Portugal coach Roberto Martinez Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has defended the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions that shaped his side’s dramatic 2-1 win over Croatia FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32, while Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic criticized the official, but refused to blame entirely for his team’s exit.Portugal booked their place in the Round…
Spain’s Lamine Yamal gestures during the match against Austria in Inglewood. (AP Photo) Spanish sensation Lamine Yamal has added another remarkable milestone to his fast-growing career after becoming the youngest European player ever to record 10 wins at major international tournaments, eclipsing a record previously held by the France captain. Kylian Mbappe.The 18-year-old completed the…
Switzerland’s Dan Ndoye (11) celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal. (AP Photo/PTI) Switzerland continued their impressive 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a clinical 2-0 win over Algeria on Thursday, sealing a place in the Round of 16.Goals from Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye ensured the Swiss comfortably booked their place in the last…
Croatia’s Igor Matanovic (20) reacts (AP Photo/Sam Balkansky) NEW DELHI: Croatia’s dramatic stoppage-time equalizer against Portugal in 2026 FIFA World Cup he was ruled out after a lengthy VAR review, a decision that was ultimately decisive in his heartbreaking exit from the tournament.The controversy erupted in the 103rd minute of the Round of 32 match…
Croatia’s Petar Sucic (17) and his teammates react to a loss during the World Cup round of 32. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) Croatia’s heartbreaking exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026 against Portugal came down to one of the tournament’s most dramatic VAR decisions, with FIFA later explaining that advanced ball technology played a key role…
Lamine Yamal and Cristiano Ronaldo The 2026 FIFA World Cup has entered its decisive phase, with the 48-team field quickly whittling down to just 16 nations as the Round of 16 kicks off this weekend. Every knockout game now carries the weight of history, with one team’s dream ending and another moving one step closer…
Croatia fans throw bottles and cans onto the pitch after a Croatia goal is disallowed (AP/PTI) Croatia suffered a heartbreaking exit from 2026 FIFA World Cup after a dramatic VAR decision ruled out a stoppage-time equalizer in their last 32 clash against Portugal in Toronto.Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol thought he had saved Croatia with…
Croatia’s Igor Matanovic (20) reacts (AP Photo/Sam Balkansky) NEW DELHI: Croatia’s dramatic stoppage-time equalizer against Portugal in 2026 FIFA World Cup he was ruled out after a lengthy VAR review, a decision that was ultimately decisive in his heartbreaking exit from the tournament.The controversy erupted in the 103rd minute of the Round of 32 match…
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha (AP Photo) Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha sent an emotional message of unity ahead of the biggest match in his country’s football history, urging the island nation to stick together as the FIFA World Cup debutants prepare to face defending champions Argentina in the Round of 32.The Blue Sharks have already captured…
Jordan Bos of Australia (5) (AP Photo) Australia’s Jordan Bos emerged as one of the surprise stars of the FIFA World Cupwith the flying full-back not only helping the Socceroos reach the knockout stage, but also outrunning some of football’s biggest speedsters, including Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland.The 23-year-old will be in the spotlight again…
Cristiano Ronaldo with Portugal teammate Bernardo Silva (AP Photo) Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portugal national team paid an emotional tribute to their former teammate Diogo Jota after securing a dramatic 2-1 win over Croatia in the World Cup round of 32 in Toronto on Thursday.After the final whistle, Ronaldo wore the Portugal No. Jota’s 21…
Portugal’s Goncalo Ramos (9) is congratulated by Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring a goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia (AP Photo) A dramatic header from substitute Goncalo Ramos led Portugal to a 2-1 comeback win over Croatia at Toronto Stadium on Friday. The high-octane win secured Portugal a…
Spain’s impressive 3-0 win over Austria, highlighted by two goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and a header from Pedro Porro, secured their place in the last 16 of the World Cup. (AP Photo) A clinical brace from Mikel Oyarzabal led a dominant Spain to an emphatic 3-0 win over Austria at the SoFi Stadium on Friday,…
In a historic moment, Spain saw young talents Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí become the first pair of teenagers to start a World Cup knockout match since the legendary Pelé and Altafini in 1958. (AP Photo) They made history before kickoff. So they went out and justified every word.Lamine Yamal was named Man of the…
