Nigeria produced the first major shock of the Women's World Cup as they stunned Australia 3-2.
Wales' 33-year-old all-time top scorer came to the rescue, using all his drive and experience to win a penalty against a tiring US defence and then converting it brilliantly.
The top two teams in each group go into the last 16. In the case of teams finishing level on points, FIFA has put in place seven tie-breakers starting with goal difference and then the number of goals scored in all group matches.
World soccer body FIFA has revised kick-off times for seven group matches at next year's World Cup finals in Brazil, including four in the hottest venues.
Pop star Shakira will perform before the World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro on July 13, headlining a closing ceremony that includes guitar virtuoso Carlos Santana and rapper Wyclef Jean.
The 2026 soccer World Cup could be split between up to four countries, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday, announcing the organisation would encourage applications to co-host the tournament.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday handed over the mantle of World Cup host to the emir of Qatar, whose country will stage the 2022 edition of the tournament.
France coach Didier Deschamps heaped praise on his players after they reached the World Cup final with a 1-0 win over Belgium on Tuesday, saying the lost final at Euro 2016 was still on his mind.
Qatar will permit ticketed fans to buy alcoholic beer at World Cup soccer matches starting three hours before kick-off and for one hour after the final whistle, but not during the match, a source with knowledge of plans for the tournament said.
Hinata Miyazawa scored her fifth goal of the tournament as Japan beat Norway 3-1 in a clash of former champions on Saturday to reach the quarter-finals of the Women's World Cup.
'He is gradually getting better. However, I cannot confirm today that he will play in the first match'
France midfielder Paul Pogba said the finals in Russia might be his last World Cup but he hopes he will be fit for more.
Russia will still stage the 2018 World Cup finals despite the continuing blight of racism in the country's soccer, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Sunday.
Germany was overwhelmed, badly prepared and below standard at the tournament
The North American bid beat the rival Morocco proposal, winning 134 votes to 65 for Morocco.
World Cup: When wingers gave Croatia flight
Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden struck twice as England came from behind to thrash European champions Spain 5-2 and clinch their maiden Under-17 World Cup title, in Kolkata, on Saturday.
Russia and Qatar could be stripped of their World Cup hosting rights if evidence emerges of bribery in the bidding process, Domenico Scala, the independent chairman of FIFA's audit and compliance committee, told a Swiss newspaper.
India's U20 women's team is set to face Australia in their second Group C match of the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup, aiming to improve upon their first-half performance against Japan. Coach Joakim Alexandersson emphasises mindset and bravery as key factors for success.
In Gujarat, the Congress must have felt like the Swiss in Doha. Suffering at the hands of both the BJP and the AAP, they seemed to lack a goalkeeper. In Himachal, although a victory for the Congress, the tenor was more akin to Spain versus Morocco. The underdog triumphed, points out Shyam G Menon.
A piece of the original World Cup trophy, which was stolen in Brazil in 1983 and never recovered, has been found in a basement at FIFA's headquarters.
Lionel Messi's passionate performances at the Qatar World Cup are earning him oodles of love from Argentines, but their old favouritism for Diego Maradona may resurface unless he brings home the trophy on his final attempt.
The proposals outline what would effectively be a mini-World Cup, featuring eight international teams, every two years in addition to the traditional event.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter said by rotating the World Cup it will go to a South American nation in 2014.
FIFA announced on Friday that the 2022 World Cup, to be held in Qatar, will start on November 21 with the final to be played on December 18 - cutting four days off the length of the competition.
The mesmerising moments that made the 2018 FIFA World Cup a blockbuster worldwide.
Lewandowski huffed and puffed, but he cut a lonely and frustrated figure
Guwahati is the venue of one of the semi-finals of the Under-17 football World Cup to be held across six cities from October 6-28.
As Brazil gears up to host the FIFA World Cup 2014 starting on June 12, lets take a closer look at the biggest football tournament.
Chinese President Xi Jinping told FIFA boss Gianni Infantino he hoped the Asian nation could host a World Cup "in the future", the world soccer governing body said on Wednesday, after the two met in Beijing.
The World Cup will expand to 48 teams from its current 32, starting with the 2026 edition of football's showpiece tournament.
Valencia, who was taken off for the last 15 minutes of Sunday's Group A game, has had a decade-long career in the Ecuador side, starting off as a winger but being converted to a striker in the qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup.
Video Assistant Referees (VARs) will be making their debut at the World Cup in Russia this month but the technology will not be perfect, FIFA's director of refereeing, Massimo Busacca, warned on Tuesday.
Want to know who will win the first match of the World Cup? The cat's out of the bag: it's Russia.
'To our Moroccan friends: Congratulations on this beautiful journey. You are making football history.'
The number beats the previous record of 199 teams which entered for the 2002 World Cup finals.
Croatia beat Brazil in the quarter-finals, but for Dalic, Saturday's bronze medal game was the highlight of their tournament.
Brazil firmed up to 3-1 favourites to win the World Cup for the sixth time after goals from Neymar and Roberto Firmino secured a 2-0 win over Mexico and a place in the quarter-finals on Monday.
The World Cup could be targeted again next year for demonstrations in Brazil against graft and poor public services but FIFA should not be held responsible or made a scapegoat, general secretary Jerome Valcke warned on Tuesday.
