South Africa head coach Hugo Broos, right, celebrates with a team member. (AP Photo) South Africa etched their name into FIFA World Cup history after sealing a maiden place in the knockout stages with a gritty 1-0 victory over South Korea, while head coach Hugo Broos added another remarkable chapter to his storied career by…
Vinicius Junior (AP Photo) The match was yet to reach the first hydration break. Brazil were already enjoying the gift of an early goal. In the 22nd minute, Vinicius Junior, scorer of the opener, dispossessed Scottish defender Jack Hendry and slotted in what seemed to be Brazil’s second. The Scots looked crestfallen but ready to…
The Netherlands sealed top spot in Group F with a comfortable 3-1 win over Tunisia on Thursday, setting up a Round of 32 clash against Morocco at the FIFA World Cup.Ronald Koeman’s side finished ahead of Japan, who were held to a draw by Sweden earlier in the day. The result meant the Dutch advanced…
The FIFA World Cup trophy (AP Photo) As the group stage of the expanded FIFA World Cup 2026 enters its final stretch, attention is turning to one of the tournament’s most intriguing qualification battles — the race among third-placed teams for a spot in the Round of 32.For the first time in World Cup history,…
Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa (13) celebrates after the World Cup Group A football match between Czechia and Mexico in Mexico City, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo) Guillermo Ochoa has entered an exclusive list in FIFA World Cup history, becoming only the third player after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to be named in six…
Is Cricket more global than Football? (Designed by Mukesh Sharma/TimesofIndia.com) NEW DELHI: There is an exhausting rhythm to summer in the sub-continent. The heat hits you like a wall the moment you step outside, and, more often than not, survival dictates a quick shelter to the nearest roadside stall for a glass of ice-cold “nimbu…
Brazil’s Vinicius Junior (7) celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Scotland and Brazil in Miami Gardens, Fla., Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Vinícius Júnior continued his outstanding FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign by writing his name into Brazilian football history during the Seleção’s…
Morocco survived a major scare from Haiti before securing a 4-2 victory on Wednesday, coming from behind twice to book a place in the FIFA World Cup round of 32.Substitutes Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine played crucial roles late in the match, scoring decisive goals as Morocco ended Haiti’s hopes of earning their first-ever point…
Argentina’s Lionel Messi during a training session. (AP Photo) Argentina’s FIFA World Cup-winning icon Lionel Messi showed once again that age is just a number, marking his 39th birthday not with a lavish celebration but with an intense workout session in the gym.On Wednesday, Messi turned 39 and stepped into a new chapter of his…
NEW DELHI: There are footballers who shine brightly for a few years. Then there is Lionel Messi, a player who has spent more than two decades redefining what longevity in sport looks like.As the Argentine icon celebrated his 39th birthday during the FIFA World Cup 2026, he did so not as a fading legend making…