World Cup
World Cup qualifiers in Africa kicks off with Nigeria’s Group
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Wednesday NOV 15
Group C: Rwanda v Zimbabwe – 2pm
Group H: Equatorial Guinea v Namibia – 2pm
Group B: Congo DR v Mauritania – 5pm
Group A: Ethiopia v Sierra Leone – 8pm
The African qualifying series for the 2026 World Cup gets under way this Wednesday afternoon as the first ball is kicked in the Group C harbouring Nigeria, South Africa, Lesotho, Rwanda, Benin and Zimbabwe.
It is Rwanda hosting Zimbabwe that will set rolling, the projected 260-match series spanning 47 months. The matches could have been 270, but the 10 matches involving Eritrea in Group E have to be cancelled following the country’s withdrawal.
Zimbabwe who are away to Rwanda are just returning to the international competitions after the country was suspended by FIFA. The suspension was only lifted in July.
Rwanda, the hosts will be hoping for a good start having not won any competitive match since their 1-0 win over Mozambique on March 24, 2021.
They will be hoping for good form of the trio of Djihad Bizimana, Hakim Sahabo and Lague Byiringiro . The trio can be decisive to the result.
Djihad Bizimana
After a torrid time at Belgian side KMSK Deinze which affected his output in the national team, Bizimana has burst into form again with series of fantastic displays for his new club FC Kryvbas in the Ukrainian Premier League.
The Rubavu-born defensive midfielder has featured in 13 league games this season providing one assist and went on to establish himself as a key figure at the heart of Kryvbas’ form.
Bizimana remains the orchestrator in the Rwandan midfield and his leadership as the new national team captain could add value to the country’s performance against Zimbabwe. If the former Waasland Beveren player exerts his authority in the game, he can propel his side to victory.
Hakim Sahabo
Despite Rwanda finishing at the bottom of Group L in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, teenager Hakim Sahabo proved himself to be one of the revelations in the Amavubi set up.
The 18-year-old attacking midfielder assisted Gilbert Mugisha as Rwanda held Benin to a 1-1 draw in Cotonou as Rwanda.
In the youngster, Rwanda has a player who has the eye to give that “final” pass. Against Zimbabwe, he is expected to operate just behind the main striker as a number 10.
One moment of brilliance from the Standard Liege II wonderkid can decide the game. Currently, he is even playing professional football on Belgian Challenger Pro League and his maturity in the game has been improving.
Lague Byiringiro
The Rwandan forward will be going into the game against Zimbabwe with so much confidence against the back drop of his sterling performance for Sandviken IF in Sweden.
He scored 10 goals in Sweden in the just-ended 2023 season where his club secured promotion to the second league.
The former APR forward is capable of operating on both flanks, either as a supporting striker or as the main striker. With Rwanda struggling for goals in recent games and considering his fine form, Spittler might be tempted to use him as the number 9 against Zimbabwe.
He is physical, great technique and ability to dribble past defenders.
You can’t forget that Amavubi’s last win in a competitive match was thanks to his goal against Mozambique on March 24, 2021. Byiringiro can be the saviour again.
The United States will stage a star-studded and entertainment-driven opening ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles on Friday, 12 June, as football’s biggest tournament officially takes centre stage across North America.
FIFA announced that the ceremony at Los Angeles Stadium will feature some of the world’s biggest music stars, including Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla, with more international performers expected to be announced in the coming months.
The ceremony, scheduled to begin 90 minutes before kick-off, is expected to deliver a high-energy showcase reflecting the diversity, entertainment culture and global influence of the United States, particularly the creative spirit of Los Angeles, widely regarded as the entertainment capital of the world.
According to FIFA, the Los Angeles spectacle will form part of an unprecedented trilogy of opening ceremonies spread across the three co-host nations: Mexico, Canada and the United States — creating what organisers described as one continental celebration united by “a shared heartbeat.”
Produced in partnership with Balich Wonder Studio, the ceremony will combine large-scale visuals, immersive storytelling and live performances centred around the iconic FIFA World Cup Trophy and the cultural identity of the United States.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the Los Angeles ceremony would underline the scale and global reach of the expanded tournament.
