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Cristiano Ronaldo added another remarkable achievement to his legendary career by becoming Portugal’s highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history during a dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan. The 41-year-old forward scored twice in Portugal’s Group K encounter, taking his World Cup goal tally to 10 and surpassing the long-standing record of nine goals held by Portuguese icon Eusebio since the 1966 FIFA World Cup.&nbsp;Portugal entered the match under scrutiny following a disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening fixture. Ronaldo had also been criticised for missing several opportunities in that match. However, both the veteran striker and Roberto Martínez’s side responded emphatically against Uzbekistan. Ronaldo opened the scoring in the sixth minute after meeting a low cross from Cancelo. The strike was historic, making him the first footballer in history to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments.&nbsp;The Portugal captain found the net again just before half-time. Bruno Fernandes delivered a perfectly timed pass through the Uzbekistan defence, allowing Ronaldo to finish calmly and extend Portugal’s lead to 3-0. The goal not only secured his brace but also saw him move ahead of Eusebio as Portugal’s leading World Cup goalscorer. In addition to becoming the first player to score in six separate World Cups, Ronaldo also became the second-oldest goalscorer in tournament history at 41 years and 138 days, trailing only Cameroon legend Roger Milla.&nbsp;The two goals further boosted Ronaldo’s incredible career tally to 975 goals for club and country. Portugal’s convincing victory lifted them to four points from two matches and significantly improved their chances of progressing to the knockout rounds ahead of their final group-stage clash against Colombia. While the result strengthened Portugal’s campaign, the evening will be remembered most for Ronaldo ending a 60-year record and adding yet another milestone to one of football’s most decorated careers.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-are-cristiano-ronaldo-s-new-gold-football-boots-trending-ahead-of-portugal-vs-colombia-match-1782392433745">Why are Cristiano Ronaldo’s new gold football boots trending ahead of Portugal vs Colombia match?</a>

Japan vs Sweden

<h2>Who was Eusebio?</h2>Eusebio da Silva Ferreira remains one of the greatest footballers in Portuguese history and was long regarded as the nation’s most iconic sporting figure before Ronaldo’s rise. Known as "The Black Panther" because of his speed, strength and deadly finishing ability, Eusebio became Portugal’s first global football superstar.&nbsp;Born on January 25, 1942, in Lourenço Marques, now Maputo in Mozambique, which was then a Portuguese colony, Eusebio rose to prominence with Benfica and established himself as one of the finest strikers of his era. His most memorable achievement came at the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England, where he scored nine goals in six matches. His performances earned him the Golden Boot and helped Portugal secure a historic third-place finish, one of the country's greatest achievements on the international stage.&nbsp;One of the tournament’s most unforgettable moments came in the quarter-final against North Korea. Portugal fell behind 3-0 before Eusebio inspired a dramatic turnaround by scoring four goals in a remarkable 5-3 victory. At club level, Eusebio enjoyed extraordinary success with Benfica, winning 11 Portuguese league titles and helping the club capture the European Cup.&nbsp;&nbsp;He scored more than 600 official goals throughout his career and was awarded the Ballon d’Or in 1965 as Europe’s best footballer. Eusebio passed away in January 2014 at the age of 71, but his legacy remains deeply woven into football history. He continues to be celebrated as one of the sport’s greatest-ever players and a symbol of Portugal’s emergence as a football powerhouse.

Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed Eusebio to become Portugal’s all-time leading FIFA World Cup goalscorer after scoring twice in a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan. The Portuguese star also became the first player to score in six different World Cups and extended his career tally to 975 goals

Cristiano Ronaldo added another remarkable achievement to his legendary career by becoming Portugal’s highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history during a dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan. The 41-year-old forward scored twice in Portugal’s Group K encounter, taking his World Cup goal tally to 10 and surpassing the long-standing record of nine goals held by Portuguese icon Eusebio since the 1966 FIFA World Cup. Portugal entered the match under scrutiny following a disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening fixture. Ronaldo had also been criticised for missing several opportunities in that match. However, both the veteran striker and Roberto Martínez’s side responded emphatically against Uzbekistan. Ronaldo opened the scoring in the sixth minute after meeting a low cross from Cancelo. The strike was historic, making him the first footballer in history to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments. The Portugal captain found the net again just before half-time. Bruno Fernandes delivered a perfectly timed pass through the Uzbekistan defence, allowing Ronaldo to finish calmly and extend Portugal’s lead to 3-0. The goal not only secured his brace but also saw him move ahead of Eusebio as Portugal’s leading World Cup goalscorer. In addition to becoming the first player to score in six separate World Cups, Ronaldo also became the second-oldest goalscorer in tournament history at 41 years and 138 days, trailing only Cameroon legend Roger Milla. The two goals further boosted Ronaldo’s incredible career tally to 975 goals for club and country. Portugal’s convincing victory lifted them to four points from two matches and significantly improved their chances of progressing to the knockout rounds ahead of their final group-stage clash against Colombia. While the result strengthened Portugal’s campaign, the evening will be remembered most for Ronaldo ending a 60-year record and adding yet another milestone to one of football’s most decorated careers. Also Read: Why are Cristiano Ronaldo’s new gold football boots trending ahead of Portugal vs Colombia match?

Cristiano Ronaldo broke Eusebio’s 60-year World Cup scoring record, becoming Portugal’s top FIFA World Cup goalscorer with 10 goals

Who Was Eusebio? The ‘Black Panther’ who ruled the 1966 FIFA World Cup before Cristiano Ronaldo broke his record

14 days of FIFA World Cup 2026 action are over, with several teams from the 48-team pool already qualified for the knockouts, while seven have been confirmed eliminated even before the group stages are over. Be it the defending champions Argentina, four-time winners Germany, or even Brazil, all have advanced to the next round, newcomers like Cape Verde remaining in contention for their maiden World Cup knockout appearance. However, among those knocked out or mathematically guaranteed not to qualify are Tunisia, Haiti and Turkey, among others.&nbsp;Of the 48 participating teams, 16 will be confirmed eliminated before the knockouts get underway, and among those, seven have been confirmed, with nine more to go. While there hasn’t been a surprise yet, ruling it out before all group-stage games are over would be criminal.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-brazil-forward-vinicius-jr-equals-ronaldo-feat-with-brace-against-scotland-to-enter-golden-boot-race-1782390373268">World Cup 2026: Brazil’s Vinicius Jr. equals R9’s feat with brace against SCO to enter Golden Boot race</a> &nbsp;Among those confirmed out are the Czech Republic (Group A) and Qatar (Group B), which drew a game each and lost their remaining two group-stage fixtures; as a result, they now find themselves at the bottom of their groups. After losing to South Korea in their opener (1-2), Czechia drew 1-1 against South Africa before going down in their final group game to the tournament’s co-hosts, Mexico (0-3). Qatar, on the other hand, after drawing against Switzerland (1-1), lost their remaining two matches to Canada (0-6) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (0-3). &nbsp;From Group C, Haiti is out of the tournament after losing to Scotland (0-1), Brazil (0-3) and Morocco (2-4). From Group D, Turkey was the first country to be knocked out of the tournament following successive defeats to Australia and Paraguay. They will, however, face the tournament’s co-hosts, the US, in their last group game on Friday (Jun 26).

FIFA World Cup 2026 Live on Zee5

While none of the four teams has been eliminated from Group E yet, with each, besides Germany, having a chance to seal their knockout fate, Tunisia (Group F) is the only African country yet guaranteed of not qualifying for the next round. They have lost their first two games to Japan and Sweden by four goals each. &nbsp;Again, none of the four teams from Groups G, H, and I have been eliminated yet. From Group J, Jordan has confirmed their exit after two straight losses. &nbsp;In Group K, all four teams are still in contention, whereas in the last group, Group L, Panama has already exited after losing 0-1 each to Croatia and Ghana.<h3>Full list of teams who have been eliminated from the 2026 World Cup –</h3><ul><li>Czech Republic (Group A)</li><li>Qatar (Group B)</li><li>Haiti (Group C)</li><li>Turkey (Group D)</li><li>Tunisia (Group F)</li><li>Jordan (Group J)</li><li>Panama (Group L)</li></ul>

Track every nation knocked out of the FIFA World Cup 2026. See the full list of teams mathematically eliminated after 14 days of intense group play.

14 days of FIFA World Cup 2026 action are over, with several teams from the 48-team pool already qualified for the knockouts, while seven have been confirmed eliminated even before the group stages are over. Be it the defending champions Argentina, four-time winners Germany, or even Brazil, all have advanced to the next round, newcomers like Cape Verde remaining in contention for their maiden World Cup knockout appearance. However, among those knocked out or mathematically guaranteed not to qualify are Tunisia, Haiti and Turkey, among others. Of the 48 participating teams, 16 will be confirmed eliminated before the knockouts get underway, and among those, seven have been confirmed, with nine more to go. While there hasn’t been a surprise yet, ruling it out before all group-stage games are over would be criminal. Also read| World Cup 2026: Brazil’s Vinicius Jr. equals R9’s feat with brace against SCO to enter Golden Boot race Among those confirmed out are the Czech Republic (Group A) and Qatar (Group B), which drew a game each and lost their remaining two group-stage fixtures; as a result, they now find themselves at the bottom of their groups. After losing to South Korea in their opener (1-2), Czechia drew 1-1 against South Africa before going down in their final group game to the tournament’s co-hosts, Mexico (0-3). Qatar, on the other hand, after drawing against Switzerland (1-1), lost their remaining two matches to Canada (0-6) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (0-3). From Group C, Haiti is out of the tournament after losing to Scotland (0-1), Brazil (0-3) and Morocco (2-4). From Group D, Turkey was the first country to be knocked out of the tournament following successive defeats to Australia and Paraguay. They will, however, face the tournament’s co-hosts, the US, in their last group game on Friday (Jun 26).

Track every nation knocked out of the FIFA World Cup 2026. See the full list of teams mathematically eliminated after 14 days of intense group play.

Tunisia, Haiti and Turkey: Full List of Teams Eliminated after 14 Days of World Cup 2026

American sportswear giant Nike has unveiled a special edition Gold Mercurial Superfly RGN football boot to honour Cristiano Ronaldo’s extraordinary 20-year career. Ronaldo, who has a lifetime partnership with Nike, is expected to wear the exclusive boots during Portugal’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Group Stage encounter against Colombia on Sunday. According to Footy Headlines, the boots feature a metallic gold design accented with white details. The premium footwear includes a 3/4-length Air Zoom unit, Flywire support technology, and a soft, tacky upper engineered to enhance ball control and on-field performance.&nbsp;Priced at $300 (approximately Rs 28,343), the Gold Mercurial Superfly RGN was launched globally on Wednesday, just a day after Ronaldo delivered a stunning brace in Portugal’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan. The Portuguese superstar became the first footballer in history to score in six different FIFA World Cup editions, further cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen. The commemorative boots celebrate both his remarkable consistency and a career that has spanned more than two decades.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-did-neymar-shed-tears-after-returning-for-brazil-following-981-day-absence-1782387900583">Why did Neymar cry after his 981-day Brazil comeback? Star reveals emotional locker room moment</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">20 years in the making <a href="https://x.com/Cristiano?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cristiano</a>. Gold Mercurial Superfly RGN, dropping June 24. <a href="https://t.co/drY4En5VCs">pic.twitter.com/drY4En5VCs</a>&mdash; Nike Football (@nikefootball) <a href="https://x.com/nikefootball/status/2069495487326244981?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ronaldo once again demonstrated that age is no barrier to excellence. Appearing in his sixth FIFA World Cup, the veteran forward marked the occasion by rewriting the record books. His two-goal performance helped Portugal secure a dominant win over Uzbekistan. Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leao also found the net, while an own goal involving Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov compounded the misery for Fabio Cannavaro’s side. The convincing result handed Roberto Martinez’s team their first victory of the tournament after opening with a draw against DR Congo.

Tunisia vs Netherlands

Speaking after the match, Ronaldo highlighted the team's improvement from the opening fixture and reiterated that collective success remains his top priority. "The team performed really well and improved a lot. As the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. Obviously, speaking personally, records are always nice but my goal is always to help the national team achieve its objectives," he said as quoted by Reuters.

Nike has launched the Gold Mercurial Superfly RGN football boots to celebrate Cristiano Ronaldo's 20-year career. The Portuguese star is set to wear the special edition boots at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after becoming the first player to score in six World Cups

American sportswear giant Nike has unveiled a special edition Gold Mercurial Superfly RGN football boot to honour Cristiano Ronaldo’s extraordinary 20-year career. Ronaldo, who has a lifetime partnership with Nike, is expected to wear the exclusive boots during Portugal’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Group Stage encounter against Colombia on Sunday. According to Footy Headlines, the boots feature a metallic gold design accented with white details. The premium footwear includes a 3/4-length Air Zoom unit, Flywire support technology, and a soft, tacky upper engineered to enhance ball control and on-field performance. Priced at $300 (approximately Rs 28,343), the Gold Mercurial Superfly RGN was launched globally on Wednesday, just a day after Ronaldo delivered a stunning brace in Portugal’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan. The Portuguese superstar became the first footballer in history to score in six different FIFA World Cup editions, further cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen. The commemorative boots celebrate both his remarkable consistency and a career that has spanned more than two decades. Also Read: Why did Neymar cry after his 981-day Brazil comeback? Star reveals emotional locker room moment

Portugal's captain Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his historic sixth World Cup scoring feat with Nike’s special Gold Mercurial Superfly RGN boots

Why are Cristiano Ronaldo’s new gold football boots trending ahead of Portugal vs Colombia match?

Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr. scored a brace against Scotland in his country’s final group stage game in Miami, helping the former five-time winners stay at the top of the Group C standings. His two goals, however, place him in the elite company of Ronaldo Nazario and Rivaldo to score in each group stage game in a single World Cup edition. His four goals in three matches so far have placed him well in the race for the Golden Boot this time, currently led by Argentine captain Lionel Messi, who has scored five goals in two matches.&nbsp;While Vinicius scored one goal each in Brazil’s first two fixtures, against Morocco (1-1) and Haiti (3-0), his brace against Scotland puts him up there with the footballing icons.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-day-15-live-streaming-in-india-match-timings-ist-schedule-tv-channel-details-1782384338459">FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 15 Live Streaming in India: Match timings, IST schedule, and TV channel details</a> &nbsp;Ronaldo and Rivaldo were among the last holders of this feat during the 2002 edition, co-hosted by Japan and South Korea, and later helped Brazil win the tournament for the last time to date. That win marked their record fifth time winning the FIFA World Cup, the most by any team ever. Besides the two, Jairzinho (1970) and Romario (1994) were the early Brazilians to score in each of their group-stage games in an edition, making Vinicius only the fifth from the country to do so.

<h3>Vinicius punishes Scotland with a clinical showing</h3>Needing a win to stay at the top of Group C, Brazil opened their account in the seventh minute with a Vinicius strike. An error in judgment from the Scottish defender Scott McKenna inside the penalty box saw Vinicius make the most of the chance and open the scoring for Brazil. After a similar goal was ruled out with VAR’s intervention, he scored his second through a header late into the first-half stoppage time. &nbsp;Striker Matheus Cunha added Brazil’s third goal in the second half (60th minute), completing a clinical win for his team and maintaining an unbeaten run thus far.&nbsp; &nbsp;Vinicius, however, remained the focal point of Brazil’s attack, with four goals and an assist in three contested matches.&nbsp;

Vinícius Jr. struck twice, and Matheus Cunha scored once to power Brazil to a dominant 3-0 victory over Scotland, securing the top spot in Group C at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr. scored a brace against Scotland in his country’s final group stage game in Miami, helping the former five-time winners stay at the top of the Group C standings. His two goals, however, place him in the elite company of Ronaldo Nazario and Rivaldo to score in each group stage game in a single World Cup edition. His four goals in three matches so far have placed him well in the race for the Golden Boot this time, currently led by Argentine captain Lionel Messi, who has scored five goals in two matches. While Vinicius scored one goal each in Brazil’s first two fixtures, against Morocco (1-1) and Haiti (3-0), his brace against Scotland puts him up there with the footballing icons. Also read| FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 15 Live Streaming in India: Match timings, IST schedule, and TV channel details Ronaldo and Rivaldo were among the last holders of this feat during the 2002 edition, co-hosted by Japan and South Korea, and later helped Brazil win the tournament for the last time to date. That win marked their record fifth time winning the FIFA World Cup, the most by any team ever. Besides the two, Jairzinho (1970) and Romario (1994) were the early Brazilians to score in each of their group-stage games in an edition, making Vinicius only the fifth from the country to do so.

Vinícius Jr. struck twice, and Matheus Cunha scored once to power Brazil to a dominant 3-0 victory over Scotland, securing the top spot in Group C at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

World Cup 2026: Brazil’s Vinicius Jr. equals R9’s feat with brace against SCO to enter Golden Boot race

Brazil star Neymar admitted he became emotional after making his long-awaited return to the national team, ending a 981-day absence during Brazil's 3-0 FIFA World Cup victory over Scotland in Miami on Wednesday. The 34-year-old last played for Brazil in 2023 before suffering a serious knee injury in October of that year. Since then, he has faced multiple setbacks in his recovery and struggled to regain consistent form, raising doubts about his place in Brazil's World Cup squad.&nbsp;Neymar's return was further delayed after a calf injury last month ruled him out of Brazil's opening two matches of the tournament. However, he finally made his comeback against Scotland, entering the match in the second half to a rousing reception from Brazilian fans, who chanted his name throughout the stadium. "I went to the locker room, all alone, and I shed a few tears," Neymar told reporters after Brazil finished top of Group C. “It’s an immense relief ‌to ⁠relive all this. It’s a moment of gratitude. I thank God for being able to experience this again.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/could-history-repeat-itself-for-algeria-44-years-after-the-disgrace-of-gijon-1782383927153">Could Algeria be involved in another 'Disgrace of Gijon' at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?</a>

Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 international goals, Neymar has now featured in four World Cups, contributing eight goals and four assists in the tournament since making his World Cup debut in 2014. Reflecting on his return, Neymar acknowledged how much the team has changed during his absence. "I had been away for a long time so it’s a different team now, I see it with fresh ⁠eyes," he said.&nbsp;“But I’m very happy to have been able to come back and play in a World Cup and defend the ⁠Brazilian national team after so many years.” Brazil will now face the runners-up of Group F in their Round of 16 clash in Houston on Monday as they continue their quest for World Cup glory.

Neymar made an emotional return to Brazil's national team after 981 days, admitting he shed tears following Brazil's 3-0 World Cup win over Scotland in Miami

Brazil star Neymar admitted he became emotional after making his long-awaited return to the national team, ending a 981-day absence during Brazil's 3-0 FIFA World Cup victory over Scotland in Miami on Wednesday. The 34-year-old last played for Brazil in 2023 before suffering a serious knee injury in October of that year. Since then, he has faced multiple setbacks in his recovery and struggled to regain consistent form, raising doubts about his place in Brazil's World Cup squad. Neymar's return was further delayed after a calf injury last month ruled him out of Brazil's opening two matches of the tournament. However, he finally made his comeback against Scotland, entering the match in the second half to a rousing reception from Brazilian fans, who chanted his name throughout the stadium. "I went to the locker room, all alone, and I shed a few tears," Neymar told reporters after Brazil finished top of Group C. “It’s an immense relief ‌to ⁠relive all this. It’s a moment of gratitude. I thank God for being able to experience this again.” Also Read: Could Algeria be involved in another 'Disgrace of Gijon' at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

Neymar returned for Brazil after 981 days, fighting back from injuries and admitting he shed tears after his emotional FIFA World Cup comeback

Why did Neymar cry after his 981-day Brazil comeback? Star reveals emotional locker room moment

In a boost for Indian Cricket fans, they can now watch the start of two crucial fixtures on Sunday (Jun 28) without one game overlapping the other’s timings. To avoid a clash of two matches beginning at the same time (India vs Australia in the Women’s T20 World Cup at Lord’s and India vs Ireland 2nd T20I in Belfast), Cricket Ireland (CI) late on Wednesday (Jun 24) confirmed the new start time for the T20I series against India, starting on Friday (Jun 26). While the Women’s WC match begins at 7 PM IST, the second of the two T20Is between India and Ireland will start an hour earlier, at 6 PM IST (1:30 PM local time).&nbsp;The first T20I between India and Ireland will also begin at 6 PM IST on Friday.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-15-year-old-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-must-use-a-separate-changing-room-on-england-tour-ecb-safeguarding-regulations-ind-vs-eng-2026-1782311413624">Why 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must use a separate changing room on England tour</a> &nbsp;While the T20Is, to be played for the Spinny Cup, will anyway clash with the marquee Women’s T20 World Cup match, the match timings were adjusted to minimise the overlap, at least partially.&nbsp; &nbsp;A Cricbuzz report claims that Cricket Ireland agreed to the new start times, considering the significance of the India-Australia Women’s T20 WC game. &nbsp;Cricket Ireland, the organisers for the two scheduled T20Is against India, is also said to have discussed the new start time with the Indian broadcaster, the Sony Sports Network. Although they would have preferred a 7 PM IST start time for the India games, ideal and usual for India’s away T20I fixtures, the broadcaster is believed to have agreed to the revised timing to avoid clashing with the Indian women’s match against Australia.<h3>England series schedule, match timings</h3>After the Ireland T20Is, the Indian Team will travel to England for five T20Is and three ODIs, starting July 1. While two of the five T20Is will begin at 7 PM IST (the second T20I in Manchester on July 4 and the fifth in Southampton on July 11), the remaining three (1st T20I in Chester-Le-Street, 3rd T20I in Nottingham and 4th T20I in Bristol) will begin at 10 PM IST. &nbsp;However, the three ODIs (1st at Edgbaston on July 14th, 2nd at Sophia Gardens on July 17th and 3rd at Lord’s on July 19) will start at 3:30 PM IST. &nbsp;India T20I squad for Ireland series - &nbsp;Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Prince Yadav &nbsp;India T20I squad for England series – &nbsp;Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Prince Yadav &nbsp;India ODI squad for England series – &nbsp;Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli*, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar

IND vs IRE T20I timings changed! Cricket Ireland shifts match times to avoid a direct broadcast clash with the India-Australia Women's World Cup.

In a boost for Indian Cricket fans, they can now watch the start of two crucial fixtures on Sunday (Jun 28) without one game overlapping the other’s timings. To avoid a clash of two matches beginning at the same time (India vs Australia in the Women’s T20 World Cup at Lord’s and India vs Ireland 2nd T20I in Belfast), Cricket Ireland (CI) late on Wednesday (Jun 24) confirmed the new start time for the T20I series against India, starting on Friday (Jun 26). While the Women’s WC match begins at 7 PM IST, the second of the two T20Is between India and Ireland will start an hour earlier, at 6 PM IST (1:30 PM local time). The first T20I between India and Ireland will also begin at 6 PM IST on Friday. Also read | Why 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must use a separate changing room on England tour While the T20Is, to be played for the Spinny Cup, will anyway clash with the marquee Women’s T20 World Cup match, the match timings were adjusted to minimise the overlap, at least partially. A Cricbuzz report claims that Cricket Ireland agreed to the new start times, considering the significance of the India-Australia Women’s T20 WC game. Cricket Ireland, the organisers for the two scheduled T20Is against India, is also said to have discussed the new start time with the Indian broadcaster, the Sony Sports Network. Although they would have preferred a 7 PM IST start time for the India games, ideal and usual for India’s away T20I fixtures, the broadcaster is believed to have agreed to the revised timing to avoid clashing with the Indian women’s match against Australia. England series schedule, match timings After the Ireland T20Is, the Indian Team will travel to England for five T20Is and three ODIs, starting July 1. While two of the five T20Is will begin at 7 PM IST (the second T20I in Manchester on July 4 and the fifth in Southampton on July 11), the remaining three (1st T20I in Chester-Le-Street, 3rd T20I in Nottingham and 4th T20I in Bristol) will begin at 10 PM IST. However, the three ODIs (1st at Edgbaston on July 14th, 2nd at Sophia Gardens on July 17th and 3rd at Lord’s on July 19) will start at 3:30 PM IST. India T20I squad for Ireland series - Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Prince Yadav India T20I squad for England series – Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Prince Yadav India ODI squad for England series – Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli*, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar

IND vs IRE T20I timings changed! Cricket Ireland shifts match times to avoid a direct broadcast clash with the India-Australia Women's World Cup.

IND vs IRE T20I match timings changed to avoid clash with India-Australia Women's World Cup fixture

A new star emerged in Indian athletics on Wednesday as 18-year-old hammer thrower Anushka Yadav from Uttar Pradesh delivered a record-breaking performance at the National Inter-State Championships. Her achievement not only etched her name into the history books but also made her the youngest national record holder in Indian athletics.Competing at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Anushka produced a remarkable throw of 67.02 metres in the women’s hammer throw event, surpassing the previous national record of 65.25 metres set by Sarita Singh in 2017.&nbsp;The young athlete from Baleni village in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat district achieved the feat in spectacular fashion, breaking the national record twice during the same competition.&nbsp;She began with a throw of 62.07m, then exceeded the existing record with a second-round effort of 65.64m before improving further to 67.02m on her final attempt.&nbsp;The performance marked a significant improvement from her previous personal best of 62.89m, recorded while winning gold at the National Games last year. Even her opening throw comfortably crossed the Athletics Federation of India qualifying standard of 61.72m for the Asian Games.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-is-the-oldest-goalscorer-in-fifa-world-cup-history-1782381297976">Who is the oldest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history?</a>&nbsp;Interestingly, Anushka’s sporting journey did not begin in the throwing arena, as she initially trained as a 100-metre sprinter before switching to hammer throw on the recommendation of her father, Sushil Yadav, who also became her first coach.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/could-history-repeat-itself-for-algeria-44-years-after-the-disgrace-of-gijon-1782383927153">Could Algeria be involved in another 'Disgrace of Gijon' at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?</a>&nbsp;Raised in a farming family in Baleni village, Anushka was introduced to the hammer throw at the age of 12. Since then, she has trained under several coaches, including her father and Chirag Yadav, while continuing her practice sessions at her local training ground.&nbsp;Following her record-breaking performance, Anushka expressed her ambition to push beyond the 70-metre mark and secure a gold medal at the Asian Games.&nbsp;Her success becomes even more inspiring considering she suffered a ligament fracture in March. The injury occurred while she was helping repair a tractor on her family’s farmland.&nbsp;Despite the setback, she recovered in time to compete at the National Inter-State Championships and produce the finest performance of her career.

