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)

Seattle’s FIFA World Cup clash between Egypt and Iran has become the tournament’s most culturally sensitive fixture after local organisers designated it as a Pride Match ahead of the city’s Pride Weekend. Rainbow flags, drag performances and LGBTQ+ celebrations will accompany the match despite objections from Egypt and Iran, where homosexuality is illegal. Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei refused to discuss LGBTQ+ issues, insisting his team’s focus is solely on football, while organisers said the event was scheduled before the World Cup draw and celebrates Seattle’s identity rather than targeting either nation. FIFA clarified the game is not an official Pride Match but confirmed rainbow flags complying with stadium rules will be permitted inside.(PC: SD Pride)

Ecuador head coach Sebastián Beccacece’s remarkable journey reached a new high as the Argentine guided Ecuador to a stunning 2-1 victory over four-time champions Germany, securing a Round of 32 berth as one of the World Cup’s best third-placed teams. After ending his playing career in 2001, Beccacece rose through coaching ranks as Jorge Sampaoli’s trusted assistant before managing clubs in Argentina, Chile and Spain, eventually taking charge of Ecuador in 2024. His tactical blueprint helped Ecuador overturn Germany’s early lead through goals from Nilson Angulo and Gonzalo Plata. Overcome with emotion, Beccacece celebrated with his family, calling it Ecuador’s greatest World Cup victory and promising the nation its finest-ever tournament. (PC: EL Comercio)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has become the most-attended tournament in history, surpassing the previous record of 3.587 million spectators set during the 1994 edition in the United States. FIFA confirmed that attendance crossed 3,605,357 after 56 matches, with average stadium occupancy exceeding 99%, despite the tournament expanding from 52 to 104 matches. Overall attendance is expected to exceed four million. The milestone comes amid criticism over organisational issues, expensive dynamic ticket pricing, strict US visa rules and travel restrictions that affected supporters from several countries. Host cities also reported lower-than-expected tourism as rising accommodation costs discouraged extended stays, even though stadiums continued to attract near-capacity crowds throughout.