Overview
- The tournament produced four draws on Monday, June 15, including Spain 0-0 Cape Verde and Iran 2-2 New Zealand, leaving several groups tightly bunched and following reports of visa denials and base-camp moves that are complicating team preparations.
- Defending champion Argentina open their title defence against Algeria with coach Lionel Scaloni saying Lionel Messi looks fit to play in his sixth World Cup.
- France begin their campaign against Senegal with Kylian Mbappé a focal point of the attack and coach Didier Deschamps warning about the emotional pressure of the opening match.
- Erling Haaland makes his first World Cup finals appearance for Norway against Iraq, a debut that raises expectations after his prolific club and qualifying form.
- Off-field issues continue to shape the tournament and public attention, from active ticketing probes and travel restrictions for some teams to a viral moment in which Cristiano Ronaldo returned a journalist’s wave and drew widespread online reaction.