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Wyndham Clark is now &nbsp;a two-time US Open champion. The 32-year-old American delivered a wire-to-wire victory at Shinnecock Hills on Sunday (Jun 21), firing a three-over 73 to finish at four-under 276 across 72 holes, edging compatriot Sam Burns by a single stroke. Clark, who also claimed the 2023 US Open at Los Angeles Country Club, became only the ninth wire-to-wire winner in US Open history and the first since Germany's Martin Kaymer at Pinehurst in 2014. It was a Father's Day to remember, made more special when his father Randall, who had largely stayed away from tour events, flew in to surprise him on the 18th green.<h2>Clark hangs on to dream and delivers</h2>Clark's road to the title was anything but smooth. He began the final round carrying a commanding six-shot lead but watched it shrink to a single stroke as Burns launched a stunning charge, making birdies on four of the first eight holes. Clark, battling three bogeys on the front nine, dug deep and grinded through the back nine in true champion fashion. The decisive moment came at the par-five 16th, where Clark holed a 24-foot birdie putt after finding deep rough off the tee - a shot that shifted momentum back decisively in his favour.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-lamine-yamal-first-goal-as-spain-rout-saudi-arabia-4-0-in-atlanta-1782066150908">FIFA World Cup: Lamine Yamal stars on return as Spain rout Saudi Arabia 4-0</a>"I played some ugly golf the last two days, but my putter and short game kept me in it," Clark said candidly after the round. He then recovered from a bogey at 17 with a composed two-putt par from 52 feet at 18 to seal the deal."It comes down to just believing good things are going to happen and you're going to make the putt. And fortunately the ones that I needed to make I did," he said.The victory, worth a record $4.5 million from a $22.5 million purse, also carried significant personal redemption. Clark had smashed a locker at Oakmont after missing the cut at the 2025 US Open, an incident that drew widespread criticism and heckles from New York galleries this week. "This one was a lot of redemption. Last year was so tough. A terrible year," Clark said. "It's amazing what a year can do."

Clark, who also claimed the 2023 US Open at Los Angeles Country Club, became only the ninth wire-to-wire winner in US Open history.

Wyndham Clark is now a two-time US Open champion. The 32-year-old American delivered a wire-to-wire victory at Shinnecock Hills on Sunday (Jun 21), firing a three-over 73 to finish at four-under 276 across 72 holes, edging compatriot Sam Burns by a single stroke. Clark, who also claimed the 2023 US Open at Los Angeles Country Club, became only the ninth wire-to-wire winner in US Open history and the first since Germany's Martin Kaymer at Pinehurst in 2014. It was a Father's Day to remember, made more special when his father Randall, who had largely stayed away from tour events, flew in to surprise him on the 18th green. Clark hangs on to dream and delivers Clark's road to the title was anything but smooth. He began the final round carrying a commanding six-shot lead but watched it shrink to a single stroke as Burns launched a stunning charge, making birdies on four of the first eight holes. Clark, battling three bogeys on the front nine, dug deep and grinded through the back nine in true champion fashion. The decisive moment came at the par-five 16th, where Clark holed a 24-foot birdie putt after finding deep rough off the tee - a shot that shifted momentum back decisively in his favour. Also Read - FIFA World Cup: Lamine Yamal stars on return as Spain rout Saudi Arabia 4-0 "I played some ugly golf the last two days, but my putter and short game kept me in it," Clark said candidly after the round. He then recovered from a bogey at 17 with a composed two-putt par from 52 feet at 18 to seal the deal. "It comes down to just believing good things are going to happen and you're going to make the putt. And fortunately the ones that I needed to make I did," he said. The victory, worth a record $4.5 million from a $22.5 million purse, also carried significant personal redemption. Clark had smashed a locker at Oakmont after missing the cut at the 2025 US Open, an incident that drew widespread criticism and heckles from New York galleries this week. "This one was a lot of redemption. Last year was so tough. A terrible year," Clark said. "It's amazing what a year can do."

Clark, who also claimed the 2023 US Open at Los Angeles Country Club, became only the ninth wire-to-wire winner in US Open history

Wyndham Clark hangs on to dream and win second US Open title by one stroke

Lamine Yamal scored his first World Cup goal upon starting in the XI for the first time in two months, as Spain routed Saudi Arabia 4-0 in Atlanta on Sunday (Jun 21). Yamal scored once, while Mikel Oyarzabal struck a brace, as the former champions looked unstoppable in their second Group H match after playing an uncharacteristic scoreless draw against the tournament debutants, Cape Verde, in their opener. Just after De la Fuente replaced Yamal at half-time by carefully monitoring his playing time, Saudi Arabia’s Hassan al-Tambakti’s own goal made it 4-0 in favour of Spain after the break.&nbsp;Yamal's return was one of four changes in total, with Pedro Porro, Dani Olmo and Alex Baena also coming into the starting line-up. After over 2,500 passes and 50 attempts at goal since their last World Cup goal, Spain finally found the net, and fittingly, Yamal made the breakthrough.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-is-a-hat-trick-who-has-the-most-in-modern-football-lionel-messi-cristiano-ronaldo-hat-trick-origin-1858-cricket-1782055470307">Why is it called a ‘Hat-Trick’—and who has the most in modern football?</a><h3>Pressure rises on Saudis</h3>Oyarzabal found space behind the Saudi defence, and his low cross picked out the 18-year-old to slot in at the back post.&nbsp;Earlier, the Saudis held Uruguay 1-1 in their opening game, but there was little evidence that the billions splashed to raise the level of their domestic league had aided the national team. &nbsp;Coach Georgios Donis looked particularly irked that two of Spain's goals came from corners. &nbsp;Oyarzabal pounced on Aymeric Laporte's flick on to give the 2010 winners the breathing space they craved. Just three minutes later, the Real Sociedad forward volleyed home from Dani Olmo's header for his 14th international goal in his last 13 caps. &nbsp;Oyarzabal was inches away from a first-half hat-trick when his audacious effort with the outside of his foot from a narrow angle came back off the crossbar. But with the job done by half-time, De la Fuente could afford the luxury of replacing Yamal and Oyarzabal at the break. &nbsp;The changes did not disrupt the waves of Spanish attack towards the Saudi goal, but the fourth also came via a corner. &nbsp;Cucurella was afforded acres of space to shoot, and although his effort was repelled by Mohammed al-Owais, the rebound deflected in off the unfortunate Tambakti.&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

Lamine Yamal scored his first World Cup goal on his return to the starting XI as a rampant Spain thrashed Saudi Arabia 4-0 in their Group H clash in Atlanta.

Lamine Yamal scored his first World Cup goal upon starting in the XI for the first time in two months, as Spain routed Saudi Arabia 4-0 in Atlanta on Sunday (Jun 21). Yamal scored once, while Mikel Oyarzabal struck a brace, as the former champions looked unstoppable in their second Group H match after playing an uncharacteristic scoreless draw against the tournament debutants, Cape Verde, in their opener. Just after De la Fuente replaced Yamal at half-time by carefully monitoring his playing time, Saudi Arabia’s Hassan al-Tambakti’s own goal made it 4-0 in favour of Spain after the break. Yamal's return was one of four changes in total, with Pedro Porro, Dani Olmo and Alex Baena also coming into the starting line-up. After over 2,500 passes and 50 attempts at goal since their last World Cup goal, Spain finally found the net, and fittingly, Yamal made the breakthrough. Also read | Why is it called a ‘Hat-Trick’—and who has the most in modern football? Pressure rises on Saudis Oyarzabal found space behind the Saudi defence, and his low cross picked out the 18-year-old to slot in at the back post. Earlier, the Saudis held Uruguay 1-1 in their opening game, but there was little evidence that the billions splashed to raise the level of their domestic league had aided the national team. Coach Georgios Donis looked particularly irked that two of Spain's goals came from corners. Oyarzabal pounced on Aymeric Laporte's flick on to give the 2010 winners the breathing space they craved. Just three minutes later, the Real Sociedad forward volleyed home from Dani Olmo's header for his 14th international goal in his last 13 caps. Oyarzabal was inches away from a first-half hat-trick when his audacious effort with the outside of his foot from a narrow angle came back off the crossbar. But with the job done by half-time, De la Fuente could afford the luxury of replacing Yamal and Oyarzabal at the break. The changes did not disrupt the waves of Spanish attack towards the Saudi goal, but the fourth also came via a corner. Cucurella was afforded acres of space to shoot, and although his effort was repelled by Mohammed al-Owais, the rebound deflected in off the unfortunate Tambakti. (With inputs from AFP)

Lamine Yamal scored his first World Cup goal on his return to the starting XI as a rampant Spain thrashed Saudi Arabia 4-0 in their Group H clash in Atlanta.

FIFA World Cup: Lamine Yamal stars on return as Spain rout Saudi Arabia 4-0

South Africa spoiled Harmanpreet Kaur’s 200th T20I game as they beat the title contenders, India, by six wickets in their Group A Women's T20 World Cup clash on Sunday (Jun 21). Unbeaten until this game, India looked uncharacteristically sloppy on the field and failed to make the most of the chances. As a result, they lost the match but remain second on the points table, behind Australia, who are unbeaten after three games.&nbsp;Harmanpreet Kaur made history with her 200th appearance for India in this format, becoming the first player, in men’s or women’s cricket, to achieve this feat. She also captained India for the 200th time across all formats, becoming the first Indian to do so. While she wanted to make the most of this monumental feat by extending India’s unbeaten run to three games, a loss at the hands of the Proteas will bring them back to the drawing board and rightly so.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-a-vs-sri-lanka-a-odi-tri-series-in-sri-lanka-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-stars-in-final-with-record-11-ball-fifty-fastest-in-list-a-1782049605791">India-A win tri-series in Sri Lanka; Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stars in final with record 11-ball fifty</a> &nbsp;Sharing disappointment over this loss, Harmanpreet said, “We got a couple of chances in between but couldn't take those chances. We have two matches, and this is the time to stay positive. Shree Charani and Shafali bowled well, but the fielders didn't support them. We have to take opportunities at this level.&nbsp; &nbsp;“We were not lucky enough with that. We have two matches, and this is the time to think about that. We will sit and rethink what to do and then will see the changes to be done,” she added. &nbsp;India batted first after winning the toss, with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana adding 30 for the first wicket. The two departed inside the Powerplay, with Verma scoring 31 off 15 balls. The middle order looked sluggish on the Manchester track, with only captain Harmanpreet and all-rounder Deepti Sharma getting into the 20s afterwards. &nbsp;India scored 158 for seven in the first innings, with Marizanne Kapp returning with two wickets.<h3>Kapp’s show steals Harman’s spotlight</h3>Kapp backed up her clinical bowling display with a brilliant, unbeaten 81 off 45 balls to see her side home with six wickets to spare. The renowned all-rounder smashed seven fours and four sixes, with opener Tazmin Brits also scoring 40 in 36 deliveries to help the cause. &nbsp;“It was a tough game. Playing India is always tough. And I am very proud of the way the team came back. I was just praying, to be honest. I do well if I am in earlier. I struggled in the first few balls. The partnership with Taz set us up beautifully. We said it is a tough place to bat because you can't let it get too far, but you also can't lose too many wickets. We had the big hitters in the back-end and just wanted to put our heads down,” the Player of the Match, Kapp, said.&nbsp;

Marizanne Kapp's sensational unbeaten 81 spoiled skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s historic 200th T20I match as South Africa defeated India by six wickets in a thrilling Group A Women's T20 World Cup clash in Manchester.

South Africa spoiled Harmanpreet Kaur’s 200th T20I game as they beat the title contenders, India, by six wickets in their Group A Women's T20 World Cup clash on Sunday (Jun 21). Unbeaten until this game, India looked uncharacteristically sloppy on the field and failed to make the most of the chances. As a result, they lost the match but remain second on the points table, behind Australia, who are unbeaten after three games. Harmanpreet Kaur made history with her 200th appearance for India in this format, becoming the first player, in men’s or women’s cricket, to achieve this feat. She also captained India for the 200th time across all formats, becoming the first Indian to do so. While she wanted to make the most of this monumental feat by extending India’s unbeaten run to three games, a loss at the hands of the Proteas will bring them back to the drawing board and rightly so. Also read | India-A win tri-series in Sri Lanka; Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stars in final with record 11-ball fifty Sharing disappointment over this loss, Harmanpreet said, “We got a couple of chances in between but couldn't take those chances. We have two matches, and this is the time to stay positive. Shree Charani and Shafali bowled well, but the fielders didn't support them. We have to take opportunities at this level. “We were not lucky enough with that. We have two matches, and this is the time to think about that. We will sit and rethink what to do and then will see the changes to be done,” she added. India batted first after winning the toss, with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana adding 30 for the first wicket. The two departed inside the Powerplay, with Verma scoring 31 off 15 balls. The middle order looked sluggish on the Manchester track, with only captain Harmanpreet and all-rounder Deepti Sharma getting into the 20s afterwards. India scored 158 for seven in the first innings, with Marizanne Kapp returning with two wickets. Kapp’s show steals Harman’s spotlight Kapp backed up her clinical bowling display with a brilliant, unbeaten 81 off 45 balls to see her side home with six wickets to spare. The renowned all-rounder smashed seven fours and four sixes, with opener Tazmin Brits also scoring 40 in 36 deliveries to help the cause. “It was a tough game. Playing India is always tough. And I am very proud of the way the team came back. I was just praying, to be honest. I do well if I am in earlier. I struggled in the first few balls. The partnership with Taz set us up beautifully. We said it is a tough place to bat because you can't let it get too far, but you also can't lose too many wickets. We had the big hitters in the back-end and just wanted to put our heads down,” the Player of the Match, Kapp, said.

Marizanne Kapp's sensational unbeaten 81 spoiled skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s historic 200th T20I match as South Africa defeated India by six wickets in a thrilling Group A Women's T20 World Cup clash in Manchester.

Women’s T20I World Cup: South Africa spoil India skipper Harmanpreet’s 200th game with clinical win

The concept of a ‘hat-trick’ has ironically nothing to do with football - the most-followed sport worldwide, as the word derived from another sport, famous in the UK at the start and now across the globe, cricket. Its latest mention was for Argentine great Lionel Messi, who scored three successive goals in a FIFA World Cup 2026 game against Algeria to earn his first ‘World Cup hat-trick’. So, where did this word come from, what does this mean, and who holds the record for the most hat-tricks in modern football?<h2>What is a hat-trick?</h2>A hat-trick in sports is a feat achieved across three successive events; it could be wickets (in cricket) or goals (in football and hockey). In cricket, if a bowler picks up three wickets off three successive deliveries, it will be termed a hat-trick of those events. Similarly, in football, if a player scores three goals in a game, not necessarily consecutively, a hat-trick would be written on his scoring sheet. &nbsp;So, where did this word come from? &nbsp;Historians suggest that the hat-trick's first mention was during a cricket match in the UK in 1858. &nbsp;On September 11, 1858, an All-England Eleven team faced off against a local twenty-two from Hallam (Sheffield) at the Hyde Park Ground. Heathfield Harman (H.H.) Stephenson, representing All-England, bowled three batters on three consecutive deliveries. &nbsp;At this point, there was no official reward system for exceptional individual play. So, to mark the sheer improbability of three consecutive bowled wickets, a local fan initiated a ‘whip-round’ (a spontaneous crowd collection). The money collected was taken to a local haberdasher (a merchant selling men's clothing items) to buy a physical top hat, which was later presented to Stephenson.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Live on Zee5

For several years, the concept of ‘tricking a batter to earn a hat’ remained an oral slang among cricketers until its earliest known appearance occurred in the Chelmsford Chronicle in 1865, 12 years before the first-ever international cricket game was played between England and Australia. &nbsp;Meanwhile, that newspaper used the term to describe a game of cricket, where a bowler took three wickets off three balls, noting that he had performed a hat-trick. However, by the launch of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack editions in the 1870s, the term was officially codified into the lexicon of English sport.<h3>Hat-trick’s migration to football</h3>As football grew as a sport across the UK (by the late 1800s), later in Europe and elsewhere, fans began using this term for someone who scored three goals in a 90-minute match.&nbsp; &nbsp;By the mid-20th century, this word entered the ice-hockey arena and soon spread across countless sports, played with and around individual skill.&nbsp;However, with the passage of time, teams winning three back-to-back matches, events or even tournaments, are also noted as completing a hat-trick.<h3>Who has scored the most hat-tricks in modern-day football?</h3>Modern-day football is completely dominated by two generational icons, Argentina’s Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo. Considering the top modern goal-scorers, Ronaldo leads the hat-trick tally against his closest opponent, Messi, sitting at the top with 66 and counting across all competitions.&nbsp; &nbsp;A prolific goal-scorer, Ronaldo is also inching closer to completing 1000 goals since his professional debut in 2003. &nbsp;Second is Messi, who has over 59 hat-tricks in all competitions, the latest of which came during his team’s title-defence opener in the ongoing FIFA World Cup. Poland and former Bayern Munich great Robert Lewandowski is third with 33 hat-tricks, while Messi’s former teammate at Barcelona, Luis Suarez, is next with 31. &nbsp;Meanwhile, should the two (Ronaldo and Messi) proceed further in the tournament, chances of both adding more hat-tricks to their tallies increase.

