England captain Harry Kane admitted "my voice has gone" after celebrating his side's dramatic 3-2 victory over Mexico in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 at the Azteca Stadium. Kane scored a crucial penalty as England held on despite playing with 10 men following Jarell Quansah's red card. Jude Bellingham struck twice before Mexico responded through Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made a series of vital saves to secure the victory. "It was a crazy game. We had to fight... we found a way," Kane said after England booked a quarter-final clash with Norway.  

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti defended his decision to let Bruno Guimaraes take a crucial penalty during the team's 2-1 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 defeat to Norway. Guimaraes missed the spot-kick, sparking criticism as Vinicius Jr, Brazil’s top scorer at the tournament, did not take it. After the match, Ancelotti said Vinicius is “not even in the top five” penalty takers when the full squad is available. He explained that the decision was based on statistics and a pre-planned penalty order. Brazil’s defeat ended their 2026 World Cup campaign in the last 16. (PC: NDTV)

Brazil star Neymar has announced his retirement from international football following his country's 2-1 defeat to Norway in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16. The 34-year-old ended his Brazil career as the nation's all-time leading scorer with 80 goals in 129 appearances. Neymar came off the bench and scored a late penalty in his final match, but it was not enough to prevent Brazil's elimination. Speaking after the game, an emotional Neymar said, "I tried, I tried. Now it's over." He will continue playing club football with Santos while Brazil begin a new era under Carlo Ancelotti.  

Norway stunned five-time champions Brazil 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 to book a quarter-final place and extend their unbeaten record against the South American giants. Erling Haaland scored twice in the final 11 minutes after goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland saved a first-half penalty from Bruno Guimarães. Neymar pulled one back from the spot deep into stoppage time, but Brazil could not complete the comeback. The defeat marks Brazil's earliest World Cup exit since 1990. Norway remain the only national team Brazil have never beaten, with three wins and two draws in five meetings. (PC: NDTV)

England booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium. The last-16 match was delayed by an hour because of severe weather before Jude Bellingham scored twice in just 98 seconds to put England ahead. Julian Quiñones reduced the deficit before half-time, while Jarell Quansah was sent off early in the second half. Harry Kane converted a penalty to restore England's lead after Anthony Gordon was fouled. Raúl Jiménez scored from the spot for Mexico, but England held firm with 10 men to seal a dramatic win and set up a quarter-final clash with Norway. (PC: X)

Five-time champions Brazil take on Norway in a blockbuster FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 clash, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake. Brazil, coached by Carlo Ancelotti, enter the match after a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Japan, while Norway edged Ivory Coast 2-1 thanks to Erling Haaland's late winner. Neymar is available again after recovering from injury, adding experience to Brazil's attack led by Vinicius Jr. Norway will rely on Haaland, Martin Ødegaard and Antonio Nusa as they aim to upset the South American giants and reach the last eight. (PC: X/FIFAWorldcup)

Thousands of mourners and Iran's senior political and military leaders gathered in Tehran on Sunday to pay their final respects to former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. However, his son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, did not attend the funeral, fuelling continued speculation about his condition following reports he may have been injured during recent Israeli and US strikes. President Masoud Pezeshkian and other top officials were present at the ceremony. Authorities expect millions to attend funeral events across Iran and Iraq this week as security remains high and regional tensions continue despite a fragile ceasefire. (PC: BBC)

FIFA has lifted the one-match suspension of United States striker Folarin Balogun, making him eligible to play against Belgium in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16. Balogun was sent off during the USA's win over Bosnia and Herzegovina after a controversial challenge, but FIFA's disciplinary committee suspended the ban following a review under its disciplinary rules. The red card remains on his record, with a one-year probation period. US President Donald Trump welcomed the decision, calling it a positive outcome for American football. Balogun's return is a major boost for the United States ahead of the knockout clash.  

Portugal head into their FIFA World Cup quarter-final against Spain with confidence that left-back Nuno Mendes can limit the impact of Lamine Yamal. Mendes has faced the young Spain star four times for club and country. Yamal has managed only one assist in those matches. After Portugal's UEFA Nations League final win, Mendes said, "Today, I cancelled out Lamine and did not let him do what he does best." Yamal is returning from injury and is expected to play a key role for Spain. Portugal will hope Mendes can repeat his strong defensive display in another crucial knockout match. (PC: The Indian Express)

England received a noisy welcome in Mexico City ahead of their FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match against hosts Mexico. Hundreds of Mexico fans gathered outside the Three Lions' hotel in the early hours, setting off firecrackers, playing drums and trumpets, and chanting to disrupt the team's sleep. England coach Thomas Tuchel also admitted the high altitude had caused minor discomfort, including headaches and difficulty sleeping. Mexico head into the match with a formidable record at the Estadio Azteca, where they have lost only two competitive matches since 1966, adding to England's challenging knockout test.