Anushka Yadav made history by becoming the youngest national record holder in Indian athletics after registering a 67.02m hammer throw at the National Inter-State Championships in Kalinga Stadium, surpassing a record that had stood for nine years.

A new star emerged in Indian athletics on Wednesday as 18-year-old hammer thrower Anushka Yadav from Uttar Pradesh delivered a record-breaking performance at the National Inter-State Championships. Her achievement not only etched her name into the history books but also made her the youngest national record holder in Indian athletics. Competing at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Anushka produced a remarkable throw of 67.02 metres in the women’s hammer throw event, surpassing the previous national record of 65.25 metres set by Sarita Singh in 2017. The young athlete from Baleni village in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat district achieved the feat in spectacular fashion, breaking the national record twice during the same competition. She began with a throw of 62.07m, then exceeded the existing record with a second-round effort of 65.64m before improving further to 67.02m on her final attempt. The performance marked a significant improvement from her previous personal best of 62.89m, recorded while winning gold at the National Games last year. Even her opening throw comfortably crossed the Athletics Federation of India qualifying standard of 61.72m for the Asian Games. Also Read - Who is the oldest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history? Interestingly, Anushka’s sporting journey did not begin in the throwing arena, as she initially trained as a 100-metre sprinter before switching to hammer throw on the recommendation of her father, Sushil Yadav, who also became her first coach. Also Read - Could Algeria be involved in another 'Disgrace of Gijon' at the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Raised in a farming family in Baleni village, Anushka was introduced to the hammer throw at the age of 12. Since then, she has trained under several coaches, including her father and Chirag Yadav, while continuing her practice sessions at her local training ground. Following her record-breaking performance, Anushka expressed her ambition to push beyond the 70-metre mark and secure a gold medal at the Asian Games. Her success becomes even more inspiring considering she suffered a ligament fracture in March. The injury occurred while she was helping repair a tractor on her family’s farmland. Despite the setback, she recovered in time to compete at the National Inter-State Championships and produce the finest performance of her career.

Anushka Yadav made history by becoming the youngest national record holder in Indian athletics after registering a 67.02m hammer throw at the National Inter-State Championships in Kalinga Stadium, surpassing a record that had stood for nine years.

Meet Anushka Yadav, India’s youngest national record holder

The 2026 World Cup has entered its decisive final round of group-stage matches, with both games in each of the tournament’s 12 groups now kicking off simultaneously. The reason FIFA introduced simultaneous kick-offs for final group matches dates back to the 1982 World Cup and the infamous “Disgrace of Gijon” involving West Germany and Austria. In that controversial encounter, Algeria had already completed their group campaign and were in position to qualify.&nbsp;<h2>What is Disgrace of Gijon?</h2>West Germany and Austria entered their match fully aware that a narrow German victory would allow both teams to progress while eliminating Algeria on goal difference. West Germany scored in the 10th minute, and with the result sufficient for both sides, the match effectively lost its competitive edge. The two teams appeared content with the score line and largely stopped pushing for additional goals, sparking outrage among Algerian supporters and neutrals alike.&nbsp;In response, FIFA changed the World Cup format ahead of the 1986 tournament, ensuring that final group-stage matches would be played simultaneously. The move was designed to reduce the possibility of teams agreeing, either explicitly or implicitly, on a result that would benefit both sides.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-the-duck-viral-sensation-merlin-denied-entry-to-stadium-to-watch-mexico-s-game-here-s-what-happened-1782380910851">What the duck! Viral sensation Merlin denied entry to stadium to watch Mexico's game. Here's what happened</a>

<h2>Will history repeat itself for Algeria?</h2>Ironically, the format of the 2026 World Cup may have created a different kind of scenario. The introduction of head-to-head records as the primary tiebreaker, replacing goal difference, gives some teams a clearer picture of what is required to reach the knockout stages. That situation now appears to favor Algeria and Austria in Group J.&nbsp;&nbsp;With Argentina already guaranteed top spot and four points expected to be enough for most third-placed teams to advance, both Algeria and Austria know that a draw in Kansas City would likely send them through to the next round. A similar scenario exists in Group D, where Australia and Paraguay could also benefit from sharing the points.&nbsp;However, there is an additional twist. Finishing second in Group J would likely set up a difficult last-32 clash against Spain, one of the tournament favourites. The team ending third could instead face Belgium or Egypt, a potentially more favorable route through the knockout stages. As a result, the final group-stage showdown between Algeria and Austria carries an unusual dynamic, raising questions about whether FIFA’s latest format adjustments have unintentionally created new strategic opportunities decades after the “Disgrace of Gijon.”

World Cup 2026's final group matches have sparked comparisons to the 1982 Disgrace of Gijon. Discover why Algeria and Austria could both qualify with a draw and how FIFA’s new head-to-head tiebreak system may be creating fresh controversy

The 2026 World Cup has entered its decisive final round of group-stage matches, with both games in each of the tournament’s 12 groups now kicking off simultaneously. The reason FIFA introduced simultaneous kick-offs for final group matches dates back to the 1982 World Cup and the infamous “Disgrace of Gijon” involving West Germany and Austria. In that controversial encounter, Algeria had already completed their group campaign and were in position to qualify. What is Disgrace of Gijon? West Germany and Austria entered their match fully aware that a narrow German victory would allow both teams to progress while eliminating Algeria on goal difference. West Germany scored in the 10th minute, and with the result sufficient for both sides, the match effectively lost its competitive edge. The two teams appeared content with the score line and largely stopped pushing for additional goals, sparking outrage among Algerian supporters and neutrals alike. In response, FIFA changed the World Cup format ahead of the 1986 tournament, ensuring that final group-stage matches would be played simultaneously. The move was designed to reduce the possibility of teams agreeing, either explicitly or implicitly, on a result that would benefit both sides. Also Read: What the duck! Viral sensation Merlin denied entry to stadium to watch Mexico's game. Here's what happened

Algeria and Austria could both advance with a draw at the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026, reviving memories of the infamous 1982 'Disgrace of Gijon'

Could Algeria be involved in another 'Disgrace of Gijon' at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

After the first two weeks in the FIFA World Cup 2026, the action moves to the 15th day of the competition, with as many as six matches scheduled from Groups D, E and F. The action begins with Group E matches between debutants Curaçao and the Ivory Coast and Germany and Ecuador. The next two games are from Group F, including Tunisia vs the Netherlands and Japan against Sweden. The last two matches on the 15th day are from Group D, between the tournament’s co-host, the US, vs Turkey and Paraguay and Australia. With the Round of 32 Qualifications on the line, check out the schedule and streaming details of all matches on the 15th day of the World Cup.<h2>FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 15 Live Streaming Details</h2>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-how-fifa-will-determine-eight-teams-among-third-placed-sides-for-round-of-32-1782368656051">FIFA 2026 | How FIFA will determine eight teams among third-placed sides for Round of 32?</a><h3>When will the FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 15 matches take place?</h3>On Friday (Jun 26), the 15th day of this showpiece event, six matches will take place, including Curaçao vs Ivory Coast, Germany vs Ecuador, Tunisia vs the Netherlands, Japan vs Sweden, the US vs Turkey and Paraguay vs Australia.

<h3>Which TV channel will broadcast the FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 15 matches live in India?</h3>The FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 15 matches, including Curaçao vs Ivory Coast, Germany vs Ecuador, Tunisia vs the Netherlands, Japan vs Sweden, the US vs Turkey and Paraguay vs Australia, will be telecast live on Zee’s new Unite8 Sports network (Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD) in India.<h3>How to live-stream FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 15 matches in India?</h3>The FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 15 matches between Curaçao and Ivory Coast, Germany and Ecuador, Tunisia and the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden, the US and Turkey and Paraguay and Australia will be available for live streaming on the Zee5 website and app (https://www.zee5.com/).&nbsp;

Catch FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 15 live in India! Get the IST match timings, full Group D, E, & F schedules, plus how to watch on Unite8 Sports and Zee5.

After the first two weeks in the FIFA World Cup 2026, the action moves to the 15th day of the competition, with as many as six matches scheduled from Groups D, E and F. The action begins with Group E matches between debutants Curaçao and the Ivory Coast and Germany and Ecuador. The next two games are from Group F, including Tunisia vs the Netherlands and Japan against Sweden. The last two matches on the 15th day are from Group D, between the tournament’s co-host, the US, vs Turkey and Paraguay and Australia. With the Round of 32 Qualifications on the line, check out the schedule and streaming details of all matches on the 15th day of the World Cup. FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 15 Live Streaming Details Also read | FIFA 2026 | How FIFA will determine eight teams among third-placed sides for Round of 32? When will the FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 15 matches take place? On Friday (Jun 26), the 15th day of this showpiece event, six matches will take place, including Curaçao vs Ivory Coast, Germany vs Ecuador, Tunisia vs the Netherlands, Japan vs Sweden, the US vs Turkey and Paraguay vs Australia.

Catch FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 15 live in India! Get the IST match timings, full Group D, E, &amp; F schedules, plus how to watch on Unite8 Sports and Zee5.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 15 Live Streaming in India: Match timings, IST schedule, and TV channel details

Football, especially at the FIFA World Cup, is usually dominated by younger players. Most outfield footballers reach their best form in their late 20s or early 30s and by their mid-30s many are no longer at their peak. As a result, players older than 35 are rarely seen making a major impact on the biggest stage of the sport. However, a few exceptional players have proven that age is not always a barrier. Two notable examples are Cameroon’s Roger Milla and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who both achieved remarkable World Cup milestones later in their careers.&nbsp;Roger Milla remains the oldest player ever to score in a men’s FIFA World Cup match. He set the record at the 1994 World Cup in the United States when he scored against Russia at the age of 42 years and 39 days.&nbsp;&nbsp;After making his international debut in 1973, he retired from Cameroon’s football team in 1987 at age 35 following a successful 15-year career. He had represented Cameroon at the 1982 World Cup and came close to scoring against Peru, but the goal was ruled out.&nbsp;Although he believed his chance to score at a World Cup had passed, but after Cameroon qualified for the 1990 World Cup, then-President Paul Biya personally encouraged Milla to return to the national team. Accepting the challenge, Milla made a memorable comeback.&nbsp;At the 1990 World Cup in Italy, he scored four goals as a substitute and helped Cameroon reach the quarter-finals, the best performance by an African team in the tournament at that time.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-the-duck-viral-sensation-merlin-denied-entry-to-stadium-to-watch-mexico-s-game-here-s-what-happened-1782380910851">What the duck! Viral sensation Merlin denied entry to stadium to watch Mexico's game. Here's what happened</a>&nbsp;He scored twice against Romania in the group stage and added another two goals against Colombia in the Round of 16. At 38 years and 34 days old, he became the oldest World Cup goalscorer, a record he later extended in 1994.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-how-fifa-will-determine-eight-teams-among-third-placed-sides-for-round-of-32-1782368656051">FIFA 2026 | How eight teams among third-placed sides will be selected for R32?</a>&nbsp;In the 1994 tournament, Milla scored Cameroon’s only goal in a 6-1 loss to Russia, further improving his own record as the oldest scorer in World Cup history. He is also the oldest outfield player ever to appear in a World Cup match.

&nbsp;Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo later became the second-oldest player to score in a FIFA World Cup. He achieved the feat in 2026, scoring against Uzbekistan at the age of 41 years and 138 days. During that match, Ronaldo also surpassed Eusebio’s World Cup goal tally and became Portugal’s highest goalscorer in World Cup history.&nbsp;The achievements of Roger Milla and Cristiano Ronaldo show that while football is often considered a young player’s game, exceptional talent, fitness and determination can allow some players to shine even in the later stages of their careers.<h2>Oldest men’s goalscorers in FIFA World Cup history</h2><ul><li>Roger Milla (Cameroon) - 42 years, 39 days (1994 vs Russia)</li><li>Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - 41 years, 138 days (2026 vs Uzbekistan)</li><li>Pepe (Portugal) - 39 years, 283 days (2022 vs Switzerland)</li><li>Lionel Messi (Argentina) - 38 years, 363 days (2026 vs Austria)</li><li>Gunnar Gren (Sweden) - 37 years, 236 days (1928 vs West Germany)</li></ul>

Roger Milla remains the oldest player ever to score in a men’s FIFA World Cup match. He set the record at the 1994 World Cup in the United States when he scored against Russia at the age of 42 years and 39 days. 