Discover the fascinating 19th-century cricket history behind the word 'hat-trick' and see who leads the all-time leaderboard between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The concept of a ‘hat-trick’ has ironically nothing to do with football - the most-followed sport worldwide, as the word derived from another sport, famous in the UK at the start and now across the globe, cricket. Its latest mention was for Argentine great Lionel Messi, who scored three successive goals in a FIFA World Cup 2026 game against Algeria to earn his first ‘World Cup hat-trick’. So, where did this word come from, what does this mean, and who holds the record for the most hat-tricks in modern football? What is a hat-trick? A hat-trick in sports is a feat achieved across three successive events; it could be wickets (in cricket) or goals (in football and hockey). In cricket, if a bowler picks up three wickets off three successive deliveries, it will be termed a hat-trick of those events. Similarly, in football, if a player scores three goals in a game, not necessarily consecutively, a hat-trick would be written on his scoring sheet. So, where did this word come from? Historians suggest that the hat-trick's first mention was during a cricket match in the UK in 1858. On September 11, 1858, an All-England Eleven team faced off against a local twenty-two from Hallam (Sheffield) at the Hyde Park Ground. Heathfield Harman (H.H.) Stephenson, representing All-England, bowled three batters on three consecutive deliveries. At this point, there was no official reward system for exceptional individual play. So, to mark the sheer improbability of three consecutive bowled wickets, a local fan initiated a ‘whip-round’ (a spontaneous crowd collection). The money collected was taken to a local haberdasher (a merchant selling men's clothing items) to buy a physical top hat, which was later presented to Stephenson.

Discover the fascinating 19th-century cricket history behind the word 'hat-trick' and see who leads the all-time leaderboard between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Why is it called a ‘Hat-Trick’—and who has the most in modern football?

Cumbria is famous for the Lake District, beloved author Beatrix Potter, and its iconic Cumberland sausages. But the region has also earned an unexpected reputation for producing elite football goalkeepers. All three of England’s goalkeepers selected for the World Cup have links to Carlisle United. Dean Henderson and James Trafford developed through the club’s academy system, while England number one Jordan Pickford spent time at the club on loan as a young professional. For everyone connected to Carlisle United, this achievement is a source of immense pride.<h2>Jordan Pickford’s early lessons at Carlisle</h2>Since making his England debut in 2017, Jordan Pickford has become one of the country’s most reliable goalkeepers. He played a crucial role in England’s run to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and remains the first-choice goalkeeper under manager Thomas Tuchel. Before establishing himself at Sunderland and later Everton, Pickford spent part of a season on loan at Carlisle United, then competing in League One.&nbsp;Although he made only 18 appearances, his impact was significant. "I remember one game in particular, we were playing at Deepdale against Preston," said Ben Benson, who attended the match as a supporter while also working within Carlisle's goalkeeping setup. "He made a mistake, one that goalkeepers up and down the country make every week."&nbsp;The error came during a difficult campaign as Carlisle battled relegation. In a match against Preston North End, Pickford came to claim a cross but lost control of the ball, allowing Lee Holmes to score in a 6-1 defeat. What happened next left a lasting impression. "Once it happened, I could remember him going back to his goal. He got his towel and put it over his head for maybe five seconds. "He took it off, put it back on, and it was almost like he'd pressed the reset button. From the moment on, I remember him being outstanding."&nbsp;Although Carlisle were relegated, Pickford returned to Sunderland stronger and soon became their first-choice goalkeeper before securing a reported £30 million move to Everton in 2017. "In Jordan you see reliability and robustness first and foremost," said Benson. "For him to have over 300 Premier League appearance and more than 80 England caps, there's a robustness there and I think that's very important."<h2>Dean Henderson’s determination was clear from day one</h2>Former Carlisle goalkeeping coach Eric Kinder recalls the first time he met Dean Henderson. “The first time I met him was during half-term, he must have been 13 or 14, and he kept pestering me to train with the under-18s. I would say, 'You're too young, you're too small'. But eventually I let him have a go.” Kinder decided to test the teenager against older players. "So now we've got two 18-year-old centre-forwards smashing balls at him from 12 and 18 yards," he added.&nbsp;“They're hitting him in the face and in the stomach. There are tears coming down his face but he's getting back up and shouting, 'Do it again! Do it again!' - and I thought 'Wow', what have we got here?” The determination Henderson showed at that age would define his career. Kinder, who spent many years coaching goalkeepers within Carlisle’s youth system, played a significant role in Henderson’s development before the goalkeeper moved to Manchester United at the age of 14.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rejected-at-14-factory-worker-at-17-world-cup-hero-at-29-deniz-undav-s-incredible-journey-1782033008821">Rejected at 14, factory worker at 17, World Cup hero at 29: Deniz Undav's incredible journey</a>

Spain vs Saudi Arabia

<h2>A penalty-saving specialist</h2>James Tose, who first identified Henderson as a talented youngster, remembers a community football event where the future England goalkeeper first caught his attention. Initially playing as an outfield player, Henderson volunteered to go in goal for a penalty shootout competition. "We're standing there and all these kids keep lining up taking penalties and Dean keeps saving them all," recalled Tose. "There might have been 18 or 19 penalties. No-one was scoring. "I think I took a penalty myself and he saved that too.&nbsp;“Then I remembered meeting his mum and dad. They were over six foot and I thought, 'Wow', he's good in goal and there's a chance he might be tall too.” Scouts continued to monitor Henderson, eventually convincing him to focus solely on goalkeeping. His progress was rapid, leading to a move to Manchester United in 2015.&nbsp;Loan spells with Stockport County, Grimsby Town, Shrewsbury Town, Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest followed before Henderson joined Crystal Palace permanently in 2023. "Attitude in football is huge and Dean's a very determined person and you can tell that by the career that he's had so far. It's just great to see him thrive. I've got no doubt if he gets the chance to play he'll do the country proud."<h2>James Trafford’s calmness sets him apart</h2>Like Henderson, James Trafford also emerged from Cumbria. Born in Cockermouth, he spent time within Carlisle United’s youth setup before joining Manchester City at just 12 years old. Now part of England’s World Cup goalkeeping group, Trafford has built a reputation for composure under pressure. Former Carlisle coach Ben Benson believes that quality is one of his greatest strengths. "When I look at him, you see the potential and you see the calmness," said Benson, who also coached Trafford at Carlisle.&nbsp;&nbsp;"As a player you could call him an introvert, takes it all in, not the life and soul of the party but that's not a bad thing, you see a calmness to his play. I remember him playing under [Vincent] Kompany at Burnley and he has his foot on the ball, I think they were losing the game and the crowd are getting on his back, but he stuck to the gameplan, stuck to his principles.&nbsp;“He plays so calm and the fact he can take in this environment at such a young age, and also still execute that, is really important.” Trafford helped Burnley secure promotion to the Premier League before returning to Manchester City. Despite competition for places, many believe he has the potential to become England’s future number one.<h2>Carlisle United: England’s goalkeeper factory</h2>Carlisle United’s influence extends beyond England. New Zealand international goalkeeper Max Crocombe also spent time at the club during the 2016-17 season. However, the presence of Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson and James Trafford in England’s World Cup plans highlights the club’s extraordinary contribution to the national team. From academy graduates to loan signings, Carlisle United has become one of the most remarkable goalkeeper development centres in English football, proving that one small club in Cumbria can have a major impact on the international stage.

Discover how Carlisle United played a key role in developing England goalkeepers Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson and James Trafford, creating a remarkable goalkeeping legacy in Cumbria

Cumbria is famous for the Lake District, beloved author Beatrix Potter, and its iconic Cumberland sausages. But the region has also earned an unexpected reputation for producing elite football goalkeepers. All three of England’s goalkeepers selected for the World Cup have links to Carlisle United. Dean Henderson and James Trafford developed through the club’s academy system, while England number one Jordan Pickford spent time at the club on loan as a young professional. For everyone connected to Carlisle United, this achievement is a source of immense pride. Jordan Pickford’s early lessons at Carlisle Since making his England debut in 2017, Jordan Pickford has become one of the country’s most reliable goalkeepers. He played a crucial role in England’s run to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and remains the first-choice goalkeeper under manager Thomas Tuchel. Before establishing himself at Sunderland and later Everton, Pickford spent part of a season on loan at Carlisle United, then competing in League One. Although he made only 18 appearances, his impact was significant. "I remember one game in particular, we were playing at Deepdale against Preston," said Ben Benson, who attended the match as a supporter while also working within Carlisle's goalkeeping setup. "He made a mistake, one that goalkeepers up and down the country make every week." The error came during a difficult campaign as Carlisle battled relegation. In a match against Preston North End, Pickford came to claim a cross but lost control of the ball, allowing Lee Holmes to score in a 6-1 defeat. What happened next left a lasting impression. "Once it happened, I could remember him going back to his goal. He got his towel and put it over his head for maybe five seconds. "He took it off, put it back on, and it was almost like he'd pressed the reset button. From the moment on, I remember him being outstanding." Although Carlisle were relegated, Pickford returned to Sunderland stronger and soon became their first-choice goalkeeper before securing a reported £30 million move to Everton in 2017. "In Jordan you see reliability and robustness first and foremost," said Benson. "For him to have over 300 Premier League appearance and more than 80 England caps, there's a robustness there and I think that's very important." Dean Henderson’s determination was clear from day one Former Carlisle goalkeeping coach Eric Kinder recalls the first time he met Dean Henderson. “The first time I met him was during half-term, he must have been 13 or 14, and he kept pestering me to train with the under-18s. I would say, 'You're too young, you're too small'. But eventually I let him have a go.” Kinder decided to test the teenager against older players. "So now we've got two 18-year-old centre-forwards smashing balls at him from 12 and 18 yards," he added. “They're hitting him in the face and in the stomach. There are tears coming down his face but he's getting back up and shouting, 'Do it again! Do it again!' - and I thought 'Wow', what have we got here?” The determination Henderson showed at that age would define his career. Kinder, who spent many years coaching goalkeepers within Carlisle’s youth system, played a significant role in Henderson’s development before the goalkeeper moved to Manchester United at the age of 14. Also Read: Rejected at 14, factory worker at 17, World Cup hero at 29: Deniz Undav's incredible journey

Carlisle United helped shape England goalkeepers Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson and James Trafford, earning a reputation as a keeper factory

How Carlisle United produced England’s three World Cup goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson and James Trafford

India-A opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi announced himself on the bigger stage. His moment came in the final against the hosts, Sri Lanka-A, on Sunday (Jun 21). Batting first in the summit clash, Sooryavanshi brought his IPL game to the table, smashing the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-a-vs-sl-a-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-scripts-history-smashes-fastest-list-a-fifty-in-just-11-balls-1782023306828">quickest-ever fifty in all of List-A cricket</a> in just 11 balls. His breathtaking strokeplay stunned the viewers and statisticians. Riding on his 29-ball 94, India-A clobbered 377 for nine before wrapping up Sri Lanka A on 311 to win the match by 66 runs and clinch the tri-series.&nbsp;WATCH Winning Moment -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">SERIAL WINNERS 🏆 Here&#39;s the moment <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> sealed the Tri-Series <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/TalentTVCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TalentTVCup</a> title! 🎉 <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SonySportsNetwork?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonySportsNetwork</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SonyLIV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonyLIV</a> <a href="https://t.co/biMk40VJJ7">pic.twitter.com/biMk40VJJ7</a>&mdash; Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) <a href="https://x.com/SonySportsNetwk/status/2068685492510654464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Sri Lanka A won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision Vaibhav made them regret in the end. Opening alongside Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav smashed an 11-ball fifty and inched closer to his first hundred of the tournament soon after, before departing on 94. His record-filled innings included eight sixes, 11 fours and a strike rate of 324.14. His dismissal came in the ninth over, when India-A had already scored 132 runs.&nbsp; &nbsp;“I didn't think too much, just wanted to make the most of the first 10 overs and execute what I had planned,” the Player of the Match, Sooryavanshi, said.&nbsp; &nbsp;“There was no pressure, but I was trying to execute the plans that were not working. I talked to the coaches and worked on it in practice. Today, the plan was executed, and the result came out on its own,” he added.&nbsp;WATCH Sooryavanshi's 94-run knock -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">RUTHLESS REDEMPTION. 😈 Ruthless Boss Baby making sure revenge is s̶w̶e̶e̶t̶ explosive. ☄️🔥 🥵 Watch Sri Lanka &#39;A&#39; vs India &#39;A&#39;, LIVE NOW on Sony Sports Network TV channels &amp; Sony LIV. 📺<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SonySportsNetwork?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonySportsNetwork</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SonyLIV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonyLIV</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/TalentTVCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TalentTVCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/8MH0fKnB8C">pic.twitter.com/8MH0fKnB8C</a>&mdash; Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) <a href="https://x.com/SonySportsNetwk/status/2068574342934675598?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Arya got out in the next over on 39. India-A captain Tilak Varma and Ruturaj Gaikwad then stitched an 84-run stand for the third wicket. A cluster of wickets late in the innings held back India-A's scoring rate, but thanks to an unbelievable cameo from Anukul Roy, who smashed an unbeaten 39 off just 15 balls, India-A posted a winning total.<h3>India-A triumph over Sri Lanka-A</h3>Sri Lanka lost two wickets inside the fifth over, with the third one coming in the 10th, as their scorecard read 75/3 at one stage. Sadeera Samarawickrama starred with the bat, scoring 52 off 44 balls, but fell to pace express Ashok Sharma.&nbsp; &nbsp;Skipper Sahan Arachchige also tried his hand at saving the team’s grace, only to be dismissed by Vipraj Nigam on 19, who picked up three wickets. &nbsp;Bowling all-rounder Wanuja Sahan was the hosts’ last hope, but even his 62 off 69 balls couldn’t save his team from the loss, as they were bundled out on 311, conceding the final by 66 runs and a chance to win the tri-series at home. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Sooryavanshi will now head to the UK as part of the T20I squads for the Ireland and England series. India will face Ireland in the first of two T20Is on June 26 in Belfast.

Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed a historic 11-ball fifty as India-A crushed Sri Lanka-A by 66 runs to clinch the tri-series title.

India-A opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi announced himself on the bigger stage. His moment came in the final against the hosts, Sri Lanka-A, on Sunday (Jun 21). Batting first in the summit clash, Sooryavanshi brought his IPL game to the table, smashing the quickest-ever fifty in all of List-A cricket in just 11 balls. His breathtaking strokeplay stunned the viewers and statisticians. Riding on his 29-ball 94, India-A clobbered 377 for nine before wrapping up Sri Lanka A on 311 to win the match by 66 runs and clinch the tri-series. WATCH Winning Moment -

Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed a historic 11-ball fifty as India-A crushed Sri Lanka-A by 66 runs to clinch the tri-series title.

