Category: Top News

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

HOUSTON: Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has shared his reaction after his side were held to a 1-1 draw by the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening Group K fixture of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Roberto Martinez’s side made a bright start and broke the deadlock inside six minutes when midfielder Joao Neves headed home from a well-worked move to hand Portugal an early advantage.

Portugal dominated possession during the opening stages and pinned DR Congo deep inside their own half, with Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes heavily involved as they searched for a second goal.

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However, the African side remained resilient and gradually settled into the contest.

Despite Portugal’s control for much of the first half, DR Congo struck back in stoppage time through Yoane Wissa, who capitalised on a late opportunity to score his country’s first-ever goal at a FIFA World Cup.

The second half proved a frustrating affair for both teams, with chances at either end failing to produce a winner as the match finished level.

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Following the disappointing result, Ronaldo took to his social media account on X to send a message to supporters and insist Portugal’s campaign remains on track.

“It wasn’t the start we wanted, but this is far from over. Head up and focus on the next game,” Ronaldo wrote.

Não era o arranque que queríamos, mas isto está longe de ter acabado. Cabeça levantada e foco no próximo jogo. pic.twitter.com/YoH3RQcz9z

— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) June 17, 2026

The draw leaves Portugal with work to do in Group K, having missed the opportunity to make an ideal start to their World Cup campaign.

READ: Ghana beat Panama 1-0 in World Cup opener after injury-time winner

TORONTO: Ghana scored a dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama in their opening FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L clash here on Wednesday.

Caleb Yirenkyi scored the winning goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time, sending thousands of Ghanaians in Canada’s largest city into a frenzy and settling an otherwise attritional battle.

Both sides largely struggled to generate chances in the first half after Panama striker Cecilio Waterman’s second-minute attempt was steered away by outstretched Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi.

The Black Stars didn’t attempt a shot on goal through the first half.

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The second half played out under steady rain at the Toronto Stadium but saw more sustained attacking play.

Cristian Martinez triggered a massive roar from the loud Panamanian contingent when he lashed a shot into the side-netting in the 60th minute.

But the match looked headed for a scoreless draw until Yirenkyi put the Black Stars ahead.

Ghana’s veteran coach Carlos Queiroz turned to his side’s fans after the goal, urging them on in celebration.

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Queiroz only took charge of the Black Stars a couple of months before the start of the tournament.

Wednesday’s fixture made him only the second coach to appear in five consecutive World Cups, after leading Portugal in 2010 and Iran in 2014, 2018 and 2022.

Loud boos rang out across the crowd of nearly 43,000 during a second-half hydration break under pouring rain.

Ghana triumphed despite being without Villarreal midfielder Thomas Partey, who is facing trial on rape charges in Britain. Canadian authorities denied him a World Cup visa over the British case.

READ: Cristiano Ronaldo equals Lionel Messi in latest FIFA World Cup milestone

BIRMINGHAM: Fatima Sana’s valiant all-round performance went in vain as South Africa edged Pakistan by two wickets in a thrilling Women’s World Cup 2026 clash at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

Chasing 127, South Africa reached the target in 16.5 overs, surviving a late scare after appearing to be in complete control for much of the innings

The Proteas were comfortably placed at 76-2 at the halfway mark before Pakistan fought back strongly. The moment shifted dramatically as South Africa lost three wickets for just 17 runs.

South Africa slipped further to 107-8, but Nadine de Klerk held her nerve with a clinical unbeaten 37 from 28 balls, including six fours, to guide her side over the line.

For Pakistan, Fatima Sana bowled her heart out, picking up a three-wicket haul in 2.5 overs while giving away 16.

South Africa restricted Pakistan to 126-9 in 20 overs. Skipper Fatima Sana hit an unbeaten 55 off 38 balls, striking half a dozen fours and two sixes to take her side to a respectable total.

At one stage, Green Shirts were reeling at 50-8 in 11 overs, but Fatima Sana and Tuba Hassan shared a record 71-run stand for the ninth wicket for Pakistan to revive the innings. Tuba contributed 23 from 27 balls.

For South Africa, Marizanne Kapp played a crucial role with the ball and picked up three wickets.

Earlier, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma ran riot as India thrashed the Netherlands by 95 runs.

Mandhana and Verma put on 115 for the first wicket, setting the foundation for India’s imposing total of 209-5 in Leeds.

Smashing 11 fours and one six, Mandhana top scored with 74 from 47 balls, while her fellow opener Verma hit 10 fours in her innings of 55.

India’s run spree left the Netherlands with little hope of a successful run chase.

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Dutch captain Babette de Leede was their leading scorer with 28, but Verma followed her dynamic display with the bat by taking three wickets.

Sree Charani finished off India’s one-sided victory with four wickets from her four overs.

India have won their first two games of the tournament in England after beating arch-rivals Pakistan in their opener.

Georgia Voll starred for Australia in a nine-wicket win over Bangladesh at Headingley.

Voll blasted six fours and one six in her unbeaten 45 from 32 balls, guiding Australia to their target of 78 for the loss of one wicket with more than 10 overs to spare.

Bangladesh mustered only 77-8 from their 20 overs, with Sophie Molineux, Kim Garth, and Ellyse Perry taking two wickets each.

Australia made it their successive wins to start the tournament after their 65-run victory over South Africa on Saturday.

Bangladesh had beaten the Netherlands in their opening match.

READ: New Zealand fight back against England on opening day

HOUSTON: Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo matched Argentina captain Lionel Messi’s record for most FIFA World Cup appearances during his side’s clash against DR Congo on Wednesday.

Ronaldo joined Messi in a record six World Cup appearances. The pair now jointly hold the record for the most tournament appearances in football history.

The 41-year-old made his debut in 2006 and went on to feature in the 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026 editions, matching rival Messi.

Most FIFA World Cup Appearances

Lionel Messi (Argentina) — 6 (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026*)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) — 6 (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026*)
Lothar Matthaus (Germany) — 5 (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998)
Miroslav Klose (Germany) — 4 (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)
Paolo Maldini (Italy) — 4 (1990, 1994, 1998, 2002)

Messi continues to hold the record for the most FIFA World Cup matches with 27 appearances, while Ronaldo is tied for fourth place overall with 23 appearances.

Most FIFA World Cup matches played:

Lionel Messi (Argentina) — 27* matches
Lothar Matthaus (Germany) — 25 matches
Miroslav Klose (Germany) — 24 matches
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) — 23* matches
Paolo Maldini (Italy) — 23 matches
Diego Maradona (Argentina) —21

Nonetheless, Cristiano Ronaldo had a disappointing start to his record FIFA World Cup campaign as DR Congo held his side to a 1-1 draw.

Ronaldo looked like a peripheral figure throughout the match as Portugal’s strategy of holding the ball for too long without any attempts proved costly.

Eventually, DR Congo secured historic World Cup point after appearing in the tournament for the first time in 52 years.

READ: Shubman Gill’s 154 sets up series win for India