+ Group E: Germany–Curaçao, Sunday, 7:00 PM
Houston Stadium, Houston, Texas
TV4/P4/Radio Sporten
+ The smallest country ever to appear in a World Cup enters the tournament
When Iceland, with a population of around 400,000, qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, it set a record that was hard to beat as the smallest country in World Cup history. But just a couple of tournaments later, that record was broken 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 heavyweights Germany.
+ Group F: Netherlands–Japan, Sunday, 10:00 PM
Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas
TV4/P4/Radio Sporten
+ Team captain injured - retires from the national team
Japan captain and Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo was forced to withdraw from Japan's World Cup squad due to injury on Thursday. The 33-year-old announced his retirement from international football the following day. Ko Itakura, who currently plays for Ajax, is the new captain. Another Japanese star, Brighton midfielder Kaoru Mitoma, has previously been forced to withdraw from the World Cup due to injury.
+ Group E: Ivory Coast–Ecuador, Monday, 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 have therefore been 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 football 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 deposits of up to $15,000 to obtain visas.
+ Group F: Sweden–Tunisia, Monday, 4:00 AM
Monterrey Stadium in Monterrey, Mexico
SVT1/P4 Radio Sport
+ Uncertainty about Gudmundsson
For the past few days, all Swedish national team players except Leeds defender Gabriel Gudmundsson have been training together at their base in Dallas, Texas. Gudmundsson has remained at the hotel with a medical issue during the week, and it is unclear whether he will play in the opening match.
