Sports
How the Buffalo Bills’ underdog story made them America’s team: ‘The people around us rally with it’
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — During the Buffalo Bills’ playoff drought, ESPN anchor Kevin Connors used to have a running joke on air. Connors, a lifelong Bills fan from Long Island, would refer to the Bills as America’s Team. It would elicit a laugh from his co-anchor, one baked in sympathy for Connors and the other fans enduring the slog of 6-10 and 7-9 seasons.
Now, though? Connors looks like he was on to something.
“They really have kind of become America’s team,” Connors said this week ahead of Buffalo’s latest playoff clash with the Kansas City Chiefs.
“America loves the story of it. America loves an underdog, but I think they really respect a team that has been there, was bad forever, built it up, gotten pretty good and just keeps getting up off the mat. There’s a level of respect for that.”
It’s not easy to quantify the country’s rooting interest in any particular postseason. BetOnline attempts to do so based on geotagged data from X posts to see how many posts with the official team hashtags are coming from each state. Earlier in the playoffs, their data showed that half of the states in the country were rooting for the Detroit Lions, another franchise that hasn’t ever reached the mountaintop. But the Washington Commanders, a feel-good story in their own right, eliminated the Lions last week. The other remaining NFC team is the Philadelphia Eagles, a team that has won a Super Bowl recently and has a fan base that doesn’t have the coziest reputation. And then there’s the Chiefs, who have won two straight Super Bowls and been to three of the last four. The Bills are the only team left in the field without a Super Bowl win.
When BetOnline re-ran the data after the conference championships were set, it showed two-thirds of the country is pulling for the Bills. That’s not an exact science, but it makes anecdotal sense.
“People get tired of seeing the same thing over and over,” said Bills guard Conor McGovern, who played for the Dallas Cowboys, the team traditionally referred to as America’s team. “That’s probably why people are rooting for us. They see us as the underdog.”
The Bills aren’t exactly David against Goliath. They’ve been to the playoffs six straight seasons, won a playoff game in five straight seasons and have three 13-win seasons in their last six. Josh Allen is one of the best quarterbacks in the league and arguably the most exciting to watch.
GO DEEPER
Will Chiefs-Bills smash NFL TV viewership records? Here’s why it could
But this is also a team and a fan base that has been repeatedly kicked in the shins. Forget about the four straight Super Bowl losses in the 1990s or even the 17-season playoff drought, both gut-wrenching in their own ways. Throw out the fact that this region, one of the smallest markets in professional sports, has never experienced a Super Bowl or a Stanley Cup championship. Even without that history as a backdrop, this version of the Bills has built up its own scar tissue. As the Bills became a fixture in national television games in recent years, their lowest moments were on display for the football-watching public. The football world felt the collective anguish of a fan base during Buffalo’s 13-seconds loss to Kansas City. Home playoff losses to the Cincinnati Bengals and Chiefs in the divisional round the last two seasons have made it easy for people outside of Buffalo to wonder how fans keep getting back up.
And all of that on-field sorrow seems trivial when you consider the non-football adversity the team and community have endured. In 2022, the country rallied around the Bills when Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field and nearly died. That same year Buffalo endured tragedy when a racist shooter murdered 10 people and wounded three others at a supermarket in the city’s east side. A devastating Christmas blizzard left 47 people dead in 2022. Too often, the country’s window into Buffalo is centered around struggle.
The Bills have a chance to change that like they did for three hours on Sunday during a thrilling divisional round win against the Baltimore Ravens. More than 42 million people tuned in for what turned into a party at Highmark Stadium. Fans who had been in the parking lots tailgating since the early morning hours finished their night with a vintage Buffalo celebration first in the stadium and then in those same parking lots.
Earlier that week, a Baltimore radio personality called Buffalo, “a city of losers.” After the game, Bills coach Sean McDermott gritted his teeth at the mention of it and delivered an impassioned defense of his adopted hometown.
“It’s a city of winners, it really is,” he said. “These people in this town are winners. I’ve been here just eight years but I consider this my hometown. This place is different and the people here are different. They deserve more than whoever said that about them.”
