Latest Sports Stories

Football News

Mexico became the first nation to secure a spot in the World Cup round of 32 and they can thank a Seung-Gyu Kim goalkeeping error as South Korea were beaten 1-0 in Guadalajara.In a far-from-thrilling Group A encounter, the two goalkeepers decided the game with two contrasting experiences. Kim dropped a Raul Jimenez header into the path of Luis Romo, who lifted the ball over the red-faced shotstopper.Late on, down the other end, as South Korea chased, Raul Rangel's double save to deny second-half substitute, Gue-Sung Cho with a double save, wrapped up the three points for Mexico.With maximum points after their opening win over South Africa, Mexico are now in control of Group A and are well-placed to secure top spot. First would ensure they will play their round of 32 match in Mexico City. Javier Aguirre's side could meet England in the round of 16 should both nations win their group and progress past their first knockout game.South Korea, who generated just one shot on target either side of half time, can still qualify for the knockout stages but must beat South Africa to ensure smooth progression. Up next for Mexico is the Czech Republic.16: BRILLIANT GOAL-LINE CLEARANCE! Alvarez acrobatically hooked away Heung-Min Son's attempt at a lob.20: SAVE! Alvarado curls in a sumptuous ball into the area. It finds Quinones, who manages to beat his marker to head towards goal but Kim makes the stop.50: GOAL! Seung-Gyu Kim drops a Jimenez header and gifts Romo and Mexico a goal.77: CLOSE! Hyun-Jun Yang and Hyun-Gyu Oh very nearly combine superbly for an equaliser but there's too much on the former's ball into the area.87: HUGE CHANCE!! Rangel denies Gue-Sung Cho with a pair of vital double saves late on.90+4: Vazquez gets across to deny Gue-Sung Cho an attempt at Rangel's goal. It's superbly timed defending. South Korea are pushing, but is it too little too late?Aguirre reacts to difficult South Korea test"It was difficult. We know them very well. They put us under a lot of pressure. They didn't give us any space, and neither did we. In the end, it felt like one mistake was always going to make the difference one way or the other."It wasn't a great match, and the opposition didn't allow us to do much"."We played just as we planned. The way we conceded was disappointing. We will give everything in the last game of the group stage.""I asked the players to remain calm and play our game. It wasn't bad. We kept our composure throughout the game. We will focus on preparing for the next game now."

Football News

Canada are on the brink of qualifying for the World Cup knockout stages after a Jonathan David treble inspired 6-0 win over woeful nine-man Qatar - in a result marred by a serious leg injury for midfielder Ismael Kone.Jesse Marsch's side were dominant from start to finish in Vancouver - leading 3-0 at half-time thanks to Jonathan David's double and Cyle Larin's opener. Qatar defender Homam El Amin was sent off for a last-man challenge on Tajon Buchanan in that half.But the most pressing concern was for Canada midfielder Kone - who was stretchered off with oxygen after a challenge that left everyone watching distressed. VAR upgraded Assim Madibo's yellow card to a red, probably after seeing everyone's reaction to the tackle.Kone's replacement Nathan Saliba then curled a free-kick to make it 4-0, and lifted his stricken' team-mate's shirt up in his celebration. Mohammad Al Mannai's comical own goal made it worse for Qatar, as David completed his hat-trick in stoppage time.The result means Canada need to avoid defeat against Switzerland in the final group game to claim top spot - which would see them play their round of 32 game in front of a home crowd.16: GOAL! Vancouver explodes with noise as Larin taps home after David's shot is spilled into his path29: GOAL! David makes it 2-0 with a stunning volley from inside the area32: RED CARD! Canada are given a penalty for El Amin's trip on Buchanan, but VAR awards a free-kick as it is outside the box. El Amin's booking is upgraded to a red.45+3: GOAL! After more Canada pressure, David pokes home a third after Larin's header is well-saved.51: Canada midfielder Kone suffers a serious injury after a foul by Modibo, needing to leave the pitch with oxygen and Canada players looking distressed. The Qatar player is sent off after VAR upgraded the yellow card.64: GOAL! Kone's replacement Saliba scores a direct free-kick and holds up Kone's shirt in his celebration.75: GOAL! Al Mannai scores a comical own goal by diverting Jacob Shaffelburg's off target shot into his own net.90+2: GOAL! David completes his hat-trick amid more woeful defending.

