Neil Johnston
BBC Sport journalist in New York

Image source, Getty Images

He was recruited on social media to play for a tiny island nation 3,000 miles from where he was born, and now a former Dublin bank worker looks set to face Spain at the World Cup.

Roberto Lopes' story sounds so far fetched even Hollywood scriptwriters might consider it implausible.

"I was not enjoying the work," says the 33-year-old about his desk job as he reflects on a wild, inspirational journey, from being a white-collar worker in the Republic of Ireland to playing for Cape Verde at their first World Cup.

The defender, nicknamed 'Pico', was a newly qualified mortgage adviser 10 years ago, playing part-time for Bohemians in the League of Ireland.

Then, in 2017, Dublin rivals Shamrock Rovers offered Lopes a chance to give up his day job and throw himself into a full-time football career.

He has not looked back.

Lopes is expected to start for minnows Cape Verde when they face 2010 world champions Spain on Monday in Group H in Atlanta (17:00 BST kick-off).

Read more here

Image source, Getty Images

Group H commences with Spain taking on debutants Cape Verde in Atlanta.

18-year-old Lamine Yamal could return from the injury that saw him miss the end of Barcelona's season to feature in his first World Cup and prove Lionel Messi right: that he's the best player of the next generation.

The European champions are ranked number two in the world and after easing through qualifying, are the tournament's favourites to lift the trophy.

While, Cape Verde take to the world's biggest stage for the first time in their history - after only joining Fifa in 1985 - and look to utilise their set-piece dominance if they are going to get anything against Luis de la Fuente's side.

Image source, Getty Images

We've past the half-way point of the first round of group games, and this evening Group G and Group H will kick off their campaigns.

Here's what's coming up into the early hours of Tuesday:

• Spain v Cape Verde (Mon, 17:00 BST)
• Belgium v Egypt (Mon, 20:00 BST)
• Saudi Arabia v Uruguay (Mon, 23:00 BST)
• Iran v New Zealand (Tue, 02:00 BST)

This is true, Max, but there is a chance for another South American team to change that this evening as two-time winners Uruguay get their campaign under way.

Let's have a look at the matches that will be taking place on Day Five of the World Cup.

Time for another recap.

Here's a round-up of what we have focused on so far after plenty more World Cup action occurred.

• Germany thrash Curacao - Kai Havertz scores twice
• Group E Standings
• "We came here to make history" - Amad Diallo on Ivory Coast
• Snickometer technology used - during Sweden's 5-1 win over Tunisia
• Hydration breaks - will happen regardless of weather conditions

Image source, Getty Images

Speaking of Premier League players, Real Madrid have announced the £51.8m signing of Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella on a six-year deal.

The 27-year-old is currently with Spain at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, but an agreement - worth £47.5m with a further £4.3m in add-ons - was struck on Sunday before the formal announcement on Monday.

The former Premier League left-back joined Chelsea for £63m from Brighton in 2022 and was understood to have been keen to return to Spain, having come through Barcelona's academy.

He had been linked with Atletico Madrid and a move back to Barcelona.

Read more here

As well as scoring goals, Premier League players are laying them on a plate for their team-mates.

Liverpool and Sweden's Alexander Isak and club team-mate Ryan Gravenberch, of the Netherlands, contributed two assists in their opening games.

Players in the English top flight have provided nine assists to date - two more than the Bundesliga.

The following players have provided at least one assist for their nation:

• Viktor Gyokeres (Sweden and Arsenal)
• Lucas Bergvall (Sweden and Tottenham)
• Florian Wirtz (Germany and Liverpool)
• Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia and Burnley)
• Bruno Guimaraes (Brazil and Newcastle)

NB: Stats taken from players and teams that competed in the 2025-26 Premier League season

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, BBC Sport

They may not have won the Premier League but Manchester City's players are the most in-demand on the international stage, with a record 19 representing 12 different countries in the coming weeks.

The champions of Germany, England, France and Spain have the most players at the World Cup after that, with Arsenal providing 16 players for 10 different nations.

Looking just at the 20 clubs that made up the 2025-26 Premier League, only this season's top three have more players at the World Cup than Conference League winners Crystal Palace (12).

Including players out on loan over the season, Sunderland remarkably have as many representatives on the global stage as Chelsea and Liverpool (11), showing just how globe-trotting their recruitment was following promotion last summer.

So far, the top scorers from the Premier League at the World Cup are Sweden's Yasin Ayari, of Brighton, and Germany's Kai Havertz, who plays for Premier League winners Arsenal.

