England's national football team is gearing up to face Norway in the World Cup quarter-finals, with their primary challenge being to contain prolific striker Erling Haaland, who has already scored seven goals in the tournament.
The 2026 World Cup has been marred by widespread controversy surrounding the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, with coaches, players, and fans criticising its application, consistency, and impact on match outcomes, leading to a significant increase in interventions and red cards.
As India's decline continued on global indices, the government first blamed methodology and then motives. This is where we remain today as we wish each other and ourselves a happy Independence Day, points out Aakar Patel.
Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal will face-off as defending champions Argentina meet reigning European champions Spain in the FIFA World Cup final, in New York on Saturday.
Messi, who said he was thoroughly enjoying the ride at his sixth World Cup and giving no thought to retirement, was looking forward to locking horns with 2010 champions Spain in New Jersey on Sunday.
The halftime interval in Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina is set to last more than 15 minutes because of the installation required for the tournament's first halftime entertainment show, broadcasting sources said on Friday.
Spain defender Aymeric Laporte has questioned some refereeing decisions involving Argentina ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, saying aggressive play should not go unpunished.
England bagged third place at the World Cup after beating France 6-4 on Saturday, while Les Bleus' captain Kylian Mbappe became the tournament's all-time top scorer with 22 goals on coach Didier Deschamps' last game after 14 years in charge.
Guided by Indian table tennis legend Sharath Kamal, the duo have established themselves among the world's elite through a series of impressive performances on the WTT circuit.
Spain's Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro trained separately from the main squad in New Jersey as a precautionary measure ahead of Sunday's World Cup final against Argentina, with both players expected to be available.
The World Cup final offers football's grandest stage a deliciously odd pairing: Argentina, all pulse, fire and Lionel Messi, against Spain, the European champions who appear to treat chaos as an administrative error and have turned control into something close to an art form.
Manchester City has reportedly accepted a 65.4 million bid from Barcelona for their World Cup-winning Spain midfielder Rodri, who has agreed a four-year deal with the Spanish champions.
Legendary German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn offers his expert analysis on the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals, highlighting tactical discipline, mental strength, and fine margins as key determinants. He previews the Spain vs France clash, discusses the evolving role of goalkeepers, and gives France a slight edge as the strongest contender.
England's manager Thomas Tuchel has faced heavy criticism following their World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, but he attributes the loss to fundamental issues like a lack of 'ball possession DNA' rather than just tactical errors, while acknowledging the unstoppable brilliance of Lionel Messi.
The West Bengal government is organising live public screenings of the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at Nandan in Kolkata and other district locations. Each district has been allocated Rs 1 lakh for arrangements, with security and logistics being coordinated for the event.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will conclude with a spectacular closing ceremony at New Jersey Stadium, featuring performances by global superstars like Tom Cruise, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and IShowSpeed. Jennifer Hudson will perform the US national anthem.
France's defender Ibrahima Konate states the team is not afraid of Spain ahead of their World Cup semi-final, despite acknowledging Spain's exceptional quality and formidable defence. Having lost to Spain in previous tournaments, France is preparing thoroughly, focusing on containing individual talents like Lamine Yamal while aiming for their fifth World Cup final appearance.
Believe a simple date night is affordable just about anywhere? Think again. Deutsche Bank's Mapping the World's Prices 2025 lists the cities where even a modest evening -- involving a meal, new clothes, transport and tickets for a movie -- can empty your wallet clean.
Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to training with Al-Nassr just days after marrying his long-time partner Georgina Rodriguez in a private ceremony in Cascais, Portugal.
Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu advanced to the second round of the China Open after a tough match against compatriot Unnati Hooda. In a significant upset, Ayush Shetty defeated world No. 11 Alwi Farhan in the men's singles. However, India's men's and mixed doubles pairs were eliminated from the BWF Super 1000 tournament.
France coach Didier Deschamps conceded his side were 'outclassed' by Spain in their 2-0 World Cup semi-final defeat, highlighting technical, tactical, and physical shortcomings that ended their quest for a third title.
