World Cup 2026 faces racism scandal, format debate and team setbacks

Former German star Bastian Schweinsteiger was accused of making racist remarks toward Ivorian players while serving as a commentator for ARD ahead of the 2026 World Cup, sparking condemnation from anti‑racism groups.

French pundit Daniel Riolo denounced the tournament’s new 48‑team format – twelve groups of four – as a “monstrous” design that favours the traditional powers and leaves smaller nations with little chance of advancing.

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann publicly dissected the German side’s errors after a 2‑1 group‑stage defeat to Ecuador, highlighting three major positional mistakes that he said cost the team.

Turkey’s national team was eliminated after a 0‑1 loss to Paraguay, ending hopes that had been heavily promoted by the government; the defeat fueled criticism of the sport’s politicisation in the country.

Environmental analysts warned that the three‑host (United States, Canada, Mexico) edition will be the most carbon‑intensive World Cup ever, due to extensive international travel.

Brazilian coach Carlo Ancelotti praised Brazil’s 3‑0 victory over Scotland, saying the side finally played “as a team” and is ready for the knockout round.

A live report covered the goalless Norway‑France group match, while an opinion piece reflected on the tournament’s expansion to 48 teams as a symptom of football’s growing commercial and political exploitation.