FIFA World Cup 2026 - players.bio

Portugal defeat Croatia 2-1 to reach World Cup last 16

TORONTO: Substitute Goncalo Ramos’s headed goal edged Portugal into the last 16 of the World Cup on Thursday after a gripping contest with Croatia. Ramos connected with a superb pass from Rafael Leao in the fourth minute of stoppage time to snuff out a Croatia team which had created the lion’s share of the chances in sapping evening heat in Toronto. In a dramatic ending, Croatia thought they had equalized in the dying seconds but Josko Gvardiol’s goal was chalked off for offside. The Croatians were left stunned by the decision, while Portugal’s players celebrated. Cristiano Ronaldo played his role in the victory, stroking home a penalty that canceled out Ivan Perisic’s opener. It was Ronaldo’s first ever goal in the knockout phase of the World Cup and his remarkable international career will have another chapter when Portugal face Spain in Dallas on Monday. Perisic had stunned the Portuguese by slotting the ball under the advancing Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa in the 53rd minute. Within minutes, Ronaldo had the ball in the net after controlling a long pass, but his effort was disallowed for offside. But Portugal got level when Renato Veiga was grabbed by Croatia’s Nikola Vlasic in the penalty area and after a VAR check, the referee pointed to the spot. Ronaldo stepped up to convert the penalty with ease, hitting the ball straight down the middle of the goal and pumping his fists with joy afterwards. In a pulsating game, Manchester City forward Mateo Kovacic’s low shot was pushed onto a post by ‘keeper Costa’s fingertips. Still Croatia pushed and Peta Sucic had the ball in the net but the assistant referee’s flag was up for a clear offside. Ronaldo was withdrawn in the 81st minute to allow Ruben Neves to come on. Croa

‘I was just missing a goal,’ says Spain’s Yamal

LOS ANGELES: Spain star Lamine Yamal said Thursday he was delighted with his team’s performance in their 3-0 win in the World Cup last 32 against Austria — but admitted he would have liked to score. “I was just missing a goal or an assist,” said the 18-year-old Barcelona sensation, who was named man of the match. “But as long as we win and advance to the next round, that’s what matters,” he told journalists in Los Angeles. Pressed by one reporter on why he seemed glum after a World Cup knockout win, Yamal insisted he was happy inside, even if he didn’t show it outwardly. “I really am happy. That match is over, and now we have to think about the next one,” he said. “I’m very grateful for the affection shown to me in every stadium.

Spain power into last 16 at World Cup, Portugal face Croatia

LOS ANGELES: European champions Spain cruised into the last 16 of the World Cup on Thursday with a dominant 3-0 win over Austria to set up a potential showdown with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. Two goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and a Pedro Porro header sealed victory for the Spaniards, who produced their most complete performance of the tournament to advance to the next round. Spain opened their World Cup campaign with a faltering 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, but have subsequently built momentum with each match. With Spanish movie stars Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem in the 70,492 crowd at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium on Thursday, Spain were always in control against a limited Austrian side who failed to register a single shot on goal. Oyarzabal fired Spain into the lead in the 36th minute, sweeping in a low finish to crown a slick passing move, and more deft inter-play set up Porro to head home the second in the 66th minute. Real Sociedad striker Oyarzabal grabbed his second in the 89th minute, coolly tucking away a low finish from Marc Cucurella’s pinpoint cross.

Messi returns ‘home’ to lead Argentina World Cup charge in Miami

MIAMI: Few imagined that three years after making the move to Miami, Lionel Messi would be leading Argentina’s charge to defend the title and smashing records at his sixth World Cup. The 39-year-old returns to the Florida city he now calls home for a last 32 clash against the surprise package of the tournament Cape Verde on Friday after scoring six times in the group stages. In doing so Messi became the all-time top scorer in World Cup history with 19 and is on a record seven-game scoring streak in the competition. Many believed the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was headed for semi-retirement when he swapped top level European football for Major League Soccer after ending his long to wait to win the World Cup in Qatar. But Messi has defied expectations, both with his impact on soccer Stateside and his ability to continue deciding games at international level. Inter Miami, co-owned by David Beckham and only formed in 2018, had never won a trophy prior to his arrival. Messi’s arrival instantly made one of MLS’s newest franchises a go-to destination for European stars. Aided by his former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, Messi led Inter to victory in the Leagues Cup, a knockout competition between clubs in the MLS, Mexican and Canadian leagues, in his first season. Last year Messi and Miami went one better in securing the club’s first MLS title.

