England began their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with an entertaining 4-2 victory over Croatia in Dallas. Captain Harry Kane scored twice, including a retaken penalty, to equal Gary Lineker's England World Cup record of 10 goals. Jude Bellingham produced a standout display and restored England's lead shortly after halftime with a powerful run and finish. Marcus Rashford sealed the win late in the match. While England impressed with their attacking football under coach Thomas Tuchel, defensive mistakes allowed Croatia to stay in the contest. The victory gives England a strong start in their quest for World Cup glory.  

India’s ODI series against Afghanistan has sparked concerns over player welfare, with several cricketers struggling in extreme heat conditions. During the second ODI in Lucknow, Afghanistan’s Darwish Rasooli suffered an injury, while Indian batters Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan showed signs of heat-related exhaustion despite scoring centuries. Critics argue that scheduling international matches in peak summer increases the risk of dehydration, cramps and injuries. With a crucial white-ball series against England approaching, concerns are growing over player fitness. The debate has also renewed questions about cricket’s packed calendar and the impact of continuous matches on players and fans alike.  

Qatar has funded an all-expenses-paid World Cup trip for around 1,000 supporters to cheer on its national football team during the FIFA World Cup 2026. The initiative, backed by Qatar’s Social and Sport Contribution Fund and the Qatar Football Association, covers flights, hotels and local transportation for fans travelling to North America. Many supporters arrived in Vancouver ahead of Qatar’s Group B match against Canada. Qatar hopes the large fan presence will boost team morale and create a strong stadium atmosphere. The Gulf nation, playing in its first World Cup after qualifying through competition, drew 1-1 with Switzerland in its opening match. (PC: The Indian Express)

England captain Harry Kane made history as he scored twice in England's 4-2 victory over Croatia in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L opener in Dallas. Kane became only the second England player after David Beckham to score in three different World Cup tournaments.   The Bayern Munich striker also equalled Gary Lineker's record of 10 World Cup goals for England and set a new mark for the most non-shootout penalty goals in World Cup history with five. Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford added second-half goals as England overcame a spirited Croatia side to begin their campaign with an impressive win. (PC: NDTV)

Cristiano Ronaldo's dream of becoming the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cups remains on hold after Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their Group K opener in Houston.   Portugal took an early lead through Joao Neves, who headed home Pedro Neto's cross in the sixth minute. However, Yoane Wissa equalised before halftime to earn DR Congo a valuable point.   Ronaldo, 41, struggled to make an impact as Portugal's star-studded midfield failed to create enough clear chances. Despite dominating possession, Portugal lacked creativity and could not find a winning goal, raising concerns ahead of their remaining group-stage matches. (PC: India Today)

Smriti Mandhana created T20I history during India’s Women’s T20 World Cup match against the Netherlands by becoming the first player in men’s or women’s cricket to surpass 600 fours in T20 internationals. The left-hander scored a fluent 74 off 47 balls, including 11 boundaries and a six, taking her career tally to 604 fours in 168 T20Is. She and Shafali Verma added 115 runs for the opening wicket, powering India to 209/5, their highest total of the tournament. India then secured a commanding 95-run victory as Shree Charani starred with 4/19 and Shafali claimed three wickets. (PC: Prokerala)

Lionel Messi delivered a historic performance in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick at 38 years and 357 days. The achievement surpassed the previous record held by Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored a hat-trick against Spain at the 2018 World Cup aged 33. In his 200th appearance for Argentina, Messi scored three distinct goals and also equalled Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record of 16 goals. The milestone came exactly 20 years after Messi scored his first World Cup goal, further cementing his legendary status in football history. (PC: Animalia.life)

Yoane Wissa authored one of the most inspiring stories of the 2026 FIFA World Cup by scoring DR Congo’s historic equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, ending his nation’s 52-year World Cup goal drought. The moment carried extra significance because Wissa survived a life-threatening acid attack in 2021, when a woman posing as a fan allegedly threw a corrosive liquid at his face in an attempted kidnapping plot targeting his daughter. He underwent emergency eye surgery and battled severe trauma before rebuilding his career. After successful spells with Lorient, Brentford and Newcastle United, Wissa completed a remarkable comeback on football’s biggest stage.

The opening matchday of the 2026 FIFA World Cup was dominated by football’s biggest stars as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland delivered standout performances. Messi scored the first World Cup hat-trick of his career in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria, drawing level with Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals. Mbappé netted twice in France’s 3-1 win over Senegal, becoming France’s all-time leading scorer with 58 goals, surpassing Olivier Giroud. Haaland struck twice as Norway defeated Iraq 4-1. Their performances silenced doubts over recent form and reinforced their status among football’s elite. (PC: Khelnow, teamtalk & talksport)

Despite a population of 1.4 billion and passionate football cultures in states like West Bengal, Kerala and Goa, India has never qualified for a FIFA World Cup. Former captain Baichung Bhutia believes qualification is possible but requires a strong grassroots system, long-term planning and better football infrastructure. Veteran footballer Shyam Thapa blames the lack of youth development and cricket’s financial dominance for limiting football participation. India has fallen to 136th in FIFA rankings and recently failed to qualify for both advanced World Cup qualifiers and the AFC Asian Cup. Proposed eligibility reforms for Overseas Citizen of India players could strengthen the national team. (PC: Getty Images)