Attack-minded Ivorians bullish ahead of World Cup return
June 1 : Ivory Coast will take a team laden with attacking talent to the World Cup and are hoping to make a big impact in their first appearance at the tournament since 2014.
Mexico Sport News
Lens defender Abdulhamid spearheads Saudi World Cup squad
Lens defender Saud Abdulhamid will spearhead Saudi Arabia’s World Cup team, with forward Salem Al Dawsari set for a third appearance in the tournament, after coach Georgios Donis named his 26-man squad on Monday. Abdulhamid, who won the French Cup this year, is the only player based abroad in the Saudi squad for the event, which will be held in the US, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19. Al Hilal’s Al Dawsari, the 2025 AFC player of the year, is set to feature at his third World Cup, after debuting in 2018 and playing in the 2022 edition. Greek coach Donis will rely on 34-year-old goalkeeper Mohamed Al Owais, who played four games in his two World Cup appearances, while Al Hilal defender Hassan Tambakti and teammate midfielder Mohamed Kanno will lend experience. Al Qadsiah midfielder Mohammed Abu Alshamat will make it to finals, while his twin brother Saleh, who plays for Asian champions Al Ahli was not included in the final list. Saudi lost their first game under Donis 2-1 to Ecuador in a friendly on Sunday and will face Puerto Rico and Senegal in their final warm-ups for the World Cup. They open their Group H campaign against Uruguay in Miami on June 15, before facing Spain in Atlanta on June 21 and Cape Verde in Houston on June 26.
Fit De Jong offers an extra dimension to the Dutch
June 1 : For the Netherlands, doing without talismanic midfielder Frenkie de Jong has become a regular occurrence over the last two years, but they are always a better team with him in the lineup.
Ochoa remains Mexico's talisman as coach Aguirre balances generations
MEXICO CITY, June 1 : Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa has spent two decades turning World Cups into personal theatre but the veteran has now become something more complicated - not just a member of the squad but a symbol of a team caught between nostalgia and renewal.
Heavy burden of expectation could hamper Morocco's hopes
June 1 : Morocco’s heroics at the last World Cup mean they carry a heavy burden of expectation into this month’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the U.S., which threatens to hamper their chances.
Physical Czechs will look to win ugly to qualify from Group A
PRAGUE, June 1 : Lacking the kind of big-name stars who led the Czech Republic at their last World Cup appearance in 2006, this time around the team will rely on winning ugly with combative, physical play aimed at grinding out results against more technical opponents.
Zee Entertainment to broadcast 2026 FIFA world cup in India
BENGALURU, June 1 : India's Zee Entertainment said on Monday it had secured the rights to broadcast the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 38 other FIFA events through 2034, ending a months-long standoff over the tournament's availability in one of the world's last unsold major markets.
Australia coach says 'fearless' Socceroos ready for World Cup
MELBOURNE, June 1 : Australia coach Tony Popovic said his young World Cup squad is better than the Socceroos' 2022 line-up and should have high expectations heading into the tournament in North America.