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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Pep Guardiola says teams must "do better" if they want to avoid VAR controversies.

Guardiola believes his Manchester City side have been on the wrong end of replay calls in the past and is still annoyed by decisions that went against his team in their FA Cup final defeats of 2024 and 2025.

VAR made headlines again after relegation-threatened West Ham were denied a stoppage-time equaliser against title-chasing Arsenal following a lengthy review last Sunday, with the Gunners' 1-0 win leaving the Premier League leaders five points clear of second-placed City.

But City manager Guardiola said players had it within their power to take VAR out of the equation.

"We lost the two finals of the FA Cup because the referees didn't do their jobs they should do, even the VAR," said Guardiola.

"When this happens it is because we have to do better, not the referees or VAR."

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss added: "I never trust anything since I arrived a long time ago. Always I learned you have to do it better, do it better, be in a position to do it better because you blame yourself with what you have to do, because (VAR) is a flip of a coin."

City were beaten 2-1 by rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final two years ago, with Guardiola believing his side could have had two penalties in the game following separate challenges on Erling Haaland by Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo.

And there was further controversy at Wembley during City's shock defeat by Crystal Palace in last season's final.

Dean Henderson was one of Palace's heroes, the goalkeeper saving a penalty, but the outcome might have been different had he been sent off for handling outside his area.

But Guardiola insisted he is not dwelling on that match ahead of facing Palace in the Premier League on Wednesday, where a win for City would cut Arsenal's lead at the top of the table to two points.

"You have to do better and better for yourself, and that is focusing on Crystal Palace for us," said Guardiola.

"Of course it is not in our hands in the Premier League. Always I say to the players, 'Do it, do it, do it better'.

"I always learned that when you lose the focus, you are in a dangerous situation.

"The only thing we can do is do it better, that is only in your control."

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Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said Tuesday he was counting on wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams to be fit and available for the World Cup next month. 

Yamal, 18, suffered a hamstring injury in late April, which has caused him to miss the rest of the season for Barcelona, though his club have said he should be fit in time for the start of this summer's showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Athletic Bilbao's Williams picked up a muscle injury on Sunday, while Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino is also on the sidelines after breaking his right foot three months ago.

"I think that all the players who have been mentioned will be fit and available for the start of the World Cup and I believe for the first match," De la Fuente told journalists.

"But if it's not for the first match, it would be for the second or third, and it doesn't cause any major setbacks," the Spanish coach continued, adding it had been "a very tough year in terms of injuries".

"The world of injuries, which is the tragedy of sport, is what truly keeps us under a lot of pressure, especially in this critical phase because injuries that occur from now on, any minor muscular injury, are really difficult to recover from," he added.

Meanwhile, De la Fuente confirmed that his World Cup squad list will include 26 players but that there would be additional players who would be included for a friendly against Iraq on June 4. 

Spain's World Cup opener will be against Cape Verde on June 15 in Atlanta. Their group also includes Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.

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Pep Guardiola said Manchester City do not feel extra pressure even though they realistically need to beat Crystal Palace on Wednesday to keep their Premier League title hopes alive.

City, with three games left, are five points behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand.

Failure to win at the Etihad would mean Mikel Arteta's side could clinch their first Premier League title for 22 years against Burnley on Monday.

Guardiola was asked at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday how much pressure City were under after recent results, including last week's damaging 3-3 draw at Everton.

"Same one, two days, three days, four days ago, one week, two weeks, same one," he said.

The City boss, chasing a seventh Premier League title in nine seasons, said he had not seen his players to gauge their mood since the dramatic end to Arsenal's match at West Ham on Sunday.

The Gunners won 1-0 after relegation-threatened West Ham's last-gasp equaliser was ruled out following a lengthy VAR check.

"I learned from my career as a manager, what you cannot control, forget about it," said Guardiola.

"(Focus) and do better what we have not done better this season to fight for the Premier League. We are still fighting and (next it is) Crystal Palace."

Palace host Arsenal on the final day of the Premier League season, just days before they face Spanish side Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final, but Guardiola said he was not concerned at the prospect they could field a weakened team.

"They are so professional, the teams," he said. "Crystal Palace will play top. We saw Leeds yesterday against Spurs (a 1-1 draw), how even being out of the relegation battle... how they compete."

