A football player reflects on the 2026 World Cup experience beyond the usual squad routine. Recovering from injury, they encounter legends like Zidane and Kaká in New York, discussing past games and the tournament's unique challenges. The article emphasizes the importance of filtering social media and maintaining focus on performance amidst external pressures.
China's Dragon Chilling team leads the World Rapid and Blitz Championship in Hong Kong after the first day, with Asian teams showing strong performance. Pre-tournament favorites WR Chess, led by Magnus Carlsen, faced early setbacks.
Scotland faces a crucial World Cup match against Morocco in Boston, aiming to advance to the knockout stage for the first time. After a narrow win against Haiti, they must overcome the highly-ranked Moroccan team, known for its dynamic attackers and strong defense.
Scotland faces Morocco in a crucial World Cup match, aiming to advance past the group stage for the first time in history. After a narrow win against Haiti, the team needs a strong performance against the highly-ranked Moroccan side, drawing parallels to Scotland's first international match in 1872.
Iran plans to formally complain to Fifa about "restrictions imposed by organisers" at the World Cup, citing a requirement to arrive in Los Angeles only 24 hours before their crucial match against Belgium. The team's coach and captain have voiced concerns over logistical issues impacting their preparation.
Fast bowler Harshit Rana has been added to the India squad for the third ODI against Afghanistan in Chennai. Rana has completed his rehabilitation and joins the team as they look to test combinations ahead of future assignments.
Malaysian police arrested 58 individuals and confiscated over MYR 500,000 (USD 124,000) in illicit funds during a crackdown on illegal World Cup gambling. The operation, involving multiple agencies, targeted betting websites and platforms.
Malaysian police arrested 58 individuals and seized over half a million ringgit (US$124,000) in illicit proceeds during a World Cup gambling crackdown. The operation, involving multiple agencies, targets illegal football betting from June 11 to July 19, with 52 raids conducted and 42 websites/apps flagged.
Mexico became the first team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 after a 1-0 victory over South Korea. Luis Romo scored the lone goal following a goalkeeping blunder, and goalkeeper Raúl Rangel made crucial saves to secure the win.
India's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign faces a blow as spinner Shreyanka Patil is out with an ankle injury. Uncapped leg-spinner Prema Rawat has been approved as her replacement by the ICC.
Jason Day has withdrawn from the US Open at Shinnecock due to a back injury. The Australian golfer, who won the PGA Championship in 2015, was seen wincing in pain and left the course after a difficult start to his first round. Adam Scott is the leading Australian after the first round.
Jason Day, the 2015 PGA champion, has withdrawn from the US Open at Shinnecock due to a severe back injury. The 38-year-old Australian was seen wincing in pain during warm-ups and retired from the course after struggling on the opening holes.
Jason Day, the 2015 PGA champion, has withdrawn from the US Open at Shinnecock due to a severe back injury. The 38-year-old Australian was seen wincing in pain during warm-ups and retired from the course after a difficult start.
England's football team showed a dramatic shift in performance against Croatia, moving from hesitant play to aggressive attacking in the second half under manager Thomas Tuchel. This tactical evolution suggests a potential break from past tournament struggles and a more dynamic future for the team.
Johan Manzambi, a 20-year-old substitute, scored twice to lead Switzerland to a 3-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in a World Cup match. Granit Xhaka added a penalty, securing Switzerland's first win of the tournament.
Scotland coach Steve Clarke believes Morocco will be a tougher opponent than the team that reached the 2022 World Cup semi-finals. After a 1-0 win over Haiti, Scotland faces Morocco, whom Clarke rates highly for their power, pace, and skill. He suggested Scotland may perform better as underdogs.
South Africa secured a crucial draw against Czechia with a late penalty, keeping their tournament hopes alive. Czechia, who dominated for long periods, squandered a lead, setting up a tense final group stage matches.
Marcus Rashford's decisive goal for England against Croatia highlights his potential as a finisher, despite ongoing uncertainty about his club future at Manchester United and a potential move to Barcelona. Coach Tuchel praised his recent form and tactical translation.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) introduces format-based central contracts for 2026-27, with significant pay hikes for red-ball (Test) players, offering up to 1.5 million PKR match fees and 4 million PKR monthly retainers, along with performance-based incentives.
FIFA is implementing new rules at the 2026 World Cup to combat time-wasting, resulting in significantly lower stoppage time compared to previous tournaments. Despite a war on time-wasting, the average ball-in-play time has seen a slight reduction, though the percentage of match time with the ball in play is at its highest.
The 2026 World Cup continues with key matches in Groups A and B. Co-hosts Canada and Mexico aim for crucial wins, while Czechia and Switzerland seek to rebound from opening-round results. The guide includes match times, broadcast details, and players to watch.
Despite China's men's team not participating, a World Cup betting frenzy has gripped mainland China, with sales of Football Lottery tickets reaching $950 million last week. Shops report a surge in business, with customers, many young, studying odds and placing bets on various match outcomes.
The World Cup 2026 enters its second round of group stage matches from June 18-23, featuring five key "must-watch" games. Highlights include Mexico vs. South Korea, Netherlands vs. Sweden, Germany vs. Ivory Coast, Spain vs. Saudi Arabia, and Norway vs. Senegal, each with significant implications for group standings.
China has set a new unwanted Fifa World Cup record, becoming the only qualifying nation since 1938 to have neither a point nor a goal to its name. This comes after DR Congo's draw and Uzbekistan's loss.
