South Korea's World Cup group-stage exit has sparked a nationwide football crisis, with coach Hong Myung-bo resigning, President Lee Jae Myung ordering an investigation, and growing calls for sweeping reforms within the Korea Football Association.
Egypt's national football coach, Hossam Hassan, has vehemently blamed 'unfair' refereeing decisions and 'external factors' for his team's dramatic World Cup elimination by Argentina, stating he will no longer watch the tournament.
Legendary German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has announced his retirement from international football following Germany's unexpected exit from the World Cup. His comeback for the tournament, necessitated by injuries to other players, ended in disappointment as Germany lost to Paraguay in a penalty shootout in the Round of 32. Neuer concludes his illustrious international career with 128 caps, a 2014 World Cup title, and a legacy as one of the sport's greatest goalkeepers.
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp criticised the VAR decision that disallowed Jonathan Tah's goal, leading to Germany's early exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026. He also took a dig at Arsenal regarding their set-piece goals, suggesting many would be ruled out if Tah's goal was illegal.
Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup campaign concluded with an emotional defeat for Portugal against Spain.
Turkey's coach Vincenzo Montella expressed pride in his team's character and performance at the World Cup, despite their elimination. Following a 3-2 victory over the United States, Montella acknowledged missed opportunities but remained optimistic about the future, hoping for an earlier return to the tournament.
Japan delivered a commanding 4-0 win over Tunisia in the World Cup's 1,000th match on Saturday to move to the brink of the knockout stages, while the North Africans were eliminated after a second successive defeat in Group F.
The 10 takeaways from the FIFA World Cup, which was co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha and Norway striker Erling Haaland have been named in the fan-voted FIFA World Cup dream team, with both rewarded for standout performances during unexpected runs by their teams.
U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, despite a controversial FIFA decision to suspend his red card ban, struggled in the World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium, leading to the U.S. team's elimination. The decision, which saw U.S. President Donald Trump claim credit, sparked accusations of political pressure on FIFA, while Balogun's birthright citizenship also came under scrutiny.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final sees Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, take on a strong Spanish unit featuring teenage star Lamine Yamal, with Messi aiming for back-to-back titles at a venue holding past painful memories.
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.
Germany's national football team has been eliminated from the World Cup in the round of 32, marking their third consecutive early exit from the tournament. The German Football Association (DFB) has announced that changes will be made, with DFB President Bernd Neuendorf stating they will examine the reasons for the team's underperformance. The future of coach Julian Nagelsmann, who wishes to stay, is now uncertain.
An emotional Lionel Messi broke down in tears after inspiring Argentina to a remarkable 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt, sending the defending champions into the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after they had stared at a shock exit.
India's Sahil Jadhav was placed third in the men's compound qualification at the Archery World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid before persistent rain forced the suspension of play. Other Indian archers, including Rishabh Yadav and women compound archers like Prithika Pradeep and Jyothi Surekha Vennam, also competed, with their qualification rounds impacted by the weather.
Qatar snatched their first ever World Cup point with a stoppage-time goal to draw 1-1 with Switzerland in an energetic and one-sided Group B opener on Saturday.
Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the current World Cup will be his last, expressing no regrets about his illustrious career.
Belgium players celebrated their 4-1 FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 victory over hosts United States with a dance inspired by US President Donald Trump. Romelu Lukaku and teammates performed the viral dance after Lukaku's stoppage-time goal sealed their quarter-final spot. The US Men's National Team thanked supporters after their elimination, while Belgium, led by Charles De Ketelaere's brace, will face Spain next.
Germany's World Cup campaign ended in a shocking penalty shootout loss to Paraguay, marking another early exit for the four-time champions. This defeat highlights a concerning pattern of underperformance in major tournaments since 2014, raising questions about coach Julian Nagelsmann's future and the team's overall direction.
Cristiano Ronaldo's illustrious World Cup career concluded with tears after Portugal's 1-0 defeat by Spain in the round of 16, marking the end of his sixth attempt to win the coveted trophy.