Impossible for England to acclimate to altitude for World Cup match against Mexico, Tuchel says

ATLANTA: From the altitude of Mexico City to the memories of Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” goal, England will have to contend with brutal conditions and the weight of history when they play co-host Mexico at the World Cup on Sunday. The Azteca Stadium — the site of the round of 16 game and the scene of Maradona’s memorable goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals — sits at more than 7,300 feet (2,200 meters) above sea level. With little time to acclimate, conditions are against England’s team and very much in favor of Mexico, which are undefeated in 10 World Cup games at their home stadium over three tournaments. “My understanding is that we cannot adapt to the altitude. That is just a huge advantage that Mexico will have,” England coach Thomas Tuchel said.

StubHub sued by fans who say ticket cancelations crushed dreams of going to World Cup

NEW YORK: After weeks of complaints from frustrated fans, StubHub is being sued by customers who say the ticket reseller’s inability to fulfill orders crushed their dreams of going to World Cup. Julia Reeker Moghal and Reuben Renteria, both of California, sued the ticketing giant this week in federal court in New York, alleging that “false and misleading” sales practices left them without the tickets they purchased for group stage matches last month. The lawsuit, which seeks to become a class action, says Moghal and Renteria are among hundreds or even thousands of World Cup fans who purchased tickets only to find out that they “did not exist, were revoked without any forewarning, or had been erased” because of what the tournament’s organizer, FIFA, deemed “poor digital infrastructure.” In addition to monetary damages, Moghal and Renteria are asking that StubHub be barred from selling World Cup tickets and that any profits from those sales be given to affected customers. StubHub declined to comment on the lawsuit but said in a statement that its “singular goal is to get fans into events.” If anything goes wrong, “our FanProtect Guarantee provides replacement tickets or a full refund,” the company said.

Extra time for England fans as pubs open til 5 am for Mexico clash

LONDON: Pubs across England and Wales will be allowed to stay open until 5 am (0400GMT) on Monday to allow football fans to watch England’s World Cup clash with Mexico. After England made it into the last 16 in the World Cup, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Football might be coming home, but we’re making sure fans don’t have to. “Pubs staying open till the final whistle is good news for supporters and good news for the pubs and venues that bring our communities together.” Captain Harry Kane scored twice on Wednesday to rescue England from the brink of a humiliating World Cup exit, defeating the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 in a nail-biting match in Atlanta. Kane’s crew are now preparing for a daunting trip to take on Mexico on their home turf in the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Sunday. England manager Thomas Tuchel has already made the case for parents to allow their kids to stay up to watch the match, even though it’s a school night. “Write an excuse for school and let them watch football,” Tuchel urged after his team’s victory. “There’s so much school to go to, but the World Cup is every four years. Let them watch...

Klopp poised to replace Nagelsmann as Germany coach: reports

BERLIN: Julian Nagelsmann is reportedly set to be sacked as Germany coach, tabloid Bild reported Thursday, with former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp the favorite to take over in the dugout. Nagelsmann, 38, has been under fire since Germany’s last 32 exit from the World Cup after a shock loss to Paraguay. Showing pictures of Nagelsmann at German FA (DFB) headquarters in Frankfurt, Bild reported Thursday the coach had been offered a severance package of seven million euros ($8 million) to leave the position in a three-hour meeting. Last renewed in January 2025, Nagelsmann’s contract is set to run until 2028.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 Sport News

Portugal defeat Croatia 2-1 to reach World Cup last 16

‘I was just missing a goal,’ says Spain’s Yamal

Spain power into last 16 at World Cup, Portugal face Croatia

Messi returns ‘home’ to lead Argentina World Cup charge in Miami

Impossible for England to acclimate to altitude for World Cup match against Mexico, Tuchel says

StubHub sued by fans who say ticket cancelations crushed dreams of going to World Cup

Extra time for England fans as pubs open til 5 am for Mexico clash

Klopp poised to replace Nagelsmann as Germany coach: reports