The 2026 FIFA World Cup has become the highest-scoring edition in the tournament's history, surpassing the previous record of 172 goals set in Qatar 2022. The record was broken during the United States vs. Turkey match, with Auston Trusty's goal marking the 173rd, and the total quickly rising to 175 goals by the 59th match. This achievement is attributed to FIFA's expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams, leading to 104 matches compared to 64 in 2022.
Iran's soccer team arrived in the United States for the first time at this World Cup on Sunday, landing at Los Angeles International Airport and holding a press conference on the same day that a peace deal between the two nations was announced.
Iran on Tuesday said that the Islamic Republic has "no plans" to hold any meetings with the United States in the coming days at any level, even as diplomatic engagements continue separately in Doha on the related implementation of the 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at ending the hostilities in West Asia.
Pakistan's national hockey team is facing significant challenges ahead of the final leg of the FIH Pro League in England, with captain Ammad Shakeel Butt's visa rejected and head coach Manzur-ul-Hasan also struggling to secure his travel documents. This comes amidst a dismal performance in the league and growing criticism over team management.
Ahead of Bosnia's World Cup Round of 32 match against the United States, a Bosnian restaurant in Northern California has become a gathering place for passionate fans. For many, the event is more than football-it's a celebration of their culture, resilience, and journey to a new home.
The 2026 World Cup has witnessed an unusual number of own goals in its opening 10 days, with seven already recorded, making it the second-highest tally in tournament history. The United States has benefited from two such incidents. This trend is notable given the tournament's expansion and could surpass the 2018 record of 12 own goals. Several players from different nations have contributed to this statistic, highlighting a peculiar aspect of the early matches.
Argentina's hopes of securing back-to-back World Cup titles were dashed after a 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the final, leaving fans in Buenos Aires with a "bitter sensation" despite acknowledging Spain's strong performance.
Iran hosted a large send-off rally for its World Cup team in Tehran, despite ongoing concerns about visa issues for entry into the United States, where the team is scheduled to play its group matches.
The 10 takeaways from the FIFA World Cup, which was co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The United States men's national team secured a dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their World Cup Group D opener, with Folarin Balogun scoring two goals and Giovanni Reyna adding another.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed various issues ahead of the World Cup, defending the body's handling of visa challenges, stressing its inability to override government decisions, and highlighting efforts to ensure participation from all nations, including Iran. He also defended ticket pricing and expressed optimism for a competitive tournament focused on unity.
The mother of Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha will finally get to watch her son play at the World Cup after receiving a visa to travel to the United States, following his tearful revelation that she missed his heroics against Spain due to travel issues.
The Iranian football team is facing significant travel restrictions in the US during the World Cup, requiring them to enter and leave within 24 hours of matches. This has led the Football Federation of Iran to lodge a formal complaint with FIFA, citing concerns over fair play and technical preparation, while US authorities maintain the measures are for safety and security.
Thierry Henry, including the UEFA, Belgium and several football figures questioned FIFA's late decision to suspend USA's Folarin Balogun's World Cup ban.
For Iran's team, the FIFA World Cup has been marred by fraught politics at home, the war with the US, and tensions over whether they would actually be able to set foot on US soil to play their games.
Iraq striker Aymen Hussein was questioned for nearly seven hours at Chicago's O'Hare Airport before being allowed into the United States, while the team's photographer was denied entry ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
World Cup fever has gripped Houston, but across the city the unmistakable sound of leather ball on willow bat can be heard as baseball mounds give way to cricket pitches and the gentleman's game begins to take hold in Texas.
FIFA is facing renewed scrutiny over its inconsistent handling of two World Cup red-card cases involving England's Jarell Quansah and the USA's Folarin Balogun. While Quansah received a two-match ban, Balogun's one-match suspension was controversially suspended, leading to accusations of external interference and a lack of transparency from the governing body.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday accused the Samajwadi Party of allowing the ancestral house of eminent hockey player KD Singh 'Babu' in Barabanki to go on sale, asserting that his government intervened to prevent it.
Turkey secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over the United States in their FIFA World Cup Group D encounter, scoring a 99th-minute winner. The USA twice came from behind, with goals from Auston Trusty and Sebastian Berhalter, but late heroics from Kaan Ayhan sealed the win for Trkiye after earlier goals from Arda Gler and Bar Alper Ylmaz. Despite the loss, the United States had already qualified for the knockout stage.
