Category: Football

Canada thrashed nine-man Qatar 6-0 to clinch their first-ever FIFA World Cup victory on Thursday in a Group B match marred by a horrific injury to midfielder Ismael Kone.

A Jonathan David hat-trick, one apiece from Cyle Larin and Nathan Saliba, as well as a Qatar own goal, sealed a momentous victory for the Canadians, who now need only a draw against Switzerland in their final match to finish top of the group.

But the celebratory atmosphere at Vancouver’s BC Place stadium, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney cheering on ‘Les Rouges’, was soured by a serious injury to Kone in the 51st minute.

Qatar’s Assim Madibo upended Kone with a clumsy challenge from behind to leave the Italy-based midfielder writhing in agony and clutching his left leg.

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The seriousness of the injury was immediately apparent as teammates frantically called for help from the Canadian medical staff on the sidelines.

Kone was eventually stretchered off the pitch, waving to the crowd as he inhaled from an oxygen pipe.

Madibo, who had initially been given a yellow card for the tackle, was sent off after it was upgraded to red following a VAR review, the second Qatari dismissal after Homam el-Amin was given his marching orders in the first half.

With Qatar down to nine men, Canada took full advantage to score three more goals.

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Saliba, who had replaced the injured Kone, curled in a free-kick to make it 4-0 in the 64th minute.

The substitute celebrated his goal by racing to the sideline to hold up a replica of the stricken Kone’s Canadian jersey.

Another substitute, Jacob Shaffelburg, then helped make it 5-0, his fierce shot turned into the Qatar goal by defender Mohammad Manai.

David, who had scored twice in the first half after Cyle Larin’s 16th-minute opener, then completed his hat-trick in the second minute of stoppage time to complete the rout.

READ: West Indies edge Scotland in Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash

Super subs Johan Manzambi and Ruben Vargas fired Switzerland to a 4-1 win over 10-man Bosnia-Herzegovina in a late rush of goals in Los Angeles on Thursday.

The result gave the Swiss a strong chance of reaching the knockout round as one of the top two teams in Group B.

They had been controlling a largely tepid stalemate at the SoFi Stadium until coach Murat Yakin rang the changes in the 72nd minute, bringing on the pair of forwards who immediately transformed the game.

Bosnia’s attempted clearance from a Vargas cross felt to Manzambi who volleyed home with his first touch of the game, before Manzambi turned creator for a Vargas finish.

In between those goals, Bosnia had Tarik Muharemovic sent off for a desperate sliding tackle on Breel Embolo, who was clear through on goal.

The afternoon got worse for Bosnia as Vargas then assisted another finish for 20-year-old Freiburg star Manzambi.

Ermin Mamhic pulled back a spectacular consolation from a corner, but a Granit Xhaka penalty in stoppage time sealed the rout.

Switzerland go top of Group B on four points, three clear of the other teams, with Canada and Qatar playing later Thursday.

With their country playing in only its second World Cup, Bosnian fans turned out in huge numbers.

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A sea of blue swept into the impressive stadium and drowned out the Swiss support, with the exception of one man dressed as a cow, who defiantly rattled his oversized cowbell.

The Swiss had the better of the early exchanges.

Veteran midfielders Xhaka and Remo Freuler orchestrated forays down the left flank to Dan Ndoye, which fizzled out with poor crosses and lackluster finishing.

Having started very deep, the Bosnians slowly grew into the half.

Forty-year-old star Edin Dzeko created their first big chance in the 32nd minute, cleverly switching play across the six-yard box to Benjamin Tahirovic, who failed to connect at the far post.

Ndoye nearly gave Switzerland a spectacular lead after the break, smashing a bicycle kick from Xhaka’s cross toward Nikola Vasilj, who did well to palm it over the bar.

An increasingly frustrated Dzeko earned a booking for bulldozing Manuel Akanji, and was substituted.

Yakin made three changes in the 72nd minute, and two minutes later, two of those subsitutes combined to finally put his side ahead.

