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Norway coach Stale Solbakken rested Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard with a Round of 32 spot already secured. France coach Didier Deschamps started Mbappé, Dembélé, Olise and Doué with top spot in Group I on the line. Dembélé scored a hat-trick in 25 minutes. Doué added a fourth in stoppage time. France win all three group games for just the second time in their history. Here is the full account.

Ecuador had 15 shots on target. Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room stopped all 15 of them. Ecuador's Enner Valencia missed two gilt-edged chances including one saved by Room early and one stopped by a last-ditch tackle at the death. The 0-0 draw means Ecuador cannot qualify unless they beat Germany in their final group game. Curacao, who came to this World Cup as the longest odds team in the tournament, have their first-ever World Cup point.

Ivory Coast dominated the first half. Kessie stabbed home in the 30th minute. Germany had two goals disallowed. Then Julian Nagelsmann made a triple substitution and Deniz Undav came on. The Stuttgart forward scored in the 68th minute and again in the 94th to complete a dramatic comeback. Germany are into the last 32 for the first time since 2014. Ivory Coast still have a chance. Here is the full story.

On his 200th appearance for Argentina, making history as the first player to feature in six FIFA World Cups, Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick against Algeria to tie Miroslav Klose's all-time World Cup goals record of 16. He is 38 years old. His first goal was from outside the box. His second was a composed finish from a goalkeeper's rebound. His third was struck with such power the stadium stood still. Argentina won 3-0. The defending champions are on their way.

Spain had 27 shots, seven on target, and the reigning European champions. Cape Verde had Vozinha. A 40-year-old journeyman goalkeeper who turned 40 on June 3, made seven saves, cried at the final whistle, and went from 50,000 Instagram followers to over 5 million by midnight. Cape Verde's first-ever World Cup match ended 0-0. It was the greatest result in the history of the Blue Sharks. Here is the full story.

Every time a footballer signs a new deal, headlines scream out massive salary figures. But almost none of that number ever touches the player's bank account in full. Here is what actually happens to a footballer's pay once the taxman gets involved.

Ismael Saibari chipped Alisson Becker in the 21st minute to put Morocco ahead. Vinicius Junior fired an angled right-foot finish past Yassine Bounou eleven minutes later. Brazil and Morocco played out a 1-1 draw at MetLife Stadium in the most high-profile group game of the 2026 World Cup's opening weekend. Here is the full account of what happened.

Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 at the Estadio Azteca to open the 2026 World Cup. It was a historic match: two goals, three red cards, the first time South Africa played a World Cup game since they hosted in 2010. But the story that has consumed African social media is not the result. It is the millions of Nigerians, Ghanaians, Kenyans and other Africans who watched their continental representative lose and celebrated.

Argentina vs Iceland, Messi 911 goals, Argentina World Cup 2026, Valentin Barco, Thiago Almada, Lionel Scaloni, Argentina final warmup, Messi penalty Iceland, Jordan-Hare Stadium

Spain sent a loud message to every World Cup contender on Monday night. A dominant 3-1 win over Peru in Puebla showed exactly why La Roja are among the favourites to lift the trophy this summer.

The biggest World Cup in history was supposed to be the most inclusive ever. Instead, fans from Morocco, Iran, Nigeria, Senegal, and dozens of other countries are watching from home. Not by choice. Because the US Embassy said no.

Omar Abdulkadir Artan, 34, was named Africa's Best Referee in 2025 and was one of 52 officials selected by FIFA for the 2026 World Cup. He arrived at Miami International Airport on June 6. He was turned around and sent back to Istanbul. US authorities cited vetting concerns. No further explanation has been given. FIFA said it is powerless to override the decision. Somalia is on Trump's travel ban list.

Singapore host China in a pre-ASEAN Championship friendly at Jalan Besar Stadium today. The Lions are on a three-match winning streak and fresh off a 4-0 demolition of Mongolia. China, ranked 94th in the world to Singapore's 147th, have not lost to Singapore in 10 meetings. The last six encounters produced nearly five goals per game. Here is everything you need to know before kick-off.

Ivory Coast had never beaten France in their history. On Thursday night in Nantes, they did it. Guéla Doué equalised in the 53rd minute, then set up Amad Diallo's 84th-minute winner to complete a 2-1 comeback. The story writes itself: Doué scored against his own brother's national team. France open their World Cup campaign against Senegal on June 16.

Nigeria have won the Unity Cup for the fourth time in the tournament's history, defeating Jamaica 3-0 in Saturday's final at The Valley in London. Alhassan Yusuf scored twice, Terem Moffi headed home the second, and the Super Eagles became the first and only side to have won every edition of the competition.