India-A win tri-series in Sri Lanka; Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stars in final with record 11-ball fifty

For most fans, a sports presenter appears on screen for a few minutes, asks a few questions, smiles at the camera and disappears. What viewers don't see are the hours of preparation, the frantic last-minute changes, the constant pressure of live television, the battle against stereotypes and the endless stream of social media criticism waiting after every broadcast. Sports presenter Ayushi Shekhawat has experienced all of it. Today, she is a familiar face across cricket and sports broadcasts, but her journey into sports wasn't part of a grand plan. In fact, when Star Sports first approached her, she turned them down. "I thought it was a prank call," she laughs.&nbsp;At the time, Shekhawat was working in television news and had spent years building her career as a journalist. Having covered politics, entertainment and current affairs, she was finally beginning to establish herself in political journalism, a beat many newsroom professionals regard as the pinnacle of television news. "I always wanted to be a news anchor. I started with reporting during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and then moved into anchoring. I worked with Zee, News Nation, India News and Bharat24. Sports was never really part of the plan," she says.&nbsp;Like many journalists, she carried preconceived notions about sports broadcasting. “In the news industry, there is often this mindset that if you're not good enough for politics, then you'll be given sports or entertainment. I also had that mindset. I had worked very hard to get into political coverage and debates, so when sports came calling, I wasn't interested.” But the opportunity refused to go away. Star Sports returned with a second offer. They explained that they were looking for someone who was already comfortable in front of the camera and could handle live television without extensive training.&nbsp;“They told me, 'You're young. Try it. If you don't like it, you can always go back to news.' That made sense.” What followed was a rigorous audition process involving video submissions, interviews and multiple rounds of assessments. “There was no shortcut. I had to pass every audition and every test. Star Sports doesn't work on references. You have to prove yourself.” Eventually, she got the job. And that's when she discovered that sports broadcasting was far more demanding than she had imagined.<h2>The homework nobody sees</h2>Ask any sports fan what a presenter does and the answer is usually simple: talk to players, ask questions and host the show.According to Shekhawat, that's only a tiny fraction of the job. “People only see the presenter on television. They don't see the preparation behind it. There is a whole team working. There is research, production, planning, rehearsals and last-minute changes.” Preparation starts long before the cameras roll.&nbsp;Presenters need to know team combinations, player statistics, recent performances, injuries, tactical trends and storylines. And unlike a scripted television programme, live sports can change in seconds. She recalls a recent broadcast where the show's entire structure had to be changed minutes before going live. "We had prepared the show around a particular player. At the last moment, the playing XI was announced and he wasn't even in the team. Suddenly someone else was playing. If I don't know who that replacement player is, what his form is or what he did in the previous match, then what questions am I supposed to ask?"&nbsp;That constant need for preparation extends beyond cricket's biggest stars. While working on domestic leagues, Shekhawat often finds herself researching emerging cricketers who are making headlines for the first time. "Every day a new player is performing. Someone scores the first century of his career. Someone wins a game for his team. So I speak to people connected with the league, coaches, players and team staff. You have to keep updating yourself all the time."<h2>The chaos inside an earpiece</h2>One of the most underrated skills in sports broadcasting is managing information overload. During a live broadcast, presenters are constantly receiving instructions through their earpieces while simultaneously conducting conversations on camera. "In news, usually only the producer talks to you. In sports, it's completely different. The producer is speaking, the director is giving instructions, cameras are changing and there is noise everywhere."&nbsp;The challenge lies in filtering what matters. “At one moment, you have to listen carefully to what the guest is saying because you need a follow-up question. The next moment, you need to ignore the guest and focus on the producer because he is giving directions. Then you need to listen to the director about camera movements.” This ability to process multiple streams of information simultaneously is something she compares to being in a crowded room. "You need to train your brain to focus on one voice among ten different voices. That's actually a very important skill for a presenter."<h2>More than just looking good</h2>Perhaps the biggest misconception about female sports presenters is that their job revolves around appearance. Shekhawat doesn't deny that appearance matters in television. What frustrates her is how often audiences ignore everything else. “People see the glamour. They don't see the work.” She points out that women in broadcasting often spend significantly more time preparing before a show than many viewers realise. "If my pre-show is at 2 pm and I need to leave at noon, I have to wake up three hours earlier. Hair, makeup, wardrobe, preparation, research, all of that takes time. Those hours aren't counted as working hours, but they're still work."&nbsp;Broadcast standards also create expectations around appearance. “You have to maintain your hair, nails, makeup and dress code. You're standing for hours in heels. You're interviewing athletes who are much taller than you. Everything has to look right on camera.” But while viewers notice the clothes, they often ignore the preparation. "Even after doing all that homework, people still comment on what you're wearing instead of what you're saying."<h2>Fighting stereotypes in sports</h2>For women in sports media, the challenge goes beyond ordinary criticism. According to Shekhawat, many viewers still assume that female presenters know less about sport than their male counterparts. "Every Indian boy has grown up playing cricket. So there is already this mindset that women don't understand the game as much. Before you even speak, some people have already decided that you don't know cricket."&nbsp;This means female presenters often find themselves having to prove their knowledge repeatedly. “People don't want to listen to what you're saying. They've already formed an opinion.” She remembers reading comments such as, “The smaller the skirt, the smaller the IQ.” "It's very easy to comment on a girl's appearance," she says. "That's become normalised."<h2>Learning to ignore the noise</h2>Like most public figures, Shekhawat has experienced her share of trolling. And like most young broadcasters, she initially took it personally. “I used to lose sleep over comments. I would think, 'Why are people saying this? What did I do wrong?'” Today, her perspective has changed. "If people can troll Virat Kohli and Harsha Bhogle, they can troll anyone."&nbsp;She says sports taught her how to handle criticism. One example that stayed with her was watching Hardik Pandya face relentless abuse from fans during his difficult period as Mumbai Indians captain. "Imagine being booed on your own home ground. But he kept performing. Then he helped India win the World Cup and suddenly the same people were praising him."The lesson was simple. "Shut people up with your success."<h2>The social media dilemma</h2>Modern presenters face another challenge that previous generations never had to deal with: social media. According to Shekhawat, having a strong online presence has become almost mandatory. “People ask me how many followers I have before they ask me about my work.” She believes the rise of digital platforms has created opportunities but also increased pressure.Many leagues now prioritise social media reach when selecting presenters because online engagement helps generate visibility.&nbsp;“There are times when people don't want to know what work you've done. They want to know your follower count.” Ironically, despite having hundreds of thousands of followers, Shekhawat doesn't consider herself a social media enthusiast. “I still think social media should be about sharing moments with friends and family.” She admits she often laughingly clashes with her team when they want heavily edited photographs. "I like posting raw pictures. They want brighter colours and polished edits. I keep telling them, let's keep it natural."<h2>Advice to the next generation</h2>So what does it actually take to become a sports presenter today? For Shekhawat, the answer is a combination of knowledge, communication skills and adaptability. “Sports knowledge is important. But knowing something and presenting it on television are two different skills.” She recalls asking Star Sports why they selected her despite her limited sports background. "They told me: Sachin Tendulkar knows cricket better than anyone, but that doesn't automatically make him the best commentator. Playing and presenting are different skills."&nbsp;Her advice to aspiring presenters is straightforward: Learn the sport. Get comfortable in front of the camera. Practice speaking. Create content. Learn how broadcasts work. Develop the ability to listen, think and react quickly. Most importantly, don't let criticism consume you. If she could speak to her younger self, the message would be simple. "Relax. Go with the flow."&nbsp;Too much of her early career was spent worrying about criticism, office politics and opinions she couldn't control. Today, she focuses on what she can control, preparation, performance and growth. And perhaps that's the biggest lesson from her story. The glamour of sports presenting may attract attention. But staying in the industry requires something far more valuable: resilience. Because behind every polished television appearance lies an unseen world of preparation, pressure and persistence that viewers rarely get to witness.

Sports presenter Ayushi Shekhawat shares the reality behind live sports broadcasting, preparation, trolling, social media pressure, and what it takes to succeed in sports media

For most fans, a sports presenter appears on screen for a few minutes, asks a few questions, smiles at the camera and disappears. What viewers don't see are the hours of preparation, the frantic last-minute changes, the constant pressure of live television, the battle against stereotypes and the endless stream of social media criticism waiting after every broadcast. Sports presenter Ayushi Shekhawat has experienced all of it. Today, she is a familiar face across cricket and sports broadcasts, but her journey into sports wasn't part of a grand plan. In fact, when Star Sports first approached her, she turned them down. "I thought it was a prank call," she laughs. At the time, Shekhawat was working in television news and had spent years building her career as a journalist. Having covered politics, entertainment and current affairs, she was finally beginning to establish herself in political journalism, a beat many newsroom professionals regard as the pinnacle of television news. "I always wanted to be a news anchor. I started with reporting during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and then moved into anchoring. I worked with Zee, News Nation, India News and Bharat24. Sports was never really part of the plan," she says. Like many journalists, she carried preconceived notions about sports broadcasting. “In the news industry, there is often this mindset that if you're not good enough for politics, then you'll be given sports or entertainment. I also had that mindset. I had worked very hard to get into political coverage and debates, so when sports came calling, I wasn't interested.” But the opportunity refused to go away. Star Sports returned with a second offer. They explained that they were looking for someone who was already comfortable in front of the camera and could handle live television without extensive training. “They told me, 'You're young. Try it. If you don't like it, you can always go back to news.' That made sense.” What followed was a rigorous audition process involving video submissions, interviews and multiple rounds of assessments. “There was no shortcut. I had to pass every audition and every test. Star Sports doesn't work on references. You have to prove yourself.” Eventually, she got the job. And that's when she discovered that sports broadcasting was far more demanding than she had imagined. The homework nobody sees Ask any sports fan what a presenter does and the answer is usually simple: talk to players, ask questions and host the show. According to Shekhawat, that's only a tiny fraction of the job. “People only see the presenter on television. They don't see the preparation behind it. There is a whole team working. There is research, production, planning, rehearsals and last-minute changes.” Preparation starts long before the cameras roll. Presenters need to know team combinations, player statistics, recent performances, injuries, tactical trends and storylines. And unlike a scripted television programme, live sports can change in seconds. She recalls a recent broadcast where the show's entire structure had to be changed minutes before going live. "We had prepared the show around a particular player. At the last moment, the playing XI was announced and he wasn't even in the team. Suddenly someone else was playing. If I don't know who that replacement player is, what his form is or what he did in the previous match, then what questions am I supposed to ask?" That constant need for preparation extends beyond cricket's biggest stars. While working on domestic leagues, Shekhawat often finds herself researching emerging cricketers who are making headlines for the first time. "Every day a new player is performing. Someone scores the first century of his career. Someone wins a game for his team. So I speak to people connected with the league, coaches, players and team staff. You have to keep updating yourself all the time." The chaos inside an earpiece One of the most underrated skills in sports broadcasting is managing information overload. During a live broadcast, presenters are constantly receiving instructions through their earpieces while simultaneously conducting conversations on camera. "In news, usually only the producer talks to you. In sports, it's completely different. The producer is speaking, the director is giving instructions, cameras are changing and there is noise everywhere." The challenge lies in filtering what matters. “At one moment, you have to listen carefully to what the guest is saying because you need a follow-up question. The next moment, you need to ignore the guest and focus on the producer because he is giving directions. Then you need to listen to the director about camera movements.” This ability to process multiple streams of information simultaneously is something she compares to being in a crowded room. "You need to train your brain to focus on one voice among ten different voices. That's actually a very important skill for a presenter." More than just looking good Perhaps the biggest misconception about female sports presenters is that their job revolves around appearance. Shekhawat doesn't deny that appearance matters in television. What frustrates her is how often audiences ignore everything else. “People see the glamour. They don't see the work.” She points out that women in broadcasting often spend significantly more time preparing before a show than many viewers realise. "If my pre-show is at 2 pm and I need to leave at noon, I have to wake up three hours earlier. Hair, makeup, wardrobe, preparation, research, all of that takes time. Those hours aren't counted as working hours, but they're still work." Broadcast standards also create expectations around appearance. “You have to maintain your hair, nails, makeup and dress code. You're standing for hours in heels. You're interviewing athletes who are much taller than you. Everything has to look right on camera.” But while viewers notice the clothes, they often ignore the preparation. "Even after doing all that homework, people still comment on what you're wearing instead of what you're saying." Fighting stereotypes in sports For women in sports media, the challenge goes beyond ordinary criticism. According to Shekhawat, many viewers still assume that female presenters know less about sport than their male counterparts. "Every Indian boy has grown up playing cricket. So there is already this mindset that women don't understand the game as much. Before you even speak, some people have already decided that you don't know cricket." This means female presenters often find themselves having to prove their knowledge repeatedly. “People don't want to listen to what you're saying. They've already formed an opinion.” She remembers reading comments such as, “The smaller the skirt, the smaller the IQ.” "It's very easy to comment on a girl's appearance," she says. "That's become normalised." Learning to ignore the noise Like most public figures, Shekhawat has experienced her share of trolling. And like most young broadcasters, she initially took it personally. “I used to lose sleep over comments. I would think, 'Why are people saying this? What did I do wrong?'” Today, her perspective has changed. "If people can troll Virat Kohli and Harsha Bhogle, they can troll anyone." She says sports taught her how to handle criticism. One example that stayed with her was watching Hardik Pandya face relentless abuse from fans during his difficult period as Mumbai Indians captain. "Imagine being booed on your own home ground. But he kept performing. Then he helped India win the World Cup and suddenly the same people were praising him." The lesson was simple. "Shut people up with your success." The social media dilemma Modern presenters face another challenge that previous generations never had to deal with: social media. According to Shekhawat, having a strong online presence has become almost mandatory. “People ask me how many followers I have before they ask me about my work.” She believes the rise of digital platforms has created opportunities but also increased pressure. Many leagues now prioritise social media reach when selecting presenters because online engagement helps generate visibility. “There are times when people don't want to know what work you've done. They want to know your follower count.” Ironically, despite having hundreds of thousands of followers, Shekhawat doesn't consider herself a social media enthusiast. “I still think social media should be about sharing moments with friends and family.” She admits she often laughingly clashes with her team when they want heavily edited photographs. "I like posting raw pictures. They want brighter colours and polished edits. I keep telling them, let's keep it natural." Advice to the next generation So what does it actually take to become a sports presenter today? For Shekhawat, the answer is a combination of knowledge, communication skills and adaptability. “Sports knowledge is important. But knowing something and presenting it on television are two different skills.” She recalls asking Star Sports why they selected her despite her limited sports background. "They told me: Sachin Tendulkar knows cricket better than anyone, but that doesn't automatically make him the best commentator. Playing and presenting are different skills." Her advice to aspiring presenters is straightforward: Learn the sport. Get comfortable in front of the camera. Practice speaking. Create content. Learn how broadcasts work. Develop the ability to listen, think and react quickly. Most importantly, don't let criticism consume you. If she could speak to her younger self, the message would be simple. "Relax. Go with the flow." Too much of her early career was spent worrying about criticism, office politics and opinions she couldn't control. Today, she focuses on what she can control, preparation, performance and growth. And perhaps that's the biggest lesson from her story. The glamour of sports presenting may attract attention. But staying in the industry requires something far more valuable: resilience. Because behind every polished television appearance lies an unseen world of preparation, pressure and persistence that viewers rarely get to witness.

From endless preparation and live-TV pressure to online trolling and stadium broadcasts, Ayushi Shekhawat reveals what it really takes to succeed as a sports presenter

The 30 seconds you see, the 30 hours you don’t: Inside the life of a sports presenter

Ben Stokes will return as England’s Test captain for his team’s third and final Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge starting Thursday (Jun 25). Stokes and his teammate Gus Atkinson were pulled out of the squad for the second Test amid the ECB’s investigation into their London nightclub episode. The two breached England’s midnight curfew, thus facing the axe. After <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-n-2nd-test-2026-matt-henry-bags-11-wickets-as-new-zealand-crush-england-by-253-runs-to-level-series-1782041645814">England conceded the second Test at the Oval by 253 runs</a>, its head coach, Brendon McCullum, has confirmed talks of fast-tracking Stokes’ return to the playing XI for the series decider and reclaiming the captaincy. In a shocking turn of events, just days after the local media reported that Stokes is contemplating international retirement after the ECB supposedly asked him to relinquish Test captaincy, the veteran all-rounder is on the cusp of a surprise return to the playing XI.&nbsp;Earlier on Sunday (Jun 21), Stokes (Durham) and Atkinson (Surrey) were withdrawn from their respective County Championship games, indicating their recall to the Test side for the Trent Bridge match.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-nz-2026-ben-stokes-gus-atkinson-withdrawn-from-county-championship-games-ahead-of-3rd-test-new-zealand-ecb-investigation-nightclub-brawl-1782038738581">Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson in line for shock England recall amid ECB nightclub probe</a> &nbsp;Meanwhile, in Stokes and Atkinson’s absence, England played three debutants in the second Test and lost it by a whopping margin. &nbsp;"Yeah, at this stage, that's what we're planning on. The rest of the squad will be out later on this afternoon. It's a quick turnaround, so we need to give guys that consistency of message and deliver it appropriately, but we are anticipating that Ben will be back as captain,” McCullum answers on Stokes’ potential return to cricket.&nbsp; &nbsp;Even though Joe Root led England at the Oval, his interim captaincy tenure seemed to have ended with Stokes’ return as captain looking inevitable.<h3>‘Backing Stokes but chats are private’</h3>Disclosing how he remained in constant touch with Stokes after that incident, McCullum revealed he tried to be supportive of his team captain during this time but denied giving more details about their chats. He, however, sounded elated with Stokes finding some form with the bat, after scoring 95 in his lone outing for Durham against Northamptonshire – his best score in all of cricket since his Test hundred against India last July.&nbsp; &nbsp;"People will always have difference of opinion, that's the way things are. People read things differently. I've been speaking to Ben every day since we had the incident, obviously trying to be supportive. I think it's great he was able to play this week and get some runs, and hopefully rediscover some of that form. We know that a fit and firing, and performing at optimum level, Ben Stokes is an asset that every team would like. &nbsp;"Those conversations with Stokesy, they're private; I won't go into those at all. But people can assess their view of things differently. But I care about Ben and am pleased that he was able to get some game time [for Durham] and a bit of pep in his step as well,” he continued.&nbsp;

Head coach Brendon McCullum confirms plans to fast-track Ben Stokes back as Test captain for England’s high-stakes Trent Bridge decider against New Zealand.

