Selection of North American bid could bring tournament to Edmonton

The U.S. men’s national team failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russian Federation, but American soccer just received a massive boost: On the eve of the sport’s biggest spectacle, FIFA members voted to award the 2026 World Cup jointly to the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The World Cup got under way after British pop singer Robbie Williams took centre stage at the opening ceremony. “Not only our people and our families, not only our businesses, also in football they know that Canada, the United States and Mexico are deeply united”, he continued.

Another substitute, Artem Dzyuba, grabbed Russia’s third within two minutes of coming on by heading in from Golovin’s delivery.

The buildup to the tournament has been dogged by controversy and diplomatic scandals and has shone a light on the challenges facing the country.

Protesting in public without permission from authorities is strictly prohibited in Russian Federation.

The police said they would charge him with breaking the law on holding public protests. The Green Falcons earned their first World Cup berth since 2006 by going undefeated during AFC World Cup qualifying, but have stumbled through pre-tournament friendly action, going 3-1-5 including losses in their past three games to Italy, Peru, and Germany.

France boast possibly the most talented squad while Lionel Messi is desperate to make amends for Argentina’s defeat in the 2014 final.

Egypt and Uruguay are due to play the second Group A match in Yekaterinburg on Friday. Mexico has played in every World Cup since 1990.

Official FIFA ambassador – and former Miss Russia – Victoria Lopyreva then emerged with the official match ball for the World Cup opener, while former Brazil star Ronaldo was accompanied by official mascot Zabivaka. The tournament has been jointly hosted only once before, by Japan and Korea in 2002.

Russian officers informed Mr Tatchell that he had conducted an “illegal protest” and he was put in a police auto and driven for questioning, where he was charged with violating laws which prohibit all protests near the Kremlin and during World Cup.

There is also a chance to send an eighth team via an inter-continental playoff.

President Trump has recently been at war with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and maintains a desire to build a wall along the US-Mexican border.