FIFA World Cup 2026 - players.bio

African results justify World Cup slots increase amid criticism

JOHANNESBURG: When four-time World Cup winners Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 tournament, then head coach Gennaro Gattuso lamented that Africa had so many places at the global showcase. “Africa deserves fewer World Cup slots,” he said, referring to the number of automatic qualifying places allocated to that continent rising from five to nine in an expanded 48-nation event. It became 10 when the Democratic Republic of Congo won an inter-continental play-off and returned to the World Cup after 52 years. Was Gattuso, a midfielder in the Italian 2006 World Cup-winning team, correct? Was Africa over represented in the United States, Canada and Mexico? Apart from a disastrous showing by Tunisia, who axed coach Sabri Lamouchi after their first group game and lost all three matches, African flag-bearers proved competitive, justifying their presence. The other nine representatives reached the knockout stage, five as group runners-up. The other four were among the eight best third-placed teams. That represents 90 percent success, the highest among the FIFA regions, followed by South America (83.33), Europe (81.25) and Asia (22.22). Europe did surge to the fore in the knockout phase with six quarter-finalists.

‘Sleepless night’ for Swiss bars to show World Cup quarter-final

GENEVA: Pubs and restaurants in many cantons and cities in Switzerland will be allowed to stay open all night on Saturday to allow football fans to watch their World Cup quarter-final against Argentina which kicks off at 3am local time (0100GMT) on Sunday morning. In Geneva, the cantonal authorities announced in a press release all public establishments in the cafe-restaurant and bar categories could open “without time restrictions during the night of July 11 to 12 and to show the match.” Switzerland, who have qualified for the quarter-finals of a World Cup for the first time since 1954, face Lionel Messi’s much-fancied Argentina, the reigning world champions, overnight in Kansas City. For the Nati, as the Swiss team is known, it is a chance to avenge the shattered dream of the round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup, when Argentina won at the very end of extra-time. According to the ATS-Keystone agency, the cantons of Jura and Bern have granted a similar exceptional waiver for public establishments. The curfew has also been lifted in a number of other cities including Lausanne, Sion and Sierre while Zurich has granted a “Freinacht” (“sleepless night“) in indoor restaurants and bars. The canton of Basel-Landschaft has likewise “authorized extended opening hours for restaurants and bars, including those operating temporarily as part of the World Cup,” until 6am local time on Sunday.

England battle Norway as Argentina face Swiss in World Cup last eight

LOS ANGELES: England lock horns with Norway in a World Cup quarter-final in Miami on Saturday that pits Harry Kane against Erling Haaland in a mouthwatering battle of elite strikers. The teams are competing to face either reigning champions Argentina or surprise package Switzerland in the semifinals. Kane has once again been England’s hero, dragging his teammates through an attritional last-16 meeting with Mexico at the Estadio Azteca that they won 3-2 despite having a man sent off. The Bayern Munich forward has scored six goals to fire the Three Lions to the quarter-finals. Haaland appears to have been enjoying himself ever since he touched down in the United States and began smashing in the seven goals that have carried Norway further than ever before. Their run, which included eliminating Brazil, has been accompanied by their fans’ joyous rowing celebration that has turned venues across the US into giant human Viking ships. “Every game has been the most important (in history) for Norwegian football, especially in the knockout rounds, so this is the third time it is the most important game,” Norway coach Stale Solbakken said on Friday. Kane described 25-year-old Haaland as “a beast” but insisted he and the Manchester City striker had contrasting styles. “I see myself as a different player, although I score the same goals,” the England captain, 32, said on Friday. “I like to maybe touch the ball a little bit more, be involved with the play a little bit more, but also can play as maybe the out-and-out number nine. “I don’t think it’s one to compare ourselves.

Reaction to Morocco’s World Cup exit shows a nation with winning mindset

DUBAI: Morocco’s 2-0 quarterfinal defeat by France ended another memorable FIFA World Cup campaign, but perhaps the biggest takeaway from the Atlas Lions’ exit was not the result — it was what followed.

