The 2026 World Cup will finish with a final in a New Jersey NFL stadium, but the tournament will begin in a footballing temple where arguably the sport's two greatest ever players enjoyed their crowning glories.

Pele and Diego Maradona both lifted the World Cup at the Estadio Atzeca in Mexico City, which has now been refurbished in preparation for hosting this year's opening game on June 11 when Mexico face South Africa.

Only 13 of the 104 matches at this year's tournament are being played in Mexico, but while the country –- like Canada -- is only really playing a supporting role to the United States, it still becomes the first to stage games at three different World Cups.

The two previous World Cups held on Mexican soil are among the greatest of all, especially the 1970 tournament won by Pele's Brazil.

"It was a World Cup of modernity, as football took its first tentative steps into a new era," writes Andrew Downie in The Greatest Show on Earth, his book about 1970.

"It was the first World Cup to be held outside of Europe or South America. The first to feature substitutes. The first to threaten players with yellow and red cards. The first to have its own ball, the Adidas Telstar, with its ultra-stylish black and white panels.

"Most thrillingly of all for football fans across the globe, it was the first to be broadcast live and in colour," he adds. "Was there ever a more memorable tournament?"

There were so many highlights, but it was really all about the wonderful Brazil team of Pele, who lifted the trophy after demolishing Italy 4-1 in the final at the Azteca.

"In the end it was almost as though the World Cup in Mexico had been staged for his benefit," recalled then-England captain Bobby Moore, of the great Pele.

When Colombia withdrew from hosting in 1986, Mexico stood in to stage a tournament that had by now been expanded from 16 teams to 24.

This was Maradona's tournament, the World Cup of the 'Hand of God' and of his breathtaking solo goal against England in the quarter-finals.

He dragged Argentina to the final, in which his pass released Jorge Burruchaga for the late winner after West Germany had come from two goals down to draw level at 2-2.

“Really, he is extraordinary. Having Maradona is like having a miracle that repeats itself in every game," said Argentina's Jorge Valdano ahead of that final.

- Azteca facelift -

The Azteca has now been given a major facelift, its capacity reduced from over 100,000 to 83,000. It only reopened at the end of March after being closed for almost two years.

"It is beautiful. The pitch is exquisite," remarked the Mexico coach Javier Aguirre, whose team drew 0-0 with Portugal in a friendly to mark the ground's reopening.

Mexico will play two group games at the Azteca, with the Czech Republic their other opponents there after the opener against South Africa. In between they will play South Korea in the city of Guadalajara.

Mexico City is hosting five matches overall, with four each in Guadalajara and Monterrey.

There are concerns about gang violence, leading to the country’s government saying it will deploy 100,000 security personnel during the tournament.

But this is a genuinely football-crazy country, unlike the other co-hosts. 'El Tri', as the national team is known, will therefore be hoping to take advantage of the footballing fervour in the country to go deep into the tournament.

Their best performances to date at the World Cup have come on their two previous occasions hosting, with quarter-final appearances in 1970 and 1986.

Eliminated in the group stage in Qatar in 2022, this time a team set to be spearheaded by Fulham striker Raul Jimenez has the incentive of knowing they will stay in Mexico City for a last-32 tie at the Azteca if they top their group.

And another victory would mean a last-16 game there too, possibly against England.

"I played in a World Cup in Mexico so I know what it is like," said Aguirre, part of the 1986 team, when he was appointed in 2024 for a third spell as coach.

"People know I am going to give everything, and we will have a team which is a reflection of its coach – a team that will fight and leave its soul on the pitch."

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Lionel Messi remains the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer with an annual base salary of $25 million -- more than twice as much as the next-highest paid player Son Heung-min, the MLS Players Association said Tuesday.

The union's latest list of player salaries reflected the contract extension Messi signed with Inter Miami in October which will keep him with the Florida outfit through the 2028 campaign.

According to the figures Messi's base salary has doubled while overall the deal will see him make $28.3 million in guaranteed compensation.

South Korea star Son, the former Tottenham captain who signed with Los Angeles FC last August for a reported MLS record $26 million transfer fee, has a base salary of $10.36 million with total guaranteed compensation of $11.2 million.

The salaries do not include income from endorsement deals, nor does Messi's compensation reflect his option to acquire a stake in the Florida franchise -- co-owned by David Beckham -- which he joined in 2023.

The 38-year-old Messi, who is expected to lead Argentina's World Cup title defense starting next month, has 59 goals in 64 MLS regular-season games with Miami. He led the league with 29 goals last season and was named Most Valuable Player for the second straight season.

