Zlatan lasted 4 days 😂

France v Senegal is the World Cup’s only group-stage match where both countries surround OTHER sovereign countries that open to the sea*. France wraps around Monaco, and Senegal wraps The Gambia. (Monaco and Gambia are 2 of the only 3 such surrounded countries in the world.**) Stay tuned for more cutting-edge, geography-based World Cup analysis. * Also known as a semi-enclave: a territory that is completely surrounded by another country's land borders, except for one section that borders an open body of water. ** The only other semi-enclave in the world is Brunei, which is surrounded by Malaysia.

Saudi Arabia v Uruguay is the World Cup’s only group-stage match where the world’s largest country without a permanent river faces a country named *after* a river. Saudi Arabia has no permanent rivers. Uruguay takes its name from the Uruguay River. Stay tuned for more cutting-edge, geography-based World Cup analysis.

Soccer has always been defined by free-flowing, unbroken action. But for the World Cup in America, FIFA is using “hydration breaks” to shoehorn in commercials. 🔗 on.wsj.com/4aNS3YQ

1 - Despite Spain having 74% possession, Cabo Verde conceded just one foul in this match - the fewest by any team in a FIFA World Cup match on record since 1966. Disciplined.

Hydration breaks have proven to be a chance to switch momentum during the games. A story of the FIFA World Cup so far!

O Japonês Kubo é o primeiro jogador com nome de uma forma geométrica a disputar 3 mundiais. Superou Redondo e Cuadrado, ambos apenas com duas participações.

By the way! 20 degrees inside the stadium in Houston! Still breaks for drinks!! What do they get? Hot chocolate?

Never write off the Germans

Australia v Türkiye is the World Cup’s only group-stage match where both countries deliberately turned away from their famous coastal cities and made a quieter inland city the capital. Australia chose Canberra. Türkiye chose Ankara. Stay tuned for more cutting-edge, geography-based World Cup analysis.

🇭🇹 Haiti fans passing the vibe check after a 58-year World Cup absence ✅ History surely to be made when they face Scotland. via @RolguyD #WorldCup

No Scotland , No Party ⚽️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇺🇸

Update. I have made contact with the Scots and was offered an 8:00 am World Cup beer. If only I had taken the day off.

The University of Kansas band learned the Algerian National Anthem to welcome the team before training. 🇩🇿 Absolutely incredible…

Canada’s March to the Match continues to work its way through the Toronto streets toward the stadiums. Beautiful scenes as fans chant and cheer and high five fans who are lining the streets. It’s going to be electric inside the stadium today.

Jennifer Lopez is a Gashead

Almost 1000 tickets still for sale on the official FIFA website for Canada’s 1st-ever World Cup match on home soil. I know because FIFA’s website says so. They aren’t budging on price - you’re not budging on giving in.

Wondering why the VAR did not step in to give South Africa a corner at the end of the first half? #MEXRSA

🚨 OFFICIAL: Fans coming from Ivory Coast will not be able to travel to USA for the World Cup Around 500 supporters from Ivory Coast were expected but they were unable to obtain visas. ❌🇨🇮

🚨 Joseph Blatter (former FIFA president): 🗣 "No one is more official than the referee, and if a country refuses to allow a referee in, the World Cup should not be held in such a country."