Argentina's dark blue away jersey holds significant historical and superstitious value for the team, particularly in World Cup encounters against England. The team will wear this kit in their upcoming semi-final, hoping to replicate past successes from 1986 and 1998, where the blue jersey was worn during famous victories over England. Both coaches acknowledge the role of superstition in high-level sports, though Argentina's coach downplays the specific jersey choice. The jersey also features cultural motifs.
Cristiano Ronaldo's final FIFA World Cup journey concluded with Portugal's 1-0 defeat to Spain in the Round of 16. Following the match, Spain's teenage star Lamine Yamal offered a comforting hug to a tearful Ronaldo, a gesture of sportsmanship that quickly went viral and resonated with fans globally.
Four champions were crowned during the second week of the Esports World Cup in Paris. LYON won the Free Fire title, Team Vitality secured the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women's International crown, Dplus KIA emerged victorious in League of Legends, and PVISION triumphed in Dota 2, with several teams also making strides in the Club Championship standings.
An emotional Stale Solbakken praised Norway's historic FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign after a 2-1 extra-time defeat to England ended their dream run in the quarter-finals.
Sabri Lamouchi's dismissal as Tunisia coach after a single game at the World Cup places him on an ignominious list that includes one of the most successful coaches in tournament history.
France coach Didier Deschamps conceded his side were 'outclassed' by Spain in their 2-0 World Cup semi-final defeat, highlighting technical, tactical, and physical shortcomings that ended their quest for a third title.
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.
Belgium look to have found their best playing style at the World Cup after thrashing co-hosts the US 4-1 on Monday, but the successful tinkering of coach Rudi Garcia has come at a cost to his top players.
Cabo Verde, making their FIFA World Cup debut, delivered a memorable performance, reaching the Round of 32 and pushing defending champions Argentina to extra time. Despite a 3-2 defeat, their campaign was marked by resilience, drawing against European champions Spain and two-time world champions Uruguay, and highlighted by the exceptional goalkeeping of 40-year-old Vozinha.
Switzerland are preparing for a fiery contest on and off the pitch against Colombia as they gear up for what they expect to be their toughest test of the tournament in Tuesday's World Cup round-of-16 clash, midfielder Ardon Jashari said on Sunday.
India's spin maestro Ravichandran Ashwin has urged the ICC to integrate lower-ranked teams into every bilateral series, arguing that this is crucial for the sport's global expansion, beyond just expanding World Cup formats.
Thibaut Courtois, Belgium's goalkeeper, expresses confidence in his team's ability to surprise Spain in the upcoming World Cup quarter-final. Despite a shaky group stage, Belgium has shown improved form, and Courtois believes they have the qualities to challenge the European champions. He acknowledges Spain's strengths but highlights Belgium's potential for an upset, drawing on his personal experience playing in Spain.
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.
King Philippe of the Belgians visited the national football team to offer his support and encouragement ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final match against Spain. He shared a meal, received a signed jersey, and praised their performance, expressing confidence in their victory. Both teams have had strong runs to the quarter-finals, with Belgium overcoming several challenges and Spain maintaining an unbeaten record.
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.
Croatia secured their first points in the World Cup Group L by defeating Panama 1-0, thanks to a second-half goal from substitute Ante Budimir. The victory eliminated Panama from the tournament. The match also saw captain Luka Modric achieve his 200th cap for Croatia.
Croatia's World Cup exit sparked controversy after coach Zlatko Dali launched a furious attack on the refereeing following their 2-1 defeat to Portugal.
Spain have knocked Portugal out of the World Cup after Mikel Merino's late goal sealed a dramatic 1-0 victory, ending Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup campaign.
The International Cricket Council has announced significant format changes for the 2027 ODI World Cup and the 2028 T20 World Cup, aiming to increase competitiveness and consequence in both tournaments. The 2027 ODI World Cup will feature a Super Series and Super 7 stage, while the 2028 T20 World Cup will introduce a Super 10 stage after the group phase.