Football News

Switzerland took a giant leap towards qualifying for the World Cup knockout stages with an emphatic 4-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Los Angeles.What had been an otherwise uneventful encounter for the first 73 minutes came to life when 20-year-old Johan Manzambi crashed in a volley just 166 seconds after his introduction, before Tarik Muharemovic was shown a straight red for catching Breel Embolo on the heel as the last man.Embolo then teed up another sub, Ruben Vargas, to hit a first-time shot past Nikola Vasilj to make it 2-0 and it was three with 90 minutes on the clock when Freiburg midfielder Manzambi coolly side-footed in his second.There was still more action to come, though.On just his third appearance for his country, Ermin Mahmic reduced the deficit when he beat Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel with the sweetest of volleys from just inside the box.But the three-goal cushion was restored with one of the final kicks of the game when Swiss captain Granit Xhaka rolled in from the spot after Djibril Sow had been brought down by Amar Memic.Aside from a flourish in the opening 20 minutes or so, Switzerland struggled with any sort of attacking cohesion for much of the game in LA. They had dominated the ball, but Bosnia-Herzegovina possessed a threat on the break. Change was needed.Murat Yakin's substitutes changed the game - and Johan Manzambi was the star. Just 166 seconds after his introduction, he lashed a volley high into the net to open the scoring, then he made it 3-0 on 90 minutes.But not only that, he had the most shots on target among Switzerland players, and ranked top for both the most opposition box take-ons (5) and dribbles (4). Only two Swiss players managed more than his five duels.Manzambi - named Europa League Young Player of the Season for his efforts in helping Freiburg to the final - has certainly given Yakin something to think about for when he names his team for Wednesday's final group game against Canada.

Football News

Teboho Mokoena's late penalty gifted South Africa their first point of the World Cup after wasteful Czech Republic failed to make their chances pay in a 1-1 draw in Atlanta.Bafana Bafana were desperate to respond after their disheartening opening defeat to Mexico, but they looked sluggish and lacking in creativity for much of the match. However, Pavel Sulc's clear, albeit inadvertent, handball nine minutes from time handed Teboho Mokoena the chance to salvage a point from the penalty spot.They had trailed since the sixth minute to Michal Sadilek's smart finish from another Czech set piece but could have been ahead even before that, with Patrik Schick miscuing a presentable header with just 50 seconds on the clock.South Africa's best chance prior to their goal, a blocked effort from Thapelo Maseko, came when Matej Kovar spilled a cross with Hugo Broos' side struggling to create chances and failing to test the Czech goalkeeper to that point.They should have been further behind moments after the break when Vladimir Darida was found unmarked in the box but a heavy touch allowed Ime Okon to get back, before Schick nodded a free header straight at Ronwen Williams.But Mokoena's late leveller, and a late flurry of half-chances which followed for South Africa, leaves Group A blown right open with both they and Czech Republic still able to amass four points and finish at least third, which would be highly likely to see them into the last 32.For 80 minutes South Africa toiled against a poor Czech Republic side who had lost to the Faroe Islands in qualifying for this tournament and pulled up no trees against South Korea in their opening game.It looked as though Hugo Broos' men were on the verge of an early exit without a single meaningful chance created for the second game in a row, until Pavel Sulc's inadvertent gift of an equaliser.From then, the sluggish, sideways South Africa was gone and there were glimpses that they might be able to salvage their tournament against South Korea in their final group game. Third place is suddenly a realistic opportunity - potentially even second with another slice of good fortune elsewhere.There is undoubtedly more to come from this South Africa side. Not just from how they ended in Atlanta, but from finishing above Nigeria in their qualifying group. But it will take a lot more than they have shown for the majority of this tournament so far to make it count.South Africa head coach Hugo Broos to BBC Sport:"I am very proud of my team when you see the reaction after the Mexico game. We play good football. We are aggressive, we had chances, but you need a bit of luck."We made one mistake, everyone knows that [Vladimir Coufal] throws very far. It's a pity but I'm very proud. The Czech Republic team is very powerful, and very tall. We did very well with the second balls, it was a fantastic performance."

