- McLean secured Scotland’s spot with legendary qualifying goal.
- Winger Ali Ahmed recovers to join Canada’s hometown camp.
- Resurgent midfielder Slimane earns a deserved Tunisia squad recall.
With the domestic season now a thing of the dim and distant past for Norwich fans, eyes now turn to the upcoming World Cup.
And for five City players, the hard work is only just beginning. Philippe Clement’s squad will be well represented at the 2026 World Cup in North America.
As it approaches, the logistics and training schedules have been made public, and so for City fans, I’ve rustled up a one-stop shop for all the info you need to follow City’s Famous Five:
Kenny McLean (Scotland)
“The Mayor” is set for a huge summer after his sensational qualifying goal helped Steve Clarke’s side to end a 28-year World Cup drought. McLean, who recently signed a City contract extension, will join up with the Tartan Army for a final send-off friendly against Curacao at Hampden Park on May 30, followed by a warm-up fixture against Bolivia in New Jersey on June 6. Scotland will occupy a luxury base at Inter Miami CF’s training facility for the tournament.
- Group C: Haiti, Morocco, Brazil, Scotland
- Schedule (UK Times):
- v. Haiti – Saturday, June 13 (11:00 PM) – Gillette Stadium, Boston
- v. Morocco – Friday, June 19 (11:00 PM) – Gillette Stadium, Boston
- v. Brazil – Wednesday, June 24 (11:00 PM) – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Jose Cordoba (Panama)
Fresh from winning Norwich’s Player of the Month award for April, Cordoba is now set to be the linchpin of Panama’s backline. Following a rigorous final preparation camp that concluded with friendlies in South Africa, Cordoba and the Panamanian squad are flying directly into their team base in the United States this week to fine-tune their prep under head coach Thomas Christiansen.
- Group L: Croatia, England, Ghana, Panama
- Schedule (UK Times):
- v. Croatia – Sunday, June 14 (8:00 PM) – MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
- v. England – Friday, June 19 (7:00 PM) – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
- v. Ghana – Tuesday, June 23 (10:00 PM) – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Ali Ahmed (Canada)
Ahmed’s good form since his January move to Norfolk made him a shoo-in for Jesse Marsch’s co-hosts. After shaking off a minor hamstring scare picked up against Hull City on the final day of the EFL season, Ahmed has been back in his homeland completing a tailored rehab program. He joins the main Canadian camp in Toronto this week.
- Group B: Canada, Qatar, Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Schedule (UK Times):
- v. Bosnia and Herzegovina – Friday, June 12 (8:00 PM) – BMO Field, Toronto
- v. Qatar – Thursday, June 18 (11:00 PM) – BC Place, Vancouver
- v. Switzerland – Wednesday, June 24 (11:00 PM) – BC Place, Vancouver
Anis Ben Slimane (Tunisia)
Having enjoyed a magnificent mid-season revival under Clement, Slimane earned a well-deserved recall to Sabri Lamouchi’s Tunisia squad. He brings with him vital tournament experience from Qatar 2022. Slimane’s immediate schedule involves travelling to Tunisia’s base camp in Mexico this week to adjust to the high altitudes ahead of a brutal group stage.
- Group F: Sweden, Japan, Netherlands, Tunisia
- Schedule (UK Times):
- v. Sweden – Monday, June 15 (3:00 AM) – Estadio BBVA, Monterrey
- v. Japan – Sunday, June 21 (5:00 AM) – Estadio BBVA, Monterrey
- v. Netherlands – Friday, June 26 (11:00 PM) – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Mohamed Toure (Australia)
Toure’s January gamble to swap Randers for the Championship paid off with a brilliant nine-goal haul for City. After being cleared of a late-season groin injury, Mo has already flown out to join Tony Popovic’s Socceroos squad at their four-week intensive training camp in the United States.
- Group D: United States, Paraguay, Turkey, Australia
- Schedule (UK Times):
- v. United States – Saturday, June 13 (2:00 AM) – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
- v. Paraguay – Thursday, June 18 (8:00 PM) – NRG Stadium, Houston
- v. Turkey – Tuesday, June 23 (9:00 PM) – AT&T Stadium, Dallas