Football, especially at the FIFA World Cup, is usually dominated by younger players. Most outfield footballers reach their best form in their late 20s or early 30s and by their mid-30s many are no longer at their peak. As a result, players older than 35 are rarely seen making a major impact on the biggest stage of the sport. However, a few exceptional players have proven that age is not always a barrier. Two notable examples are Cameroon’s Roger Milla and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who both achieved remarkable World Cup milestones later in their careers. Roger Milla remains the oldest player ever to score in a men’s FIFA World Cup match. He set the record at the 1994 World Cup in the United States when he scored against Russia at the age of 42 years and 39 days. After making his international debut in 1973, he retired from Cameroon’s football team in 1987 at age 35 following a successful 15-year career. He had represented Cameroon at the 1982 World Cup and came close to scoring against Peru, but the goal was ruled out. Although he believed his chance to score at a World Cup had passed, but after Cameroon qualified for the 1990 World Cup, then-President Paul Biya personally encouraged Milla to return to the national team. Accepting the challenge, Milla made a memorable comeback. At the 1990 World Cup in Italy, he scored four goals as a substitute and helped Cameroon reach the quarter-finals, the best performance by an African team in the tournament at that time. Also Read - What the duck! Viral sensation Merlin denied entry to stadium to watch Mexico's game. Here's what happened He scored twice against Romania in the group stage and added another two goals against Colombia in the Round of 16. At 38 years and 34 days old, he became the oldest World Cup goalscorer, a record he later extended in 1994. Also Read - FIFA 2026 | How eight teams among third-placed sides will be selected for R32? In the 1994 tournament, Milla scored Cameroon’s only goal in a 6-1 loss to Russia, further improving his own record as the oldest scorer in World Cup history. He is also the oldest outfield player ever to appear in a World Cup match.

Roger Milla remains the oldest player ever to score in a men’s FIFA World Cup match. He set the record at the 1994 World Cup in the United States when he scored against Russia at the age of 42 years and 39 days.&nbsp;

Who is the oldest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history?

Merlin the duck’s dream of watching his beloved Mexico national team in action was dashed after he was denied entry to Wednesday’s match against Czechia. The two-year-old duck has become a national sensation in Mexico, emerging as an unlikely mascot for El Tri during the World Cup on home soil. Fans launched a campaign to help Merlin attend the match alongside his human family, but FIFA regulations ultimately prevented him from taking a seat in the stands.&nbsp;Although Merlin was granted access to the Estadio Azteca grounds to participate in a television segment for Televisa, one of Latin America’s largest broadcasters, he was not allowed inside the stadium during the game. Accompanied by owner Carla Gómez and her son Cristian, Merlin traveled safely in a transport crate while attracting attention from fans eager to see the famous duck. FIFA’s rules prohibit animals from entering match venues as part of measures designed to protect their wellbeing.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="http://wionews.com/sports/why-jude-bellingham-was-not-sent-off-for-covering-his-mouth-against-ghana-in-fifa-world-cup-2026-1782311856980">Why Jude Bellingham was not sent off for covering his mouth against Ghana in FIFA World Cup 2026</a>

A FIFA spokesperson confirmed that Merlin was allowed within the stadium perimeter but not inside the venue itself and declined to provide further details. “These last few days have been crazy, we’ll never stop being grateful for what we’ve experienced,” Carla Gómez told the Associated Press. “Everyone is truly amazed by Merlin.” Despite his growing celebrity status, Merlin has yet to publicly address FIFA’s policy on ducks attending football matches.&nbsp;During the World Cup, Merlin has become a social media phenomenon and international celebrity. Often seen wearing a green Mexico jersey, he accompanies his family while they sell drinks across Mexico City. His popularity has led to television appearances, media interviews, interactions with fans, and even a meeting with Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum.&nbsp;While he will not be cheering from the stands, Carla Gomez remains confident that Merlin’s presence will inspire good fortune for the national team. “Merlin is a lucky charm, and I know that, with him, the Mexican national team will win again today,” she said.

Mexico’s beloved viral duck Merlin was denied entry to watch El Tri face Czechia after FIFA regulations barred animals from stadiums, despite a fan-led campaign supporting his attendance

Merlin the duck’s dream of watching his beloved Mexico national team in action was dashed after he was denied entry to Wednesday’s match against Czechia. The two-year-old duck has become a national sensation in Mexico, emerging as an unlikely mascot for El Tri during the World Cup on home soil. Fans launched a campaign to help Merlin attend the match alongside his human family, but FIFA regulations ultimately prevented him from taking a seat in the stands. Although Merlin was granted access to the Estadio Azteca grounds to participate in a television segment for Televisa, one of Latin America’s largest broadcasters, he was not allowed inside the stadium during the game. Accompanied by owner Carla Gómez and her son Cristian, Merlin traveled safely in a transport crate while attracting attention from fans eager to see the famous duck. FIFA’s rules prohibit animals from entering match venues as part of measures designed to protect their wellbeing. Also Read: Why Jude Bellingham was not sent off for covering his mouth against Ghana in FIFA World Cup 2026

Merlin, Mexico’s viral duck mascot, was barred from attending El Tri’s match against Czechia on Wednesday due to FIFA regulations banning animals

What the duck! Viral sensation Merlin denied entry to stadium to watch Mexico's game. Here's what happened

FIFA 2026 |  Golden Boot is awarded for the highest goal scorer of the tournament and the list is currently lead by Lionel Messi (5 goals). Messi is followed by Vini Jr, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland who all have four goals each.

FIFA 2026 | &nbsp;Golden Boot is awarded for the highest goal scorer of the tournament and the list is currently lead by Lionel Messi (5 goals). Messi is followed by Vini Jr, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland who all have four goals each.

FIFA 2026 | Who will win the Golden Boot? Meet early contenders and leaders

The FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage is just two days away from getting over and there are still teams to fill up the spots for the next round when the knockout begins. For the first time 48 teams are participating in the tournament which are divided into 12 groups of four teams each. The next round will have 32 teams vying for a place in quarterfinals. FIFA, to select the 32 teams for the next round, has decided to pick up top two teams from each group after the group-stage and selecting eight third-placed teams among all the 12 groups.<h2>How the eight best third-placed teams will be selected?</h2>FIFA has introduced five-step procedure to select the the eight third-placed teams which will join the rest of 24 teams for the knockout stage which beging in Round of 32. While the selection for top 24 teams is directly based on finishing in top two of their respective groups, here's below the procedure to select rest of the eight teams:<h3>Highest number of points</h3>The first way any team among the 12 third-placed teams can qualify for the Round of 32 is based on points. Th top eight teams with highest number of points after group stage and selecting top 24 teams, will get a berth in the knockout round.

<h3>Goal difference</h3>If there two or more teams with same points and there's a tie to select last eight of R32 teams, the goal difference will be checked and the team with better goal difference will advance. The goal difference is calculated by number of goals done a team in group stage matches and then the number of goals conceded are substracted to get the number.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-day-14-round-up-brazil-morocco-qualify-for-r32-from-group-c-and-more-results-1782360547731">FIFA 2026 Day 14 Result | Brazil, Morocco in R32 from Group C and more results</a><h3>Goals scored</h3>If there is a tie still persisting after checking for points and goal difference, the goals scored will be looked at to determine the teams among third-placed sides to allot a R32 berth. It is highly unlikely that the situation will stretch to this point but just in case it does, FIFA has it covered.<h3>Highest team conduct</h3>In a case when two or more teams have same points, same goal difference, and same goals scored, FIFA then take their conduct during the group stage into the account. The conduct means total yellow and red cards for the players and officials will be counted and the teams with lesser number of those cards will prevail into the R32.<h3>Highest FIFA ranking</h3>If none of the above things work to determine eight teams among the 12 third-placed teams, the FIFA will go to the rankings of the teams and the sides with best rankings will proceed to the next round along with top 24 teams.The steps after first one of looking at the points will be considered only after the previous ones have failed to determine the teams.<h2>Where to watch and live stream FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 matches?</h2>All the Round of 32 knockout matches in FIFA World Cup 2026 will be aired LIVE across WION's sister company Zee5 app and website. (link: https://www.zee5.com/)&nbsp;

FIFA 2026 | There will be 32 teams in the knockout round with 24 teams being the top-two finishers from 12 groups and then 8 teams will be decided though five checks FIFA has put in place to break any tie-breakers.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage is just two days away from getting over and there are still teams to fill up the spots for the next round when the knockout begins. For the first time 48 teams are participating in the tournament which are divided into 12 groups of four teams each. The next round will have 32 teams vying for a place in quarterfinals. FIFA, to select the 32 teams for the next round, has decided to pick up top two teams from each group after the group-stage and selecting eight third-placed teams among all the 12 groups. How the eight best third-placed teams will be selected? FIFA has introduced five-step procedure to select the the eight third-placed teams which will join the rest of 24 teams for the knockout stage which beging in Round of 32. While the selection for top 24 teams is directly based on finishing in top two of their respective groups, here's below the procedure to select rest of the eight teams: Highest number of points The first way any team among the 12 third-placed teams can qualify for the Round of 32 is based on points. Th top eight teams with highest number of points after group stage and selecting top 24 teams, will get a berth in the knockout round.

FIFA 2026 | There will be 32 teams in the knockout round with 24 teams being the top-two finishers from 12 groups and then 8 teams will be decided though five checks FIFA has put in place to break any tie-breakers.

FIFA 2026 | How FIFA will determine eight teams among third-placed sides for Round of 32?

The FIFA World Cup 2026 day 14 is done and all the expected teams won their respective games as group stage nears the end.The winning teams are Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Morocco, Brazil, South Africa, and co-host Mexico as well. Below are the detailed results of all the matches from day 14 of football World Cup<h2>Switzerland beat Canada in Group B</h2>Switzerland topped Group B with 2-1 win over co-host Canada and ended the group-stage with seven points from three matches. Ruben Vargas scored in 46th minute before Johan Manzambi doubled the lead in 57th minute. For Canada, Promise David scoed a goal in 76th minute but it was not enough. Canada, while qualified for R32 ended up second on the Group B with four points from one draw, one loss and one win in three matches.

<h2>Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Qatar in Gruop B</h2>In the second Group B match, Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Qatar 3-1. Kerim Alajbegovic scored in 29th minute for Bosnia before an own goal by Qatar's Sultan Al-Brake doubled their lead in 34th minute. Hassan Al-Haydos tried to minimize damage witha goal in 42nd minute but to no avail. Ermin Mahmic then finished off any chances with 80th minute goal. Bosnia and Herzegovina ended with 4 points on third place - same as Canada - and can still qualify for the R32 while Qatar crashed out.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-germany-most-likey-to-end-up-as-group-toppers-but-coach-nagelsmann-not-liking-it-1782356452583">FIFA 2026 | Germany most likey to end up as group toppers but coach Nagelsmann not liking it</a><h2>Morocco and Brazil win in Group C</h2>The Group C matches were the most entertaining ones with Morocco beating Haiti 4-2 in six-goal thriller while Brazil stampd authority with 3-0 win over Scotland. Both Morocco and Brazil ended up with seven points from three matches each with five-time winners Brazil topping the group standings. Morocco, however, are also through the Round of 32 with top two teams from each of 12 groups getting automatic qualification.<h2>South Africa and Mexico qualify from Group A</h2>In Group A matches, co-hosts Mexico registered their third win on the trot to end with nine points from three matches as they beat Czechia 3-0. South Africa, on the other hand, beat South Kores 1-0 in an all inportant match for both the teams. With the win, South Africa reached to four points and qualifed for the R32 while South Korea, which had three points from two games before the match, ended with same three points and now are at the mercy of qualification process for the best eigh third-place teams.&nbsp;

FIFA 2026 | Brazil and Moroccco qualifed from Group C while Switzerland and Canada are through from Group B and Mexico as well as South Africa are through from Group A.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 day 14 is done and all the expected teams won their respective games as group stage nears the end.The winning teams are Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Morocco, Brazil, South Africa, and co-host Mexico as well. Below are the detailed results of all the matches from day 14 of football World Cup Switzerland beat Canada in Group B Switzerland topped Group B with 2-1 win over co-host Canada and ended the group-stage with seven points from three matches. Ruben Vargas scored in 46th minute before Johan Manzambi doubled the lead in 57th minute. For Canada, Promise David scoed a goal in 76th minute but it was not enough. Canada, while qualified for R32 ended up second on the Group B with four points from one draw, one loss and one win in three matches.

FIFA 2026 | Brazil and Moroccco qualifed from Group C while Switzerland and Canada are through from Group B and Mexico as well as South Africa are through from Group A.

FIFA 2026 Day 14 Round-up | Brazil, Morocco qualify for R32 from Group C and more results

Germany have sealed top spot in Group E and are bound for the last 32 of the FIFA World Cup 2026, but coach Julian Nagelsmann is not entirely pleased with the situation. The four-time world champions, who thrashed debutants Curacao 7-1 before coming from behind to beat Ivory Coast 2-1, will only know their round-of-32 opponents less than 48 hours before their first game in Foxborough on June 29. Under the expanded 48-team format - the first of its kind in World Cup history - the eight group winners from the opening round must wait until late Saturday (Jun 27) to discover which of the eight best third-placed teams awaits them. Germany are among those eight group winners facing that uncertainty, and their final group game against Ecuador on Thursday (Jun 25) adds little clarity to their knockout preparation.<h2>Germany coach isn't happy about topping Group</h2>Nagelsmann made no secret of his frustration at a pre-match press conference in New Jersey, though he acknowledged the structural complexity behind the scheduling. "I think we are being punished as the group leader," the 38-year-old told reporters.

