Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

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Simon - Phil, which African team do you think will fare the best? Morocco again?

Hello, Simon. I would go for Morocco, yes. Tough group with Brazil and Scotland – if the Scots can get it right - but very talented, will have taken so much from reaching the World Cup semi-final in Qatar four years ago and their Fifa ranking of seventh shows you they are a fine side.

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To get you in the World Cup spirit, here are some Guinness World Records from the last five World Cups. (source Guinness World Records)

Qatar 2022: Messi plays most World Cup matches

Argentina's Lionel Messi won the Player of the Match award in all four of their knockout games on their way to lifting the trophy in Qatar.

Alongside his winner’s medal, Messi added the Guiness World Record for the most World Cup matches played- 26.

Russia 2018: El Hadary becomes oldest player

Goalkeeper Essam El Hadary started Egypt’s final group-stage match against Saudi Arabia at the age of 45 years 161 days to become the oldest player at a World Cup.

Brazil 2014: Klose breaks goals record

Germany claimed the World Cup for the fourth time, defeating Argentina 1–0 with an extra-time goal by Mario Götze and hammered hosts Brazil 7-1 in the semi-final.

Striker Miroslav Klose netted to claim the record for the most World Cup goals, with 16.

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South Africa 2010: Oldest coach

The World Cup was held on African soil for the first time, with the vuvuzela horn providing a distinctive soundtrack in the stands.

No, this World Cup did not break the record for most vuvuzelas a single football match.

During Greece’s final group game against Argentina on 22 June, manager Otto Rehhagel became the oldest coach at the World Cup, aged 71 years 317 years.

Germany 2006: Most red cards

A total of 28 players were given their marching orders in 64 matches – the most red cards at a World Cup tournament.

Four came in one game alone in the so-called “Battle of Nuremburg”, between Portugal and the Netherlands.

The most high-profile dismissal came in the final, when France’s Zinedine Zidane was sent off for a headbutt on Italy’s Marco Materazzi.

Click here, external to find out the Guinness World Records set at all 22 World Cups.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Mick - Hi Phil. Are you still sticking with Spain to win it or has Thomas Tuchel done enough to change your mind?

Afternoon, Mick. England are definitely serious contenders but the closer we get to the World Cup, the more I have looked at France’s quality and think they will take some beating.

Spain, however, are one of the sides capable of doing just that.

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You can read about any of the 48 teams competing at the World Cup this summer here.

Good question Callum.

As we know, the top two teams in each group automatically go through to make up 24 teams in the round of 32.

So the remaining eight sides are those who finished third in their groups and had the best overall results.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

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Austin - Hi Phil- there always tends to be a big team that flops at the world cup. Who do you think this could be this year?

Hello, Austin. Depends what you mean by flop? If you are talking about a big nation that will disappoint given their ambitions, I would maybe go for Portugal.

This is not because of their players, but because I am not convinced by coach Roberto Martinez. He fell short when he inherited Belgium’s so-called “Golden Generation”.

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The full list of World Cup winners by year is as follows:

• 1930 - Uruguay
• 1934 - Italy
• 1938 - Italy
• 1950 - Uruguay
• 1954 - West Germany
• 1958 - Brazil
• 1962 - Brazil
• 1966 - England
• 1970 - Brazil
• 1974 - West Germany
• 1978 - Argentina
• 1982 - Italy
• 1986 - Argentina
• 1990 - West Germany
• 1994 - Brazil
• 1998 - France
• 2002 - Brazil
• 2006 - Italy
• 2010 - Spain
• 2014 - Germany
• 2018 - France
• 2022 - Argentina

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

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Pete - Hi Phil, just wondering if you expect any upsets from the debutants in this World Cup? Could Curacao or Haiti do something unthinkable?

Hello, Pete. Every World Cup needs a fairytale and both Curacao and Haiti will hope it is them.

Curacao are quite a story under 78-year-old former Rangers and Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat, the oldest coach in World Cup history, but I’m not sure either will be providing romance or shocks in this tournament.

They will, however, enjoy every moment of being there.

