World Cup opens in the US with home matches, Brazil-Morocco and visa disputes in focus

Ancelotti and Brazil face tough opening test at World Cup

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP)—Five-time winners Brazil roll into the World Cup on Saturday when they play surprise 2022 semi-finalists Morocco in one of the standout group-stage matchups. On the first day featuring four matches at a tournament expanded this year to 48 teams, Scotland and their Tartan Army of supporters return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence. The Scots take on Haiti, who last appeared at a finals in 1974, in Boston. In other games, 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar play Switzerland in Santa Clara before Australia take on Turkey in Vancouver to close out the day. On Saturday, Ghana's foreign minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa said the country had "dispatched an official note of protest" over Canada's refusal to issue a visa to Thomas Partey and requested the co-host country "reviews its unfortunate decision". Midfielder Partey is facing trial in Britain next year on rape charges. Ghana open their World Cup campaign against Panama in Toronto on Wednesday. - Ancelotti's challenge - On Saturday, all eyes will be fixed on Brazil in New Jersey's MetLife Stadium. The Selecao might not be the force they once were, but they remain one of the most glamorous draws in world football. The Brazilians have brought in Carlo Ancelotti to try to end their 24-year wait for another global crown. Ancelotti, making his World Cup debut as a coach, says he is convinced he has a team capable of competing with the very best. "It's a new experience, it's a new responsibility to represent the country of football," the Italian said on Friday. "We have a team that can compete with every team in the world, we're convinced of that. It's a team with quality and experience, and with absolute confidence that it can compete with anyone," he added. Brazil labored through their South American qualification campaign, losing six of 18 matches to finish fifth, which in previous years would have forced them into the play-offs. Forwards Rodrygo and Estevao are out of the squad due to injury, while fading superstar Neymar will miss the opening game as he recovers from injury. Neymar has not played for his country since 2023. That all puts pressure on Vinicius Junior, who scored 22 goals last season for Real Madrid and must provide the firepower if Brazil are to shine. The Brazilians face a tough test against Morocco who stunned the football world four years ago when they became the first African side to reach the last four of a World Cup in Qatar. They were awarded this year's Africa Cup of Nations title on home soil after a chaotic final, initially won 1-0 by Senegal after extra time. Senegal were stripped of the victory after storming off the pitch in protest at a late penalty decision. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who replaced Walid Regragui in March, said: "It's a match that will tell us where we stand, but I think we're in a good place to start this competition. "Lots of people say it's not the Brazil of old, but it's still Brazil," he added. - Scots are back - Scotland will look to star man Scott McTominay to be the engine of the team. Napoli midfielder McTominay has become an icon in Scotland since his stunning goal with an overhead kick in the 4-2 win over Denmark last November which sealed his team's qualification for a first World Cup since 1998. Haiti will just hope to do their turmoil-hit country proud. Australia coach Tony Popovic meanwhile said he was confident his side could "punch above our weight" at the World Cup but the Turks represent a tough early test. "If you ask every Australian, they expect to be right at the end because we always feel that we can punch above our weight," he said. Co-hosts the United States launched their home World Cup in emphatic fashion Friday as they thrashed Paraguay 4-1 in front of a star-studded 70,000 crowd at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles that included Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Cruise. Canada won the first World Cup point in their history by coming from behind to grab a 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina. England's preparations as they bid to end a 60-year wait since they won their last World Cup suffered a blip after some of their equipment was stolen on the journey from Florida to their training base in Kansas City. Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas said on X that officials "are working to trace where in the United States the items were seized and all individuals who may have been involved."

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USA play first World Cup finals game on home soil since 1994

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The United States (US) begin their World Cup challenge on Friday, taking on Paraguay in the first game in the tournament on US soil for 32 years. The World Cup co-hosts know that they must avoid slipping up in the showdown at the futuristic SoFi Stadium. US head coach Mauricio Pochettino says he expects his team to do much more than simply progress from Group D. "For me, successful is to win, is to win tomorrow and win after," the former Tottenham coach said on Thursday. "If we don't arrive to the final and we don't win the World Cup, to talk about 'successful'? I don't know." A talented crop of US players led by Christian Pulisic need to prove themselves against the world's best, while dealing with the pressure of playing in front of their own fans. Pulisic insisted that the squad around him is "able to compete with anyone". "We want to be a real force in this tournament," he told AFP. "We've got three really good games to show everyone what we're all about." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be at the match. President Donald Trump has said he will attend the World Cup, without specifying which games. The game in Los Angeles will be preceded by a Hollywood-style opening ceremony featuring Katy Perry and a host of music stars. In Friday's first game, co-hosts Canada go in search of the first World Cup win in their history as they tackle Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto. Canada must do without their star player Alphonso Davies, who is still recovering from a hamstring issue. - Partey blocked from Canada - Meanwhile, Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, who is facing trial in Britain on rape charges, has been denied a visa to enter Canada to play in the World Cup, FIFA said on Friday. "FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana's Team Base Camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government," world football's governing body said. FIFA said it was "not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas". It is believed that 32-year-old Partey will however be eligible to play in Ghana's subsequent Group L games against England and Croatia, which will both take place in the United States. US immigration last weekend refused to admit Somali referee Omar Artan for the World Cup. As England prepare to attempt to end their 60-year wait for a major trophy, key midfielder Jude Bellingham says every member of the squad must feel "loved". Real Madrid player Bellingham admitted things were not right off the pitch at Euro 2024, where the team then coached by Gareth Southgate were beaten in the final by Spain. Southgate's successor, the German Thomas Tuchel, has spoken of creating a "brotherhood" in the squad. The World Cup kicked off in dramatic fashion in Mexico City on Thursday where Shakira and Nigerian singer Burna Boy got the packed 80,000 crowd at the Estadio Azteca on their feet. Co-hosts Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in a game that featured three red cards. Julian Quinones scored the opening goal of the tournament after nine minutes and 35-year-old striker Raul Jimenez headed in Mexico's second at the Azteca, which became the first stadium in the world to host games at three World Cups. There was a festive atmosphere inside the stadium, but outside dozens of protesters clashed with police in chaotic scenes. South Korea got their campaign off to a winning start by beating the Czech Republic 2-1 in the opening day's second game. The World Cup, expanded to 48 teams, will culminate in the final in New Jersey on July 19.  

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