News for 'opening matches'

Trump to present trophy at 2026 FIFA World Cup final, says Infantino

Trump to present trophy at 2026 FIFA World Cup final, says Infantino

Rediff.com24 Jun 2026

US President Donald Trump will be on hand to present the World Cup final trophy on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Tuesday.

FIFA World Cup: Confident DR Congo have a message for Cristiano Ronaldo

FIFA World Cup: Confident DR Congo have a message for Cristiano Ronaldo

Rediff.com14 Jun 2026

Democratic of Republic Congo's supporters are confident their side can shine at the World Cup and have a message for Cristiano Ronaldo.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Struggling Spain face another stubborn opponent in Saudi Arabia

FIFA World Cup 2026: Struggling Spain face another stubborn opponent in Saudi Arabia

Rediff.com19 Jun 2026

Spain arrive into their Group H clash against Saudi Arabia needing a sharper attacking display after being held to a shock 0-0 draw by World Cup debutants Cape Verde in their opening match in Atlanta.

FIFA World Cup: Cunha and Vinicius shine as Brazil cruise past Haiti

FIFA World Cup: Cunha and Vinicius shine as Brazil cruise past Haiti

Rediff.com20 Jun 2026

Brazil secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Haiti, with Matheus Cunha scoring twice and Vinicius Junior adding another goal. The win keeps Brazil in contention for the top spot in Group C, though their decision to ease off in the second half could impact goal difference in a tight race with Morocco.

Iran fight back to hold New Zealand in Group G thriller

Iran fight back to hold New Zealand in Group G thriller

Rediff.com16 Jun 2026

Iran twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with New Zealand in their opening World Cup match on Monday after an end-to-end contest played against the backdrop of Iranian fan protests against the government in Tehran.

No one has a given right to be selected for Australia: Nathan Lyon

No one has a given right to be selected for Australia: Nathan Lyon

Rediff.com15 Jun 2026

Australia spinner Nathan Lyon said on Monday he is on track to recover from a hamstring injury in time for the home Test series against Bangladesh in August.

Indian Women's Hockey Team Storms Into Nations Cup Final With 6-0 Rout Of Chile

Indian Women's Hockey Team Storms Into Nations Cup Final With 6-0 Rout Of Chile

Rediff.com20 Jun 2026

The Indian Women's Hockey team delivered a commanding 6-0 victory over Chile in the FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup semi-final, securing their place in the final. Navneet Kaur and Deepika scored two goals each, contributing to India's fourth consecutive win in the tournament.

Serena's return puts familiar force at centre of Wimbledon

Serena's return puts familiar force at centre of Wimbledon

Rediff.com23 Jun 2026

The 23-time Grand Slam champion has become the undisputed headline act at a tournament at which she has won seven singles titles and six doubles crowns with sister Venus.

Almiron Red Card: New Rule Controversy

Almiron Red Card: New Rule Controversy

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

Miguel Almiron became the first player sent off at the World Cup for violating a new rule against covering mouths during confrontations. His dismissal left Paraguay with 10 men, but they still secured a 1-0 victory over Turkey, keeping their World Cup hopes alive while eliminating Turkey. The incident has sparked debate among coaches about the impact of new rules on the game's essence.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Co-hosts Mexico kickstart campaign with dominant win over South Africa

FIFA World Cup 2026: Co-hosts Mexico kickstart campaign with dominant win over South Africa

Rediff.com12 Jun 2026

Julian Quinones gave hosts Mexico a dream start as he scored in the ninth minute in the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening match against South Africa.

IPL 2026: Sanjay Bangar breaks down Kishan's match-winning blitz

IPL 2026: Sanjay Bangar breaks down Kishan's match-winning blitz

Rediff.com14 Apr 2026

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar praises Ishan Kishan's aggressive batting performance for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Rajasthan Royals

FIFA World Cup: Goan Origin Araujo Earns Uruguay Crucial Point

FIFA World Cup: Goan Origin Araujo Earns Uruguay Crucial Point

Rediff.com16 Jun 2026

Uruguay winger Maximiliano Arajo, whose grandfather hailed from Goa's Loutolim village, scored a late equaliser to earn his side a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia in their FIFA World Cup opener.

Magical Salah inspires Egypt to historic World Cup victory

Magical Salah inspires Egypt to historic World Cup victory

Rediff.com22 Jun 2026

Talismanic Mohamed Salah scores twice to help Egypt rally to 3-1 win over New Zealand on Sunday.