Vargas ran up the left wing, his first cross bounced back to him, and on his second attempt, Amar Memic’s attempted headed clearance fell to Manzambi, who volleyed home.

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Muharemovic was dismissed in the 79th minute for a sliding tackle from behind on Embolo.

The floodgates then opened. In the 84th minute Manzambi, coming in from the right, found Embolo who played it to an open Vargas to slot home.

Six minutes later, Vargas cut back to Manzambi, who guided the ball across the ‘keeper.

Three minutes into stoppage time, Gregor Kobel slapped a corner out to Bosnian substitute Mamhic, who rifled his shot home.

But the Bosnian backline had lost their heads, and a desperate foul by Amar Memic gave Swiss captain Xhaka the chance to bury his penalty.

READ: FIFA World Cup: South Africa draw against Czechia keeps them alive

GEORGIA: South Africa capitalized on a late penalty corner against the Czech Republic to keep themselves alive in the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Michal Sadilek sent one through the nets in the sixth minute to provide his team with an early lead, which remained until the second half of the game, when Teboho Mokoena converted a penalty corner in the final stages of the game.

The result means that the winner of the Mexico vs South Korea match will become the first team to advance through the round of 32.

Both sides started with disappointing performances and defeats on the World Cup’s opening day, but the Czechs quickly set about making amends.

Patrik Schick is the biggest name in a Czech side lacking the star quality of previous generations but the Bayer Leverkusen forward missed a glorious chance inside the first minute when he planted a header wide.

Miroslav Koubek’s men only had to wait another five minutes to take the lead.

Adam Hlozek’s cross was classily cushioned by Alexandr Sojka into the path of Sadilek, who calmly stroked the ball past Ronwen Williams.

Now in their fourth attempt, South Africa have never progressed beyond the group stage at the World Cup.

Hugo Broos has overseen an upturn in Bafana Bafana’s fortunes since taking charge five years ago.

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The 2010 hosts had not qualified for the World Cup since 2002 but finished third at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Their return to the global stage has exposed a lack of quality, though, particularly in forward areas.

The Czechs were left to rue not making more of their chances to kill the game off early in the second half.

Vladimir Darida took too long to get his shot off with a big chance before Lukas Cerv’s long-range effort was tipped over by Williams.

There were thousands of empty seats on show at the futuristic home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, but those that were in attendance loudly booed the mid-half hydration breaks in an enclosed and air-conditioned stadium.

The majority of the crowd were backing South Africa and finally had something to cheer seven minutes from time.

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Thapelo Maseko’s shot hit the arm of the unfortunate Pavel Sulc and referee Tori Penso, part of an all-female officiating team, pointed to the spot.

Mokoena confidently drilled home the spot-kick for his nation’s first World Cup goal in 16 years.

They came close to a second five minutes later when Matej Kovar saved from Relebohile Mofokeng.

But both sides had to settle for a point that could yet prove vital come the end of Wednesday’s final Group A games.

South Africa next face South Korea, while the Czech Republic take on the daunting task of playing Mexico in the Estadio Azteca.

READ: Will Neymar play in Brazil’s next FIFA World Cup 2026 match?

Neymar will not travel with the Brazil squad for Friday’s second World Cup group game against Haiti as he continues his recovery from a calf injury.

The 34-year-old has only returned to training with the national team this week and missed the five-time World Cup winners’ opening 1-1 draw with Morocco in Group C.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti said last week he was hopeful Neymar would be ready to play some part in the game against Haiti in Philadelphia.

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Neymar was diagnosed in late May with an injury to his right calf, and has featured in just half of the games for his club Santos this year due to various fitness issues.

Ancelotti and his coaching staff are reluctant to rush the return of Brazil’s all-time record goalscorer and compromise his availability for matches later in the tournament, according to Brazilian media.

Neymar, who has not played for his country since October 2023, “will remain in New Jersey to make the most of the final stage of his recovery process”, the Brazilian Football Confederation said in a message sent to journalists on Thursday.

