA will only gain further traction throughout."

"World Cup of chaos"

The tournament is not even under way and an England legend has slammed organisers after a referee approved to officiate during the tournament was denied entry to the USA.

Somalian referee Omar Artan was set to make history as the first person from his country to officiate at a World Cup after being selected among 51 others for this year's tournament.

After being refused entry in Florida, FIFA has now confirmed he will no longer play a role.

The incident doesn't sit well with former England sensation Ian Wright who took aim at the big bosses for a series of issues that have marred the lead up to the event.

"I've just read that the Somalian referee has been denied entry," Wright said on social media.

"Every few hours it's another story, another story about fans denied, players denied, officials denied, journalists denied, now refs.

"You know something I'm laughing but it's not funny, it's actually not funny and something has to be said.

"The expensive tickets, the most expensive tickets ever, expensive accommodation, transport through the roof. It has to be said.

"Is this how the hosts behave really for the greatest game, the greatest tournament in the world, is this how the hosts behave?

"Are we not hearing more? Are we seeing how Qatar got dragged, are we not hearing more? Is this the spirit of football, really?

"You know who I feel for? I feel for the American fans who are desperate for this, American soccer fans who are desperate for this, how embarrassed they must be. How embarrassing for them this must be.

"This is the World Cup, this is a World Cup of chaos. Whoever wins this World Cup is going to have to go through some serious chaos to get this done.

"I hope we can do it, but something has to be said now. This is the World Cup."

Jota is with you

Almost a year on from his tragic death, the widow of Liverpool star Diogo Jota has penned an emotional letter to his teammate Andy Robertson as he prepares to lead Scotland at the World Cup.

The pair played together and formed a strong friendship away from the field before the 28 year-old was killed in a car accident in July 2025.

“Andy I’m writing to you with a heart full of longing, gratitude and above all pride,” read the letter from Rute Cardoso. “Diogo often spoke of you, of the friendship you built, the battles you fought together, the challenges, the laughter, the conversations about football and about dreams.

“The World Cup was one of those dreams, a dream that the two of you nurtured side by side with the same passion with which you took to the pitch. When I heard your words and learnt what you felt on that day when Scotland qualified for the World Cup after so many years of waiting, I realised that Diogo never truly left the pitch.

“By achieving that moment and securing your place at the World Cup, you won’t be going alone; you’ll be taking his dream with you too. And when you step onto the pitch, I know it won’t be just you walking out. Diogo will be with you in your thoughts, in your steps, in your heart.

“So, today I want to thank you. Thank you for not forgetting him. Thank you for taking him with you. Thank you for turning the pain of loss into strength and into something so beautiful. That’s how we do it here at home too, every day. He would be and is incredibly proud of you.

“Cherish that dream, Andy. Live it for yourself and for him. With love, gratitude and all my support, Rute Cardoso.”

SEN's FIFA World Cup™ live blog coverage brought to you by Tyrepower