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Top stars to watch at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico, will feature 48 teams and a mix of global superstars, established icons, and rising talents. Veteran legends like Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, set for a record sixth World Cup at age 41, and Lionel Messi of Argentina, likely making his final World Cup appearance as the 2022 champion captain, are expected to participate. Global superstars include Kylian Mbappé of France, Erling Haaland of Norway, Vinícius Júnior of Brazil, and Mohamed Salah of Egypt. Rising stars and breakout candidates feature Lamine Yamal of Spain, Jamal Musiala of Germany, and Bukayo Saka of England. Key midfield anchors and leaders include Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice of England, Harry Kane of England, Federico Valverde of Uruguay, Julián Álvarez of Argentina, Rodri of Spain, and Ousmane Dembélé of France. Other notable stars include Son Heung-min of South Korea. The tournament, which begins on June 11, 2026, is anticipated to be a transition period, with icons like Messi and Ronaldo potentially making their final appearances as the next generation aims to claim the spotlight.
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Must ReadThe official ball for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, named Trionda, is an advanced piece of engineering designed by Adidas. Following the Al Rihla ball from the 2022 Qatar tournament, which featured semi-AI performance functions, Trionda takes technology further. The name Trionda combines "tri" for the three host nations Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. and "onda," the Spanish word for wave, symbolizing the unity of the host countries and their three coastlines. This ball has fewer and lighter panels than previous World Cup balls, with only four panels, the fewest ever used, to create a more consistent surface. Its deep seams are designed to provide stable air drag and a predictable flight path, similar to golf ball dimples. A key feature of Trionda is its requirement for a charging station, with a 90-minute charge lasting up to six hours. It includes a motion sensor that tracks every touch, kick, and deflection in real-time, sending data 500 times per second to the VAR center. This technology enables Semi-Automated Offside Technology, allowing for precise identification of the kick point to resolve offside calls rapidly. Trionda also incorporates symbolic and aesthetic elements, with each host country represented by a unique ball color Canada: red, Mexico: green, U.S.: blue and iconography such as a maple leaf, golden eagle, and five-pointed star. Made with water-based glues and inks for sustainability, the ball also features gold embellishments that pay homage to the FIFA World Cup T
Must ReadThe Grassroots Mobilisation Initiative GMI has issued a warning that Nigeria faces potential new security challenges due to the increasing spread of AI-driven fake news, deepfakes, and digital disinformation. GMI National Coordinator Samaila Musa stated that the sophisticated use of technology to forge official documents, clone voices of public officials, and create convincing fake videos poses a serious threat to national security, social cohesion, and public trust. Musa highlighted that disinformation campaigns are becoming more coordinated and technologically advanced, making it difficult for citizens to distinguish genuine from fabricated content. He noted that Nigeria, already dealing with insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and communal conflicts, cannot afford the added burden of misinformation that could incite panic, violence, and distrust. The GMI specifically warned that manipulated videos and audio recordings, often circulated in local languages, are designed to mislead citizens, inflame tensions, and provoke violence. The organization also pointed out the dangerous impact of fake news on ongoing security operations, citing the circulation of false military casualty figures and doctored footage that can demoralize troops and undermine public confidence. Furthermore, GMI cautioned that disinformation is being weaponized to exploit Nigeria’s ethnic and religious diversity, with fabricated reports and misleading narratives potentially triggering reprisals and deepening
The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals NUAHP has cautioned the National Assembly against proposed amendments to laws establishing health regulatory councils, stating that such changes could destabilize the health sector. The union also called on the Federal Government to urgently address economic hardship, rising energy costs, and insecurity across Nigeria. These resolutions were made during a virtual National Executive Council meeting. NUAHP National President, Dr. Kamal Ibrahim, stated that the proposed amendments would create an "apartheid regime" by placing medical and dental practitioners in supervisory roles over other healthcare professions, which the union views as discriminatory and detrimental to healthcare delivery. The union urged lawmakers to suspend consideration of the Health Sector Executive Bills 2026, citing ongoing litigation and potential violations of parliamentary rules. NUAHP also accused the Federal Government of failing to implement aspects of an agreement reached with health workers following a strike, specifically regarding the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure. The union called for immediate government intervention to ease economic hardship, improve security, and address outstanding welfare issues for healthcare workers, while assuring members of ongoing engagements with relevant government bodies.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has expressed criticism regarding the cancellation of its friendly football match against Chile, which was scheduled to take place in La Linea de la Concepcion, southern Spain, on June 9. Local authorities called off the match citing public health concerns related to the Ebola outbreak in the DR Congo. Juan Franco, Mayor of La Linea de la Concepcion, signed a decree banning the match based on a recommendation from the town’s health service, which advised against the fixture due to potential health risks. DR Congo’s Minister of Communication, Patrick Muyaya, described the decision as unfair during a virtual press conference organized by the World Health Organization. Muyaya stated that the cancellation has created difficulties for the national team’s preparations, noting that the players had been training in Belgium for approximately three weeks. He suggested that the decision could be interpreted as discriminatory. The DR Congo national team has been training in Belgium ahead of its World Cup campaign, and reports indicate that none of the 26 players are based in DR Congo or traveled directly from the country to the training camp, though some support staff and supporters may have done so. The cancelled fixture was intended as part of DR Congo’s preparations for upcoming international competitions, including the World Cup.