The Independent Football

• Thomas Tuchel secures another World Cup win as national anthem complaint prompts Fifa rule change

  18-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Tuchel was unhappy with where photographers were placed for the national anthems on Wednesday

• Ivory Coast claim Elye Wahi cleared to enter Canada for World Cup after visa drama amid ‘corruption’ arrest

  18-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Elye Wahi was initially denied entry to Canada amid an ongoing match-fixing investigation

• Liverpool beat Newcastle in race for World Cup winger as first Iraola signing

  18-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Victor Munoz has signed from Osasuna as a potential replacement for the departing Mohamed Salah

• How Thomas Tuchel inspired England to throw off nerves of Gareth Southgate era

  18-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  England manager Thomas Tuchel was able to force his side out of traditional ‘fearful patterns’ in a feelgood second half performance

• A psychologist explains the five mental skills behind Messi, Mbappé and Haaland’s success

  18-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Sports psychology plays a big role in deciding whether a team wins, draws or loses

• Lionel Messi releases statement on father Jorge’s health and criticises media coverage

  18-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Messi was pictured in tears following his opening goal at the World Cup

• Multiple arrests made during England’s World Cup win in Dallas – including criminal trespass and drugs offences

  18-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Fifa said it was unaware of any supporters entering the stadium without tickets following the criminal trespass arrestff

• Switzerland vs Bosnia LIVE: Both sides look to take control of Group B in vital clash

  18-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  With all four sides sitting on one point in Group B, a win for either side this evening would be a huge step towards the last 32

• England vs Croatia smashes highest peak TV viewership for 2026

  18-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Peak audience of 15.4 million tuned in to see Thomas Tuchel’s team open World Cup campaign with a win

• Neymar ruled out of Brazil’s World Cup clash with Haiti due to lingering calf injury

  18-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Neymar also missed Brazil’s opening game against Morocco

• Are FIFA’s hydration breaks helping or hurting the World Cup? Experts aren’t convinced

  18-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  This summer's tournament, co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, is anticipated to be one of the hottest on record

• World Cup captains to take stance against hate speech amid soaring social media abuse

  18-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Fifa revealed it has deleted almost 400,000 abusive posts during this year’s tournament already