Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku created history by becoming his country's all-time leading scorer at the FIFA World Cup. The veteran forward achieved the milestone after finding the net during Belgium's 5-1 victory over New Zealand in the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage. Lukaku's goal took him past Belgium's previous World Cup scoring record, adding another landmark to his remarkable international career. The 33-year-old has been Belgium's leading goalscorer for years and continues to play a key role in the Red Devils' World Cup campaign. Belgium have now advanced to the Round of 32 with an unbeaten group-stage record. (PC: NDTV)

India produced a dominant display to defeat arch-rivals Pakistan 7-1 in their FIH Pro League match in London on Friday. After conceding an early goal, India responded with seven unanswered strikes from Sukhjeet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Jugraj Singh, Abhishek, Raj Kumar Pal and Dilpreet Singh. Midfielder Hardik Singh was named Player of the Match for his outstanding performance. The emphatic victory came just days after India had beaten Pakistan 4-3 in their previous meeting, underlining the team's strong form. India will now face England in their final FIH Pro League fixture.  

Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will have to wait for his India debut despite growing excitement around his selection. Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin backed the decision, saying there is currently no place in the playing XI as established openers deserve continued opportunities. Ashwin stressed that Indian cricket should avoid creating a "superstar culture" around young players and instead reward consistent performances while maintaining team balance. He urged patience, adding that Sooryavanshi's immense talent is unquestionable, but his opportunity will come naturally when the team requires it. (PC: X)

Belgium produced their best performance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, crushing New Zealand 5-1 to finish atop Group G and book a place in the Round of 32. Leandro Trossard starred with two goals, while Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Alexis Saelemaekers also found the net. Elijah Just scored a late consolation for New Zealand, who were eliminated after earning just one point from three matches. Belgium edged Egypt to first place on goal difference, with Lukaku becoming Belgium's all-time leading World Cup scorer with six goals. Belgium will now face one of the tournament's best third-placed teams. 

Egypt secured a place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 after battling Iran to a 1-1 draw in their final Group G match. Mohamed Salah and his teammates earned the crucial point needed to finish as group runners-up behind Belgium. Iran also produced a spirited performance, but the result was not enough to improve their standing. Egypt's disciplined display and defensive resilience ensured qualification to the knockout stage, where they will face Australia. The result marked another milestone for Egyptian football, with Salah playing a key role in guiding his nation into the tournament's knockout rounds. (PC: NDTV)

Cabo Verde produced one of the biggest upsets of the FIFA World Cup by defeating Uruguay 1-0 to secure a historic place in the knockout stage. The African nation delivered a disciplined defensive performance before scoring the decisive goal that sealed qualification. The defeat ended Uruguay's World Cup campaign, marking a shocking early exit for the two-time champions. Cabo Verde's victory highlighted their rapid rise on the international stage and sparked celebrations among players and fans. The result stands as one of the tournament's most memorable surprises, underlining the growing competitiveness of emerging football nations. (PC: Reuters)

France stormed to a commanding 4-1 victory over Norway in their final FIFA World Cup Group I match, finishing the group stage with a perfect record. Ousmane Dembélé stole the show by scoring a sensational first-half hat-trick, while Désiré Doué added a late fourth goal to complete the rout. Norway's only reply came through Thelo Aasgaard. Despite the defeat, Norway progressed to the Round of 32 as Group I runners-up. France's dominant display confirmed them as one of the tournament favourites, with Dembélé's clinical performance strengthening his Golden Boot challenge alongside teammates and other leading scorers. (PC: The Hindu)

Ireland stunned T20 World Cup champions India by 34 runs in Belfast to register their first-ever victory over India in any format and take an unassailable lead in the two-match series. Chasing 183, India were bowled out after only Abhishek Sharma's explosive 50 off 20 balls offered resistance. Ireland's inexperienced attack, missing several first-choice bowlers through injury, impressed with debutants Jai Moonda and Matt Hollard making crucial breakthroughs. Earlier, India had reduced Ireland to 68/4 before the hosts recovered to post 182/9. The defeat also marked a disappointing start to Shreyas Iyer's tenure as T20 captain and ended India's three-year unbeaten bilateral T20 series run.

FIFA has introduced a sponsor-free version of its Player of the Match trophy at the 2026 World Cup, allowing Muslim players, underage athletes and others to avoid appearing alongside alcohol branding. While Michelob Ultra remains the award's official sponsor, eligible players can request a trophy featuring only FIFA branding. The policy gained attention after Morocco midfielder Ismael Saibari received a logo-free trophy following his standout display against Scotland. Similar awards have been presented to players from Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Qatar, Ivory Coast, Canada and Switzerland. FIFA previously adopted the approach during the 2025 Club World Cup, citing respect for religious, cultural and personal preferences. (PC: (AP Photo)

FIFA is on course to exceed its projected $3 billion revenue target from ticket sales and hospitality at the 2026 World Cup, driven by record attendance and soaring ticket prices. Data shows Portugal’s group-stage clash with Colombia, featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, carries the tournament’s highest resale entry price at $3,392, while Lionel Messi’s Argentina round-of-32 match starts at $2,949. The tournament has already broken the all-time World Cup attendance record, with median ticket prices reaching $913. Football finance expert Kieran Maguire said FIFA has shifted its focus from traditional supporters to premium-paying spectators, comparing the expanded 104-match tournament to "104 Super Bowls" marketed for global audiences. (PC: Getty Images)