Football News

In a World Cup where superstars have stepped up, Luis Diaz joined the party by registering a goal and an assist in Colombia’s 3-1 win over Uzbekistan.On this evidence Diaz has no intention of watching Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane dominate the spotlight alone.Diaz arrived at the tournament with little fanfare but his haul of 49 goal involvements in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich across all competitions tells you the level the flying winger has been operating at.He ran the show for Colombia, who were reliant on Diaz's creative spark in opening the scoring when Daniel Munoz hooked home a fantastic finish via a defence-shattering pass from the winger.The World Cup debutants levelled on 60 minutes when Abbosbek Fayzullaev headed home with one of their first attacks.Diaz then took matters into his own hands five minutes later, finishing into the far corner to hand the advantage back to the South Americans.Substitute Jaminton Campaz finally ended any doubt as he headed in Cucho Hernandez's cross nine minutes into stoppage time, although Uzbekistan's Bekhruz Karimov still had time to crash a shot against the crossbar.31: Diaz has Colombia's first big chance but hits the post35: GOAL! Munoz shows incredible technique to hook Colombia in front60: GOAL! Fayzullaev makes history by scoring Uzbekistan's first ever World Cup goal65: GOAL! Colombia are soon back in front as Diaz fires home to get the goal his performance deserved90+8: GOAL! Campaz heads home from Hernandez's cross to seal the deal"Now that we've seen all 48 teams in action at the World Cup, the picture is beginning to take shape. Some look like genuine contenders, others look capable of being the dark horses and a select few appear to have about as much chance of going deep in this tournament as a cabbage winning a beauty prize."This has been a World Cup so far for moments of genius - where the superstars are coming out to play. No superstar in your ranks, you're going to struggle."Mbappe, Messi, Haaland, Kane and Diaz are all revelling in the spotlight. Such is life at a World Cup. It's been fun. And there is so much more to come."

Football News

Caleb Yirenkyi scored a 95th-minute winner for Ghana as they beat Panama 1-0 in a dramatic finale to this Group L clash in Toronto.Panama had proved more than a match for Carlos Queiroz's team in what was a largely uneventful game as the skills of Antoine Semenyo were stifled by the Central American side who were looking to claim their first World Cup point at the fourth attempt.Ghana did not even have a shot in a cautious first half. But it was they who found the winner when Coventry City's Brandon Thomas-Asante, on as a substitute, found space down the left and found Yirenkyi with his low cross to force the ball into the net.2: Panama start brightly and Waterman forces an early save.58: Thomas-Asante comes on for Ghana and injects more urgency.60: Martinez shoots into the side-netting from close range for Panama.65: Ayew is set up by Semenyo for a tap-in but Ramos somehow tackles him.90+5: GOAL! Yirenkyi forces the ball home from close range to win the game.90+9: Goalkeeper Mosquera wins a header in the box as Panama chase an equaliser.It was cruel on Panama whose hopes of progression appear unlikely given that their remaining fixtures are against England and Croatia. For Ghana, they will need to improve. But scoring the latest winner of the World Cup so far is a moment to cherish."We battled like warriors," said Queiroz. "We won the game with our brains. First we had to suffer against a great team. They know how to play. We knew they would control the game. But step by step, our strategy was to let them come. This is the way to win."

