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TRIBUNKALTENG.COM – In the latest updates from the 2026 FIFA World Cup build-up, Brazil, England, Germany, and Argentina all claimed victories as their warm-up fixtures intensified.

Endrick scored the decisive goal for the Selecao as they defeated Mohamed Salah’s Egypt in Cleveland.

Under Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil secured a narrow 2-1 win over Egypt on Saturday as part of their ongoing preparations for the 2026 World Cup.

On a busy day of international friendlies, England, Germany, Argentina, and Portugal also recorded wins.

The five-time world champions, Brazil, overcame Egypt in Cleveland thanks to an early strike from Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, followed by a second goal from Real Madrid loanee Endrick, who finished a clever setup from Barcelona’s Raphinha.

Former Argentina defender Pablo Zabaleta said Lionel Messi still has the magic to lead his country to another World Cup triumph.

Zizo netted for Egypt, while Mo Salah, who featured in the first half, produced a few moments of brilliance.

There was a worrying moment for Brazil as Roma’s right-back Wesley left the pitch in tears after seemingly suffering a muscle injury in his left leg, which could rule him out of the tournament.

Teams are permitted to make squad changes up to one day before their opening match.

Elsewhere, Argentina rested Lionel Messi against Honduras in Texas, where striker Lautaro Martinez impressed with a goal and an assist in their 2-0 victory.

Giuliano Simeone added the second goal for Argentina.

A first-half header from Harry Kane gave England a 1-0 win over New Zealand in Tampa, with Scotland and Belgium also picking up victories.

England manager Thomas Tuchel rotated his entire lineup at halftime, giving 22 players a chance to play under intense heat reaching 32 degrees Celsius, making the performance more important than the final result.

Still, Kane’s clinical header into the bottom corner from Djed Spence’s cross served as a timely reminder of his importance to England’s hopes of winning a second World Cup.

Four-time world champions Germany extended their winning streak to nine consecutive matches with a 2-1 win over hosts USA in Chicago.

Kai Havertz opened the scoring in the second minute with a header from Joshua Kimmich’s free-kick.

However, the United States equalised spectacularly when Antonee Robinson volleyed home after Jonathan Tah’s defensive header from a corner.

Leroy Sane restored Germany’s lead with a powerful shot in the 57th minute.

Portugal edged Chile 2-1 in a tense encounter in Oeiras, where both teams finished with 10 men after Rafael Leao and Ivan Roman were sent off.

Goncalo Guedes put the hosts in front before Bruno Fernandes doubled the lead with a long-range effort.

Lucas Cepeda struck late for Chile to reduce the deficit.

“We dominated for 90 minutes and controlled the game very well, particularly with possession in the final third,” Fernandes told RTP.

Scotland thrashed Bolivia 4-0 to boost confidence ahead of the tournament, while Belgium delivered a resounding 5-0 win over Tunisia, a heavy blow for the North African side.

Leandro Trossard, Charles De Ketelaere, Kevin De Bruyne, Dodi Lukebakio, and Nicolas Raskin all found the net for Belgium.

“We wanted to give our fans something to cheer about,” said Belgium coach Rudi Garcia. “This is solid preparation for the World Cup, and we know this team is capable of great things.”

For Scotland, Che Adams scored twice, with Lawrence Shankland and Scott McTominay adding the others in an impressive display.

Switzerland drew 1-1 with Australia, while Bosnia and Herzegovina were held to the same score by Panama.

Brazil and France Fans in Kotim Await the 2026 World Cup

Acting Head of the Department of Cooperatives, MSMEs, Industry and Trade of Kotawaringin Timur Regency (Kotim), Muslih, expressed his excitement for the upcoming four-yearly global event.

According to Muslih, the World Cup always brings surprises and fascinating stories.

He has already started analysing which teams could emerge as strong contenders for the title.

Among the participating nations, Muslih favours Brazil and France as the two sides most likely to go far in the 2026 World Cup.

“Personally, I’m backing Brazil and France. They both play balanced football and have quality players in every position,” said Muslih on Monday (June 1, 2026).

He believes Brazil’s strength lies in their squad depth.

Beyond Neymar, the Samba team also boasts talented young players capable of making a difference in crucial moments.

Muslih specifically highlighted Vinicius Junior as a key player to watch due to his individual skill and experience at the highest level of world football.

For France, he pointed out that Kylian Mbappe remains their most influential player.

However, he added that Les Bleus’ strength doesn’t depend solely on one star, as they have a roster filled with quality across all departments.

Despite the abundance of star players, Muslih believes the biggest challenge for top teams lies in maintaining unity and managing player egos within the squad.

“Brazil have talent evenly spread across the team. What matters is how the coach manages and handles the players’ egos. Teams with many stars often struggle with that,” he explained.

According to him, two main factors determine a team’s success in winning the World Cup — luck and the ability to manage player egos throughout the tournament.

“In my view, there are two primary factors that decide a World Cup champion: luck and ego management. Even the best teams can fail without luck,” he elaborated.

“If a team cannot control player egos, it usually affects their on-field performance,” he added.

He further noted that other aspects — such as fan support, player fitness, tactical approach, and match circumstances — also influence results but serve as supporting factors.

“Fans, player condition, and tactics are secondary. The most important thing is maintaining team cohesion and finding the right momentum of luck during the tournament,” he said.

While many expect Portugal to make a strong run — possibly Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup — Muslih remains convinced that France have the best chance to lift the trophy, given their squad quality and ongoing regeneration.

“If I had to predict, I’d say this is France’s year. Many back other teams, including Portugal, but I see France as the clear favourites,” he concluded.

2026 World Cup Schedule

The full group-stage and knockout schedule includes fixtures from June 11 through July 19, 2026, featuring matches across host cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Highlights include Brazil vs Morocco on June 14 in New Jersey, France vs Senegal on June 16 in New Jersey, Argentina vs Algeria on June 17 in Kansas City, and England vs Croatia on June 18 in Arlington. The final is scheduled for July 19 in New Jersey.