New Zealand midfield duo battling injury ahead of World Cup
June 1 : New Zealand midfielders Ryan Thomas and Joe Bell will head into the World Cup short of match practice while nursing leg injuries.
South Africa Sport News
South Korea defender Cho ruled out of World Cup
June 1 : South Korea defender Cho Yu-min will miss the World Cup after suffering a foot injury while playing in a 5-0 friendly win over Trinidad and Tobago, the Korea Football Association (KFA) said.
Ochoa set for sixth World Cup as Mexico name squad
May 31 : Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is set to become the first Mexican player to feature at six World Cups after the 40-year-old was named in Javier Aguirre's squad for the tournament on Sunday.
Leverkusen striker Schick to lead Czech attack at World Cup
PRAGUE: Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick will lead the Czech Republic attack at the World Cup as spearhead of a 26-man squad announced in Prague on Sunday. The Czech Republic face Mexico, South Africa and South Korea in Group A in only their second World Cup appearance since becoming an independent country after a 1993 split with Slovakia. At the 2006 World Cup the Czechs bowed out after the group stage with a team featuring Petr Cech, Pavel Nedved, Tomas Rosicky and Milan Baros. Czech coach Miroslav Koubek said earlier Group A was “extremely tough,” voicing concerns about the climate especially in Mexico where the Czechs will play two games. “Our goal is to reach the play-offs.
Czechs tap experience and domestic champions Slavia for final World Cup squad
PRAGUE, May 31 : Czech Republic coach Miroslav Koubek named his final World Cup squad on Sunday with a roster led by long-time national team players including West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek and Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick.
McKenzie: South Africa players to leave for World Cup on Monday after visa bungle - ESPN
South Africa's flight from Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport to Mexico for the opening match of the FIFA World Cup, scheduled to land on Sunday morning, was delayed, the South African Football Association confirmed. It was rebooked for Monday morning.
South Africa's World Cup departure delayed in visa 'debacle'
CAPE TOWN, May 31 : South Africa failed to depart for the 2026 World Cup as planned on Sunday after some players and officials were yet to receive visas 11 days ahead of their tournament-opening match against co-hosts Mexico due to be watched by millions worldwide.
World Cup-bound South Africa grounded over visa delay
CAPE TOWN, May 31 : South Africa’s departure for the 2026 World Cup was delayed on Sunday after some players were yet to receive their visas.