The Knight Riders Cricket Ground in Pomona, Los Angeles, which is set to host cricket at the 2028 Olympics, recently held its inaugural competitive match.
Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro has called for a reassessment of pitch-side advertising boards at the World Cup after player Julio Enciso collided with one during their match against Australia. Alfaro expressed concerns about player safety due to the intensity of play and potential for injury. Despite the 0-0 draw, which leaves Paraguay's advancement uncertain, Alfaro remains optimistic about his team's performance.
The Knight Riders Cricket Ground in Pomona, Los Angeles, which is set to host cricket at the 2028 Olympics, recently held its inaugural competitive match. Developed by the Knight Riders Group, the venue saw the Los Angeles Knight Riders play against Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket, with Washington Freedom securing a six-wicket victory. This new, purpose-built stadium is a significant development for cricket in the United States.
The Indian women's hockey team, having already secured a semifinal spot in the FIH Nations Cup, is set to face lower-ranked Uruguay in their final pool match. India aims to maintain their undefeated record and bolster confidence, especially as winning this tournament is crucial for their return to the elite FIH Pro League after being relegated last season. Coach Sjoerd Marijne hopes for improved field goal conversions and may experiment with combinations ahead of the World Cup and Asian Games.
Australia's assistant coach Hayden Foxe states that the Socceroos are mature enough to handle media hype and social media comments ahead of their World Cup match against co-hosts the United States. Despite being written off by some US commentators, the team is confident after a strong start to the tournament, having defeated Turkey 2-0. Players are focused on the upcoming game, drawing motivation from past criticisms while remaining grounded.
Belgium look to have found their best playing style at the World Cup after thrashing co-hosts the US 4-1 on Monday, but the successful tinkering of coach Rudi Garcia has come at a cost to his top players.
England captain Harry Kane sparked a social media buzz after showing off his cricket skills during the team's FIFA World Cup 2026 training camp in the United States.
Former England cricketer Liam Plunkett swapped his cricket colours for a baseball glove on Friday, playing his first game for independent American club Oakland Ballers and even claiming a strikeout.
Teams like India do not offer too many chances and Afghanistan must learn to capitalise on the opportunities that come their way, captain Hashmatullah Shahidi said.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, confirmed that the US will continue to assess Iran's travel arrangements for the tournament despite their complaints about restrictions.
US president Donald Trump in recent weeks has renewed threats to make Canada the 51st US state, and said he might not renew the trilateral trade agreement between the US, Canada and Mexico -- the co-hosts of this year's World Cup.
Delhi Police busted an adulterated spice manufacturing unit in Old Delhi's Khari Baoli, arresting a man and seizing around 801.88 kg of spurious ground spices and raw material.
Fireworks, rallies, drone shows and patriotic gatherings marked the historic milestone from coast to coast.
Dublin-born defender Roberto Lopes, who represented Cape Verde in a recent tournament, received a hero's welcome upon his return to Dublin. Cape Verde, making their debut, impressed by reaching the knockout stage and narrowly losing to reigning champions Argentina, captivating fans globally. Lopes expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from Ireland.
India is waiting for assurance from the US on comparative advantage over other economies under the deal.
The Indian junior women's hockey team, led by Khaidem Shileima Chanu, will undertake an exposure tour of the United Kingdom from July 5 to 14. Under new coach Tim White, the 24-member squad will play seven matches against teams from Scotland, the United States, England, and Belgium, aiming to fine-tune strategies for upcoming international competitions like the Junior Asia Cup.
Bosnia and Herzegovina kept their World Cup hopes alive thanks to a stunning goal from teenager Kerim Alajbegovic, which powered them towards a tense 3-1 win over Qatar on Wednesday and secured third place in Group B to eliminate their opponents.
Thibaut Courtois, Belgium's goalkeeper, expresses confidence in his team's ability to surprise Spain in the upcoming World Cup quarter-final. Despite a shaky group stage, Belgium has shown improved form, and Courtois believes they have the qualities to challenge the European champions. He acknowledges Spain's strengths but highlights Belgium's potential for an upset, drawing on his personal experience playing in Spain.
US President Donald Trump will be on hand to present the World Cup final trophy on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Tuesday.
Delhi Police busted a factory-cum-godown manufacturing and storing counterfeit RO water purifier filters of leading brands and arrested its owner.
