Page 14 - Latest Updates on FIFA World Cup

Fifa World Cup 2026: Haaland stars with brace in Norway's 4-1 win over Iraq

Erling Haaland scored the first two FIFA World Cup goals of his career and set up another as Norway defeated Iraq 4-1 in their Group I opener on Wednesday morning

Mbappe's historic night powers France to commanding win over Senegal

Mbappe is now the joint third-highest goal scorer in FIFA World Cup history with 14 goals to his name

France vs Senegal HIGHLIGHTS FIFA WC 2026: Mbappe shines with brace as France thrash Senegal 3-1

France vs Senegal HIGHLIGHTS: Mbappe, with his second goal against Senegal, is now the leading goal scorer for France, going past Oliver Giroud

How hydration breaks are becoming the invisible opponent at FIFA WC 2026

Introduced to protect players from extreme heat, mandatory hydration breaks have emerged as one of the most contentious aspects of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup 2026 June 17 schedule, live match timings (IST), streaming

Fifa World Cup 2026 June 17 fixtures (IST): France vs Senegal (12:30 AM), Iraq vs Norway (3:30 AM), Argentina vs Algeria (6:30 AM), Austria vs Jordan (9:30 AM), Portugal vs DR Congo (10:30 PM).

Norway embraces Viking theme for World Cup return and provokes some debate

First it was their fans performing a synchronized "Viking row" in the stands at matches. Then it was their players donning authentic Viking attire, complete with weapons, shields and long boats, to the backdrop of a fjord for a moody, dramatic photo shoot. "A dream 28 years in the making... let's do this!" Norway star Erling Haaland wrote on the X platform Monday, reposting the photo of the team along with one of his father, Alfie Haaland, competing for the national team in the 1994 World Cup. Norway is leaning into the country's centuries-old history as its star-studded men's team, containing Haaland and Martin Odegaard, heads into a first World Cup in 28 years. It has created plenty of excitement and debate. "It was an ask or a question from the (photographers)," Norway manager Stale Solbakken said Monday in advance of his team's World Cup opener against Iraq. "The players wanted me to do it. They were positive. The federation was positive. And I was average positive. And then w

Argentina vs Algeria: Messi prepared for his for his 6th World Cup- Scaloni

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni knows the World Cup won't be decided in the opening match of the tournament. La Albiceleste proved that four years ago. But that also doesn't mean the reigning champions want to begin like they did in Qatar, when they were stunned by Saudi Arabia in their opener in group play. Argentina rebounded to beat Poland and Mexico, beat the Netherlands in a quarterfinal shootout, and ultimately topped France in another shootout to win its third world title. "We've had the experience of the last World Cup," Scaloni said Monday, the day before Argentina opens the 2026 edition against Algeria, "so this first match is not critical. I mean, it's important, but it doesn't end in the first match." Only twice has a country defended its World Cup title: Italy in 1938 and Brazil in 1962. "We're happy," Scaloni added through an interpreter. "We are assured and confident. We're here and we are at a very good moment." Scaloni said he would finalize his lineup after Monda

France vs Senegal preview: Senegal eyes repeat of famous 2002 France upset

France's last World Cup match against Senegal set off dancing in the streets of Dakar. Les Bleus were the defending champions when the Lions of Teranga's 1-0 upset win in the 2002 opener caused Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade to declare a national holiday. "Not for revenge do we want to win, but we want to go as far as possible in this competition," France midfielder N'Golo Kante said through a translator on Monday, a day before Les Bleus and Senegal meet in Group I. Senegal was a French colony before 1960. "We know that a game between France and Senegal is a very symbolic game," Senegal coach Pape Thiaw said through a translator. Six of France's players hadn't been born at the time of the 2002 game, when Papa Bouba Diop scored in the 30th minute while lying on his side. The Lions of Teranga reached the quarterfinals that year before losing to Turkey, while France went winless and failed to advance from its group. "There's no revenge in football," France coach Didier Deschamps s

Fifa WC: Araujo rescues Uruguay in 1-1 World Cup draw with Saudi Arabia

Maxi Araujo finally gave the crowd of mostly Uruguay fans in South Florida something to cheer about with his tying goal late in Monday's World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia. La Celeste salvaged a point, but they were not thrilled with the result. "We gave it away. We have to be honest," midfielder Federico Valverde said in Spanish after his side played to a 1-1 draw, making up for a flat first half by controlling the second. "We gave away the first half," Valverde added. "We didn't play the way we had trained. It wasn't what we were aiming for. We rushed things too much. We wanted to win the game in the very first minute. Sometimes you need a bit more patience and just play our game. We improved a lot in the second half." Abdulelah Al-Amri scored on a rebound in the 41st minute for Saudi Arabia, and Araujo got the equalizer in the 80th, firing a rebound past goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais from close range. La Celeste dominated possession and had 29 attempts on goal to Saudi Arabia

