News for 'World Cup 2026'

FIFA World Cup: Five-star Sweden rout Tunisia in opener

FIFA World Cup: Five-star Sweden rout Tunisia in opener

Rediff.com15 Jun 2026

Sweden trio Yasin Ayari, Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres were all on target as they cruised to a 5-1 victory over Tunisia in Monterrey on Sunday.

FIFA To Hear Iran's Complaint Over US World Cup Travel Rules

FIFA To Hear Iran's Complaint Over US World Cup Travel Rules

Rediff.com20 Jun 2026

The Iranian football team is facing significant travel restrictions in the US during the World Cup, requiring them to enter and leave within 24 hours of matches. This has led the Football Federation of Iran to lodge a formal complaint with FIFA, citing concerns over fair play and technical preparation, while US authorities maintain the measures are for safety and security.

Mexico Eye Winning Start Against South Africa In FIFA World Cup Opener

Mexico Eye Winning Start Against South Africa In FIFA World Cup Opener

Rediff.com11 Jun 2026

Mexico will kick off their home World Cup campaign against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca, carrying the pressure of fan expectations and a strong unbeaten run.

FIFA World Cup: Ronaldo Frustrated As DR Congo Hold Portugal To Draw

FIFA World Cup: Ronaldo Frustrated As DR Congo Hold Portugal To Draw

Rediff.com18 Jun 2026

Portugal and their talisman Cristiano Ronaldo were left frustrated after being held to a 1-1 draw by Group K rivals Democratic Republic of Congo in their World Cup clash in a sodden Houston.

'Anything is possible': Cape Verde's fairytale run continues at World Cup

'Anything is possible': Cape Verde's fairytale run continues at World Cup

Rediff.com27 Jun 2026

Cape Verde, a tiny island nation, has made history by advancing to the round of 32 in the FIFA World Cup.

How Rodri Bossed France and Powered Spain into World Cup Final

How Rodri Bossed France and Powered Spain into World Cup Final

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

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.

Bosnia beat Qatar, keep World Cup knock-out hopes alive

Bosnia beat Qatar, keep World Cup knock-out hopes alive

Rediff.com25 Jun 2026

Bosnia and Herzegovina kept their World Cup hopes alive thanks to a stunning goal from teenager Kerim Alajbegovic, which powered them towards a tense 3-1 win over Qatar on Wednesday and secured third place in Group B to eliminate their opponents.

Calls for pitch board changes after FIFA World Cup injury scare

Calls for pitch board changes after FIFA World Cup injury scare

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro has called for a reassessment of pitch-side advertising boards at the World Cup after player Julio Enciso collided with one during their match against Australia. Alfaro expressed concerns about player safety due to the intensity of play and potential for injury. Despite the 0-0 draw, which leaves Paraguay's advancement uncertain, Alfaro remains optimistic about his team's performance.

De la Fuente backs Lamine Yamal to deliver in crucial World Cup semi-final

De la Fuente backs Lamine Yamal to deliver in crucial World Cup semi-final

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has expressed confidence in teenager Lamine Yamal, stating that the forward's most significant World Cup performance is yet to come, potentially in the semi-final against France or the final.

From War to FIFA World Cup: Iraq Captain's Journey

From War to FIFA World Cup: Iraq Captain's Journey

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

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.

FIFA World Cup: Historic Canada win overshadowed by Kone's horror injury

FIFA World Cup: Historic Canada win overshadowed by Kone's horror injury

Rediff.com19 Jun 2026

Canada secured its first-ever World Cup victory with a dominant 6-0 win, but the celebration was marred by a severe leg injury to midfielder Ismael Kone. Kone suffered a broken leg after a tackle from Qatar's Assim Madibo, an incident that left his teammates and coach Jesse Marsch deeply shaken. The injury is a significant blow to Canada's World Cup campaign, despite their strong position in Group B.

Can Senegal pull off a miracle FIFA World Cup escape?

Can Senegal pull off a miracle FIFA World Cup escape?

Rediff.com23 Jun 2026

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.

