News for 'World Cup Opener'

T20 World Cup: New Zealand took 'bull by horns' to stop South Africa juggernaut: Finn Allen

T20 World Cup: New Zealand took 'bull by horns' to stop South Africa juggernaut: Finn Allen

Rediff.com5 Mar 2026

Finn Allen's blistering century led New Zealand to a stunning nine-wicket victory over South Africa in the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup.

T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka vs Oman: Can hosts overcome Hasaranga blow?

T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka vs Oman: Can hosts overcome Hasaranga blow?

Rediff.com11 Feb 2026

Sri Lanka will need to address batting inconsistencies and adjust their bowling strategy in the absence of Wanindu Hasaranga as they prepare to face Oman in a crucial T20 World Cup Group B match.

Pharaohs Prove Mettle With Impressive Belgium Draw

Pharaohs Prove Mettle With Impressive Belgium Draw

Rediff.com16 Jun 2026

Egypt's coach Hossam Hassan expressed pride in his team's performance after a 1-1 draw against Belgium in their World Cup opener. Despite coming close to a historic win, Hassan highlighted the team's quality, ambition, and the strong contributions of players like Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, asserting that Egypt is not just there to "make up the numbers." The draw is seen as a significant step in reinventing the national team's identity.

Iran vs NZ: Boos, cheers and a draw at politically charged game

Iran vs NZ: Boos, cheers and a draw at politically charged game

Rediff.com16 Jun 2026

Iran footballers faces cheers and jeers in their come-from-behind 2-2 draw against New Zealand in their FIFA World Cup final opener in Los Angeles on Monday.

Ahead of T20 World Cup, Surya reveals India's T20 success mantra

Ahead of T20 World Cup, Surya reveals India's T20 success mantra

Rediff.com5 Feb 2026

India's T20 mindset similar for all competitions; will give Washington time to recover: Suryakumar

Germany's defensive frailties haunt them again in Paraguay defeat

Germany's defensive frailties haunt them again in Paraguay defeat

Rediff.com30 Jun 2026

Germany's World Cup misery continued as Paraguay stunned the four-time champions on penalties in the Round of 32, extending a decade-long decline marked by defensive frailties and major tournament disappointments since 2014.

Maradona's legendary 'Hand of God' match ball awaits new keeper

Maradona's legendary 'Hand of God' match ball awaits new keeper

Rediff.com25 Jun 2026

The match ball from Argentina's 1986 World Cup quarterfinal against England - made famous by Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal - is set to go up for auction with a $2.5-million opening bid, Heritage Auctions said.

Underdog Cape Verde Confident Of Defying Odds Against Messi's Argentina

Underdog Cape Verde Confident Of Defying Odds Against Messi's Argentina

Rediff.com2 Jul 2026

Cape Verde, despite being a significant underdog, is confident of challenging Argentina and Lionel Messi in their World Cup knockout match.

Guess How Messi Celebrated His 39th Birthday

Guess How Messi Celebrated His 39th Birthday

Rediff.com24 Jun 2026

Lionel Messi, on the eve of his 39th birthday, demonstrated his unwavering commitment to Argentina's FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign by engaging in an intense gym session. The football legend, who is already the FIFA World Cup's all-time top goalscorer, is leading Argentina into the Round of 16 and continues to break records with his exceptional performance.

Deepti Sharma: 'I knew my time would come'

Deepti Sharma: 'I knew my time would come'

Rediff.com15 Jun 2026

Deepti Sharma produced a career-best 5/10 as India defeated Pakistan by 64 runs in their Women's T20 World Cup opener at Edgbaston. Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur also starred in India's dominant victory.

'Suffering is in our DNA': Scaloni hails Argentina's fighting spirit

'Suffering is in our DNA': Scaloni hails Argentina's fighting spirit

Rediff.com12 Jul 2026

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni lauded his team's ability to 'suffer without losing belief' after their dramatic 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland in the World Cup quarter-finals, highlighting their growth in navigating challenging situations.

T20 World Cup: 'Heart rates go up and down': Faheem wins it for Pakistan

T20 World Cup: 'Heart rates go up and down': Faheem wins it for Pakistan

Rediff.com7 Feb 2026

Faheem Ashraf's explosive batting performance led Pakistan to a dramatic three-wicket victory over the Netherlands in their T20 World Cup opener.

Portugal qualify for World Cup; England, France win

Portugal qualify for World Cup; England, France win

Rediff.com17 Nov 2025

Portugal qualified for the 2026 World Cup on Sunday with a 9-1 hammering of Armenia that included hat-tricks from both Bruno Fernandes and Joao Neves.