Guardiola said Rodri and Abdukodir Khusanov were both "better" and that he would decide after training on Tuesday whether either were ready to return to action.

City face Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday, still in the running for a domestic treble after winning the League Cup earlier this season.

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West Ham goalkeeper Mads Hermansen believes pushing and shoving at corners in Premier League has become a major problem after VAR denied his side a late equaliser against Arsenal for a foul on Gunners counterpart David Raya.

Relegation-threatened West Ham thought they had rescued a precious point against the league leaders when Callum Wilson equalised in stoppage-time at the London Stadium on Sunday after Raya had dropped the ball.

But the goal was disallowed by referee Chris Kavanagh, following a lengthy review that saw him advised to consult the pitch-side monitor, for a foul by Pablo on Reya. 

The decision meant Leandro Trossard's 82nd-minute strike eventually proved enough for Arsenal to secure a 1-0 win that took them five points clear at the top of the table and left London rivals West Ham in the bottom three with just two games left to play.

West Ham were furious with the decision and now reportedly plan to raise their concerns with referees' body Professional Game Match Officials.

"If you ask any goalkeeper in the league, if he's been illegally blocked, pulled, pushed on corners this season I think you will not find anyone who has not experienced this," Hermansen said. 

"So to give this (decision against West Ham), I'm not sure I understand why.

"Of course, we watched it afterwards and we can see there's shirt pulls on (Konstantinos) Mavropanos, shirt pulls on (Tomas) Soucek, even shirt pulls on Pablo before the goal. So to pick this situation..."

The 25-year-old Denmark international made it clear he accepted Raya had been impeded but questioned why other similar incidents had not been penalised in the same way.

"You know, I agree it's a foul," he said. 

"You can give the foul on the goalkeeper, definitely.

"But (with) what has been given during this season of goals with illegal blocks and illegal pulls and pushing and stuff on goalkeepers, I don't understand why that's been given. That's all.

"I spoke with David after the game and I think we have the same experience on this matter during this season.

"Because, of course, he has every right to ask for a free-kick or a foul on him. But I think you can find a lot of situations during this season where it's been different."

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As the dust settles on Barcelona's title celebrations, the cava bottles are sent for recycling and the open-top bus heads back to the garage, work for next season will already be underway.

Hansi Flick's back-to-back La Liga triumphs have helped bring welcome calm to the club after just one league trophy in the previous, tumultuous five years, but the ultimate objective remains unfulfilled.

Domestic dominance is not enough.

Winning the Champions League for the first time since 2015 is Barcelona's chief ambition, and the proof that they are at the head of Europe's top table for the first time since all-time great Lionel Messi departed.

Although impressive, this season's La Liga conquest is a slight downgrade on what Flick's team achieved last season, claiming a domestic treble and reaching the Champions League semi-finals.

With Lamine Yamal and Pedri Gonzalez shining, Barca believed this would be the year they won their sixth European Cup.

However, the Catalans came up short against domestic rivals Atletico Madrid, eliminated 3-2 in aggregate in the quarter-finals. Flick confirmed last week that winning the Champions League is his main objective.

"There are two things I want in life. Firstly, that we win the Champions League," said the German coach.

"We have a good team for the next years, but we must make the right decisions in the transfer periods -- they have to be perfect."

"The second thing is I want to be coach (at Camp Nou) when it's fully finished."

Improving Barcelona's squad is the first, but not the only, step to matching the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.

The problem for the Catalans, as Flick hinted, is that their financial position does not allow them to make mistakes. Every euro counts, there is little margin for error.

This season, Barca's lack of depth hurt them, missing high-calibre players in key areas, as well as stretching the squad to its limit, resulting in frequent injury problems.

Barca did not replace Inigo Martinez, who went to Saudi Arabia. Left back Gerard Martin filled in as a converted central defender.

Although both he and Eric Garcia performed beyond anyone's expectations, it is an area where they trail the continent's elite.

Up front, where 37-year-old Robert Lewandowski and the erratic Ferran Torres managed to bag enough goals between them to help the team win La Liga, but fall short of Bayern's Harry Kane or former winger Ousmane Dembele, reinvented as a Ballon d'Or-winning striker with PSG.

