Lionel Messi returns with a highly fancied Argentina squad while Algeria and Austria are set to battle for second spot

Holly Shand runs the rules over the leftfield picks that can make a difference to your World Cup Fantasy team's fortunes

The 2026 FIFA World Cup starts on Thursday, and 48 nations will compete for the biggest prize on the planet. Whether you're a die-hard supporter who has been counting down the days since the last whistle in Qatar 2022,

By Marcelo Teixeira BASKING RIDGE, New Jersey, June 9 (Reuters) - Five-times champions Brazil play their opening World Cup game against Morocco on Saturday but there are few clues as to how Carlo Ancelotti will solve the defensive problems they face.

The core of the team is a well-known trio: Caicedo of Chelsea, Arsenal’s Hincapie and Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Willian Pacho. All three are aged 24 and graduated from Independiente del Valle’s academy. They personify the blend of technical quality and physicality which runs through the team.

Turns out that reigning World Cup champion Argentina draws quite a crowd no matter where it goes. Whether it be fans surrounding the team’s upscale hotel near downtown Kansas City,

There are more nations and matches than ever before in the initial phase.

The World Cup is about stars, and this tournament will have no shortage of them. Four years ago, Lionel Messi stamped his authority on the tournament by leading Argentina to glory, winning the Golden Ball in the process.