“Buffalo is a city of winners and the people here are different.” ❤️💙#GoBills | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/Lny6lLl70S
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 20, 2025
Bills safety Micah Hyde started this season on the outside looking in while pondering his playing future. Sitting at home in San Diego gave him a different perspective on how much people outside of Buffalo are pulling for the Bills.
“I think it’s been like that for a while now,” Hyde said. “We’ve been so close to getting over the hump.”
Hyde has also seen this story evolve. He arrived in 2017 as one of the first signings in Sean McDermott’s tenure as head coach. He’s been through every high and low with this regime. He made his career and a home away from home here. And this season, he decided to return as a member of the team’s practice squad to do whatever he could to help this team get across the finish line. Hyde’s son likes to watch highlight videos of his dad before he goes to bed. And those videos make it hit home for Hyde just how far the Bills have come.
“There were some highlights from 2017, it was a home game and there was hardly anybody in the stands,” Hyde said. “To see the organization from where it was to where it is now, it’s two totally different things and it’s honestly really cool to see. That’s why I felt like coming back was a no-brainer. I wanted to be a part of this. I was able to see it from when it was, honestly, a dumpster fire, it was terrible when we first got here, to where it is now. We’re one of the pinnacle places in the league to be a part of.”
Buffalo as one of the pinnacle places in the NFL is more than lip service to the players in the locker room. The word love is frequent in players’ vocabulary. Love for each other. Love for the game. And love for the community.
“We’re literally like the core of the community,” McGovern said. “It’s all intertwined here. I don’t think there’s a better thing in football than that.”
Or as Hyde put it, “It’s a homegrown team. Everyone sees it as an organization run by good people with good people in the organization, a very good quarterback and a small-town kind of feel. This is America in a nutshell if you want to talk about it.”
Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips is on his third stint with the Bills. His first was in 2018 and 2019. He came back in 2022 for two seasons. Most recently, he started this season with the Cowboys and was released in November. The Bills picked him up. Every time it’s been a no-brainer to return.
“It’s everything,” Phillips said. “It’s all the appreciation you get. I can do what I want to do. I can wear my coat out there. It’s just fun. The people around us rally with it. Why wouldn’t you want to come back? Why wouldn’t you want to be a part of this? The destination wasn’t so much of a destination but now it is. I think that’s the best way to say it. That speaks to the team and the community around it. When you come here you’re like, ‘S—.’ But when you’re here, you’re like, ‘Oh yeah, this is it.’”
Phillips would know about destination cities. He’s played in some of the league’s biggest markets like Arizona, Miami, New York and Dallas. The more he bounced around, though, Phillips realized how much different Buffalo is. The weather and the nightlife don’t make a destination. In those bigger places, Phillips said there was almost too much other stuff to do and teammates didn’t all live close together. Hanging out away from the facility was rare. In Buffalo, there’s stuff to do but it’s usually stuff the team is doing together.
“You have a bigger bond,” Phillips said. “It’s college vibes. It takes special people and special management to be able to build something like this. Because even before Sean and them got here it wasn’t like this. It does take the people but once you get the right people and the right personnel to buy into what you’ve got going and then you’ve got an MVP quarterback, this is what you can get.”
GO DEEPER
‘I couldn’t believe it’: Josh Allen’s best plays this season, according to his Bills teammates
This week, as Allen was speaking to reporters, mounds of snow left behind by another lake-effect snowstorm were behind him on the practice field. The temperature dipped and had approached zero. That weather may deter some players from entertaining Buffalo, but it’s helped this group of players find their identity individually and collectively.
“It’s kind of hard to put into words but typically when people think of Buffalo they think of what’s going on right now with the snow and the cold,” Allen said. “You have to be pretty tough to be in a place like this. We feel like we have guys in this locker room that maybe haven’t gotten all the recognition they deserve, coming here on the last leg of their career and just coming here trying to prove something to not just the world but to themselves.”
That’s part of what makes it believable to think two-thirds of the country could be pulling for the Bills the rest of the way. But even if so many people are behind them, that doesn’t change the underdog feeling the Bills are trying to harness. Phillips quickly pointed out the lack of Bills on the All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams. In his eyes, Buffalo will never get the recognition it deserves.
