Widely regarded as a pioneer of Japanese football, Zico admits the fixture carries special significance for him, but says there is no doubt where his loyalties lie.

Lionel Messi starts on the bench as Argentina take on Jordan in their final Group J match at Dallas Stadium on Saturday with coach Lionel Scaloni making nine changes to the side that defeated Austria in their previous match.

Austria and Algeria will play to win when they meet in their final World Cup Group J match, their coaches said on Friday, dismissing suggestions that avoiding victory could provide a more favourable route.

Senegal crushed 10-man Iraq 5-0 on Friday to remain in the running for a place in the round of 32 and end their opponents' hopes of reaching the World Cup knockout stages.

Ousmane Dembele scored one of the earliest hattricks in World Cup history on Friday as the Ballon d'Or winner starred in France's 4-1 win over a second-string Norway, while Erling Haaland watched on from the bench.

Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo says his team need to “gang around the referee” more often after their penalty shout in the World Cup group game against England went unreviewed.

Argentina defender Cristian Romero has progressed in his recovery by adding on-field training, the Argentine federation (AFA) said on Friday, after he was forced off with a knee injury in their 2-0 World Cup Group J win over Austria on Monday.

Norway striker Erling Haaland was left on the bench against France in the World Cup Group I match on Friday with both teams having qualified for the knockout stages.

Medina also recalled his childhood in Villa Fiorito, the Buenos Aires neighbourhood where Diego Maradona grew up

Anthony Elanga's equaliser helped Sweden qualify for the World Cup's round of 32 following a 1-1 draw with Japan, but while his teammates were celebrating the result, the striker collapsed on the ground in frustration thinking they had not qualified.

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said his side, who had already qualified for the last 32 of the World Cup, had committed "tactical suicide" after Ecuador came from behind to beat the Germans 2-1 on Thursday.

The year 1982 gave football the infamous ‘Disgrace of Gijon,’ a match so transparently engineered by West Germany and Austria that FIFA rightfully decreed final group fixtures must henceforth kick off simultaneously.

The United States conceded a stoppage-time goal to lose 3-2 to Turkey on Thursday but coach Mauricio Pochettino said there was little reason for concern after his side still finished top of their World Cup group.

Ecuador President Daniel Noboa declared Friday a national holiday after the country's soccer team reached the knockout phase of the World Cup with a shock 2-1 win over Germany.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage approaches its climax as Groups G, H and I conclude on a thrilling day of action on Matchday 16 -- Friday and also Saturday (Bangladesh Time).

Brazil have lodged a formal complaint with FIFA over the controversial decision to disallow one of Vinicius Junior's goals in their 3-0 victory over Scotland, citing a Lionel Messi goal as an example of inconsistent VAR decisions, according to a report by TyC Sports.

Having already secured their places in the Round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup by winning their opening two Group I matches, tournament favourites France and dark horse Norway will face off in a highly anticipated clash in Boston tonight to determine the group champions.

Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa said they are treating Friday's World Cup match against Spain as a final in order to get the win they need to be sure of a place in the round of 32.

The FIFA World Cup knockout bracket began to take shape on Day 15 as Ecuador pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament so far by beating already-qualified Germany to book a place in the Round of 32.

Growing up in the mid-1980s, football in Bangladesh was never merely a sport. It was emotion, identity, and everyday life stitched into dusty neighbourhood fields and crowded tea stalls.