Mbappe says France happy 'to get hands dirty' after World Cup win

France captain Kylian Mbappe said his side were happy to do whatever it takes to advance in the World Cup after they battled through a bad-tempered last-16 tie with Paraguay to win 1-0 on Saturday.
5 July 2026

Mbappe helps France edge Paraguay to set up WC quarterfinal clash with Morocco

Kylian Mbappe's second-half penalty earned France a hard-fought 1-0 win over Paraguay in the World Cup last 16 in scorching heat on Saturday, sending them into a quarter-final against Morocco.
5 July 2026

Ouahbi hails Morocco's second-half response

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi praised his side's composure and second-half improvement after a clinical 3-0 victory over Canada secured a place in the World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday.
5 July 2026

Morocco end Canada World Cup dream to reach quarters

Morocco snuffed out co-host Canada's World Cup dream to book their place in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Two
5 July 2026

Aurora that guided Lisandro

Even about a year ago, Lisandro Martinez was a peripheral figure, mostly away from the eyes of football fans -- not because of a dip in form, but because of a serious injury that had taken a mental toll on the Manchester United defender and his family as well.
4 July 2026

Drama defines Round of 32

The inaugural Round of 32 in the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup delivered on every front. There were shocks and surprises, thrilling comebacks, heartbreaking exits and the fall of several giants.
4 July 2026

Perils of Messi dependency

If this overwhelming dependency stays constant, even the golden goose laying eggs may not be enough when the tournament reaches its deep end.
4 July 2026

France aim to keep World Cup juggernaut rolling

Top favourites France will be eyeing a place in the quarterfinals as they take on Paraguay in their FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash at Philadelphia Stadium tonight.
4 July 2026

Cape Verde heroics scare Argentina, Round of 16 begins tonight

Watch today's episode of Fever Pitch to find out more
4 July 2026

Barber shaves World Cup dreams into Brazilian fans' hair

In a barbershop in Resende, in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state, World Cup fever is going to people's heads, quite literally. Barber Washington Santos, 27, has created a haircut featuring the Brazilian flag to celebrate the country's bid for a sixth World Cup title, or "hexa" in Portuguese.
4 July 2026

Raphinha returns to give Brazil selection dilemma before Norway clash

Brazil's Raphinha returned to training on Friday to give coach Carlo Ancelotti a welcome boost before their World Cup last-16 clash with Norway, but the Barcelona forward may find his place on the right wing is no longer guaranteed.
4 July 2026

FIFA to stick to schedule for Mexico-England and Brazil-Norway games, source says

FIFA will keep the scheduled kickoff time for Monday’s World Cup last-16 match between Mexico and England, despite earlier concerns that severe weather could force changes, a source familiar with the discussions told Reuters.
4 July 2026

Blockbuster Round of 16 fixtures and more

The nerve-wracking Round of 32 of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 came to an end on Saturday morning with defending champions Argentina, Colombia and Egypt clinching the final three berths in the Round of 16.
4 July 2026

France face Philly furnace as World Cup last 16 gets under way

France are bracing for furnace-like temperatures when they face Paraguay in Philadelphia in the World Cup's last 16 on Sunday as co-hosts Canada prepare for a daunting date with African giants Morocco in Houston.
4 July 2026

Cape Verde show anything is possible with 'big hearts'

A tiny archipelago of just over 500,000 people off the west coast of Africa, Cape Verde held Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to draws on their first ever appearance at the World Cup.
4 July 2026

Salah and the history of 'Panenkas' at the World Cup

The Panenka penalty, named after Czechoslovakia midfielder Antonin Panenka, first entered football folklore in the UEFA EURO 1976 final.
4 July 2026

Colombia in control but failing to convert chances into goals

The missed opportunities were a familiar story for Colombia.
4 July 2026

Egypt coach dedicates historic World Cup win to Palestinians

Hassan carried both the Egyptian and Palestinian flags onto the pitch after the victory, as Egypt celebrated winning their first-ever World Cup knockout match.
4 July 2026

The greatest World Cup goal that ended in heartbreak?

There was no space, no right to shoot, and absolutely no statistical probability of success.
4 July 2026

Pride in defeat: Bubista salutes fearless Cape Verde

"They did it with bravery and never did we lose our identity."
4 July 2026