New Zealand defender Tim Payne, who achieved viral fame after being singled out by a soccer influencer ahead of the World Cup, has confirmed he will play for Club Olimpia in Paraguay. Payne’s following on Instagram rocketed from 4,700 to 5.8 million after the influencer El Scarso, whose real name is Valen Scarsini, identified him as the World Cup player with the smallest social media following. Sudden fame meant that…
Jonathan David‘s hat trick propelled Canada to a historic 6-0 rout of Qatar in Vancouver on Thursday to go top of their World Cup group. It was not only Canada’s first-ever victory at a World Cup but equaled the record margin of victory for a tournament host, matching the the six-goal wins for Italy in 1934, Brazil in 1950 and Argentina in 1978. Canada’s tally against Qatar also doubled the…
Morgan Rogers, Marc Guéhi and Djed Spence featured for England in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Sporting KC on Thursday. The trio came off the bench in Wednesday’s World Cup opening win against Croatia, but got more game time against the MLS side at the Swope Soccer Village on Thursday. With England not back in action again until Tuesday’s clash with Ghana, boss Thomas Tuchel wanted to give his fringe players…
Morocco but head coach Mohamed Ouahbi is calling on his Premier League players to step up and help the Atlas Lions cope with the physical challenge from Scotland in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Friday. Morocco may be among the revelations of the World Cup so far after their confident, technically adroit opening 1-1 draw with Brazil, but it promises to be a different kind of threat posed by Scotland. -Hamilton: Can…
VANCOUVER — Canada midfielder Ismaël Koné was stretchered off the field in the second half of the host nation’s match against Qatar on Thursday at BC Place in Vancouver. The 24-year-old looked to have suffered a serious injury after a challenge from Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo in the second half and was applauded off the pitch by supporters at BC Place after receiving medical attention on the field. Koné went…
FIFA have moved photographers away from the benches during national anthems before World Cup matches after Thomas Tuchel voiced his frustration at the issue, sources have told ESPN. Tuchel had complained that he was blocked from watching his England players sing “God Save The King” prior to Wednesday’s 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday. FIFA have taken feedback across the first round of matches under advisement and photographers…
After their dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama on Wednesday night, Antoine Semenyo says Ghana will head into their FIFA World Cup showdown with England looking to ‘prove a point’. The Black Stars laboured for most of that game on Wednesday, until Caleb Yirenkyi‘s stoppage-time winner in Toronto secured them all three points from a match that Panama controlled for long stretches, leaving the Black Stars chasing the game. Having secured…
ATLANTA, GA — South Africa may have come back from a goal down to salvage a point in a 1-1 against Czechia in Atlanta on Thursday, but head coach Hugo Broos absolutely has to find a way to prevent the team from conceding early. Goals inside the first quarter of matches have left them with a hill to climb in both of their FIFA World Cup Group A games to…
ATLANTA — South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has accused Czechia of not wanting to play football during their 1-1 draw at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Thursday. A point apiece keeps World Cup hopes alive for both teams ahead of the final games in Group A. – Clinching scenarios: Each team’s route to the knockout stage – World Cup Daily Live South Africa managed to snatch a late equalizer through Teboho…
Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi, under investigation for alleged betting-related offenses, has received authorization to enter Canada for his nation’s World Cup match against Germany, the Ivorian football federation said Thursday. The federation earlier said the 23-year-old Wahi was not going to be able to travel to Canada, but it issued a statement Thursday stating the necessary authorizations had now been obtained. Wahi started in Monday’s 1-0 win over Ecuador…