"But if you look at all the algorithms and how everything plays together, it's extremely complex and the more teams you have, the more complex it gets."Also read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/argentina-honours-lionel-messi-with-an-85-foot-statue-bigger-than-the-70-foot-one-dismantled-in-kolkata-india-1782325535038">Argentina honours Lionel Messi with an 85-foot statue, bigger than the one dismantled in India</a>The Germany coach added that his staff have done what they can to prepare for multiple scenarios and said: "It's not ideal that we don't find out until (late Saturday) who we will play, but we are prepared, we worked out the opponents that are most likely.""We are prepared well enough that we don't have to prepare for the match in such a hectic way on Sunday, because it will be our last training session where we can actually change something. There's a little time pressure there... (but) we are all still pretty young as coaches, and if we have to, then we'll work through the night."<h2>Where to watch and live stream Belgium's FIFA World Cup 2026 matches?</h2>Germany's group-stage and possible knockout matches in FIFA World Cup 2026 will be aired LIVE across WION's sister company Zee5 app and website. (link: https://www.zee5.com/)

With two wins in two matches, Germany are expected to top the Group E standing with the match against Ecuador being their last. They will, however, not know their opponent in R32 until later Saturday.

Germany have sealed top spot in Group E and are bound for the last 32 of the FIFA World Cup 2026, but coach Julian Nagelsmann is not entirely pleased with the situation. The four-time world champions, who thrashed debutants Curacao 7-1 before coming from behind to beat Ivory Coast 2-1, will only know their round-of-32 opponents less than 48 hours before their first game in Foxborough on June 29. Under the expanded 48-team format - the first of its kind in World Cup history - the eight group winners from the opening round must wait until late Saturday (Jun 27) to discover which of the eight best third-placed teams awaits them. Germany are among those eight group winners facing that uncertainty, and their final group game against Ecuador on Thursday (Jun 25) adds little clarity to their knockout preparation. Germany coach isn't happy about topping Group Nagelsmann made no secret of his frustration at a pre-match press conference in New Jersey, though he acknowledged the structural complexity behind the scheduling. "I think we are being punished as the group leader," the 38-year-old told reporters.

With two wins in two matches, Germany are expected to top the Group E standing with the match against Ecuador being their last. They will, however, not know their opponent in R32 until later Saturday.

FIFA 2026 | Germany most likey to end up as group toppers but coach Nagelsmann not liking it

Birthday boy Lionel Messi has now got a new, bigger statue in Cutral Co, a remote town in Patagonia, Argentina, even taller than the one dismantled in Kolkata, India. The defending world champion, who turned 39 on Wednesday (Jun 24), two days after breaking Miroslav Klose’s World Cup record for the most goals, now has an 85-foot statue honouring him and his unparalleled achievements at the top level. Local artists unveiled Messi’s largest statue built to date, which was marvelled with 70 tons of steel.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Cutral Co is an oil-producing town that has never attracted enough attention compared to Patagonian communities surrounded by picturesque lakes and mountains. However, upon unveiling the statue on June 16 to mark Argentina’s World Cup opener against Algeria, which ended with Messi registering his maiden hat-trick at the tournament, the deserted city has seen a rise in visitors.&nbsp;See Pics| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/lionel-messi-turns-39-5-mind-blowing-fifa-world-cup-records-crown-him-the-football-goat-cristiano-ronaldo-most-goals-1782301938514">As Messi turns 39, these 5 mind-blowing World Cup feats crown him the football G.O.A.T.</a> &nbsp;"He is Argentina's natural ambassador. For me, it was very important, not only as an artist but as an Argentine," Beroisa, 61, the local sculptor who designed Messi’s statue, said in a chat with The Associated Press. &nbsp;Messi’s statue, which took nearly 18 months to be completed, depicts Messi falling to his knees on the grass at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar when he lifted his first FIFA World Cup title. Messi’s Argentina beat France in the penalty shootout (4-2) following a 3-3 draw, to win its third world title, and the first since 1986. &nbsp;The statue also depicts Messi clutching his country’s jersey with one hand and pointing to the sky with his index finger, which he often does after completing a goal, in tribute to his late grandmother. &nbsp;That’s not it! &nbsp;Elsewhere on a wall of a parking lot in a Buenos Aires suburb, a newly-painted mural, around 20 feet wide and 18 feet high (six meters by 5.5 meters), is accompanied by the names of 1,300 of his fans, who travelled from neighbouring towns to write their names. &nbsp;"Crazy ... thank you very much to all of you, to the people who supported it, who came by, and who keep coming by," Messi said in a video sent to the creators. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Messi’s Argentina has qualified for the Round of 32 after winning the first two matches. The defending champions will now face Jordan in their final group stage fixture on Sunday (Jun 27) in India, starting at 7:30 AM IST.

Celebrate Lionel Messi’s 39th birthday with a look at Argentina's massive new statue tribute in Patagonia and the stunning fan mural in Buenos Aires.

Birthday boy Lionel Messi has now got a new, bigger statue in Cutral Co, a remote town in Patagonia, Argentina, even taller than the one dismantled in Kolkata, India. The defending world champion, who turned 39 on Wednesday (Jun 24), two days after breaking Miroslav Klose’s World Cup record for the most goals, now has an 85-foot statue honouring him and his unparalleled achievements at the top level. Local artists unveiled Messi’s largest statue built to date, which was marvelled with 70 tons of steel. Meanwhile, Cutral Co is an oil-producing town that has never attracted enough attention compared to Patagonian communities surrounded by picturesque lakes and mountains. However, upon unveiling the statue on June 16 to mark Argentina’s World Cup opener against Algeria, which ended with Messi registering his maiden hat-trick at the tournament, the deserted city has seen a rise in visitors. See Pics| As Messi turns 39, these 5 mind-blowing World Cup feats crown him the football G.O.A.T. "He is Argentina's natural ambassador. For me, it was very important, not only as an artist but as an Argentine," Beroisa, 61, the local sculptor who designed Messi’s statue, said in a chat with The Associated Press. Messi’s statue, which took nearly 18 months to be completed, depicts Messi falling to his knees on the grass at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar when he lifted his first FIFA World Cup title. Messi’s Argentina beat France in the penalty shootout (4-2) following a 3-3 draw, to win its third world title, and the first since 1986. The statue also depicts Messi clutching his country’s jersey with one hand and pointing to the sky with his index finger, which he often does after completing a goal, in tribute to his late grandmother. That’s not it! Elsewhere on a wall of a parking lot in a Buenos Aires suburb, a newly-painted mural, around 20 feet wide and 18 feet high (six meters by 5.5 meters), is accompanied by the names of 1,300 of his fans, who travelled from neighbouring towns to write their names. "Crazy ... thank you very much to all of you, to the people who supported it, who came by, and who keep coming by," Messi said in a video sent to the creators. Meanwhile, Messi’s Argentina has qualified for the Round of 32 after winning the first two matches. The defending champions will now face Jordan in their final group stage fixture on Sunday (Jun 27) in India, starting at 7:30 AM IST.

Celebrate Lionel Messi’s 39th birthday with a look at Argentina's massive new statue tribute in Patagonia and the stunning fan mural in Buenos Aires.

Argentina honours Lionel Messi with an 85-foot statue, bigger than the one dismantled in India

Former New Zealand fast bowler Bob Blair, whose courage in the face of immense grief made him a hero beyond the cricket field, has died at the age of 94, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced on Wednesday (Jun 24). Having played 19 Tests from 1953 to 1964, Blair is best remembered for those 10 minutes he spent at the crease batting during the 1953 Johannesburg Test.&nbsp;21 years old at that time, Blair learned about the passing of his fiancée, Nerissa Love, in the early hours of the second morning of the Test match. She was among 151 killed in the Tangiwai rail disaster in New Zealand's North Island on Christmas Eve. &nbsp;Even though he initially stayed back at his team hotel to grieve, with New Zealand struggling, the last man, Blair, walked out to bat, joining a bloodied Bert Sutcliffe, who had earlier been to the hospital after taking numerous blows while batting. 23,000 fans watching the game live maintained silence, with players from both teams reportedly weeping throughout his stay.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-nz-3rd-test-ben-stokes-i-was-man-enough-to-apologise-to-my-teammates-after-curfew-breach-trent-bridge-nightclub-incident-1782307003525">Ben Stokes: I was ‘Man Enough’ to apologise to my teammates after curfew breach</a> &nbsp;Meanwhile, New Zealand's last-wicket duo added 33, including a then world record 25 off a single Hugh Tayfield over, before Blair was stumped for just six and then cheered off the field by spectators.<h3>Blair’s courage gives birth to the Tangiwai Shield</h3>Blair's courage was the inspiration behind the creation of the Tangiwai Shield, which in 2024 became the trophy for the men’s Test series between New Zealand and South Africa. &nbsp;"The story of Bob Blair and the Tangiwai rail disaster has left an indelible mark on cricket in both New Zealand and South Africa," said NZC interim chief executive Graham Parks. "To have been able to honour that inspirational story with the introduction of the Tangiwai Shield in 2024 was both poignant and will ensure the legacy of Bob Blair lives on." &nbsp;The Kiwi quick finished his international career against South Africa in Auckland in 1964, where he bagged his best Test figures of 4/85. After retiring, Blair settled in Cheshire, northwest England, with his wife Barbara. &nbsp;As a sign of respect, the New Zealand team will wear black armbands in memory of Blair for the first day of the third Test against England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on Thursday (Jun 25).&nbsp;

Former New Zealand pacer Bob Blair, celebrated as cricket's ultimate symbol of courage after the 1953 Tangiwai tragedy, has passed away on his 94th birthday.

Former New Zealand fast bowler Bob Blair, whose courage in the face of immense grief made him a hero beyond the cricket field, has died at the age of 94, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced on Wednesday (Jun 24). Having played 19 Tests from 1953 to 1964, Blair is best remembered for those 10 minutes he spent at the crease batting during the 1953 Johannesburg Test. 21 years old at that time, Blair learned about the passing of his fiancée, Nerissa Love, in the early hours of the second morning of the Test match. She was among 151 killed in the Tangiwai rail disaster in New Zealand's North Island on Christmas Eve. Even though he initially stayed back at his team hotel to grieve, with New Zealand struggling, the last man, Blair, walked out to bat, joining a bloodied Bert Sutcliffe, who had earlier been to the hospital after taking numerous blows while batting. 23,000 fans watching the game live maintained silence, with players from both teams reportedly weeping throughout his stay. Also read | Ben Stokes: I was ‘Man Enough’ to apologise to my teammates after curfew breach Meanwhile, New Zealand's last-wicket duo added 33, including a then world record 25 off a single Hugh Tayfield over, before Blair was stumped for just six and then cheered off the field by spectators. Blair’s courage gives birth to the Tangiwai Shield Blair's courage was the inspiration behind the creation of the Tangiwai Shield, which in 2024 became the trophy for the men’s Test series between New Zealand and South Africa. "The story of Bob Blair and the Tangiwai rail disaster has left an indelible mark on cricket in both New Zealand and South Africa," said NZC interim chief executive Graham Parks. "To have been able to honour that inspirational story with the introduction of the Tangiwai Shield in 2024 was both poignant and will ensure the legacy of Bob Blair lives on." The Kiwi quick finished his international career against South Africa in Auckland in 1964, where he bagged his best Test figures of 4/85. After retiring, Blair settled in Cheshire, northwest England, with his wife Barbara. As a sign of respect, the New Zealand team will wear black armbands in memory of Blair for the first day of the third Test against England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on Thursday (Jun 25).

Former New Zealand pacer Bob Blair, celebrated as cricket's ultimate symbol of courage after the 1953 Tangiwai tragedy, has passed away on his 94th birthday.

New Zealand's Bob Blair, cricket’s symbol of courage amid personal tragedy, dies at 94

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is exploring the viability of sending a handful of promising cricketers to the US as part of a specialised power-hitting program. While the logistics are not yet complete, a final call on the list of players to travel is also underway, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson confirmed.&nbsp;The multi-month initiative is designed not only to enhance players’ power-hitting in an alien environment, but also to work on the fitness regimes of brighter talents whose careers have been marred by injuries. &nbsp;"We're sending some players to the US. There's some power-hitting expertise over there, and we're exploring some options. We've got some players who've had some longer-term injuries, and players we want to expose to different methods of power hitting and just a different learning environment, spending four months in one place to get some new fresh ideas,” Hesson said in a chat with Cricinfo.&nbsp;<h3>Re-engineering Pakistan's fitness standards</h3>Hesson also highlighted that this program doesn’t just serve a single purpose but multiple, including changing the way players are trained. His comments have come on the back of PCB’s Director of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Dr Javed Mughal, who, earlier in a presser, said that 'fitness is non-negotiable in professional sport', and that the PCB developed a 'robust, reliable and repeatable testing and screening battery we had started to apply to all players.' &nbsp;"There's a bit of collaboration. It's certainly not just strength and conditioning," Hesson said. “We've got Javed Mughal, who's come in here and changing the way players are training and assessing them in a different way. So he needs time to plan it out as well.”<h3>Young pacers among those travelling to the US</h3>Under-19 quick Ali Raza, often regarded as the most exciting white-ball prospect in Pakistan, is among the players likely to be sent to the US, should the plan materialise. Raza, 18, has shown promise, including his match-winning performance against India in the final of the 50-over U19 Asia Cup last year, where he picked up four wickets for 42 runs. He also accounted for India's teenage prodigy, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, early in the innings. Representing Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL, Raza also picked up his maiden tournament hat-trick, later helping them lift the title.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-15-year-old-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-must-use-a-separate-changing-room-on-england-tour-ecb-safeguarding-regulations-ind-vs-eng-2026-1782311413624">Why 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must use a separate changing room on England tour</a> &nbsp;Raza, however, is yet to make his international debut, with the PCB keen to prioritise and manage his fitness and workload. &nbsp;"Pace bowling-wise, there's no more injuries [within Pakistan] than there are anywhere else in the world," Hesson said. "We're trying to get Ali Raza fit and strong enough to deal with the demands of international cricket. It's tough trying to be able to bowl multiple spells and sustain his pace. We know when he's at his top-end pace, he's exciting. But when the pressure ramps up, the pressure on the body ramps up. So he's got to work on his body so he can deal with those.”

