Portugal and Croatia's World Cup last-32 clash on Thursday could be Cristiano Ronaldo or Luka Modric's final game on soccer's biggest stage, and the massive moment will unfold at the tournament's smallest venue.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti is hopeful he will have Neymar available for more minutes in Monday's World Cup round of 32 fixture against Japan in Houston, and believes his Brazil side are ready for anything in what will be a tough knockout fixture.
Ecuador's World Cup nightmare turned into a dream, as La Tri's once seemingly doomed campaign was resurrected against Germany in a remarkable conclusion to Group E on Thursday.
The complete schedule of FIFA World Cup 2026 in IST.
The Democratic Republic of Congo secured a spot in the World Cup knockout stage after a thrilling 3-1 comeback victory against Uzbekistan. Yoane Wissa scored twice, including a crucial penalty, and Fiston Mayele added another goal to seal their progression. This win marks DR Congo's return to the World Cup knockouts after 52 years, setting up a clash with England.
Mexico coach Aguirre hails fans as driving force for victory as they beat Ecuador to break 40-year-old hoodoo.
Portugal and Croatia face off in a high-stakes Round of 32 clash in Toronto on Thursday, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric both eyeing a deep World Cup run in what could be the final chapter of their legendary international careers.
Grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran has offered advice to World Champion D Gukesh ahead of his title defence against Javokhir Sindarov. Sasikiran highlights Gukesh's tendency for time trouble due to complex play and suggests improving technique, speed, and defensive accuracy. He also advises Gukesh to identify and exploit opponent weaknesses, while acknowledging Sindarov's strong preparation and reliance on memory and speed.
Cape Verde, a tiny island nation, has made history by advancing to the round of 32 in the FIFA World Cup.
Morocco triumphed over the Netherlands 3-2 in a penalty shootout to advance in the World Cup after a drama-filled 1-1 draw in their Round of 32 clash on Monday.
Dutch coach Koeman expected to leave in wake of early World Cup elimination
FIFA has confirmed that rainbow flags will be permitted at the World Cup match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, which coincides with the city's Pride weekend. This decision comes despite objections from Egypt and Iran, where homosexuality is criminalised, and FIFA's attempt to distance itself from the "Pride Match" designation, stating it's a local initiative.
Lionel Messi has achieved a new World Cup milestone, becoming the first player to score in seven consecutive matches.
Mexico ended a 40-year wait for a FIFA World Cup knockout victory as Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez scored in a 2-0 win over Ecuador, sending the co-hosts into the last 16 amid emotional scenes at the Azteca Stadium.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is set to be football's largest tournament but will unfold against a backdrop of significant geopolitical tensions, including conflicts, strained alliances, and complex immigration policies, challenging its traditional role as a symbol of global unity.
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.
Harmanpreet Kaur was on Tuesday retained as captain of a largely predictable 15-member India squad for this year's Asian Games in Japan.
Merlin, the pet duck in a mini Mexico shirt who has become a viral sensation and an unofficial mascot of the World Cup, met Mexico's president on Monday.
Lionel Messi equalled the men's World Cup all-time scoring record with a hat-trick in Argentina's Group J opener against Algeria on Tuesday.
India has been eliminated from the Women's T20 World Cup after a six-wicket defeat to Australia at Lord's. Despite a strong batting performance led by Harmanpreet Kaur, Australia successfully chased down India's target of 171, with Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner scoring crucial half-centuries. This marks India's second consecutive group-stage exit from the tournament.
Chief coach Sjoerd Marijne indicated that the Indian women's hockey team will likely use the upcoming World Cup as preparation for the more crucial Asian Games, which serves as a direct qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The team plans to field a consistent core group for both events, scheduled just 20 days apart. Dutch dragflick specialist Taeke Taekema will join the team for both tournaments, and skipper Salima Tete praised Deepika's strong return from injury, highlighting her importance as a dragflicker.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already seen eight red cards, matching the combined total of the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. This surge in dismissals, including six straight red cards, highlights a significant increase in disciplinary actions compared to recent editions, with Belgium's Nathan Ngoy being the latest player sent off.
Iran's bid for a first World Cup knockout stage appearance ended dramatically after Austria's late equaliser against Algeria denied them a spot. Despite remaining unbeaten, the team faced significant logistical challenges and travel restrictions due to their conflict with the U.S., which captain Mehdi Taremi described as a "disaster."
Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma and Ravi Shastri watched Australia beat India by six wickets at Lord's.
Nicolas Pepe scored two goals to lead Ivory Coast to a 2-0 victory over Curacao, securing their first-ever qualification for the World Cup knockout phase. Curacao, the smallest nation to qualify, was eliminated. Ivory Coast will now face the second-place team from Group I (France or Norway) in Arlington, Texas.
Lionel Messi's record-breaking night draws ultimate praise from former record-holder Miroslav Klose.
Four-time champions Germany suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Ecuador in a FIFA World Cup group stage match, marking a historic upset. This loss highlighted Germany's persistent defensive issues, as they have now failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine World Cup games. Despite an early lead, Germany succumbed to Ecuador's determined comeback, which secured Ecuador's progression to the round of 32.
Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae said comments from World Cup winner Bastian Schweinsteiger could be labelled racist after the ex-Germany midfielder described African football as "wild" and "unorthodox".
Ivory Coast is set to face Norway in a World Cup Round of 32 match, with much attention on Norway's star striker Erling Haaland. While Ivory Coast's defence, featuring Ousmane Diomande, will focus on containing Haaland, their coach Emerse Fae also plans to unleash their own array of attacking talent, including Yan Diomande and Nicolas Pepe, to challenge Norway.
Lionel Messi became the all-time leading scorer in men's FIFA World Cup history on Monday, netting his 17th tournament goal during Argentina's match against Austria.
'I'm truly sorry for not meeting your expectations'
The Democratic Republic of Congo has made a historic return to the World Cup knockout stages, 52 years after a disastrous debut.
The Delhi government has signed a tripartite MoU with the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) and the International School Sport Federation (ISF) to host international school badminton and wrestling events in 2027. This initiative aims to strengthen Delhi's sports ecosystem, provide young athletes with international exposure, and bolster India's global sporting identity.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has rebranded as World Tennis, announcing an ambitious vision to increase global participation by 30% to 140 million players by 2035. The organisation, which governs the sport and runs major competitions, plans to reinvest 85% of its income annually for the next decade to achieve its strategic goals, including powering future stars and elevating national competitions. The name change aims to enhance recognition and foster greater collaboration within the sport.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Vinicius Jr speaks on emotional bond with grandmother, racism and WC journey
India's U-19 boys' table tennis team defeated Hong Kong 3-1 in the Asian Youth Championships quarterfinals, guaranteeing at least a bronze medal and a direct qualification for the 2027 World Youth Table Tennis Championships. The team will now face top seeds China in the semifinals. In contrast, the Indian U-19 girls' team lost to Hong Kong and will need to qualify through a separate process, while the U-15 teams also faced defeats in their respective quarterfinal matches.
Carlo Ancelotti has spent weeks warning that grit and resilience would decide a long, complicated World Cup. On this evidence, Brazil have been listening -- even if, for much of the match against Japan, they seemed determined to test the theory to destruction.
France's formidable attack has propelled them through the World Cup group stage, but coach Didier Deschamps is focused on resolving issues on the team's left side before their Round of 32 match against Sweden.
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.
Senegal kept their World Cup knockout hopes alive in dominant fashion on Friday with a 5-0 victory over 10-man Iraq, who were eliminated from the tournament.
