Vinicius Junior and Endrick could pose challengers to the Norwegian defence. | Photo Credit: AFP Brazil’s World Cup campaign has offered reassurance and alarm in almost equal measure. Carlo Ancelotti’s side has won three of its four matches but needed a 95th-minute Gabriel Martinelli strike to squeeze past Japan in the round of 32. It is yet to fully hit … Read more
Argentina’s Facundo Medina heads the ball against Cape Verde’s Jamiro Monteiro during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens on July 3. | Photo Credit: AP Rayan Ismail, 15, pumped the air with a clenched fist when Lionel Messi put Argentina ahead against minnows-turned-crowd favourites Cape … Read more
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been an extended affair as the football body increased the number of teams from 32 in 2022 to 48 from this edition onward. This has also resulted in the addition of a Round of 32 to the knockout stages for the first time. Although most of the results were … Read more
Ghana’s Prince Adu reacts after the World Cup round of 32 match between Colombia and Ghana in Kansas City | Photo Credit: AP Africa set a record by sending nine of its teams to the knockout rounds of the World Cup. But seven of them were eliminated in the first round. Ghana was the last … Read more
The Mexican dream at this World Cup can be summed up in a phrase: “And what if we do?” The question omits the ending — and what if we do win? — but captures the hope of two generations of Mexicans who were used to defeats and have waited 40 years to see their national … Read more
Colombia’s Jhon Arias (11) celebrates after scoring their first goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Colombia and Ghana in Kansas City, Mo., on July 3, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP Jhon Arias scored the only goal as Colombia beat Ghana 1-0 in sweltering conditions in Kansas City on Friday (July … Read more
The Vallavur Nagar street festooned with the colours of Brazil and Argentina as the residents soak in the FIFA World Cup fever. | Photo Credit: Serish Nanisetti Sam steps out of his home in Vallavur Nagar in Sainikpuri bouncing a yellow football with his head. He makes it bounce five times before he loses control … Read more
Argentina players celebrate after scoring the team’s third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Argentina and Cabo Verde at Miami Stadium on July 3, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP Lionel Messi and Argentina beat Cabo Verde 3-2 on Friday (July 3, 2026) … Read more
Colombia’s Jhon Arias (11) challenges for the ball with with Ghana’s Kwasi Sibo (8) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Colombia and Ghana in Kansas City, Mo., on July 3, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP This live blog is now closed Wasteful Colombia saw off toothless Ghana 1-0 on Friday to … Read more
Lineups are announced and players are warming up. Argentina: Emiliano Martinez, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Facundo Medina, Nahuel Molina, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Lionel Messi (captain), Thiago Almada, Lautaro Martinez. Cape Verde: Vozinha, Diney Borges, Pico Lopes, Sidny Lopes Cabral, Steven Moreira, Kevin Pina, Jovane Cabral, Deroy Duarte, Laros Duarte, Ryan … Read more
Egypt’s Hossam Abdelmaguid celebrates after the match as Egypt qualify for the Round of 16 stage of the World Cup | Photo Credit: Reuters For all the noise, all the tactical planning and all the emotional freight that teams carry into a knockout tie, football has a habit of reducing everything to the loneliest act … Read more
Mexico’s last-32 match against Ecuador earlier this week was delayed due to rain. File | Photo Credit: Reuters Mexico’s clash with England in the World Cup round of 16 at the Estadio Azteca on Sunday (July 5, 2026) will be moved to noon local time (1800 GMT), local media reported on Friday (July 3, 2026). … Read more
FIFA World Cup Round of 32 highlights: Egypt beat Australia 4-2 on penalties
This combination picture shows Paraguay’s midfielder Julio Enciso at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 12, 2026, and France’s forward Kylian Mbappe at the Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia on June 22, 2026. Paraguay and France will meet in a 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match at the Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia … Read more
The two Kolkata giants will renew their century-old battle at the Salt Lake Stadium on July 25. | Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO: ISL The 135th edition of the Durand Cup football tournament will kick off with Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal renewing their century-old battle at the Salt Lake Stadium on … Read more