Messi's Inter Miami and Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul is third on the least with $9.7 million in guaranteed compensation.

Mexico's Hirving "Chucky" Lozano is fourth on the list with $9.3 million despite the fact that he hasn't featured for San Diego since November.

Atlanta's Miguel Almiron rounds out the top five with guaranteed compensation of $7.9 million.

Total league compensation was listed at $631 million, with the average guaranteed compensation $688,816 -- an 8.9% rise from figures released last October.

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Jannik Sinner's charge towards a first Italian Open title continued on Tuesday after the world number one calmly dispatched countryman Andrea Pellegrino 6-2, 6-3, while Alexander Zverev suffered a shock exit at the hands of another local hero in Luciano Darderi.

Second seed Zverev fell 1-6, 7-6 (12/10), 6-0, the German collapsing to defeat in front of a passionate crowd that roared on 18th-seeded Italian Darderi.

But as expected, top seed Sinner outclassed qualifier Pellegrino on centre court in a match which was in truth never much of a contest.

The 24-year-old Sinner has now won 31 straight matches in Masters 1000 events to equal Novak Djokovic's record run.

"I'm very happy about the outcome, but at the same time I'm very happy for him, I know he's working very hard," said Sinner of Pellegrino.

"Tomorrow, a day off is important for me, trying to rest, and then hopefully I'm ready for quarters." 

Pellegrino's arrival in the last 16 of his home tournament is by far his best result in a Masters 1000 event.

The 29-year-old is set to move up to a career-best world ranking of 123rd after not just making the main draw of a top-ranked ATP tournament for the first time but also getting to face his country's biggest sporting star in front of over 10,000 fans.

Pellegrino received warm cheers as he put in a creditable performance against the dominant force in tennis, and he also showed some deft technique when given room to breathe by Sinner.

But Sinner was never in top gear and still comfortably dealt with Pellegrino to set up a clash with 12th seed Andrey Rublev.

Should Sinner win a record-extending sixth straight Masters 1000 title, he will be the first Italian to win at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta 50 years ago.

With great rival Carlos Alcaraz out injured and Zverev now gone, Sinner is red-hot favourite for victory as he builds towards completing the career Grand Slam at Roland Garros.

Zverev, the 2024 champion in Rome, slumped in three sets as Darderi rallied to his first ever win over an opponent ranked among the world's top 10 players.

"It's my most important win, to beat Zverev at Roma is the most exciting win of my career," said Darderi.

- Ruud downs injured Musetti -

While Sinner and Darderi -- set to rise to a career-high 17th in the world -- reached the last eight, their compatriot Lorenzo Musetti was not so fortunate as physical problems led to him being beaten 6-3, 6-1 by Casper Ruud.

Musetti was in tears at the end of his third-round win over Francisco Cerundolo and had to take a medical time-out for a problem with his left thigh during the second set against Ruud.

The Italian will drop out of the top 10 of the men's rankings ahead of the French Open next week, and he later told reporters that he is unsure of whether he will participate in Paris.

Norwegian Ruud is on the other side of the draw from Sinner and will face Karen Khachanov in the last eight after exploiting Musetti's struggles with fitness.

"I realised that... we try to make him run as much as possible. It's cruel and it's brutal, but that's sport," Ruud told reporters.

Khachanov, seeded 13th, ended Dino Prizmic's bid to reach his first Masters 1000 quarter-final, seeing off the spirited Croatian qualifier 6-1, 7-6 (7/2).

Prizmic had announced himself on the big stage this week by knocking out Novak Djokovic in the second round.

Daniil Medvedev, a winner here in 2023, will face Spanish lucky loser Martin Landaluce in the final quarter-final after beating Thiago Agustin Landaluce in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.

Veteran Sorana Cirstea, who knocked out world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the third round, reached the semi-finals of the women's tournament after beating Jelena Ostapenko 6-1, 7-6 (7/0).

Romanian Cirstea is set to retire at the end of the season and will face either Coco Gauff, who beat Russia's Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, for a place in Saturday's final.

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Rory McIlroy brings a sharper mental focus into the 108th PGA Championship that tees off Thursday at Aronimink than he had a year ago after a historic Masters triumph.

The 37-year-old from Northern Ireland, who won last year's Masters to complete a career Grand Slam and end a 10-year major win drought, said Tuesday he has managed to rest and reset after defending the green jacket last month at Augusta National.

