World Cup - News - SPORT.TV

Spain's World Cup campaign in Group H began with a surprising 0-0 draw against debutants Cape Verde. A heroic display from goalkeeper Vozinha and resilient defending earned Cape Verde their historic first point, while Spain's Lamine Yamal made his tournament debut as a substitute.

Before the World Cup, Football Australia announced a contract extension with head coach Tony Popovic through to the 2027 Saudi Asian Cup. Popovic, who took over in 2024 and led the team undefeated to World Cup qualification, secured the new deal to ensure coaching stability, facilitating a seamless transition from the World Cup to the Asian Cup and continuing the development of young players.

Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi and the national team coach have stated ahead of the World Cup that the team will play for all Iranians, focusing solely on football and avoiding politics. Amid concerns over possible protests and a sensitive geopolitical backdrop, they emphasized football's power to unite people and expressed hope to bring joy to Iranians at home and abroad through victories. They also looked forward to a competitive opening match against New Zealand.

Jordan Henderson praised Luka Modric as the strongest midfield opponent of his career, highlighting the Croatian's consistency and difficulty to handle. He also discussed England's historical record against Croatia, commended Jude Bellingham's value in major tournaments, and emphasized the need for the team to focus on their own performance while acknowledging the opponent's overall strength.

The U.S. Men's National Team's World Cup base camp has been finalized at the Great Park Sports Complex in Irvine, Southern California, with head coach Mauricio Pochettino praising the facilities as exceeding expectations. The site selection, spanning three years, involved twists including a university withdrawal and a coaching change. The base features 24 pitches, four locker rooms, an open-air therapy area, and is complemented by a stress-relief hotel to ensure player focus. The team will relocate with the knockout stage schedule, with recovery equipment traveling throughout.

Real Madrid officially announces the signing of Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella on a contract until 2032, with a €55 million base fee plus add-ons. Jose Mourinho quickly pushed the deal after returning as coach, making Cucurella the first signing of the summer. He is currently preparing for the World Cup with Spain, having previously played for Barcelona's youth system and made 163 appearances for Chelsea. Real Madrid has also secured transfers for Konate, Dumfries, and Silva.

At the 2026 World Cup, Germany beat Curacao 7-1, narrowly missing an unprecedented 8-1 'Score Puzzle.' This concept refers to unique scores never before seen in sports. The last World Cup puzzle was England's 6-2 win over Iran in 2022, ending a 40-year drought. A data researcher tracks these rare scores via a self-made chart and hopes such a result could inspire charitable activities.

Iran's team arrived in Los Angeles for final World Cup Group G preparations, opening against New Zealand. Amid U.S.-Israeli strikes, peace rumors and visa hurdles, head coach Ghalenoei and 100-cap forward Taremi stress football's unifying power, urge focus on the pitch, fight for Iranians at home and abroad, and look forward to a thrilling clash with New Zealand.

Ivory Coast coach confirms that Leipzig rising star Diomande is fully focused on the World Cup during the tournament, with transfer rumors put on hold. He excelled in the opening match, helping the team secure a stoppage-time victory over Ecuador. Speculation links him to PSG or Liverpool, but decisions will wait until after the tournament. Ivory Coast will next face Germany and Curacao.

World Cup Group F first round: Sweden thrashed Tunisia 5-1. The €150M duo of Isak (€85M) and Gyokeres (€65M) impressed on debut, exchanging assists and goals. Isak finished with 1 goal and 2 assists, including setting up Svanberg. Isak earned an 8.8 rating, while Gyokeres got 8.2.

Sweden overturned an early deficit to defeat Tunisia 5–1 in their World Cup Group F opener. After Tunisia led twice in the first half, Sweden dominated the second half with goals from Gyokeres, Isak, and Svanberg, while Ayari scored twice for Tunisia. The result puts Sweden top of the group after the first round.

Egypt's head coach Hossam Hassan aims to end the nation's winless World Cup streak at the 2026 tournament, leveraging a blend of experienced players and young talent to challenge formidable opponents like Belgium and draw inspiration from recent underdog successes.

In Atlanta on Monday, Cape Verde will play their first-ever World Cup match against European champions Spain. Coach Bubista sees it as a cultural triumph for the nation, vows the team won't be conservative, and promises to trouble the strong opponents with fearless attacking football, affirming that expansion gives deserving teams like Cape Verde a firm foothold.

After Brazil opened their World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Morocco, Kaka expressed confidence that Carlo Ancelotti's experience can guide the team forward. Roberto Carlos urged Vinicius Junior to answer critics with his performances, while injured absentee Rodrygo voiced his disappointment at missing the tournament but believes Ancelotti can strengthen the squad's confidence as the competition progresses.

In the first round of World Cup Group E, Ivory Coast defeated Ecuador 1-0 with a 90th-minute winner from Amad. Both teams hit the woodwork four times in a fierce match. Ivory Coast temporarily sits second in the group, while Ecuador is third.

The Netherlands and Japan played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in their 2026 World Cup Group F opener. Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville scored for the Dutch, while Keito Nakamura and a late Daichi Kamada header secured a point for Japan, with both sides earning one point from the match.

Germany thrashed World Cup debutants Curacao 7-1 in their Group E opener, with goals from Nmecha, Havertz (brace), Schlotterbeck, Musiala, Undav, and Raum. Comenencia scored Curacao's first-ever World Cup goal. Germany starts the 2026 tournament in perfect fashion.

Netherlands and Japan announce starting lineups for World Cup Group F opener, with Cody Gakpo and Takefusa Kubo leading their sides. Virgil van Dijk, Frenkie de Jong and other Oranje key players start; Japan fields Ritsu Doan and Ayase Ueda. American referee Ismail Elfath takes charge. FIFA rankings: Netherlands 8th, Japan 18th, as both vie for crucial points in the group stage.

The article compiles interviews with La Liga players and coaches describing the challenge of defending Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe. Yamal is portrayed as an exceptionally mature, creative teenage winger who already drives Spain’s attacking system, while Mbappe is described as an elite, high-scoring striker with devastating speed and finishing after his transition to a central role. Both dominate statistical metrics in different ways, with Yamal excelling in creativity and chance creation and Mbappe in goal output and explosive threat. Defenders emphasize that while both have tactical strengths and weaknesses off the ball, their individual brilliance can decide matches and potentially major tournaments.

Two years after leaving the German national team, Manuel Neuer has been recalled by Julian Nagelsmann due to ter Stegen's injury, potentially featuring at the 2026 World Cup at age 40. He redefined the goalkeeper role with sweeper-style defense and technical ability, winning the 2014 World Cup, Golden Glove, and Bayern treble. Despite group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022, he held the starting spot. Now returning as a legend, he seeks a perfect farewell.