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Good morning football fans. It’s Wednesday, June. 24 - Fifa is considering changes to the penalty shootout rule mid-way through the World Cup, the Trionda ball has been tested in space, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.
KEY FIXTURES
2026 World Cup (June 24): Switzerland vs Canada, Group B, 15:00 ET / 20:00 BST. With six goals in their second group-stage game, Canada set the record for the most goals ever scored in a single match by a Concacaf nation in the World Cup. However, they are winless in their last three matches played against European opposition, and Switzerland are on a five-match unbeaten run. Scotland vs Brazil, Group C, 18:00 ET / 23:00 BST. A win for Scotland would guarantee a top-two finish in their group, while a draw would likely seal a top-three finish and progress to the last 32. Brazil have faced seven European nations across all competitions since the start of Qatar 2022, winning four, drawing one and losing two. Czech Republic vs Mexico, Group A, 21:00 ET / 02:00 BST (June 25). Mexico, who are already through to the last 32, have never lost in their previous eight matches at the Estadio Azteca, winning six of those. Czechia need a win if they want to advance, having secured just one point from their opening two matches. See every upcoming World Cup fixture here and group standings here.
Results…
World Cup: Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan | England 0-0 Ghana
Panama vs Croatia and Colombia vs Congo DR will conclude shortly after publication (Live Results)
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TOP TALKING POINTS
Penalty Rule Change Considered
Fifa has reportedly asked football’s law-making body, the International Football Association Board (Ifab), to approve a new penalty shootout rule for the ongoing 2026 World Cup, according to The Times. Currently, there are two coin tosses before a shootout: the first determines the goal at which the kicks will be taken, while the second allows the winning team to choose whether to kick first or second. Fifa reportedly wants to make shootouts fairer by allowing just one coin toss. The winning captain would choose either the end or the kicking order, with the other captain deciding the remaining option.
The idea behind the new rule was spotlighted after the Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain last month. Arsenal, who lost 4-3 in the penalty shootout, lost both coin tosses before the penalty kicks, placing them at a double disadvantage.
In the past, there have been calls for even more radical changes. In 2023, former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein, who also sat on various Fifa and Uefa committees, unveiled plans proposing that penalty shootouts be taken at both ends, believing it was “unfair” for players to take their spot kicks in front of opposing fans.
Ifab must decide whether to introduce the change for the knockout stage before the first knockout match on Sunday night. Should the rule change be fast-tracked into the World Cup, it will be considered a trial and therefore will not automatically apply next season to other competitions that use shootouts.
Trionda Goes to Space
NASA has sent an official 2026 World Cup Trionda ball to the International Space Station so astronauts could study how it spins in microgravity. The tests aim to determine how the small sensors in the ball, which shift its internal weight, affect its motion and the predictability of its rotations. While gravity on Earth can mask some design principles, "in microgravity, we can observe ball behaviour in ways that are impossible to observe on Earth,” NASA astronaut Jessica Meir explained.
Adidas, the World Cup’s official ball provider, has used embedded electronics in its balls since 2022. In addition to helping track data, the technology assists with officiating by detecting ball contact in real time. However, engineers are still determining how the uneven distribution caused by the sensors impedes a ball’s movement in the air.
NASA has a history of studying the aerodynamics of balls for major football tournaments. Following criticism of the Jabulani ball at the 2010 World Cup for its unpredictability, the Brazuca ball in 2014 was designed with different seams and a rougher surface to produce steadier airflow. NASA’s wind-tunnel tests (watch here) helped demonstrate why those surface changes made the Brazuca more stable.
Watch astronauts kick the Trionda ball in space here.
World Cup VAR
VAR has intervened more frequently at the 2026 World Cup than it did in the Premier League last season, despite the system appearing less disruptive during the tournament. At the time of BBC Sport’s analysis on June 22, there had been 0.33 interventions per World Cup match, compared with 0.29 in the Premier League.
The figures suggest that VAR feels less disruptive at the World Cup because there are fewer contentious incidents to debate. World Cup matches produce an average of roughly one key refereeing incident, such as a penalty appeal or possible red card, compared with three per Premier League game. VAR also intervenes in subjective decisions at the same rate in both competitions, 0.15 times per match. Therefore, while VAR is involved more often at this World Cup, a greater proportion of those interventions are for factual decisions, such as offside calls, rather than more disputed, subjective ones.
