Will World Cup failure usher in moment of reckoning for Saudi football?
RIYADH: As the clock ticked down on Saudi Arabia’s 0-0 draw with Cabo Verde, and on their 2026 World Cup campaign, the online backlash was in full swing.
Mexico Sport News
Familiarity adds spice to Morocco-Netherlands last-32 clash
MONTERREY, Mexico: Star-laden Morocco and the Netherlands have the potential to produce a riveting Round of 32 tie at the World Cup, underpinned by a societal subtext that adds a healthy spice to the game in Monterrey on Monday. There is a large degree of familiarity, even if the countries have only played each other three times in the past, with Morocco having three Dutch-born players in their side and their top scorer here, Ismael Saibari, playing at PSV Eindhoven. Morocco have drawn extensively on Dutch expertise over the last decade to build a team which reached the semifinals at the last World Cup and have again impressed by finishing in second place behind Brazil in Group C but only on goal difference. Morocco amassed seven points, beating Scotland and Haiti, and played with more pressing intensity and intelligent movement to suggest they are going to be hard to overcome. “I’m not sure if we’re the favorites in the match against Morocco. It’s a good team with a lot of quality and they can score easily,” Dutch coach Ronald Koeman told reporters after his side topped Group F on Thursday with a win over Tunisia. The Netherlands started their World Cup campaign slowly with a draw against Japan but scored five versus Sweden and three against Tunisia and are also looking in good form. “There are players who love to get on the ball. I’ve got a group of lads that work really well together and have a great team spirit,” added Koeman, who was captain of the team when the Dutch beat Morocco at the 1994 World Cup in Orlando.
Canada, South Africa venture into new territory with knockout round
CALFORNIA, USA: Canada will take their show on the road when they face South Africa in the round of 32 at Inglewood, California, on Sunday for the squad’s first ever trip into the knockout round of a World Cup. Neither team were expected to be in the Los Angeles area for the round of 32, with South Africa also in the knockout round for the first time. Canada’s 2-1 loss to Switzerland on Wednesday dropped them to second place in Group B and cost them the opportunity to play at Vancouver on Sunday. In contrast to the other co-hosts, Mexico and the United States, won their groups to remain on home soil. “We would have loved to stay in Vancouver, there’s no doubt about that,” Canada defender Alistair Johnston said.
Iran coach: US treatment at World Cup ‘really terrible’
SEATTLE, USA: The emotions were still raw for Iran players and their coach long after the final whistle of the team’s 1-1 draw against Egypt in their group- stage finale at Seattle Stadium on Friday night. Seeking to advance out of the group stage for the first time in their World Cup history, Iran were left to wait out the results of Saturday’s matches following a third-place finish in Group G. It appeared “The Melli” had solidified their place in the round of 32 with a stoppage-time score, only to have a VAR review disallow Shojae Khalilzadeh’s goal by a marginal offside call. It continued a turbulent World Cup experience for Iran, who moved their training camp base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
DR Congo superfan denied US visa to support team at World Cup
ATLANTA, June 27 : Democratic Republic of Congo superfan Michel Kuka Mboladinga will miss their key World Cup clash against Uzbekistan on Saturday because he was not granted a United States visa.
In Seattle thank-you note, Iran express frustrations over draw with Egypt
June 27 : Iran left a note in their locker room following a 1-1 draw with Egypt on Friday, thanking Seattle for its hospitality during the World Cup, and appeared to express disappointment over the result that left their place in the knockout stage in limbo.
Dutch striker Weghorst leaves Ajax for Twente
AMSTERDAM, June 27 : Netherlands World Cup striker Wout Weghorst has left Ajax Amsterdam to join FC Twente, the two clubs announced on Saturday.
Iran coach criticises US travel restrictions after Egypt match
SEATTLE: Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei criticised travel restrictions imposed on the team by the United States after their 1-1 draw with Egypt at the World Cup in Seattle on Friday.