Croatia’s Ante Budimir, right, celebrates scoring a goal against Panama in the FIFA World Cup match in Toronto, on June 23, 2026 | Photo Credit: Imagn Images via REUTERS Ante Budimir guided Croatia to a 1-0 win over a stubborn Panama side in their World Cup Group L clash on Tuesday (June 23, 2026), giving … Read more
World Cup attendances are on track for record highs despite daunting ticket prices and Trump administration travel restrictions. Experts say it is less a reflection of America’s fondness for soccer, and more a measure of its love of spectacle. Through 44 matches, total attendance topped 2.85 million, with the average stadium about 99.6% full, according … Read more
England’s Harry Kane reacts after missing a chance to score against Ghana in the World Cup on June 23, 2026 | Photo Credit: Reuters England failed to break down a resolute Ghana side and had to settle for a 0-0 draw in their second World Cup Group L match on Tuesday (June 23, 2026), a … Read more
Panama’s Cristian Martinez, front, and Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol vie for the ball during the World Cup Group L soccer match between Panama and Croatia in Toronto, on June 23, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP Josip Stanišić lifted a curving cross onto the boot of Ante Budimir, who tapped it into an open net in the … Read more
Iran team pose for a group photo prior to the World Cup Group G soccer match between Belgium and Iran in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, on June 21, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP The U.S. is easing its restrictions on Iran’s World Cup team, allowing the squad to travel into the country two days … Read more
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring the opening goal of his team during the World Cup Group K match between Portugal and Uzbekistan in Houston, on June 23, 2026 | Photo Credit: AP Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in six different World Cup tournaments on Tuesday (June 22, 2026), getting a goal in … Read more
England’s Harry Kane (9) reacts after missing a shot on goal during the World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Ghana in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, on June 23, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP This live is now closed England and Ghana both edged closer to a place in the last 32 of … Read more
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their first goal on June 23, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters For generations of Uzbek football fans, Cristiano Ronaldo was the dream. His shirts filled the bazaars of Tashkent and Samarkand, and his celebrations were copied in every playground. On Tuesday, those supporters finally had the chance to watch their … Read more
Lineups are announced and players are warming up. Portugal: Diogo Costa, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Joao Neves, Bruno Fernandes, Pedro Neto, Joao Felix, Cristiano Ronaldo. Uzbekistan: Abduvohid Nematov, Abdukodir Khusanov, Rustam Ashurmatov, Sherzod Nasrullaev, Abdulla Abdullaev, Behruzjon Karimov, Odiljon Xamrobekov, Otabek Shukurov, Azizjon Ganiev, Abbosbek Fayzullaev, Eldor Shomurodov.
Messi tormented the Austrian defence and his brace proved to be the difference between the two sides. | Photo Credit: Getty Images For long stretches at the AT&T Stadium on Monday, Austria made life difficult for Argentina. It controlled possession and stopped the world champion from dictating the game. Yet when the match was over, … Read more
Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring the second goal in the Group J match against Austria on June 23, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters In an expanded World Cup intended to spread the soccer spotlight wider than ever, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe have already delivered the star power FIFA, broadcasters and the American audience crave, … Read more
Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand makes a save during the World Cup Group G soccer match between Belgium and Iran in Inglewood, California, near Los Angeles, on Sunday (June 21, 2026). | Photo Credit: AP Every time the world shrinks into a ball to celebrate the beautiful game with eyes on superstars, stalwarts, and legends at … Read more
Algeria’s Amine Gouiri scores a goal past Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila during the World Cup Group J match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, California, on June 22, 2026 | Photo Credit: AP Algeria stormed back to beat Jordan 2-1 and eliminate the World Cup debutants with a match to spare on Monday (June … Read more
Norway’s Erling Haaland celebrates Norway’s Patrick Berg, left, and David Moeller Wolfe, right after scoring their third goal during the World Cup Group I match between Norway and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, on June 22, 2026 | Photo Credit: AP Erling Haaland scored two goals in Norway’s 3-2 win over Senegal … Read more
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo during training ahead of their Group K match against Uzbekistan. | Photo Credit: Reuters Portugal coach Roberto Martinez praised Cristiano Ronaldo as “a good example for all of us” but refused to confirm if the veteran captain would start his team’s World Cup clash with Uzbekistan on Tuesday (June 23, 2026). Also … Read more
