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Monday, 29 June 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 29 June 2026
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Kenyan press · Place

Iraq

2026-04-252026-06-29

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. June 2026
  2. Citizen Digital

    In a sign of the ongoing danger to shipping in the Gulf, the UKMTO maritime agency reported a "large explosion" on a cargo vessel off the coast of Iraq, "following a hit from an unknown projectile".

    Trump says Iran truce talks moving at 'rapid pace' after Tehran threats
  3. May 2026
  4. Citizen Digital

    Despite a tough draw alongside one of the tournament favourites France, African powerhouses Senegal and Iraq, a Norway side also containing Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is confident of progressing beyond the last 16 for the first time.

    Norway's natural-born goalscorer Haaland finally gets global stage
  5. Citizen Digital

    Araghchi held a bevy of diplomatic calls, speaking with counterparts from Turkey, Iraq, Qatar and Oman, Iran's official IRNA news agency said.

    Trump says agreement with Iran 'largely negotiated,' includes opening strait
  6. Citizen Digital

    Araghchi held a bevy of diplomatic calls, speaking with his counterparts from Turkey, Iraq, Qatar, and Oman, Iran's official IRNA news agency said.

    Iran and US say could be close to talks breakthrough
  7. The Standard

    On Thursday, the country executed two men convicted of armed rebellion and membership in what authorities described as "separatist terrorist groups", a phrase often used to refer to Iranian Kurdish groups based in neighbouring Iraq's Kurdistan region.

    Iran hangs man for spying during war with US, Israel: judiciary
  8. Citizen Digital

    Iranian-backed armed groups equipped with drones are based in Iraq, while Tehran's allies in Yemen -- the Houthi rebels -- also possess combat-grade UAVs.

    Drone strike starts fire outside UAE nuclear plant
  9. Citizen Digital

    Iran have 'constructive' meeting with FIFA over World Cup preparations By AFP May 17, 2026 02:40 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Iraq's national team coach Australian Graham Arnold speaks during a press con

    Iran have 'constructive' meeting with FIFA over World Cup preparations
  10. Citizen Digital

    Meanwhile, De la Fuente confirmed that his World Cup squad list will include 26 players but that there would be additional players who would be included for a friendly against Iraq on June 4.

    Spain coach counting on Yamal and Williams fitness for World Cup
  11. The Standard

    Among the nations that closed their airspaces are United Arab Emirates, Iran, Israel, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.US President Donald Trump after the launch of the joint attacks said that they decided to attack Iran over its stance on nuclear negotiations and missile programs

    KQ resumes flights to and from Dubai after two months
  12. The Standard

    It's just like when we invaded Iraq, there were no weapons of mass destruction," Thomas said.

    'Trump is an idiot': Californians fume over soaring petrol prices
Sport

African World Cup success offers lessons for Kenya's Afcon 2027

The News

With ten African nations competing in the 2026 World Cup, the continent is closing the gap with traditional powerhouses. Kenya, as co-host of Afcon 2027, should learn from African teams' performances—particularly Senegal's record 5-0 victory over Iraq—to strengthen Kenyan football ahead of the tournament.

28 June 2026 · The Standard

Yesterday

  1. African World Cup success offers lessons for Kenya's Afcon 2027

    With ten African nations competing in the 2026 World Cup, the continent is closing the gap with traditional powerhouses. Kenya, as co-host of Afcon 2027, should learn from African teams' performances—particularly Senegal's record 5-0 victory over Iraq—to strengthen Kenyan football ahead of the tournament.

    28 June 2026 · The Standard

Saturday 27 June

  1. Dembele scores hat-trick as France beats Norway 4-1

    Ousmane Dembele scored three goals in 26 first-half minutes as France defeated Norway 4-1, with a late Desire Doue header completing the win. France advanced as Group I winners with three straight victories.

    27 June 2026 · The Standard

  2. Senegal beats 10-man Iraq 5-0 in World Cup qualifier

    Senegal scored five goals in a World Cup match, the first African side to do so, with Pape Gueye getting a double in a 5-0 win over Iraq. Senegal boosted their chances of progressing as one of the best third-placed teams with the best goal difference among teams on three points.

    27 June 2026 · The Standard

  3. France beats Norway 4-1 to top World Cup Group I

    Ousmane Dembele scored a first-half hat-trick as France defeated Norway 4-1 to clinch top spot in World Cup Group I. Senegal kept their hopes of advancing with a victory over Iraq.

    27 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Friday 26 June

  1. Mbappe and Haaland face off in World Cup group decider

    France play Norway in a crucial World Cup Group I match on Friday, with Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe and Manchester City's Erling Haaland both in fine form. The two forwards have each scored four goals in the tournament, trailing leader Lionel Messi on five.

    26 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. France squad aims to honour Deschamps in final group match

    France will play Norway in their final World Cup group game on Friday without head coach Didier Deschamps, who returned home to attend his mother's funeral. The squad expressed their determination to make Deschamps "as proud as possible" during his absence, with assistant coach Guy Stephan leading the team.

