Ancelotti brought on Martinelli in the second half and it paid dividends as he netted the winner. | Photo Credit: Getty Images Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted his side had to endure one of its toughest examinations of the tournament before overcoming Japan 2-1 to reach the World Cup round of 16. “It was a really close and … Read more
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann reacts during the match between Germany and Paraguay during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 at the Boston Stadium, in Foxborough, Massachusetts, U.S., on June 29, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said he wanted to stay in his job despite the defeat on penalties to … Read more
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. | Photo Credit: AP U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin celebrated Iran’s elimination from the World Cup, saying he did a “happy dance,” Sports Business Journal reported on Monday (June 29, 2026). The Iranian team barely missed out on reaching the knockout rounds of the tournament. They drew all … Read more
Morocco players celebrate after the penalty shootout win over the Netherlands in the round of 32 stage of the World Cup, on June 29, 2026 | Photo Credit: Reuters Morocco defeated the Netherlands in a penalty shootout to advance to the last 16 of the World Cup on Monday (June 29, 2026) after a thrilling … Read more
Netherlands’ Cody Gakpo points to the sky after scoring against Morocco in the World Cup Round of 32 match on June 29, 2026 | Photo Credit: Reuters The outpouring of emotion from Cody Gakpo after he scored for the Netherlands against Morocco at the World Cup on Monday (June 29, 2026) showed that while the … Read more
Paraguay’s Jose Canale celebrates scoring a penalty during the penalty shootout to win the match. | Photo Credit: Reuters Paraguay stunned four-time world champions Germany 4-3 on penalties on Tuesday (June 30, 2026 – Indian time) to advance to the World Cup round of 16 in one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history, … Read more
Lineups are announced and players are warming up. Morocco: Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Issa Diop, Chadi Riad, Noussair Mazraoui, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Bilal El Khannouss, Neil El Aynaoui, Azzedine Ounahi, Brahim Diaz, Ismael Saibari. Netherlands: Bart Verbruggen, Denzel Dumfries, Jan Paul van Hecke, Virgil van Dijk, Micky van de Ven, Nathan Ake, Ryan Gravenberch, Frenkie de … Read more
Lineups are announced and players are warming up. Germany: Manuel Neuer; Jonathan Tah, Joshua Kimmich, Antonio Ruediger, Nathaniel Brown; Aleksandar Pavlovic, Florian Wirtz, Leroy Sane, Felix Nmecha; Kai Havertz, Deniz Undav. Paraguay: Orlando Gill, Junior Alonso, Juan Jose Caceres, Andres Cubas, Miguel Almiron, Jose Canale, Gustavo Gomez, Damian Bobadilla, Julio Enciso, Gabriel Avalos, Matias Galarza.
Brazil’s Gabriel Martinelli celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the World Cup round of 32 match between Brazil and Japan in Houston, on June 29, 2026 | Photo Credit: AP For nearly an hour here, Brazil stood on the brink of yet another World Cup heartbreak. Japan had silenced the yellow wall, bent … Read more
Lineups are announced and players are warming up. Brazil: Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel; Douglas Santos; Casemiro, B. Guimarães, Paquetá; Rayan, Cunha, Vinicius Japan: Suzuki; Tomiyasu, Taniguchi, Itō; Dōan, Sano, Kamada, Nakamura; Maeda, Itō; Ueda
Haaland has scored four goals in his first two World Cup appearances. | Photo Credit: AFP Sport always rewards those willing to wait. For some nations, reaching the World Cup knockout rounds is an expectation. For others, it is the culmination of decades of longing, setbacks and near misses. On Tuesday in Dallas, two such … Read more
Saudi Arabian Football Federation President Yasser Al Misehal. File | Photo Credit: AP The president of Saudi Arabia’s Football Federation has announced his resignation after the Green Falcons were knocked out of the World Cup in the first round. Saudi Arabia finished bottom of Group H with two points, after two draws against Uruguay (1-1) … Read more
Nine years ago, the first FIFA tournament hosted in India offered a glimpse into football’s future. Packed stadiums in New Delhi, Kolkata, Kochi, Navi Mumbai, Goa and Guwahati watched teenagers chasing their dreams. But many have disappeared into the game’s vast, unforgiving talent vortex. But 18 of those youngsters are now back on football’s biggest … Read more
Canada’s forward #10 Jonathan David. File | Photo Credit: AFP Published – June 29, 2026 01:00 pm IST Read Comments Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit
Canada’s Stephen Eustaquio (7) celebrates scoring their opening goal against South Africa during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles. | Photo Credit: AP Stephen Eustaquio scored in the second minute of second-half stoppage to give Canada a 1-0 victory over South Africa in a round of 32 … Read more