Both players netted two goals for their respective nations in their opening World Cup matches.

The following Premier League players have also made the scoresheet in the opening round of group games:

• Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast and Man Utd)
• Crysencio Summerville (Netherlands and West Ham)
• Ladislav Krejci (Czech Republic and Wolves)
• Raul Jimenez (Mexico and Fulham)
• Viktor Gyokeres (Sweden and Arsenal)
• Alexander Isak (Sweden and Liverpool)
• Daichi Kamada (Japan and Crystal Palace)
• John McGinn (Scotland and Aston Villa)
• Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands and Liverpool)

NB: Stats taken from players and teams that competed in the 2025-26 Premier League season

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League is leading the way for goals and assists so far at the 2026 World Cup.

In the last four fixtures alone, featuring Sweden, Germany, Ivory Coast, Netherlands and Japan, 10 goals were scored by players who compete in the English top flight.

That took the tally of goals scored by Premier League players at this World Cup to 13 - five more than the Bundesliga, which is the next best represented domestic league among World Cup scorers.

Image source, Getty Images

Finally, we have already flagged the Premier League power move on day four of this World Cup.

Premier League players scored in every one of the four games and also weighed in with plenty of assists.

Let's have a look at some of the stats behind those stories...

Germany's Manuel Neuer provided another talking point as the first player aged 40 or over to feature at the 2026 World Cup.

By starting in his side's 7-1 win over Curacao, he became the seventh oldest player to ever feature in a World Cup.

Neuer is 40 years and 79 days old.

If you want to know the top 10 oldest players to feature in a World Cup - read here.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

It's been noted, Trevor, that day four's games played in Texas - Netherlands v Japan in Dallas and Germany v Curacao in Houston - were indoors.

The weather conditions do not dictate the hydration breaks at this World Cup.

The referee will stop the game around 22 minutes into each half to allow players to rehydrate for three minutes no matter the weather, or if the roof is open or closed.

In December, Fifa said the measure was to "prioritise player welfare" and will happen in matches regardless of the weather conditions "to ensure equal conditions for all teams, in all matches".

Jonty Colman
BBC Sport Journalist

Similar technology has also been used at the 2022 World Cup and 2024 European Championships.

At the Qatar World Cup, 'snicko' was able to prove Bruno Fernandes scored Portugal's opening goal during a 2-0 win over Uruguay. His cross towards Cristiano Ronaldo in the penalty area was enough to beat goalkeeper Sergio Rochet, which Ronaldo celebrated while claiming he had headed the delivery in, although the technology then showed he did not touch the ball.

And at Euro 2024, Belgium had a goal disallowed against Slovakia following another 'snicko' review. Romelu Lukau had initially been awarded an equaliser, but the review using the technology clearly showed teammate Lois Openda handle the ball in the build-up to the goal.

Jonty Colman
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, BBC Sport

Waveform technology that mirrors cricket's Snickometer (more commonly known as Snicko) judged that after the free-kick was taken, Sweden and Liverpool striker Alexander Isak got the faintest of touches on the ball - and when he did, Svanberg had moved back into an onside position, meaning the goal was allowed.

The Trionda match ball, made by Adidas for this year's World Cup, has a microchip in it that can detect when the ball has been touched.

It is part of Adidas' Connected Ball Technology, allowing precise data such as every individual touch of the ball with a boot or hand to be immediately sent to the Video Assistant Referee in real time.

Adidas say the technology "enables faster in-game officiating decisions and more insight into gameplay than ever before."

When Svanberg's goal was awarded, replays showed a flat line sensor on the screen that had a spike as the ball passed Isak's outstretched foot, confirming that he got a touch on the ball that was not necessarily obvious to the naked eye.

Image source, Getty Images

Sweden's fourth goal in their 5-1 win against Tunisia also provided a talking point, as it was controversially awarded following the use of Snickometer technology.

Mattias Svanberg scored just 18 seconds after coming on as a substitute in the second half by converting a Yasin Ayari free-kick during Graham Potter's side's 5-1 win.

Initially, Svanberg had been declared offside at the time the free-kick was delivered.

Following protests from Sweden's coaching staff and players and after a check by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team, the goal was later given.

And after just 18 seconds, Svanberg has recorded the fastest goal by a substitute in World Cup history.

Before we move on, let's have a look at some of the other talking points from day four's World Cup action, starting with the colour brought by the Netherlands and Japan supporters in Arlington...