A late winner from Amber Barrett gives the Republic of Ireland a dramatic 3-2 win over the Netherlands in their World Cup qualifier at a rain-lashed Cork.

Welcome to The Athletic’s 2026 World Cup tactical group guides, walking you through the key battles on the pitch, the players to look out for, and the fun facts to impress your friends ahead of the tournament.

Japan's national team has changed practice venues in Monterrey ahead of the World Cup after players encountered an uneven pitch marred by patches of dirt at their original training ground. The Japanese delegation said it has switched from the facility for Liga MX club UANL Tigres — site of Wednesday's practice — to El Barrial,

Gab & Juls assess Tunisia's chances of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage.

Sweden will play host to Greece in one of its last friendly opportunities to prepare for the FIFA World Cup 2026. MORE: 2026 FIFA World Cup: USA national team games, locations revealed How to Watch Sweden vs Greece World

Entering its first World Cup since 2018, Sweden will bring a strong roster with some recognizable names. Premier League fans in particular will be well acquainted with some of Sweden's attacking talent,

The 23-year-old, who is No 1 for Brighton and the Netherlands, tells Lawrence Ostlere that the Dutch are in North America to finally win the World Cup after so many near misses

Netherlands failed to gain any momentum in their last home game before the 2026 World Cup, losing 1-0 to Algeria in Rotterdam.