Brazil’s final group stage game is against Scotland in Miami on June 24.

READ: Nida Dar available for Pakistan selection after mental health break

Forward Elye Wahi will miss Ivory Coast second World Cup match against Germany after he was denied a visa to enter Canada, the Ivorian federation said on Thursday.

“The administrative authorisations necessary for his entry into Canadian territory have not been obtained at this stage,” the Ivorian federation (FIF) said, adding that he would not be able to “travel with the delegation to Canada” for Saturday’s match in Toronto.

The FIF gave no reason for his visa refusal.

Wahi is the second World Cup player to be denied entry into Canada after Ghana’s Thomas Partey, who is facing rape charges in Britain.

Several media outlets reported on Thursday that Wahi had been questioned by French police over suspicions of spot-fixing in a Ligue 1 match while he was playing for Nice.

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The case revolves around a yellow card which Wahi picked up in a 0-0 draw with Metz in mid-May, after betting authorities had noticed an unusual volume of bets being placed on the 23-year-old being booked.

The French football league (LFP) announced on Wednesday that it had lodged a complaint to police for “facts which could constitute sporting fraud and organised corruption”.

The public prosecutor’s office in Marseille confirmed to AFP that “a 23-year-old professional footballer, playing in the Ligue 1 championship, was arrested on May 29, 2026 in relation to an ongoing investigation”.

That investigation related to “organised fraud, organised sporting corruption, receiving stolen goods and money laundering”.

The public prosecutor’s said that the player had been released but that their investigations were ongoing.

The FIF pledged its support for Wahi, describing him as “an important element for the Ivory Coast national team”.

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Born in France, Wahi switched allegiances to the African nation in March and started in the Ivory Coast’s opening 1-0 World Cup Group E victory over Ecuador on Sunday.

The Elephants final group stage match is against Curacao in the United States on June 25.

Partey missed Ghana’s last-gasp 1-0 win over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday after his country failed with an appeal against his Canadian visa rejection.

Partey is facing seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault in Britain relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022.

He denies the allegations.

READ: Ibrahima Konate completes free-transfer move to Real Madrid

Real Madrid confirmed the arrival of defender Ibrahima Konate from Liverpool on Thursday on a four-year deal at the end of his contract at Anfield.

The announcement was confirmed by Spanish Giants in a statement, which includes the details of the free transfer.

France center-back Konate “reached an agreement for him to become a Real Madrid player for the next four seasons, until June 30, 2030,” said the Spanish giants in a statement.

The 27-year-old moved to Liverpool in 2021 from RB Leipzig, playing 183 times and winning the Premier League in 2025 and the FA Cup in 2022 amongst other silverware.

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The defender, currently at the World Cup with France, joins a Real side already reinforced this summer by the arrival of Jose Mourinho as coach, as well as the signings of Spain left-back Marc Cucurella and Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva.

Los Blancos have also been linked with Inter Milan wing-back Denzel Dumfries, as they overhaul their squad after going two consecutive seasons without a major trophy.

Real have renewed the contract of centre-back Antonio Rudiger until 2027, after Dani Carvajal and David Alaba left the club at the end of their contracts at the Santiago Bernabeu.

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For the unversed, Konate won two League Cups and the FA Cup during his time at Anfield. But the 27-year-old’s form dipped drastically at the beginning of this season during a difficult campaign for the Reds.

It was also a season marked by tragedy for Konate, whose father died earlier this year, and for the club after the loss of forward Diogo Jota in a car accident.

READ: Updated Group K table: Portugal third after frustrating draw

Group K of the FIFA World Cup 2026 has taken shape after the opening round of fixtures, with Colombia moving to the top of the table while Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday.

Colombia delivered one of the standout performances of the early tournament, defeating World Cup debutants Uzbekistan 3-1 to secure three points and an early advantage in the group.

Daniel Munoz opened the scoring in the 40th minute after being set up by Luis Diaz, giving Colombia a deserved lead after a dominant first-half display.