Canada’s Stephen Eustaquio (7) celebrates scoring their opening goal against South Africa during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles. | Photo Credit: AP This live blog is not closed. Co-hosts Canada scored a stoppage-time winner to beat South Africa 1-0 on Monday (June 29, 2026) and become … Read more
Argentina’s Lionel Messi is the leading goalscorer in the history of World Cups with 19 goals. File | Photo Credit: Reuters The group stages of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which began on June 12, 2026, have come to a scintillating end. The final picture of the knockouts gained clarity only after the final whistle … Read more
Messi capped off another good Argentine performance with a second-half strike. | Photo Credit: Reuters The hallmark of champions is not simply their brilliance but the quality waiting beyond the spotlight. Argentina started without several of its biggest names, including captain Lionel Messi, against Jordan yet scarcely looked diminished as it completed a flawless Group … Read more
Getting ready: Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki will be in the thick of things when Brazil flies in on his post. | Photo Credit: AP The World Cup has always belonged to the dreamers. Every four years, nations arrive believing history can be rewritten. The knockout rounds of the tournament, however, have little time for romance … Read more
For decades, the World Cup was a tournament where Asia and Africa hoped to cause the occasional upset. This summer, while Africa has made a good account of its football potential, Asia would feel disappointed at the end of the group stage of the competition. A record nine of Africa’s 10 qualified teams have made … Read more
As the FIFA World Cup 2026 enters the Round of 32 on Monday (June 29, 2026) IST, the streets of coastal villages in Kanniyakumari district, particularly the eight villages that form the Thoothoor zone, has been brimming with excitement, heated debates over favourite teams and players and life-size cut-outs of football stars lining the road. … Read more
Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his side’s 3rd goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Argentina in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Saturday, June 27, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP Lionel Messi scored on a free kick as a second-half substitute, and Argentina delivered a 3-1 World Cup victory over Jordan … Read more
Austria’s players celebrates after Austria’s Sasa Kalajdzic (14) scored to tie the match during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Algeria and Austria in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, June 27, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP Sasa Kalajdzic scored in the closing seconds of second-half stoppage time to give Austria a dramatic 3-3 draw … Read more
Colombia’s Santiago Arias in action with Portugal’s Nuno Mendes on June 27, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters Colombia finished the World Cup ‘s opening round as the Group K winner after playing Portugal to a scoreless draw on Saturday night (June 27, 2026). Also read: Colombia vs Portugal final Group K match highlights Both squads … Read more
DR Congo’s Yoane Wissa celebrates scoring their first goal from the penalty spot at Atlanta Stadium, Georgia, U.S., on June 27, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters Striker Yoane Wissa netted twice as the Democratic Republic of Congo reached the World Cup knockouts afterfighting their way back from a halftime deficit to win 3-1 against Uzbekistan … Read more
Algeria’s Rafik Belghali (17) celebrates with his teammate Fares Chaibi (10) after scoring his team’s first goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Algeria and Austria in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, June 27, 2026.. | Photo Credit: AP This LIVE blog has now been closed. It was a seesaw battle as the … Read more
Goal! Jordan 0, Argentina 1. Giovani Lo Celso (Argentina) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the top left corner. Argentina’s Giovani Lo Celso (11) scores their opening goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Argentina in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio … Read more
Croatia’s Luka Modric (10) greets teammate Josip Sutalo (6) at the end of a World Cup Group L soccer match between Croatia and Ghana in Philadelphia. | Photo Credit: AP Croatia earned a spot in the World Cup knockout round, getting goals from Nikola Vlašic and Luka Sucic to beat Ghana 2-1 early Sunday (June … Read more
Eldor Shomurodov #14 of Uzbekistan celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K match between Congo DR and Uzbekistan at Atlanta Stadium on June 27, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP This live blog is now closed. Democratic Republic of Congo’s win against already-eliminated … Read more
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (7) controls the ball during the World Cup Group K soccer match between Colombia and Portugal in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 27, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP This live blog is now closed. Colombia and Portugal enter the knockouts with a goalless draw as both sides tried their best to break … Read more