England's Fightback in Dallas Defines a World Cup Thursday

England opened their 2026 World Cup campaign in Dallas with the kind of performance that felt genuinely new. Trailing Croatia 2-2 at half-time, Thomas Tuchel's side came out for the second half and found another gear, eventually seeing out a winning result that carried real significance beyond the three points. For those who spent years watching the cautious rhythms of the Southgate era, the afternoon offered something different — a team that appeared willing to play through problems rather than manage around them.

Elsewhere, the tournament threw up a story that sits far outside the usual news cycle. Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi, it emerged, was arrested for alleged spot-fixing in the weeks before the World Cup began and has continued to play in the tournament. FIFA has yet to act, and the integrity questions that follow from that are not going away.

On the injury front, Christian Pulisic remained absent from full USA training for a third consecutive day after a calf problem, casting doubt over his involvement against Australia, while Alphonso Davies was passed fit to feature for Canada against Qatar — a boost for a side that genuinely needed one. And Lionel Messi's family confirmed that his father Jorge is dealing with an unspecified health issue, a personal note that hangs over Argentina's campaign.