World Cup quarterfinal resale prices drop, FIFA selling nearly 1,200 more seats for final at $7,380

NEW YORK: World Cup ticket resale prices dropped for quarterfinal matches following the elimination of co-hosts United States and Mexico, and FIFA has nearly 1,200 seats on sale for the final at $7,380. The site TickPick listed the lowest price for the Spain-Belgium game on Friday at Inglewood, California, at $1,381, down from $3,261 before the US lost to Belgium in the round of 16. The lowest price for the England-Norway match at Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday was $2,049, down from $3,866 before England defeated Mexico to reach the quarterfinals. It listed the lowest price for the Argentina-Switzerland game at Kansas City, Missouri, at $1,142, down from $2,381 before the round of 16. Standing outside SoFi Stadium on Friday, Jake van Baarsel said he bought tickets two days earlier.

Merino’s late strike sends Spain past Belgium into World Cup semis

INGLEWOOD, California: Spain ‌substitute Mikel Merino fired home from close range in the 88th minute to snatch a 2-1 win for his side over injury-hit Belgium on Friday and set up a semifinal clash with France. After the teams went in level at 1-1 following the first half, Spain found the winner when Belgium’s back-up goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who came on in the second period for the injured Thibaut Courtois, failed to hold Pau Cubarsi’s low strike. The ball bounced in front of the keeper, giving Merino just enough time to fire home as the sold-out ‌crowd largely backing ‌Spain erupted on a sweltering day at Los ‌Angeles ⁠Stadium. The only other ⁠time Spain have reached the semifinals at the World Cup was in 2010, when they won the tournament. They came fourth in 1950 when the final round was a group stage.

Xhaka tells Swiss fans to ‘keep dreaming’ ahead of Argentina World Cup clash

KANSAS CITY, USA: Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka told fans to “keep dreaming” as he prepares to lead his team against Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday. The midfielder said Switzerland’s “overarching aim” was to beat the defending champions and reach the semifinals for the first time. “Regarding the fans, keep dreaming. I am a person who always dreams and dreams can come true,” he told reporters in Kansas City. “And if we want to fulfil our dreams, you need to work, you need to sweat, you need to give it 100 percent. “And sometimes you need to do something new.

Can ageless Messi keep delivering for Argentina at World Cup?

KANSAS CITY: Lionel Messi has scored in every World Cup match so far, but after two gruelling knockout ties, will age finally catch up with the 39-year-old in the quarter-final against Switzerland? Lionel Scaloni’s team sailed through the group stage but have been pushed to the limit by Cape Verde and Egypt. They needed extra time to squeeze past the World Cup newcomers in the last 32 before winning 3-2 and then came back from the dead against Mohamed Salah’s team. The defending champions have won all five of their games, with Messi’s brilliance and their unshakeable team spirit central to their progress. Messi made up for a missed penalty against Egypt with a wonderfully composed finish as Argentina rallied from two goals down in the closing minutes. He broke down in a rare show of emotion at the end of the pulsating 3-2 win in Atlanta, saying he was desperate for his World Cup journey to continue. “It was a moment of pure happiness and relief,” said the Inter Miami forward. “We wanted to stay in the tournament. We didn’t want today to be the end, we didn’t want to go home.” Messi admitted he was tired after playing 120 minutes against Cape Verde but he featured for the whole game against Egypt and remains indispensable. Saturday’s quarter-final at Arrowhead Stadium will take him back to the scene of his hat-trick in Argentina’s first match of the 2026 tournament. He has continued his scoring run, taking his tally to eight — level with Golden Boot rival Kylian Mbappe. And he has also become the leading scorer in World Cup history, with 21 goals across his career.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 Sport News

African results justify World Cup slots increase amid criticism

‘Sleepless night’ for Swiss bars to show World Cup quarter-final

England battle Norway as Argentina face Swiss in World Cup last eight

Reaction to Morocco’s World Cup exit shows a nation with winning mindset

World Cup quarterfinal resale prices drop, FIFA selling nearly 1,200 more seats for final at $7,380

Merino’s late strike sends Spain past Belgium into World Cup semis

Xhaka tells Swiss fans to ‘keep dreaming’ ahead of Argentina World Cup clash

Can ageless Messi keep delivering for Argentina at World Cup?