Another reason for VAR feeling less involved could be explained by Fifa instructing officials to make quicker decisions and avoid repeatedly analysing marginal incidents. Broadcasters have taken a similarly restrained approach, showing incidents only once or twice during a check, while Premier League coverage often includes multiple angles and live analysis.
POLL
Do you think it’s fair to change the rules just before the World Cup knockout stages?
ON THE BALL
Europe
> Premier League champions Arsenal are expected to make an approach to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, making the Englishman their primary transfer target (More) | Fulham are close to finalising a deal to appoint Alvaro Arbeloa as the club’s new head coach, on a three-year deal (More) | Ipswich Town have named former Wolves and Bournemouth boss Gary O'Neil as their new manager (More)
> Argentina forward Julian Alvarez says he wants to leave Atletico Madrid to “fulfil his dream”, with his sights reportedly set on Barcelona; his contract at Atletico runs until 2030, and reports have speculated his release clause is £431m (€500m; $571m) (More)
> American billionaire Michele Kang is set to become the sole majority shareholder of Olympique Lyonnais after launching a $30m takeover bid of parent company Eagle Football Group (More)
> Former Arsenal and Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey has been appointed Oxford United head coach (More) | Gennaro Gattuso has been named Lazio head coach following his stint in charge of the Italian national team (More)
Americas
> Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player in history to score in six different World Cups, finding the net twice in Portugal’s 5-0 win over Uzbekistan (More) | Jude Bellingham became the youngest England player to reach 50 caps (More) | Jordan have been eliminated from the World Cup following their 2-1 loss to Algeria (More)
> Didier Deschamps is flying back to France to attend his mother’s funeral and will not coach the team’s last Group I game against Norway (More)
> United States president Donald Trump will attend the World Cup final and help present the trophy, says Fifa president Gianni Infantino (More) | The U.S. is easing its restrictions on Iran’s World Cup team, allowing the squad to travel into the country two days before its next match (More) | U.S. agencies have seized over 300 drones near World Cup sites since the start of play on June 11, according to the TSA (More)
> USMNT’s Christian Pulisic has returned to full training for the first time since June 11, having recovered from an injured left calf (More)
Rest of the World
> The owners of Championship side Queens Park Rangers have completed the takeover of struggling Australian A-League side Central Coast Mariners (More)
ROUTERS’ VOICE
Yesterday’s Poll: Do you think VAR has worked well at this World Cup?
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 👍 Yes (79%)
🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🙅♂️ Nope (19%)
🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (2%)
Your punditry takes:
👍 R.C: “The Premier League need to learn lessons from VAR at the World Cup. The delays in the Premier League are ruining the game's spectacle. If VAR cannot confirm a decision in two minutes, the referees’ discussion should be upheld.”
👍 O.T: “I’ve barely noticed VAR this tournament, and that’s only a good thing. Goes to show that the technology can be good if it’s used sparingly and only when necessary. The Premier League and Champions League should follow suit.”
🙅♂️ N.A: “VAR should come from one central control room manned by the same team for a match. This will ensure continuity throughout. Much like the NHL, MLB has one central control room responsible for all VAR decisions. This is a must to avoid emotional decisions by a VAR team located at each stadium.”
EXTRA TIME
Norway players and fans doing the Viking Row.
Why do some World Cup shirts keep tearing during matches?
Djed Spence avoids shaking Thomas Partey’s hand.
How Fifa works to prevent World Cup kit clashes.
Why American youth football is failing. (video)
Henry v Lalas is the World Cup’s most compelling battle. (op-ed)
The national team that almost won Liga MX.
GAME FACE ON
Question: In which World Cup were yellow and red cards first used?
Scroll below for the answer.
Daily Wordle: Guess the football-related word, from player names to classic phrases, in six tries or fewer. Play it here.
They're probably going to win against us, they're probably going to win the whole tournament.
Answer
Mexico 1970, although referees had been able to dismiss players from the field of play before that point.