World Cup official blames twitch for gesture; Fifa sees no breach

A World Cup video review official said his hand gesture resembling a white supremacist sign was caused by an involuntary twitch, and a FIFA committee concluded the Australian didn't breach the sport's disciplinary code. FIFA's discrimination monitor had called for Shaun Evans to be removed from the tournament. Evans worked Germany's opening 7-1 win over Curacao on Sunday as an assistant to the video assistant referee, based at the World Cup broadcast centre in Dallas. When the official broadcast cut before the game to show the video review officials, Evans made an "OK" symbol with his right hand in front of his right leg. "I did not intentionally make a hand gesture or symbol to communicate a message, affiliation, game or belief of any kind," Evans said in a statement released Monday by FIFA. "The only explanation I can offer is that the movement was an involuntary, subconscious twitch and I was unaware I had done it at the time. Images taken later during the match showed that I .

FIFA World Cup: Belgium's 'Golden Generation' off to underwhelming start

Seeking to avoid a repeat of its early World Cup exit in 2022, Belgium got off to an unimpressive start. Romelu Lukaku entered in the 66th minute against Egypt on Monday and the veteran striker immediately created a scoring chance that led to an equalizing own goal, but that was all Belgium could manage in a 1-1 draw. "No game's an easy game in the World Cup," coach Rudi Garcia said in French. Perhaps not, but Belgium was expected to handle an Egypt squad that has never won a World Cup game. Instead, the Red Devils were outmaneuvered in the first half, with the speed of Egypt's younger players making the Pharaohs the aggressors. "We know that we had a bad start in the match," captain Youri Tielemans said. Now the question becomes whether Belgium can make one last World Cup run with the remaining veterans from its "Golden Generation" of stars - including the 33-year-old Lukaku and two 34-year-olds in midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Belgium held the top

Fifa World Cup: Iran say they were denied recovery time, ordered out of US

Iran coach described his side as "perhaps the most oppressed team at the World Cup" after players were denied recovery time and ordered to leave the US immediately following their 2-2 draw with NZ

Mexico-South Africa Fifa World Cup opener sets US English viewership record

The World Cup game between host Mexico and South Africa drew 7.1 million viewers, making it the most-watched opening match for an English-language broadcast in the United States. Mexico's 2-0 win on Thursday on Fox, Fox One and Tubi also was the most-watched English-language broadcast in any World Cup group-stage match not involving the U.S., Fox announced Monday. The previous high was in 2022, when 2.8 million viewers watched host Qatar play Ecuador. The Americans' 4-1 win over Paraguay also set an English-language U.S. record, drawing 15.9 million viewers, more than double the previous record of 7.7 million in 2022. The match had a peak audience of 18.8 million from 10:45 p.m.-11 p.m. Eastern. It also was the most-streamed English-language match for the U.S. team at 1.1 million viewers. The Mexico-South Africa match had a peak of 9.1 million viewers.

The Vozinha's story: Cape Verde's goalie who kept Spanish strikers at bay

As the final whistle blew, Vozinha broke down in tears. For Cape Verde, it was a historic World Cup arrival; for the 40-year-old keeper, the reward for a lifetime of struggle.

Fifa World Cup: Iran salvage 2-2 draw against New Zealand amid flag row

Twice New Zealand took the lead through Eli Just and twice Iran responded, first via veteran defender Ramin Rezaeian and later through Mohamed Mohebi's superb second-half header.

Belgium vs Egypt live streaming: Where to watch today's FIFA WC 2026 match?

Zee5, through its app and website, will live-stream the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between Belgium and Egypt

Cabo Verde's wall: World Cup debutants frustrate Spain with draw in Atlanta

Spain registered 12 shots in the first half but failed to find the net, recording their highest first-half shot tally without a goal at a World Cup since managing 14 against Switzerland in 1966

Spain vs Cabo Verde HIGHLIGHTS FIFA WC 2026: Vozinha shines as Cabo Verde held Spain for a 0-0 draw

Spain vs Cabo Verde HIGHLIGHTS: The European champions controlled the tempo from the outset, but were unable to score a goal as Cabo Verde forced them to share one point each

De Bruyne and Salah take centre stage in epic Belgium vs Egypt clash

Egypt will be looking to win their first game in FIFA World Cup history when they go toe-to-toe with Belgium in the Group G opener

FIFA World Cup 2026 today's schedule, live match timings (IST), streaming

Spain vs Cape Verde begins at 9:30 PM IST today. On June 16, Belgium face Egypt at 12:30 AM IST, Uruguay take on Saudi Arabia at 3:30 AM IST, and Iran play New Zealand at 6:30 AM IST.