Canadians and tourists at Niagara Falls celebrated Canada's historic first-ever win at the FIFA World Cup against Qatar. The euphoric victory, witnessed by hundreds at a special viewing event, sparked widespread joy and a renewed interest in football across the nation.
Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is facing potential scrutiny from FIFA after appearing to breach tournament equipment regulations during a World Cup match. He reportedly cut the sleeves off his long-sleeved jersey and wore a white undershirt that did not match his outer kit, both actions potentially violating FIFA rules on uniform consistency.
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.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirms Iran will participate in the 2026 World Cup despite geopolitical tensions, urging that sport remain separate from politics.
A car rammed into a crowd celebrating Mexico's World Cup victory in Cabo San Lucas, injuring 17 people. The driver was arrested, and authorities are investigating the violent incident that marred the festivities in the popular tourist resort.
Brazil is preparing for their World Cup opener against Morocco without star forward Neymar, who is recovering from a calf injury.
Brazilian football star Neymar Jr. shares his emotional response to being included in the FIFA World Cup squad, expressing gratitude for the support he received during his journey.
The 2026 T20 World Cup is likely to be played from February 7 to March 8 with matches spread across at least five venues in India and two in Sri Lanka.
Japan's national football team, the Samurai Blue, faces Brazil in a crucial World Cup last-32 match. This encounter holds deep significance due to Brazil's profound influence on Japanese professional football, particularly through the J-League and the presence of numerous Brazilian players and coaches over the decades. Despite past successes against Brazil, including a recent friendly win, this World Cup clash represents a major test for Japan's ambitions.
World Cup winner and TV pundit Bastian Schweinsteiger on Friday rejected claims his comments on African football were racist, saying he was merely delivering an analysis of a playing style.
A shooting incident in San Jose, California, near a World Cup fan zone, resulted in one fatality and one serious injury. Police are investigating the incident as a homicide, which occurred at San Pedro Square, a popular gathering spot for World Cup watch parties.
Iran threatened to halt its matches at the World Cup if unauthorised flags are displayed or slogans targeting the national team are chanted at stadiums, Iranian media reported, citing Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali, following criticism of the team's presence at the tournament.
Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa declared a national holiday after the country's football team secured a spot in the World Cup knockout phase with a surprising 2-1 victory over Germany. This marks only the second time Ecuador has reached this stage, sparking widespread celebrations.
Under US protocols, play is suspended immediately if lightning is detected within an eight-mile (13-km) radius of a stadium and can only resume after 30 minutes have passed without a further strike.
US President Donald Trump, who has campaigned aggressively this year for a Nobel Peace Prize, was given FIFA's inaugural peace prize for his efforts to promote dialogue and de-escalation in some of the world's biggest hotspots.
South Africa has made history by securing their first-ever World Cup knockout stage berth after a 1-0 victory over South Korea. Thapelo Maseko scored the decisive goal in the 63rd minute, leading to jubilant celebrations and setting up a clash with co-hosts Canada. This marks a significant achievement for the team, overcoming previous group stage exits.
Brazil is facing significant defensive challenges, particularly at right-back, ahead of their World Cup opener against Morocco.
Mexico coach Aguirre hails fans as driving force for victory as they beat Ecuador to break 40-year-old hoodoo.
It is only the second time a tournament run by world football's governing body FIFA has featured as many as 48 teams.
The Netherlands secured the top position in World Cup Group F with a decisive 3-1 victory over Tunisia. Tunisia's campaign ended disastrously, marked by an early own goal and a series of errors, following previous heavy losses and a coaching change.
Qatar take on Switzerland in their World Cup opener on Saturday eager to shake off the pressure of expectation, coming in as back-to-back Asian champions with an urgent need to make amends for a dismal debut as hosts of the 2022 tournament.
Croatia secured their first points in the World Cup Group L by defeating Panama 1-0, thanks to a second-half goal from substitute Ante Budimir. The victory eliminated Panama from the tournament. The match also saw captain Luka Modric achieve his 200th cap for Croatia.
Kylian Mbappe, after scoring a double against Sweden, is nearing Lionel Messi's World Cup goal record but states his primary focus is on winning the trophy for France. He acknowledges his scoring prowess but emphasises the team's collective goal of reaching and winning the final on July 19, downplaying the individual rivalry with Messi.
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.
The India vs Pakistan match in the Women's T20 World Cup created a new record as the most-attended group-stage game in the history of the ICC Women's World Cup.
Lionel Messi's family has confirmed that his father, Jorge Messi, 68, is receiving medical treatment for an undisclosed health issue. They stated he is recovering well and responding positively to treatment, while also expressing frustration over media speculation and requesting privacy for the family during this time. The statement follows emotional scenes involving Lionel Messi during a recent World Cup match, which he later clarified were unrelated to football but due to difficult personal days.
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre downplayed his team's achievement of topping their World Cup group, stating that true success would be measured later in the tournament. He highlighted the importance of playing at home and the team's improved maturity, while also reflecting on his own calmer coaching style. Aguirre expressed his ambition to guide Mexico into the world's top 10.
Neymar offered Brazil a flicker of World Cup encouragement on Tuesday when he trained on the pitch with the national team in the United States for the first time.
The study, covering audience trends across the three host nations, found that Lionel Messi's debut for Inter Miami CF in the 2023 Leagues Cup drove a 173% leap in linear viewership compared with the tournament average.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just weeks away, uncertainty over India's broadcast rights continues amid legal intervention and concerns over free-to-air access for football fans.
Canada achieved their first-ever World Cup finals victory, thrashing nine-man Qatar 6-0, with Jonathan David scoring a hat-trick. The win boosts Canada's chances in Group B, despite an injury to midfielder Ismael Kone.
Displaced Palestinians in Gaza are overcoming power cuts, poor internet and ongoing insecurity to follow the FIFA World Cup, finding brief moments of joy and escape amid the hardships of war and displacement.
Somali football referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, expected to be the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup match, was denied entry into the United States due to "vetting concerns" by US Customs and Border Protection.
Colombia began their World Cup campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over debutants Uzbekistan in a Group K encounter at the Azteca Stadium. Luis Diaz was instrumental, assisting the opening goal and scoring another, as Colombia secured three points to top their group.
Former football player Zlatan Ibrahimovic has lauded Lionel Messi for breaking the all-time FIFA World Cup goal record, stating that the Argentinian ace is in a 'category of his own', surpassing even legends like Pele, Diego Maradona, and Johan Cruyff due to his numbers, longevity, and trophies.
Across World Cup co-host Mexico, soccer pitches are laid out wherever communities can find the space. On the edges of towns, on highway underpasses, and even in a volcano crater, spaces are cleared that allow the young and the old to share in the dream of the beautiful game.
England and Ghana, both coming off opening wins, are set to clash in a crucial Group L World Cup match in Boston.
England manager Thomas Tuchel believes they are in good shape heading into the FIFA World Cup and can "dare to dream" about lifting the trophy.
Football's global players' union has renewed concerns about the potential impact of heat on the 2026 World Cup, following a scientific analysis indicating a high likelihood of dangerous temperatures for both players and fans.
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.