Ben Stokes will return as England’s Test captain for his team’s third and final Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge starting Thursday (Jun 25). Stokes and his teammate Gus Atkinson were pulled out of the squad for the second Test amid the ECB’s investigation into their London nightclub episode. The two breached England’s midnight curfew, thus facing the axe. After England conceded the second Test at the Oval by 253 runs, its head coach, Brendon McCullum, has confirmed talks of fast-tracking Stokes’ return to the playing XI for the series decider and reclaiming the captaincy. In a shocking turn of events, just days after the local media reported that Stokes is contemplating international retirement after the ECB supposedly asked him to relinquish Test captaincy, the veteran all-rounder is on the cusp of a surprise return to the playing XI. Earlier on Sunday (Jun 21), Stokes (Durham) and Atkinson (Surrey) were withdrawn from their respective County Championship games, indicating their recall to the Test side for the Trent Bridge match. Also read | Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson in line for shock England recall amid ECB nightclub probe Meanwhile, in Stokes and Atkinson’s absence, England played three debutants in the second Test and lost it by a whopping margin. "Yeah, at this stage, that's what we're planning on. The rest of the squad will be out later on this afternoon. It's a quick turnaround, so we need to give guys that consistency of message and deliver it appropriately, but we are anticipating that Ben will be back as captain,” McCullum answers on Stokes’ potential return to cricket. Even though Joe Root led England at the Oval, his interim captaincy tenure seemed to have ended with Stokes’ return as captain looking inevitable. ‘Backing Stokes but chats are private’ Disclosing how he remained in constant touch with Stokes after that incident, McCullum revealed he tried to be supportive of his team captain during this time but denied giving more details about their chats. He, however, sounded elated with Stokes finding some form with the bat, after scoring 95 in his lone outing for Durham against Northamptonshire – his best score in all of cricket since his Test hundred against India last July. "People will always have difference of opinion, that's the way things are. People read things differently. I've been speaking to Ben every day since we had the incident, obviously trying to be supportive. I think it's great he was able to play this week and get some runs, and hopefully rediscover some of that form. We know that a fit and firing, and performing at optimum level, Ben Stokes is an asset that every team would like. "Those conversations with Stokesy, they're private; I won't go into those at all. But people can assess their view of things differently. But I care about Ben and am pleased that he was able to get some game time [for Durham] and a bit of pep in his step as well,” he continued.

Head coach Brendon McCullum confirms plans to fast-track Ben Stokes back as Test captain for England’s high-stakes Trent Bridge decider against New Zealand.

ENG vs NZ: Ben Stokes to return as captain for final Test, confirms McCullum

Curaçao's 37-year-old goalkeeper Eloy Room's record 15 saves against Ecuador in their Group E fixture on Saturday (Jun 20) earned his team their first-ever World Cup point. The vibrant Dutch Island nation, which made its World Cup debut in this edition, stays alive in the race for the knockouts. However, Room’s startling performance had every eyeball on him, as he joked about his country making his statue back home.&nbsp;Such was the magnitude of his performance that Room’s saves tally is the most on record – since 1966 – by any goalkeeper in a World Cup match that did not feature extra time.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-is-eloy-room-the-goalkeeper-behind-curacao-s-historic-point-at-fifa-world-cup-2026-1782030830316">Who is Eloy Room? The goalkeeper behind Curacao's historic point at FIFA World Cup 2026</a> &nbsp;After losing to Germany in their tournament opener, Curaçao celebrated its 0-0 draw in Kansas City, earning one point.&nbsp; &nbsp;"It means everything," said Room. "It feels like a victory, you know, for us. But now it means a lot. It's the first point in the World Cup for us. "So, it's unreal if you know the journey where we come from and we're now here. And today we showed we have real heart with the team. So it's an unbelievable feeling."

The Miami FC goalkeeper, however, also joked that he was disappointed not to equal former US gloveman Tim Howard’s record of 16 saves against Belgium at the 2014 World Cup that went to extra time. &nbsp;"I think he was sweating at home, you know, looking at the game," he said. "But I heard it was also another record from really long ago. So yeah, I'm proud of that." &nbsp;Although he praised his teammates for their stunning show, enough to secure a clean sheet, Room cheekily suggested that his achievements should also be set in stone. &nbsp;"I'm really proud of the team also, because again, we did it with the team," he said. "I make the saves, but we fought as a team, and the players who came in. &nbsp;"But I think I need a statue in Curaçao, I think now."

37-year-old goalkeeper Eloy Room made a historic 15 saves against Ecuador to earn debutants Curaçao their first-ever FIFA World Cup point in a heroic 0-0 draw.

Curaçao's 37-year-old goalkeeper Eloy Room's record 15 saves against Ecuador in their Group E fixture on Saturday (Jun 20) earned his team their first-ever World Cup point. The vibrant Dutch Island nation, which made its World Cup debut in this edition, stays alive in the race for the knockouts. However, Room’s startling performance had every eyeball on him, as he joked about his country making his statue back home. Such was the magnitude of his performance that Room’s saves tally is the most on record – since 1966 – by any goalkeeper in a World Cup match that did not feature extra time. Also read | Who is Eloy Room? The goalkeeper behind Curacao's historic point at FIFA World Cup 2026 After losing to Germany in their tournament opener, Curaçao celebrated its 0-0 draw in Kansas City, earning one point. "It means everything," said Room. "It feels like a victory, you know, for us. But now it means a lot. It's the first point in the World Cup for us. "So, it's unreal if you know the journey where we come from and we're now here. And today we showed we have real heart with the team. So it's an unbelievable feeling."

37-year-old goalkeeper Eloy Room made a historic 15 saves against Ecuador to earn debutants Curaçao their first-ever FIFA World Cup point in a heroic 0-0 draw.

A Statue for 15 Saves: Curaçao keeper Eloy Room jokes he deserves a monument after World Cup heroics

The Madhya Pradesh League T20 continues to be an important platform for cricketers aiming to make an impact and push for higher selection. One such player is Gwalior Cheetahs’ Kuldeep Gehi, who has played some good innings recently to help his team in the ongoing tournament. Ahead of his next match, Gehi spoke to WION’s Aditya Bhatia in an interaction and shared his bond with Rajat Patidar.&nbsp;Talking about Rajat, Kuldeep said he has always been an inspiration for him. Since their school days, he has seen Rajat’s hard work, dedication and focus that helped him succeed in cricket.&nbsp;He recalled that even as a youngster, Rajat was fully focused on improving his game. While others spent time chatting, Rajat would often be practising with a bat, working on his skills and staying committed to his goals.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kieron-pollard-creates-history-overtakes-chris-gayle-as-t20-s-leading-run-scorer-1782028106028">Kieron Pollard creates history, overtakes Gayle as T20’s leading run-scorer</a> Kuldeep further said that sharing a dressing room with Rajat is also a special experience and that he continues to learn from him. He praised Rajat’s professionalism and said his experience has been very helpful.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-tour-of-england-odi-squad-kohli-bumrah-return-jaiswal-dropped-1782032189597">India tour of England, ODI squad: Kohli, Bumrah return; Jaiswal dropped</a>&nbsp;The wicketkeeper-batter also spoke about how Rajat helped him during a difficult phase in a T20 tournament when he struggled for runs in his first few matches.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rajat advised him “not to doubt himself and reminded him that he had been selected because of his abilities. He encouraged Kuldeep to keep things simple, watch the ball closely and react naturally.”&nbsp;According to Kuldeep, that advice changed his mindset. He stopped overthinking, trusted his instincts and performed better in the next match. He credited Rajat’s guidance and experience for helping him regain confidence and improve his performances.&nbsp;In the Madhya Pradesh Premier League 2026, JKC Sports-owned Gwalior Cheetahs will now face Jabalpur Royal Lions at Holkar Stadium in Indore.

Ahead of Gwalior Cheetahs’ next match, Gehi spoke to WION’s Aditya Bhatia and shared his bond with Rajat Patidar.

The Madhya Pradesh League T20 continues to be an important platform for cricketers aiming to make an impact and push for higher selection. One such player is Gwalior Cheetahs’ Kuldeep Gehi, who has played some good innings recently to help his team in the ongoing tournament. Ahead of his next match, Gehi spoke to WION’s Aditya Bhatia in an interaction and shared his bond with Rajat Patidar. Talking about Rajat, Kuldeep said he has always been an inspiration for him. Since their school days, he has seen Rajat’s hard work, dedication and focus that helped him succeed in cricket. He recalled that even as a youngster, Rajat was fully focused on improving his game. While others spent time chatting, Rajat would often be practising with a bat, working on his skills and staying committed to his goals. Also Read - Kieron Pollard creates history, overtakes Gayle as T20’s leading run-scorer Kuldeep further said that sharing a dressing room with Rajat is also a special experience and that he continues to learn from him. He praised Rajat’s professionalism and said his experience has been very helpful. Also Read - India tour of England, ODI squad: Kohli, Bumrah return; Jaiswal dropped The wicketkeeper-batter also spoke about how Rajat helped him during a difficult phase in a T20 tournament when he struggled for runs in his first few matches. Rajat advised him “not to doubt himself and reminded him that he had been selected because of his abilities. He encouraged Kuldeep to keep things simple, watch the ball closely and react naturally.” According to Kuldeep, that advice changed his mindset. He stopped overthinking, trusted his instincts and performed better in the next match. He credited Rajat’s guidance and experience for helping him regain confidence and improve his performances. In the Madhya Pradesh Premier League 2026, JKC Sports-owned Gwalior Cheetahs will now face Jabalpur Royal Lions at Holkar Stadium in Indore.

Ahead of Gwalior Cheetahs’ next match, Gehi spoke to WION’s Aditya Bhatia and shared his bond with Rajat Patidar.

'Encouraged me to keep things simple...': Kuldeep Gehi on Rajat Patidar's support during tough times

England had no answers to Matt Henry’s tight line and length as the Kiwi quick picked up 11 wickets across two innings, including two five-wicket hauls, to help New Zealand win the second Test at the Oval by 253 runs and level the three-match series 1-1. England struggled to maintain momentum under new interim captain Joe Root after the Lord’s win, as the new-look side stumbled in the second Test in London, conceding a chance to clean sweep New Zealand at home. With no Ben Stokes and seamer Gus Atkinson, England played three debutants, including pacer Sonny Baker and keeper-batters Jordan Cox and James Rew.&nbsp;“Probably didn't expect it to unfold like that today,” Player of the Match Henry said after the game. “There were little moments in the first Test that set things up nicely. Credit goes to all of us.&nbsp; &nbsp;On Tom Blundell standing up to the stumps, Henry said, “We actually played England a few years ago, and we wanted to keep their batters in the crease. Credit goes to Tom; he was outstanding. For me, it's about how I get the job done. Huge credit to Tom. It's easy when you got such a strong bowling group.” &nbsp;England won the toss and sent New Zealand out to bat first. Following a shaky start, New Zealand returned to the driver’s seat, thanks to a brilliant maiden Test hundred by Glenn Phillips (100 off 135 balls). New Zealand’s first-inning score of 391 gave them the cushion, on which Henry rode and never allowed English batters to settle and wrapped them up on 291 in their reply. He picked up five wickets for 80 in the first innings. &nbsp;Kiwi’s response in their second innings was enough to keep England at Bay, as they added 362 more to that lead, thanks to a magnificent hundred by Henry Nicholls, who replaced recently retired Kane Williamson. For England, the returning pace duo of Jofra Archer and Matthew Fisher picked up three wickets each.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Jofra finds the edge again and it’s safely pouched by Bethell 👏 <a href="https://t.co/nf8OHEPRDj">pic.twitter.com/nf8OHEPRDj</a>&mdash; England Cricket (@englandcricket) <a href="https://x.com/englandcricket/status/2068297197808972177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Come England’s run chase, they were pushed against the wall with three early blows. Stand-in captain Root contributed with a gritty 77, with Harry Brook notching up 58 off just 54 balls, aiding England’s chances of an improbable chase. A little hand from the two debutants, Rew (15) and Cox (25), fought to save face, but Henry had other plans. The right-arm quick was unplayable with both the new and old balls, bagging six wickets in the second innings and returning with 11 in the match. &nbsp;As a result, New Zealand crushed England by 253 runs to win the second Test and level the series. &nbsp;Meanwhile, the latest reports also suggest that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-nz-2026-ben-stokes-gus-atkinson-withdrawn-from-county-championship-games-ahead-of-3rd-test-new-zealand-ecb-investigation-nightclub-brawl-1782038738581">Stokes and Atkinson are in line for a shock recall</a> to the side for the final Test at Trent Bridge amid the ECB’s probe into their nightclub incident. The final Test and series-decider starts next Thursday (Jun 25).

Matt Henry’s spectacular 11-wicket haul powered New Zealand to an emphatic 253-run win over England at The Oval, levelling the three-match series 1-1.

England had no answers to Matt Henry’s tight line and length as the Kiwi quick picked up 11 wickets across two innings, including two five-wicket hauls, to help New Zealand win the second Test at the Oval by 253 runs and level the three-match series 1-1. England struggled to maintain momentum under new interim captain Joe Root after the Lord’s win, as the new-look side stumbled in the second Test in London, conceding a chance to clean sweep New Zealand at home. With no Ben Stokes and seamer Gus Atkinson, England played three debutants, including pacer Sonny Baker and keeper-batters Jordan Cox and James Rew. “Probably didn't expect it to unfold like that today,” Player of the Match Henry said after the game. “There were little moments in the first Test that set things up nicely. Credit goes to all of us. On Tom Blundell standing up to the stumps, Henry said, “We actually played England a few years ago, and we wanted to keep their batters in the crease. Credit goes to Tom; he was outstanding. For me, it's about how I get the job done. Huge credit to Tom. It's easy when you got such a strong bowling group.” England won the toss and sent New Zealand out to bat first. Following a shaky start, New Zealand returned to the driver’s seat, thanks to a brilliant maiden Test hundred by Glenn Phillips (100 off 135 balls). New Zealand’s first-inning score of 391 gave them the cushion, on which Henry rode and never allowed English batters to settle and wrapped them up on 291 in their reply. He picked up five wickets for 80 in the first innings. Kiwi’s response in their second innings was enough to keep England at Bay, as they added 362 more to that lead, thanks to a magnificent hundred by Henry Nicholls, who replaced recently retired Kane Williamson. For England, the returning pace duo of Jofra Archer and Matthew Fisher picked up three wickets each.

Matt Henry’s spectacular 11-wicket haul powered New Zealand to an emphatic 253-run win over England at The Oval, levelling the three-match series 1-1.

Matt Henry bags 11 wickets as New Zealand crush England in 2nd Test to level series

England Test captain Ben Stokes and pacer Gus Atkinson have been withdrawn from their respective County Championship fixtures on Sunday (Jun 21), indicating their return to the national side for the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, starting next week. Both were dropped from the England Test squad for the second Test at the Oval for breaching the midnight curfew during an incident at a London nightclub. The two were also involved in a brawl, leading to ECB’s investigation into the matter.&nbsp;Amid the ongoing chaos that fuelled speculation about Stokes contemplating international retirement and relinquishing the Test captaincy, the ECB allowed the two to play County games for Durham (Stokes) and Surrey (Atkinson) in the meantime.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-tour-of-england-odi-squad-kohli-bumrah-return-jaiswal-dropped-1782032189597">India tour of England, ODI squad: Kohli, Bumrah return; Jaiswal dropped</a> &nbsp;Stokes enjoyed bowling a lengthy spell for Durham before scoring a gritty 95 against Northamptonshire on Saturday (Jun 20), his highest score across all cricket since scoring a hundred against India in July last year. On the other hand, seamer Atkinson returned with four wickets against Glamorgan. &nbsp;However, both were then withdrawn before day three of those matches, in what is understood to be an attempt to ensure they are fit for the third Test starting Thursday (Jun 25). &nbsp;Meanwhile, investigations into the pair's conduct by the England and Wales Cricket Board and the independent Cricket Regulator have yet to be concluded. No official confirmation of the outcomes of those investigations, or an England squad announcement for the third Test, is expected until the conclusion of the second Test at the Oval.&nbsp; &nbsp;England fast bowler Josh Tongue, speaking after Saturday's play, said the side had "missed" the inspirational Stokes at the Oval. &nbsp;“Stokesy is an unbelievable player. I made my England debut when he was captain. I've got huge respect for Stokesy, and it's always nice seeing him get some runs,” the England quick said.

Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been withdrawn from County matches, signalling a return for England's 3rd Test against New Zealand after their nightclub curfew breach.

