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
England’s midfielder #10 Jude Bellingham (C) and teammates cheer fans after winning the 2026 World Cup Group L football match between Panama and England at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford | Photo Credit: AFP Jude Bellingham broke a deadlock with a goal and an assist in the second half of England’s Group … Read more
England’s midfielder #10 Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the 2026 World Cup Group L football match between Panama and England at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford. | Photo Credit: AFP This live blog is now closed. England scored twice in the second half to beat Panama 2-0 and … Read more
Iran’s Mehdi Taremi criticises the arrangements provided to the national team in the U.S. File | Photo Credit: Reuters Iran captain Mehdi Taremi questioned whether his side was welcome at the World Cup, strongly criticising the conditions they are playing under in the United States after they drew 1-1 with Egypt on Friday (June 27, … 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
This live blog is now closed. Nikola Vlasic headed a late winner to send Croatia into the World Cup round of 32 with a 2-1 victory over Ghana on Sunday (June 28, 2026). Vlasic’s 83rd-minute finish from a Luka Modric corner snatched back the lead 10 minutes after Derrick Luckassen poked in an equaliser from … Read more
Activist Peter Tatchell with a Progress pride flag inside the stadium before the Group G match between Iran and Egypt. File | Photo Credit: Reuters In Seattle’s Ballard district, a drag queen was wielding a microphone and putting on a show ahead of the World Cup meeting of Iran and Egypt. Also read | FIFA … Read more
Referee Ismail Elfath shows a yellow card to Uruguay’s Juan Manuel Sanabria (25) during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Spain in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, on June 26, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP Uruguay bowed out of the World Cup as goalkeeper Fernando Muslera’s howler gifted Spain a 1-0 win … Read more
The domains were used to illegally offer users copyright-protected content in the form of real-time streams of the World Cup matches as they were being played and first broadcast, U.S. Justice Department said. | Photo Credit: Reuters The United States has seized nearly 400 internet domains that were being used to illegally stream the World … Read more
Belgium’s Leandro Trossard (10) celebrates his goal against New Zealand with teammates Kevin De Bruyne (7) and Charles De Ketelaere (17) during the first half of a World Cup Group G soccer match, in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Friday (June 26, 2026). | Photo Credit: AP Leandro Trossard scored a pair of goals and Belgium … Read more
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah in action with Iran’s Mohammad Mohebbi in the Group G encounter on June 26, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters Egypt advanced past the group stage at the World Cup for the first time while Iran, which had a potential late winning goal called back due to an offside, will have to wait … Read more
Tiny Cape Verde defied odds to become the smallest country to earn a spot in the World Cup knockout round behind the stellar play of Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who embodied the grit of his nation. Also read | Spain stunned in 0-0 draw with World Cup debutants Cape Verde “We are small,” he said. … Read more
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha (1) kicks the ball during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia in Houston, on June 26, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP Debutants Cape Verde prolonged their World Cup fairytale on Friday as they secured a place in the World Cup round of 32 following … Read more
It was just another group match in the FIFA World Cup 2026 on the outskirts of Guadalajara, Mexico, where Colombia and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were fighting out to be better poised to come out of their groups. Stakes were low, and the atmosphere normal for a World Cup match. But one man stood … Read more
Giant replicas of the FIFA 2026 World Cup trophy and ball. | Photo Credit: Henry Romero FIFA World Cup 2026 is being played across Canada, Mexico, and the USA, with stars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kylian Mbappe keeping the high-octane football matches nail-biting. The event began on June 11, 2026, at the Estadio … Read more
Lineups are announced and players are warming up. Belgium: Courtois; De Cuyper, Theate, Mechele, Castagne; Doku, Tielemans, De Bruyne, Vanaken, Trossard; De Ketelaere New Zealand: Max Crocombe; Tim Payne, Finn Surman, Tyler Bindon, Liberato Cacace; Joe Bell, Marko Stamenic; Ryan Thomas, Sarpreet Singh, Elijah Just; Chris Wood (c).
Lineups are announced and players are warming up. Iran: Beiranvand (goalkeeper); Rezaeian, Kanaani, Khalilzadeh, Nemati, Mohammadi; Ghoddos, Ghorbani, Ezatolahi, Mohebbi; Taremi Egypt: Shobeir (goalkeeper); Hany, Abdelmonem, Rabia, Fatouh; Lasheen, Ashour; Ziko, Saber, Trezeguet; Salah
Giant replicas of the FIFA 2026 World Cup trophy and ball. | Photo Credit: Henry Romero FIFA World Cup 2026 is being played across Canada, Mexico, and the USA, with stars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kylian Mbappe keeping the high-octane football matches nail-biting. The event began on June 11, 2026, at the Estadio … Read more
HOUSTON, TEXAS – JUNE 26: Mohamed Kanno #23 of Saudi Arabia and Kevin Pina #6 of Cabo Verde compete for the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H match between Cabo Verde and Saudi Arabia at Houston Stadium on on June 26, 2026 in Houston, Texas. | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP … Read more