“This opening ceremony in Los Angeles represents the extraordinary scale of what the FIFA World Cup 2026 will become,” Infantino said.
“The lineup of artists reflects the cultural diversity of the United States and the vibrancy of its many diasporas, highlighting the nation’s rich influence on music, entertainment and pop culture.”
Fans attending the event have been encouraged to arrive early, with stadium gates opening four hours before kick-off to allow supporters to participate in activations, entertainment experiences, live pre-match programmes and interactive fan activities.
The ceremony will precede the United States’ opening match against Paraguay in what promises to be one of the biggest sporting and entertainment events of the year.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first to feature 48 teams and 104 matches, will be played across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States, beginning in Mexico City on 11 June before concluding with the final at New York-New Jersey Stadium on 19 July.
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World Cup
June 12 Comes Alive as Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé Lead Canada’s World Cup Opening Celebration in Toronto
Canada will officially welcome the world to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a star-studded opening ceremony in Toronto on Friday, 12 June, showcasing the country’s diversity, multicultural identity and growing football culture.
The ceremony, scheduled to begin 90 minutes before kick-off at Toronto Stadium, will feature performances from leading international and Canadian music stars, including Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, Michael Bublé, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream and William Prince.
FIFA said the event would celebrate the energy and diversity of the tournament while connecting fans in Toronto to festivities taking place across the three host nations — Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The Canadian ceremony will revolve around a unique artistic interpretation of the FIFA World Cup Trophy as a mosaic, symbolising the country’s many cultures, communities and people. The production is being organised in partnership with Balich Wonder Studio, which is overseeing the creative vision for the opening ceremonies across all three host countries.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the event as a reflection of Canada’s identity and football ambitions.
“The opening ceremony in Toronto will be a powerful reflection of Canada’s identity and the energy surrounding the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Infantino said. “Through music, culture and unforgettable performances, we will welcome the world with a celebration that is uniquely Canadian while also connected to a larger story unfolding across Mexico and the United States.”
According to FIFA, the ceremony will begin with a visual and musical journey across Canada, highlighting moments and communities from coast to coast to coast as anticipation builds towards kick-off.
Supporters attending the event will also play an interactive role in the celebration, with stadium gates opening four hours before the match to provide access to fan activities, entertainment, rewards and special pre-match experiences.
The ceremony will precede a landmark occasion for Canadian football as Canada face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the country’s first-ever FIFA World Cup match on home soil.
The expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 104 matches across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States, with the final scheduled for 19 July at New York /New Jersey Stadium.
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Mexico will launch the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a spectacular opening ceremony designed to showcase the nation’s rich cultural heritage, musical diversity and artistic traditions before the tournament’s opening match in Mexico City on 11 June.
FIFA announced that the ceremony at the historic Mexico City Stadium will begin 90 minutes before kick-off and feature an array of international and Mexican music stars, including Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná and Tyla.
The ceremony is expected to blend modern entertainment with traditional Mexican artistry, placing indigenous talent and folkloric performers at the centre of the production. FIFA said the creative theme for the Mexican ceremony will revolve around the traditional art of “papel picado”, symbolising celebration, craftsmanship and national identity.
The event forms part of a trilogy of opening ceremonies that will also continue in Toronto and Los Angeles as the three host nations jointly stage football’s biggest spectacle for the first time.
Produced in partnership with Balich Wonder Studio, the ceremonies will share a unified creative concept centred on reimagining the FIFA World Cup Trophy through the cultural lens of each host country.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the ceremonies as a symbol of unity and diversity.
“The FIFA World Cup is a moment the world shares, and that begins with how we open it,” Infantino said. “Starting with Mexico City and continuing the next days with Toronto and Los Angeles, these ceremonies will bring together music, culture and football in a way that reflects both the individuality of each nation and the unity that defines this tournament.”
Fans attending the opening match are expected to play an active role in the festivities, with stadium gates opening four hours before kick-off to allow supporters access to entertainment activities, fan activations and pre-match experiences.
The opening game of the tournament will see Mexico take on South Africa in what will also mark a historic occasion for the Mexico City venue, which becomes the first stadium ever to host matches at three different FIFA World Cups.
The expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 104 matches across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States, culminating in the final at New York/New Jersey Stadium on 19 July.
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