The number 10 shirt worn by Brazil's Pele in the 1958 World Cup final, where he scored twice against Sweden, has been sold for $4.9 million at a Sotheby's auction, making it the most valuable piece of memorabilia linked to the football legend.
Bangladesh have moved above India to fourth position in the ICC World Test Championship standings after securing a historic nine-wicket victory against Australia in the first Test in Darwin.
After England's 2-1 World Cup quarter-final win over Norway, midfielder Jude Bellingham pushed back against manager Thomas Tuchel's "sloppy" performance assessment, highlighting the team's resilience and the challenging conditions. Despite the friction, Bellingham's two goals were crucial in securing England's semi-final spot, underscoring his vital role in the tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup campaign concluded with an emotional defeat for Portugal against Spain.
England manager Thomas Tuchel insists his players are not focusing on the historical rivalry with Argentina ahead of their World Cup semi-final, stating the occasion itself is significant enough and their preparation centres on the game at hand.
The Assam government has permitted restaurants in Guwahati to remain open until 3:30 am on specific dates, including July 15, 16, 19, and 20, to allow football enthusiasts to watch the FIFA World Cup semi-finals and final. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced this decision, encouraging responsible enjoyment of the matches, while also allowing other districts to follow suit based on public demand and restaurant associations' requests.
India's spin maestro Ravichandran Ashwin has urged the ICC to integrate lower-ranked teams into every bilateral series, arguing that this is crucial for the sport's global expansion, beyond just expanding World Cup formats.
The inaugural international Esports World Cup has commenced in Paris, featuring over 2,000 elite players from 100+ countries competing for a record USD 75 million prize pool across 25 tournaments. The event also highlights a unique Club Championship and includes global ambassadors Cristiano Ronaldo and Magnus Carlsen.
England's World Cup journey ended in heartbreak after their decision to sit back defensively against Argentina in the semi-final allowed Lionel Messi to orchestrate a stunning comeback, exposing the perils of premature defensive play, according to manager Thomas Tuchel.
Thousands of Norwegian football fans gathered in Oslo in the early hours of Sunday to celebrate their national team's historic World Cup run, despite a quarter-final defeat to England. The "Viking row" ritual and widespread national pride marked an unexpected and memorable tournament for Norway.
England defender Dan Burn, 34, has emerged as an unlikely hero at the World Cup, making crucial clearances and blocks in high-pressure matches against Mexico and Norway, defying a career path that saw him released by Newcastle as a boy and playing in lower divisions.
Rodri delivered a midfield masterclass against France, anchoring Spain's 2-0 victory and securing their place in the World Cup final. His performance marked a significant return to his pre-injury form, reminiscent of his dominant displays for Manchester City, as he frustrated France's attacking efforts and dictated play.
Concerns over Canadian wildfire smoke impacting air quality and player health for the World Cup final in New York are easing, with forecasts predicting significant rain and a cold front to clear the haze before Sunday's match, though hot and hazy conditions could still pose risks.
Celebrations marking India's 80th Independence Day in the New York tri-state area culminated in a world record, with more than 1,300 US flags surrounded by Indian tricolours arranged to form the number "250", in a tribute to America's semiquincentennial anniversary.
A Goa-based man, Shubhang Borkar, ingeniously used ChatGPT to locate his lost footwear amidst a pile of shoes outside the Mahakal Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. He uploaded images of the footwear and his own shoes to the AI chatbot, which then successfully identified his pair, showcasing a practical and unusual application of artificial intelligence.
Xavi Hernandez has been appointed as the new head coach of the Netherlands national football team, signing a contract through the 2030 World Cup. The former Barcelona manager replaces Ronald Koeman and marks his first role as a national team coach.
In Peru, there is a wave of new baby Haalands. In Argentina, Lionel has raced up the rankings, and in Mexico a girl was reportedly named after three soccer players. Parents in Latin America are already christening a new generation of babies after the stars of the World Cup.
Atlanta Police are implementing enhanced security measures for the World Cup semi-final between Argentina and England, a match deemed high-risk due to the historical animosity between the two nations.
The Indian women's compound archery team, comprising Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Prithika Pradeep, and Chikitha Taniparthi, secured a silver medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid.
