FIFA World Cup 2026 - players.bio

Rodri sorry after World Cup spat with longtime Man City teammate Bernardo Silva

TEXAS, USA: Spain midfielder Rodri expressed regret at celebrating in the face of Bernardo Silva after his former Manchester City teammate missed a late chance to equalize for Portugal in their heavyweight World Cup match. Silva had a chance to take the round-of-16 game — won 1-0 by Spain on Monday — to extra time but headed over the crossbar after six minutes of stoppage time. As the Portugal playmaker lay on the ground with his head in his hands, Rodri walked up to Silva and clenched his fist in a taunting gesture. Silva stood up and confronted Rodri, brushing aside his arm and pointing in his face. The two players have played together in City’s midfield since 2019. Silva left this summer after running down his contract, and has since joined Real Madrid. Rodri told reporters after the game that he’d said sorry to Silva. “I made a mistake,” the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner said, “because I celebrated when he had missed.

Heartbreak for Egypt as Argentina pull off comeback for the ages

DUBAI: Argentina pulled off one of their greatest ever comebacks to beat Egypt 3-2 in Atlanta and reach the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup in the most dramatic of circumstances.

French prosecutors investigating racist insults against Mbappé by Paraguay senator

PARIS: French prosecutors have opened an investigation into aggravated public insult and incitement to hatred or violence after a Paraguay senator racially abused Kylian Mbappé following Paraguay’s loss to France at the World Cup. The Paris prosecutor’s office told The Associated Press on Tuesday that it launched the probe after the national unit for combating online hate received a complaint from the French Football Federation (FFF). Celeste Amarilla, a senator from Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party, posted racist comments on X after Mbappé converted the winning penalty in France’s victory over Paraguay on Saturday. She mocked the France captain’s origins, upbringing, education and appearance.

Messi v Salah in World Cup last-16 showdown

KANSAS CITY, USA: Lionel Messi’s Argentina face Egypt for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday as the maestro looks to reclaim the lead in a fiercely contested Golden Boot race. The defending champions meet the African nation, spearheaded by Mohamed Salah, in Atlanta for the right to play Switzerland or Colombia in the semifinals. Argentina survived a huge scare from World Cup first-timers Cape Verde in the last 32, edging through courtesy of Diney Borges’ own goal in energy-sapping extra time. They will hope to resume normal service against Egypt, who have never been beyond the round of 16 on football’s biggest stage. “We are on the alert just like we were before the match against Cape Verde,” said Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni. “Egypt is also a good rival. “It’s a very good team.

Ten-man England survive Mexico comeback to reach quarter-finals

MEXICO CITY: England ‌survived a spirited Mexico fightback to secure a 3-2 win on Sunday and book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals, ending the co-hosts’ deepest run at the tournament in 40 years despite playing most of the second half with 10 men at the Azteca Stadium. Jude ‌Bellingham put ‌England ahead, striking twice in ‌the ⁠space of a ⁠minute, finishing a Bukayo Saka cross before tapping in Harry Kane’s pass to stun the home crowd. Mexico’s Julian Quinones pulled one back before halftime, reacting quickest to a ⁠loose ball in the box ‌to fire ‌into the roof of the net and revive ‌the co-hosts’ hopes. England were ‌reduced to 10 men in the second half after Jarrell Quansah was sent off following a VAR review, but Harry ‌Kane restored England’s two-goal lead with a penalty after goalkeeper ⁠Raul ⁠Rangel fouled Anthony Gordon. Mexico’s Raul Jimenez reduced the deficit with another penalty after a VAR review confirmed a foul from Kane on Brian Gutierrez. The match was delayed by one hour due to adverse weather conditions around the Azteca Stadium. England will face Norway in the last eight in Miami on Saturday.

Kylian Mbappe condemns Paraguayan senator over racist remarks after World Cup match

France star Kylian Mbappe on Monday condemned a Paraguayan senator over racist remarks she made following Paraguay’s loss to France in the round of 16 at the World Cup. Mbappe called Celeste Amarilla, a senator from Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party, a “despicable woman” who was “unworthy” of serving in Paraguay’s Congress. “Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup,” Mbappe wrote on X. Amarilla posted a series of racist comments on X after Mbappe converted the winning penalty in France’s victory over Paraguay on Saturday, mocking the French captain’s origins, upbringing, education and appearance. France advanced to the quarterfinals, where it will face Morocco on Thursday. Late Monday, Amarilla issued an open letter in French and Spanish to Mbappe on social media, in which she said her problem was with the player, not the country of France.

Belgium beats US 4-1 to reach World Cup quarterfinals, taking advantage of defensive lapses

SEATTLE: The United States’ hopes for a deep World Cup run at home ended when Charles De Ketelaere scored twice and assisted on another goal, helping Belgium expose the Americans’ defensive liabilities in a 4-1 win Monday night that earned a quarterfinal berth. While the US was boosted by the presence of star forward Folarin Balogun, whose one-game red-card suspension was controversially lifted by FIFA, American defenders were at fault in a pair of first-half goals and goalkeeper Matt Freese’s gaffe gave the Red Devils a third early in the second half. Second-half substitute Romelu Lukaku added Belgium’s final goal in the third minute of stoppage time. Seeking its first World Cup title, Belgium knocked the US out in the round of 16 for the second time in 12 years and extended its unbeaten streak to 18 games. The Red Devils play 2010 champion Spain on Friday at Inglewood, California, for a semifinal berth against France or Morocco. Malik Tillman tied the score 1-1 midway through the first half with his second free kick goal of the tournament, but the Americans conceded just 61 seconds after the ensuing kickoff.

Egypt coach Hassan says Palestinian suffering ‘a shame on the world’

ATLANTA: Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said at the World Cup on Monday that the suffering of the Palestinian people was a “shame on the world” as he called on football to do more to come to their aid. Hassan waved a Palestine flag after the Pharaohs beat Australia on penalties to reach the World Cup last 16, where they will meet defending champions Argentina on Tuesday. “If there is someone who has not felt the suffering of the Palestinian people then he or she has no humanity,” Hassan said in a lengthy address to a question on the subject at his pre-match press conference in Atlanta. “I would like to say this is a shame on us. A shame on the entire world, not just the Arab world, a shame on everyone and a shame on first of all decision makers who leave human beings behind.” Hassan’s answer was greeted by applause for many of the journalists present at the press conference. Egypt’s all-time top goalscorer went on to call for FIFA and players to take a more active stance for the Palestinian people. “My message would be to use football as soft power,” he added.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 Sport News

Rodri sorry after World Cup spat with longtime Man City teammate Bernardo Silva

Heartbreak for Egypt as Argentina pull off comeback for the ages

French prosecutors investigating racist insults against Mbappé by Paraguay senator

Messi v Salah in World Cup last-16 showdown

Ten-man England survive Mexico comeback to reach quarter-finals

Kylian Mbappe condemns Paraguayan senator over racist remarks after World Cup match

Belgium beats US 4-1 to reach World Cup quarterfinals, taking advantage of defensive lapses

Egypt coach Hassan says Palestinian suffering ‘a shame on the world’