Iam Thorpe.

aut vincere aut mori | #TeamOau | #AllHeartsAlways | #Humanity | Medical Doctor | Swimming | Scrabble | #iroCc = I rely on Christ completely.

[Ajoje⚽⚖️ @israel_ajoje]

If you knew the back story(ies), you would cry too.

Raúl Jiménez has played at four World Cups. Across Brazil, Russia and Qatar, he never scored a single goal. Today, on home soil at the Estadio Azteca, that finally changed. And the moment broke him.

The tears obviously carried years. In March 2026, just three months ago, Jiménez lost his father Raúl Jiménez Vega to pancreatic cancer at the age of 62. He was a pivotal figure in his son's career. That goal was for him.

And there was more beneath it. In 2020, playing for Wolves against Arsenal, Jiménez fractured his skull in a collision with David Luiz. He lay unconscious on the pitch while teammates and family feared the worst.

It took emergency surgery and eight months to return. He still wears the protective headband today. Many of us thought it was over back then. 6 years later, at 35, Jimenez’s story is still being written.

Just think about it. A near-fatal injury, a grieving son and a 12-year wait for one World Cup goal, finally answered in front of his own people.

This is why we watch football. Not for the trophies. For the human underneath. Don’t you just love it.

My name is Ajoje. I am a FIFA Licensed Agent and International Sports Lawyer. I write on the Law and Business of Football, a lot. Repost and Follow if you want to read more posts like this.

[Iam Thorpe. @Edkhine]

Which language you dey learn?

[Yomi O. @yomisteve]

https://t.co/CVAP9xS3jr

[Polymarket Sports @PolymarketSport]

🚨FACT: Brazil is the only nation in history to have qualified and played in every single World Cup tournament since its inception in 1930

[Match of the Day @BBCMOTD]

Thierry Henry has a street named after him in New York 🗽

The temporary tribute has been installed in the heart of Manhattan for the World Cup to honour the former France striker, who has previously played and managed in the MLS 🛣️🇺🇸

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

Football is a low-scoring game. It lacks anything like the end-to-end speed and excitement of basketball or the physicality of American football.

But at its purest level, football’s appeal lies in its universality.

It is simple and accessible in a way that most team sports are not. At any given moment, on pitches or beaches or strips of concrete in any city in the world, there are people of all shapes and sizes, young and old, rich and poor, kicking a ball around.

At its highest level, football’s appeal is self-perpetuating.

There is a reason why, if and when a goal is scored in the opening game between Mexico and South Africa on Thursday afternoon, TV directors will focus on the scenes of agony and ecstasy both on the pitch and in the stands at Estadio Azteca.

Those raw emotions and moments of shared experience, which can be so hard to find in a fractured society, will be replicated all over the world in the coming weeks, bring families, communities and entire nations together, uniting them in hope, joy and, of course, despair.

📝 @OliverKay

🔗 https://t.co/XR39Pw1lB8

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

Two red cards already for South Africa at the 2026 World Cup — but there won't be any birthday ones.

They are the only team without a birthday among their squad during the tournament.

You can take this as seriously as you like.

[@Conor0Neill_]

[Iam Thorpe. @Edkhine]

Facts.

[Owichezzz @PiocheBrio]

Prime world cup days we had an octopus predicting games

[Sky Sports Football @SkyFootball]

BREAKING: Jose Mourinho has been appointed the head coach of Real Madrid 🚨

[ESPN FC @ESPNFC]

THE FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 IS HERE 🇺🇸🇲🇽🇨🇦

The greatest tournament of them all. Sit back, relax and enjoy the football 🙌

[FIFA World Cup Stats @alimo_philip]

⭐️ HISTORY UNLOCKED

🏟️ Estadio Azteca is now the FIRST stadium in the world to host THREE FIFA World Cups!

🏆 1970
🏆 1986
🏆 2026

🇲🇽 Mexico’s cathedral of football is officially legendary.

✊🏿 Respect

[we love ghana @weloveghana042]

🇳🇬🇲🇽We’re Nigerians, but today we are Mexicans.

— As group of Nigerians gathered in Mexico City to support Mexico against South Africa.

[Real Madrid C.F. @realmadrid]

👋 ¡Bienvenido, Mourinho! 👋

[ESPN FC @ESPNFC]

Haiti has been forced to change the design of its World Cup jersey after it was deemed too political by FIFA.

The jersey originally included a depiction of the final battle of the Haitian War of Independence in 1803.

More: https://t.co/6PmxH54mLj

[ESPN FC @ESPNFC]

FIFA's brand new walkout is incredible 🤩

Massive flags and the entire team standing around the center circle.

THE WORLD CUP IS HERE, FOLKS! 🔥

[Iam Thorpe. @Edkhine]

Referee don play both teams to collect red cards…

[OptaJoe @OptaJoe]

3 - In the first game at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, there were three red cards awarded.

At the 2022 World Cup, only four red cards were shown in 64 games overall.

Brandished.

[OptaJoe @OptaJoe]

3 - In the first game at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, there were three red cards awarded.

At the 2022 World Cup, only four red cards were shown in 64 games overall.

Brandished.

[Squawka @Squawka]

At 17 years and 240 days, Gilberto Mora is the youngest ever Mexican and the youngest ever North American player to appear at the FIFA men’s World Cup. 🇲🇽

[Edin Džeko @EdDzeko]

To the children of Bosnia & Herzegovina, I wrote this for you. Remember, nothing is impossible. @PlayersTribune

https://t.co/49fxPUEGq4

[Premier League @premierleague]

The BEST Premier League goal scored by a player from every nation at the 2026 World Cup 🏆

[FIFA @FIFAcom]

"It still feels like a dream!" 🥹

Siphiwe Tshabalala reflects on scoring the opening goal of @FIFAWorldCup in 2010 for South Africa 🇿🇦