Jun 17, 2026
Mbappe and Haaland delivered, but the World Cup’s day of stars belonged to Messi
Three superstars scored on the same June afternoon, and the two cast as the future both delivered. At 38, Messi still walked off with the headline.
Football
265 articles tagged with "Football"
Jun 17, 2026
Brazil, Belgium and Spain all held: Africa’s bold start to the World Cup
Morocco, Egypt and Cape Verde all took points off the favourites and Ivory Coast went one better, even if not every African side enjoyed the same week...
Jun 17, 2026
Messi’s first World Cup hat-trick ties Klose’s record as Argentina sink Algeria
The holders began their title defence in style, with their captain producing a record-equalling treble against an outclassed Algeria side.
Jun 17, 2026
Ronaldo’s Portugal open their World Cup against a DR Congo side back after 52 years
Cristiano Ronaldo begins what is likely his final World Cup as Portugal open in Houston against a DR Congo side returning to the tournament for the fi...
Jun 17, 2026
Haaland marks his World Cup debut with a brace as Norway sink Iraq
Erling Haaland scored twice on his World Cup debut as Norway beat Iraq 4-1 in their first appearance at the finals since 1998.
Jun 16, 2026
Mbappe’s record-breaking brace sends France past Senegal at the World Cup
Kylian Mbappe scored twice to become France’s all-time leading goalscorer as they recovered from a sluggish start to beat Senegal 3-1 in their World C...
Jun 16, 2026
Six games, no defeats: Asia’s strong start to the World Cup
From holding Uruguay and Switzerland to beating Turkey and Czechia, Asia’s footballers have come through the World Cup’s opening round without a singl...
Jun 16, 2026
Real Madrid sign Marc Cucurella from Chelsea on a deal until 2032
The Spain defender swaps the Premier League for the Bernabeu in a deal worth up to 60 million euros, with the switch set to go through once the World...
Jun 15, 2026
Lukaku’s arrival forces the own goal that rescues Belgium against Egypt
Emam Ashour’s first international goal had Egypt dreaming of a famous win, but Romelu Lukaku’s introduction forced a late own goal to rescue Belgium a...
Jun 15, 2026
Vozinha defies Spain as Cape Verde mark their World Cup debut with a famous point
Cape Verde marked their World Cup debut by holding European champions Spain to a goalless draw in Atlanta, with 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha produci...
Jun 15, 2026
Messi and Argentina begin their World Cup defence against Algeria
Lionel Messi’s record sixth World Cup begins in Kansas City, where the holders Argentina open their Group J campaign against a Riyad Mahrez-led Algeri...
Jun 15, 2026
France open Deschamps’s farewell World Cup against a dangerous Senegal
Didier Deschamps begins his farewell tournament as France open Group I against a Senegal side that knows exactly how to upset the favourites, with kic...
Jun 15, 2026
Ayari’s brace sends Sweden top of Group F with a 5-1 rout of Tunisia
Two long-range strikes from Yasin Ayari bookended a dominant night for Sweden as their forwards ran riot against Tunisia in Monterrey.
Jun 14, 2026
Havertz double leads Germany’s seven-goal rout of debutants Curaçao
A brief first-half wobble aside, Germany overwhelmed World Cup debutants Curaçao 7-1 in Houston, Kai Havertz scoring twice. Livano Comenencia’s equali...
Jun 14, 2026
Kamada strikes late as Japan hold the Netherlands in a 2-2 World Cup thriller
Japan came from behind twice in Dallas, Daichi Kamada bundling in a leveller two minutes from time, to draw 2-2 with the Netherlands in their World Cu...
Jun 14, 2026
McGinn’s winner ends Scotland’s 28-year wait in victory over Haiti
John McGinn’s deflected first-half strike earned Scotland a 1-0 win over Haiti in Foxborough, their first victory at a World Cup finals since 1990. Th...
Jun 14, 2026
Beach’s debut heroics help Australia upset Türkiye in their World Cup opener
Goals from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe, and eight saves from debutant goalkeeper Patrick Beach, gave underdogs Australia a 2-0 win over Türk...
Jun 14, 2026
Liverpool move ahead of PSG for Diomande as the World Cup drives up his price
Liverpool are reported to have agreed personal terms with Yan Diomande and now must satisfy a Leipzig valuation that has climbed toward 130 million eu...
Jun 14, 2026
Vinícius spares Brazil as Morocco hold the five-time champions in their World Cup opener
Vinícius Júnior’s equaliser earned five-time champions Brazil a 1-1 draw against an impressive Morocco side in their World Cup opener at MetLife Stadi...
Jun 14, 2026
Netherlands meet a fearless Japan to get Group F under way
The Netherlands open their World Cup against a Japan side brimming with belief, but injuries to Xavi Simons and Jerdy Schouten leave Ronald Koeman’s g...
Jun 13, 2026
The USA look the part, but their two co-hosts have work to do
Mexico, the United States and Canada have all opened their home World Cup. One of the three hosts looked a class above the other two.
Jun 13, 2026
England begin their World Cup against the Croatia side that knocked them out in 2018
Eight years after Croatia ended their run in Moscow, England open their World Cup against the same opponent in Arlington, with Luka Modric chasing a f...
Jun 12, 2026
Cape Verde’s first World Cup: how an island of 525,000 reached the biggest stage
Fewer than 525,000 people live across Cape Verde’s 10 islands. On 15 June, the Blue Sharks walk out against Spain in Atlanta for the first World Cup m...
Jun 12, 2026
Ivory Coast have the squad for a deep World Cup run, but their AFCON exit is a warning
One of the most gifted squads in Africa, a coach who has already won a major trophy, and a kind draw. So why does a deep run for the Elephants still f...