Arsenal defender Gabriel faces a late fitness test ahead of Brazil’s World Cup clash with Haiti after missing training with left adductor discomfort. The centre-back completed 90 minutes in Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Morocco but struggled defensively.

According to the Evening Standard, Carlo Ancelotti remains optimistic Gabriel will be available as Brazil seek their first win of the tournament.

The 2026 World Cup’s first round is in the books — and the numbers reveal a tournament full of goals, surprises, and a few players doing it all wrong.

The 2026 World Cup has barely caught its breath and it’s already rewriting record books. Seventy-five goals across 24 matches gives us a jaw-dropping 3.125 goals per game — the highest first-round ratio since 1958. And for those worried a 48-team tournament would turn into a snooze-fest? Nine draws from 24 games, a 37.5% draw rate not seen since 2010, says otherwise.

Now let’s talk players — because the stat sheet is wild.

The sharp shooters (and the not-so-sharp)

Six players fired off six or more shots in their opening game. Only two scored: Harry Kane and Lionel Messi, because of course it was them. Kane’s brace against drew him level with Gary Lineker as England’s all-time World Cup top scorer on 10 goals. Messi went one better with a hat-trick, pulling level with Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16 World Cup goals. Different levels, different legends.

Turkey’s Arda Guler led the tournament in shots with eight attempts — but a combined xG of just 0.26 tells the real story. Statistically, a player of average quality would need 31 such efforts to score once. Guler is obviously no average player, but his shooting against Australia was, let’s say, optimistic.

Son Heung-min had the roughest evening in front of goal. Six shots, 1.0 xG, zero goals — a brutal return for one of the Premier League’s most clinical finishers in recent memory.

Sweden’s Yasin Ayari and New Zealand’s Elijah Just, meanwhile, are sitting on a perfect 100% conversion rate having each scored twice.

The creators

Spain’s Pedri was the tournament’s standout creator, racking up 1.23 expected assists against Cape Verde while winning the ball in the final third six times — twice as often as anyone else at the tournament.

Amad Diallo turned 34 substitute minutes into a statement performance for Ivory Coast, completing the most dribbles with the best success rate among players who attempted five or more.

Vinícius Junior, by contrast, attempted nine dribbles against Morocco and beat his man exactly zero times.

Who won their duels?

Panama’s Jiovany Ramos and Senegal’s Krépin Diatta dominated the 50-50 department, coming out on top in more than half their battles despite their sides not winning. Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Jovo Lukic deserves his own round of applause — nine aerial duels against Canada, nine wins, zero losses. Undefeated in the air.

If the first round is anything to go by, this World Cup is just getting started.

VIA GOAL.COM:

Cristiano Ronaldo just won’t quit — and Teddy Sheringham says he might not have to. The former England striker reckons the 41-year-old could realistically play on until 50, pointing to his insane fitness and 15-year personal training setup as proof he’s built differently.

Sheringham admits the Saudi Pro League isn’t Europe’s elite, but says if Ronaldo’s still scoring and still loves it, why stop? One door’s firmly shut though: a Real Madrid return under Jose Mourinho. “Definitely not,” Sheringham says.

What he doesn’t rule out? An MLS move to rival Messi, calling it a league CR7 would “light up.” For now, it’s all eyes on Portugal’s World Cup opener against DR Congo.

VIA PUNCH:

Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi will sit out Saturday’s World Cup clash with Germany after Canada denied him entry, the Ivorian federation confirmed, Punch reports. He’s the second player barred from Canada, after Ghana’s Thomas Partey. Wahi was arrested in May over alleged spot-fixing during a Ligue 1 match, accused of deliberately earning a yellow card tied to suspicious betting. He was released, with investigations ongoing.

Victor Munoz is closing in on a move to Liverpool after completing a medical ahead of a proposed six-year contract. According to Sky Sports, the Reds activated the Osasuna winger’s £34.5 million release clause to push the transfer forward. Newcastle United were also interested, but Liverpool now appear set to secure the Spain international’s signature this summer at Anfield soon.

Caleb Yirenkyi struck deep into injury time to give Ghana a dramatic 1-0 win over Panama in their 2026 World Cup opener, ESPN reports. The Black Stars struggled in the first half but improved after the break, with Antoine Semenyo driving their attack. Panama created chances and looked set for a point before Yirenkyi’s late winner lifted Ghana to second place in Group L.

Luis Diaz starred as Colombia marked their return to the World Cup with a 3-1 victory over debutants Uzbekistan, BBC Sport reports. Diaz set up Daniel Munoz’s opener before scoring himself after Abbosbek Fayzullaev had briefly levelled for the Central Asians. Jaminton Campaz added a late third as Colombia climbed to the top of Group K. The win comes four years after Colombia missed out on the 2022 tournament.

“As Africans we’re one. Let’s leave politics and play football” — South Africa Team Captain , Ronwen Williams
pic.twitter.com/oOA9DjRUhH

— Instablog9ja (@instablog9ja) June 18, 2026

Thomas Tuchel’s half-time message lit a fire under England as they beat Croatia 4-2 in their World Cup opener, according to BBC Sport. With the game level at 2-2, Tuchel urged his players to stop protecting the result and “do it our way.” England responded fast, with Jude Bellingham scoring just two minutes after the restart.

Liverpool are closing in on Victor Munoz after triggering the Osasuna winger’s £34.6m release clause, according to BBC Sport. The 22-year-old Spain international is expected to sign a six-year deal at Anfield, becoming Andoni Iraola’s first signing. Newcastle were also pushing, but Liverpool moved fast and won the race.