"Coming into this tournament feels a lot different than what it did last year," McIlroy said. "I've got some nice clear road ahead to try to get some more of these majors."

The six-time major winner could capture his third PGA crown this week, but more importantly has a much better vision of his game than this time last year when after achieving a major milestone struggled to 47th at the PGA at Quail Hollow, his worst major finish since 2021.

"Especially after the last couple of years, I need to take the time after the Masters to reset and decompress and get myself in the right mental space again to get myself up for this tournament and keep going for the US Open and The Open Championship," McIlroy said.

"I came into this tournament last year a little bit sort of uncertain of what my future was -- I conquered this thing that I wanted to conquer for so long, and I still hadn't really reset goals or found whatever that motivation was to keep going or go forward and set myself goals for the rest of my career.

"It probably took me a good few months to get to that point."

McIlroy took three weeks off after his latest Masters victory before returning last week at Quail Hollow, where he has won four times.

World number two McIlroy, who has a cameo in the new movie "The Devil Wears Prada 2", skipped Doral two weeks ago to attend a White House State Dinner.

"I know how fortunate I am and so lucky to be in this position in life, and sometimes you have to enjoy the perks because I know this isn't going to last forever," McIlroy said.

"There's going to be a day where I'm not competing for major championships, so I guess while I'm doing it, I have to enjoy it, as well.

"It has been amazing but there's still a lot of things I want to achieve. If I can enjoy it along the way that's a nice thing to do."

- Early trip pays off -

McIlroy snuck in a practice round at Aronimink during his week off.

"I wanted to do the State dinner, and if I was going to do that, it was probably better I take that week to practice and prepare, come up here and see the golf course," McIlroy said.

It allowed him to relax and arrive at Aronimink on Monday night without being stressed about missing a day of practice.

"I wanted to just get an early look because I knew that was going to be my only opportunity," he said.

"I definitely think courses we don't see very often... it certainly has benefited me over the years."

McIlroy first made an early practice trip for a major in 2011 at Congressional on the advice of Jack Nicklaus and won his first major title at that US Open.

"For the most part, when I have made an advanced trip, it has worked out well for me," McIlroy said.

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Arsenal are on the brink of a first Premier League title in 22 years after surviving a hugely contentious finale to beat West Ham 1-0, while Aston Villa were held 2-2 at Burnley on Sunday.

Leandro Trossard's 83rd minute goal reestablished the Gunners' five-point lead over Manchester City.

But West Ham had an equaliser deep into stoppage time ruled out after a VAR review for a foul on goalkeeper David Raya before Callum Wilson fired home.

"They showed a lot of courage and bravery to stand out and give the opportunity to the referee to have a look at the action," said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

"When you see the picture, there is no question that it is a clear foul. They were very brave. The action deserved that."

Arsenal also did north London rivals Tottenham a favour in the battle to beat the drop as they can move four points clear of West Ham with victory over Leeds on Monday.

West Ham's defeat means Crystal Palace, Leeds and Nottingham Forest are all now mathematically safe. 

Victories over already-relegated Burnley and Palace, just days before the latter play in the Conference League final, will end Arsenal's long wait to be champions of England.

Fresh from sealing their place in the Champions League final with victory over Atletico Madrid in midweek, Arteta's men burst out of the blocks.

Mads Hermansen made a brilliant save to deny Trossard from a corner before the Belgian's follow-up header came back off the crossbar.

But the nerves that have accompanied Arsenal's quest to finally get over the line, after finishing second for the past three years, took hold after half-time.

Raya had to make a huge save to deny Mateus Fernandes giving West Ham the lead with little over 10 minutes to play.

Moments later the deadlock was broken at the other end.

Trossard had not scored since December, but ended a 25-game drought with a powerful low drive after patient play by Martin Odegaard teed him up.

Arteta wheeled away in delight, while Odegaard sank to his knees in celebration.

But there was another huge moment to come as Raya flapped at a corner under pressure from Pablo and Wilson drilled in the rebound.

After a lengthy VAR review, the referee deemed the Portuguese forward had impeded the Arsenal goalkeeper.

If City fail to beat Palace at home on Wednesday, Arsenal could seal the title on home soil against Burnley on May 18.

- Palace, Forest safe -

Villa left the battle for a place in the top five open after failing to beat Burnley.

Unai Emery's men booked their place in the Europa League final on Thursday with a 4-0 demolition of Nottingham Forest, but suffered a European hangover at Turf Moor.

