Page 15 - Latest Updates on FIFA World Cup

Fifa World Cup 2026: Ayari double fires Sweden to 5-1 win over Tunisia

Yasin Ayari scored twice and Sweden showed it belonged at the 2026 World Cup, pounding Tunisia 5-1 to move atop Group F. Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres each had a goal and an assist, and Mattias Svanberg also scored for Sweden, which entered ranked 39th in the world and missed the 2022 World Cup after reaching the quarterfinals eight years ago in Russia. Omar Rekik scored for 45th-ranked Tunisia, which is playing in its seventh World Cup but has never advanced beyond the group stage. The higher-ranked teams in the group, the Netherlands and Japan, played to a 2-2 draw earlier Sunday at Arlington, Texas. Ayari bookended the scoring for the Swedes at Estadio BBVA with long-range goals in the seventh minute and in second-half stoppage time. He was muted in his celebration of the first goal, raising his hands out of respect for the country where his father was born. Isak scored his 18th international goal in the 30th minute when Gyokeres found the Liverpool striker - who was sidel

Fifa World Cup 2026 faces new controversy as referee gesture sparks outrage

Referee Shaun Evans faces scrutiny after anti-discrimination campaigners accused him of making a hand gesture linked to white supremacist groups during Germany's World Cup match vs Curacao in Houston

Indian stocks love FIFA World Cup years. Here’s the catch in 2026 | Nifty | Sensex | Business News

The FIFA World Cup has historically coincided with economic turning points, market rallies, and major global events. But 2026 is different.

UEFA head Ceferin faces criticism over Fifa World Cup expansion remarks

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin was criticised Sunday by soccer governing bodies in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean for allegedly saying the expanded 48-team World Cup creates uninteresting matches. The associations of Cape Verde, Congo, Curacao, Haiti, Jordan and Uzbekistan issued a joint statement they said was in solidarity with the federations of Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia. "Football does not belong to a select group of nations. Its strength comes from its universality," the statement said. "For many countries, participation in the FIFA World Cup is not only a sporting achievement. It is a moment that inspires a generation, accelerates football development and creates memories that last a lifetime." The statement didn't cite the comment by Ceferin. He was quoted by the Slovenian websites Zurnal 24 and Dosi as remarking on the subject last Monday at a conference in Ljubljana. "We have a huge number of matches that are complete

Diallo scores in 90th minute to lift Ivory Coast past Ecuador 1-0 in WC

Amad Diallo scored in the 90th minute to lift Ivory Coast to a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in its first World Cup appearance in a dozen years. The teams combined to hit the crossbar three times before the Manchester United winger - who entered as a substitute in the 56th minute - broke through with a left-footed shot from just inside the penalty area that beat diving goalkeeper Hernan Galindez. Wilfried Singo set up the goal with a strong run down the right side. Making its fourth appearance in the World Cup and first since 2014, Ivory Coast took a step toward reaching the knockout stage for the first time. Ecuador saw its 19-game unbeaten streak end with its first loss since a 1-0 decision against Brazil on Sept. 6, 2024. Elye Wahi hit the crossbar in the 52nd minute for Ivory Coast after Ecuador's John Yeboah and Nilson Angulo did the same in the opening half. Ecuador, making its fifth World Cup appearance and looking to reach the knockout round for the second time, was playing a ..

Referee Omar Artan to receive full fee from FIFA despite visa issues

The Somali referee who was denied entry to the United States for the World Cup will still be paid his full tournament fee. A person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that Omar Artan will still be entitled to payment despite not officiating any games at the near six-week long event. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. They said the fee would be determined after the tournament concludes next month. Artan is one of soccer's top officials and was named Africa's best male referee in 2025. But the Somali national was denied entry after arriving at Miami International Airport from Istanbul last week. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Artan was "inadmissible due to vetting concerns". He had originally been issued a visa to travel to the U.S., according to the Somalia Embassy in Kenya, which processed it, and was due to meet up with other World Cup referees at their training base in Miami. FIFA said i

FIFA World Cup: Big boost for Spain! Yamal declared fit to face Cape Verde

Lamine Yamal is in "ideal condition" to play in Spain's World Cup opener against Cape Verde on Monday, coach Luis de la Fuente said. Yamal is not expected to start the game in Atlanta, but has been cleared to play in his return from a hamstring injury that forced the teenaged superstar to miss the final weeks of the season for Barcelona. "We are following the indications of medical staff from Barcelona, his club, and also from the Spanish national team, with the fitness coaches. Everything says that Lamine Yamal is ready to play tomorrow," de la Fuente said at a news conference. "We don't know how much. It is a matter of how the game is evolving, the game situation, that gives you a hint of when he might jump on the pitch, but he is in ideal condition to play tomorrow." Yamal has established himself as arguably the brightest emerging talent in Europe after helping Spain win the European Championship in 2024, despite only turning 17 on the eve of the final. Now 18, he is widely ...

