The World Cup continues on Saturday, with Brazil beginning their campaign and three more group-stage matches taking place across North America.
Brazil take on Morocco in the day's biggest match, while Qatar face Switzerland, Haiti meet Scotland and Australia play Turkiye as more teams get their tournaments under way.
Away from the football, there has been plenty to talk about. Donald Trump skipped the United States' opener, former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was at the US game instead of Canada's, and Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his team's first match after Canada denied his visa application.
In Peru, police made headlines after carrying out a drug raid dressed as World Cup mascots.
Brazil and Morocco have only faced each other once before at a World Cup, with Brazil winning their 1998 group-stage meeting. Morocco got their revenge in a 2-1 friendly win in 2023.
Brazil have won seven of their eight World Cup matches against African opponents, with their only defeat coming against Cameroon in 2022.
The five-time champions have not lifted the trophy since 2002. Since then, they have usually exited in the quarterfinals, apart from their run to the 2014 semifinals.
Opta's 25,000 simulations give Brazil a 57.7 percent chance of winning. A draw happened in 23.5 percent of the projections, while Morocco won in 18.8 percent.
The winner could put themselves in a strong position to top Group C.
Qatar and Switzerland have met only once before, with Qatar claiming a 1-0 friendly win in 2018 thanks to a late goal from Akram Afif. Afif is among nine players from that squad still in Qatar's 2026 World Cup team, while Switzerland have seven survivors from that defeat, including Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler.
Opta's 25,000 simulations make Switzerland the clear favourites in this Group B clash, giving them a 76.0 percent chance of victory. Qatar won just 9.1 percent of the projections, while 14.9 percent ended in a draw.
Australia and Turkiye have met only twice before, with Turkiye winning both friendlies in 2004. Turkiye have also won all four of their previous World Cup matches against Asian opponents.
Opta's 10,000 simulations give Turkiye a 55.3 percent chance of victory, compared with 20.5 percent for Australia and 24.1 percent for a draw.
Haiti and Scotland have never faced each other before, making this one of several first-time matchups at the expanded 48-team World Cup.
The US president did not attend the US men's national team's World Cup opener against Paraguay in Los Angeles. A White House official said Trump instead plans to attend the World Cup final on July 19.
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his country's World Cup opener against Panama after Canada denied his visa application while he awaits trial in the United Kingdom on multiple rape charges, which he denies.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in California rather than Toronto for Canada's opener, attending the US match alongside pop singer Katy Perry.
Peruvian police have gone viral after carrying out a drug raid in Lima dressed as World Cup mascots, recovering weapons and bags of what authorities believe were narcotics.
The World Cup may be decided on the pitch, but another competition is already under way off it: Which host city has the best food? From tacos in Mexico City to cheesesteaks in Philadelphia, poutine in Toronto, barbecue in Kansas City, and Cuban sandwiches in Miami, fans have plenty of choices.
Source: www.aljazeera.com