Brazil secured their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 after a dramatic comeback victory over Japan, ending the Asian side's inspiring campaign. With Neymar watching from the sidelines and not featuring in the match, Brazil looked in trouble after Sano gave Japan a first-half lead. The five-time champions responded with relentless pressure in the second half, and Casemiro headed home the equaliser. Just when penalties seemed certain, Gabriel Martinelli struck deep into stoppage time to seal Brazil's place in the next round. Japan exited the tournament with pride after pushing one of football's biggest teams to the limit. (PC: X)

Brazil booked their place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Japan, thanks to Gabriel Martinelli's stoppage-time winner in Houston. Japan took the lead through Kaishu Sano in the first half before Casemiro headed Brazil level after the break. With extra time looming, Martinelli struck in the 96th minute, finishing calmly after a move involving Danilo, Endrick and Bruno Guimaraes. The late goal sealed Brazil's comeback and ended Japan's spirited campaign. Brazil will now face either Norway or Ivory Coast in the Round of 16.

Brazil and Japan began their Round of 32 match at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Houston on Monday. Brazil made a strong start and won an early corner after a quick attack. Brazil entered the match as Group C winners with two wins and one draw. Japan finished second in Group F after beating Tunisia and drawing with the Netherlands and Sweden. Neymar started on the bench, while Ritsu Doan and Daichi Kamada were included in Japan's lineup. Both teams are aiming to reach the Round of 16 with a win.

India's women's cricket team has qualified for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the qualification process on Monday. India secured its place after finishing as the top eligible team from Asia in the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup. Australia, South Africa, and Great Britain also qualified from their continents. The USA can qualify as the host nation if it finishes in the top 15 of the ICC T20I rankings. The men's qualification will be decided through the ICC T20I rankings by December 2026. Cricket will return to the Olympics after more than 100 years. (PC: AFP)

Brazil star Neymar Jr has reportedly donated $250,000 to support rescue and humanitarian relief efforts after the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela. According to local reports, the donation will help provide food, clean drinking water, medical supplies and temporary shelters for affected families. The twin earthquakes have killed at least 1,430 people, injured more than 3,200 and displaced over 3,100 families. Rescue operations continue despite aftershocks and a shortage of heavy equipment. Meanwhile, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said Neymar has recovered well from injury and is expected to play a bigger role against Japan in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32. (PC: NDTV)

Brazil forward Vinicius Jr has spoken about his fight against racism and his dream of inspiring future generations ahead of his team's FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash against Japan. The Real Madrid star said his achievements off the field are more important because they allow him to help others and speak for people facing racial discrimination. Vinicius also paid tribute to his grandmother, calling her the biggest influence in his life. The 25-year-old has scored four goals and provided one assist as Brazil advanced to the knockout stage after topping Group C. (PC: NDTV)

Iran's FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign ended in dramatic fashion after the team narrowly missed out on a place in the Round of 32. Unbeaten in the group stage, Iran drew all three matches but failed to qualify on goal difference and results elsewhere. The team also faced major logistical and political challenges, including visa issues, relocation from Arizona to Mexico and repeated cross-border travel for matches in the United States. Their hopes were briefly revived by a late goal against Egypt, but VAR ruled it offside. Austria's last-minute equaliser against Algeria ultimately ended Iran's World Cup dream.

The 2026 Wimbledon Championships begin on Monday with defending champion Jannik Sinner, seven-time winner Novak Djokovic and women's world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka leading the opening day's schedule. Sinner starts his title defence against Miomir Kecmanovic, while Djokovic begins his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title against Wu Yibing. Sabalenka opens her campaign against Teodora Kostovic as she chases her first Grand Slam title of 2026. After days of extreme temperatures in London, cooler weather is expected to provide welcome relief for players and fans during the opening matches. (PC: India Today)

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has entered the knockout stage with defending champions Argentina receiving a comparatively easier route to the later rounds. Lionel Messi's side will begin their Round of 32 campaign against Cape Verde and could avoid facing another major title contender until the semi-finals. In contrast, European giants Portugal, Spain, France and Germany find themselves on a much tougher side of the draw. Potential Round of 16 clashes between Portugal and Spain, and France and Germany, mean some of the tournament favourites could be eliminated early, making the race for the World Cup title even more intense. (PC: X)

India's disappointing 0-2 T20I series loss to Ireland drew a sharp reaction from Iceland Cricket, known for its humorous posts on social media. Soon after the defeat, Iceland Cricket mocked India head coach Gautam Gambhir with a sarcastic message, saying he had "truly remarkable gifts." The post quickly went viral, triggering mixed reactions from cricket fans. While some users found the joke amusing, others criticised the account for targeting the Indian coach after the unexpected series defeat. India's loss has also raised fresh questions about the team's performance and strategy under Gambhir's leadership. (PC: X)