England Test captain Ben Stokes and pacer Gus Atkinson have been withdrawn from their respective County Championship fixtures on Sunday (Jun 21), indicating their return to the national side for the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, starting next week. Both were dropped from the England Test squad for the second Test at the Oval for breaching the midnight curfew during an incident at a London nightclub. The two were also involved in a brawl, leading to ECB’s investigation into the matter. Amid the ongoing chaos that fuelled speculation about Stokes contemplating international retirement and relinquishing the Test captaincy, the ECB allowed the two to play County games for Durham (Stokes) and Surrey (Atkinson) in the meantime. Also read | India tour of England, ODI squad: Kohli, Bumrah return; Jaiswal dropped Stokes enjoyed bowling a lengthy spell for Durham before scoring a gritty 95 against Northamptonshire on Saturday (Jun 20), his highest score across all cricket since scoring a hundred against India in July last year. On the other hand, seamer Atkinson returned with four wickets against Glamorgan. However, both were then withdrawn before day three of those matches, in what is understood to be an attempt to ensure they are fit for the third Test starting Thursday (Jun 25). Meanwhile, investigations into the pair's conduct by the England and Wales Cricket Board and the independent Cricket Regulator have yet to be concluded. No official confirmation of the outcomes of those investigations, or an England squad announcement for the third Test, is expected until the conclusion of the second Test at the Oval. England fast bowler Josh Tongue, speaking after Saturday's play, said the side had "missed" the inspirational Stokes at the Oval. “Stokesy is an unbelievable player. I made my England debut when he was captain. I've got huge respect for Stokesy, and it's always nice seeing him get some runs,” the England quick said.

Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been withdrawn from County matches, signalling a return for England's 3rd Test against New Zealand after their nightclub curfew breach.

Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson in line for shock England recall amid ECB nightclub probe

The Indian Women’s Hockey Team emerged as champions of the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup New Zealand 2025-26 after defeating hosts New Zealand 2-0 in the final at Auckland on Sunday (June 21). India made a dream start as Navneet Kaur opened the scoring in the fourth minute of the game with a powerful penalty-corner strike. Sunelita Toppo doubled the lead in the 15th minute, expertly deflecting Deepika’s effort from another penalty corner to put India firmly in control.&nbsp;The Indian side then delivered a disciplined and resilient defensive performance, denying New Zealand any clear scoring opportunities and protecting their two-goal advantage until the final whistle. Lalremsiami was named Player of the Match for her outstanding performance in the final, while Deepika finished as the joint-highest scorer of the tournament with six goals, sharing the honour with USA forward Ashley Sessa.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rejected-at-14-factory-worker-at-17-world-cup-hero-at-29-deniz-undav-s-incredible-journey-1782033008821">Rejected at 14, factory worker at 17, World Cup hero at 29: Deniz Undav's incredible journey</a>&nbsp;New Zealand earned a penalty corner early in the fourth quarter, but goalkeeper Savita produced a crucial save to preserve India’s two-goal lead. India then displayed exceptional defensive discipline, maintaining a compact structure and denying New Zealand any clear opportunities. The hosts comfortably saw out the remainder of the match to secure a 2-0 victory and clinch the title.&nbsp;The win marks India’s second FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup title after winning the inaugural edition in 2022. The victory also secures India’s return to the FIH Hockey Women’s Pro League next season. India remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, recording victories over the USA (3-2), Japan (2-1), and Uruguay (3-2) in the group stage before thrashing Chile 6-0 in the semi-final. The team capped off a flawless campaign with a commanding 2-0 win over New Zealand in the title clash.&nbsp;To celebrate the achievement, Hockey India announced a cash reward of ₹3 lakh for each player and ₹1.5 lakh for every member of the support staff.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Indian hockey players bring pride and joy! Congratulations to the women’s team for emerging as winners in the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup. The team played exceptionally well throughout the entire tournament. Best wishes to the team. May this win inspire several others to… <a href="https://t.co/EdZcpyRV3L">pic.twitter.com/EdZcpyRV3L</a>&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2068658567981494650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

India defeated New Zealand 2-0 to win the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2025-26 in Auckland. Navneet Kaur and Sunelita Toppo scored as India secured an unbeaten title run and earned promotion to the FIH Hockey Women’s Pro League

The Indian Women’s Hockey Team emerged as champions of the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup New Zealand 2025-26 after defeating hosts New Zealand 2-0 in the final at Auckland on Sunday (June 21). India made a dream start as Navneet Kaur opened the scoring in the fourth minute of the game with a powerful penalty-corner strike. Sunelita Toppo doubled the lead in the 15th minute, expertly deflecting Deepika’s effort from another penalty corner to put India firmly in control. The Indian side then delivered a disciplined and resilient defensive performance, denying New Zealand any clear scoring opportunities and protecting their two-goal advantage until the final whistle. Lalremsiami was named Player of the Match for her outstanding performance in the final, while Deepika finished as the joint-highest scorer of the tournament with six goals, sharing the honour with USA forward Ashley Sessa. Also Read: Rejected at 14, factory worker at 17, World Cup hero at 29: Deniz Undav's incredible journey New Zealand earned a penalty corner early in the fourth quarter, but goalkeeper Savita produced a crucial save to preserve India’s two-goal lead. India then displayed exceptional defensive discipline, maintaining a compact structure and denying New Zealand any clear opportunities. The hosts comfortably saw out the remainder of the match to secure a 2-0 victory and clinch the title. The win marks India’s second FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup title after winning the inaugural edition in 2022. The victory also secures India’s return to the FIH Hockey Women’s Pro League next season. India remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, recording victories over the USA (3-2), Japan (2-1), and Uruguay (3-2) in the group stage before thrashing Chile 6-0 in the semi-final. The team capped off a flawless campaign with a commanding 2-0 win over New Zealand in the title clash. To celebrate the achievement, Hockey India announced a cash reward of ₹3 lakh for each player and ₹1.5 lakh for every member of the support staff.

India beat New Zealand 2-0 in Auckland to win the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2025-26, securing a return to the Women's Pro League

India beat New Zealand 2-0 to clinch FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup 2025-26

Not long ago, Deniz Undav found himself at the center of public criticism from Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann. Today, the striker is emerging as one of Germany's most influential players at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Undav scored twice in Germany's dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Ivory Coast, helping Die Mannschaft secure a place in the knockout rounds for the first time since their 2014 World Cup triumph. The 29-year-old has now recorded three goals and two assists in just two substitute appearances, matching Roger Milla's World Cup record from 1990 for the most goal involvements by a substitute in a tournament since 1966.&nbsp;His current form is especially remarkable considering the uncertainty surrounding his place in Germany's squad earlier this year.Following a late winner against Ghana in March, Undav publicly expressed his desire to become a regular starter for Germany. His comments prompted a sharp response from Nagelsmann, who suggested the forward was putting unnecessary pressure on himself. The Germany boss even remarked that Undav may not have scored had he started the match, although he later apologized for the comments. Since then, Undav has answered any doubts with his performances on the pitch.&nbsp;Now, after another match-winning contribution, he is firmly in contention for a starting role. His international record stands at nine goals in just 11 appearances. Asked whether Undav could start Germany's final group-stage match against Ecuador, Nagelsmann replied, “Yes, definitely.” The Germany coach added, "I said before we can talk a lot about the different approaches. Why should I ruin his flow? He came in twice and got goals twice."<h2>Who is Deniz Undav?</h2>Undav's story is one of persistence and determination. With his goals against Ivory Coast, he became the first German player since Miroslav Klose in 2002 to score in each of his first two World Cup appearances. However, reaching football's biggest stage was far from guaranteed. At the age of 14, Undav was released by Werder Bremen, who felt he was too small to succeed. Rather than give up, he continued chasing his dream.&nbsp;Reflecting on that period, Undav said, “When Werder told me at 14 that I didn't have a future with them because I was too small, it broke my heart.” “But I did not abandon hope. I left the family home at 17 to sign for Havelse in the fourth division in Germany where I combined playing and training with working full-time, eight-hour days operating a laser machine in a factory.” "I got up around 4am, went to the factory, then I went to training and got back home around 8pm... before doing it all again the next day."“I had to do that job for the money to live because I couldn't survive on the money from the football alone.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-is-eloy-room-the-goalkeeper-behind-curacao-s-historic-point-at-fifa-world-cup-2026-1782030830316">Who is Eloy Room? The goalkeeper behind Curacao's historic point at FIFA World Cup 2026</a>

<h2>Undav's breakthrough moment</h2>His breakthrough came after joining Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise in 2020. He played a key role in their promotion campaign before scoring 25 goals in Belgium's top division, earning a move to Brighton. Although he managed only five Premier League goals during the 2022-23 season, a loan spell at Stuttgart revitalized his career. The German club made the move permanent in 2024. Undav responded with a sensational 2025-26 Bundesliga campaign, scoring 19 goals and finishing second only to Harry Kane in the scoring charts. Those performances secured his place in Germany's World Cup squad.&nbsp;Despite Nagelsmann favouring Kai Havertz as Germany's starting striker in victories over Curacao and Ivory Coast, Undav's impact off the bench has intensified calls for him to start. Discussing the striker's qualities, Nagelsmann said, “When the game opens up he is great moving around.” “I could say keep your flow and it's better you come in as the finisher. He really reached the highest point for the World Cup.” "I could have him in the starting line-up. Every player would love to start, but I think he is happy as it is now because he played an important role and we are happy with his performance."&nbsp;“For Deniz it was clear, he gave us a lot in the last game when he was a sub. Deniz doesn't need to be prepared, he can jump in right away.” Undav's last start for Germany also showcased his quality, as he scored twice and provided an assist in a 4-0 friendly victory over Finland on May 31.&nbsp;After earning the Player of the Match award against Ivory Coast, Undav said, “It's a great feeling.” “I wanted to have it last time, it didn't work. Its wonderful, a fantastic feeling. For me to get the trophy is extraordinary, but the important thing is we won the game and go into the next round and see what happens.”

Deniz Undav's stunning World Cup form has helped Germany reach the knockout stage. From factory worker to World Cup star, the Stuttgart striker's inspiring rise continues as he pushes for a starting role under Julian Nagelsmann

Not long ago, Deniz Undav found himself at the center of public criticism from Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann. Today, the striker is emerging as one of Germany's most influential players at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Undav scored twice in Germany's dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Ivory Coast, helping Die Mannschaft secure a place in the knockout rounds for the first time since their 2014 World Cup triumph. The 29-year-old has now recorded three goals and two assists in just two substitute appearances, matching Roger Milla's World Cup record from 1990 for the most goal involvements by a substitute in a tournament since 1966. His current form is especially remarkable considering the uncertainty surrounding his place in Germany's squad earlier this year. Following a late winner against Ghana in March, Undav publicly expressed his desire to become a regular starter for Germany. His comments prompted a sharp response from Nagelsmann, who suggested the forward was putting unnecessary pressure on himself. The Germany boss even remarked that Undav may not have scored had he started the match, although he later apologized for the comments. Since then, Undav has answered any doubts with his performances on the pitch. Now, after another match-winning contribution, he is firmly in contention for a starting role. His international record stands at nine goals in just 11 appearances. Asked whether Undav could start Germany's final group-stage match against Ecuador, Nagelsmann replied, “Yes, definitely.” The Germany coach added, "I said before we can talk a lot about the different approaches. Why should I ruin his flow? He came in twice and got goals twice." Who is Deniz Undav? Undav's story is one of persistence and determination. With his goals against Ivory Coast, he became the first German player since Miroslav Klose in 2002 to score in each of his first two World Cup appearances. However, reaching football's biggest stage was far from guaranteed. At the age of 14, Undav was released by Werder Bremen, who felt he was too small to succeed. Rather than give up, he continued chasing his dream. Reflecting on that period, Undav said, “When Werder told me at 14 that I didn't have a future with them because I was too small, it broke my heart.” “But I did not abandon hope. I left the family home at 17 to sign for Havelse in the fourth division in Germany where I combined playing and training with working full-time, eight-hour days operating a laser machine in a factory.” "I got up around 4am, went to the factory, then I went to training and got back home around 8pm... before doing it all again the next day." “I had to do that job for the money to live because I couldn't survive on the money from the football alone.” Also Read: Who is Eloy Room? The goalkeeper behind Curacao's historic point at FIFA World Cup 2026

Deniz Undav's FIFA World Cup heroics continue as his double fires Germany into the knockout stage, strengthening his case for a starting role

Rejected at 14, factory worker at 17, World Cup hero at 29: Deniz Undav's incredible journey

India have named star batter Virat Kohli in their squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England, beginning on Jul 14. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) clarified that Kohli’s inclusion in the playing XI will depend on his fitness as he continues his recovery from the hamstring injury he suffered during the IPL 2026 final.The former India captain missed the recent ODI series because of the same injury but is expected to be available for the England assignment if he completes his rehabilitation successfully.&nbsp;In a major boost for the visitors, star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah returns to the ODI setup after being rested for the one-off Test and ODI series against Afghanistan under the BCCI’s workload management plan.&nbsp;The squad selection forms part of India’s long-term build-up to the 2027 Cricket World Cup in South Africa. Young all-rounder Harshit Rana has also earned a recall after impressing in the series against New Zealand earlier this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-a-vs-sl-a-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-scripts-history-smashes-fastest-list-a-fifty-in-just-11-balls-1782023306828">IND-A vs SL-A: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scripts history, smashes fastest List A fifty in just 11 balls</a>&nbsp;Rana had been sidelined with a right knee lateral meniscus tear that required surgery, causing him to miss both the T20 World Cup and the subsequent IPL season. He later returned to the national setup for the final ODI against Afghanistan.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-manuel-neuer-becomes-most-capped-goalkeeper-in-world-cup-history-1782016741367">FIFA 2026: Manuel Neuer becomes most-capped goalkeeper in World Cup history</a>&nbsp;The selectors have also brought back Axar Patel, replacing Harsh Dubey, who featured in the Afghanistan series. Axar last appeared in India’s ODI squad during the Australia tour in October and has not played a 50-over international since then.&nbsp;Meanwhile, veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja remains out of India's ODI plans, with Washington Sundar continuing as the preferred spin-bowling all-rounder. Yashasvi Jaiswal has also been left out of the squad.<h2>India ODI squad for England series</h2>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

Virat Kohli has returned to India’s ODI squad for the England series, with the BCCI saying his place in the playing XI will depend on his fitness as he recovers from a hamstring injury ahead of Jul 14.

India have named star batter Virat Kohli in their squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England, beginning on Jul 14. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) clarified that Kohli’s inclusion in the playing XI will depend on his fitness as he continues his recovery from the hamstring injury he suffered during the IPL 2026 final. The former India captain missed the recent ODI series because of the same injury but is expected to be available for the England assignment if he completes his rehabilitation successfully. In a major boost for the visitors, star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah returns to the ODI setup after being rested for the one-off Test and ODI series against Afghanistan under the BCCI’s workload management plan. The squad selection forms part of India’s long-term build-up to the 2027 Cricket World Cup in South Africa. Young all-rounder Harshit Rana has also earned a recall after impressing in the series against New Zealand earlier this year. Also Read - IND-A vs SL-A: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scripts history, smashes fastest List A fifty in just 11 balls Rana had been sidelined with a right knee lateral meniscus tear that required surgery, causing him to miss both the T20 World Cup and the subsequent IPL season. He later returned to the national setup for the final ODI against Afghanistan. Also Read - FIFA 2026: Manuel Neuer becomes most-capped goalkeeper in World Cup history The selectors have also brought back Axar Patel, replacing Harsh Dubey, who featured in the Afghanistan series. Axar last appeared in India’s ODI squad during the Australia tour in October and has not played a 50-over international since then. Meanwhile, veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja remains out of India's ODI plans, with Washington Sundar continuing as the preferred spin-bowling all-rounder. Yashasvi Jaiswal has also been left out of the squad. 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

Virat Kohli has returned to India’s ODI squad for the England series, with the BCCI saying his place in the playing XI will depend on his fitness as he recovers from a hamstring injury ahead of Jul 14.

