Morocco, Norway, Turkey, Colombia, Mexico and Japan are among the leading dark horses for FIFA World Cup 2026, with each side possessing the talent and momentum to challenge football's traditional powers.
England secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Mexico in the World Cup quarter-finals, demonstrating crucial adaptability and resilience after playing with 10 men for over half an hour, a performance that manager Thomas Tuchel believes proves their ability to survive when matches don't follow the script.
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.
Carlos Ancelotti's Brazil commence their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against plucky Morocco, who come into the mega event on the back of some pre-tournament turbulence.
Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room made 15 saves in the 0-0 draw with Ecuador -- the most in a 90-minute match in the World Cup history.
Off-spinner Shreyanka Patil has been ruled out of the Women's T20 World Cup due to an ankle injury sustained during a match against the Netherlands. Uncapped leg-spinner Prema Rawat has been named as her replacement, marking a significant setback for the Indian team and a maiden call-up for Rawat.
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.
Indian shooter Sakshi Padekar finished seventh in the 10m Air Rifle women's final at the ISSF World Cup in Munich. Serbia's Andelija Stevanovic won gold, while Japan's Nobata Misaki secured silver.
Former India captain Diana Edulji believes the Indian women's cricket team faces a significant challenge to qualify for the Women's T20 World Cup semifinals after their recent loss to South Africa. She highlighted the team's need to win their remaining matches against Bangladesh and Australia and discussed the team's T20 playing style.
Indian boxer Minakshi, a former world champion, has advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Cup (Stage 2) in the 51kg category after a dominant victory.
Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma and Ravi Shastri watched Australia beat India by six wickets at Lord's.
Skipper Harmanpreet Singh and Abhishek scored a brace each to help India beat arch-rivals Pakistan 5-3 in their final Pool D match of the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup in Amstelveen, the Netherlands, on Wednesday.
Ten-man Paraguay secured a vital 1-0 victory over Turkey in a dramatic World Cup Group D match, breathing new life into their campaign while condemning Turkey to an early exit.
England and Ghana, both coming off opening wins, are set to clash in a crucial Group L World Cup match in Boston.
Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe showcased their exceptional talent in recent World Cup matches, each scoring multiple goals. Despite recent dips in form or career stages, these football superstars proved their enduring prowess, with Mbappe becoming France's all-time top scorer and Messi achieving his first World Cup hat-trick.
German central defender Nico Schlotterbeck has been ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup and will be sidelined for several months due to an ankle ligament injury sustained during their Group E victory over Ivory Coast. Despite the setback, coach Julian Nagelsmann remains confident in the team's central defence options.
Luka Modric is expected to lead Croatia at what could be his final World Cup as Zlatko Dalic's side aim to continue their remarkable record of success on football's biggest stage despite fitness concerns over their captain.
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.
Mexico coach Aguirre hails fans as driving force for victory as they beat Ecuador to break 40-year-old hoodoo.
A first World Cup win for seven-times African champions Egypt, 92 years after their debut, put them in charge though Iran's dogged performances in draws with Belgium and New Zealand means victory could also see them top Group G.
Kunal Upreti, known as Spark, has become India's sole Trackmania representative at the Esports World Cup 2026 after excelling in the Asia and Oceania qualifiers. He will compete for a significant prize pool, representing both India and S8UL on the global stage.
Substitute Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute after goalkeeper Senne Lammens spilled Pau Cubars's long-range effort, restoring Spain's lead and putting the 2010 champions 2-1 ahead of Belgium.
Free, customizable "fan bands" have become the unexpected must-have souvenir at the 2026 World Cup, with over 700,000 distributed. Sponsored by Bank of America, these charm wristlets feature subtle branding and have gone viral, even appearing on resale platforms. This marketing strategy offers a counterpoint to the tournament's high ticket and merchandise prices, proving that unique, free items can create significant fan engagement and brand visibility.
England manager Thomas Tuchel believes they are in good shape heading into the FIFA World Cup and can "dare to dream" about lifting the trophy.
Morocco triumphed over the Netherlands 3-2 in a penalty shootout to advance in the World Cup after a drama-filled 1-1 draw in their Round of 32 clash on Monday.
Ecuador secured a stunning 2-1 victory over Germany in a crucial World Cup match, ensuring their qualification for the last 32. Despite an early German goal, Ecuador fought back with goals from Nilson Angulo and Gonzalo Plata to clinch the win.
With Kylian Mbappe's depth and experience, economists predict France are tipped to edge Spain to lift World Cup.
Mexico continued their perfect start to the World Cup with a 3-0 romp against the Czech Republic on Wednesday, finishing their group-stage campaign with a flourish.
'Every time he beats his own record, he does have the capacity to up his ante.'
Portugal and their talisman Cristiano Ronaldo were left frustrated after being held to a 1-1 draw by Group K rivals Democratic Republic of Congo in their World Cup clash in a sodden Houston.
Argentina produced a stunning comeback after falling two goals behind, scoring twice in four minutes through Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi to beat Egypt 3-2 in their last 16 clash of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Atlanta on Tuesday.
Bangladesh Women secured a six-wicket victory over tournament debutants Netherlands in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, powered by Juairiya Ferdous's half-century and a strong collective bowling performance. The Netherlands, making their historic T20 World Cup appearance, struggled against Bangladesh's disciplined attack despite a fifty from skipper Babette de Leede.
Australia beat England by seven wickets to win the Women's T20 World Cup for a record-extending seventh time at Lord's on Sunday.
Mohamed Salah scored and assisted as Egypt came from behind to beat New Zealand 3-1 in Vancouver, securing the country's first-ever FIFA World Cup victory and moving top of Group G.
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.
Brazil is preparing for their World Cup opener against Morocco without star forward Neymar, who is recovering from a calf injury.
England say they are relishing the challenge of facing hosts Mexico at the high-altitude Azteca Stadium, with Morgan Rogers and Marcus Rashford insisting the hostile atmosphere will motivate the team in their FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash.
The Netherlands secured a dominant 5-1 victory over Sweden in a World Cup match, with Brian Brobbey scoring an early double and Cody Gakpo adding two more in the second half. Crysencio Summerville sealed the rout with a late goal, despite Anthony Elanga pulling one back for Sweden. This win places the Netherlands at the top of Group F.
Qatar take on Switzerland in their World Cup opener on Saturday eager to shake off the pressure of expectation, coming in as back-to-back Asian champions with an urgent need to make amends for a dismal debut as hosts of the 2022 tournament.
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre downplayed his team's achievement of topping their World Cup group, stating that true success would be measured later in the tournament. He highlighted the importance of playing at home and the team's improved maturity, while also reflecting on his own calmer coaching style. Aguirre expressed his ambition to guide Mexico into the world's top 10.
