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.

India made a strong start at the Asian U-23 Athletics Championships by winning five medals on the opening day. The country claimed one gold, one silver and three bronze medals. India won gold in the mixed 4x400m relay through Astik Pradhan, Sandra Mol Sabu, Sethu Mishra and Shravani Sachin Sangle. Bhartpreet Singh won bronze in the men's discus throw. Shivaji Parashuram Madappagoudra took silver and Vinod Singh claimed bronze in the men's 5,000m race. Prachi Devkar added another bronze in the women's 3,000m steeplechase. India has sent 53 athletes to the tournament.

FIFA is facing criticism after giving different punishments to England's Jarell Quansah and United States striker Folarin Balogun. Quansah received a two-match ban after his red card against Mexico and will miss England's World Cup quarter-final. Balogun, sent off for a similar challenge against Bosnia, avoided an immediate suspension after FIFA placed his one-match ban on probation. Former referees questioned the different decisions. "What everyone wants is consistency," former FIFA referee Jonas Eriksson said. FIFA has not explained why it treated the two cases differently. The decisions have sparked debate over fairness and transparency. (PC: Reuters)

Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes has spoken after his team's FIFA World Cup exit. Portugal lost 1-0 to Spain in the Round of 16 after a late goal by Mikel Merino. "Sad, frustrated, and disillusioned," Fernandes wrote on X after the defeat. He thanked his teammates, coaching staff and fans for their support throughout the tournament. Portugal entered the World Cup as one of the favourites but failed to reach the quarter-finals. Cristiano Ronaldo, who said this would be his last World Cup, also missed several chances during the match. Spain advanced to the quarter-finals with the victory. (PC: Getty)

France captain Kylian Mbappé etched his name deeper into FIFA World Cup history by becoming the youngest player to appear in 20 World Cup matches and the fastest to score 20 goals in the tournament. The landmark came during France's 2-0 quarter-final victory over Morocco at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Mbappé's remarkable consistency across multiple World Cups has further strengthened his reputation as one of football's greatest performers on the biggest stage. His latest records underline his extraordinary impact for France as the reigning champions continue their pursuit of another World Cup title. (PC: X)

Norwegian football star Erling Haaland has received a special Google tribute following his standout performances at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Fans searching his name on Google are greeted with a celebratory animation honoring his remarkable impact during Norway's impressive World Cup campaign. The tribute comes after Haaland's match-winning displays helped Norway reach the quarter-finals, earning widespread praise from football fans worldwide. Google frequently introduces such interactive features to celebrate major sporting achievements, and Haaland's latest recognition reflects his growing global popularity and influence as one of football's biggest stars.