India tour of England, ODI squad: Kohli, Bumrah return; Jaiswal dropped

Kieron Pollard etched his name into T20 cricket history on Saturday, overtaking Chris Gayle to become the leading run-scorer in men’s T20 cricket. The landmark came during a superb century for MI New York in the 2026 edition of Major League Cricket. The former West Indies skipper reached the record in style, clearing the ropes during an unbeaten 100 off 56 deliveries against Washington Freedom. The knock lifted Pollard beyond Gayle’s career tally of 14,562 T20 runs, taking his aggregate to 14,582 runs from 736 appearances.&nbsp;The feat further highlights Pollard’s remarkable durability in the shortest format. Having played in domestic leagues around the world for nearly 20 years, he remains the only player to have crossed the 700-match mark in T20 cricket.&nbsp;Despite Pollard’s heroics, MI New York fell short as Washington Freedom claimed a convincing 30-run win after piling up 245/5.&nbsp;The standout performance of the match came from Australian all-rounder Mitchell Owen, who scored a sensational 155 off just 68 balls, the highest individual score in MLC history.&nbsp;Owen brought up his century in only 41 deliveries and dominated the attack throughout one of the most explosive innings the tournament has witnessed.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-day-10-recap-japan-cruise-past-tunisia-germany-beat-ivory-coast-to-reach-knockouts-curacao-get-another-draw-1782024339096">FIFA 2026 Day 10 Recap: Japan cruise past Tunisia, Germany beat Ivory Coast to reach knockouts, Curacao get another draw</a>&nbsp;Valuable contributions from Steve Smith and Mark Chapman helped Freedom set a huge target of 246.&nbsp;MI New York’s had a poor start to chase early when Quinton de Kock and Monank Patel were dismissed in the opening over. Soon after, Glenn Maxwell removed Nicholas Pooran, leaving the side in deep trouble. Reduced to 64/5, MI New York appeared out of contention before Pollard produced a determined fightback.&nbsp;Also Read - &nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-a-vs-sl-a-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-scripts-history-smashes-fastest-list-a-fifty-in-just-11-balls-1782023306828">IND-A vs SL-A: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scripts history, smashes fastest List A fifty in just 11 balls</a>&nbsp;The veteran all-rounder had crucial stands with Romario Shepherd and Corbin Bosch, guiding the recovery while registering only the second T20 hundred of his career. He reached the milestone on the final ball of the innings, ending unbeaten on 100 with 11 boundaries and four sixes.&nbsp;Although the result favored Washington Freedom, Pollard’s achievement stole the spotlight, as he now stands alone atop the all-time men’s T20 run-scoring list, ahead of Gayle. The elite group of batters to surpass 14,000 T20 runs also includes Alex Hales, Jos Buttler, David Warner and Virat Kohli.

Kieron Pollard achieved another major milestone in his T20 career by becoming the highest run-scorer in men's T20 cricket.

Kieron Pollard etched his name into T20 cricket history on Saturday, overtaking Chris Gayle to become the leading run-scorer in men’s T20 cricket. The landmark came during a superb century for MI New York in the 2026 edition of Major League Cricket. The former West Indies skipper reached the record in style, clearing the ropes during an unbeaten 100 off 56 deliveries against Washington Freedom. The knock lifted Pollard beyond Gayle’s career tally of 14,562 T20 runs, taking his aggregate to 14,582 runs from 736 appearances. The feat further highlights Pollard’s remarkable durability in the shortest format. Having played in domestic leagues around the world for nearly 20 years, he remains the only player to have crossed the 700-match mark in T20 cricket. Despite Pollard’s heroics, MI New York fell short as Washington Freedom claimed a convincing 30-run win after piling up 245/5. The standout performance of the match came from Australian all-rounder Mitchell Owen, who scored a sensational 155 off just 68 balls, the highest individual score in MLC history. Owen brought up his century in only 41 deliveries and dominated the attack throughout one of the most explosive innings the tournament has witnessed. Also Read - FIFA 2026 Day 10 Recap: Japan cruise past Tunisia, Germany beat Ivory Coast to reach knockouts, Curacao get another draw Valuable contributions from Steve Smith and Mark Chapman helped Freedom set a huge target of 246. MI New York’s had a poor start to chase early when Quinton de Kock and Monank Patel were dismissed in the opening over. Soon after, Glenn Maxwell removed Nicholas Pooran, leaving the side in deep trouble. Reduced to 64/5, MI New York appeared out of contention before Pollard produced a determined fightback. Also Read - IND-A vs SL-A: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scripts history, smashes fastest List A fifty in just 11 balls The veteran all-rounder had crucial stands with Romario Shepherd and Corbin Bosch, guiding the recovery while registering only the second T20 hundred of his career. He reached the milestone on the final ball of the innings, ending unbeaten on 100 with 11 boundaries and four sixes. Although the result favored Washington Freedom, Pollard’s achievement stole the spotlight, as he now stands alone atop the all-time men’s T20 run-scoring list, ahead of Gayle. The elite group of batters to surpass 14,000 T20 runs also includes Alex Hales, Jos Buttler, David Warner and Virat Kohli.

Kieron Pollard achieved another major milestone in his T20 career by becoming the highest run-scorer in men's T20 cricket.

Kieron Pollard creates history, overtakes Chris Gayle as T20’s leading run-scorer

As Ecuador striker Enner Valencia raced through on goal within the opening three minutes against Curacao, the outcome appeared inevitable. Ten yards from goal with only the goalkeeper to beat, Valencia looked certain to score. An early goal could have left World Cup debutants Curacao facing another difficult evening, much like their 7-1 defeat to Germany in their tournament opener. But goalkeeper Eloy Room had other ideas.&nbsp;Reading Valencia’s intentions perfectly, the 37-year-old dived low to his left and pushed the shot around the post. It was a stunning save that immediately set the tone for the match. Over the next 90 minutes, Room delivered one of the greatest goalkeeping displays in World Cup history. Time and again, he denied Ecuador, frustrating their attackers and inspiring his teammates. By the final whistle, Curacao had secured a memorable 0-0 draw and claimed their first-ever World Cup point.&nbsp;Room finished the match with 15 saves, equaling the World Cup record for the most saves made by a goalkeeper in a single match since records began in 1966, according to Opta. Only former USA goalkeeper Tim Howard had previously reached that figure during the 2014 World Cup against Belgium. However, Howard conceded twice in extra time, while Room kept a clean sheet. After the match, Room joked that Howard would have been "sweating at home" watching his performance and said he now "needs a statue in Curacao".&nbsp;&nbsp;BBC Sport pundit Martin Keown was full of praise for the veteran goalkeeper. "Take a bow, Room," added Keown on BBC One. "Absolutely magnificent. "The number of saves, you were almost getting a calculator out at the end of the game to count them up. "It just became a shopping list of saves. His reactions were first class. He seemed destined to keep a clean sheet all night."The remarkable display delivered one of the biggest results in Curacao’s football history.<h2>From qualification hero to World Cup star</h2>Curacao’s journey to the World Cup was already a remarkable achievement, and Room played a key role in making it happen.The Dutch-born goalkeeper produced a crucial save in a goalless draw against Jamaica in November, helping secure qualification for the tournament. Former Netherlands star Patrick Kluivert, who managed Curacao in 2015, convinced Room to represent the Caribbean nation through his family roots.&nbsp;Born in Nijmegen, Netherlands, Room spent much of his career in Dutch football. He made more than 200 Eredivisie appearances, won the league title with PSV, lifted the Dutch Cup with Vitesse, and later moved to Major League Soccer with Columbus Crew. Room won the MLS Cup in 2020 and earned the league’s Save of the Season award before joining Miami FC.Known for his love of padel, which he credits for sharpening his reflexes, Room had never made more than five saves in a league game for Miami FC this season.&nbsp;Yet on football’s biggest stage, in front of 68,598 fans, he produced a performance for the ages, stopping Ecuador despite facing 27 shots and an expected goals (xG) figure of 3.05. "I still have to process myself," Room said. "The match is full of emotions. I knew it was going to be a tough match. "The first save, the tone was put in place, also for the team. It gave me confidence and I grew, we all grew, this was a team effort. "We've been fighting, fighting up to the last minute. Earning a point this way for Curacao is absolutely great."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-knockout-stage-explained-how-teams-qualify-and-who-could-face-who-1781975868639">FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage explained: How teams qualify and who could face who</a>

<h2>A historic night for Curacao</h2>Curacao entered the tournament as the smallest nation ever to compete at a FIFA World Cup, with a population of approximately 156,000. Their opening match against Germany ended in a heavy defeat despite briefly drawing level, but their response against Ecuador showcased resilience, discipline, and determination. Ranked 82nd in the FIFA world rankings before the tournament, Curacao became just the third nation ranked 80th or lower to earn a point at a World Cup.&nbsp;Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima were among those in attendance to witness the historic result. Keown highlighted the significance of the achievement. "This evening is all about Curacao and what they've done, what they've achieved and that will feel like a victory for them," said Keown. "It's a foothold in world football. They didn't come here to just make up the numbers - that is an outstanding result for them."&nbsp;Curacao now head into their final Group E match against Ivory Coast with hope still alive. A victory would secure one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history and potentially send them into the knockout stages. Regardless of what happens next, Eloy Room’s extraordinary goalkeeping masterclass has already ensured this match will be remembered as one of the greatest moments in Curacao football history.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fifa-world-cup-2026-sees-unique-patches-for-players-and-teams-1782011546815/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/fifa-world-cup-2026-sees-unique-patches-for-players-and-teams-1782011546815/embed</a>

Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room made a record-equalling 15 saves to earn his nation a historic first World Cup point in a memorable 0-0 draw against Ecuador

As Ecuador striker Enner Valencia raced through on goal within the opening three minutes against Curacao, the outcome appeared inevitable. Ten yards from goal with only the goalkeeper to beat, Valencia looked certain to score. An early goal could have left World Cup debutants Curacao facing another difficult evening, much like their 7-1 defeat to Germany in their tournament opener. But goalkeeper Eloy Room had other ideas. Reading Valencia’s intentions perfectly, the 37-year-old dived low to his left and pushed the shot around the post. It was a stunning save that immediately set the tone for the match. Over the next 90 minutes, Room delivered one of the greatest goalkeeping displays in World Cup history. Time and again, he denied Ecuador, frustrating their attackers and inspiring his teammates. By the final whistle, Curacao had secured a memorable 0-0 draw and claimed their first-ever World Cup point. Room finished the match with 15 saves, equaling the World Cup record for the most saves made by a goalkeeper in a single match since records began in 1966, according to Opta. Only former USA goalkeeper Tim Howard had previously reached that figure during the 2014 World Cup against Belgium. However, Howard conceded twice in extra time, while Room kept a clean sheet. After the match, Room joked that Howard would have been "sweating at home" watching his performance and said he now "needs a statue in Curacao". BBC Sport pundit Martin Keown was full of praise for the veteran goalkeeper. "Take a bow, Room," added Keown on BBC One. "Absolutely magnificent. "The number of saves, you were almost getting a calculator out at the end of the game to count them up. "It just became a shopping list of saves. His reactions were first class. He seemed destined to keep a clean sheet all night." The remarkable display delivered one of the biggest results in Curacao’s football history. From qualification hero to World Cup star Curacao’s journey to the World Cup was already a remarkable achievement, and Room played a key role in making it happen. The Dutch-born goalkeeper produced a crucial save in a goalless draw against Jamaica in November, helping secure qualification for the tournament. Former Netherlands star Patrick Kluivert, who managed Curacao in 2015, convinced Room to represent the Caribbean nation through his family roots. Born in Nijmegen, Netherlands, Room spent much of his career in Dutch football. He made more than 200 Eredivisie appearances, won the league title with PSV, lifted the Dutch Cup with Vitesse, and later moved to Major League Soccer with Columbus Crew. Room won the MLS Cup in 2020 and earned the league’s Save of the Season award before joining Miami FC. Known for his love of padel, which he credits for sharpening his reflexes, Room had never made more than five saves in a league game for Miami FC this season. Yet on football’s biggest stage, in front of 68,598 fans, he produced a performance for the ages, stopping Ecuador despite facing 27 shots and an expected goals (xG) figure of 3.05. "I still have to process myself," Room said. "The match is full of emotions. I knew it was going to be a tough match. "The first save, the tone was put in place, also for the team. It gave me confidence and I grew, we all grew, this was a team effort. "We've been fighting, fighting up to the last minute. Earning a point this way for Curacao is absolutely great." Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage explained: How teams qualify and who could face who

Eloy Room's record-equalling 15 saves secured Curacao's first-ever FIFA World Cup point as the underdogs held Ecuador to a historic draw

Who is Eloy Room? The goalkeeper behind Curacao's historic point at FIFA World Cup 2026

FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 10 on Sunday (Jun 21) saw Germany beat Ivory Coast 2-1 to secure a place in the knockout stage. Curacao earned their first point after holding Ecuador to a goalless draw, while Japan registered a dominant 4-0 win over Tunisia in their group match. The tenth day of the 48-team tournament, running until Jul 19, delivered several key moments, records and drama both on and off the pitch.&nbsp;Here’s a look at all the major highlights from Day 10 of the FIFA World Cup 2026.<h2>Deniz Undav stars as Germany beat Ivory Coast 2-1</h2>Deniz Undav scored two goals after coming on as a substitute as Germany made a strong comeback to beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match on Sunday (lST). With this win, Germany also confirmed their place in the knockout stage for the first time since winning the title in 2014.&nbsp;Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer also made history by playing his 21st World Cup match, becoming the most-capped goalkeeper in the tournament’s history.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-manuel-neuer-becomes-most-capped-goalkeeper-in-world-cup-history-1782016741367">FIFA 2026: Manuel Neuer becomes most-capped goalkeeper in World Cup history</a>&nbsp;For Ivory Coast, Franck Kessie scored the opening goal in the 30th minute and at 29 years and 183 days, he also became the second-oldest Ivory Coast goalscorer in World Cup history, behind Didier Drogba, who scored in 2010 at 32 years and 101 days, according to Opta.<h2>Curacao hold Ecuador to draw</h2>Ecuador’s chances of reaching the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage took a hit after a 0-0 draw against Curacao in their Group E match in Kansas City.&nbsp;Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room played a key role in helping his team earn their first-ever World Cup point with an excellent performance.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-brazil-s-raphinha-suffers-right-thigh-injury-confirms-cbf-1782015126412">FIFA World Cup 2026: Brazil's Raphinha suffers right thigh injury, confirms CBF</a>&nbsp;Ecuador controlled most of the possession and created several chances, but they could not score as Room made a number of important saves and delivered one of the best goalkeeping displays of the tournament so far.

Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 Live on Zee5

<h2>Japan secured a comfortable 4-0 victory over Tunisia</h2>Japan put on a strong performance to beat Tunisia 4-0 in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F match at Estadio Monterrey. It was the first time Japan have scored four goals in a World Cup match, while Tunisia moved closer to elimination.&nbsp;The match also marked the 1000th game in FIFA World Cup history, with Japan in control from start to finish.&nbsp;The win improves Japan’s position in Group F and they now need just a point from their final group game against Sweden to qualify for the Round of 32. For Tunisia, the defeat adds to their struggles, with only one win in their last nine World Cup matches.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 10 on Sunday (Jun 21) began with Germany beating Ivory Coast 2-1 to reach the knockout stage, while Curacao earned their first point as they held Ecuador to a goalless draw. Japan ended the day with a commanding victory over Tunisia.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 10 on Sunday (Jun 21) saw Germany beat Ivory Coast 2-1 to secure a place in the knockout stage. Curacao earned their first point after holding Ecuador to a goalless draw, while Japan registered a dominant 4-0 win over Tunisia in their group match. The tenth day of the 48-team tournament, running until Jul 19, delivered several key moments, records and drama both on and off the pitch. Here’s a look at all the major highlights from Day 10 of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Deniz Undav stars as Germany beat Ivory Coast 2-1 Deniz Undav scored two goals after coming on as a substitute as Germany made a strong comeback to beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match on Sunday (lST). With this win, Germany also confirmed their place in the knockout stage for the first time since winning the title in 2014. Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer also made history by playing his 21st World Cup match, becoming the most-capped goalkeeper in the tournament’s history. Also Read - FIFA 2026: Manuel Neuer becomes most-capped goalkeeper in World Cup history For Ivory Coast, Franck Kessie scored the opening goal in the 30th minute and at 29 years and 183 days, he also became the second-oldest Ivory Coast goalscorer in World Cup history, behind Didier Drogba, who scored in 2010 at 32 years and 101 days, according to Opta. Curacao hold Ecuador to draw Ecuador’s chances of reaching the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage took a hit after a 0-0 draw against Curacao in their Group E match in Kansas City. Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room played a key role in helping his team earn their first-ever World Cup point with an excellent performance. Also Read - FIFA World Cup 2026: Brazil's Raphinha suffers right thigh injury, confirms CBF Ecuador controlled most of the possession and created several chances, but they could not score as Room made a number of important saves and delivered one of the best goalkeeping displays of the tournament so far.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 10 on Sunday (Jun 21) began with Germany beating Ivory Coast 2-1 to reach the knockout stage, while Curacao earned their first point as they held Ecuador to a goalless draw. Japan ended the day with a commanding victory over Tunisia.

