Belgium, who missed a slew of scoring chances against Iran on Sunday, have taken only two points from their opening two matches despite entering the tournament as favourites to progress from the group.
Merlin, a domesticated duck dressed in a miniature Mexico shirt and custom socks, has become an unexpected unofficial mascot for Mexico's World Cup team. After going viral during street celebrations, Merlin's popularity soared, with fans embracing the feathered supporter and his owner, Karla Gomez, expressing delight at his newfound fame.
Ten-man Belgium dominated possession but could not break down a disciplined Iranian defence, with goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand producing a string of saves to preserve the result in the Group G encounter.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that recent missile attacks demonstrate Iran's capacity to strike globally, posing a threat to Europe and the rest of the world. He highlighted the need for international action to counter Iran's nuclear and missile programmes.
Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt in their World Cup opener after Romelu Lukaku's second-half introduction led to an own goal. Egypt had taken an early lead through Emam Ashour, and despite Belgium's numerous chances, they struggled to equalise until Lukaku's impact. Both coaches reflected on the match, with Belgium's coach highlighting the importance of their next game against Iran, and Egypt's coach feeling his side was closer to victory.
Real Madrid now have 45 points from 19 matches, second behind defending champions Barcelona.
Manchester City and Belgium footballer Jeremy Doku became a father, welcoming a baby boy named Praise with his wife Shireen. He temporarily left the national team's FIFA World Cup camp in the USA to be present for the birth in London, a decision supported by the Belgian Football Association despite some public criticism.
Despite the World Cup returning to their country for the first time in four decades, many in Mexico said they feel excluded, priced out of stadiums, forced to pay for expensive TV subscriptions and constrained by strict licensing rules.
Alireza Beiranvand produced seven saves, including a stunning contender for save of the tournament, as Iran held Belgium to a 0-0 draw at the FIFA World Cup.
The performance capped an extraordinary journey from poverty and homelessness to national hero.
European champions Spain will travel to next month's World Cup with plenty of Barcelona swagger but no-one from Real Madrid after manager Luis de la Fuente named a 26-man squad on Monday built around eight players from the Catalan club.
Thanks to major companies like Kia, Mexico has seen a huge influx of South Korean population in places like Monterrey, with Korean cuisine and K-Pop becoming major influences in the country.
India's Central government is likely to see its fertiliser subsidy bill double to a record 3.4 trillion in FY27, up from the Budget estimate of 1.7 trillion, due to surging global fertiliser prices exacerbated by the West Asia war. This significant increase, coupled with revenue losses from excise duty cuts for oil-marketing companies, is straining the government's fiscal space, though capital expenditure plans remain unchanged.
Indian golfer Yuvraj Sandhu is the sole representative from India at the KLM Open this week, facing a challenging debut season on the DP World Tour despite his positive outlook.
While the Andaman and Nicobar islands serve as a vital, stationary asset for projecting power in the Indian Ocean, referring to them as an unsinkable aircraft carrier ignores key military and geopolitical limitations, explains Commodore Venugopal Menon (retd).
Barcelona moved to the brink of retaining the LaLiga title after Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres struck late in a 2-1 victory at Osasuna.
With Mariachi costumes, trumpets, and a sea of dark green support, Mexico City has opened the World Cup on Thursday, as fans packed the famous Azteca stadium ahead of the opening game between Mexico and South Africa, amid a backdrop of protests around the capital.
Multi-champions Brazil, Argentina and Germany all won their preparatory games for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Saturday, although by small margins, with former champion England and hopeful Portugal also securing victories.
Vinicius Jr.'s goal secured a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid against Sevilla, while Kylian Mbappe returned to the starting lineup after a controversial omission. Barcelona also secured a win against Real Betis.
The official 26-man squads for FIFA World Cup 2026.
NASA has announced three missions to the moon as part of efforts to establish a permanent base on the earth's natural satellite. The USD 20 billion plan includes lunar rovers and drones for experiments to help master skills to live and operate in the dangerous environment.
Barca's capped a dominant La Liga campaign with a 2-0 win over Real Madrid to claim their 29th La Liga crown at the Camp Nou in Barcelona on Sunday.
A new report suggests China's maritime vulnerability lies in the Strait of Hormuz, not Malacca, creating strategic competition in the Indian Ocean.
Indian-American golfer Manav Shah has qualified for the 2026 US Open, marking a significant achievement for the IGPL as he becomes the first player from the league to qualify for a major championship since its launch last year.
13 films from the 2026 Cannes film festival, highlighting award-winning international cinema, unexpected gems, and restored classics that truly celebrated the art of filmmaking.
Atletico Madrid reached their first Champions League semi-final in nine years, narrowly defeating Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate despite a 2-1 home defeat.
The US administration has ordered a probe into the deaths and disappearances of at least 10 top US scientists and researchers with access to information related to aerospace, defence and extra-terrestrial life.
Anirban Lahiri finished tied for 16th at the LIV Golf Hong Kong tournament, while Carlos Ortiz took the lead with a stunning 10-under 60.
Amid rising tensions, Iran reportedly launched ballistic missiles toward a US-UK military base, prompting concerns about regional stability and the potential for escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Barcelona defeated Celta Vigo 1-0 in LaLiga, but the victory was overshadowed by an injury to Lamine Yamal.
Barcelona defeated Atletico Madrid, extending their lead in La Liga after Real Madrid's loss to Mallorca. Key goals from Lewandowski and Rashford secured Barcelona's victory, while Muriqi's late goal sealed Mallorca's win against Real.
The French Open will increase its prize money by 9.5% this year, bringing the total purse to 61.7 million euros. This increase reflects a broader trend of Grand Slam tournaments boosting player earnings, particularly in the early rounds, amid ongoing discussions about revenue distribution in tennis.
Lamine Yamal's second-half goal secured a 1-0 victory for Barcelona against Athletic Bilbao, extending their lead in La Liga.
Novak Djokovic and Eileen Gu will co-host this year's Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, marking a historic first for the prestigious event.
Osasuna defeated Real Madrid 2-1 in a LaLiga match, with goals from Ante Budimir and Raul Garcia del Haro. The loss gives Barcelona a chance to overtake Real Madrid in the title race.
Venezuela defeated the United States 3-2 to win its first World Baseball Classic title, showcasing team unity and national pride.
Atletico Madrid secured a 2-0 victory over Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, boosted by a red card for Barcelona's Pau Cubarsi and goals from Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth.
The winners of the tie will face Real Sociedad or Athletic Bilbao in the final. Real Sociedad hold a 1-0 advantage ahead of their second leg in San Sebastian on March 4.
Five Indian boxers have secured podium finishes at the World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok, with Gunjan, Joyshree Devi, Ambekar Meetei, Chandrika Pujari, and Radhamani Longjam all advancing to the semi-finals.
US President Donald Trump's threats against Iran have drawn strong condemnation from Democrat leaders, who are calling for his removal from office, while some Republicans express concern.
Manuel Garcia-Rulfo delivers his best performance yet in The Lincoln Lawyer 4, applauds Deepa Gahlot.