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (7) celebrates after scoring his opening goal. (AP Photo) Cristiano Ronaldo he added another remarkable chapter to his glittering career by becoming the oldest goalscorer in the world. FIFA World Cup Knockout stage history as Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in a dramatic last-32 clash on Thursday.At 41 years and 147 days old,…
Portugal to honor Diogo Jota one year after tragedy in Croatia World Cup clash (Agency Image) Portugal FIFA World Cup The campaign enters its knockout stage with emotions running high as Roberto Martinez’s side prepare to face Croatia in the Round of 32 on Thursday in Toronto.Beyond the pursuit of a place in the last…
England’s Harry Kane (9) celebrates after the World Cup 32 soccer match between England and Congo in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman) Hello and welcome to another edition of Offside. The term “shot heard round the world” was popularized by Ralph Waldo Emerson in his poem Concord Hymn, whose first stanza was:…
Referee Raphael Claus shows a red card to USA’s Folarin Balogun (right). (AP Photo) The United States has reserved its place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 with a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the night ended in the heart for striker Folarin Balogun, who created an unwanted piece of…
Senegal’s Pape Gueye (26) gives a thumbs up (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Pape Gueye has announced that he is taking a break from international football, expressing his frustration after the dramatic situation in Senegal. FIFA World Cup out against Belgium. The midfielder’s decision raised questions about possible tensions in the Senegal camp after one of the…
Sébastien Desabre, coach RD Congo (Video grab) Minutes after Congo DR’s shocking 2026 FIFA World Cup exit against England, coach Sébastien Desabre suffered an even more devastating personal tragedy when he was informed of his father’s death during his post-match press conference.What started as a routine post-match media interaction turned into an emotional scene after…
England’s Harry Kane (9) celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal against Congo in Atlanta. (AP Photo/PTI) England captain Harry Kane renewed the race for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot with a sensational finish against Congo DR, moving level with Erling Haaland in second place and closing the gap on the joint leaders….
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Cristiano Ronaldo asked the fans of Portugal to create a home atmosphere in front of the team FIFA World Cup Friday, round of 16, against Croatia. Portugal will face a tough challenge against a Croatia side led by a veteran midfielder Luka Modricwith a place in the pre-quarterfinals at…
Lukaku separated Tielemans and Trossard before the situation escalated further. (X Photo) Belgium is remarkable FIFA World Cup The 2026 comeback against Senegal featured more than late goals and dramatic VAR decisions. Before the Red Devils produced one of the greatest turnarounds in World Cup elimination history, striker Romelu Lukaku was forced to step in…
Malik Tillman (17) of the United States celebrates after scoring on a free kick. (AP Photo) The United States has reserved its place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 in dramatic fashion as Malik Tillman produced a sensational free-kick to seal a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina after Folarin Balogun’s controversial…
Referee Raphael Claus shows the red card to Folarin Balogun of the United States, unseen, during the World Cup Round of 32 match. (AP Photo) The United States booked their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the celebrations were tempered by…
Malik Tillman (17) of the United States celebrates with his teammates after scoring on a free kick. (AP Photo) The United States overcame second-half adversity to defeat Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 on Wednesday night, securing just the second round. FIFA World Cup First knockout stage win in the nation’s history despite playing the last 26 minutes with…
Bosnia’s Edin Dzeko (11) reacts during the World Cup Round of 32 match against the United States. (AP Photo) Bosnia-Herzegovina captain Edin Džeko etched his name FIFA World Cup history despite his team facing an uphill battle against the United States in their Round of 32 clash, becoming the oldest outfield player to ever start…
Belgium’s Youri Tielemans (8) celebrates after scoring during the World Cup Round of 32 match against Senegal. (AP Photo) Belgium produced one of the greatest escapes of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, overturning a two-goal deficit with three late goals – including the last goal in World Cup history – to beat Senegal 3-2 after…