“That’s not what this is about here,” he said. “It sucks because guys don’t get the national attention that they deserve. But the community gives you so much more. You’re loved here, you know what I’m saying? It’s almost like you’re legends damn near. At the end of the day, that’s all you really need.”
A lot of players on the Bills mention that they’ve deleted social media. So they don’t necessarily notice how much the bandwagon might be filling up. They also know it has a lot to do with the simple fact that the Chiefs have won. Repeatedly. Some fans may complain about the perception that the Chiefs get favorable calls or that Taylor Swift appears on the broadcast too often. But the root of it all is the Chiefs have been standing in the way of the entire league.
Bills tight end Dawson Knox is a Star Wars fan, so he smiled at the comparison of the Chiefs to the Evil Empire.
“We’ll take the extra fans but our fan base as it is we don’t need to add anybody else to make us feel good,” Knox said. “I always view us as the good guys and them as the bad guys, whoever we’re playing.”
During a meeting before the Bills’ game against the Ravens, coaches showed a video of talking heads disparaging the Bills for one reason or another. They leaned heavily on the underdog role. External motivation shouldn’t be needed this time around. Despite a 4-1 record against the Chiefs in the regular season since Allen and Patrick Mahomes took over, Buffalo is 0-3 in the playoffs against Kansas City. That, and a potential trip to the Super Bowl, are motivation enough.
“It’s like when you’re a little kid and you’re tired of your big brother beating your ass all the time,” Phillips said. “If you want to be the king you have to take the kings out.”
Regardless of how it ends, it’s clear this Bills team isn’t the same one Connors used to jokingly call America’s Team on SportsCenter. This version is the real deal.
“It’s hard to get around it,” Phillips said. “In the coming years, especially when the new stadium is built, it’s going to be like, ‘We’re here.’”
(Top photo: Kathryn Riley, Steven King, Timothy T. Ludwig / Getty Photos)
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The wait is over. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is coming to 16 different cities across Canada, Mexico and the United States this summer, and you’ll be able to catch all the action with FOX Sports, America’s English-language home for the 48-team soccer bonanza.
Here is the full broadcast schedule for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and how you can watch every game:
How to Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX and FS1 with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps.
JUMP TO: Group Stage | Knockout Rounds | World Cup Final
2026 World Cup Group Stage Schedule:
June 11, 2026
June 12
June 13
June 14
June 15
June 16
June 17
June 18
June 19
June 20
June 21
June 22
June 23
June 24
- Group B: Watch Switzerland vs Canada — BC Place Vancouver (3 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group B: Watch Bosnia vs Qatar — Seattle Stadium (3 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
- Group C: Watch Brazil vs Scotland — Miami Stadium (6 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group C: Watch Morocco vs Haiti — Atlanta Stadium (6 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
- Group A: Watch Mexico vs Czechia — Mexico City Stadium (9 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group A: Watch South Korea vs South Africa — Monterrey Stadium (9 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
June 25
- Group E: Watch Ecuador vs Germany — New York New Jersey Stadium (4 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group E: Watch Curaçao vs Ivory Coastt — Philadelphia Stadium (4 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
- Group F: Watch Tunisia vs Netherlands — Kansas City Stadium (7 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group F: Watch Japan vs Sweden— Dallas Stadium (7 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
- Group D: USA vs Türkiye – Los Angeles Stadium (10 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group D: Watch Paraguay vs Australia — San Francisco Bay Stadium (10 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
June 26
- Group I: Watch Norway vs France — Boston Stadium (3 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group I: Watch Senegal vs Iraq — Toronto Stadium (3 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
- Group H: Watch Uruguay vs Spain — Guadalajara Stadium (8 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group H: Watch Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia — Houston Stadium (8 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
- Group G: Watch New Zealand vs Belgium — BC Place Vancouver (11 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group G: Watch Egypt vs Iran — Seattle Stadium (11 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
June 27
- Group L: Watch Panama vs England —New York New Jersey Stadium (5 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group L: Watch Croatia vs Ghana — Philadelphia Stadium (5 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
- Group K: Watch Colombia vs Portugal — Miami Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group K: Watch DR Congo vs Uzbekistan — Atlanta Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
- Group J: Watch Argentina vs Jordan — Dallas Stadium (10 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group J: Watch Algeria vs Austria — Kansas City Stadium (10 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
2026 World Cup Schedule: Knockout Round
Round of 32
June 28
June 29
June 30
July 1
July 2
July 3
Round of 16
July 4
July 5
July 6
July 7
Quarterfinals
July 9
July 10
July 11
Semifinals
July 14
July 15
World Cup Final
July 19
This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.
