World Cup 2026: will Africa win its first title?

World Cup 2026: Canada’s Jonathan Osorio ready for Bosnia on his birthday

The BBC’s Lee James and John Bennett are in New York City, where they discover excitement for the World Cup 2026 is starting to build, albeit slowly, against the backdrop of the New York Knicks run in the NBA Finals. They reflect on Mexico winning their opening match before turning their attention to another of the co-hosts, Canada. We hear Lee’s extended interview with Jonathan Osorio. The midfielder is a key part of a Canada squad celebrated for its diversity. Osorio was born in Toronto to Colombian parents. Ahead of the co-hosts opening match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, which falls on his birthday, he tells Lee James why this Canada team's multiculturalism is a reflection of the nation in 2026. He also says this World Cup is an opportunity to grow the game so they can in the future be considered a 'soccer nation'. More than the Score brings you more than the men’s football World Cup - the new teams, standout stars, trends and fandoms shaping the tournament in ways the stats don’t show. With 48 teams competing across Mexico, the US and Canada, BBC World Service promises to take you deeper - from the group stages to the final. Search for More than the Score wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

World Cup 2026: South Africa’s captain and Mexico’s ‘curse’

The 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway with hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in the opening match at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Expected to play a crucial role is South Africa's captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, whose performances over the past two years have established him as one of Africa's leading players. He spoke to Isaac Fanin about the rise of African goalkeepers and why leading Bafana Bafana in the first game means so much to him and his family. Mani Djazmi’s been speaking to former Mexico international Joaquin Beltran about what Mexican’s describe as El Quinto Partido, the Mexican curse of never winning five games in a World Cup. Plus Isaac visits the Mexican community in Los Angeles, including interviews with Tracy M. Serrano-Ruiz, Interim Chief Executive Officer of LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, and Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez, the Consul General of Mexico in Los Angeles More than the Score brings you more than the men’s football World Cup - the new teams, standout stars, trends and fandoms shaping the tournament in ways the stats don’t show. With 48 teams competing across Mexico, the US and Canada, BBC World Service promises to take you deeper - from the group stages to the final. Search for More than the Score wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Audio for this programme was updated on 11th June 2026 with additional audio about Mexico.

World Cup 2026: which of USA, Canada and Mexico will perform best?

USA, Canada and Mexico are co-hosting the biggest ever World Cup, but which nation will go furthest in the tournament? The BBC’s Mani Djazmi is joined by CONCACAF football expert Jon Arnold to assess the co-hosts chances. We also hear from Canada manager Jesse Marsch, Former USA captain Marcelo Balboa and Mexican journalist Ricardo Otero. Marsch tells us he believes his side can make history in a home World Cup and it’s an opportunity to create future stars. More than the Score brings you more than the men’s football World Cup - the new teams, standout stars, trends and fandoms shaping the tournament in ways the stats don’t show. With 48 teams competing across Mexico, the US and Canada, BBC World Service promises to take you deeper - from the group stages to the final. Search for More than the Score wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

Uzbekistan: Asia's 'heartbreak' team finally reach the World Cup

Uzbekistan are set to finally make their World Cup debut as an independent nation - after years of near misses. More than the Score's Mani Djazmi speaks to Jaloliddin Masharipov, a winger who's been part of the Uzbekistan team for more than a decade, about how the team is getting ready for its big moment, and their star player - Manchester City's Abdukodir Khusanov. Jaloliddin's also looking forward to being reunited with his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo when Uzbekistan face Portugal. Mani also hears from BBC Uzbek's Firuz Rahimi, who explains how much Uzbekistan has invested into building a squad that's ready for the World Cup, and what finally qualifying means for the country's national image. Is Italy legend Fabio Cannavaro the coach who can take Uzbekistan where they want to go? More than the Score brings you more than the men’s football World Cup - the new teams, standout stars, trends and fandoms shaping the tournament in ways the stats don’t show. With 48 teams competing across Mexico, the US and Canada, BBC World Service promises to take you deeper - from the group stages to the final. Search for More than the Score wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

World Cup 2026: will Africa win its first title?

Half a century on from Pele's infamous prophecy that an African nation would win the World Cup before the year 2000, could the continent finally deliver its first World Cup in 2026? The BBC’s Lee James is joined by the former Democratic Republic of Congo captain Gabriel Zakuani and the former Sierra Leone captain Steven Caulker to discuss the hopes of the ten African sides competing in the tournament. They discuss the impact Morocco reaching the semi-finals in 2022 has had, the strength of Senegal and give their thoughts on when an African nation could win a World Cup. Senegal’s Iliman Ndiaye tells the podcast they’re going to the tournament with the aim of winning it and they never fear anyone. Former Nigeria captain Sunday Oliseh tells us it’s possible an African team could go one better than Morocco did in 2022 and that he wants to see an African team win the tournament in his lifetime. Plus, we also hear from Ghanian legend Micheal Essien. More than the Score brings you more than the men’s football World Cup - the new teams, standout stars, trends and fandoms shaping the tournament in ways the stats don’t show. With 48 teams competing across Mexico, the US and Canada, BBC World Service promises to take you deeper - from the group stages to the final. Search for More than the Score wherever you get your BBC podcasts.