Gurbaz credits Gambhir after slamming century against India

Gurbaz credits Gambhir after slamming century against India

Rediff.com13 Jun 2026

Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz credited India head coach Gautam Gambhir for his technical inputs after smashing a 51-ball 102 in the rain-hit first One-Day International.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Curacao fans take heavy defeat to Germany in their stride

FIFA World Cup 2026: Curacao fans take heavy defeat to Germany in their stride

Rediff.com15 Jun 2026

Curacao fans will have woken up the morning after still a little hurt by the 7-1 defeat to Germany in their World Cup debut on Sunday, but the result has not dampened their spirit or their delight at a first global finals for the tiny island nation.

The dark truth behind Mexico's cute FIFA World Cup symbol

The dark truth behind Mexico's cute FIFA World Cup symbol

Rediff.com8 Jun 2026

The smiling axolotl is everywhere at the World Cup in Mexico City. But behind the colorful murals and mascot statues lies a troubling reality: scientists say the critically endangered amphibian is becoming increasingly difficult to find in the wild.

Women's T20 World Cup: Shafali, Mandhana star as India trounce Netherlands by 95 runs

Women's T20 World Cup: Shafali, Mandhana star as India trounce Netherlands by 95 runs

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma sizzled with the bat as India coasted to an emphatic 95-run win over the Netherlands in their Women's T20 World Cup match.

Iran Warns FIFA against unauthorised flags, slogans at World Cup games

Iran Warns FIFA against unauthorised flags, slogans at World Cup games

Rediff.com10 Jun 2026

Iran threatened to halt its matches at the World Cup if unauthorised flags are displayed or slogans targeting the national team are chanted at stadiums, Iranian media reported, citing Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali, following criticism of the team's presence at the tournament.

Why India Are The Big Favourites To Win Women's T20 World Cup!

Why India Are The Big Favourites To Win Women's T20 World Cup!

Rediff.com11 Jun 2026

Former cricketer Reema Malhotra believes the Indian women's cricket team is a strong contender to win the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup, largely because of its strong spin bowling resources.

India's Women's Hockey Team Storms Into FIH Nations Cup Final With Dominant Win Over Chile

India's Women's Hockey Team Storms Into FIH Nations Cup Final With Dominant Win Over Chile

Rediff.com20 Jun 2026

The Indian Women's Hockey team secured a dominant 6-0 victory over Chile in the FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup semi-final, with Navneet Kaur and Deepika scoring two goals each. This emphatic win propels India into the final, where they will face hosts New Zealand.

Still a work in progress, says Smriti Mandhana despite successive World Cup fifties

Still a work in progress, says Smriti Mandhana despite successive World Cup fifties

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

Smriti Mandhana may have smashed successive half-centuries to rediscover her touch, but the India vice-captain insists she is still nowhere near her best.

Sweden, Japan advance to knockouts after thrilling draw

Sweden, Japan advance to knockouts after thrilling draw

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

Sweden and Japan played out a 1-1 draw in their World Cup Group F match, with Anthony Elanga scoring for Sweden and Daizen Maeda for Japan. The result ensures both teams progress to the knockout rounds, with Japan finishing second and Sweden securing a spot as one of the best third-placed teams.

IPL 2026: 'One ball at a time': Kishan opens up on his fearless batting approach

IPL 2026: 'One ball at a time': Kishan opens up on his fearless batting approach

Rediff.com23 May 2026

Ishan Kishan credits his maturity and shot selection for his success in the Indian Premier League, after scoring his sixth half-century. He also praised the team's support staff and captain Pat Cummins for their roles in the team's performance.

England pacer Robinson leaves NZ reeling on rain-hit Day 3

England pacer Robinson leaves NZ reeling on rain-hit Day 3

Rediff.com6 Jun 2026

Persistent rain limited play to fewer than 10 overs on Day 3 at Lord's, but Ollie Robinson struck twice to leave New Zealand struggling at 55/5 in pursuit of a 254-run target against England

IPL 2026: Rajasthan Royals thump Mumbai Indians in rain-hit match

IPL 2026: Rajasthan Royals thump Mumbai Indians in rain-hit match

Rediff.com8 Apr 2026

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's explosive batting helped Rajasthan Royals reach 150 for 3 in a rain-curtailed IPL match.

Pochettino's attacking blueprint shapes US mauling of Paraguay

Pochettino's attacking blueprint shapes US mauling of Paraguay

Rediff.com13 Jun 2026

Mauricio Pochettino's gameplan worked a treat in the United States' 4-1 win over Paraguay in their World Cup opener on Friday, the hosts showcasing an attacking fluidity and positional interplay that overwhelmed the South Americans.

India Women Rout Korea; Win Women's Under-18 Asia Cup Hockey Bronze

India Women Rout Korea; Win Women's Under-18 Asia Cup Hockey Bronze

Rediff.com6 Jun 2026

The Indian women's U18 hockey team secured the bronze medal at the Asia Cup, defeating Korea 3-0.

