MONTERREY, Mexico — It was the boldest of gambles with progress to the World Cup round of 32 on the line — and one that ultimately backfired spectacularly. South Korea coach Hong Myung-Bo had jaws dropping when he chose to leave out captain Son Heung-Min from his first XI for Wednesday’s Group A decider against South Africa — the first time since Son started his journey with the national team…
MEXICO CITY — Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa took the field during the 78th minute of Mexico‘s 3-0 win over Czechia, giving the 40-year-old the chance to appear in his sixth World Cup. Ochoa made history this summer after being included in Mexico’s World Cup roster for a sixth time. After playing against Czechia, it marked the fourth time he’s earned minutes at FIFA’s showpiece event.
ATLANTA — Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi has told his players they need to believe they can become the first African winners of the World Cup. The semifinalists from Qatar four years ago booked their place in the round of 32 with a 4-2 win over Haiti in Atlanta on Wednesday. – FIFA World Cup match schedule – How teams can qualify for knockout rounds – World Cup 2026 Power Rankings…
Deniz Undav has three goals and two assists in 69 minutes at the World Cup, averaging a goal contribution every 13.8 minutes for a rate topping Lionel Messi (37.4), Kylian Mbappé (48.8) and Erling Haaland (51.2). And the 29-year-old striker still hasn’t earned a place in Germany‘s starting lineup. “If I weren’t happy, if I wasn’t content, I wouldn’t be here,” he said during a news conference Wednesday ahead of…
Craig Burley has said that Scotland “do not deserve to go through” to the knockout stages after they fell 3-0 to Brazil in Miami. Steve Clarke’s men came into this clash knowing that any sort of result would likely guarantee them a spot in the knockout stages, while a narrow defeat may also do the same. But Scotland were calamitous almost from the outset in defence, with Vinícius Júnior twice…
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Scotland head coach Steve Clarke fears his team are heading home after they lost 3-0 to Brazil in Miami to leave their chances of making the World Cup knockouts hanging in the balance. Clarke’s side have three points from their three group stage matches. They opened with a 1-0 win over Haiti, but then lost 1-0 to Morocco and fell to Brazil on Wednesday as Vinícius…
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Neymar came off the bench to make his first World Cup appearance at the 2026 World Cup for Brazil in their 3-0 Group C win over Scotland on Wednesday. Vinícius Júnior scored twice in the first half and Matheus Cunha added a second-half goal as Brazil clinched top spot ahead of Morocco, who beat eliminated Haiti in Wednesday’s other Group C match. Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti…
MONTERREY, Mexico — South Korea coach Hong Myung-Bo has made a shocking selection call by leaving captain Son Heung-Min out of their decisive Group A clash against South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday. Son is the biggest of three changes to the starting XI that lost 1-0 to Mexico last Thursday, and will be replaced as the Taegeuk Warriors’ spearhead by Oh Hyeon-Gyu, who scored the…
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Brazil secured top spot in Group C as Vinícius Júnior inspired them to a 3-0 win over Scotland, a result that leaves the Tartan Army’s hopes of making the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed sides hanging by a thread. On a night where Neymar played his first Brazil minutes in three years as a second-half substitute, this was a wonderful night for Carlo…
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — United States manager Mauricio Pochettino said his four players on yellow cards won’t start Thursday’s match against Türkiye to avoid the possibility of being suspended for the round of 32 match on July 1. The USMNT has clinched the top spot in Group D, and with Türkiye having already been eliminated, the match will have no bearing on the final group standings. Therefore, the four players on…