The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX and FS1 with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps.
The U.S. men’s national team made its first World Cup game on home soil in 32 years one to remember, defeating Paraguay 4-1 in front of a sold-out crowd at Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) in Inglewood on Friday night.
Here’s a look at some of the best moments before and during the game as captured by the Los Angeles Times photography staff:
U.S. fans march to Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) before the start of the U.S.-Paraguay World Cup match Friday.
(Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
1
2
3
1. David Beckham, right, and Tom Cruise waves to fans before the World Cup group stage match. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 2. Katy Perry, right, and Tius Luka perform during the World Cup opening ceremony before the U.S.-Paraguay match. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 3. U.S. players, left, and Paraguay players enter the pitch before their World Cup group stage match. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
U.S. forward Christian Pulisic, right, controls the ball in front of Paraguay defender Juan Jose Caceres during the first half Friday.
(Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
U.S. defender Antonee Robinson, right, and Paraguay midfielder Diego Gomez battle for the ball during the first half. (Kelvin Kuo / Los Angeles Times)
U.S. midfielder Weston McKennie celebrates after a U.S. goal in the first half against Paraguay. (Kelvin Kuo / Los Angeles Times)
U.S. star Christian Pulisic celebrates after a goal in the first half of a 4-1 win over Paraguay at the World Cup on Friday at Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium).
(Kelvin Kuo / Los Angeles Times)
U.S. players and coach Mauricio Pochettino, center, celebrate after a 4-1 win over Paraguay in the World Cup at Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) on Friday night.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
1
2
3
1. Paraguay midfielder Cristian Roldan heads the ball over U.S. striker Folarin Balogun during the second half. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 2. Paraguay forward Julio Enciso jumps over U.S. defender Chris Richards during the second half. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 3. A stage is placed for the opening ceremony before the start of the U.S. vs. Paraguay match at Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) on Friday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Fans cheer during the United States’ 4-1 win over Paraguay at the World Cup on Friday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The wait is officially over. The FIFA World Cup has arrived.
For the first time ever, three nations—the United States, Mexico, and Canada are co-hosting the tournament. It is also the largest FIFA World Cup in history, expanding to a 48-team field. Squads from around the world have arrived in North America with one ultimate goal: capturing the iconic World Cup trophy.
Here’s the latest look at some of the most notable news surrounding the World Cup.
June 12:
Official Injury Update On Neymar
Brazilian star Neymar Jr. will officially miss Brazil’s opening match against Morocco on Saturday. Neymar was named to Brazil’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad despite a calf injury, and now won’t be available early on. Manager Carlo Ancelotti said that “Neymar is working very hard to recover as quickly as possible.
“The expectation is that he will recover and rejoin the group next week.”
Google Doodle Has World Cup Fever
In case fans didn’t already have World Cup fever, they can open their web browser.
Google is officially ready for USA’s opener against Paraguay, as the home page features a custom, USA-themed Google Doodle.
The Doodle features red text with a blue outline, as well as a soccer ball along with an interchanging USA crest replacing the “O’s” in Google.
James Cordon Stretches With Christian Pulisic
James Corden joined Christian Pulisic and the United States men’s national team for a training session ahead of their World Cup opener against Paraguay.
After meeting with head coach Mauricio Pochettino and going through a film session with the players, Corden and Co. hit the pitch for practice, where he helped serve as a water boy.
Corden tried to help Pulisic stretch out his legs after practice before he was stopped by a member of the coaching staff. As Corden walked off, Pulisic sprayed him with a water bottle.
