Page 11 - Latest Updates on FIFA World Cup

Neymar makes 1st appearance as second-half sub for Brazil vs Scotland

Neymar has finally played in this World Cup. The Brazil superstar checked in during the 76th minute against Scotland on Wednesday, with the team leading 3-0 and well on its way to clinching a spot in the knockout stage that starts next week. It wasn't a surprise: Brazil said earlier this week that he would be available, clearing the way for the forward to make his debut after missing the first two matches. He did not start, and it seemed like that was the plan Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti had all along when he raised the possibility earlier this week that Neymar could play as a substitute. And when Neymar got off the bench to start doing some warmup sprints and stretches along the sideline during the second half, fans in that area absolutely roared. The cheers got louder when he checked in, as well as when he made his first touch. Neymar was one of the final players to get off Brazil's bus Wednesday, flashing a thumbs-up, giving a wave and slapping hands with a few well-wishers as

FIFA World Cup: Rahimi, Yassine help Morocco rally to beat Haiti 4-2

Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine came off the bench to help Morocco rally for a 4-2 victory over Haiti on Wednesday and erase the Caribbean nation's hopes of a first ever point at the World Cup. Morocco twice came from behind against a team playing at soccer's biggest tournament for the first time in 52 years. Rahimi's deflected shot in the 78th minute put Morocco ahead 3-2 and Yassine killed off any chance of an upset with a goal in the 89th. Morocco advanced to the round of 32 in second place behind Brazil in Group C. The five-time champion Brazilians beat Scotland 3-0 in the other group match.

Can USA really win the FIFA World Cup? Why host nations always pack a punch

After back-to-back group-stage victories and qualification for the Round of 32, what initially felt like optimism has begun evolving into belief.

FIFA WC 2026: England, Ghana lead RO32 qualification race in Group L

Check FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L qualification scenarios as England and Ghana look to seal Round of 32 berths on Matchday 2

FIFA World Cup 2026 June 25 schedule, live match timings (IST), streaming

FIFA World Cup 2026 June 25 fixtures (IST): Switzerland vs Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar (12:30 am); Morocco vs Haiti, Scotland vs Brazil (3:30 am); South Africa vs South Korea, Czechia vs M

Fifa WC: Portugal vs Colombia match on June 28 to decide Group K toppers

Fifa World Cup 2026 group K round of 32 qualification scenarios: Colombia are through; Portugal need a point, while DR Congo and Uzbekistan must win and rely on third-place calculations.

Fifa mulls keeping hydration breaks for future World Cups: Infantino

FIFA will consider keeping hydration breaks for future World Cups despite backlash to the extra stoppages in play at this year's tournament. Gianni Infantino, the soccer body's president, defended the decision to introduce breaks - which come midway through each half - at this World Cup and said Tuesday they may be providing more entertainment for fans. He said FIFA would analyze what it will do in future tournaments "based on this experience." But after criticism that the breaks were a stealth way to insert advertising or American-style timeouts, Infantino suggested the stoppages have been positive. "Maybe the coach can reassess certain situations, correct certain mistakes. The players get a little rest and come back in full speed. Well, is that bad necessarily? Maybe it's good," Infantino said. "And we see as well the intensity of the games. We've never seen 90 minutes in a tournament like this played in such an intensity. "Until the last second of the match, players attack and s

Fifa WC 2026: Paraguay's Miguel Almiron handed one-game ban after red card

Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron has been given a one-match suspension after he was the first player to be sent off at the World Cup for covering his mouth. FIFA confirmed on Tuesday that Almiron will miss Paraguay's final group game against Australia on Thursday. World soccer's governing body said the decision was not subject to appeal. Almiron made history when he was issued a red card for covering his mouth during a confrontation with Turkey's Mert Mulder late in the first half of Paraguay's 1-0 win last Friday. Under new rules, players are not allowed to cover their mouths to disguise what they are saying during confrontations, with infringements leading to an instant dismissal. FIFA president Gianni Infantino pushed for the legislation after a high-profile incident in a Champions League game between Real Madrid and Benfica last season. Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni tried to hide verbal insults toward Madrid's Vinicius Junior. UEFA later issued Prestianni a six-game ban --