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Uzbekistan responded strongly after the break and levelled through Abbosbek Fayzullaev on the hour mark, heading in after goalkeeper Camilo Vargas failed to deal with a delivery from Eldor Shomurodov.

However, Colombia regained control shortly after, with Diaz finishing calmly inside the box in the 65th minute to restore the lead. Jaminton Campaz then sealed the victory deep into stoppage time, converting Cucho Hernández’s cross to complete a 3-1 win.

Elsewhere in Group K, Portugal were forced to settle for a point after a 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo at Houston Stadium.

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Both sides scored in a competitive first half before the match tightened after the break, with neither team able to find a winner in the second period.

Following these results, Colombia sit top of Group K with three points and a +2 goal difference after scoring three goals in their opening match.

The Democratic Republic of Congo occupy second place with one point after their historic draw, while Portugal are third, also on a single point. Uzbekistan sit bottom of the group without a point after their opening defeat.

READ: Lionel Messi opens up on possibility of playing seventh World Cup in 2030

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has dismissed speculation that he could extend his international career to a record seventh FIFA World Cup in 2030, calling the idea “impossible” despite continued dominance on football’s biggest stage.

The 38-year-old forward had only recently made history by becoming the first player to feature in six World Cups, before being joined in that elite group by Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi’s latest milestone came spectacularly as he inspired Argentina’s World Cup title defence with a stunning hat-trick against Algeria at Kansas City Stadium on Tuesday.

The Argentine icon also equalled Germany legend Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record of 16 goals, further cementing his place in tournament history. In the process, he became the oldest player ever to score a World Cup hat-trick.

Following his record-breaking performance, questions naturally turned to whether fans could witness him at the 2030 edition, which would require Messi to play at the age of 42.

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However, the World Cup winner quickly shut down any such possibility when asked by Argentine outlet TyC Sports in the mixed zone.

“No, no, that’s impossible,” Lionel Messi said, laughing off the suggestion.

He also reflected on Argentina’s performance and the increasing competitiveness of international football, insisting that every match at this level is becoming more demanding.

“As I’ve been saying here. The truth is, we’re in good shape to compete. This team has always shown that it competes hard and never lets up,” Messi said.

“No matter the opponent, it always tries to take the lead. The first half wasn’t easy; it’s getting harder and harder to compete. We’ve been seeing in the World Cup that all the matches are very evenly matched, and no one gives you anything for free.”

READ: Luis Diaz shines as Colombia beat World Cup debutants Uzbekistan

MEXICO CITY: Luis Diaz produced a stellar display as Colombia marked their return to the FIFA World Cup with a 3-1 victory over tournament debutants Uzbekistan in their Group K clash at the Estadio Azteca on Wednesday.

READ: Brazil president Lula jokes about ‘signing’ Messi for World Cup 2026

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva suggested on Wednesday that the country’s football team should hire Argentina’s Lionel Messi for the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026.

The five-time world champions were held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco in their opening match, which highlighted several frailties in their game.

Brazil’s fiercest football rivals, Argentina, had a far better time, with Messi scoring three goals against Algeria on Tuesday.

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“I was thinking about signing Messi to play for Brazil,” Lula said, laughing, when journalists asked him about his country’s showing at the World Cup.

However, he noted it wasn’t a “big deal” for Brazil to draw with Morocco, which he said was its strongest opponent in the group.

“They say that whenever Brazil is heavily doubted, they win the World Cup… let’s see.”

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Brazil are set to face Haiti on Friday. All eyes are on Neymar, 34, who was included on the team after a nearly three-year absence due to a mixture of injuries and poor form.

Brazil’s all-time record scorer took part in his first training session with the team on Wednesday after a calf injury last month.

“Did you miss me?” Neymar shouted with a laugh to journalists as he joined the team on the pitch for some light activity. It is unclear when he will debut at the competition.

READ: Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after Portugal held by DR Congo