Germany, Netherlands on brink of World Cup qualification

Germany, Netherlands on brink of World Cup qualification

Rediff.com15 Nov 2025

A summary of Friday's action in the FIFA World Cup 2026 UEFA Qualifiers.

India's ruthless show sends T20 World Cup warning

India's ruthless show sends T20 World Cup warning

Rediff.com31 Jan 2026

Ishan Kishan smashed a 42-ball hundred as India showcased their batting firepower ahead of next month's Twenty20 World Cup, beating New Zealand by 46 runs in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday to seal a 4-1 series win.

Spain, Belgium, Switzerland seal 2026 World Cup spots

Spain, Belgium, Switzerland seal 2026 World Cup spots

Rediff.com19 Nov 2025

Spain secured their place at the 2026 World Cup after a nervy 2-2 draw with Turkey in Seville on Tuesday.

'We are better': Yamal sparks fire ahead of France clash

'We are better': Yamal sparks fire ahead of France clash

Rediff.com1 Jul 2026

Spain's young star Lamine Yamal has confidently stated that France holds no advantage in the FIFA World Cup 2026, dismissing them as favourites. Yamal expressed strong belief in Spain's ability to win the tournament, highlighting that knockout rounds are a different challenge from the group stage.

Pacer Southee out of World Cup opener vs England

Pacer Southee out of World Cup opener vs England

Rediff.com4 Oct 2023

New Zealand will play the World Cup-opener against England on Thursday without key pacer Tim Southee, who is yet to recover from his thumb surgery.

Messi, Bellingham and history collide in Argentina-England semi-final

Messi, Bellingham and history collide in Argentina-England semi-final

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

Lionel Messi's Argentina take on Jude Bellingham's England in a blockbuster FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final, reviving one of football's greatest rivalries with a place in the final on the line.

'I let myself get distracted': Mbappe blames VAR confusion for penalty miss

'I let myself get distracted': Mbappe blames VAR confusion for penalty miss

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

Kylian Mbappe admitted VAR confusion distracted him before his missed penalty against Morocco but said France's talented squad still has plenty to prove despite reaching the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals with a 2-0 victory.

Bangladesh board keeps pushing for T20 World Cup venue change

Bangladesh board keeps pushing for T20 World Cup venue change

Rediff.com8 Jan 2026

BCB sends another letter to ICC asking for venue change for its T20WC games

ICC Sanctions Pakistan's Mohammad Nawaz For Doping Violation

ICC Sanctions Pakistan's Mohammad Nawaz For Doping Violation

Rediff.com17 Jul 2026

Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has been sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) with a three-month ban after testing positive for a cannabis-related substance. The ban, which can be reduced upon rehabilitation, was backdated to May 1, and his records from matches between February 7 and May 1 have been disqualified.

Jr Women's Hockey World Cup: India outclass Wales

Jr Women's Hockey World Cup: India outclass Wales

Rediff.com8 Dec 2025

India asserted its supremacy with a commanding 3-1 victory over Wales in a 9/16 classification match at the FIH Junior Women's World Cup.

Romelu Lukaku's late impact helps Belgium rally to hold Egypt

Romelu Lukaku's late impact helps Belgium rally to hold Egypt

Rediff.com16 Jun 2026

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.

T20 World Cup semifinal: Abhishek Sharma fine-tunes batting against spin ahead of England clash

T20 World Cup semifinal: Abhishek Sharma fine-tunes batting against spin ahead of England clash

Rediff.com3 Mar 2026

Abhishek Sharma focuses on his batting against spin during a net session ahead of the T20 World Cup semifinal against England, recalling his past success at Wankhede Stadium.

'It destroyed our game' Switzerland coach slams 'unacceptable' VAR rule

'It destroyed our game' Switzerland coach slams 'unacceptable' VAR rule

Rediff.com12 Jul 2026

Switzerland coach Murat Yakin blasted the rule behind Breel Embolo's controversial red card as "unacceptable" after Argentina's 3-1 extra-time victory ended the Swiss team's historic FIFA World Cup 2026 run.

Ruthless Touch And Street Smarts: The Secret Of Morocco's Evolution

Ruthless Touch And Street Smarts: The Secret Of Morocco's Evolution

Rediff.com5 Jul 2026

Morocco showcased their evolution as a top football nation with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Canada in the World Cup last 16.

