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.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney playfully attempted to recruit Norwegian football star Erling Haaland for Canada's World Cup squad during a NATO summit meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, who humorously declined the offer.
Nine football superstars, one ultimate honour-vote for the player you believe delivered the most memorable performance at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Morocco's coach Mohamed Ouahbi expressed immense pride after his team defeated the Netherlands in a penalty shootout to advance to the World Cup last 16.
Canada achieved their first-ever World Cup finals victory, thrashing nine-man Qatar 6-0, with Jonathan David scoring a hat-trick. The win boosts Canada's chances in Group B, despite an injury to midfielder Ismael Kone.
Norway's star striker Erling Haaland is attempting to pile pressure on England ahead of their World Cup quarter-final clash, labelling them 'clear favourites' and urging the media to amplify expectations on the English squad.
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.
Former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp shared a humorous exchange with France captain Kylian Mbappe after France's 2-0 victory over Morocco in the FIFA World Cup quarter-final, joking about Mbappe's prolific scoring and calling him a 'detector'.
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.
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.
India's recurve mixed pair of Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kirti Sharma lost 3-5 to Italy in the bronze medal match at the Archery World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid, despite holding a 3-1 lead. This marks a disappointing end for Dhiraj, while Kirti still has a chance for an individual medal.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced that the governing body will discuss expanding the World Cup to 64 teams for the 2030 edition, following the already planned increase to 48 teams in 2026. Infantino believes a larger tournament encourages smaller nations and highlights the success of previous expansions, with the 2030 event already set to be hosted across six nations on three continents.
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.
Japan's national football team, the Samurai Blue, faces Brazil in a crucial World Cup last-32 match. This encounter holds deep significance due to Brazil's profound influence on Japanese professional football, particularly through the J-League and the presence of numerous Brazilian players and coaches over the decades. Despite past successes against Brazil, including a recent friendly win, this World Cup clash represents a major test for Japan's ambitions.
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.
In Peru, there is a wave of new baby Haalands. In Argentina, Lionel has raced up the rankings, and in Mexico a girl was reportedly named after three soccer players. Parents in Latin America are already christening a new generation of babies after the stars of the World Cup.
The Indian men's hockey team's forward line, including Mandeep Singh, Abhishek, and Shilanand Lakra, is meticulously preparing for the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup. They are focusing on chemistry, consistency, and the evolving role of modern forwards, which now includes being the first line of defence. Senior players like Mandeep are mentoring younger talents, emphasising teamwork, mental fortitude, and converting chances.
The meeting is a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final, when France ended Morocco's historic run in Qatar.
The 2026 World Cup has been marred by widespread controversy surrounding the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, with coaches, players, and fans criticising its application, consistency, and impact on match outcomes, leading to a significant increase in interventions and red cards.
Samson, Bumrah help India tide over England challenge to reach second successive T20 WC final
The Indian men's hockey team was eliminated from the FIH World Cup semifinal race after a 3-5 loss to Argentina in a crucial pool match. India needed to win by at least two goals but struggled to find form against a strong Argentine side.
England manager Thomas Tuchel expressed hope that his players would eventually feel pride in their third-place finish at the World Cup, despite falling short of their ultimate goal.
France has become the first team in FIFA World Cup history to score three or more goals in five consecutive matches, a milestone confirmed after their 3-0 victory over Sweden. Captain Kylian Mbappe's double secured their spot in the Round of 16 and set new personal records, surpassing Ronaldo and Leonidas in knockout stage goals and nearing Lionel Messi's overall World Cup goal tally.
Abhishek Sharma overcame a crisis of confidence to deliver a match-winning performance in the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand, smashing a rapid half-century and propelling India to victory.
It's goalless at half-time in the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain in New York on Sunday.
Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest player to score in a FIFA World Cup knockout match, netting a penalty at 41 years and 147 days during Portugal's dramatic 2-1 victory over Croatia. This historic goal, his first in a World Cup knockout stage, helped Portugal advance to the Round of 16, with Ronaldo dismissing speculation about his future focus on the tournament.
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.
FIFA plans to create a $20 billion subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to manage the World Cup and other events, offering up to 20% stakes to external investors, a move that has drawn fierce criticism from UEFA, who accused the governing body of putting the game's 'soul' up for sale.
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.
The Indian mixed trap teams had a disappointing performance at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Lonato, Italy, failing to qualify for medal matches. Despite this, the Indian contingent concluded the event with one gold medal, placing them joint third in the medal table alongside Australia. Italy topped the table with two golds.
Former Argentina coach Jose Pekerman reflects on Lionel Messi's 2006 World Cup debut, stating he always believed the then 18-year-old would become one of the game's defining figures and that every minute on the pitch was crucial for his development.
Canadians and tourists at Niagara Falls celebrated Canada's historic first-ever win at the FIFA World Cup against Qatar. The euphoric victory, witnessed by hundreds at a special viewing event, sparked widespread joy and a renewed interest in football across the nation.
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.
Teenage Indian archer Prithika Pradeep secured her first individual World Cup bronze medal in Madrid, overcoming world No. 11 Hazal Burun of Turkey.
Asian Championships gold medallist Neeru Dhanda has secured her first individual ISSF World Cup title in the women's trap event in Lonato, Italy.
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.
Indian shooter Esha Singh won the gold medal in the women's 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, outperforming Olympic-medallist Manu Bhaker, who secured the bronze.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will conclude with a spectacular closing ceremony at New Jersey Stadium, featuring performances by global superstars like Tom Cruise, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and IShowSpeed. Jennifer Hudson will perform the US national anthem. The ceremony will celebrate the journey of 48 teams across three host countries and 16 cities, marking the end of a record-breaking tournament.
Norway's coach Stale Solbakken reflects on their historic 2-1 World Cup last-16 victory over Brazil, revealing a gracious gesture from opposing coach Carlo Ancelotti that resolved a pre-match spat. Solbakken also shared his sleepless night after the win and his team's preparations for the quarter-finals against England.
The Indian Pickleball Association has announced the national team, led by Harsh Mehta, for the upcoming Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam. The squad includes both experienced players and young talent, with corporate backing providing a boost for their preparations.
