Category: Sports

The reigning champions looked destined for a shock exit after falling 2-0 behind before scoring three goals in the final 13 minutes to book a quarterfinal meeting with either Colombia or Switzerland.

Egypt stunned the holders after 15 minutes when Yasser Ibrahim rose highest to head home Marwan Attia’s inviting cross and silence the crowd at Atlanta Stadium.

Argentina had an immediate opportunity to respond after Nicolas Tagliafico was fouled inside the penalty area, but Lionel Messi’s tame spot-kick was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir. The save marked Messi’s second penalty miss of the tournament, making him the first player to fail from the spot twice at a single World Cup after also missing against Austria in the group stage.

Shobeir continued his inspired display by producing a string of outstanding saves, denying Alexis Mac Allister from point-blank range, stretching to keep out Julian Alvarez’s effort and watching Messi strike a free-kick against the post.

Egypt thought they had doubled their advantage in the 62nd minute when Mostafa Ziko finished off a sweeping move after being set up by Mohamed Salah. The forward celebrated wildly, even taking off his shirt, only for VAR to intervene and rule out the goal after determining Marwan Attia had fouled Lisandro Martinez in the build-up.

The decision immediately sparked debate, with television commentators questioning whether the incident fell within VAR’s remit. However, under the International Football Association Board’s (IFAB) Laws of the Game, VAR is permitted to review attacking offences, including fouls, handballs and offsides, in the build-up to a goal.

Ziko was not to be denied for long. Five minutes later, he capped another flowing Egyptian counterattack after Salah released Haissem Hassan down the flank before the winger squared the ball for the forward to make it 2-0.

With less than a third of the match remaining, Egypt appeared on course for one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history.

Instead, Argentina mounted a remarkable revival.

Cristian Romero headed home Messi’s cross in the 79th minute to halve the deficit before the captain redeemed his earlier penalty miss four minutes later, smashing home the equaliser after Lautaro Martinez and Gonzalo Montiel kept the attack alive.

Enzo Fernandez then completed the turnaround in the third minute of stoppage time, cushioning a back-post header into the bottom corner from Lautaro Martinez’s cross to seal a dramatic victory for the South Americans.

The closing moments were engulfed in further controversy.

Egypt believed they should have been awarded a penalty moments before Argentina launched the counterattack that led to Fernandez’s winner after Julian Alvarez appeared to catch Mohamed Salah inside the box before winning the ball. The Egyptians also felt Alexis Mac Allister had pulled Hamdi Fathy’s shirt in the same passage of play, but neither incident resulted in a VAR review.

As tempers flared, goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, Hamdi Fathy and Marwan Attia were all shown yellow cards, while Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan was also booked for protesting the referee’s decisions as Salah tried to calm the heated exchanges.

Following the match, Hassan launched a scathing attack on the officiating, insisting his side had been denied a fair chance to progress.

“Life is unfair. The world is unfair. Okay, but why isn’t there any fairness in sports? I’m not convinced by this outcome and by the way things unfolded in this match,” Hassan said.

“The referee is unfair. He’s wasting the effort of an entire nation. The cup is directed towards Argentina.”

The Egypt coach also questioned why his team’s penalty appeals were not reviewed.

“A penalty for us was ruled out, it was not even checked by the VAR and our second goal was, for whatever reason, disallowed,” he said.

“We have all seen the shirt pulled back and not even a VAR check. There seems to have been pressure on the Argentine side on the referee that has brought about this outcome.”

The final whistle brought contrasting emotions for the two captains.

Messi, who had endured one of the most difficult matches of his tournament before inspiring Argentina’s comeback, was reduced to tears after helping keep his country’s title defence alive.

At the other end, Salah and his teammates were left devastated after seeing a famous victory slip away. Egypt exited the tournament with widespread admiration for pushing the defending champions to the brink, but also with a lingering sense of injustice over the officiating that overshadowed an unforgettable contest.

Mbappé scored the decisive penalty in Saturday’s tense last-16 clash in Philadelphia to send France into the quarter-finals, where they will face Morocco. The victory, however, was overshadowed by a series of racist comments posted on social media by Amarilla, who questioned the striker’s French identity and insulted him in a lengthy online tirade.

Among her remarks, Amarilla described Mbappé as a “colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to pass himself off as French,” while also calling him a “brute” and suggesting Paraguay’s players should have slapped him after the match.

The French forward responded forcefully on social media, accusing the senator of spreading hatred and racism while defending both himself and Paraguay’s national team.

“Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position. You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition,” Mbappé wrote.

“Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort your players accomplished during this World Cup, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country.”

He added: “I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world.”

The incident prompted a swift response from the French Football Federation (FFF), which announced it would file a criminal complaint against Amarilla, describing her comments as “utterly abhorrent and unacceptable.”

“These remarks are criminal and reprehensible. They must be prosecuted here as elsewhere,” the federation said in a statement.

“The players of the French national team represent France; it is our country that is being insulted.”

The controversy quickly expanded beyond football, with the Paraguayan government distancing itself from the senator’s statements.

In a statement, the country’s foreign ministry said it “deplores and rejects” Amarilla’s comments, describing them as contrary to the principles of peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity.

“The statements of the aforementioned legislator correspond exclusively to the exercise of her individual responsibility as a member of the Legislative Branch and in no way represent the position of the Government of the Republic of Paraguay or the Paraguayan people,” the ministry said.

The diplomatic fallout deepened after the office of French President Emmanuel Macron revealed that Paraguayan President Santiago Peña had written to express support and condemn the racist remarks.

Macron also publicly backed Mbappé, posting on X: “Another goal for Kylian Mbappé. Against racism this time. All my support. When words smear, our values respond: dignity, respect, fraternity.”

Paraguay’s Congress also rejected Amarilla’s comments. Senate leader Basilio Núñez said the remarks did not reflect the country’s values and condemned racism, xenophobia and incitement to violence.

“The Paraguayan national team gave their all with honour and grit at the World Cup. Politics and sports should be kept separate,” he said.

France assistant coach Guy Stephan described the remarks as “disgraceful, vile and outrageous.”

Amarilla later deleted her original post but demanded an apology from Mbappé after he called her “despicable.” In an open letter, she defended her criticism as a response to what she claimed was the France captain’s arrogance during and after the match, particularly alleging that he failed to shake hands with Paraguay’s goalkeeper after the final whistle.

She insisted her disagreement was with Mbappé personally rather than France and threatened legal action if he did not apologise.

Despite Amarilla’s response, the racist remarks have been widely condemned in both countries, with French authorities pursuing legal action while Paraguay’s government has sought to distance itself from the senator’s statements, emphasising that they do not reflect the views of the Paraguayan people.

The decisive moment arrived deep into stoppage time when substitute midfielder Mikel Merino struck the winning goal, ending Portugal’s campaign and leaving Ronaldo to reflect on what was likely his final appearance at football’s biggest tournament.

At 41, Ronaldo had entered the competition chasing the one major international honour missing from his decorated career. Although he had previously guided Portugal to success at the 2016 European Championship and the 2019 and 2025 UEFA Nations League, the World Cup trophy remained beyond his reach.

The Portugal captain admitted after the match that he would not feature at another World Cup but said he needed time before making a decision on his wider international future.

“I’m sad to be leaving the World Cup like this. I gave it my all. I did my best. It was my last World Cup, yes, but I’ll now have time to reflect and be with my family. I won’t be making any rash decisions,” Ronaldo said.

“I don’t decide anything in the heat of the moment. Now is not important whether I will continue [to play]. Tomorrow I will get up the same way I got up today: with a clear conscience.”

Ronaldo, who has represented Portugal for 23 years, highlighted the achievements he has helped deliver for his country.

“I played 23 years in the national team and won three titles. Before Cristiano, Portugal had not won anything. The Euros was the most important. For me, 2016 has the same dimension as a World Cup, honestly,” he said.

The next major international tournament, the 2028 European Championship hosted by the United Kingdom and Ireland, would come when Ronaldo is 43, making his continued involvement uncertain.

Spain edge tense Iberian battle

The last-16 clash between two European rivals was a cautious encounter, with Spain controlling possession while Portugal looked to threaten on counter-attacks.

Spain created the better opportunities in the first half but failed to convert, while Portugal struggled to consistently trouble their opponents despite having attacking options capable of changing the game.

Portugal coach Roberto Martínez made a notable change to his starting lineup, bringing in João Félix ahead of Rafael Leão, who had impressed in the previous round against Croatia. The decision was aimed at adding defensive discipline against Spain’s dangerous winger Lamine Yamal, though it reduced Portugal’s attacking threat.

The match remained finely balanced until Merino’s late intervention settled the contest and sent Spain through to the quarter-finals.