T20 Women's World Cup: How India Can Qualify For Semi-Final

T20 Women's World Cup: How India Can Qualify For Semi-Final

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

India stayed alive in the Women's T20 World Cup with a five-wicket win over Bangladesh. Here's how Harmanpreet Kaur's side can qualify for the semi-finals, with Australia and South Africa still in the equation.

Messi to lead Argentina's Qatar heroes at 2026 FIFA World Cup

Messi to lead Argentina's Qatar heroes at 2026 FIFA World Cup

Rediff.com29 May 2026

Lionel Messi will lead defending champions Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after coach Lionel Scaloni named a 26-man squad featuring 17 players from the 2022 title-winning team.

FIFA World Cup: The Touching Ronaldo-Modric Moment Everyone Missed

FIFA World Cup: The Touching Ronaldo-Modric Moment Everyone Missed

Rediff.com3 Jul 2026

Luka Modri's illustrious international career concluded with Croatia's dramatic 2-1 defeat to Portugal in the World Cup. Despite a valiant effort, Croatia's hopes were dashed by a late Gonalo Ramos goal and a disallowed equaliser, marking an emotional exit for the 40-year-old football icon. Cristiano Ronaldo shared a poignant moment with his former teammate, acknowledging Modri's remarkable legacy.

Nicolas Pepe's brace earns Ivory Coast World Cup knockout berth

Nicolas Pepe's brace earns Ivory Coast World Cup knockout berth

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

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.

Isak-Gyokeres Strike Force Faces Tunisia's Iron Defence in World Cup Opener

Isak-Gyokeres Strike Force Faces Tunisia's Iron Defence in World Cup Opener

Rediff.com12 Jun 2026

Sweden's star strike partnership of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres faces a stern challenge against Tunisia's rock-solid defence as the two sides begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F campaign.

Indian Boxers Shine, Confirm Six Medals At World Cup

Indian Boxers Shine, Confirm Six Medals At World Cup

Rediff.com19 Jun 2026

India delivered a commanding performance at the World Boxing Cup 2026 (Stage 2) in Guiyang, China, securing six medals after a strong showing in the quarterfinals. Prachi (57kg), Minakshi (51kg), Deepak (70kg), and Nikhil (55kg) were among the Indian boxers who advanced to the semifinals, guaranteeing podium finishes.

FIFA World Cup: 'Impossible' done! Ecuador stuns Germany

FIFA World Cup: 'Impossible' done! Ecuador stuns Germany

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

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.

FIFA World Cup brings back bitter memories for Mexico's missing families

FIFA World Cup brings back bitter memories for Mexico's missing families

Rediff.com24 Jun 2026

Mexico counts more than 135,000 missing people, a figure that has surged since 2006 when then-President Felipe Calderon launched a war against the country's drug cartels.

FIFA World Cup: Messi Magic: When Rivals Become Fans

FIFA World Cup: Messi Magic: When Rivals Become Fans

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

Lionel Messi's unparalleled influence extends beyond his on-field performance, transforming opponents into admirers. This phenomenon, dubbed the 'Messi effect,' sees rival players expressing awe and seeking mementos after matches, highlighting his profound impact on the current generation of footballers.

FIFA World Cup: South Africa seek to silence critics against Czech Republic

FIFA World Cup: South Africa seek to silence critics against Czech Republic

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

South Africa will look to bounce after a 2-0 loss to co-hosts Mexico in their opening FIFA World Cup match.

Haaland scores twice as Norway whip Iraq on World Cup return

Haaland scores twice as Norway whip Iraq on World Cup return

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

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.

Harry Kane Surpasses Gary Lineker To Become England's All-Time World Cup Top Scorer

Harry Kane Surpasses Gary Lineker To Become England's All-Time World Cup Top Scorer

Rediff.com28 Jun 2026

Harry Kane has surpassed Gary Lineker's long-standing record to become England's all-time leading goal scorer at World Cups.

Shakira, Madonna, BTS To Headline 2026 FIFA World Cup Halftime Show

Shakira, Madonna, BTS To Headline 2026 FIFA World Cup Halftime Show

Rediff.com14 May 2026

Global pop stars Shakira, Madonna and Korean sensation BTS will headline the first-ever halftime show at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final with proceeds going towards a global education initiative.