”He added: “It is the new generation’s turn to play. ” | Photo Credit: Reuters Riyad Mahrez, a five-time Premier League winner, announced his retirement from international Football following Algeria’s World Cup exit, a 2-0 defeat to Switzerland in the round of 32 on Thursday (July 2 2026). “There were good times and difficult times … Read more
Zlatko Dalic, head coach of Croatia, looks on before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia at Toronto Stadium on July 2, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic was unhappy with what he called the “bad refereeing” in his team’s … Read more
Julian Nagelsmann, head coach of Germany, reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann stepped down on Friday following the team’s early World Cup exit, and the … Read more
Simón and Spain allowed just three goals in four matches at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, but still went home early. | Photo Credit: Reuters Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón has the longest shutout streak in World Cup history, breaking a 36-year-old record while blanking Austria in a 3-0 victory Thursday (July 2 2026) for his … Read more
Switzerland’s Dan Ndoye, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side’s second goal during the World Cup round of 32 match between Switzerland and Algeria in Vancouver, British Columbia, on July 2, 2026 | Photo Credit: AP Switzerland striker Breel Embolo struck early and winger Dan Ndoye added a second as their side cruised to … Read more
Saturday’s (July 4 2026) afternoon knockout round game between France and Paraguay in Philadelphia could be this World Cup tournament’s hottest, posing dangers to the region as well as athletes and tens of thousands of fans in the open-air stadium. A heat wave is expected to continue across the eastern and central U.S. through the … Read more
At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo will get another World Cup match for Portugal, thanks to a penalty he scored, a stoppage-time header by Goncalo Ramos, and a VAR ruling the Croatia team still doesn’t understand. Ramos headed in the winner as Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in a wild finish that also included a Croatian goal disallowed … Read more
Switzerland’s Dan Ndoye scores their second goal against Algeria in the World Cup Round of 32 match on July 2, 2026 | Photo Credit: Reuters Switzerland defeated Algeria 2-0 in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match in Vancouver, Canada, on July 2, 2026. Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye scored in either half with … Read more
Lineups are announced and players are warming up. Portugal: Diogo Costa, Ruben Dias, Renato Veiga, Joao Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Leao, Pedro Neto. Croatia: Dominik Livakovic, Josip Stanisic, Marin Pongracic, Josip Sutalo, Mateo Kovacic, Luka Modric, Nikola Vlasic, Martin Baturina, Petar Sucic, Ante Budimir, Ivan Perisic.
In January 2017, when FIFA expanded the World Cup to 48 teams, starting with the 2026 edition, there were mixed feelings. Many welcomed the move, arguing that the flagship event of the planet’s most popular sport should have more than just 32 outfits. But there was criticism too, for many felt that the increase would … Read more
Spain’s Gavi (9) congrats Mikel Oyarzabal after scored their side third goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Spain and Austria in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles. | Photo Credit: AP Mikel Oyarzabal scored his third and fourth goals of the World Cup and Spain eased into the last 16 with … Read more
Lineups are announced and players are warming up. Spain: Unai Simon; Pedro Porro, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Cucurella; Rodri, Dani Olmo, Pedri; Alex Baena, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal. Austria: Alexander Schlager; Stefan Posch, David Alaba, Kevin Danso; Xaver Schlager, Nicolas Seiwald, Marcel Sabitzer, Romano Schmid, Konrad Laimer, Paul Wanner; Michael Gregoritsch.
Egypt’s star Mohamed Salah could feature in the big game. | Photo Credit: REUTERS Australia has made a habit of stretching World Cup matches into something uncomfortable, and that may yet be its greatest weapon in Arlington. Tony Popovic’s side arrives in the round of 32 not with the glamour of some of the tournament’s … Read more
Stellar show: Cape Verde enters the knockouts unbeaten. | Photo Credit: REUTERS The script was written long ago — small island nation, eliminated at the group stage, goes home with a good story. Cape Verde has not read it. Three games in at the 2026 World Cup, it is unbeaten, through to the knockouts, and nobody … Read more
Olise of France attempts an overhead kick against Sweden. | Photo Credit: AFP While the whole world talks about Kylian Mbappe’s brace, it was Michael Olise who had fans on their feet during France’s 3-0 demolition of Sweden in the round of 32. Playing in the number 10 role, Olise came agonisingly close to producing … Read more