From losing his father to terrorism and watching conflict tear apart his family, to nearly abandoning football before leading Iraq back to the World Cup, Aymen Hussein has overcome obstacles that would have broken many others.
Norway's prolific striker Erling Haaland wasted no time in opening his World Cup account as he found the net twice in a 4-1 defeat of Iraq in Group I on Tuesday that sent a warning to defenders in the rest of the tournament.
Kylian Mbappe scored two goals, equalling Miroslav Klose's World Cup record, as France defeated Iraq 3-0 to advance to the last 32. The match was significantly delayed by thunderstorms, but France maintained control with Ousmane Dembele also scoring. Iraq's chances of progressing now depend on their final group match and other results.
Erling Haaland's first-half double for Norway in Tuesday's 4-1 World Cup win over Iraq literally shook the Nordic country, with seismology institute NORSAR registering earth tremors in the coastal city of Bergen when he scored on his tournament debut.
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.
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.
Senegal's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has been ruled out of Friday's World Cup match against Iraq due to a knee injury sustained during a recent loss to Norway. Medical examinations are ongoing to assess the full extent of the ligament issue. Both Senegal and Iraq are entering the Group I game with two losses each.
A digital memorial in Iraq now commemorates 33,000 Indian Army soldiers who died in the First World War, addressing a historical omission from the Basra Memorial.
Indian refiners are recalibrating their crude sourcing strategy due to supply disruptions in West Asia, leading to Venezuela and Brazil emerging as top five suppliers in April, replacing traditional sources like Iraq and the United States.
Didier Deschamps is flying back to France to attend his mother's funeral and will not coach the team's last Group I game at the World Cup against Norway, the French federation said on Tuesday.
Senegal's coach Pape Bouna Thiaw insists his team's World Cup hopes are not over despite two consecutive defeats to France and Norway. The team needs to beat Iraq in their final group game to have a chance at qualifying as one of the best third-placed teams.
Norway made history at the FIFA World Cup by fielding three sons of former World Cup players in the same match: Erling Haaland, Alexander Sorloth, and Kristian Thorstvedt. This mirrored a 1994 World Cup match where their fathers played together. Erling Haaland marked his debut with a brace, leading Norway to a 4-1 victory over Iraq.
Senegal face a major defensive selection dilemma ahead of their World Cup clash with Norway as coach Pape Bouna Thiaw weighs whether to drop Kalidou Koulibaly in a bid to stop Erling Haaland and keep knockout hopes alive.
Iraq defeated Bolivia 2-1 in an inter-confederation playoff to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 40 years. Aymen Hussein scored the winning goal, securing Iraq's place in Group I alongside France, Norway, and Senegal.
'Every time he beats his own record, he does have the capacity to up his ante.'
Fans at the World Cup are vocally protesting FIFA's newly introduced mandatory three-minute hydration breaks, booing the stoppages during matches in Dallas, Toronto, and Boston. Critics argue these breaks disrupt game flow and serve commercial interests, with one match seeing a team concede a goal shortly after a break.
Norwegian parliamentarians recreated the Viking rowing celebration made famous by their soccer fans, showing cross-party unity in support of the national team during the World Cup.
The expanded World Cup is being dominated by superstar performances from Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland, who are leading the scoring charts. Young talent like Lamine Yamal is also making a significant impact, while Harry Kane continues to impress. The tournament is shaping up to be a thrilling display of individual brilliance, with a potential repeat of the last final between Messi and Mbappe.
Norway defender Leo Ostigard has become a father during the FIFA World Cup, witnessing the birth of his first child over FaceTime before rejoining teammates ahead of Norway's crucial Group I clash with Senegal.
After a stellar performance in the World Cup, Norwegian striker Erling Haaland enjoyed an incognito break in New York City with his partner. Despite his global fame, he managed to explore Times Square and Katz's Deli largely unnoticed, attributing his disguise to a baseball cap and sunglasses. His team, Norway, is preparing for an upcoming match against Senegal.
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.
Formerly Iran's second-largest oil customer, Indian financial institutions were forced to withhold crude oil payments following the 2018 US sanctions.
A French soldier was killed while several others were injured in an attack in the Erbil region of Iraq, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed. Macron, in a post on X, confirmed that Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion of the 7th Battalion of Chasseurs Alpins lost his life in the attack.
Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe showcased their exceptional talent in recent World Cup matches, each scoring multiple goals. Despite recent dips in form or career stages, these football superstars proved their enduring prowess, with Mbappe becoming France's all-time top scorer and Messi achieving his first World Cup hat-trick.
'Actual implementation of the 14-point agreement is proving hard to achieve let alone striking and sustaining a long-term treaty or deal.'
Kylian Mbappe is under immense pressure and facing criticism regarding his recent performances and leadership ahead of France's World Cup opener. Despite a trophy-less season with Real Madrid, his teammates Ousmane Dembele and Lucas Hernandez defend him, highlighting his leadership within the French squad and his focus on the tournament. Mbappe has a strong World Cup record and aims to silence critics by performing well in the upcoming matches.
The UAE consulate in Erbil, located in Iraq's Kurdish region, suffered structural damage in the aerial attack. Officials said there were no casualties.
Erling Haaland scored two goals, leading Norway to a 3-2 victory over Senegal in a World Cup match. This win puts Norway level on points with France at the top of Group I, setting up a decisive final group game.
Real Madrid have signed midfielder Bernardo Silva, the LaLiga club said on Wednesday, after the Portuguese international left Manchester City at the end of his contract.
The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that 13 foreign nationals were among the 21 people who died in a recent hotel fire in south Delhi. The MEA is coordinating with respective embassies to provide assistance.
France captain Kylian Mbappe became his country's all-time leading scorer with a double against Senegal at the World Cup on Tuesday.
Videos circulated online showed Senegal players being screened by airport security before travelling from Raleigh, North Carolina to San Antonio, Texas for a warm-up friendly against Saudi Arabia ahead of the tournament.
Iraq's participation in the inter-confederation play-offs in Mexico that will decide two berths at this year's FIFA World Cup is in doubt because of the travel chaos triggered by the conflict in neighbouring Iran.
The US and Iran have agreed on a roadmap aimed at reaching a final agreement within 60 days after hours-long talks at the Swiss resort of Burgenstock, mediators Qatar and Pakistan said on Monday, describing the progress as "encouraging."
Rescue operations are currently underway, and the circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation, the command said.
Kylian Mbappe became France's all-time leading scorer with a double to power his team to victory against Senegal on Tuesday.
India significantly increased its crude oil imports from Russia and the United Arab Emirates in June, securing supplies as the Strait of Hormuz began to reopen, with Russian barrels remaining attractive due to discounts and UAE supplies offsetting earlier uncertainties.
'It will take a long time to recover from the impact of this war.'
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over a probe from Andhra Pradesh police concerning an alleged extremist network. Twelve suspects were arrested across several states for their links to banned terror organisations like AQIS and ISIS, involved in radicalisation and recruitment through online platforms.
