EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Gonzalo Plata poked the ball past Manuel Neuer in the 77th minute, and Ecuador advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup by rallying for a 2-1 win over Germany on Thursday. Germany, who clinched first place in Group E with victories in their first two games, went ahead on Leroy Sané‘s second-minute goal. Nilson Angulo scored Ecuador’s first goal of the tournament in the…
Czechia forward Patrik Schick announced his retirement from international soccer on Thursday, just hours after his team was eliminated from the World Cup. “Today, my national team chapter is coming to an end,” the 30-year-old Bayer Leverkusen player said in a statement on Instagram. Schick made his debut in May 2016 against Malta in a friendly and won 56 caps, totaling 26 goals. He scored on his debut, but didn’t…
FIFA on Thursday reiterated fans will not be prohibited from bringing rainbow flags inside of Seattle’s Lumen Field for Friday’s decisive Group G World Cup match between Egypt and Iran, despite objections from each countries’ respective federations. Seattle PrideFest, which has been organized in the city since 2007 by a nonprofit, designated the June 26 game for celebration before FIFA made the World Cup draw. But leaders in each nation’s…
Winger Nico Williams said he’s ready to join teammate Lamine Yamal in Spain‘s starting 11 in their crucial Group H game with Uruguay on Friday. Spain top the group ahead of the match in Guadalajara, Mexico — after beating Saudi Arabia 4-0 in their last game, with back-from-injury Yamal playing a starring role — but still need a result to confirm their qualification in first place, and avoid a potential…
Winger Nico Williams said he’s ready to join teammate Lamine Yamal in Spain‘s starting 11 in their crucial Group H game with Uruguay on Friday. Spain top the group ahead of the match in Guadalajara, Mexico — after beating Saudi Arabia 4-0 in their last game, with back-from-injury Yamal playing a starring role — but still need a result to confirm their qualification in first place, and avoid a potential…
Arsenal have confirmed they have activated an option to sign Piero Hincapié on a permanent deal. The Ecuadorian defender had been on from Bayer Leverkusen, but now will remain at the Premier League side from July 1. More to follow…
Vinícius Júnior never doubted his form for Brazil would improve and expects it to get even better during the World Cup. The Brazilian forward only had six goals in 39 games for his country before his former Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti took charge of the national team in May 2025. Since then, Vinícius has scored seven times in 13 games. After adding a brace in Brazil’s 3-0 win over…
South Korea legend Park Ji-sung has launched a scathing criticism of the Korea Football Association (KFA), warning that the national team is repeating the same mistakes that led to its disappointing 2014 World Cup campaign. Speaking while assessing South Korea’s current World Cup preparations, the former Manchester United midfielder pointed the finger squarely at the country’s football leadership rather than the players on the pitch. “We’re just making the same…
Neymar has said he was “really nervous” when he ran onto the field and played for Brazil for the first time in 981 days. The country’s all-time leading goalscorer came off the bench and played 21 minutes in Brazil’s 3-0 win over Scotland on Wednesday. “My heart’s racing, I’m really nervous… But happy! I’m proud — everything went well,” Neymar told Globo TV. At his fourth World Cup, Neymar missed…
World Cup pundit and former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp broke off an interview after being asked about former Germany player Bastian Schweinsteiger’s characterisations about the Ivory Coast‘s team’s style of play. “A bit African football, a bit unorthodox, a bit wild, a bit perhaps also not so conditioned by tactics. We have to be prepared for it to be unpredictable,” Schweinsteiger said as a commentator on German broadcaster ARD before…