1st T20I: Skipper Shreyas Iyer opens account with crushing victory over Zimbabwe

1st T20I: Skipper Shreyas Iyer opens account with crushing victory over Zimbabwe

Rediff.com23 Jul 2026

India captain Shreyas Iyer hailed his bowlers for making the most of the lively conditions here on Thursday and said the comprehensive victory over Zimbabwe in the opening T20I would give his side the confidence it needs for the remainder of the series.

Mexico to kick-off 2026 World Cup against South Africa

Mexico to kick-off 2026 World Cup against South Africa

Rediff.com6 Dec 2025

The 2026 World Cup will kick off-on June 11 with joint-hosts Mexico playing South Africa at the Azteca Stadium - iconic venue of the 1970 and 1986 finals - followed by South Korea against a play-off winner after the complex draw was made on Friday.

T20 World Cup: Suryakumar to the rescue as India battle past USA

T20 World Cup: Suryakumar to the rescue as India battle past USA

Rediff.com7 Feb 2026

Skipper Suryakumar Yadav dazzled with a vital half-century as defending champions India registered a scratchy 29-run win against the United States of America despite a stunning top-order collapse.

'This is probably the right time to draft Sooryavanshi into India's ODI side'

'This is probably the right time to draft Sooryavanshi into India's ODI side'

Rediff.com4 days ago

Former India cricketer Farokh Engineer has strongly advocated for teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to be drafted into India's ODI squad as an opener alongside Rohit Sharma, ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

T20 World Cup: Kotak hints at batting order changes for Zimbabwe clash

T20 World Cup: Kotak hints at batting order changes for Zimbabwe clash

Rediff.com25 Feb 2026

India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak addresses concerns about Abhishek Sharma's form and hints at possible changes in the batting order for the crucial T20 World Cup Super 8 match against Zimbabwe.

Suruchi Bags Gold In Shooting World Cup Final

Suruchi Bags Gold In Shooting World Cup Final

Rediff.com6 Dec 2025

Talented shooter Suruchi Singh came up with yet another commanding performance to clinch the women's 10m air pistol gold in the ISSF World Cup Final in Doha.

T20 World Cup: Australia crush Oman by 9 wickets, sign off in style

T20 World Cup: Australia crush Oman by 9 wickets, sign off in style

Rediff.com21 Feb 2026

Already out of Super Eights contention, Australia beat Oman by nine wickets in their inconsequential final group clash of the T20 World Cup, in Kandy, on Friday.

T20 World Cup: Thursday's Game Will Be Played Before India's Most Knowledgeable Fans

T20 World Cup: Thursday's Game Will Be Played Before India's Most Knowledgeable Fans

Rediff.com25 Feb 2026

It is said that in Chennai, fans do not watch cricket -- they analyse and debate it and even outthink the experts. Cricket here is savoured like their favourite dish -- a hot bowl of rasam.

'This was my final match': Mahrez ends Algeria career

'This was my final match': Mahrez ends Algeria career

Rediff.com3 Jul 2026

Riyad Mahrez, the Algerian football star, has announced his retirement from international football following Algeria's elimination from the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 by Switzerland. Mahrez confirmed his decision after Algeria's 2-0 defeat, concluding a distinguished career with 119 appearances, 40 goals, and 45 assists, including a pivotal role in Algeria's 2019 Africa Cup of Nations victory.

Kumble Warns India: Win Big or Risk T20 World Cup Exit

Kumble Warns India: Win Big or Risk T20 World Cup Exit

Rediff.com24 Feb 2026

Anil Kumble praised West Indies' dominant 107-run win over Zimbabwe in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 and said India must win big against Zimbabwe and West Indies to stay alive in the semi-final race.

Ousmane Dembele's Hat-Trick Overshadows Haaland And Mbappe!

Ousmane Dembele's Hat-Trick Overshadows Haaland And Mbappe!

Rediff.com27 Jun 2026

Ousmane Dembele delivered a sensational first-half hat-trick for France against Norway in their final Group I match, overshadowing the anticipated clash between Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.

T20 World Cup, India vs West Indies: Sanju Samson has got the success he deserves: Gavaskar

T20 World Cup, India vs West Indies: Sanju Samson has got the success he deserves: Gavaskar

Rediff.com2 Mar 2026

Batting great Sunil Gavaskar hailed Sanju Samson after his match-winning knock powered India to a five-wicket victory in the must-win match against West Indies in the T20 World Cup.

Deschamps thanks Mbappe, France squad for support after mother's death

Deschamps thanks Mbappe, France squad for support after mother's death

Rediff.com1 Jul 2026

'Kylian's gesture touched me deeply'