Fifa World Cup 2026: Croatia stay alive, eliminate Panama With 1-0 win

Josip Stanisic lifted a curving cross onto the boot of Ante Budimir, who tapped it into an open net in the 54th minute Tuesday, giving Croatia a 1-0 win over Panama in the World Cup. Croatia remains in contention for the knockout round ahead of its third and final group-stage match against Ghana on Saturday. Panama was eliminated and is still seeking its first World Cup point in two appearances. After a slow-moving first half at BMO Field, Croatia broke through Panama's strong back line after the break, with substitute Budimir finding the net just four minutes after coming on. The Vatreni nearly added another goal three minutes later when 40-year-old Luka Modric -- making his 200th international appearance -- passed ahead to Marco Pasalic on a breakaway, but Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera blocked Pasalic's shot. Panama had three straight chances in the 67th minute to knot things up. Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic made a trio of dazzling saves; on the third, he just manage

England, Ghana play out goalless draw after late World Cup drama

England dominated possession but came up empty on several late scoring opportunities in a 0-0 draw with Ghana on Tuesday at the World Cup. Both teams won their opening matches, with Ghana beating Panama 1-0 and England defeating Croatia 4-2. Now both still have work to do in Group L before securing a spot in the knockout round. England, which has not lost to an African country at the World Cup in nine meetings, outshot Ghana 19-1 but failed capitalise on multiple chances in the closing minutes. England lost to France in the quarterfinals at the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Ghana has not made it to the knockout round since reaching the quarterfinals at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The Three Lions had a chance to take the lead in the 86th minute when Nico O'Reilly's header hit the crossbar. Harry Kane gathered the rebound but could not get enough on it with his left foot and shot high. Ghana's best chance came in the 78th minute came when Abdul Fatawu outfought England midfielde

Portugal vs Uzbekistan HIGHLIGHTS FIFA WC 2026: Ronaldo's brace helps Portugal thrash Uzbekistan 5-0

Portugal vs Uzbekistan HIGHLIGHTS: Portugal, with the win, has jumped to the top of the Group K points table with four points in two games

Ronaldo becomes first player to score in six different FIFA World Cups

The 41-year-old striker opened the scoring in the sixth minute when he met Pedro Neto's cross with a first-time finish, giving Portugal an early lead and creating yet another piece of football history

FIFA World Cup 2026 June 24 schedule, live match timings (IST), streaming

FIFA World Cup 2026 June 24 fixtures (IST): England vs Ghana (1:30 am), Panama vs Croatia (4:30 am), Colombia vs DR Congo (7:30 am)

Messi to Mbappe: Top five highest goal scorers in FIFA World Cup history

Messi and Mbappe, after scoring five and four goals respectively in their first two games of the FIFA World Cup 2026, are now the two highest goal-scorers in the tournament's history

Fifa WC: Argentina into knockouts; Austria-Algeria fight for second spot

Defending champions Argentina, after their 2-0 win vs Austria in Dallas, became the fourth team to qualify for the Round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup 2026

Fifa WC 2026: France vs Norway match on June 27 to decide Group I toppers

France and Norway will face off at 12:30 AM IST on June 27 to decide Group I toppers after both sealed Round of 32 berths, while Senegal and Iraq chase a third-place lifeline.

Haaland brace helps Norway beat Senegal 3-2, reach World Cup Round of 32

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. Marcus Pederson put the Vikings ahead in the 43rd minute after replacing an injured teammate, and Haaland kept up his incredible goals streak in the 48th and 58th minutes to build a 3-1 lead. First he ran onto Martin Odegaard's pass and put a left-footed shot past the outstretched left hand of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, capping an end-to-end counterattack for a 2-0 lead. For his second goal, Haaland tunnelled through the defence and 8 yards out raised his weaker right foot to volley in Patrick Berg's pass. Haaland raised a hand to an ear to inspire the thousands of red clad Norway supporters behind the north goal who performed the Viking Row chanting "Ro!" while mimicking oarsmen. Haaland has 24 goals in his last 12 international games scoring at least once in every match and 59 goals in 52 international appearances. The ...

Longest Football World Cup match ever: Mbappe brace sends France into R32

France beat Iraq 3-0 in the longest World Cup match ever, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice after a two-hour storm delay to help his side book a Round of 32 spot.

Greatest of All Time! Messi breaks Klose's record with 17th World Cup goal

The Argentina captain became the outright highest scorer in FIFA World Cup history before adding another goal in a 2-0 win over Austria in Dallas

Argentina vs Austria HIGHLIGHTS FIFA WC 2026: Messi scores brace as Argentina edge past Austria 2-0

Argentina vs Austria HIGHLIGHTS: Messi now has 18 World Cup goals to his name, making him the top goal scorer in the tournament's history