For Ronaldo, the defeat marked the end of a remarkable World Cup chapter. He leaves the tournament as one of the greatest players never to lift the famous trophy, having become the first player in history to score in six different World Cup editions and built one of the most celebrated careers in football history.

Martínez steps down after Portugal exit

Portugal coach Roberto Martínez confirmed he would leave his position following the defeat, saying his objective had been to win the World Cup.

“I came to Portugal to win the World Cup and I think that, without winning it, there’s no point in continuing,” Martínez said.

“My contract ends today. There isn’t much more to say.”

Martínez also paid tribute to Ronaldo, praising his leadership and commitment throughout the tournament.

“He was an exemplary captain. Not just in terms of goals, the statistics speak for themselves, but also in terms of assists,” Martínez said.

“It’s his day-to-day commitment, the way he lives and breathes football. He’s an example and something we must celebrate.”

He added: “This is not the moment to look beyond what we’re talking about: a soccer icon. There are not many Cristiano Ronaldos.”

The Norwegian captain struck twice in the closing stages to silence the Brazilian supporters, with Neymar’s stoppage-time penalty proving nothing more than a consolation as Carlo Ancelotti’s side crashed out in the Round of 16 for the first time since the 1990 World Cup.

After a tense opening hour, Brazil had the perfect opportunity to take control when they were awarded a penalty, but Bruno Guimarães failed to convert as goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland guessed correctly to keep the scores level.

That miss proved costly.

Haaland broke the deadlock in the 79th minute, rising above Gabriel to power a commanding header beyond Alisson after a pinpoint delivery into the area. Just 10 minutes later, the Manchester City striker put the result beyond doubt with a sensational low strike from distance that nestled into the bottom corner, sparking wild celebrations among the Norway players and fans.

Neymar, introduced from the bench, reduced the deficit deep into stoppage time from the penalty spot, but Brazil had left themselves with too much to do as Norway held firm to secure a historic victory.

The result sends Norway into the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in the nation’s history, where they will face England, while extending an impressive unbeaten record against Brazil on the world stage.

For Brazil, the defeat marks a bitter end to a tournament in which they entered as one of the favourites. Ancelotti’s arrival had raised expectations of restoring the Seleção to the summit of international football, but his first major tournament in charge ends with disappointment and difficult questions about the team’s direction.

Despite flashes of brilliance from Vinícius Júnior, Endrick and the returning Neymar, Brazil struggled to establish control throughout the contest, relying too heavily on individual moments rather than cohesive team play.

Meanwhile, Haaland continued to underline his status as one of the tournament’s standout performers. His two goals took his tally to seven for the competition, drawing him level with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot.

The double also extended Haaland’s remarkable scoring streak for Norway, with the prolific striker now finding the net in 14 consecutive competitive international matches. He has scored 62 goals in just 54 appearances for his country, further cementing his place among the world’s elite forwards.

For Norway, it was a night of celebration and history. For Brazil, it was an early exit that will be remembered as one of the nation’s most painful World Cup failures.

The scoreline ultimately looked comfortable for the Atlas Lions, but it masked a difficult first half in which Canada were the sharper side. The co-hosts began with energy and pressing intensity, forcing Morocco into repeated errors and winning a series of early set-pieces. Canada even came close to an opener when Tani Oluwaseyi broke through on goal after a defensive turnover, only to be denied by a strong save from goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

Morocco, meanwhile, struggled to establish rhythm and suffered an early setback when key midfielder Ismael Saibari was forced off with a hamstring injury in the 22nd minute. The disruption added to a disjointed first-half display, with coach Mohamed Ouahbi visibly frustrated on the touchline as misplaced passes and loose possession prevented his side from building control.

Canada thought they might carry their momentum into the break, but the match turned shortly after halftime. In the 50th minute, captain Achraf Hakimi played a clever free-kick routine from the right, finding Ounahi on the edge of the area. The midfielder struck first time, sending a composed finish into the bottom corner from distance to give Morocco the lead against the run of play.

The goal shifted the balance of the contest. Canada’s intensity dropped, while Morocco grew in confidence and began exploiting space on the counter-attack. The North Africans looked far more assured in midfield and began to dictate tempo as Canada pushed forward in search of an equaliser.

Morocco struck decisively again in the 82nd minute. Brahim Díaz played Ounahi through on a quick break, and the midfielder unleashed a powerful shot into the roof of the net to complete his brace. The strike made him the first African player since 2002 to score twice in a World Cup knockout match.