Villa extend their lead over sixth-placed Bournemouth to four points and move six ahead of Brighton in the battle for Champions League qualification.

However, they face a tough end to the campaign with matches against Liverpool and Manchester City either side of the final against Freiburg in Istanbul.

Jaidon Anthony punished a slow Villa start to put Burnley in front after Emi Martinez spilled Lesley Ugochukwu's shot.

Ross Barkley headed the visitors level from a corner before half-time.

Ollie Watkins then pounced on a long punt forward by Martinez to put Villa in front and headed up to fourth in the table.

Burnley, though, hit back to avoid a sixth consecutive defeat.

Zian Flemming fired home from Hannibal Mejbri's inventive flick to keep the fight for the top five alive.

Everton's bid for a place in Europe next season suffered from again failing to hold onto a lead in a 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace.

The Toffees twice led at Selhurst Park through James Tarkowski and Beto's brilliant individual goal.

Ismaila Sarr's 20th goal of the season in all competitions and Jean-Philippe Mateta levelled for the Eagles, who are now mathematically safe..

Elliott Anderson struck late against his former club Newcastle to secure a 1-1 draw and also guarantee survival for Forest.

Harvey Barnes had put the visitors in front, but England international Anderson salvaged a point.

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Dino Prizmic followed up knocking out Novak Djokovic from the Italian Open by beating France's Ugo Humbert 6-1, 7-5 on Sunday to reach the last 16 in Rome.

Prizmic had to qualify for the main draw but the Croatian player looks like he could be a contender after another brilliant display of power and precision on clay.

The 20-year-old raced into a 5-0 lead in the first set, which he closed out in just 28 minutes against a shellshocked Humbert, who was seeded 31st.

Such was Prizmic's dominance in the first set that he could even afford to try a trick shot between his legs and give up a point in game six.

Humbert battled back in the second set but after he gave up his serve for the third time in game 11 Prizmic closed out on his second match point.

After his superb performance on the Pietrangeli court Prizmic will face 13th seed Karen Khachanov in the next round.

"I just want to play my game and to be myself on the court and we will see," Prizmic later told reporters.

"Maybe for me the goal is to be top 30 at the end of the year but I just want to stay healthy and to play as much as I can."

As it stands Prizmic will already be up 11 places to 68th come Monday week, just before the start of the French Open, after his best ever performance in a Master 1000 tournament.

- Zverev eases through -

Alexander Zverev kept up his bid for a third title at the Foro Italico with a straight-sets win over Alexander Blockx, 6-1, 6-4 on centre court where the threat of rain looms large.

Second seed Zverev, who was heavily beaten by Jannik Sinner in the Madrid final last weekend, will face one of Tommy Paul or Italy's Luciano Darderi in the fourth round.

He barely had to get out of second gear against Blockx, who was beaten in the Madrid semis by Zverev.

The German, who won the men's singles title in the Italian capital in 2017 and 2024, is on the same side of the draw as Prizmic.

"There's a lot of young guys who are playing great tennis. He's definitely one of them," he said.

"But I'm going to go match by match, I think that's the most important thing, not to look too far ahead and focus on the things that you can control." 

Home hope Lorenzo Musetti will face clay court specialist Casper Ruud in the last 16 after winning a tough match with Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 (9/7), 6-4.

Musetti was in tears at the end of a clash which featured 81 unforced errors, and told Sky Sport that wasn't right physically without specifying what was wrong. 

- Osaka eyes Swiatek clash -

Naomi Osaka could face three-time Rome champion Iga Swiatek in the last 16 of the women's tournament after easily seeing off Diana Schnaider 6-1, 6-2.

The four-time Grand Slam winner beat her Russian opponent in just 54 minutes to equal her best result of a difficult season in which she was knocked out of Indian Wells and Madrid at the same stage by Aryna Sabalenka.

But with Sabalenka suffering a shock early elimination on Saturday, 15th seed Osaka could yet be a contender.

She awaits the result of Swiatek's third-round match against Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto in front of what will be a partisan crowd on centre court.

"For me those matches are the most fun. I'm excited at the thought," said Osaka of a clash with Swiatek.

Pole Swiatek suffered her earliest exit in five appearances in Madrid last month when she retired in the third round due to a viral illness. 

She was knocked out at the same stage in Rome last year as defending champion and took nearly three hours to win her opening match against Caty McNally.

Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, has not won a clay tournament since capturing the last of her four French Open titles in 2024.

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