Netherlands vs Japan HIGHLIGHTS FIFA World Cup: JPN hold NED 2-2 in Dallas; GER humble Curacao 7-1

Four-time world champions Germany humbled World Cup debutants Curaçao 7-1 at Houston's NRG Stadium in their opening Group E fixture.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Japan rescue late 2-2 draw against Netherlands

The result leaves Group F finely poised, with both teams taking a point from what could prove to be one of the toughest groups of the tournament.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Germany thrash debutants Curacao 7-1 in opener

The emphatic victory sends Germany to the top of Group E and provides the perfect start to their pursuit of a fifth World Cup title.

Brands hit goal as Fifa-themed offerings spark a surge in consumer sales

FIFA World Cup 2026 fever is boosting sales of jerseys, TVs and fan merchandise as brands tap into rising football enthusiasm across India

Fifa World Cup 2026: Germany begin WC quest; Curacao make historic debut

Germany, four-time world champions, begin their campaign against World Cup debutants Curaçao, a Caribbean island of just 158,000 people and the smallest nation ever to reach football's biggest stage

Australia spoils Turkey's return to Football World Cup with a 2-0 victory

Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe scored and Australia spoiled Turkey's return to the World Cup for the first time in 24 years with a 2-0 victory on Saturday night. Goalkeeper Patrick Beach made eight saves for the Socceroos in their group opener as FIFA President Gianni Infantino looked on. Australia was playing in its sixth straight World Cup and seventh overall. Turkey reached the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup but then missed five straight tournaments before qualifying this year by beating Kosovo in a playoff. Irankunda broke through for the Socceroos in the 27th minute with a low shot while pursued by three defenders. It came less than a minute after the first-half hydration break. Irankunda celebrated by punching the corner flag in a tribute to Australian soccer legend Tim Cahill. The 20-year-old who plays for Watford is the Socceroo's youngest-ever goal scorer at a World Cup. Minutes later Beach stopped Abdulkerim Bardakci's blast from distance. Beach started in goal

Scotland marks 28-year WC absence with 1-0 victory over Haiti in Group C

John McGinn deflected a shot off an opposing defender and past goalkeeper Johny Placide in the 28th minute, and Scotland defeated Haiti 1-0 in Group C of the World Cup on Saturday. The Scots, making their first appearance in the tournament since 1998, earned their first World Cup victory since 1990, when they beat Sweden 2-1. Group favorites Brazil and Morocco played to a 1-1 draw earlier in the day, putting Scotland at the top of the group standings. Haiti, whose only other World Cup appearance was in West Germany in 1974, is still in search of its first World Cup point. McGinn's goal came off a rebound from Che Adams' miss in the box that bounced off Placide and into open space. McGinn's shot ricocheted off a defender from 13 yards out. Scotland's Tartan Army supporters were out in mass, creating a wave of red inside a filled in Gillette Stadium, located about 30 miles outside Boston. Scotland came close to a goal in the 17th minute when captain Scott McTominay got loose and fi

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

With all four teams in Groups E and F making their tournament debuts, Day 4 could play a major role in shaping the knockout-round race.

FIFA World Cup: Khoukhi's stoppage time goal helps Qatar hold Switzerland

Boualem Khoukhi scored an equalising goal on a header in the fourth minute of stoppage time, and Qatar spoiled a dominant day by Switzerland in a 1-1 draw Saturday in Group B of the World Cup. Several of the Qatari players fell to the ground in celebration of the late goal as others ran to each other to embrace. Breel Embolo scored for Switzerland from the penalty spot in the first half just over a week after being cleared to enter the US following a visa delay, but the Swiss failed to capitalize on multiple other scoring chances. In the 13th minute, Embolo was fouled by Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada, who received a yellow card on the play. Abunada lay face down and appeared motionless for a couple of minutes before he began to move his legs and was able to stand up again. When Embolo calmly sent his penalty into the upper left corner in the 17th minute, it sent the red-clad Swiss fans into a dancing frenzy in the stands of Levi's Stadium. The 29-year-old forward applied for an

Brazil vs Morocco HIGHLIGHTS FIFA World Cup: Atlas Lions hold Brazil to 1-1 draw in New Jersey

Brazil started their campaign without Neymar, who continues his recovery from a calf injury.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Group C wide open as Brazil, Morocco play out 1-1 draw

In one of the most anticipated group-stage fixtures of the tournament, both sides produced moments of quality, but ultimately had to settle for a point apiece.

FIFA World Cup: How Pocchetino reshaped the United States football team

For much of the past two decades, USA has been viewed as a team capable of reaching knockout rounds but not more than that. Under Pochettino, that perception has changed.

Will a single win ensure qualification in FIFA World Cup 2026 league stage?

Between 1998 and 2022, qualification from the group stage was straightforward. Only the top two teams from each of the eight groups progressed to the Round of 16.