World Cup 2026 live: latest scores, team news, updates from day 5

VAR accused of ‘white supremacist’ gesture

In one of the more bizarre stories from the World Cup so far, Australian official Shaun Evans has been accused of making a hand gesture associated with white supremacists before Germany’s 7-1 win over Curaçao in Houston on Sunday.

The sign is used by white supremacists in the United States — but is also used in other countries as a school practical joke.

Read in full: World Cup VAR accused of making ‘white supremacist’ gesture

Who is Thomas Tuchel?

England will be led into the World Cup by a German who has managed the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich — but just who is Thomas Tuchel?

Jonathan Northcroft has answered that question with an in-depth profile on the genius who runs on emotion.

Read in full: Who is Thomas Tuchel: the Anglophile intellectual . . . with Latin temper

Stones is Tuchel’s man

Right, time to turn our attention to England, who will finally get their World Cup campaign started in the coming days.

Thomas Tuchel’s men play their first game on Wednesday evening, six days after the tournament got underway, taking on Croatia in Dallas. One man who may be included in the starting lineup is John Stones, despite the fact that he only played 1,053 minutes for Manchester City this season.

As Hamzah Khalique-Loonat explains though, Stones was always likely to force his way into Tuchel’s plans.

Read in full: No football, no problem: why Stones is a Tuchel favourite

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Curaçao’s World Cup debut — in Curaçao

Curaçao has a population of just 150,000, around the same as Cambridge, but the tiny Caribbean island made their World Cup debut yesterday.

Tom Allnutt made the trip to Curaçao to watch the game with the locals, who remained in good spirits throughout, despite the 7-1 loss to Germany. Read his magnificent piece about the entire experience below, with some superb photos from The Times’ Marc Aspland included.

Read in full: ‘Life stopped for this’ — watching Curaçao’s World Cup debut with the locals

Tunisia reportedly sack manager Sabri Lamouchi

Is it really a World Cup without a manager being ruthlessly sacked in the group stages?

Tunisia got their campaign off to the worst possible start overnight, as they were beaten 5-1 by Graham Potter’s Sweden.

According to reports, Tunisia manager Sabri Lamouchi has been dismissed just hours after the full-time whistle. The former France midfielder only took charge in January. Brutal.

Litter-picking Japan fans

Speaking of Japan, their fans are also making the headlines.

Before leaving the stadium following the full-time whistle, supporters went around with large plastic bags, picking up litter.

Read in full: Japan’s litter-picking fans steal show at World Cup

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Japan score late to hold Netherlands to draw

Spain and Sweden both racked up big wins yesterday but Netherlands v Japan provided the real drama. Ronald Koeman’s team took the lead twice but the Japanese fought back on both occasions through Keito Nakamura and Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada.

Read Ian Whittell’s full report from Dallas.

Report: Japan’s late equaliser fuels doubts over Netherlands mentality

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