Unbeaten Iran denied World Cup knockout berth after last-gasp equaliser

Unbeaten Iran denied World Cup knockout berth after last-gasp equaliser

Rediff.com28 Jun 2026

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."

Messi Magic Powers Argentina To World Cup Knockouts

Messi Magic Powers Argentina To World Cup Knockouts

Rediff.com23 Jun 2026

Argentina booked their place in the World Cup knockout stage on Monday as Lionel Messi recovered from an early penalty miss to score a record-breaking double in a 2-0 victory over Austria.

England stun France in 10-goal thriller to finish third at World Cup

England stun France in 10-goal thriller to finish third at World Cup

Rediff.com4 days ago

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.

Germany star ruled out of FIFA World Cup after injury blow

Germany star ruled out of FIFA World Cup after injury blow

Rediff.com22 Jun 2026

German central defender Nico Schlotterbeck has been ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup and will be sidelined for several months due to an ankle ligament injury sustained during their Group E victory over Ivory Coast. Despite the setback, coach Julian Nagelsmann remains confident in the team's central defence options.

FIFA World Cup: 'Let's talk football': Vozinha shrugs off visa drama

FIFA World Cup: 'Let's talk football': Vozinha shrugs off visa drama

Rediff.com19 Jun 2026

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha was not too keen to discuss it on Thursday but finally conceded he was very happy his mother had obtained a U.S. visa and would be able to watch him play against Uruguay in the World Cup this weekend.

T20 World Cup 2026: Debutants Who Could Write History

T20 World Cup 2026: Debutants Who Could Write History

Rediff.com6 Feb 2026

New faces with big dreams. These players are set to step onto the T20 World Cup stage for the first time.

World Cup: England's late collapse raises questions over Tuchel's defensive tactics

World Cup: England's late collapse raises questions over Tuchel's defensive tactics

Rediff.com7 days ago

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.

Historic! DR Congo Qualify for FIFA World Cup Knockouts After 52 Years

Historic! DR Congo Qualify for FIFA World Cup Knockouts After 52 Years

Rediff.com28 Jun 2026

The Democratic Republic of Congo has made a historic return to the World Cup knockout stages, 52 years after a disastrous debut.

FIFA World Cup: Germany star Schweinsteiger in racism storm

FIFA World Cup: Germany star Schweinsteiger in racism storm

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

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".

FIFA World Cup: Canada's Larin salvages 1-1 draw against Bosnia in Group B opener

FIFA World Cup: Canada's Larin salvages 1-1 draw against Bosnia in Group B opener

Rediff.com13 Jun 2026

Canada striker Cyle Larin came off the bench to grab a 1-1 draw for his side against Bosnia and Herzegovina in a frenetic Group B opener on Friday that long looked like it would end in defeat for the World Cup co-hosts.

Why Mexicans Feel Left Out of Their Own World Cup After 40 Years

Why Mexicans Feel Left Out of Their Own World Cup After 40 Years

Rediff.com18 Jun 2026

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.

Protesters in US call on FIFA to kick Iran out of World Cup

Protesters in US call on FIFA to kick Iran out of World Cup

Rediff.com11 Jun 2026

Instead of pride, many Iranian-Americans feel shame about the Iran team's participation in the World Cup and are demanding that FIFA boots the country out of the competition, protesters said in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Ecuador Stuns Germany In World Cup Thriller, Exposing Defensive Flaws

Ecuador Stuns Germany In World Cup Thriller, Exposing Defensive Flaws

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

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.

Spain back on top of FIFA rankings after World Cup glory

Spain back on top of FIFA rankings after World Cup glory

Rediff.com3 days ago

World Cup champions Spain climbed back to the top of the FIFA men's rankings released on Monday, while runners-up Argentina slipped to second following their defeat in the final.

FIFA World Cup: Cape Verde hero Lopes gets hero's welcome in Ireland

FIFA World Cup: Cape Verde hero Lopes gets hero's welcome in Ireland

Rediff.com6 Jul 2026

Dublin-born defender Roberto Lopes, who represented Cape Verde in a recent tournament, received a hero's welcome upon his return to Dublin. Cape Verde, making their debut, impressed by reaching the knockout stage and narrowly losing to reigning champions Argentina, captivating fans globally. Lopes expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from Ireland.