Former India drag-flicker Jugraj Singh has lauded current captain Harmanpreet Singh as a 'trump card' for the upcoming FIH World Cup, citing his aggressive playing style and consistent performance in crucial moments. Jugraj, who sees his own reflection in Harmanpreet's game, rates him among the world's top three drag-flickers and believes the team is well-prepared to end India's long wait for a World Cup medal.
Argentina battled their way into the semis after edging Cape Verde and Switzerland in extra time and coming from 2-0 down to defeat Egypt 3-2.
Indian shooters endured a second consecutive medal-less day at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, a crucial tune-up event before the Asian Games. While Vidarsa Vinod reached the women's 50m rifle three positions final, finishing sixth, other Indian participants struggled in various events, including men's and women's skeet, and men's 25m rapid fire pistol. The performance raises concerns ahead of the upcoming major competition.
India women's hockey team coach Sjoerd Marijne attributed his side's goalless draw against Australia, which led to their World Cup semi-final exit, to nerves and an inability to convert opportunities, despite calling the fifth-sixth place playoff a 'significant achievement'.
The Netherlands secured the top position in World Cup Group F with a decisive 3-1 victory over Tunisia. Tunisia's campaign ended disastrously, marked by an early own goal and a series of errors, following previous heavy losses and a coaching change.
Spain's national football team, La Roja, has reached their second World Cup final, sparking widespread celebrations across the country. Tennis stars Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, along with the Spanish Royal Family, extended their congratulations, highlighting the national unity and pride surrounding this historic achievement.
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.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has become the highest-scoring edition in the tournament's history, surpassing the previous record of 172 goals set in Qatar 2022. The record was broken during the United States vs. Turkey match, with Auston Trusty's goal marking the 173rd, and the total quickly rising to 175 goals by the 59th match. This achievement is attributed to FIFA's expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams, leading to 104 matches compared to 64 in 2022.
France head coach Didier Deschamps made World Cup history by becoming the most successful manager in terms of victories after France's dominant 3-0 win over Sweden, with Kylian Mbapp starring once again to send Les Bleus into the Round of 16.
India's newly appointed T20I captain Shreyas Iyer has showed his love for football, backing five-time FIFA World Cup champions Brazil in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026.
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.
India's World Cup goalkeeper Bichu Devi, inspired by cricketing legend Mahendra Singh Dhoni, emphasises the importance of composure under pressure.
Thousands of fans across Spain erupted in joyous celebrations, dancing in the streets, setting off fireworks, and launching red flares, after La Roja secured their second World Cup title with a 1-0 victory over Argentina.
Brazil came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32, recording their first knockout victory after trailing at half-time since 1978 as Casemiro made history and Gabriel Martinelli struck a dramatic late winner.
The meeting is a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final, when France ended Morocco's historic run in Qatar.
The Indian men's hockey team finished eighth in the FIH World Cup campaign after losing 3-4 in a shoot-out to co-hosts Belgium. The match ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw in regulation time, with Harmanpreet Singh scoring a brace for India.
Ousmane Dembele expressed his delight after scoring and helping France reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals, stating he is gaining confidence and momentum as the tournament progresses and the team remains focused on going all the way.
Superstars Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, and Shakira delivered a high-energy musical medley during the first-ever halftime show at a World Cup final, a new American-style addition to the tournament.
India's men's hockey team suffered a 4-2 defeat against England in their second Hockey World Cup pool match, with head coach Craig Fulton and player Manpreet Singh attributing the loss to defensive lapses, particularly in the third quarter. The team now faces a crucial match against arch-rivals Pakistan, needing to improve their defensive discipline and penalty corner conversion.
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.
Indian men's hockey team vice-captain Hardik Singh has taken responsibility for the team's 1-3 defeat against the Netherlands at the FIH World Cup. He attributed the loss to a "one per cent lapse" in an otherwise strong performance, highlighting how small errors proved costly in a high-stakes match. Defender Amit Rohidas also acknowledged unforced errors in the final quarter.
After England's 2-1 World Cup quarter-final win over Norway, midfielder Jude Bellingham pushed back against manager Thomas Tuchel's "sloppy" performance assessment, highlighting the team's resilience and the challenging conditions. Despite the friction, Bellingham's two goals were crucial in securing England's semi-final spot, underscoring his vital role in the tournament.
FIFA has granted US President Donald Trump permission to present the World Cup trophy, a role he previously undertook at the Club World Cup. This decision allows him to remain on the podium during celebrations, a departure from standard protocol, and he is expected to attend the final at MetLife Stadium.
Belgian winger Jeremy Doku faces a personal dilemma during the World Cup as his wife is due to give birth to their first child. He hopes to be present for the birth, potentially requiring him to leave the tournament.
Tunisia have sacked coach Sabri Lamouchi and replaced him with fellow Frenchman Herve Renard in the wake of the 5-1 defeat by Sweden in their World Cup opener in Monterrey on Sunday, the Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) said.
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.
Experienced wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das has been appointed as the new One Day International captain for Bangladesh, succeeding Mehidy Hasan Miraz. This move comes as the team begins its preparations and build-up for the 2027 Cricket World Cup.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 got underway in Mexico on Thursday with Colombian superstar Shakira performing the official World Cup song Dai Dai in a spectacular opening ceremony.
Thousands of ecstatic supporters welcomed the Egyptian national football team home after their historic World Cup campaign, which saw them reach the last 16 for the first time, despite a heartbreaking defeat to Argentina.
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.
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.
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.
Canadian singer Nora Fatehi has released her latest international collaboration, "Siir Siir," which is part of the FIFA World Cup 2026 music programme, marking another significant global milestone in her career. The track, featuring Vegedream, blends pop and R&B, celebrating her multicultural journey and expanding her international fan base.
Argentina's hopes of securing back-to-back World Cup titles were dashed after a 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the final, leaving fans in Buenos Aires with a "bitter sensation" despite acknowledging Spain's strong performance.
Dutch footballer Cody Gakpo scored a goal at the World Cup against Morocco, immediately breaking down in tears due to the recent loss of his unborn baby boy. His emotional reaction, understood by teammates and visible to his parents in the stands, highlighted the profound personal grief he carried while competing on the global stage, overshadowing the team's eventual defeat.
South Africa international midfielder Jayden Adams, who played a key role in his country's 2026 World Cup campaign, has died at the age of 25, with no cause of death immediately provided.
Thousands of Norwegian football fans gathered in Oslo in the early hours of Sunday to celebrate their national team's historic World Cup run, despite a quarter-final defeat to England. The "Viking row" ritual and widespread national pride marked an unexpected and memorable tournament for Norway.
The deaths of a 44-year-old man, a 48-year-old woman and a 19-year-old woman from suffocation have been confirmed by authorities.
Barcelona legends Xavi Hernandez and Javier Mascherano discuss the profound influence of their former club on the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. They highlight the impact of La Masia-bred players like Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi for Spain, and the enduring brilliance of Lionel Messi for Argentina, all products of Barcelona's footballing philosophy. Both former players express pride in the shared playing style and the quality of the final.
The Manipur government has announced a holiday for all educational institutions on July 20, 2026, allowing students to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 final. The order covers schools, colleges, and universities across the state.