PCB to send Pakistan's rising cricket talents, including young pacer Ali Raza, to the US for an intense four-month power-hitting and fitness training camp.


The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is exploring the viability of sending a handful of promising cricketers to the US as part of a specialised power-hitting program. While the logistics are not yet complete, a final call on the list of players to travel is also underway, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson confirmed. The multi-month initiative is designed not only to enhance players’ power-hitting in an alien environment, but also to work on the fitness regimes of brighter talents whose careers have been marred by injuries. "We're sending some players to the US. There's some power-hitting expertise over there, and we're exploring some options. We've got some players who've had some longer-term injuries, and players we want to expose to different methods of power hitting and just a different learning environment, spending four months in one place to get some new fresh ideas,” Hesson said in a chat with Cricinfo. Re-engineering Pakistan's fitness standards Hesson also highlighted that this program doesn’t just serve a single purpose but multiple, including changing the way players are trained. His comments have come on the back of PCB’s Director of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Dr Javed Mughal, who, earlier in a presser, said that 'fitness is non-negotiable in professional sport', and that the PCB developed a 'robust, reliable and repeatable testing and screening battery we had started to apply to all players.' "There's a bit of collaboration. It's certainly not just strength and conditioning," Hesson said. “We've got Javed Mughal, who's come in here and changing the way players are training and assessing them in a different way. So he needs time to plan it out as well.” Young pacers among those travelling to the US Under-19 quick Ali Raza, often regarded as the most exciting white-ball prospect in Pakistan, is among the players likely to be sent to the US, should the plan materialise. Raza, 18, has shown promise, including his match-winning performance against India in the final of the 50-over U19 Asia Cup last year, where he picked up four wickets for 42 runs. He also accounted for India's teenage prodigy, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, early in the innings. Representing Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL, Raza also picked up his maiden tournament hat-trick, later helping them lift the title. Also read | Why 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must use a separate changing room on England tour Raza, however, is yet to make his international debut, with the PCB keen to prioritise and manage his fitness and workload. "Pace bowling-wise, there's no more injuries [within Pakistan] than there are anywhere else in the world," Hesson said. "We're trying to get Ali Raza fit and strong enough to deal with the demands of international cricket. It's tough trying to be able to bowl multiple spells and sustain his pace. We know when he's at his top-end pace, he's exciting. But when the pressure ramps up, the pressure on the body ramps up. So he's got to work on his body so he can deal with those.”

PCB to send Pakistan's rising cricket talents, including young pacer Ali Raza, to the US for an intense four-month power-hitting and fitness training camp.

PCB may send Pakistan’s rising talents to US for power-hitting training camp: Mike Hesson

A photograph of England midfielder Jude Bellingham covering his mouth while speaking to Ghana forward Jordan Ayew during Tuesday's 0-0 draw in Boston sparked debate among football fans following the introduction of a new FIFA rule for the 2026 World Cup. The law allows players to be sent off if they cover their mouth while speaking to an opponent during a confrontational exchange. The rule was introduced after Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni received a six-match UEFA ban for homophobic conduct towards Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr during a Champions League match in February.<h2>Miguel Almiron suspended for one-game for covering his mouth so why not Bellingham?</h2>Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron became the first player dismissed under the new regulation during a match against Turkey at the weekend. Following a VAR review, the referee issued a red card, raising questions about why Bellingham was not punished in a similar manner. The key difference lies in the context of the interaction. Covering the mouth itself is not prohibited. FIFA's concern is when it occurs during a heated confrontation between opponents.&nbsp;Before the tournament, FIFA's head of referees, Pierluigi Collina, clarified the rule. "Players can continue to cover their mouth with an arm and the shirt because they may chat with friends," Collina said. "It's normal to a chat before, during or after the match."So if the conversation is a friendly conversation, they can continue to do it without any problem. "When the conversation is confrontational, covering the mouth means that you are doing something wrong, potentially, and the sanction is the red card."&nbsp;During the England-Ghana match, there appeared to be no hostility between Bellingham and Ayew. The pair were simply engaged in conversation, meaning there was no reason for VAR to intervene. Almiron's situation was different because it occurred during a tense moment in Paraguay's match against Turkey. The incident followed a challenge involving Paraguay's Isidro Pitta and Turkey's Ismail Yuksek, which triggered a confrontation between players from both teams. Amid the commotion, Almiron covered his mouth while speaking to Turkey defender Mert Muldur. Although neither player was directly involved in the altercation, officials viewed the exchange as taking place within a confrontational context.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/a-very-beautiful-process-sjoerd-marijne-all-praise-for-senior-players-for-mentoring-india-s-young-hockey-stars-1782308226890">'A very beautiful process': Sjoerd Marijne all praise for senior players for mentoring India's young hockey stars</a>

Switzerland vs Canada

FIFA president Gianni Infantino reinforced the governing body's position after Almiron's dismissal. "This thing about covering the mouth is for us a very, very important rule," Infantino told SNTV on Tuesday following Almiron's dismissal. "It's about respect. It's about the example that we should give. "If you have nothing to hide, you don't cover your mouth when you speak to somebody."The rules have been made very clear to everyone."&nbsp;The new regulation has generated debate over how consistently it can be applied. Critics argue that players could potentially exploit the rule by drawing officials' attention to opponents during emotional moments. In Almiron's case, he did not appear overtly aggressive, yet Muldur immediately alerted an assistant referee to the gesture. Almiron received a one-match suspension and will miss Paraguay's final group-stage game against Australia.&nbsp;&nbsp;FIFA confirmed that a longer ban could have been imposed if evidence of abusive language had emerged. The rule remains optional for competitions to adopt and is currently being used only at the World Cup. Concerns over consistency and the possibility of players manipulating the rule may prevent it from being widely introduced in domestic leagues.

Jude Bellingham sparked controversy after covering his mouth while speaking to Ghana's Jordan Ayew. Learn why FIFA's new World Cup rule did not result in a red card and how the incident differed from Miguel Almiron's dismissal

A photograph of England midfielder Jude Bellingham covering his mouth while speaking to Ghana forward Jordan Ayew during Tuesday's 0-0 draw in Boston sparked debate among football fans following the introduction of a new FIFA rule for the 2026 World Cup. The law allows players to be sent off if they cover their mouth while speaking to an opponent during a confrontational exchange. The rule was introduced after Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni received a six-match UEFA ban for homophobic conduct towards Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr during a Champions League match in February. Miguel Almiron suspended for one-game for covering his mouth so why not Bellingham? Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron became the first player dismissed under the new regulation during a match against Turkey at the weekend. Following a VAR review, the referee issued a red card, raising questions about why Bellingham was not punished in a similar manner. The key difference lies in the context of the interaction. Covering the mouth itself is not prohibited. FIFA's concern is when it occurs during a heated confrontation between opponents. Before the tournament, FIFA's head of referees, Pierluigi Collina, clarified the rule. "Players can continue to cover their mouth with an arm and the shirt because they may chat with friends," Collina said. "It's normal to a chat before, during or after the match. "So if the conversation is a friendly conversation, they can continue to do it without any problem. "When the conversation is confrontational, covering the mouth means that you are doing something wrong, potentially, and the sanction is the red card." During the England-Ghana match, there appeared to be no hostility between Bellingham and Ayew. The pair were simply engaged in conversation, meaning there was no reason for VAR to intervene. Almiron's situation was different because it occurred during a tense moment in Paraguay's match against Turkey. The incident followed a challenge involving Paraguay's Isidro Pitta and Turkey's Ismail Yuksek, which triggered a confrontation between players from both teams. Amid the commotion, Almiron covered his mouth while speaking to Turkey defender Mert Muldur. Although neither player was directly involved in the altercation, officials viewed the exchange as taking place within a confrontational context. Also Read: 'A very beautiful process': Sjoerd Marijne all praise for senior players for mentoring India's young hockey stars

Jude Bellingham avoided a red card against Ghana because his conversation with Jordan Ayew was friendly, unlike Miguel Almiron's confrontational incident

Why Jude Bellingham was not sent off for covering his mouth against Ghana in FIFA World Cup 2026

15-year-old batting sensation, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, must use a separate changing room from the main one used by senior Indian players on the upcoming UK tour, which includes two T20Is against Ireland and five against England. Sooryavanshi, 15, will be allowed to use the main dressing room during matches and for team talks, but will use a separate one while changing. Alternatively, guidelines allow him to change at a designated time in the main dressing room on his own and leave when his senior teammates change. This, however, will be done because of ECB safeguarding regulations for players under the age of 16.&nbsp;As first reported by The Guardian, similar regulations will be applied to India’s short T20I tour of Ireland, starting on Friday (Jun 26) in Belfast. Sunday (Jun 28) will host the second game, after which India will fly to England for the five T20Is, beginning July 1 at Chester-Le-Street.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-nz-3rd-test-ben-stokes-i-was-man-enough-to-apologise-to-my-teammates-after-curfew-breach-trent-bridge-nightclub-incident-1782307003525">Ben Stokes: I was ‘Man Enough’ to apologise to my teammates after curfew breach</a> &nbsp;Elsewhere, even in Premier League football, Arsenal players Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman were required to use a separate changing room from teammates while featuring for first-team matches under similar regulations. After they turned 16, they could use the same changing room as their seniors. &nbsp;"This is an ICC event, with their safeguarding procedures active as they have jurisdiction," an ECB spokesperson said. "A safeguarding concern occurring during the event may be managed by the ICC. In addition to this, the ECB Safe Hands policy applies at all times."&nbsp; &nbsp;Considering his parents are also accompanying him on this UK tour and will be staying at the same hotel as he does, which is outside of usual family-related travel guidelines, all parties involved have agreed to this due to his age. &nbsp;"The Cricket Regulator is in contact with the Team Liaison Officer (TLO) for the Indian team to discuss requirements and expectations for the player while he is in the UK. Each County Safeguarding Officer for the relevant cricket venue is also working closely with the Team Liaison Officer to ensure venue protocols and arrangements are understood and adhered to. This is conducted via safeguarding risk assessments. &nbsp;"It is our understanding that the player's parents will be travelling with him at all times. They are staying in the same hotel, which is outside of usual protocol, but agreed on this occasion due to his age. This additional measure provides us with further confidence that he has family members that can provide the additional level of support and care,” the statement read. &nbsp;Meanwhile, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia earlier revealed that Sooryavanshi’s parents will accompany him on his first-ever international tour as an Indian cricketer, with the Indian board bearing all expenses for his family members.

Why 15-year-old India prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must use a separate changing room from senior teammates on the 2026 UK tour under strict ECB rules.

15-year-old batting sensation, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, must use a separate changing room from the main one used by senior Indian players on the upcoming UK tour, which includes two T20Is against Ireland and five against England. Sooryavanshi, 15, will be allowed to use the main dressing room during matches and for team talks, but will use a separate one while changing. Alternatively, guidelines allow him to change at a designated time in the main dressing room on his own and leave when his senior teammates change. This, however, will be done because of ECB safeguarding regulations for players under the age of 16. As first reported by The Guardian, similar regulations will be applied to India’s short T20I tour of Ireland, starting on Friday (Jun 26) in Belfast. Sunday (Jun 28) will host the second game, after which India will fly to England for the five T20Is, beginning July 1 at Chester-Le-Street. Also read| Ben Stokes: I was ‘Man Enough’ to apologise to my teammates after curfew breach Elsewhere, even in Premier League football, Arsenal players Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman were required to use a separate changing room from teammates while featuring for first-team matches under similar regulations. After they turned 16, they could use the same changing room as their seniors. "This is an ICC event, with their safeguarding procedures active as they have jurisdiction," an ECB spokesperson said. "A safeguarding concern occurring during the event may be managed by the ICC. In addition to this, the ECB Safe Hands policy applies at all times." Considering his parents are also accompanying him on this UK tour and will be staying at the same hotel as he does, which is outside of usual family-related travel guidelines, all parties involved have agreed to this due to his age. "The Cricket Regulator is in contact with the Team Liaison Officer (TLO) for the Indian team to discuss requirements and expectations for the player while he is in the UK. Each County Safeguarding Officer for the relevant cricket venue is also working closely with the Team Liaison Officer to ensure venue protocols and arrangements are understood and adhered to. This is conducted via safeguarding risk assessments. "It is our understanding that the player's parents will be travelling with him at all times. They are staying in the same hotel, which is outside of usual protocol, but agreed on this occasion due to his age. This additional measure provides us with further confidence that he has family members that can provide the additional level of support and care,” the statement read. Meanwhile, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia earlier revealed that Sooryavanshi’s parents will accompany him on his first-ever international tour as an Indian cricketer, with the Indian board bearing all expenses for his family members.