DR Congo Arrives to the World Cup in Style
The DR Congo men’s national team isn’t set to play until Wednesday, June 17, against Portugal in Group K, but they’ve already made a statement upon arrival in Houston, Texas.
The squad arrived in style, stepping off the plane in striking black, jaguar-inspired outfits that quickly turned heads. The bold look fits their nickname, Les Léopards, and sets the tone for their World Cup presence before they even face Portugal.
DR Congo may be heavy underdogs, but they’re already winning where it counts off the pitch, taking the fashion battle before kickoff.
Canada’s Jesse Marsch Takes Dig At USA
The Canadian men’s national team is set to face Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday afternoon. Ahead of the match, head coach Jesse Marsch took a subtle jab at the United States men’s national team during his remarks on Thursday.
“In the U.S., we had to beg players to sing the national anthem,” Marsch said.
The United States conducted a months-long search for a new head coach in 2023, with Marsch emerging as the frontrunner and making it clear he wanted the job. Instead, they chose to rehire Gregg Berhalter, a decision that may have left Marsch with some lingering resentment.
Marsch’s subtle jab could take on added stakes if the United States and Canada meet during the FIFA World Cup. The two nations could potentially face off as early as the Round of 32 or the Round of 16.
June 11:
The pressure of competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is high, but that hasn’t stopped players from enjoying some downtime with their teammates. Norway star Erling Haaland was spotted at the Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes.
Haaland appeared to be enjoying himself as the Hurricanes secured a Game 5 victory, taking a 3-2 series lead over the Golden Knights. The Manchester City striker drew plenty of attention from fans in attendance as he took in the action from the stands.
The Norway star was seen celebrating in the stands before turning his attention back to international duty, with Norway set to face Iraq in Group 1 play on Tuesday, June 16.
Australia Coach Popovic Signs Extension
Australia coach Tony Popovic has signed a contract extension through early 2027 on the eve of his team’s World Cup opening match against Turkey on Saturday.
Football Australia said Friday that the 52-year-old Popovic’s deal now extends through the Asian Cup, which will take place in January and early February in Saudi Arabia.
The former Australia international was hired in September 2024 and led the Socceroos to qualification for the 48-team tournament.
“I’m proud to lead my country into a World Cup, but most importantly, I want to ensure that our team is fully prepared and focused on our group matches against Turkey, the United States, and Paraguay,” he said of Australia’s opponents in Group D.
Canada Captain Sidelined For Opening Match
Canada’s captain and star defender Alphonso Davies will miss Canada’s World Cup opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Davies’ status has been questionable due to an ACL tear and other injuries during the club season, which limited Davies to appearing in two of Canada’s last 21 games.
Davies is one of the co-host’s more valuable players in terms of talent and experience, including 58 appearances in nine years with the national team. However, Davies’ injury does not rule him out of the entire tournament. His injury update and restraint from the opening match serves as a caution to heal his injury as the group stage unfolds.
After playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS, Davies transferred to Bayern Munich, where he’s played since 2019. Canada is set to play Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12, followed by Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24.
Captain Wataru Endo Withdraws From World Cup
Just ahead of Japan’s opening match against the Netherlands on June 14, captain and midfielder Wataru Endo has withdrawn his name from Japan’s World Cup squad and paired it with his national team retirement, per his statement on X. Endo has been dealing with an ongoing ankle/foot injury since February.
Endo has played for the Japan national team for over a decade, where he made 73 appearances and scored four goals. As a veteran anchor in the midfield, Endo has also served as Japan’s captain since their previous World Cup in 2022, where they reached the Round of 16.
As for Endo’s professional career, he first played for Shanon Bellmare from 2010-15, followed by the Urawa Red Diamonds from 2016-19, VfB Stuttgart from 2019-23 and has played for Liverpool FC since 2023. With Liverpool, Endo played a prominent role in the team’s Carabao Cup victory in 2024.
With Endo out, Japan has officially called Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Shuto Machino to join the 26-man roster. Machino is entering his second World Cup and his fifth year with the Japan national team.
Marco Senesi Called Up To 26-Man Roster
Following the injury of defender Leonardo Balerdi, Argentina has officially called up defender Marcos Senesi to the 26-man roster. Argentina is set to open their World Cup campaign on June 16 against Algeria.
