England will face Norway in the FIFA World Cup quarter-final on Saturday. Ahead of the match, England coach Thomas Tuchel urged his players to “be brave” and play with confidence. Defender Marc Guehi and midfielder Declan Rice trained with the squad after injury concerns, raising hopes they will be available. England captain Harry Kane praised Norway striker Erling Haaland, calling him “a beast” but said he hopes the forward has a quiet game. Meanwhile, demand for tickets has soared, with some being resold for as much as one million dollars. Spain have already reached the semi-finals after beating Belgium. (PC: AP)

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing growing calls for an independent investigation over the decision to lift Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension during the 2026 World Cup. Seventy-two members of the European Parliament have asked football associations across the European Union to support the probe. They want to know if political pressure influenced FIFA’s decision. The controversy began after Balogun’s one-match ban was overturned, allowing him to play against Belgium. Infantino denied any personal role and said FIFA’s independent bodies made the decision. UEFA criticised the move, saying it raised concerns about the integrity of the game. (PC: AP)

Spain reached the FIFA World Cup semi-finals after beating Belgium 2-1 on Friday. While Lamine Yamal impressed on the field, his three-year-old half-brother Keyne became the star in the stands. Television cameras showed the toddler cheering, waving and making funny faces during the match. The clips quickly went viral on social media. It was not the first time Keyne caught fans’ attention during the tournament. He also celebrated Spain’s earlier win over Austria. Spain will now face France in the semi-finals. Fans are looking forward to seeing both Yamal’s football and Keyne’s cheerful support once again.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has rejected claims that FIFA is helping his team at the 2026 World Cup. Speaking before Argentina's quarter-final against Switzerland, Scaloni said, “They don’t want us to win” because Argentina are the defending champions. He said the criticism motivates his players to perform even better. The debate began after controversial VAR and referee decisions during Argentina’s match against Egypt. Some fans questioned those calls. However, Scaloni said VAR makes it very hard to favour any team. He added that referees are following the rules. Argentina will face Switzerland on Sunday for a place in the semi-finals. (PC: AFP)

Spain's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal has issued a confident warning to France ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final, declaring that Spain fears no opponent. Fresh from Spain's dramatic 2-1 quarter-final victory over Belgium, Yamal praised his team's confidence, unity, and attacking style. The 18-year-old stressed that Spain respects France but will remain focused on its own strengths rather than the opposition. The blockbuster semi-final promises a thrilling contest between two football powerhouses, with a place in the World Cup final at stake as both teams chase global glory. (PC: Reuters)

Belgium captain and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois expressed heartbreak after a costly late mistake contributed to his team's 2-1 defeat against Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals. Courtois was forced off injured late in the match, and replacement goalkeeper Senne Lammens failed to hold a shot, allowing substitute Mikel Merino to score the decisive winner in the 88th minute. Courtois admitted the loss was painful, saying the team had fought hard but small moments decided the contest. Spain advanced to the semi-finals, while Belgium's impressive World Cup journey came to a disappointing end. (PC: AFP)

Spain secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Belgium to book their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals, thanks to another decisive late goal from substitute Mikel Merino. Fabián Ruiz gave Spain the lead before Charles De Ketelaere equalised for Belgium in the first half. The match turned after Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois suffered an injury, with replacement Senne Lammens spilling a shot that Merino converted in the 88th minute. Spain dominated possession and chances throughout the contest and will now face France in a blockbuster semi-final as they continue their quest for a second World Cup title. (PC: AP)

Spain booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Belgium in Los Angeles on Friday. Fabián Ruiz gave Spain the lead in the 30th minute, but Charles De Ketelaere equalised before half-time to keep Belgium in the contest. The match looked set for extra time until substitute Mikel Merino scored the winner in the 88th minute after capitalising on a rebound. Belgium also suffered a major setback when goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was forced off injured late in the game. Spain will now face France in the semi-finals after extending their impressive World Cup run.  

Spain face Belgium in a blockbuster FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final in Los Angeles. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente makes a surprise selection by leaving midfielder Pedri out of the starting XI and choosing Fabian Ruiz instead. Belgium welcome Kevin De Bruyne back to the lineup, but captain Youri Tielemans misses the match after suffering an injury during the warm-up. Spain enter the contest with a record run of World Cup minutes without conceding a goal. Teenage star Lamine Yamal also has the chance to become the youngest goalscorer in a World Cup knockout match in the 21st century.

The BCCI will conduct a detailed review of India's disappointing T20 series defeat against England after the tour concludes. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the assessment will focus on the team's overall performance and future improvements, stressing that the board will not make any knee-jerk decisions. Despite growing criticism following the heavy losses, head coach Gautam Gambhir is not facing any immediate threat to his position. The review will examine the team's preparation, selection, and execution during the series. England sealed their first-ever T20 series win over India, prompting the BCCI to evaluate the team's direction ahead of upcoming international assignments.