Why 15-year-old India prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must use a separate changing room from senior teammates on the 2026 UK tour under strict ECB rules.

Why 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must use a separate changing room on England tour

Fresh off India's Women's FIH Nations Cup title-winning campaign against New Zealand, head coach Sjoerd Marijne credited mental conditioning, individual guidance and a strong culture of mentorship within the squad as key pillars behind the team's success. Speaking after the victory, Marijne stressed the growing importance of the mental aspect of the game and revealed how the coaching staff has focused on understanding players beyond their on-field abilities.&nbsp;“Yeah, the mental side is a very important part for me. We did small things on this and that is working with profiling. That I know the players better about what kind of person are they. What kind of preference do they have, on what way to approach, what are they doing, how to approach them when they're under stress. These kind of things, we have helped with that.” The Dutch coach, however, believes the most valuable support comes from within the team itself. He pointed to an example from the semi-final when a younger player was struggling under pressure.&nbsp;“I think a younger player was struggling in the semi-final. She made some mistakes and Savita Punia was on the sidelines. She didn't play the first half. And I said, please, can you have a talk with her? If a senior player is doing that and helping a junior player, that is worth so much because it comes from inside the team.” Marijne praised veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia and several senior players for taking responsibility in nurturing younger members of the squad.&nbsp;“And I think that is something, a role from Savita, but many more who take up that role. Almost every senior is guiding the juniors or the girls who have 50 caps or less in that process.” Calling the atmosphere within the squad ‘a very beautiful process’, the coach highlighted the contribution of captain Salima Tete as well. "Salima is very busy with the young players. And that's also very good to see with her experience. And she knows exactly what is required on the highest level."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-rankings-joe-root-reclaims-no-1-test-batter-spot-matt-henry-joins-jasprit-bumrah-at-top-1782304573595">ICC Rankings: Joe Root reclaims no.1 Test batter spot, Matt Henry joins Jasprit Bumrah at top</a>&nbsp;Marijne also acknowledged the role played by the support staff in creating an environment where players receive guidance from multiple sources. "And of course, we as coaching staff, we have a very experienced staff. Matias Vila, more than 300 caps. Taeke Takuma, 240 caps. They also help them on a personal level. I really am a big believer of individual guidance."<h2>‘Hockey India League gives opportunity to young players’</h2>Meanwhile, captain Salima Tete highlighted the importance of domestic competitions, particularly the Hockey India League (HIL), in identifying and developing future stars for the national team. “Definitely HIL is very helpful for us. And whoever doesn't get a chance to come to the camp, they get a chance to play in HIL and they select the players and bring them to the camp.” Salima pointed to recent examples of players progressing from domestic competitions to the national setup, saying the league offers aspiring players a valuable pathway to the Indian team. "So definitely there is a chance for us and also a very good opportunity. Because not every player gets a chance to come to the camp. So that's why we play HIL."&nbsp;The skipper expressed happiness at seeing emerging talents make the most of their opportunities and contribute alongside established internationals. “The young players are getting a chance now and now they are doing so well. So definitely it feels good for us that Hockey India has started such a good opportunity for us.”

After India's Nations Cup victory, coach Sjoerd Marijne praises mental conditioning and mentorship, while captain Salima Tete backs Hockey India League

Fresh off India's Women's FIH Nations Cup title-winning campaign against New Zealand, head coach Sjoerd Marijne credited mental conditioning, individual guidance and a strong culture of mentorship within the squad as key pillars behind the team's success. Speaking after the victory, Marijne stressed the growing importance of the mental aspect of the game and revealed how the coaching staff has focused on understanding players beyond their on-field abilities. “Yeah, the mental side is a very important part for me. We did small things on this and that is working with profiling. That I know the players better about what kind of person are they. What kind of preference do they have, on what way to approach, what are they doing, how to approach them when they're under stress. These kind of things, we have helped with that.” The Dutch coach, however, believes the most valuable support comes from within the team itself. He pointed to an example from the semi-final when a younger player was struggling under pressure. “I think a younger player was struggling in the semi-final. She made some mistakes and Savita Punia was on the sidelines. She didn't play the first half. And I said, please, can you have a talk with her? If a senior player is doing that and helping a junior player, that is worth so much because it comes from inside the team.” Marijne praised veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia and several senior players for taking responsibility in nurturing younger members of the squad. “And I think that is something, a role from Savita, but many more who take up that role. Almost every senior is guiding the juniors or the girls who have 50 caps or less in that process.” Calling the atmosphere within the squad ‘a very beautiful process’, the coach highlighted the contribution of captain Salima Tete as well. "Salima is very busy with the young players. And that's also very good to see with her experience. And she knows exactly what is required on the highest level." Also Read: ICC Rankings: Joe Root reclaims no.1 Test batter spot, Matt Henry joins Jasprit Bumrah at top Marijne also acknowledged the role played by the support staff in creating an environment where players receive guidance from multiple sources. "And of course, we as coaching staff, we have a very experienced staff. Matias Vila, more than 300 caps. Taeke Takuma, 240 caps. They also help them on a personal level. I really am a big believer of individual guidance." ‘Hockey India League gives opportunity to young players’ Meanwhile, captain Salima Tete highlighted the importance of domestic competitions, particularly the Hockey India League (HIL), in identifying and developing future stars for the national team. “Definitely HIL is very helpful for us. And whoever doesn't get a chance to come to the camp, they get a chance to play in HIL and they select the players and bring them to the camp.” Salima pointed to recent examples of players progressing from domestic competitions to the national setup, saying the league offers aspiring players a valuable pathway to the Indian team. "So definitely there is a chance for us and also a very good opportunity. Because not every player gets a chance to come to the camp. So that's why we play HIL." The skipper expressed happiness at seeing emerging talents make the most of their opportunities and contribute alongside established internationals. “The young players are getting a chance now and now they are doing so well. So definitely it feels good for us that Hockey India has started such a good opportunity for us.”

India women's hockey team coach Sjoerd Marijne credits mental conditioning and senior mentorship, while Salima Tete highlights HIL's role in developing talent

'A very beautiful process': Sjoerd Marijne all praise for senior players for mentoring India's young hockey stars

England Test captain Ben Stokes revealed he was 'man enough' to apologise to his teammates over his and Gus Atkinson’s curfew breach that led to their exile from the squad for the second Test against New Zealand. With both returning to the playing XI for the series decider at Trent Bridge starting on Thursday (Jun 25), Stokes addressed the media on the eve of the match, admitting his mistake but urging those with the mic to provide him space as a crucial Test looms.&nbsp;"Of course. That was one of the first things I had to do as captain,” Stokes said on apologising to his teammates for letting them down over his nightclub episode. "It's all fine, everything being fine and dandy, when it's going well, but you need to take responsibility for things as well. &nbsp;"You need to be big enough and man enough to be able to take that upon your shoulders, look everyone in the eye who it's affected and apologise how you need to apologise. That’s something I did,” he said.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-rankings-joe-root-reclaims-no-1-test-batter-spot-matt-henry-joins-jasprit-bumrah-at-top-1782304573595">ICC Rankings: Joe Root reclaims no.1 Test batter spot, Matt Henry joins Jasprit Bumrah at top</a> &nbsp;Stokes and Atkinson were reportedly involved in a physical altercation at a London club while celebrating England’s first Test win over the Kiwis at Lord’s. By doing so, they also breached midnight curfew protocols laid by the ECB following the drinking controversies that marred England's 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia. &nbsp;The two, however, were left out of England’s squad for the Oval Test, led by veteran Joe Root, which ended with them conceding a 253-run defeat. &nbsp;While the ECB and Cricket Regulator cleared them of any wrongdoing in a physical altercation, the two were given a written warning. &nbsp;"I understand there's a lot of questions that you (the media) probably want to ask and want to hear from me, but I hope you respect, in terms of this whole week, I'm (only) focusing on this week," Stokes said on the eve of the match.&nbsp; &nbsp;"That's where my focus is at right now... I'm here as captain of this team, and all I want to do is get the team focused on winning here," insisted Stokes, who made 95 for county side Durham last week. &nbsp;"We are 1-1 in a three-match series, and this week is massive for the team,” he continued. &nbsp;Meanwhile, England was also docked 12 WTC points for maintaining the slow over rate against New Zealand in the second Test. They are currently seventh on the table with four wins and seven losses in 12 contested matches in the ongoing 2025-27 cycle.&nbsp;

England captain Ben Stokes takes full responsibility for his midnight curfew breach, declaring he was "man enough" to look his teammates in the eye and apologise.


England Test captain Ben Stokes revealed he was 'man enough' to apologise to his teammates over his and Gus Atkinson’s curfew breach that led to their exile from the squad for the second Test against New Zealand. With both returning to the playing XI for the series decider at Trent Bridge starting on Thursday (Jun 25), Stokes addressed the media on the eve of the match, admitting his mistake but urging those with the mic to provide him space as a crucial Test looms. "Of course. That was one of the first things I had to do as captain,” Stokes said on apologising to his teammates for letting them down over his nightclub episode. "It's all fine, everything being fine and dandy, when it's going well, but you need to take responsibility for things as well. "You need to be big enough and man enough to be able to take that upon your shoulders, look everyone in the eye who it's affected and apologise how you need to apologise. That’s something I did,” he said. Also read | ICC Rankings: Joe Root reclaims no.1 Test batter spot, Matt Henry joins Jasprit Bumrah at top Stokes and Atkinson were reportedly involved in a physical altercation at a London club while celebrating England’s first Test win over the Kiwis at Lord’s. By doing so, they also breached midnight curfew protocols laid by the ECB following the drinking controversies that marred England's 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia. The two, however, were left out of England’s squad for the Oval Test, led by veteran Joe Root, which ended with them conceding a 253-run defeat. While the ECB and Cricket Regulator cleared them of any wrongdoing in a physical altercation, the two were given a written warning. "I understand there's a lot of questions that you (the media) probably want to ask and want to hear from me, but I hope you respect, in terms of this whole week, I'm (only) focusing on this week," Stokes said on the eve of the match. "That's where my focus is at right now... I'm here as captain of this team, and all I want to do is get the team focused on winning here," insisted Stokes, who made 95 for county side Durham last week. "We are 1-1 in a three-match series, and this week is massive for the team,” he continued. Meanwhile, England was also docked 12 WTC points for maintaining the slow over rate against New Zealand in the second Test. They are currently seventh on the table with four wins and seven losses in 12 contested matches in the ongoing 2025-27 cycle.

England captain Ben Stokes takes full responsibility for his midnight curfew breach, declaring he was "man enough" to look his teammates in the eye and apologise.

Ben Stokes: I was ‘Man Enough’ to apologise to my teammates after curfew breach

England batter Joe Root and New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry have climbed to the summit of the ICC Men's Test Player Rankings following the second match of their ICC World Test Championship series at The Oval, where New Zealand secured a convincing 253-run victory to level the series 1-1. Root has started his 12th stint as the world's No. 1 Test batter after scores of 46 and 77 helped him move ahead of England teammate Harry Brook and Australia's Travis Head.&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, Henry surged to the top of the Test bowling rankings after claiming 11 wickets for 109 runs in the match, drawing level with India's Jasprit Bumrah. The Yorkshire duo of Root and Brook have now exchanged the No. 1 batting ranking six times over the past 18 months since Root first overtook New Zealand star Kane Williamson, another former Yorkshire player.Among the notable movers in the batting rankings, New Zealand's Glenn Phillips, Henry Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra all made gains. Phillips climbed eight places to 31st, Nicholls rose 13 spots to 40th, while Ravindra returned to the top 10.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-knockout-stage-guide-which-teams-have-qualified-format-and-full-schedule-1782300742337">FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage guide: Which teams have qualified, format and full schedule</a>&nbsp;According to the ICC Media release, the bowling rankings see Henry catch up with Bumrah at 870 rating points, which is the second highest by a New Zealand bowler after Richard Hadlee, who peaked with 909 in 1985. As only one New Zealand batter has reached a peak of more than 870 rating points, Kane Williamson with 919 in 2021, Henry's points tally has only been exceeded by two Kiwis in Test history with either bat or ball.&nbsp;Bumrah had occupied the top position on his own since overtaking Kagiso Rabada in November 2024. England's Jofra Archer moved up six places to 50th in the bowling rankings, while Jacob Bethell jumped 29 spots to 85th following their performances at The Oval. In the ICC Men's ODI Rankings, India captain Shubman Gill advanced three places to second among batters after being named Player of the Series for scoring 238 runs in India's 3-0 ODI series sweep over Afghanistan.&nbsp;India's Ishan Kishan climbed 21 places to 43rd, while Yashasvi Jaiswal surged 84 positions to 71st. Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi also improved, moving up four spots to 52nd. Among ODI bowlers, Indian pacer Prasidh Krishna jumped from 92nd to joint-58th after his five-wicket haul in the final ODI. Arshdeep Singh gained 16 places to reach 22nd after taking five wickets in the series, while Afghanistan spinner AM Ghazanfar advanced three spots to 71st.