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Another World Cup means it’s time to start guessing which player is about to go goal‑crazy and win the Golden Boot.

No-one has won the World Cup Golden Boot more than once - but two men have a good chance to become the first to do so this summer.

Mbappe scored four goals in World Cup qualifying and won the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Another striker seeking a historic second boot is Harry Kane, who won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. With 54 goals for his club this season, Kane is no average player. If Thomas Tuchel's side go deep into the tournament, Kane is surely certain to score his fair share.

Messi has claimed plenty of personal accolades in his career, but there is a Golden Boot-shaped gap next to the eight Ballon d'Or trophies in his cabinet. Aged 38, the 2026 tournament is his final chance.

Lamine Yamal will turn 19 the week before the final. Spain have not progressed beyond the round of 16 since their 2010 tournament win, but Luis de la Fuente's men showed they have the mettle to go the distance at Euro 2024 and were impressive in qualifying.

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Premier League Golden Boot winner Erling Haaland has scored 26 league goals for Manchester City this season but his bid for the boot might depend on how long Norway stay in the tournament. Haaland scored 16 goals in eight qualifying games.

The only player to have scored more than 100 goals for four different clubs and on the back of a successful season in Saudi Arabia, CristianoRonaldo will have his sights on the Golden Boot at the age of 41-year-old.

Amid a chaotic Real Madrid season, 25-year-old Vinicius Junior scored 21 goals and assisted 14 times across all competitions. But after finishing fifth in Conmebol qualifying and with a squad that is still relying on older players, Brazil might struggle to give Vinicius the platform for a Golden Boot challenge.

Ousmane Dembele did not enjoy the same outstanding season as 2024-25, but still managed to score 19 times in all competitions for Paris St-Germain.

Click here to see who else is being tipped for the Golden Boot.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

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Neil - Who will win The Golden Boot, with a possible 8 games, will someone make history, and score the most goals ever in a World Cup?

Hi, Neil. Every chance and we are talking the usual contenders such as England captain Harry Kane and France’s Kylian Mbappe. France also have Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele. And what about Norway’s goal maching Erling Haaland?

You want a pick? Harry Kane.

Image source, @THEBLUEWAVEFFK

Of the 12 away kits that could miss out on making an appearance in a match this summer, six were recently shortlisted by BBC Sport as being among the most impressive of this year's World Cup shirts.

The alternative strips of Austria, Belgium, Curacao, Japan, Ivory Coast and South Africa all featured. As things stand, none of those will be worn unless those nations progress into the later rounds and are then told by Fifa to wear those strips.

From that 34-shirt shortlist, Curacao's away shirt was the most popular choice by BBC Sport readers of those presently not set to feature.

Japan's away shirt was a place below Curacao's, ranked fifth overall and second among those without a scheduled match in which to wear them.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

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Gowtham - Hi Phil, what is your take on Argentina winning the trophy again? Do you think they can keep up with the young talents of other teams like France and Spain?

Hello, Gowtham. Any team with Lionel Messi, even coming up to 39, has a chance and there is plenty of quality dotted around the current World Cup holders with players such as Enzo Fernandez and Julian Alvarez.

Do I think they will repeat their success in Qatar? No I don’t.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

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Scott - Phil, do you think Scotland can realistically qualify? If they beat Haiti, then they could still go through? Surely the best chance they have ever had.

Yes, I do, Scott. It doesn’t take a genius to tell you Brazil will be incredibly hard – but haven’t we seen Scotland raise their game on these types of occasions before?

They made hard work of getting to the World Cup but I can see them getting results against Haiti and Morocco and getting into the knockout phase.

And the longer “The Tartan Army” are around the better. They were sensational at Euro 2024 in Germany.

Chris Sutton
Former England forward

Sutton's pre-tournament picks: Japan (winners) and Netherlands (runners-up). Tunisia to finish third and Sweden fourth.

Netherlands v Japan: 1-2

Sweden v Tunisia: 1-1

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Damien - Phil, do you think it was a gamble too far to leave Jarrod Bowen at home with Bukayo Saka not on form, and Noni Madueke not proven? Everyone could see Saka was not at his best and Madueke is not the assist machine Bowen is, or as clinical a finisher.