Senesi has been training prior in case of a last-minute call-up, and was named to the roster after Balerdi’s muscle injury was ruled out. Senesi has played professionally since 2016, playing for clubs like San Lorenzo, Feyenoord, AFC Bournemouth and is currently with Tottenham Hotspur.
Joining Senesi in the back are defenders Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Otamendi and Cristian Romero.
In what’s likely to be Lionel Messi’s last World Cup, Argentina will look to repeat their historic 2022 World Cup win this tournament.
Tyler Adams, USA Celebrate Shocking Knicks’ W
Tyler Adams, United States’ midfielder, is a fan of the National Basketball Association’s New York Knicks. The Knicks are in the NBA Finals, on the eve of the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, so members of the United States’ squad gathered together to watch what turned out to be the largest NBA Finals comeback in history, with the Knicks coming out on top.
When New York won, the room erupted, with Adams especially going wild. And we know this because the reaction was caught on camera in the moment.
That couch is destroyed, but at least no one watching the game ended up as damaged as it did after Adams went climbing and kicking all over it! If the United States ends up having a major comeback or win in the World Cup, maybe keep the players away from any obstacles like that, though. Just to be safe.
Morocco Loses 2 Players To Injury Before World Cup
Morocco replaced two injured players in its World Cup squad ahead of an opening game against Brazil, including star winger Abde Ezzalzouli.
FIFA confirmed late Wednesday that former Barcelona player Ezzalzouli and Marseille defender Nayef Aguerd were withdrawn from the Morocco squad for the tournament.
Ezzalzouli helped Real Betis qualify for next season’s Champions League and was a potential breakout star at the World Cup. Aguerd was a cornerstone of Morocco’s historic semifinals team at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
They were replaced by Amine Sbai of French club Angers and Marwane Saadane, who plays in Saudi Arabia for Al Fateh.
Morocco opens against Brazil on Saturday at MetLife Stadium near New York, then plays Scotland on June 19 near Boston and finishes Group C against Haiti on June 24 in Atlanta.
Ezzalzouli injured his right knee in a warmup game against Norway last weekend, though initial tests suggested he could be retained in coach Mohamed Ouahbi’s squad to play in the knockout rounds.
Surprise World Cup Comeback For Austrian Midfielder
The last time Dejan Ljubicic played for Austria was nearly three years ago. Now a teammate’s injury has given him a surprise comeback at the World Cup.
Austria coach Ralf Rangnick called up Ljubicic late Wednesday to replace key midfielder Christoph Baumgartner, who injured his right thigh while warming up for a pre-World Cup friendly against Tunisia last week and needed surgery.
Ljubicic is set to join Austria at the team camp in Santa Barbara on Thursday, ahead of the team’s first game on Tuesday against Jordan. Austria also plays Argentina and Algeria in Group J.
He’s more of a defensive midfield option than Baumgartner, who scored 17 goals in all competitions for Leipzig in Germany last season and has remained in camp to support the team.
Ljubicic also plays in Germany on the Schalke team which secured promotion from the second division last month.
Ljubicic has nine games for Austria but none at a major tournament. His last appearance was in a friendly against Moldova in September 2023, and he wasn’t in the squad for any World Cup qualifiers.
-
San Diego, CA4 minutes agoDog Beach visit sends San Diego pup to emergency hospital with meth exposure
-
Milwaukee, WI11 minutes agoMilwaukee police searching for critically missing 31-year-old man
-
Atlanta, GA14 minutes agoEverything to know about getting to Atlanta Stadium on World Cup matchdays
-
Minneapolis, MN19 minutes agoMinneapolis Police investigating homicide on Golden Valley Road
-
Indianapolis, IN26 minutes agoIndianapolis Colts’ best chance to help Daniel Jones just got a major boost
-
Pittsburg, PA29 minutes agoFive WPIAL baseball and softball teams win PIAA state championships
-
Augusta, GA34 minutes agoHow to set your Georgia AC thermostat for low temps and cost this summer
-
Washington, D.C41 minutes ago4 women hurt, 1 critically, in rollover crash in Southeast DC
