Brazil Down Egypt 2-1 in World Cup Warm-up

Football - International Friendly - Brazil v Egypt - Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland, Ohio, US - June 6, 2026 Brazil's Endrick celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates. (Reuters)
Football - International Friendly - Brazil v Egypt - Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland, Ohio, US - June 6, 2026 Brazil's Endrick celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates. (Reuters)
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Brazil Down Egypt 2-1 in World Cup Warm-up

Football - International Friendly - Brazil v Egypt - Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland, Ohio, US - June 6, 2026 Brazil's Endrick celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates. (Reuters)
Football - International Friendly - Brazil v Egypt - Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland, Ohio, US - June 6, 2026 Brazil's Endrick celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates. (Reuters)

Endrick and Bruno Guimaraes scored the goals as Brazil wrapped up their pre-World Cup preparations with a 2-1 victory over fellow qualifiers Egypt in Cleveland on Saturday.

Teenage talent Endrick scored Brazil's winner at Huntington Bank Field after Egypt had rattled the five-time world champions with an early equalizer to cancel out Guimaraes's opener.

The victory completed a smooth build-up for Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti, whose team had routed Panama 6-2 in Rio de Janeiro last Sunday at the Maracana Stadium.

Brazil open their World Cup Group C campaign against 2022 semi-finalists Morocco on June 13, before further first round fixtures against Scotland and Haiti.

African qualifiers Egypt launch their World Cup against Belgium on June 15 before facing New Zealand and Iran in Group G.

In front of a large contingent of their fans at the home of the Cleveland Browns NFL team, Brazil got off to a dream start, taking the lead after only seven minutes following a blunder by Egypt.

Mohamed Salah of Egypt competes for the ball against Matheus Cunha of Brazil during the international friendly match between Brazil and Egypt at Huntington Bank Field on June 06, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Getty Images via AFP)

Midfielder Mohanad Lashin was caught in possession on the edge of the area by Newcastle's Guimaraes, who collected the ball and tucked a low finish past Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir.

Brazil's lead was short-lived, however, and it was another defensive howler that led to Egypt's equalizer.

An under-hit back pass by Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos gifted possession to Egypt's Mostafa Zico, who drilled a crisp finish into the bottom corner past Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.

Thereafter it was Brazil who created the better chances, with Shoubir twice being forced to save in quick succession, from Vinicius Jr and Barcelona striker Raphinha, as the South Americans chased a second.

Ancelotti rang the changes at half-time with eight substitutions, among them the introduction of 19-year-old Endrick, who spent the latter half of last season on loan at Lyon from Real Madrid.

The talented youngster was quick to make his mark.

Raphinha ghosted clear down the left-hand side of the penalty area and cut back to Endrick, who swept a finish into the far corner for 2-1.



Makenzie Replaces Injured Yahya in Iraq’s World Cup Squad

Football - International Friendly - Spain v Iraq - Riazor stadium, A Coruna, Spain - June 4, 2026 Iraq's Ahmed Yahya Mhmood Al Hajjaj in action with Spain's Pedro Porro. (Reuters)
Football - International Friendly - Spain v Iraq - Riazor stadium, A Coruna, Spain - June 4, 2026 Iraq's Ahmed Yahya Mhmood Al Hajjaj in action with Spain's Pedro Porro. (Reuters)
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Makenzie Replaces Injured Yahya in Iraq’s World Cup Squad

Football - International Friendly - Spain v Iraq - Riazor stadium, A Coruna, Spain - June 4, 2026 Iraq's Ahmed Yahya Mhmood Al Hajjaj in action with Spain's Pedro Porro. (Reuters)
Football - International Friendly - Spain v Iraq - Riazor stadium, A Coruna, Spain - June 4, 2026 Iraq's Ahmed Yahya Mhmood Al Hajjaj in action with Spain's Pedro Porro. (Reuters)

Iraq ‌have called up Ahmed Hassan Makenzie to their 2026 World Cup squad to replace Ahmed Yahya, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury, the national ‌team announced ‌on Saturday.

"Based on ‌the ⁠medical report, head ⁠coach Graham Arnold has decided to call up Ahmed Makenzie and register him in the final squad for ⁠the 2026 World Cup ‌finals ‌in place of Ahmed Yahya," ‌the national team said ‌in a statement on X.

The decision came as the Iraqi delegation arrived in ‌Chicago in the early hours of the ⁠morning ⁠to prepare for the tournament.

The tournament marks Iraq's first appearance at the World Cup since their sole participation 40 years ago. They are set to compete in Group I alongside France, Senegal and Norway.


Mexico City Chases World Record for Largest Mexican Wave Ahead of World Cup

A drone view of people participating in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest “Mexican wave” along Reforma Avenue as part of activities ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, in Mexico City, Mexico, June 6, 2026. (Reuters)
A drone view of people participating in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest “Mexican wave” along Reforma Avenue as part of activities ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, in Mexico City, Mexico, June 6, 2026. (Reuters)
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Mexico City Chases World Record for Largest Mexican Wave Ahead of World Cup

A drone view of people participating in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest “Mexican wave” along Reforma Avenue as part of activities ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, in Mexico City, Mexico, June 6, 2026. (Reuters)
A drone view of people participating in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest “Mexican wave” along Reforma Avenue as part of activities ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, in Mexico City, Mexico, June 6, 2026. (Reuters)

Thousands of ‌people flooded one of the world's great urban boulevards on Saturday, attempting to set a world record for the Mexican wave — naturally, in the country that gave the beloved stadium ritual its name.