FIFA 2026 Day 10 Recap: Japan cruise past Tunisia, Germany beat Ivory Coast to reach knockouts, Curacao get another draw

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made history in the Tri-Nation Series final against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla on Sunday (Jun 21) by scoring the fastest half-century ever in List A cricket. The 15-year-old had a quiet tournament before the final, with scores of 14, 44, 21 and 38. However, he delivered a stunning performance when India A were asked to bat first at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.&nbsp;Sooryavanshi started aggressively from the opening ball, hitting boundaries and sixes with ease, while Sri Lanka A’s bowlers struggled to stop his attacking approach. One of the highlights of his innings was an over against Mohamed Shiraz in which he scored 26 runs.&nbsp;He reached his fifty in just 11 balls after hitting a six over long-on, breaking a record that had stood for 20 years. At that point, his strike rate was an incredible 454.54.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-manuel-neuer-becomes-most-capped-goalkeeper-in-world-cup-history-1782016741367">FIFA 2026: Manuel Neuer becomes most-capped goalkeeper in World Cup history</a>&nbsp;The innings was a remarkable comeback for the young batter, who had found it difficult to play freely on Dambulla’s slower pitches earlier in the tournament.&nbsp;His brilliant knock ended at 94 runs from only 29 balls when Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige dismissed him, with Vijayakanth Viyaskanth taking the catch.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi impressed in the tri-series final with 94 runs off 29 balls, including a rapid fifty in only 11 balls against Sri Lanka A.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made history in the Tri-Nation Series final against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla on Sunday (Jun 21) by scoring the fastest half-century ever in List A cricket. The 15-year-old had a quiet tournament before the final, with scores of 14, 44, 21 and 38. However, he delivered a stunning performance when India A were asked to bat first at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. Sooryavanshi started aggressively from the opening ball, hitting boundaries and sixes with ease, while Sri Lanka A’s bowlers struggled to stop his attacking approach. One of the highlights of his innings was an over against Mohamed Shiraz in which he scored 26 runs. He reached his fifty in just 11 balls after hitting a six over long-on, breaking a record that had stood for 20 years. At that point, his strike rate was an incredible 454.54. Also Read - FIFA 2026: Manuel Neuer becomes most-capped goalkeeper in World Cup history The innings was a remarkable comeback for the young batter, who had found it difficult to play freely on Dambulla’s slower pitches earlier in the tournament. His brilliant knock ended at 94 runs from only 29 balls when Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige dismissed him, with Vijayakanth Viyaskanth taking the catch.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi impressed in the tri-series final with 94 runs off 29 balls, including a rapid fifty in only 11 balls against Sri Lanka A.

IND-A vs SL-A: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scripts history, smashes fastest List A fifty in just 11 balls

Germany’s Manuel Neuer made history by becoming the goalkeeper with the most appearances in FIFA World Cup matches. He played his 21st World Cup game during Germany’s Group E match against Ivory Coast, breaking the previous record of 20 appearances held by France’s Hugo Lloris.&nbsp;In the same game, Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie scored the opening goal in the 30th minute. At 29 years and 183 days old, he became the second-oldest player from Ivory Coast to score in a World Cup. The record is still held by Didier Drogba, who scored at 32 years and 101 days in the 2010 tournament.&nbsp;Before the match, Neuer announced that he will retire after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 40-year-old goalkeeper was part of Germany’s World Cup-winning team in 2014 and is now playing in his fifth consecutive World Cup as the country’s first-choice goalkeeper.&nbsp;Neuer had previously retired from international football after Germany’s quarter-final exit at Euro 2024. However, Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann brought him back into the 2026 World Cup squad after his strong performances for Bayern Munich during the second half of the season.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-brazil-s-raphinha-suffers-right-thigh-injury-confirms-cbf-1782015126412">FIFA World Cup 2026: Brazil's Raphinha suffers right thigh injury, confirms CBF</a>

"I stepped back in 2024 with a good reason after a good home Euro. For me, it was the right decision. It felt right," Neuer told a press conference, as quoted by Reuters. Neuer made his comeback in Germany's opening FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match against Curacao, marking his return in Germany's commanding 7-1 victory. "It would have been too much of a sporting burden for me (to have kept playing for the national team) for the last two years," he added. "For me, it is clear that this is my last tournament. I do not plan to be there in two years time for the next Euro. In the last few days, I have dealt with the fact that these are the last games for Germany. But I want to look forward to all the games and not to any goodbye shirts," the veteran goalkeeper said.&nbsp;&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Before the match, Neuer announced that he would retire after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 40-year-old goalkeeper was part of Germany's World Cup-winning squad in 2014 and is now featuring in his fifth consecutive World Cup.

Germany’s Manuel Neuer made history by becoming the goalkeeper with the most appearances in FIFA World Cup matches. He played his 21st World Cup game during Germany’s Group E match against Ivory Coast, breaking the previous record of 20 appearances held by France’s Hugo Lloris. In the same game, Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie scored the opening goal in the 30th minute. At 29 years and 183 days old, he became the second-oldest player from Ivory Coast to score in a World Cup. The record is still held by Didier Drogba, who scored at 32 years and 101 days in the 2010 tournament. Before the match, Neuer announced that he will retire after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 40-year-old goalkeeper was part of Germany’s World Cup-winning team in 2014 and is now playing in his fifth consecutive World Cup as the country’s first-choice goalkeeper. Neuer had previously retired from international football after Germany’s quarter-final exit at Euro 2024. However, Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann brought him back into the 2026 World Cup squad after his strong performances for Bayern Munich during the second half of the season. Also Read - FIFA World Cup 2026: Brazil's Raphinha suffers right thigh injury, confirms CBF

Before the match, Neuer announced that he would retire after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 40-year-old goalkeeper was part of Germany's World Cup-winning squad in 2014 and is now featuring in his fifth consecutive World Cup.

FIFA 2026: Manuel Neuer becomes most-capped goalkeeper in World Cup history

Brazil winger Raphinha has suffered a muscle injury in the back of his right thigh, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed on Saturday. The 29-year-old was forced to leave the field during Brazil’s 3-0 win over Haiti on Friday after suffering the injury, raising further concerns about his fitness. Medical scans carried out on Saturday confirmed the injury.&nbsp;According to the CBF, Raphinha will now follow an intensive rehabilitation programme under the supervision of Brazil’s medical team to help him recover and return to action as soon as possible.&nbsp;This is the fourth hamstring-related injury the forward has suffered in the last year and he also missed 23 matches for FC Barcelona last season because of similar issues.&nbsp;&nbsp;Earlier this year, he sustained a comparable injury while playing for Brazil in a friendly against France, which kept him sidelined for more than a month.&nbsp;In FIFA World Cup 2026, Brazil bounced back strongly after a 1-1 draw with Morocco in their opening match, beating Haiti 3-0 in a group-stage fixture.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-day-11-live-streaming-when-and-where-to-watch-matches-in-india-1782014103880">FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 11 live streaming: When and where to watch matches in India?</a>&nbsp;Carlo Ancelotti's side started on the front foot and initially had Raphinha's goal ruled out for offside, but soon took control of the contest. Matheus Cunha opened the scoring by converting from close range after Vinicius Junior's shot was parried, before adding a second with a powerful finish from a precise Vinicius assist.

Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/the-football-factory-of-the-world-which-city-holds-this-title-1781860474188">The ‘Football factory of the world’: Which city holds This title?</a>&nbsp;Vinicius added Brazil’s third goal before half-time, finishing calmly after breaking through Haiti’s defence. However, Brazil’s celebrations were tempered when Raphinha had to be substituted because of injury.&nbsp;Haiti improved after the break and nearly scored through Ricardo Ade, but Alisson Becker made an important save. Brazil remained in control, although a late goal from Endrick was ruled out for offside.&nbsp;The victory moved Brazil to four points from two matches, level with Morocco but ahead on goal difference, leaving them well placed to reach the Round of 32.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Brazil winger Raphinha suffered a right thigh injury during his side's 3-0 victory over Haiti, but the team remains hopeful he can recover in time to feature later in the FIFA World Cup 2026

Brazil winger Raphinha has suffered a muscle injury in the back of his right thigh, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed on Saturday. The 29-year-old was forced to leave the field during Brazil’s 3-0 win over Haiti on Friday after suffering the injury, raising further concerns about his fitness. Medical scans carried out on Saturday confirmed the injury. According to the CBF, Raphinha will now follow an intensive rehabilitation programme under the supervision of Brazil’s medical team to help him recover and return to action as soon as possible. This is the fourth hamstring-related injury the forward has suffered in the last year and he also missed 23 matches for FC Barcelona last season because of similar issues. Earlier this year, he sustained a comparable injury while playing for Brazil in a friendly against France, which kept him sidelined for more than a month. In FIFA World Cup 2026, Brazil bounced back strongly after a 1-1 draw with Morocco in their opening match, beating Haiti 3-0 in a group-stage fixture. Also Read - FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 11 live streaming: When and where to watch matches in India? Carlo Ancelotti's side started on the front foot and initially had Raphinha's goal ruled out for offside, but soon took control of the contest. Matheus Cunha opened the scoring by converting from close range after Vinicius Junior's shot was parried, before adding a second with a powerful finish from a precise Vinicius assist.

Brazil winger Raphinha suffered a right thigh injury during his side's 3-0 victory over Haiti, but the team remains hopeful he can recover in time to feature later in the FIFA World Cup 2026.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Brazil's Raphinha suffers right thigh injury, confirms CBF

The first few days of the FIFA World Cup 2026 have already delivered excitement, memorable moments and plenty of talking points. Attention now turns to Day 11, which features several important matches involving some of the tournament's strongest teams. The action begins with a Group G clash between Belgium and Iran at 12:30 AM IST. Later, New Zealand will take on Egypt in another Group G match at 6:30 AM IST. In Group H, Uruguay will face Cabo Verde at Miami Stadium at 3:30 AM IST. The final match of the day will see Argentina take on Austria in a Group J encounter at 10:30 PM IST.<h2>FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 11: Live streaming details</h2><h2>When will FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 11 matches take place?</h2>The Belgium vs&nbsp;Iran, Uruguay vs Cabo Verde, New Zealand vs Egypt and Argentina vs Austria matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026 will take place on Monday (Jun 22) in India.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-neymar-set-to-return-for-brazil-s-world-cup-clash-vs-scotland-confirms-ancelotti-1781938109391">FIFA 2026: Neymar set to return for Brazil's World Cup clash vs Scotland, confirms Ancelotti</a>

<h2>Which TV channel will broadcast FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 11 matches live in India?</h2>The FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 11 matches between Belgium vs&nbsp;Iran, Uruguay vs Cabo Verde, New Zealand vs Egypt and Argentina vs Austria, will be shown 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.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/the-football-factory-of-the-world-which-city-holds-this-title-1781860474188">The ‘Football factory of the world’: Which city holds This title?</a><h2>How to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 11 matches live streaming in India?</h2>The FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 11 matches between Belgium vs&nbsp;Iran, Uruguay vs Cabo Verde, New Zealand vs Egypt and Argentina vs Austria, will be available for live streaming on the Zee5 website and app (<a href="https://www.zee5.com/">https://www.zee5.com/</a>).

Here are all the details for the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches on Day 11: Belgium vs Iran, Uruguay vs Cabo Verde, New Zealand vs Egypt and Argentina vs Austria

The first few days of the FIFA World Cup 2026 have already delivered excitement, memorable moments and plenty of talking points. Attention now turns to Day 11, which features several important matches involving some of the tournament's strongest teams. The action begins with a Group G clash between Belgium and Iran at 12:30 AM IST. Later, New Zealand will take on Egypt in another Group G match at 6:30 AM IST. In Group H, Uruguay will face Cabo Verde at Miami Stadium at 3:30 AM IST. The final match of the day will see Argentina take on Austria in a Group J encounter at 10:30 PM IST. FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 11: Live streaming details When will FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 11 matches take place? The Belgium vs Iran, Uruguay vs Cabo Verde, New Zealand vs Egypt and Argentina vs Austria matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026 will take place on Monday (Jun 22) in India. Also Read - FIFA 2026: Neymar set to return for Brazil's World Cup clash vs Scotland, confirms Ancelotti

Here are all the details for the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches on Day 11: Belgium vs&nbsp; Iran, Uruguay vs Cabo Verde, New Zealand vs Egypt and Argentina vs Austria

FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 11 live streaming: When and where to watch matches in India?

Japanese football fans are known worldwide for cleaning up stadiums after World Cup matches, a gesture that has repeatedly earned them praise from the global community. During the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 as well, Japanese fans have made headlines for their civic sense. Back home, however, they are facing criticism. But why? The backlash began after someone shared a poster urging men to “share unpaid work at home.” Here’s all you need to know about the latest FIFA 2026 controversy.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-times-square-panic-teen-held-after-shots-fired-near-fifa-crowds-watch-1781833575244">New York Times Square panic: Teen held after shots fired near FIFA crowds | WATCH</a>

<h2>Why are Japanese men getting slammed online?</h2>Photos of men combing the stands with trash bags in hand sparked a backlash online, drawing widespread criticism rather than praise. The reason? Many of the men who diligently clean up in front of the cameras at stadiums are seen as leaving most of the housework to their wives or partners at home.&nbsp;

Japanese fans hold blue bin bags over their heads during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F match between Netherlands and J

Putting the spotlight on the gender inequality still prevalent in Japan, a poster on X called out these men. Japanese men "spend among the least time on housework internationally," the poster text read. "Please share unpaid care work at home. Start with respect—at home," it added.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">日本人男性によるサッカー場でのゴミ拾いが注目されているようだが、日本人男性の家庭内労働時間は国際的にみても極めて低い水準。まず家の中のケア労働を分担してほしい。 <a href="https://t.co/lHY3adqPEC">https://t.co/lHY3adqPEC</a> <a href="https://t.co/otbuLTDOoT">pic.twitter.com/otbuLTDOoT</a>&mdash; Atsuko TAMADA (@atsukotamada) <a href="https://x.com/atsukotamada/status/2066828959585878110?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The post has attracted widespread attention, garnering over two million views and 61,000 likes so far. "Everyone wants to save the world, but no one wants to help mom do the dishes," an X user quoted American author PJ O'Rourke in comments."There’s definitely a guy among the people picking up trash this time who’s dumped childcare on his wife despite having a young kid and gone off to watch the World Cup," said another.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rotting-body-discovered-metres-from-iran-team-s-fifa-world-cup-camp-in-tijuana-fifa-2026-1781322053339">'Bad smell' leads to discovery of rotting body near Iran team's FIFA World Cup camp in Tijuana</a>"If you're a wife who's troubled because your husband doesn't do any tidying up, first have him wear the representative's uniform around the house," read a satirical comment."They do it outside the home because they get praised for it. And being modest about it is part of the package... but they don't do it at home," noted a fourth user.<h2>Japanese women still shoulder most of the burden at home</h2>Cleanliness and personal responsibility remain deeply embedded in Japanese culture. Yet, despite this cultural emphasis, Japanese men still rank among the lowest in advanced economies when it comes to housework and caregiving.According to 2021 data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Japanese women spend more than three hours per day on unpaid work, i.e, over five times as much as men, who average just 47 minutes a day. The gap is even wider in young families. A 2021 government survey found that in dual-income households with children under six, women spend more than seven hours a day on household chores, while men spend less than two.The viral debate around World Cup stadium clean-ups has therefore become about much more than football etiquette. For many Japanese women, it has cast an uncomfortable spotlight on the unequal division of labour at home, and raised fresh calls for men to match their public image of responsibility with everyday actions behind closed doors.

Netherlands Vs Sweden

Japanese football fans have once again earned praise for cleaning stadiums after FIFA World Cup matches. But back home, a viral social media post has sparked a debate, with critics arguing that many men who tidy up in public still leave most household chores and childcare to women.

Japanese football fans are known worldwide for cleaning up stadiums after World Cup matches, a gesture that has repeatedly earned them praise from the global community. During the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 as well, Japanese fans have made headlines for their civic sense. Back home, however, they are facing criticism. But why? The backlash began after someone shared a poster urging men to “share unpaid work at home.” Here’s all you need to know about the latest FIFA 2026 controversy. Also read | New York Times Square panic: Teen held after shots fired near FIFA crowds | WATCH

Japanese football fans have once again earned praise for cleaning stadiums after FIFA World Cup matches. But back home, a viral social media post has sparked a debate, with critics arguing that many men who tidy up in public still leave most household chores and childcare to women.

FIFA 2026: Japanese men win hearts for cleaning World Cup stadiums. So why are women furious at them?