France’s Ousmane Dembele (7) celebrates with Kylian Mbappe (10) after scoring their third goal during the World Cup Group I match between France and Iraq in Philadelphia, on June 22, 2026 | Photo Credit: AP Kylian Mbappe scored his second brace of the tournament and France eased to a 3-0 victory over Iraq on Monday … Read more
Algeria’s Amine Gouiri celebrates scoring their second goal against Jordan in the World Cup, on June 22, 2026 | Photo Credit: Reuters Algeria came from behind to beat Jordan 2-1 in a World Cup Group J game on Monday (June 22, 2026), eliminating the Asian debutants from the tournament. Amine Gouiri and Nadhir Benbouali scored … Read more
Norway’s Erling Haaland celebrates scoring team’s second goal against Senegal, on June 22, 2026 | Photo Credit: Reuters Erling Haaland scored twice to raise his World Cup goals total to four, as Norway advanced to the Round of 32 with a 3-2 win over Senegal on Monday night (June 22, 2026). Marcus Pederson put the … Read more
The World Cup match between France and Iraq was suspended at half-time on Monday due to a severe weather alert, as fans were told to take shelter from an approaching thunderstorm. A FIFA official said the game in Philadelphia, which kicked off at 2100 GMT, would be delayed for at least half an hour, including … Read more
Lionel Messi scores Argentina’s second goal during the World Cup Group J match between Argentina and Austria in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas on June 22, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP After a stunning three-goal opener against Algeria on June 16, 2026, Argentina captain Lionel Messi climbed the ranks of footballers with the most goals scored … Read more
Argentina’s Lionel Messi scores his side’s second goal during the World Cup Group J match between Argentina and Austria in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, on June 22, 2026 | Photo Credit: AP The takeover had begun long before kick-off. The previous evening, thousands had gathered at the Klyde Warren Park for the traditional Argentine Banderazo, … Read more
Ronaldo will once again be the centre of attraction. | Photo Credit: Getty Images For a team that enjoyed 75 per cent possession, completed 783 passes and spent much of the afternoon monopolising the ball, Portugal emerged from its World Cup opener with remarkably little to show for. The numbers from the 1-1 Group K … Read more
Hello, all and a warm welcome to the Group J clash between Argentina and Austria in Dallas. 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, Thiago Almada, Lautaro Martinez Austria: Alexander Schlager; Kevin Danso, … Read more
Austria’s Konrad Laimer and David Alaba in action with Argentina’s Lionel Messi on June 22, 2026 | Photo Credit: Reuters Lionel Messi became the all-time leading scorer in men’s World Cup history on Monday (June 22, 2026), netting his 17th tournament goal during Argentina’s match against Austria to surpass Germany striker Miroslav Klose. Argentina vs … Read more
Young football fans playing in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN As football fans world over celebrate their abiding love for the sport in the ongoing season of FIFA World Cup, The Hindu’s reporters attempt to put the fever and frenzy into perspective with a series on Bengaluru’s tryst with the game over the decades. … Read more
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has delivered dramatic matches, surprise results and compelling storylines. But beyond the football, the tournament has also become a flashpoint for debates about geopolitics, immigration and access. Iran’s participation has been overshadowed by the fallout of a wider regional conflict, while visa denials and travel restrictions have raised questions about … Read more
Impactful: Oyarzabal’s value to the national team, filled with stars, extends well beyond the goals he scores. | Photo Credit: Getty Images Football, like life, has a habit of changing fortunes quickly. Less than a week ago, Mikel Oyarzabal found himself attached to an unwanted statistic after Spain’s goalless draw against Cape Verde. For nearly … Read more
Kylian Mbappé passed Pelé on the World Cup goal-scoring list and inched closer to setting the overall goal record for the tournament. And, Mbappé also set France’s national team goal-scoring record. Also read | Kylian Mbappe has World Cup history in sights after breaking France scoring record All that in just his first World Cup … Read more
The movement of Olmo between the lines repeatedly unsettled the Saudi Arabian defence. | Photo Credit: Getty Images For a few days, questions had followed the Spanish team everywhere. Had the draw against Cape Verde exposed deep-lying flaws in one of the pre-tournament favourites? Had opponents finally discovered a way to blunt the fluidity that had made … Read more
Uruguay’s Rodrigo Zalazar, Rodrigo Aguirre and Mathias Olivera look dejected after their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H match with Cape Verde, in the Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S., on June 21, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters Uruguay is off to a start many did not expect. After draws against Saudi Arabia and Cape … Read more