Football News

An electric second half ensured England made a winning start to their World Cup campaign, with Thomas Tuchel's side showing their attacking excellence in a 4-2 victory over Croatia.In a reversal of the Gareth Southgate story at Euro 2024, when England's defence was solid and their attack dependent on individual moments of inspiration, in Texas they were nervous and jittery at the back but relentless on the front foot.The highlights reel will give England fans plenty to revel in before their next Group L game with Ghana on Tuesday night. Some clips of their defending will give Tuchel sleepless nights.Captain Harry Kane's importance to England's prospects was underlined by his first-half double, which featured a retaken penalty and an expert header from Declan Rice's fine corner.But Croatia twice pegged England back, scoring from their first two shots on target with the centre-back selection of John Stones and Ezri Konsa in the spotlight. Martin Baturina's hit was a bolt from the blue after a Stones slip and England dropped too deep for Peta Musa's well-worked second, with Konsa unable to prevent Ivan Perisic nodding a chipped pass to the goal-scorer.After the interval, though, England were a different beast; intense as they battered the Croatian goal. Jude Bellingham drove down the right, into the box and then fired into the far corner just two minutes into the second half to restore England's lead. They would finish the match with 22 shots to their name.Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic's heroics somehow kept Croatia in it but subs Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford combined late on for the latter to score the fourth and reflect England's dominance.This wasn't the perfect start but it felt like a significant win, with a second-half performance which will fuel belief that England - with a different approach in this new era - can match or even better what they have achieved before under Southgate."The first half was nervy and we struggled to find momentum. There were too many passes backwards. Even off the ball, we were not brave enough."I loved the reaction of the players in the second half. It took us a while to get going, but we did get going and that is the positive."Harry Kane has equalled Gary Lineker's record of 10 World Cup goals for England."The Jude Bellingham argument is over with. We can't be disrespectful to Morgan Rogers because he's a brilliant player. But Jude Bellingham is the top player. He and Kane in attack are the difference."The most important thing is can we keep possession? Take the sting out of the game on the ball. We haven't shown that yet, but it might come in the following games."We didn't let Modric dictate the game. In the past, England players would've stood off players like that. These lads didn't today. Anderson in particular targeted him with the press."12: GOAL! Harry Kane opens the scoring from the spot after Luka Modric kicks Noni Madueke. Kane's first penalty was saved but Dominik Livakovic was off his line and Josko Gvardiol encroached to force a re-take.36: GOAL! Martin Baturina blasts in from the edge of the box against the run of play.42: GOAL! An unmarked Kane heads in Declan Rice's corner to restore England's lead.45+5: GOAL! Petar Musa converts from close range after Ivan Perisic's headed pass.47: GOAL! England come out flying at the start of the second half, with Jude Bellingham hitting their third into the far corner.56: SAVES! Livakovic's heroics deny Nico O'Reilly, Anthony Gordon and Ezri Konsa from a corner as England pile on the pressure in search of a fourth.58: SUB! Modric is hooked off on his 199th appearance for Croatia after struggling in midfield and giving away a penalty.85: GOAL! Subs Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford combine brilliantly for Rashford to make it 4-2.90+5: BLOCK! Kane puts his body on the line to prevent Josko Gvardiol from scoring.Chaotic, captivating, calamitous - at times. World Cup openers are supposed to be cautious, calm and unadventurous. This was the exact opposite.Tuchel's fury at England's defensive frailties and gung-ho approach was clear, but with his words still ringing in their ears at the start of the second half, England's attacking players showed they have the firepower to hurt anyone in this tournament.It was often like a basketball game, and Tuchel will hate that England were so open. But he can only applaud their attacking prowess, with Madueke and Bellingham to the fore.Of course, it was captain Kane who provided some order to proceedings with two goals that took him level with Gary Lineker on 10 World Cup goals.It was great fun - but Tuchel has much to work to do for sure.

Football News

Cristiano Ronaldo struggled during his first performance in the 2026 World Cup as a disappointing Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo.Ronaldo started the game but failed to make the desired impact, missing two big chances of the game as Roberto Martinez's side failed to get out of first gear in Houston.Joao Neves had given Portugal a lead with a smart header inside six minutes, but that proved to be their only shot on target for the entire game.João Neves is the third youngest Portuguese scorer at the World Cup (21 years, 263 days), behind Cristiano Ronaldo in 2006 (21 years, 132 days) and Gonçalo Ramos in 2022 (21 years, 169 days). pic.twitter.com/47gVZEu01wDR Congo remained stubborn and were rewarded with their first ever World Cup goal courtesy of Newcastle's Yoane Wissa which proved enough to come away with a remarkable point in their first appearance at the tournament since 1974 as Zaïre.1 - Yoane Wissa has netted 🇨🇩 Congo DR's first ever FIFA World Cup goal.It's the first time a country's first goal has been scored by a player who plays for a @premierleague club since Everton's Tim Cahill scored 🇦🇺 Australia's first in 2006.History. pic.twitter.com/mxFsBaERkn