Ace Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was honoured with the Best Male Athlete of the Year 2025 award at the inaugural Indian Athletics Awards ceremony on Saturday (June 20). The recognition adds another milestone to the decorated career of the Olympic gold and silver medallist. Receiving the award, Chopra expressed his gratitude and said the recognition was especially meaningful as it came in the presence of athletes from different eras. "Yeh award dil ke nazdik hai (This award is very close to my heart). The old and new generation of athletes are here. I am very happy to have received the award in front of them," said Chopra, who arrived from Doha earlier in the day to attend the event.&nbsp;The 28-year-old had competed at the Doha Diamond League on Friday, finishing fourth in his season-opening event with a best throw of 85.69m, achieved in his third attempt. Chopra recently returned to competition after recovering from a back injury suffered before the World Championships in Tokyo in September 2025. His appearance in Doha marked his comeback following an eighth-place finish at the World Championships. Since May 25, he has been training in Switzerland after completing a rehabilitation programme in Turkiye.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-knockout-stage-explained-how-teams-qualify-and-who-could-face-who-1781975868639">FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage explained: How teams qualify and who could face who</a>&nbsp;Despite the injury setback, Chopra comfortably surpassed the Athletics Federation of India's qualification mark of 82.61m for the upcoming Commonwealth Games. The Best Female Athlete of the Year award was presented to Parul Chaudhary, the national record holder in the 3000m steeplechase. Earlier in the ceremony, legendary sprinter and Indian Olympic Association president P T Usha received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding contribution to Indian athletics.&nbsp;Launched by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), the Indian Athletics Awards aim to celebrate and recognise the efforts of athletes, coaches, technical officials, mentors, state associations and other stakeholders who have contributed to the development of athletics in the country. The inaugural edition featured 10 award categories, including Best Male Athlete, Best Female Athlete, Best Coach, Best Technical Official, Best State Association and Lifetime Achievement Award.

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra receives the Best Male Athlete of the Year 2025 award at the inaugural Indian Athletics Awards. Parul Chaudhary wins top female honour, while P T Usha receives the Lifetime Achievement Award

Ace Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was honoured with the Best Male Athlete of the Year 2025 award at the inaugural Indian Athletics Awards ceremony on Saturday (June 20). The recognition adds another milestone to the decorated career of the Olympic gold and silver medallist. Receiving the award, Chopra expressed his gratitude and said the recognition was especially meaningful as it came in the presence of athletes from different eras. "Yeh award dil ke nazdik hai (This award is very close to my heart). The old and new generation of athletes are here. I am very happy to have received the award in front of them," said Chopra, who arrived from Doha earlier in the day to attend the event. The 28-year-old had competed at the Doha Diamond League on Friday, finishing fourth in his season-opening event with a best throw of 85.69m, achieved in his third attempt. Chopra recently returned to competition after recovering from a back injury suffered before the World Championships in Tokyo in September 2025. His appearance in Doha marked his comeback following an eighth-place finish at the World Championships. Since May 25, he has been training in Switzerland after completing a rehabilitation programme in Turkiye. Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage explained: How teams qualify and who could face who Despite the injury setback, Chopra comfortably surpassed the Athletics Federation of India's qualification mark of 82.61m for the upcoming Commonwealth Games. The Best Female Athlete of the Year award was presented to Parul Chaudhary, the national record holder in the 3000m steeplechase. Earlier in the ceremony, legendary sprinter and Indian Olympic Association president P T Usha received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding contribution to Indian athletics. Launched by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), the Indian Athletics Awards aim to celebrate and recognise the efforts of athletes, coaches, technical officials, mentors, state associations and other stakeholders who have contributed to the development of athletics in the country. The inaugural edition featured 10 award categories, including Best Male Athlete, Best Female Athlete, Best Coach, Best Technical Official, Best State Association and Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ace javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won the Best Male Athlete of the Year 2025 award at the inaugural Indian Athletics Awards after his successful return from injury

Neeraj Chopra, Parul Chaudhary honoured with Athlete of the Year 2025 at inaugural Indian Athletics Awards

As the world's top footballers battle for a place in the latter stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, fans are facing a challenge of their own, understanding the tournament's expanded format and complex knockout-stage pathways. With 48 teams competing, new tiebreaker regulations, and matches spread across three host nations and four time zones, tracking potential knockout fixtures has become increasingly difficult. Adding to the complexity are the 495 possible combinations involving the eight third-placed teams that will advance to the last 32. To help supporters navigate the tournament, BBC Sport has introduced a predictor tool that updates live and illustrates the route from the group stage all the way to the final.<h2>How do teams qualify for the knockout stage?</h2>The World Cup group stage concludes over the next eight days. From the 48 participating nations, 16 teams will be eliminated, leaving 32 teams to contest the knockout rounds. The top two teams from each of the 12 groups automatically qualify for the last 32. Co-hosts Mexico and the United States have already secured their places after winning their opening two matches, ensuring strong home support remains engaged throughout the competition. Teams are primarily ranked by points earned. However, when nations finish level on points, a new set of tiebreakers comes into effect.<h2>What are the tiebreakers?</h2>Unlike previous FIFA tournaments where goal difference was the primary separator, the 2026 World Cup now prioritizes head-to-head results. Supporters of the system argue it offers a fairer comparison between evenly matched teams, while critics believe goal difference remains the simplest and most transparent method. If two teams are level on points, the team that won their head-to-head meeting will finish higher. When three or more teams are tied, FIFA creates a mini-league based solely on matches involving those teams.&nbsp;Rankings are determined by:<ul><li>Points earned among tied teams</li><li>Goal difference among tied teams</li><li>Goals scored among tied teams</li></ul>If teams remain level, the following overall group-stage criteria apply:<ul><li>Goal difference</li><li>Goals scored</li></ul>If no separation can be found, FIFA's "Team Conduct Score (TCS)" is used.<h2>What is the ‘Team Conduct Score (TCS)’?</h2>The "Team Conduct Score (TCS)" measures disciplinary records throughout the tournament. Every team begins on zero points and receives deductions for cards shown to players and team officials:<ul><li>Yellow card: -1</li><li>Red card for two yellow cards: -3</li><li>Straight red card: -4</li><li>Yellow card followed by a straight red card: -5</li></ul>The team with the score closest to zero ranks higher. South Africa currently have the lowest TCS in the tournament at -12 after receiving two straight red cards and four yellow cards. Meanwhile, 14 teams have maintained a perfect disciplinary record and remain on zero. If teams are still level after all criteria, FIFA's June world rankings will determine the final order.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-senior-fencing-championships-2026-yamada-masaru-and-sano-yui-strike-gold-bhavani-devi-leads-india-s-charge-1781972081664">Asian Senior Fencing Championships 2026: Yamada Masaru and Sano Yui strike gold; Bhavani Devi leads India's charge</a>

Netherlands vs Sweden

<h2>How do third-placed teams advance?</h2>The same ranking criteria are applied to all 12 third-placed teams. However, only eight will progress to the last 32.The knockout structure works as follows:<ul><li>Four group winners face group runners-up.</li><li>Eight group winners face qualified third-placed teams.</li><li>Remaining runners-up face other runners-up.</li></ul>FIFA's pre-determined knockout schedule contains five potential opponents for each of the eight last-32 fixtures involving third-placed teams. The highest-ranked available third-placed teams are allocated positions in match-number order until all fixtures are finalized. For example, the winner of Germany's Group E will play in Match 74 against the best available third-placed team from Groups A, B, C, D, or F. This process creates an astonishing 495 possible knockout pairings.<h2>Current knockout projections. Who could face who?&nbsp;</h2>Fans have already begun examining possible routes to the final at New York New Jersey Stadium on 19 July. At present, England, who lead Group L, would face Portugal, currently third in Group K, in Atlanta on 1 July. Should tournament favorites continue progressing, England's projected route to the final could involve matches against Portugal, Spain, France or Brazil, and ultimately Argentina. Scotland, currently the highest-ranked third-placed side, would face Germany in Boston on 29 June.&nbsp;Their side of the bracket appears more open. Potential opponents include the Netherlands in the last 16, while Morocco and the United States could emerge as serious contenders for deep runs into the tournament. Of course, the situation remains highly fluid. The full third-place standings will not be confirmed until the final group-stage matches conclude on 29 June. With qualification scenarios so tight, every point, goal, and even disciplinary card could prove decisive in shaping the road to World Cup glory.

Understand the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage format, qualification rules, tiebreakers, third-place team scenarios, and projected Round of 32 matchups as the tournament unfolds

As the world's top footballers battle for a place in the latter stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, fans are facing a challenge of their own, understanding the tournament's expanded format and complex knockout-stage pathways. With 48 teams competing, new tiebreaker regulations, and matches spread across three host nations and four time zones, tracking potential knockout fixtures has become increasingly difficult. Adding to the complexity are the 495 possible combinations involving the eight third-placed teams that will advance to the last 32. To help supporters navigate the tournament, BBC Sport has introduced a predictor tool that updates live and illustrates the route from the group stage all the way to the final. How do teams qualify for the knockout stage? The World Cup group stage concludes over the next eight days. From the 48 participating nations, 16 teams will be eliminated, leaving 32 teams to contest the knockout rounds. The top two teams from each of the 12 groups automatically qualify for the last 32. Co-hosts Mexico and the United States have already secured their places after winning their opening two matches, ensuring strong home support remains engaged throughout the competition. Teams are primarily ranked by points earned. However, when nations finish level on points, a new set of tiebreakers comes into effect. What are the tiebreakers? Unlike previous FIFA tournaments where goal difference was the primary separator, the 2026 World Cup now prioritizes head-to-head results. Supporters of the system argue it offers a fairer comparison between evenly matched teams, while critics believe goal difference remains the simplest and most transparent method. If two teams are level on points, the team that won their head-to-head meeting will finish higher. When three or more teams are tied, FIFA creates a mini-league based solely on matches involving those teams. Rankings are determined by: Points earned among tied teams Goal difference among tied teams Goals scored among tied teams If teams remain level, the following overall group-stage criteria apply: Goal difference Goals scored If no separation can be found, FIFA's "Team Conduct Score (TCS)" is used. What is the ‘Team Conduct Score (TCS)’? The "Team Conduct Score (TCS)" measures disciplinary records throughout the tournament. Every team begins on zero points and receives deductions for cards shown to players and team officials: Yellow card: -1 Red card for two yellow cards: -3 Straight red card: -4 Yellow card followed by a straight red card: -5 The team with the score closest to zero ranks higher. South Africa currently have the lowest TCS in the tournament at -12 after receiving two straight red cards and four yellow cards. Meanwhile, 14 teams have maintained a perfect disciplinary record and remain on zero. If teams are still level after all criteria, FIFA's June world rankings will determine the final order. Also Read: Asian Senior Fencing Championships 2026: Yamada Masaru and Sano Yui strike gold; Bhavani Devi leads India's charge

World Cup 2026's expanded format creates 495 knockout possibilities. Here's how qualification, tiebreakers, and projected fixtures work

FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage explained: How teams qualify and who could face who

The 26th Asian Senior Fencing Championships started with tremendous excitement at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, bringing together the continent’s top fencing talent. The prestigious tournament serves as a direct qualification pathway for the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and marks an important milestone in the road to the LA 2028 Olympic Games. Day 2 featured high-intensity individual contests in the Men's Épée Individual and Women's Sabre Individual categories.&nbsp;&nbsp;While powerhouse nations Japan and South Korea secured the major podium finishes, India's 24-member squad delivered encouraging performances by advancing several athletes into the knockout rounds and demonstrating significant progress on the continental stage. In the Men's Épée individual event, strict timing and passivity regulations forced competitors to launch quick and aggressive attacks during the final 30 seconds of bouts. Japan's Yamada Masaru displayed remarkable composure under pressure to claim the gold medal. Lee Rang of Chinese Taipei earned silver after an impressive campaign, while Kazakhstan’s Kurbanov Ruslan and Japan’s Kano Koki shared the bronze medals.&nbsp;Among the Indian contingent, Joseph Bennet emerged as the top performer, finishing 22nd overall after collecting crucial points through bold and fast-paced attacks. RS Sherjin Rajendran Shanthim placed 47th, showcasing a disciplined defensive strategy and excellent point management. Aloshious Koovakkal Joshy finished 54th, demonstrating strong timing and tactical awareness, while Shaurya Ashwini secured 55th place after displaying resilience in lengthy and tactical encounters.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/so-close-yet-so-far-meet-the-teams-with-most-fifa-world-cup-runner-up-finishes-1781969737176">So close yet so far: Meet the teams with most FIFA World Cup runner-up finishes</a>&nbsp;The Women's Sabre Individual competition saw Japan's Sano Yui deliver a dominant performance to capture the gold medal. South Korea's Choi Sebin secured silver with an aggressive attacking style, while Uzbekistan’s Perdebaeva Gulistan and China’s Rao Xueyi shared the bronze medal positions. For the host nation, Olympic fencer CA Bhavani Devi once again led India's challenge, finishing 23rd overall. Known for her explosive attacking game, Bhavani Devi controlled her early matches confidently and secured a strong ranking finish.&nbsp;&nbsp;Her performance also inspired the next generation of Indian fencers, with Shreya Gupta placing 26th, Jefarlin Jani Rexlin Simla finishing 32nd, and Shruthi Joshi ending the competition in 38th position as they accumulated valuable ranking points ahead of the team events. The encouraging performances followed a strong opening day for India. In the Men's Sabre competition, Vishal Thapar finished 22nd, Karan Singh placed 25th after a spirited 15-11 battle against Olympic champion Oh Sang-uk, and Gisho Nidhi Kumaresan Padma secured 28th place to reach the Top 32. In Women's Foil, Kanupriya Chawla produced one of the tournament's biggest surprises by finishing 20th overall.&nbsp;These results underline the rapid progress of Indian fencing on the Asian stage. Rather than simply participating, Indian athletes are increasingly challenging the continent’s elite competitors. With the individual events now concluded, attention shifts to the highly anticipated Team Bracket Knockouts, where some of Asia’s fiercest fencing rivalries are set to unfold.

India delivered strong performances at the 26th Asian Senior Fencing Championships in New Delhi as Bhavani Devi, Joseph Bennet and rising stars advanced deep into the competition ahead of the crucial team knockout rounds

The 26th Asian Senior Fencing Championships started with tremendous excitement at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, bringing together the continent’s top fencing talent. The prestigious tournament serves as a direct qualification pathway for the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and marks an important milestone in the road to the LA 2028 Olympic Games. Day 2 featured high-intensity individual contests in the Men's Épée Individual and Women's Sabre Individual categories. While powerhouse nations Japan and South Korea secured the major podium finishes, India's 24-member squad delivered encouraging performances by advancing several athletes into the knockout rounds and demonstrating significant progress on the continental stage. In the Men's Épée individual event, strict timing and passivity regulations forced competitors to launch quick and aggressive attacks during the final 30 seconds of bouts. Japan's Yamada Masaru displayed remarkable composure under pressure to claim the gold medal. Lee Rang of Chinese Taipei earned silver after an impressive campaign, while Kazakhstan’s Kurbanov Ruslan and Japan’s Kano Koki shared the bronze medals. Among the Indian contingent, Joseph Bennet emerged as the top performer, finishing 22nd overall after collecting crucial points through bold and fast-paced attacks. RS Sherjin Rajendran Shanthim placed 47th, showcasing a disciplined defensive strategy and excellent point management. Aloshious Koovakkal Joshy finished 54th, demonstrating strong timing and tactical awareness, while Shaurya Ashwini secured 55th place after displaying resilience in lengthy and tactical encounters. Also Read: So close yet so far: Meet the teams with most FIFA World Cup runner-up finishes The Women's Sabre Individual competition saw Japan's Sano Yui deliver a dominant performance to capture the gold medal. South Korea's Choi Sebin secured silver with an aggressive attacking style, while Uzbekistan’s Perdebaeva Gulistan and China’s Rao Xueyi shared the bronze medal positions. For the host nation, Olympic fencer CA Bhavani Devi once again led India's challenge, finishing 23rd overall. Known for her explosive attacking game, Bhavani Devi controlled her early matches confidently and secured a strong ranking finish. Her performance also inspired the next generation of Indian fencers, with Shreya Gupta placing 26th, Jefarlin Jani Rexlin Simla finishing 32nd, and Shruthi Joshi ending the competition in 38th position as they accumulated valuable ranking points ahead of the team events. The encouraging performances followed a strong opening day for India. In the Men's Sabre competition, Vishal Thapar finished 22nd, Karan Singh placed 25th after a spirited 15-11 battle against Olympic champion Oh Sang-uk, and Gisho Nidhi Kumaresan Padma secured 28th place to reach the Top 32. In Women's Foil, Kanupriya Chawla produced one of the tournament's biggest surprises by finishing 20th overall. These results underline the rapid progress of Indian fencing on the Asian stage. Rather than simply participating, Indian athletes are increasingly challenging the continent’s elite competitors. With the individual events now concluded, attention shifts to the highly anticipated Team Bracket Knockouts, where some of Asia’s fiercest fencing rivalries are set to unfold.

India impressed at the Asian Fencing Championships on day 2 as Bhavani Devi and Joseph Bennet led strong performances ahead of team events

Asian Senior Fencing Championships 2026: Yamada Masaru and Sano Yui strike gold; Bhavani Devi leads India's charge

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Asian Senior Fencing Championships 2026: Yamada Masaru and Sano Yui strike gold