FIFA World Cup 2026 - players.bio

Tunisia’s short-lived World Cup experience lays bare deep dysfunctions

TUNIS: Tunisia’s humiliating exit from the 2026 World Cup after two heavy losses against Sweden and Japan delt a blow to Eagles of Carthage fans, who say it laid bare years of dysfunction within the football federation. The team, which had made history in 1978 by becoming the first African nation to win a World Cup match, had hoped for a better tournament this summer. But with nine goals conceded in two games and French head coach Sabri Lamouchi sacked after the first — a 5-1 defeat to Sweden — many Tunisians were faced with a different reality. Beyond player performances, they blame a deeply flawed national sporting system. “The collapse of the national team against Sweden and Japan has lifted the veil on the ‘football mafia’ whose dismantling everyone is demanding today, before starting from scratch and rebuilding our football,” the Arabic-language daily AlChourouk wrote. The French-language newspaper Le Temps argued that Tunisian football “has for many years been undermined by clientelism and inter-club infighting.” That has led to undeserving players being selected for the national team, the newspaper added. Investigative outlet Inkyfada alleged that there was an “unofficial quota policy” that saw some local players called up only “to satisfy major clubs in the domestic league and ensure that each received their share of FIFA compensation.” The Tunisian football federation did not respond to AFP’s requests for comment. Things could get even worse for Tunisia’s chastened players, whose last match on Thursday night is against Group F leaders the Netherlands, before they return home. And back home, the World Cup has not generated great enthusiasm. The team’s early elimination, compounded by their matches kicking off in

The World Cup is half over, with 54 of 104 matches complete, and the drama is just getting started

FLORIDA, USA: It’s halftime at the World Cup. Take a break, everyone. Wednesday marked the midpoint of the 104-match tournament — technically, just past the midpoint, with 54 matches now in the books and 50 remaining before a World Cup champion are crowned in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19. The US have reached the Round of 32, which shouldn’t be surprising.

USA, Germany in control as Dutch eye World Cup knockouts

EAST RUTHERFORD, USA: Co-hosts the United States and Germany will bid to complete perfect World Cup group stage campaigns on Thursday, while the Netherlands and Japan look poised to join them in the last 32. The US have clinched top spot in Group D with a game to spare after wins over Paraguay and Australia, and will try to maintain that momentum against already-eliminated Turkiye in Los Angeles. Mauricio Pochettino could rest a number of first-choice players, with Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams and Folarin Balogun at risk of missing the next round if they pick up another yellow card. Forward Christian Pulisic has recovered from a calf injury that has limited him to just 45 minutes at the tournament so far and urged the US to keep their foot on the accelerator. “Going into the knockout rounds will definitely feel better with a win,” said Pulisic. “We don’t necessarily need a win, but it’s a World Cup game, and we all want to give our best and do well.” The US have not reached the quarter-finals of a World Cup since 2002, but a strong start has raised hopes they could go on a deep run on home turf. Australia and Paraguay square off in a battle for second place in Santa Clara. A draw would favor the Socceroos thanks to their better goal difference but would likely be enough to send Paraguay through too. Germany are guaranteed to advance as winners of Group E following wins over Curacao and Ivory Coast, putting first-round exits in the two previous World Cups behind them. “It is very important that we remain modest,” said Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann. “We have won two matches, one was clear, one was very close.

Cape Verde match is a final for Green Falcons, say Saudi officials

RIYADH: Not many expected Saudi Arabia to still be in contention for a direct place in the Round of 32 heading into the final matchday of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Mexico beat Czech Republic 3-0 to win all 3 World Cup group-stage matches for 1st time

MEXICO CITY: Mateo Chávez and Julián Quiñones scored in a six-minute span early in the second half, and Mexico beat the Czech Republic 3-0 on Wednesday night to win all three of its World Cup group-stage matches for the first time. The 22-year-old Chávez, in his first World Cup, opened the scoring in the 55th minute and Quiñones scored his second goal of the tournament in the 61st. Alvaro Fidalgo added a goal in second-half stoppage time. Mexico’s previous best group-stage performance was two wins and one draw, done in 1986 and 2002 and both featuring Javier Aguirre, the first as a midfielder and the second as El Tri’s coach.

