France can secure a more comfortable route through the World Cup when they face Norway in their final Group I match on Friday, though finishing top could leave them facing one of the toughest roads to the trophy.
Jude Bellingham's stellar performance, including a goal and an assist for Harry Kane, propelled England to a 2-0 victory over Panama. This win secured England's top position in Group L of the World Cup, allowing them to avoid a difficult knockout phase route. The match saw England dominate possession and overcome a flat first half, with Kane also breaking Gary Lineker's World Cup goal record for England.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has stated that Jude Bellingham faces significant competition for a starting position in the upcoming World Cup, despite being considered a potential starter.
England manager Thomas Tuchel made several bold selection calls for the World Cup, leaving out Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Harry Maguire while recalling Ivan Toney and backing a new-look squad built on chemistry and trust.
England and Ghana, both coming off opening wins, are set to clash in a crucial Group L World Cup match in Boston.
Ruben Vargas and Johan Manzambi scored second-half goals as Switzerland beat Canada 2-1 on Wednesday to qualify for the knock-out stage of the World Cup as Group B winners, with the tournament co-hosts also progressing as runners-up.
Algeria rallied to eliminate debutants Jordan and keep their Round of 32 hopes alive at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Luis Enrique arrived in Paris in 2023 promising a cultural shift rather than instant glamour, with the Spaniard wanting a team in which collective sacrifice outweighed individual status, where the biggest names defended, pressed and suffered together. Two Champions League titles later, his players speak about him less as a coach than as an architect and people leader.
Japan captain Wataru Endo has withdrawn from the World Cup squad due to injury in a blow for the Samurai Blue, with the midfielder also announcing his retirement from international football.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to feature a significant generational divide, with players spanning over 25 years in age. Mexico's Gilberto Mora, 17, will be the youngest, while Scotland's Craig Gordon, 43, will be the oldest. The tournament will showcase a mix of emerging talents and seasoned veterans like Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, with nations like Panama and Ivory Coast representing the oldest and youngest average squads, respectively.
European champions Spain will travel to next month's World Cup with plenty of Barcelona swagger but no-one from Real Madrid after manager Luis de la Fuente named a 26-man squad on Monday built around eight players from the Catalan club.
Mexico secured a narrow 1-0 victory over South Korea in a Group A football match in Guadalajara. Luis Romo scored the decisive goal following a goalkeeping error, and Mexico's defence, backed by goalkeeper Ral Rangel's late saves, held firm against South Korean pressure.
Caleb Yirenkyi scored a stoppage-time winner to earn Ghana a 1-0 win over Panama in a chilly and lively World Cup game in which the African side were forced to play the second half without starting goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi on Wednesday.
Goalless Turkey were ousted from the FIFA World Cup 2026 after losses to Australia and Paraguay in Group D, thwarted by poor finishing and a staunch opposition defence.
The Indian men's hockey team, currently in the Dutch leg of the FIH Pro League, aims to conclude their campaign on a high note against hosts Netherlands. This tournament serves as crucial preparation for the upcoming World Cup and Asian Games, with coach Craig Fulton focusing on testing resources and addressing issues like conceding late goals. The team also looks forward to significant matches against England and arch-rivals Pakistan in London.
India's women's hockey team, led by Salima Tete, is set to participate in the FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup in Auckland, New Zealand. The squad blends experienced players with emerging talents, aiming to build on recent preparations and set a high standard for future tournaments.
Austria made a winning return to the World Cup after 28 years, defeating debutants Jordan 3-1 in a Group J opener. The victory was secured with a second-half own goal and a late penalty, following a tense match where Austria initially led, was equalised, and had a goal disallowed by VAR.
Lionel Messi will lead defending champions Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after coach Lionel Scaloni named a 26-man squad featuring 17 players from the 2022 title-winning team.
Sweden trio Yasin Ayari, Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres were all on target as they cruised to a 5-1 victory over Tunisia in Monterrey on Sunday.
Saudi Arabia coach Georgios Donis said his players lacked self-confidence in the second as they failed to hold on to their lead with Maxi Araujo equalising for Uruguay in the 2nd half.
Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen has returned home and is recovering after collapsing on the pitch during a friendly match against Ukraine. He clarified that the incident was due to a shock from his ICD, different from his 2021 collapse, and assured fans of his good health.
Morocco outmuscled Scotland for a 1-0 win thanks to the tournament's fastest goal on Friday, taking control of Group C in the World Cup and moving into top spot with one match left to play.
Germany secured a spot in the World Cup knockout stage after a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory against Ivory Coast.
Argentina start their bid for back-to-back World Cups on Tuesday with a side full of familiar faces from Qatar 2022, facing an Algerian team buoyed by warm-up wins and featuring a 20-year-old rising star nicknamed after Diego Maradona.
South Africa coach Hugo Broos said his side are prepared to face Mexico's quality and home-crowd advantage in Thursday's World Cup opener.
Australia defeated Turkey 2-0 in their Group D World Cup opener, with goals from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe, placing them second in the group.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha was not too keen to discuss it on Thursday but finally conceded he was very happy his mother had obtained a U.S. visa and would be able to watch him play against Uruguay in the World Cup this weekend.
Brazil is preparing for their World Cup opener against Morocco without star forward Neymar, who is recovering from a calf injury.
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes also emerged as the Premier League's best playmaker this season when he created a league-high 132 chances.
Sir David Beckham, the first English player to win league titles in four countries, was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday.
Kylian Mbappe became France's all-time leading scorer with a double to power his team to victory against Senegal on Tuesday.
The Indian women's hockey team concluded their four-match friendly series against Australia with a 2-2 draw, losing the final match 2-3 after initially leading 2-0. Despite the loss, the tour provided valuable preparation for upcoming tournaments, including the FIH Nations Cup and the World Cup.
India has announced its 23-member squad for the SAFF Women's Championship 2026, set to take place in Goa. The team will compete against Maldives and Bangladesh in Group B, with the top two teams advancing to the semi-finals.
Carlos Ancelotti's Brazil commence their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against plucky Morocco, who come into the mega event on the back of some pre-tournament turbulence.
With a dazzling hat-trick against Algeria, Lionel Messi once again defied age, expectations and logic at the World Cup, prompting coach Lionel Scaloni to call his performances "inexplicable" and admit he is simply no longer surprised by the Argentine legend's brilliance.
Japan v Tunisia marks 1,000th FIFA World Cup match
When the final whistle blew, players embraced, danced and celebrated on the pitch as if they had won the match. Their joy was understandable. Against one of football's traditional giants and the world's second-ranked team, Cape Verde had achieved something few thought possible.
Initially appointed on an interim basis to replace Ruben Amorim, the former United midfielder, Michael Carrick has exceeded expectations and transformed the mood around Old Trafford, with the club's players backing him for the job.
Sweety Kujur has been named captain of the 18-member Indian women's U-18 squad for the Asia Cup hockey tournament in Kakamigahara, Japan, from May 29-June 6.
For the expanded 2026 tournament, FIFA has gone a step further and introduced an extra amnesty for yellow cards, effectively wiping the slate clean twice.
