Sports

Belgium dumped the United States out of their own World Cup on Tuesday, as Charles De Ketelaere’s brace secured a 4-1 win that was eclipsed by the bitter row over Folarin Balogun’s ban. Victory means the Belgians face Spain in the quarter-finals, while the US follow co-hosts Canada and Mexico out of the tournament with elimination in the round of 16 after a thoroughly flat performance. All attention pre-game had been on Balogun’s place in the US starting lineup, after US President Donald Trump asked FIFA to review the striker’s one-game suspension for a red card, and the governing body controversially obliged. But Belgium’s XI had a few surprises of its own, with Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku among the heavyweights benched. And coach Rudi Garcia’s gambit proved inspired, with De...

Portugal have been eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after they lost  1- 0 to Spain. A stoppage-time goal from substitute Mikel Merino sent Spain into the quarter-finals and condemned Portugal to a painful exit from the tournament. The defeat also marks the end of an era for Cristiano Ronaldo, who is set to retire from international football after recently confirming that the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be his final major tournament with the national team. It also brings the curtain down on an extraordinary international career that saw the five-time Ballon d'Or winner captain Portugal to the 2016 UEFA European Championship and the 2019 UEFA Nations League titles, while becoming the nation's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player. https://www.y...

German Football Federation (DFB) president Bernd Neuendorf has said that world governing body FIFA must explain itself in the case of American World Cup player Folarin Balogun. "FIFA should now issue a prompt statement regarding reports that the decision to suspend the red card shown to the American player Folarin Balogun was preceded by a telephone call between US President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino," Neuendorf said in a statement on Monday. "The impression that there has been active political interference in sport must be dispelled swiftly and conclusively. The integrity of the competition and the credibility of FIFA are at stake." Balogun was sent off in the US team's 2-0 victory in the last 32 over Bosnia-Herzegovina and was to serve an automatic one-gam...

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Monday, June 7, he questioned the football governing body’s decision to suspend US striker Folarin Balogun’s red card ban.  Sources told AFP US President Donald Trump had called FIFA’s current chief Gianni Infantino to ask FIFA to review Balogun’s automatic one-game suspension.  The 25-year-old is now free to face Belgium in the last 16 of the World Cup later on Monday, with his ban suspended for a year with no explanation given from FIFA for the move.  “Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls,” scandal-hit Blatter said on X. “They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies. If a US President intervenes with the FIFA President — and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match ...

Nigeria’s D’Tigers ended Guinea’s winning streak in Group C of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers with an 80-79 victory in Luanda on Friday, a result that secured their progression to the second round of the qualifying series, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. The Nigerian men’s team went into the contest on the back of another tense 84-81 win over Tunisia on Thursday. Against Guinea, D’Tigers found themselves six points down after the third quarter but clawed their way back to snatch victory by a single point. D’Tigers now join Guinea among the teams through to the second round, with their final Group C fixture against Rwanda coming up on Sunday, July 5. Thursday’s win over Tunisia had already boosted Nigeria’s qualification hopes, coming after two defeats in the previous qualifying window....

Egypt is through to the Round of 16 after defeating Australia in a dramatic penalty shootout on Friday night, July 3, marking a historic first World Cup knockout-round win for the Pharaohs. The match finished 1-1 after 120 minutes, with Egypt prevailing 4-2 on penalties. Egypt opened the scoring in the 13th minute through a brilliant header from Emam Ashour, who snuck behind the Australian defense and powerfully directed the ball into the bottom left corner. Aussie keeper Patrick Beach was left helpless due to the sheer quality of the cross from Karim Hafez, as the Australian defense looked unprepared to deal with the threat. Ashour could not stop smiling after the goal, and television cameras caught him still grinning minutes later at scoring in a World Cup knockout match. As the...

Ange Postecoglou has joined Al Nassr on a two-year deal, linking up with star forward Cristiano Ronaldo, the Saudi League champions announced The former Tottenham and Australia coach, 60, has been out of work since being sacked by Nottingham Forest in October after just 39 days and eight games in charge. A statement from the club read: "A new chapter. Mr Ange Postecoglou as coach of the first football team at Al-Nassr club. And that with a contract extending for two seasons. "Our best wishes for success to him and his staff in their journey with the global club, God willing." The Greece-born Australian began his coaching career in Melbourne, rising to take charge of the Socceroos in 2013, and taking them to the 2014 World Cup. He left in 2017 and, after a stint in Japan, spe...

Cape Verde head coach Bubista is confident his team can pull off another major upset when they face defending champions Argentina national football team in the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Miami on Friday. The Blue Sharks have emerged as one of the tournament’s surprise packages in their World Cup debut. After holding Spain national football team to a draw in the group stage, they stunned Uruguay national football team to secure a place in the knockout rounds. Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, cruised through the group stage and remain among the favourites to successfully defend their World Cup title. Despite the daunting challenge, Bubista believes his players are capable of making more history. “We’re ecstatic. Reaching the knockout phase means making history yet ...

Eight players in Tunisia's World Cup squad have tested positive for clenbuterol, a substance on the banned list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). According to The Times, the players ingested the substance by eating contaminated meat at their World Cup base in Mexico. The clubs of the players have been informed about the situation; however, it is likely that FIFA will not impose a penalty because the incident is assessed to originate from contaminated food sources, rather than intentional use of banned substances. Tunisia endured a miserable tournament, losing 5-1 to Sweden on June 15, 4-0 to Japan on June 21 and 3-1 to the Netherlands on June 26. Meanwhile, there is a history of athletes testing positive in Mexico after unknowingly eating contaminated meat. In the...