Messi returns, scores and sends strong FIFA World Cup warning

Messi returns, scores and sends strong FIFA World Cup warning

Rediff.com10 Jun 2026

Lionel Messi led Argentina to a dominant 3-0 victory over Iceland in a FIFA World Cup 2026 warm-up friendly, scoring a penalty and contributing to another goal after recovering from muscle fatigue.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Klopp says sorry to Nagelsmann over controversial TV remark

FIFA World Cup 2026: Klopp says sorry to Nagelsmann over controversial TV remark

Rediff.com15 Jun 2026

Former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has apologised to Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann for a comment regarding the team's lineup ahead of their 7-1 World Cup Group E opening victory over Curacao on Sunday after it triggered a furore back home.

FIFA World Cup: Kane equals record as England edge Croatia

FIFA World Cup: Kane equals record as England edge Croatia

Rediff.com18 Jun 2026

Harry Kane struck twice while Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford delivered the knockout blows as England survived a back-and-forth battle to beat Croatia 4-2 on Wednesday and launch their World Cup campaign in a heavyweight clash that lived up to its billing.

Broken jaw, protective mask: Spence ready for FIFA World Cup

Broken jaw, protective mask: Spence ready for FIFA World Cup

Rediff.com9 Jun 2026

England defender Djed Spence will play in the upcoming World Cup wearing a protective mask after sustaining a broken jaw in a recent Premier League match. The Tottenham Hotspur player confirmed he will need to wear the mask for three months.

Fakhar Zaman Banned for Two PSL Matches Over Ball Tampering

Fakhar Zaman Banned for Two PSL Matches Over Ball Tampering

Rediff.com31 Mar 2026

Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman has been suspended for two Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches after being found guilty of breaching the code of conduct related to changing the condition of the ball during a match between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings.

Former Wimbledon champion Vondrousova hit with 4-year ban

Former Wimbledon champion Vondrousova hit with 4-year ban

Rediff.com23 Jun 2026

Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova has been banned for four years after missing a doping test, leading the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) to demand a greater say for athletes in anti-doping regulations. Vondrousova cited safety concerns for not opening her door to a doping control officer late at night, while the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) maintains that unpredictable testing is crucial for clean sport.

Women's T20 World Cup: England outclass Scotland for third win in a row

Women's T20 World Cup: England outclass Scotland for third win in a row

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

England continued their unbeaten run at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 after some brutal power-hitting helped them to a 38-run win over Scotland.

IPL 2026: Kohli hailed as greatest chaser after match-winning 81 vs Gujarat Titans

IPL 2026: Kohli hailed as greatest chaser after match-winning 81 vs Gujarat Titans

Rediff.com25 Apr 2026

Former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn has described Virat Kohli as the finest chaser in cricket after his 81-run knock guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in an Indian Premier League match in Bengaluru on Friday, April 24. 2026.

Bangladesh make history with first-ever ODI series win over Australia

Bangladesh make history with first-ever ODI series win over Australia

Rediff.com11 Jun 2026

Bangladesh secured a landmark series victory over a second-string Australian side with a composed chase in a rain-affected second One-Day International in Dhaka on Thursday, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match contest.

Women's T20 World Cup: Wyatt-Hodge Stars As England Knock Out New Zealand

Women's T20 World Cup: Wyatt-Hodge Stars As England Knock Out New Zealand

Rediff.com28 Jun 2026

Defending champions New Zealand were knocked out of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 as England triumphed by nine wickets at the Oval in London on Sunday.

FIFA World Cup: Uzbekistan dream crushed by Colombia's late surge

FIFA World Cup: Uzbekistan dream crushed by Colombia's late surge

Rediff.com18 Jun 2026

Colombia began their World Cup campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over debutants Uzbekistan in a Group K encounter at the Azteca Stadium. Luis Diaz was instrumental, assisting the opening goal and scoring another, as Colombia secured three points to top their group.

Minions & Monsters Review: A Hilarious Love Letter To Cinema

Minions & Monsters Review: A Hilarious Love Letter To Cinema

Rediff.com3 Jul 2026

Minions & Monsters entertains with its cinematic nostalgia baits, even if it never quite escapes the franchise's familiar storytelling flaws.

India U-17 Women's Team Loses To Russia In Second Friendly Match

India U-17 Women's Team Loses To Russia In Second Friendly Match

Rediff.com14 Apr 2026

The India U-17 women's team suffered a 0-3 defeat against Russia in their second friendly match in Sochi, Russia, as part of their preparations for the upcoming AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup in China.