I am a huge fan of Jarrod Bowen and included him in my pre-World Cup squad because he is consistent, provides assists – even in a struggling West Ham United team - and is the perfect squad man with his exemplary attitude.

Look at Bowen’s assist stats. He was third highest in the Premier League with 11, behind Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes with 21, and Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki (12). All in a West Ham team that was relegated.

England head coach Thomas Tuchel will have done a lot of heart searching before leaving him out. I must admit I would have taken him.

Simon King
Lead weather presenter, BBC Weather

Texas is one of the hottest states in the US and England fans waiting for their team's first match to begin will be experiencing typical hot weather on Wednesday afternoon.

Temperatures into the low thirties are expected and while it should be dry and sunny, there is a chance cloud cover could increase with a few showers.

While no thunderstorms are currently forecast, the cloud cover and increased atmospheric moisture will raise the humidity.

The 'feels like' temperature is therefore expected to approach 40C.

However, the Dallas stadium is one of the World Cup stadiums with a retractable roof and air-conditioning.

This will make it much more comfortable - and safer - for players and fans when inside the stadium during the game.

Scotland's first game is against Haiti, taking place in Boston on Saturday evening local time - 02:00 BST on Sunday.

While it will feel pretty warm with a temperature of around 25C (77F), this is typical for the time of year, and similar to a warm summer day in the UK.

There will be 104 matches at this World Cup, and you can predict them all across the BBC Sport website and app.

Our brand new game gives you the chance to guess the result of each game and build your streak as you return each day.

Players also have the chance to enter a prize draw to win an official World Cup football signed by members of the BBC World Cup team.

Get involved over here

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

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Chris - Question for Phil McNulty: of the three host nations this year, which do you think will progress furthest?

Hi, Chris. They have all got tricky groups but will still fancy their chances of getting out of them.

United States will be optimistic under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino, while all eyes will be on Mexico as they are slated to face England in Mexico City in the last 16 if the cards fall.

Canada, under former Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch, will also feel the home support but I maybe see last 16 for all at best – although Mexico will feel they could overturn England at altitude and in what would be an incredible atmosphere at the iconic Azteca Stadium.

It would be great for the tournament if one of the hosts pushed on, but I do not see them troubling the really big hitters. *Words that will return to haunt me.

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Most people love telling stories about the legends who lifted the World Cup trophy, but it is not often anyone talks about the trophy itself- or rather, the two versions of it.

The first World Cup trophy was introduced in 1930, when Fifa launched the inaugural tournament under the leadership of Jules Rimet, the man the trophy was named after.

Designed by French sculptor Abel Lafleur, the trophy depicted Nike, the ancient Greek goddess of victory, holding a chalice aloft.

Crafted from gold-plated sterling silver, the trophy was mounted on a lapis lazuli base.

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During World War II, Fifa said Italian football official Ottorino Barassi hid the trophy in a shoe box beneath his bed in Rome to prevent it from falling into Nazi hands.

Just months before the start of the 1966 World Cup in England, the trophy was stolen during a public exhibition.

It was eventually discovered by a dog named Pickles - wrapped in newspaper, beneath a garden hedge in South London.

Brazil earned permanent possession of the Jules Rimet Trophy in 1970 after becoming the first three‑time World Cup winner.

But in 1983 the trophy was stolen from the Brazilian FA’s headquarters in Rio de Janeiro and was never found. It is widely believed to have been melted down, said Fifa.

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By then, Fifa had already ushered in a new design for the modern era of the World Cup.

The new trophy was designed by Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga, who also designed the Uefa Europa League trophy, at 36 centimetres tall and cast in 18-carat gold.

Fifa said the design- two human figures lifting Planet Earth- "captures football's global, unifying spirit".

West Germany were the first team to lift the redesigned accolade in 1974.

Following its predecessor’s mysterious disappearance in 1983, Fifa said the newer World Cup trophy is not awarded permanently to any nation- lesson very much learned.

Champions now get their hands on the original during the post-match award ceremony, before being presented with a gold-plated replica to keep.