South Africa stun South Korea, advance in second place from Group A

Thapelo Maseko’s second-half goal lifted South Africa to ‌a must-win 1-0 result against South Korea in their Group A finale in Guadalupe, Mexico, on Wednesday, sending Bafana Bafana to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time. Maseko put South Africa in front in the 63rd minute with a clinical finish, burying a shot from his favored left foot to the right corner after a precision pass by Tshepang Moremi. Ronwen Williams preserved the lead with a save on Park Jin-seob’s header in the third minute of second-half stoppage time. South Korea (1-2-0, 3 points) needed a win or draw to finish runner-up to Mexico and advance to ‌the round of ‌32. South Africa (1-1-1, 4 points) had to win ‌and ⁠have Czech Republic ⁠lose to Mexico in the concurrent match to claim the second spot. Mexico (3-0-9, 9 points) logged a 3-0 win over the Czechs (0-2-1, 1 points), and when the hosts’ 1-0 lead was posted in the Guadalupe stadium in the 55th minute, the South African fans joined the Mexicans in attendance in celebrating. South Africa was written off by many after losing the opening ⁠match of the World Cup 2-0 to Mexico while ‌having two players sent off. The South ‌Africans had failed to get out of the group stage in their ‌previous World Cups in 1998, 2002 and 2010. South Korea still have a ‌chance to advance in the event as one of the best third-place teams, but they will need other results to go their way. South Korea started as if it were playing for the win with several forays into the ‌penalty area in the first three minutes but soon fell into a conservative mode.

Arab teams at 2026 World Cup: Bosnia beat Qatar to reach World Cup knockout stages for first time

SEATTLE: Bosnia-Herzegovina reached the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time after beating 2022 hosts Qatar 3-1 in their final Group B match on Wednesday. Bosnia finished on four points and hours after their game had completed, FIFA announced they will be one of the best eight third-placed teams to progress to the last 32. Qatar meanwhile exit at the group stage, just as they did four years ago, but return home with the meagre consolation of having garnered a point this time as opposed to 2022 when they finished with none. Goals from Bosnia’s youngest ever World Cup player, 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic, and an own goal by Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada looked to have put the European side in the box seat. However, Qatar made a game of it when 35-year-old Hassan Al-Haydos, their most capped player, pulled one back late in the first-half. Ermin Mahmic then put the game beyond the Qataris when he scored for the second successive match in the 80th minute. Bosnia flew out of the blocks as soon as the whistle went, testing Abunada twice inside the first four minutes. First Abunada denied Ermedin Demirovic’s fierce drive and then he tipped away Ivan Sunjic’s shot. Bosnia’s dominance finally paid off but it was not to be 40-year-old talisman Edin Dzeko who broke the deadlock but the sublimely-talented teenage left wing. Abunada was unable to do anything about Alajbegovic’s screamer from outside the area, after he had beaten two players. The youngster was mobbed by his team-mates and once they had trotted back to the halfway line he stood and milked the moment, putting a finger to his lips. Dzeko, winning his 150th cap, came more and more into the game and not wishing to have his thunder stolen by the new kid

Vinicius Junior sparkles as Brazil beat Scots to reach World Cup last 32

MIAMI: Vinicius Junior made it four goals in three games at the World Cup as Brazil cruised to a 3-0 victory over Scotland on Wednesday, sealing progress to the last 32 as Group C winners and leaving their opponents in danger of another first-round exit. Real Madrid superstar Vinicius took advantage of a defensive howler to give Brazil an early lead in Miami and headed in another in first-half stoppage time. Scotland were never really in it and Matheus Cunha got a third on the hour mark for the record five-time World Cup winners, who brought on Neymar toward the end for his first international appearance in over two-and-a-half years. There are doubts as to whether Carlo Ancelotti’s side are genuine contenders to win this tournament but boosted by finishing top of the group they head to Texas for a last-32 tie in Houston on June 29. That will be against the runners-up in Group F, which will be either the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden. After scoring in both the opening 1-1 draw with Morocco and the 3-0 win over Haiti, Vinicius is the first Brazilian to find the net in every group game at a World Cup since Ronaldo and Rivaldo both did it in 2002. With four goals, he is one behind Lionel Messi and level with Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe in the golden boot race. Scotland, meanwhile, are at real risk of yet another group-stage elimination, as has been their fate at every previous major tournament in which they have participated — that includes eight World Cups before this year. Morocco took second in Group C, with seven points but behind Brazil on goal difference, after coming from behind twice to beat Haiti 4-2 in Atlanta. Scotland come third with three points and a goal difference of minus three.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 Sport News

Tunisia’s short-lived World Cup experience lays bare deep dysfunctions

The World Cup is half over, with 54 of 104 matches complete, and the drama is just getting started

USA, Germany in control as Dutch eye World Cup knockouts

Cape Verde match is a final for Green Falcons, say Saudi officials

Mexico beat Czech Republic 3-0 to win all 3 World Cup group-stage matches for 1st time

South Africa stun South Korea, advance in second place from Group A

Arab teams at 2026 World Cup: Bosnia beat Qatar to reach World Cup knockout stages for first time

Vinicius Junior sparkles as Brazil beat Scots to reach World Cup last 32