Canada’s resistance was effectively over, and Morocco added a third in stoppage time when Rahimi finished a flowing counter-attack involving Díaz to cap a clinical final phase.

The victory marks Morocco’s second consecutive World Cup quarter-final appearance, further underlining their growing reputation as one of Africa’s strongest tournament sides. They now await the winner of France vs Paraguay in Boston on July 9.

The Round of 32 results on Friday reduced Africa’s representation in the tournament to just two teams, with Egypt and Morocco advancing to the last 16.

Argentina survived a major scare in Miami after Cape Verde twice came from behind to force the reigning world champions deep into extra time.

Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute, controlling a lofted pass from Lisandro Martínez before rifling a finish into the roof of the net for his seventh goal of the tournament.

Cape Verde refused to be overawed and deservedly drew level in the 59th minute when Deroy Duarte calmly slotted home a low finish to stun the holders.

The South Americans restored their advantage moments into extra time through Lisandro Martínez, but the Blue Sharks responded once again. In the 103rd minute, Sidny Lopes Cabral curled a superb strike beyond Emiliano Martínez to make it 2-2 and reignite hopes of a famous upset.

However, Cape Verde’s resistance was finally broken nine minutes from time when Cristian Romero’s powerful header took a decisive deflection off Diney Borges and found the net for an unfortunate own goal, handing Argentina a dramatic 3-2 victory.

Despite the defeat, Cape Verde earned widespread admiration after pushing one of the tournament favourites to the limit in one of the most entertaining knockout matches so far.

Earlier, Ghana’s World Cup campaign came to an end after Colombia secured a disciplined 1-0 victory.

The South Americans struck the decisive blow in the 14th minute when Luis Díaz delivered an inviting cross into the penalty area and Jhon Arias volleyed home to put Colombia ahead.

Ghana struggled to break down Colombia’s organised defensive shape despite enjoying spells of possession through Thomas Partey and Antoine Semenyo.

The Black Stars were unable to register a shot on target throughout the contest, while Colombia missed several opportunities to extend their advantage before settling for a narrow victory.

Colombia will now face Switzerland in the Round of 16, while Argentina take on Egypt for a place in the quarter-finals.

With the elimination of Cape Verde and Ghana, only Egypt and Morocco remain to carry Africa’s hopes in the knockout stages of the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Goals from Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye ensured the Swiss side progressed from the Round of 32 clash in Vancouver, where they produced a composed display to end Algeria’s hopes of advancing further in the competition.

Algeria are the latest African side to bow out of the FIFA World Cup after suffering a Round of 32 exit. The Desert Foxes join South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Senegal and Tunisia among the African nations eliminated from the tournament, leaving only Egypt, Ghana, Morocco and Cape Verde still in contention for a place in the latter stages of the competition.

How the match unfolded

Switzerland struck early through Embolo in the 10th minute after a brilliant solo run by Johan Manzambi down the left flank. The youngster burst past several defenders before setting up Embolo, who finished clinically at the near post to hand the Nati an early advantage.

Algeria responded positively and enjoyed spells of attacking pressure, with Houssem Aouar and Riyad Mahrez both threatening the Swiss goal. However, they were unable to convert their chances against a well-organised Swiss defence.

The North Africans’ hopes of mounting a comeback suffered a major setback just after the restart. In the 46th minute, Dan Ndoye capitalised on a poor clearance by Rafik Belghali, cutting inside before firing a precise shot into the far corner to double Switzerland’s lead.

Despite introducing fresh attacking options and pushing forward in search of a response, Algeria struggled to break down Switzerland’s disciplined defensive setup.

Manzambi continued to impress throughout the match, not only for his attacking contribution that led to the opening goal but also for his defensive work, helping neutralise Algeria’s attacking threats.

In midfield, Granit Xhaka and Denis Zakaria controlled possession and dictated the tempo, allowing Switzerland to manage the game comfortably while exploiting Algeria’s weaknesses on the flanks.

The victory marks a significant milestone for Switzerland, who secured their first FIFA World Cup knockout-stage victory since 1938, ending a long-standing run of disappointment in elimination matches.

For Algeria, the defeat brings an end to a campaign that showed promise. The Desert Foxes reached the knockout stage after several spirited performances but ultimately fell short against a clinical Swiss side.

Switzerland will now face the winner of the Round of 32 encounter between Ghana and Colombia as they continue their pursuit of a historic World Cup run.