Sports

Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron became the first player in football history to be sent off under FIFA’s new rule prohibiting players from covering their mouths during on-field confrontations. The former Newcastle United player was shown a red card during Paraguay’s World Cup Group D clash against Turkey in Santa Clara, California, on Friday, June 21, after appearing to cover his mouth while directing comments toward Turkish defender Mert Muldur. The incident occurred in first-half stoppage time with Paraguay leading 1-0. Following a VAR review, referee officials determined that Almiron had breached FIFA’s newly introduced regulation and issued a straight red card. The dismissal marks the first enforcement of a rule introduced by FIFA in April as part of a wider campaign aimed at c...

Team Nigeria of the Impact Kiddies Sports Project departs Lagos on Saturday (today) for Matera, Italy, where the squad will represent the country at the 34th edition of the MiniBasket in Piazza World Under-12 International Basketball Tournament, scheduled to run from June 21 to June 28. The trip has been made possible by the sponsorship of Blueworld Cosmetics Limited, makers of the popular VIVON brand, whose Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ikenna Ekeagu, stepped in to back Team Nigeria as part of his continued commitment to youth empowerment and grassroots sports development in the country. Officials of the Impact Kiddies Sports Project described the sponsorship as a significant boost that would ease the financial burden of international participation and ensure the selected...

Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi has been granted permission to enter Canada after an earlier visa issue threatened to prevent him from joining his team for their World Cup fixture against Germany. The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) confirmed that the 23-year-old striker’s travel situation had been resolved after the necessary approvals were obtained. Earlier, the federation announced that Wahi would be unable to travel, but later issued an update confirming that his entry clearance had been secured. Wahi featured in Ivory Coast’s 1-0 victory over Ecuador in Philadelphia and is expected to be available for the team’s upcoming match against Germany in Toronto. The striker is also under investigation in France over alleged betting-related concerns linked to a yellow card incident...

A group of England supporters attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been told they cannot display their flag inside stadiums because it features the silhouette of a submarine, with FIFA classifying the image as military-related. The supporters, who are from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, had submitted their St George’s Cross for approval ahead of England’s upcoming Group L match against Ghana. The flag features the name and crest of Barrow AFC alongside a submarine silhouette, reflecting the town’s long-standing association with submarine and shipbuilding industries. However, FIFA rejected the application, stating that the design violated tournament regulations prohibiting imagery linked to weapons or military equipment. “The application was rejected because the item includes imager...

A French appeals court has confirmed that Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco star player Achraf Hakimi will stand trial in a r@pe case, lawyers told The Associated Press. The defender, who is currently playing with Morocco at the World Cup after winning the Champions League for a second straight year with PSG, had appealed a February decision by an investigative judge. That ruling followed recommendations from public prosecutors that Hakimi should face trial. The Versailles appeals court’s decision was released just hours before Morocco takes on Scotland in their Group C match. Morocco drew 1-1 with Brazil in its opening game. Hakimi, one of the best right backs in the world, denies any wrongdoing. He faced preliminary charges of r@pe in March 2023 after a 24-year-old wom...

Nigeria’s women’s national football team, the Super Falcons, will enter the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) as Africa’s highest-ranked side after retaining 36th position in the latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking released on Thursday. The rankings serve as FIFA’s final update before the tournament kicks off in Morocco from July 25 to August 16. The Super Falcons will be aiming to secure a record-extending 11th continental title at the competition. Despite recording back-to-back victories against Senegal during the recent international window, Nigeria failed to improve its position in the global standings. The Falcons edged Senegal 2-1 on June 5 before sealing an impressive 3-0 victory three days later in Ikenne. However, the wins were not enough to move Nigeria above Ser...

An Argentine TV host has quit her job after she erroneously reported that Lionel Messi’s father had di£d. Florencia Peña made the false report surrounding Jorge Messi’s health during a live stream broadcast of Luzu TV’s “El Show del Verano” on Thursday, June 18, two days after the soccer icon led the Argentina national team to victory in their first World Cup match.  “I don’t want to break bad news, but Messi’s father just di£d,” Peña said, according to the US Sun. “Right in the middle of the World Cup, he’s going to have to leave,” Peña falsely assumed. The Messi family called out the irresponsible reporting, sharing that Jorge Messi had been battling an undisclosed health issue but hadn’t di£d. “He is currently under medical supervision, recovering, and progr...

Defending champions Arsenal will begin their 2026/27 Premier League title defence with a home clash against newly promoted Coventry City on Friday, August 21, at the Emirates Stadium. The opening fixture will see Mikel Arteta’s side, fresh from ending a 22-year wait for the league title, face Frank Lampard’s Championship-winning Coventry outfit. Arsenal’s early schedule also includes challenging encounters against Aston Villa and Chelsea. The new Premier League season will feature six live opening-weekend matches, including Liverpool’s first league game under new manager Andoni Iraola. The Reds travel to Newcastle United on Sunday, August 23, before facing Manchester City and Arsenal in October and rivals Manchester United and Everton in November. Among the standout opening fixtur...

Canada thrashed nine-man Qatar 6-0 to secure their first-ever World Cup victory on Thursday, as Switzerland reignited their campaign with a resounding defeat of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Tournament co-hosts Canada had lost all six of their previous matches at the World Cup, at the 1986 and 2022 finals, but brought that run of losses to a halt in spectacular fashion at Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium. With Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney — wearing a replica Canada shirt — among a fired-up crowd, Jesse Marsch’s side ran riot to secure a win that leaves them needing only a point against Switzerland to finish top of Group B. A hat-trick from Juventus striker Jonathan David, one goal apiece from Cyle Larin and Nathan Saliba, and a Mohammad Manai own goal sealed Canada’s win. The vict...

South Africa brought an end to a 16-year FIFA World Cup goal drought after finding the back of the net against the Czech Republic in a recent international fixture. The goal marked a significant milestone for Bafana Bafana, whose last World Cup goal had come during the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosted on home soil. Since then, South Africa had struggled to make an impact on football's biggest stage, making the latest breakthrough a memorable moment for the national team and its supporters. The match against the Czech Republic showcased South Africa’s growing confidence and attacking intent as they sought to build momentum ahead of future international competitions. The historic goal was celebrated by players, coaching staff, and fans, who viewed it as a positive sign of progress for the na...