Amad Diallo scored in the 90th minute to give Côte d'Ivoire a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in their Group E opener. The win marked Côte d'Ivoire's first World Cup win against South American opposition and ended Ecuador's 19-match unbeaten streak.
Ayyoub Bouaddi, 18, dominated Brazil's midfield in his competitive international debut for Morocco, outplaying veteran Casemiro and impressing despite Vinícius Júnior being named man of the match. Bouaddi's performance has drawn attention from top European clubs.
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña confirmed his attendance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener between Paraguay and the United States in Los Angeles, while US President Donald Trump will not attend. Trump's absence, despite the US being a co-host, has become a talking point, with his team citing a tight schedule.
Victor Montagliani, Concacaf president and Fifa vice president, believes the World Cup will spark a cultural revolution in North American football, potentially making MLS rival the Premier League, while defending the tournament's pricing strategy and discussing future expansion plans.
Inspiration for World Cup watching parties with global cuisine from 24 countries, including traditional foods and drinks.
Argentina is grappling with a femicide crisis after the bodies of two teenage girls, Agostina Vega (14) and Dulce Candia (17), were found murdered days apart. The killings highlight ongoing feminist concerns, particularly amid the far-right Milei administration's cuts to gender-based violence support.
A new food trend, dubbed 'fricy' (fruity and spicy), is gaining popularity in the UK, with cafes and retailers reporting increased sales of sweet and spicy offerings like mango-chilli drinks and sauces.
A 217-meter heavy-lift ship, MV Black Marlin, has been secured to transport the world's largest electric ferry, China Zorrilla, from Hobart, Australia to South America. The ferry, built by Incat for Buquebus, faced delivery delays due to geopolitical conflicts impacting the original transport vessel.
Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez is expected to visit New Delhi this week to discuss oil supply diversification. The visit follows US encouragement for India to increase energy purchases from Venezuela, which recently became India's third-largest crude supplier.
China's visa-free policy for Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay has completed one year, leading to a 50.5% increase in travelers from these nations through Shanghai. Nearly 70% of these visitors utilized the visa-free option, highlighting its role in boosting tourism and facilitating business exchanges.
Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev urged for UN Security Council reform, advocating for greater inclusion of smaller and developing states from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. He stated Kyrgyzstan would act as a bridge-builder if elected, emphasizing multilateral diplomacy to address global threats.
Brazil's 1970 World Cup win was shaped by controversial appointments and tactical shifts. Communist coach João Saldanha was sacked due to politics and tactics, replaced by Mario Zagallo, who rebuilt the team around Pelé and innovative formations.
Colombians are voting in a presidential election where candidates offer starkly different approaches to ending decades of armed conflict. The vote is seen as a referendum on outgoing President Gustavo Petro's policies, with key contenders debating negotiation versus a harder line on armed groups.
Argentina's yerba mate exports to China have increased by 88% since 2021, with 214,000kg exported in Q1 2026, driven by associations with health and energy.
The Lebanese diaspora faces profound emotional distress as conflict with Israel leads to the destruction of ancestral homes and communities, severing deep connections to their homeland and heritage.
K-pop group Stray Kids will headline a new music festival, 'STRAYCITY,' in South America this September. The festival will kick off in Bogota, Colombia, on Sept. 9, followed by Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Sept. 14, and Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 25. JYP Entertainment plans to expand the festival to more locations in the future.
La Paz, Bolivia is experiencing escalating tensions as protests, including dynamite detonations, block highways and storm public buildings. Economic struggles, fueled by currency shortages and inflation, have led to shortages and bank closures. The US State Department calls it an 'attempted coup.' President Paz faces calls for resignation amid calls for dialogue.
SailGP has signed a three-year deal to bring its racing events to Hong Kong, with the 2027 season set to begin in Victoria Harbour. The sport's co-founder, Russell Coutts, sees China as a key growth market and hopes for a local team's return.
SailGP will launch its 2027 season with a race in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour on January 23. CEO Russell Coutts highlighted the city as a world-class destination expected to generate strong commercial interest and fan engagement.
Bolivian security forces clashed with thousands of ex-President Evo Morales's supporters marching into the capital, La Paz, amid the nation's worst economic crisis. Demonstrators used dynamite and slingshots, while police responded with tear gas. The protests, led by Morales-aligned groups, have caused widespread shortages.
Leftist candidate Roberto Sanchez will face Keiko Fujimori in Peru's June presidential run-off after securing second place in the first round with 12.03% of the vote. The month-long count faced fraud allegations, notably from Rafael Lopez Aliaga, who narrowly trailed Sanchez.
The Ultimate Sevens Championship, a rugby union version inspired by The Hundred, launches in September with global sevens stars, abbreviated 10-minute games, and innovations to attract younger fans.
Argentina’s city “at the end of the world” Ushuaia, the jump-off point for expeditions to the Antarctic, has been labouring under suspicion of being the source of the deadly hantavirus outbreak that killed three cruise ship passengers. The MV Hondius set sail from this spectacular Patagonian port, sandwiched between snow-capped mountains and the South Atlantic, on April 1. Five days later, a Dutch man who had travelled through South America on a birdwatching trip with his wife, developed...
A French woman infected with hantavirus on a cruise ship is critically ill, with severe lung and heart problems, and is being treated with an artificial lung.