Football News

Austria won their first World Cup game in 36 years with a 3-1 Group J victory over tournament debutants Jordan in San Francisco.Ralf Rangnick's side needed a late own goal and a Marko Arnautovic stoppage-time penalty to see off a Jordan side who were nerveless on their tournament bow.The Asian team nearly took a 90-second lead as captain Ehsan Haddad hit a volley into the side netting, but their positive start was punctured when Romano Schmid bent in a wonderful 21st-minute opener - Austria's only shot on target of the first half.But Jordan were not deterred by Schmid's stunner as Ali Olwan hit the bar just 113 seconds later with a glancing header.The debutants deservedly levelled early in the second half as Olwan produced a fine curling equaliser in off the post in the 50th minute.A triple change then shook up Austria, who thought they had restored the lead in the 67th minute through half-time substitute Arnautovic only for his close-range goal at a corner to be disallowed for a handball by Stefan Posch following a VAR review.Austria did eventually go back in front through a 76th-minute Yazan Al Arab own goal as the ball flicked off his back into the net at a corner.Jordan failed to trouble Austria, who made the win safe through Arnautovic's penalty in the 12th minute of stoppage time after a VAR review spotted Saleem Obaid had handled the ball when blocking the former Stoke and West Ham forward's shot.It was a pleasant return to the World Cup for Austria after a 28-year absence from the competition, but they will need to up it if they are to upset holders Argentina in their next Group J game on Monday (6pm UK time), especially after Lionel Messi's hat-trick heroics against Algeria, whom Jordan face next on Tuesday (4am UK time).2: JORDAN GO CLOSE! Haddad raids forward from a counter-attack to smash a low volley from the angle into the side-netting after just 90 seconds.21: GOAL! Schmid scores a stunning opener for Austria as he bends one home from outside the box to score with their first shot on target.22: JORDAN HIT THE BAR! Nearly an instant reponse as Olwan heads against the woodwork with a glancing header from a corner.50: GOAL! Jordan deservedly equalise early in the second half through a fine Olwan goal as he curls one in off the post for the country's first-ever World Cup goal.70: AUSTRIA GOAL DISALLOWED! Arnautovic's close-range goal from a corner is ruled out following a VAR review after Posch handled before the ball fell to him.76: AUSTRIA RETAKE THE LEAD! VAR doesn't save Jordan this time as Al Arab scores an own goal at the near post from a corner as the ball glances off his back while he battled with Arnautovic.90+12: AUSTRIA SCORE FROM THE SPOT! Arnautovic gets on the scoresheet this time as he buries a penalty home after a VAR review for a handball against Obaid, who had deflected Arnautovic's shot wide with his arm.Austria came into this World Cup having sailed through qualification, losing just one of their eight games and scoring 22 goals.Yet in San Francisco, it was tournament newcomers Jordan who looked like that team rather than the one who had been on a five-game winless run.It might now be six, but Jordan can be encouraged by their performance against an Austrian side containing players from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.When Olwan scored Jordan's first-ever World Cup goal - and deservedly so - the Asian side were Californian dreaming of becoming the first debutant to win their opening World Cup match since Senegal's victory over France in 2002.Jordan constantly threatened Rangnick's side - they had the same number of shots (11) and shots on target (4) as Austria - and the ex-Manchester United boss needed his bench to save him.Half-time substitute Arnautovic made an excellent impact as he forced the own goal which restored Austria's lead and then struck the decisive stoppage-time penalty. His experience told.Jordan will now be hoping their newfound World Cup experience can earn them their first-ever tournament points in their next game against Algeria, who were hammered by Argentina.If Austria play like this against the holders, then Messi will massively fancy his chances of breaking the World Cup goals record in Arlington.