- Maturing talent -

With a left winger and at least one full-back also on the wish list, the Catalans must lean on their superb La Masia youth academy and trust the talent coming through.

Flick's predecessor Xavi Hernandez brought through Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi among others, but the German has been more cautious.

That was reflected in 18-year-old midfielder Dro Fernandez's departure to PSG, while Xavi Espart and Tommy Marques, among others, remain on the fringes.

Flick was also slow to trust Marc Bernal again after the holding midfielder recovered from injury.

Perhaps Flick is wary of too much inexperience, given that Barcelona's European exits have implied a certain naivety.

They finished both legs against Atletico with 10 men after red cards for Cubarsi and Eric Garcia, part of a wider pattern of vulnerability, indiscipline -- and Barca would argue, bad luck.

The coach also said after last season's thrilling 7-6 aggregate semi-final defeat by Inter Milan that he would focus on improving Barca's defence.

Despite those words, they failed to keep a single clean sheet in the Champions League this season.

That said, the recent PSG clash with Bayern will give Flick encouragement.

While many said his team could not succeed with their risk-taking, high defensive line, the battle between France and Germany's best indicated that it is possible.

"The game has such fine margins, you either go fully into the battles, or retreat fully. The in-between doesn't work against that level of player," said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany.

It seems highly unlikely Flick will abandon his approach, so Barca hope that with the right additions and another year of growth for their young squad, they can finally end their wait for European glory.

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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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Teenage substitute Mezian Soares gave Lens a 1-0 win over Nantes in Ligue 1 on Friday to give his side direct qualification for next season's Champions League while relegating Nantes to the second tier.

The result also keeps the Ligue 1 title race alive with Lens the only team who can still pip Paris Saint-Germain to the title.

After a frantic and eventful first 79 minutes, the 16-year-old Soares picked up a loose ball in the box and fired home to break the deadlock.

Lens are now guranteed a top-two finish in Ligue 1: they are seven points clear of third-placed Lyon with both teams having two games left.

Third place also earns a place in the Champions League but in the play-off third round.

Lens, whose budget is not even a 10th of Champions League finalists PSG, are still to play the Parisians who lead them by three points and have a game in hand.

Nantes held a marauding Lens at bay largely thanks to 'keeper Anthony Lopes, who produced a string of saves as Lens had three goals ruled out for off-side or handball.

French champions in 2001 Nantes are now guaranteed to finish in the bottom two and will be relegated from Ligue 1 for the third time since their title win.

PSG play Brest at home on Sunday.

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Borussia Dortmund came from a goal down to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-2 at home on Friday, putting further pressure on visiting coach Albert Riera. 

Frankfurt starlet Can Uzun scored after just two minutes but Dortmund hit back with two goals in five minutes through Serhou Guirassy and Nico Schlotterbeck to take the lead at half-time. 

Dortmund's 18-year-old forward Samuele Inacio added a third, his first Bundesliga goal, midway through the second-half to wrap up victory for the hosts, before Jonathan Burkardt grabbed a late consolation for the visitors. 

Former Liverpool and Spain winger Riera, who took over as coach in February, has won one of his past seven games and arrived in Dortmund reportedly fighting to keep his job. 

Frankfurt qualified for the Champions League last season but now sit eighth, a point behind Europa League finalists Freiburg who are in the Europa Conference League spot and have a game in hand. 

The win also guaranteed Dortmund would finish second behind Bayern Munich this season. Dortmund have now finished second eight times in 14 seasons since they last won the Bundesliga in 2011-12, all behind Bayern. 

Former Dortmund midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud set up Uzun's superb curling opener just two minutes in. 

The hosts struck back with two goals before the break however. With 42 minutes gone, Guirassy converted a Julian Ryerson pass, the Norwegian's 14th assist of the season. 

Jobe Bellingham held up the ball in the first minute of stoppage time, finding Maximilian Beier who crossed for Schlotterbeck to score. 

Bellingham helped create Dortmund's third, once again finding Beier in traffic who chipped back for Inacio to hammer home. 

Germany forward Burkardt pulled one back for Frankfurt with three minutes remaining but Dortmund held on for victory. 

In the dying moments, Dortmund brought on former Germany centre-back Niklas Suele, who will retire at the end of the season.

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