+ Group E: Germany–Curaçao, tonight, 7:00 PM
Houston Stadium, Houston, Texas
TV4/P4/Radio Sporten
+ The smallest country ever at the World Cup enters the tournament
When Iceland, with a population of around 400,000, qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, they set a record that was hard to beat as the smallest country in World Cup history. But just a couple of championships later, they were beaten by the small island nation of Curaçao, with a population of around 180,000. It won't be a fairytale debut in terms of results when they face the big boys, Germany.
+ Group F: Netherlands–Japan, tonight, 10:00 PM
Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas
TV4/P4 Radio Sport
+ Team captain injured; has retired from the national team
Japan's captain and Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo was forced to withdraw from the World Cup squad due to injury earlier this week. The 33-year-old subsequently announced his retirement from international football. Ko Itakura, who currently plays for Ajax, is the new captain of the World Cup squad. Another Japanese star, Brighton midfielder Kaoru Mitoma, had previously been forced to withdraw from the tournament due to injury.
+ Group E: Ivory Coast–Ecuador, tonight, 1:00 a.m.
Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
TV4
+ Ivory Coast supporters denied visas
Ivory Coast supporters have been denied visas to the United States and their trips to the World Cup were therefore canceled.
"The US has been clear with us and said they do not want to see our supporters. It deeply pains us that they are preventing us from fulfilling our duty to support our team," said Julien Kopuadio Adonis, president of the national team's supporters' organization, about the stoppage.
But it won't be completely free of orange in the stands. Julien Kopuadio Adonis believes that around 1,000 fans living in the United States could still attend the team's group stage matches against Ecuador, Curaçao and Germany. The United States has required fans from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia to pay up to $15,000 in deposits to obtain visas.
+ Group F: Sweden–Tunisia, tomorrow, 4:00 AM
Monterrey Stadium, Monterrey, Mexico
SVT 1/P4 Radio Sport
+ Sweden: all players available
"All players are available," Sweden's national team coach Graham Potter announced at a press conference in Monterrey the day before the World Cup opener against Tunisia.
Leeds defender Gabriel Gudmundsson had been ill and missed two training sessions during the week but was back at full speed on Friday.