Joe Root regains the No.1 ICC Test batter ranking while Matt Henry joins Jasprit Bumrah as the top-ranked Test bowler. Shubman Gill rises to No.2 in ODI rankings after India's series win over Afghanistan

England batter Joe Root and New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry have climbed to the summit of the ICC Men's Test Player Rankings following the second match of their ICC World Test Championship series at The Oval, where New Zealand secured a convincing 253-run victory to level the series 1-1. Root has started his 12th stint as the world's No. 1 Test batter after scores of 46 and 77 helped him move ahead of England teammate Harry Brook and Australia's Travis Head. Meanwhile, Henry surged to the top of the Test bowling rankings after claiming 11 wickets for 109 runs in the match, drawing level with India's Jasprit Bumrah. The Yorkshire duo of Root and Brook have now exchanged the No. 1 batting ranking six times over the past 18 months since Root first overtook New Zealand star Kane Williamson, another former Yorkshire player. Among the notable movers in the batting rankings, New Zealand's Glenn Phillips, Henry Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra all made gains. Phillips climbed eight places to 31st, Nicholls rose 13 spots to 40th, while Ravindra returned to the top 10. Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage guide: Which teams have qualified, format and full schedule According to the ICC Media release, the bowling rankings see Henry catch up with Bumrah at 870 rating points, which is the second highest by a New Zealand bowler after Richard Hadlee, who peaked with 909 in 1985. As only one New Zealand batter has reached a peak of more than 870 rating points, Kane Williamson with 919 in 2021, Henry's points tally has only been exceeded by two Kiwis in Test history with either bat or ball. Bumrah had occupied the top position on his own since overtaking Kagiso Rabada in November 2024. England's Jofra Archer moved up six places to 50th in the bowling rankings, while Jacob Bethell jumped 29 spots to 85th following their performances at The Oval. In the ICC Men's ODI Rankings, India captain Shubman Gill advanced three places to second among batters after being named Player of the Series for scoring 238 runs in India's 3-0 ODI series sweep over Afghanistan. India's Ishan Kishan climbed 21 places to 43rd, while Yashasvi Jaiswal surged 84 positions to 71st. Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi also improved, moving up four spots to 52nd. Among ODI bowlers, Indian pacer Prasidh Krishna jumped from 92nd to joint-58th after his five-wicket haul in the final ODI. Arshdeep Singh gained 16 places to reach 22nd after taking five wickets in the series, while Afghanistan spinner AM Ghazanfar advanced three spots to 71st.

Joe Root returns as ICC's no.1 Test batter while Matt Henry equals Jasprit Bumrah atop the Test bowling rankings after Oval heroics

ICC Rankings: Joe Root reclaims no.1 Test batter spot, Matt Henry joins Jasprit Bumrah at top

US President Donald Trump has been confirmed to attend the FIFA World Cup 2026 final in New Jersey on July 19 to hand over the trophy to the winner. Breaking the norm for the home edition, also co-hosted by Canada and Mexico, Trump will present the World Cup trophy alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Meanwhile, at the last two World Cups in Qatar (2022) and Russia (2018), only the FIFA president presented the coveted prize to the ultimate winner.&nbsp;"We will be together with the president [Trump] enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together," Infantino said in a chat with "Fox &amp; Friends." &nbsp;"We are together all the time".&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-brazil-coach-carlo-ancelotti-confirms-neymar-fit-and-available-for-scotland-fixture-but-unlikely-to-start-1782299265080">World Cup 2026: Ancelotti confirms Neymar fit and available for Scotland fixture, but unlikely to start</a> &nbsp;This decision to co-present the World Cup trophy follows the controversy surrounding the presentation of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup to Premier League giants Chelsea after their win over the current Champions League holders, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), in New Jersey last summer. &nbsp;While Trump was to present that trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James, his decision to linger around on the podium left Chelsea players bemused. Even though Infantino and his predecessor as FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, presented the World Cup trophies in the last several editions, the heads of state have also previously presented trophies to the winning captains.

During the 1982 edition, Italy captain Dino Zoff was presented with the FIFA World Cup trophy by King Juan Carlos of Spain. A few years before, Queen Elizabeth II handed over the prestigious crown to England captain Bobby Charlton following the Three Lions’ maiden World Cup title.<h3>14 Days of FIFA World Cup 2026</h3>We have entered the 14th day of the ongoing showpiece event in North America, with top teams and their stars starting to come good. While the defending champions, Argentina, have won their first two group stage fixtures, Portugal returned to winning ways with a 5-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan in their latest outing.&nbsp; &nbsp;While Germany and France have also maintained their unbeaten run in two matches, the Netherlands found ways to win after playing a 2-2 draw against Japan. Brazil and England, on the other hand, are closing in on their Round of 32 Qualifications.

US President Donald Trump is confirmed to co-present the 2026 World Cup trophy with Gianni Infantino. Plus, a complete roundup of Day 14 tournament action!

US President Donald Trump has been confirmed to attend the FIFA World Cup 2026 final in New Jersey on July 19 to hand over the trophy to the winner. Breaking the norm for the home edition, also co-hosted by Canada and Mexico, Trump will present the World Cup trophy alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Meanwhile, at the last two World Cups in Qatar (2022) and Russia (2018), only the FIFA president presented the coveted prize to the ultimate winner. "We will be together with the president [Trump] enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together," Infantino said in a chat with "Fox & Friends." "We are together all the time". Also read | World Cup 2026: Ancelotti confirms Neymar fit and available for Scotland fixture, but unlikely to start This decision to co-present the World Cup trophy follows the controversy surrounding the presentation of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup to Premier League giants Chelsea after their win over the current Champions League holders, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), in New Jersey last summer. While Trump was to present that trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James, his decision to linger around on the podium left Chelsea players bemused. Even though Infantino and his predecessor as FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, presented the World Cup trophies in the last several editions, the heads of state have also previously presented trophies to the winning captains.

US President Donald Trump is confirmed to co-present the 2026 World Cup trophy with Gianni Infantino. Plus, a complete roundup of Day 14 tournament action!

US President Donald Trump confirmed to attend FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey, will present trophy

Lionel Messi, the footballing God’s favourite child, turns 39 on June 24, and with how he and his team are performing, the two can achieve the most coveted crown again: the FIFA World Cup 2026. But before that happens, stare down at the five factors that make him the G.O.A.T in football.

Lionel Messi, the footballing God’s favourite child, turns 39 on June 24, and with how he and his team are performing, the two can achieve the most coveted crown again: the FIFA World Cup 2026. But before that happens, stare down at the five factors that make him the G.O.A.T in football.

As Messi turns 39, these 5 mind-blowing World Cup feats crown him the football G.O.A.T.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage is beginning to take shape as teams secure places in the historic expanded tournament's Round of 32. The tournament features 48 teams for the first time, introducing a new Round of 32 stage before the traditional Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, third-place playoff, and final.<h2>What is the format of the World Cup knockouts?</h2>The top two teams in each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-place finishers, advance to knockouts. The knockout phase begins with round of 32, introduced for the first time at a World Cup after the expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams. Then comes the round of 16, followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and a playoff for third place. The final is on July 19.<h2>Tournament schedule</h2><ul><li>Group stage: June 11 to June 27</li><li>Round of 32: June 28 to July 3</li><li>Round of 16: July 4-7</li><li>Quarterfinals: July 9-11</li><li>Semifinals: July 14-15</li><li>Bronze medal match: July 18</li><li>Final: July 19</li></ul><h2>What are the rule changes for the tie-breaker criteria at the 2026 World Cup?</h2>FIFA is using head-to-head records instead of goal difference as the primary tie-breaker for teams level on points for the first time at a World Cup. Haiti, Turkiye, Tunisia, Jordan and Panama have been eliminated because they are unable to catch the third-placed teams in their respective groups, as they lost to those teams.<h2>Tie-breaker criteria for World Cup groups</h2>According to FIFA’s rules for the tournament, if two or more teams in the same group are equal on points after the group stage ends, the following criteria, in the order below, will be applied to determine the ranking:&nbsp;Step oneGreatest number of points gained in the group matches.Superior goal difference in the group matches between the teams concerned (head-to-head).Greatest number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned (head-to-head).&nbsp;If the teams are still tied, the criteria below apply:Step twoSuperior goal difference across all group matches.Greatest number of goals scored across all group matches.Highest team conduct score (players and team officials) relating to the number of yellow and red cards obtained.&nbsp;If the teams somehow still cannot be separated, then the following criteria apply:Step threeThe two or more teams still equal on points shall be ranked according to the most recent published edition of the FIFA world rankings."<h2>Criteria for the eight best third-placed teams</h2>The eight best teams among those ranked third will be determined as follows:<ul><li>Greatest number of points gained in all group matches.</li><li>Goal difference resulting from all group matches.</li><li>Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches.</li><li>Highest team conduct score (players and team officials) relating to the number of yellow and red cards obtained in all group matches.</li><li>The two or more teams still equal on points shall be ranked according to the most recent published edition of the FIFA world rankings.</li></ul>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ronaldo-vs-messi-at-fifa-world-cup-2026-ticket-prices-explode-ahead-of-potential-portugal-argentina-quarterfinal-1782297514217">Ronaldo vs Messi at FIFA World Cup 2026? Ticket prices explode ahead of potential Portugal-Argentina quarterfinal</a>

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar

<h2>Teams qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32</h2><h3>Mexico (Group A)</h3>Mexico became the first team to qualify for the knockout stage after defeating South Korea 1-0 and securing top spot in Group A.<h3>USA (Group D)</h3>The United States booked a Round of 32 place following a 2-0 win over Australia after opening with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay.<h3>Germany (Group E)</h3>Germany reached the knockout stage after a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast, continuing their strong comeback campaign.<h3>Argentina (Group J)</h3>Argentina sealed qualification with a 2-0 victory over Austria as Lionel Messi scored twice and became the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 18 goals.<h3>France (Group I)</h3>France secured a place in the knockout rounds after a 3-0 victory over Iraq, powered by another Kylian Mbappe brace.<h3>Norway (Group I)</h3>Norway returned to the World Cup in style, clinching qualification with a 3-2 win over Senegal.<h3>Colombia (Group K)</h3>Colombia advanced after edging DR Congo 1-0, following an impressive opening victory against Uzbekistan.<h2>Teams eliminated from the FIFA World Cup 2026</h2><h3>Haiti (Group C)</h3>Haiti became the first team eliminated after losses to Brazil and Scotland.<h3>Turkiye (Group D)</h3>Turkiye exited following defeats against Paraguay and Australia.<h3>Tunisia (Group F)</h3>Tunisia's heavy losses against Sweden and Japan ended their World Cup campaign.<h3>Jordan (Group J)</h3>World Cup debutants Jordan were eliminated after defeats against Austria and Algeria.<h3>Panama (Group L)</h3>Panama bowed out after narrow losses to Ghana and Croatia.

FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage guide: Round of 32 format, updated qualified teams, eliminated nations, tie-breaker rules, schedule, bracket projections, and key tournament developments

The FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage is beginning to take shape as teams secure places in the historic expanded tournament's Round of 32. The tournament features 48 teams for the first time, introducing a new Round of 32 stage before the traditional Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, third-place playoff, and final. What is the format of the World Cup knockouts? The top two teams in each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-place finishers, advance to knockouts. The knockout phase begins with round of 32, introduced for the first time at a World Cup after the expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams. Then comes the round of 16, followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and a playoff for third place. The final is on July 19. Tournament schedule Group stage: June 11 to June 27 Round of 32: June 28 to July 3 Round of 16: July 4-7 Quarterfinals: July 9-11 Semifinals: July 14-15 Bronze medal match: July 18 Final: July 19 What are the rule changes for the tie-breaker criteria at the 2026 World Cup? FIFA is using head-to-head records instead of goal difference as the primary tie-breaker for teams level on points for the first time at a World Cup. Haiti, Turkiye, Tunisia, Jordan and Panama have been eliminated because they are unable to catch the third-placed teams in their respective groups, as they lost to those teams. Tie-breaker criteria for World Cup groups According to FIFA’s rules for the tournament, if two or more teams in the same group are equal on points after the group stage ends, the following criteria, in the order below, will be applied to determine the ranking: Step one Greatest number of points gained in the group matches. Superior goal difference in the group matches between the teams concerned (head-to-head). Greatest number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned (head-to-head). If the teams are still tied, the criteria below apply: Step two Superior goal difference across all group matches. Greatest number of goals scored across all group matches. Highest team conduct score (players and team officials) relating to the number of yellow and red cards obtained. If the teams somehow still cannot be separated, then the following criteria apply: Step three The two or more teams still equal on points shall be ranked according to the most recent published edition of the FIFA world rankings." Criteria for the eight best third-placed teams The eight best teams among those ranked third will be determined as follows: Greatest number of points gained in all group matches. Goal difference resulting from all group matches. Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches. Highest team conduct score (players and team officials) relating to the number of yellow and red cards obtained in all group matches. The two or more teams still equal on points shall be ranked according to the most recent published edition of the FIFA world rankings. Also Read: Ronaldo vs Messi at FIFA World Cup 2026? Ticket prices explode ahead of potential Portugal-Argentina quarterfinal

FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout bracket takes shape as Mexico, USA, Germany, Argentina, France, Norway and Colombia reach the Round of 32

FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage guide: Which teams have qualified, format and full schedule

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As Messi turns 39, these 5 World Cup feats crown him the football G.O.A.T.

FIFA WC 2026 knockout stage: Teams qualified so far, format and full schedule