Category Other

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has warned his players not to underestimate round of 32 opponent Cape Verde. Scaloni’s star-studded team will face the island nation after they became the smallest country by population to ever make the knockout stage of a men’s World Cup. Cape Verde finished second in Group H behind Spain but above Saudi Arabia and two-time World Cup winners Uruguay. “Cape Verde didn’t surprise me, because…

ATLANTA — Africa had a historic 10 nations qualify for the 2026 World Cup. After Congo’s 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan and Algeria‘s stunning 3-3 draw against Austria on Saturday night, nine are headed to the knockout stage. The previous record was two. After 17 days of competition, Morocco, South Africa, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cape Verde, Egypt, Congo and Algeria qualified for the round of 32. Morocco was the first…

ARLINGTON, Texas — Lionel Messi came off the bench in the 60th minute of Argentina’s World Cup group stage finale against Jordan, celebrating his return with a stunning free kick to seal a 3-1 victory for the reigning champions, who had already wrapped up first place in the group. The Argentina captain’s strike extended his record as the highest goalscorer in men’s World Cup history with 19 goals. It also…

Austria and Algeria played to a thrilling 3-3 draw Saturday night in what amounted to a win-win result in their World Cup group-stage finale, allowing both to advance to the knockout round while eliminating Iran from the tournament. The game was tied 2-2 in the closing minutes, and Algeria looked as if they were content to run out the clock, when captain Riyad Mahrez scored his second goal with about…

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said it would be “childish” to compare Cristiano Ronaldo‘s needs with those of Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland after insisting that his forward is “mentally and physically” able to play every minute of the team’s World Cup campaign. Ronaldo completed the full 90 minutes of Portugal’s 0-0 draw with Colombia on Saturday, ensuring that the 41-year-old has played all 270 minutes of…

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Thomas Tuchel has vowed England will improve in the knockout rounds after topping Group L with a laboured 2-0 win over Panama at MetLife Stadium on Saturday. England struggled to create chances in a drab first half — registering just two shots on target — before Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane struck to set up a round-of-32 tie in Atlanta on Wednesday. – England RB issues…

England will face Democratic Republic of Congo in the Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup, it has been confirmed. With England defeating Panama 2-0 to top Group L, they were guaranteed to be playing a team who finished in third place from Groups E, H, I, J or K. Although there were as many as 495 possible combinations that could have happened, after England’s victory, it had been…

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Colombia finished the World Cup ‘s opening round as the Group K winners after playing Portugal to a scoreless draw Saturday night. Both squads had already secured spots in the knockout stage before the match, needing only to learn their opponents for the next round. Colombia will play Ghana, which lost 2-1 to Croatia earlier Saturday. Portugal, who entered the expanded 48-team tournament as a favorite,…

PHILADELPHIA — Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic hailed Luka Modric‘s performance as “truly fantastic” as the 40-year-old midfielder led his country into the knockout rounds for the third World Cup in a row. Modric became the oldest player to record a World Cup assist when he set up Nikola Vlasic‘s winner in the 83rd minute as Croatia beat Ghana 2-1 to secure second spot in Group L. – FIFA World…

Alan Shearer said England were forced to rely on the “brilliance” of Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane after their goals helped the team top Group L with a 2-0 win over Panama. Thomas Tuchel’s side laboured in the first half in New York but finally made the breakthrough when Bellingham hooked his foot around a corner to break the deadlock in the 62nd minute. Kane headed a second shortly afterwards…