The event commemorates the 40th anniversary of the wave's debut during the 1986 World Cup held in Mexico, though its true origins are disputed, with American crowds also claiming early versions of it.

Mexico is now preparing to host the tournament, with kick-off on June 11, for a third time; it will become the first country to ‌host or ‌co-host the men's World Cup three times, following ‌1970 ⁠and 1986.

On Saturday ⁠morning, Mexicans and tourists had lined up on the Paseo de la Reforma, the artery that runs through the heart of the capital.

Hundreds wore the bright green jersey of the Mexican national team, waving flags and chanting "Mexico, Mexico!" as they threw up their arms in sequence, sending a rolling swell of motion through the crowd.

Guinness ⁠World Records already recognizes several categories of Mexican ‌waves.

People participate in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest “Mexican wave” along Reforma Avenue as part of activities ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, in Mexico City, Mexico, June 6, 2026. (Reuters)

The largest by participants involved ‌157,574 people in the United States in August 2008; the longest wave ‌line consisted of 8,453 people in Portugal in 2007; and the ‌longest timed wave was 17 minutes and 14 seconds, recorded in Japan in 2015.

A spokeswoman for the Mexico City government said the objective had been to set a world record for the largest Mexican wave ‌outside a stadium.

"It's not about breaking a record, it's about setting one — this is something unprecedented," ⁠she said. "That's why ⁠Guinness took the evidence away to assess all the elements. There are many things they analyze."

Teresa Lopez, who had traveled to join the event, said she came for both the record and the team. "We came to participate in the biggest wave in the world and to support our national team," she said. "We are Mexican and we are very proud of our country."

Visitors from abroad were also swept up in the spirit. Tourist Vivia Shivers, who had come to the capital ahead of the tournament, said the occasion felt meaningful. "It's a special location, it's a contribution to a World Cup, and participating feels wonderful," she said.


Argentina Stroll to Pre-World Cup Win over Honduras

Argentina's forward #22 Lautaro Martinez (R) and Argentina's defender #25 Facundo Medina celebrate with Argentina's forward #17 Giuliano Simeone after he scored a goal during the international friendly football match between Argentina and Honduras at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas on June 6, 2026. (AFP)
Argentina's forward #22 Lautaro Martinez (R) and Argentina's defender #25 Facundo Medina celebrate with Argentina's forward #17 Giuliano Simeone after he scored a goal during the international friendly football match between Argentina and Honduras at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas on June 6, 2026. (AFP)
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Argentina Stroll to Pre-World Cup Win over Honduras

Argentina's forward #22 Lautaro Martinez (R) and Argentina's defender #25 Facundo Medina celebrate with Argentina's forward #17 Giuliano Simeone after he scored a goal during the international friendly football match between Argentina and Honduras at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas on June 6, 2026. (AFP)
Argentina's forward #22 Lautaro Martinez (R) and Argentina's defender #25 Facundo Medina celebrate with Argentina's forward #17 Giuliano Simeone after he scored a goal during the international friendly football match between Argentina and Honduras at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas on June 6, 2026. (AFP)

Argentina eased to a 2-0 victory against a lackluster Honduras in the reigning champions' penultimate World Cup warm-up game in Texas on Saturday.

Lautaro Martinez and Giuliano Simeone scored the goals in a game dominated by Argentina in College Station.

Lionel Messi was on the bench but not used by coach Lionel Scaloni as he nurses the superstar back to fitness for the World Cup group games after he suffered a hamstring injury on May 24.

A lethargic game burst into life on 37 minutes when Nicolas Tagliafico was fouled in the penalty area by Cristopher Melendez and Inter Milan forward Martinez drove home the spot kick low to his left to make it 1-0 on 37 minutes.

The lively Martinez was the creator when Argentina doubled their lead on 54 minutes as his intelligent backheel set up Atletico Madrid's Simeone to fire past Honduras goalkeeper Edrick Menjivar.

In other highlights, Giovani Lo Celso hit the crossbar with a superb curling shot from outside the area in the first half and Tomas Aranda's second-half attempt was well saved by the Honduras 'keeper.

Honduras barely crossed the halfway line in the second half as Argentina exerted their dominance.

Scaloni said that despite playing some of his younger squad members, his team showed they have a solid identity as the defense of their crown approaches.

"Maybe it could have been done better, but as for the team's hallmark, its identity, I think it remains intact, and that's the most important thing. That's what we're looking for, in the end, not to break that identity," he said.

Argentina face Iceland in their final friendly match in Auburn, Alabama on Tuesday before the three-time winners begin their World Cup group games against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City.

Scaloni has indicated that Messi could play a small part in one of the friendlies, meaning an appearance against Iceland is likely.