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.  

Brazil will attempt to break one of the most remarkable records in international football when they face Norway in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16. Despite facing 88 different national teams, the five-time world champions have never beaten Norway, drawing three and losing two of their five previous meetings. Their most famous defeat came at the 1998 World Cup, when Kjetil Rekdal's late penalty sealed a memorable 2-1 victory for Norway. Brazil now head into the knockout clash in strong form after topping Group C, with Carlo Ancelotti confirming that Neymar is fit to play a full 90 minutes. However, Brazil also carry another unwanted statistic, having lost each of their last six World Cup knockout matches against European opposition since defeating Germany in the 2002 final. Norway, returning to the World Cup after a 28-year absence, qualified impressively from the group stage and will look to extend their unbeaten record against the Selecao behind stars Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard. (PC: AI Generated)

Cape Verde's national team received a heroes' welcome on Sunday after returning home from a remarkable FIFA World Cup debut that captured global attention despite a heartbreaking Round of 32 exit to Argentina. Thousands of supporters gathered at Praia International Airport waving flags and banners to celebrate the Blue Sharks, whose historic campaign exceeded all expectations by reaching the knockout stage in their first-ever World Cup appearance. The team will be honoured with a victory parade through the capital before meeting the country's president and senior officials. Head coach Bubista said the players had proved their qualification was "no fluke", while Sports Minister Antonio Duarte praised the squad for elevating Cape Verde's standing on the world stage. The celebrations were made even more special as the team's return coincided with the country's Independence Day.

Grigor Dimitrov completed a remarkable Wimbledon comeback by defeating former finalist Matteo Berrettini in a five-set thriller, one year after a heartbreaking injury ended his dream run. In 2025, the Bulgarian led eventual champion Jannik Sinner by two sets before tearing his pectoral muscle, forcing an emotional retirement and missing the US Open. His struggles continued this season, leaving him ranked 146 and needing a wildcard for Wimbledon after winning just four ATP matches in 2026. However, Dimitrov has rediscovered his best on grass, beating Dane Sweeny, 15th seed Jakub Mensik and Berrettini. He now faces Britain's Arthur Fery in the Round of 16, eyeing a quarter-final berth. (PC: First Sportz)

France booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay, as captain Kylian Mbappe described the tense knockout win in four words: “A day at work.” Mbappe scored the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the 66th minute after substitute Désiré Doué was fouled inside the box. Paraguay frustrated France throughout with disciplined defending, while tempers flared in the first half following Mbappe’s clash with Andrés Cubas. Goalkeeper Orlando Gill produced several crucial saves, but France held firm to secure a quarter-final clash against Morocco and continue their pursuit of a third World Cup title. (PC: AFP)

The race for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot is becoming one of the tournament's biggest stories, with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe leading the battle for the top scorer's award. Both superstars have scored seven goals, setting up a thrilling contest as Argentina and France advance in the knockout stage. Harry Kane and Erling Haaland remain in contention but trail the leading pair. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo has fallen behind after scoring only three goals, leaving him with a difficult task to catch the frontrunners. With the quarter-finals approaching, every goal could decide the prestigious Golden Boot winner.  

Real Madrid CF have completed the signing of Denzel Dumfries from Inter Milan, bolstering their defensive options before the new season. The Dutch right-back, known for his pace, attacking runs and defensive versatility, joins the Spanish giants after several impressive campaigns in Italy. Real Madrid believe Dumfries will add experience and depth to their backline as they compete for domestic and European honours. Inter Milan, meanwhile, bid farewell to one of their key defenders, marking the end of his successful spell at the Serie A club. (PC: X)