    26 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  3. Norway reaches World Cup knockout stage after 28-year absence

    Norway has advanced to the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup, their first return in 28 years. Norwegian Football Federation chief Lise Klaveness attributes their success to a grassroots development model that keeps young players with local clubs under volunteer coaches, a system that produced players including Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard.

    26 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  4. Senegal coach calls Iraq World Cup match a final

    Senegal coach Pape Bouna Thiaw said his team will approach their game against Iraq on Friday like a final to stay alive in the World Cup, after losses to France and Norway left them with zero points in Group I.

    26 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 24 June

  1. Golden Boot race dominates 2026 World Cup narrative

    The race for the World Cup Golden Boot has become a major talking point at the 2026 tournament, with Lionel Messi breaking the overall career record of 18 goals across six World Cups. Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are chasing with four goals each, while the single-tournament record of 13 goals set by Just Fontaine in 1958 appears vulnerable.

    24 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Messi, Mbappé, Haaland lead historic World Cup Golden Boot race

    Lionel Messi leads the Golden Boot standings with five goals from two games, followed by Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland with four goals each. This is only the second time in World Cup history that three players have scored four or more times after two matches, the first since 1954.

    24 June 2026 · The Standard

  3. Messi becomes World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer

    Lionel Messi broke Miroslav Klose's record with his 17th and 18th World Cup goals in Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria, advancing to the last 32. France defeated Iraq 3-0 and Norway beat Senegal 3-2 to also advance to the knockout rounds.

    24 June 2026 · The Standard

  4. Deschamps leaves World Cup squad after mother's death

    France coach Didier Deschamps will miss his team's final World Cup Group I match against Norway on Friday after learning of his mother's death and returning to France for the funeral. Assistant Guy Stephan will take charge of the squad in his absence.

    24 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  5. Deschamps misses France World Cup match after mother's death

    French national football team coach Didier Deschamps will miss his team's final World Cup Group I match against Norway on Friday after his mother died. Assistant Guy Stephan will take charge of the squad in his absence.

    24 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Tuesday 23 June

  1. World Cup match halted two hours due to lightning and rain

    A France vs. Iraq match at the 2026 World Cup in Philadelphia was halted for more than two hours due to lightning and torrential rain, marking the first time a tournament match has been paused for weather. France was leading 1-0 when play was suspended.

    23 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Lightning and rain force France-Iraq World Cup match to halt

    At the 2026 World Cup in Philadelphia, a France vs Iraq match was suspended for more than two hours due to lightning and torrential rain, marking the first weather-related match pause at the tournament. France was leading 1-0 when play was halted.

    23 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  3. Mbappe scores twice as France beats Iraq in delayed game

    Kylian Mbappe marked his 100th cap with two goals as France defeated Iraq 3-0 in a World Cup match delayed two hours by a severe storm in Philadelphia. Ousmane Dembele scored the other goal for France, with Mbappe moving to 16 career World Cup goals.

    23 June 2026 · The Standard

Monday 22 June

  1. Messi breaks World Cup all-time scoring record with two goals

    Lionel Messi became the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer with 18 goals as Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 in Group J, surpassing the previous record of 16 goals shared with Miroslav Klose. The victory secures Argentina's place in the knockout rounds of the tournament.

    22 June 2026 · The Standard

Sunday 21 June

  1. Saliba says he is playing through back pain at World Cup

    France centre-half William Saliba said he has been "gritting his teeth" and playing through pain at the World Cup after suffering from a back problem for the past few months, and is not operating at "100 percent" in North America.

    21 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Thursday 18 June

  1. Strait of Hormuz reopening likely to take time normalizing

    The vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane is expected to reopen on Friday after nearly four months following a US-Iran agreement to end the Middle East war. While stranded ships could theoretically move through almost immediately once formal approval is given, some vessels may require underwater hull cleaning, and a return to normal operations is likely to take time.

    18 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 17 June

  1. Messi, Haaland, Mbappe lead World Cup teams with strong starts

    Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick for Argentina against Algeria, Erling Haaland scored twice for Norway against Iraq, and Kylian Mbappe scored twice for France against Senegal in Tuesday's World Cup Group J matches, giving their teams winning starts despite recent dips in form.

    17 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Iran's Supreme Leader funeral procession to pass through Iraq

    An Iranian official announced that the funeral procession for late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in US-Israeli strikes in February, will pass through Iraq on July 8 before his burial in Mashhad, Iran on July 9.

    17 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  3. Mbappe scores twice as France beat Senegal in World Cup opener

    France coach Didier Deschamps praised captain Kylian Mbappe as "extraordinary" after he scored twice in France's 3-1 World Cup victory over Senegal, becoming his country's all-time leading goal scorer. Bradley Barcola added a second goal for France, with Ibrahim Mbaye scoring for Senegal in the Group I match.

    17 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  4. Senegal goalkeeper Mendy cites concentration lapses in France loss

    Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy attributed his team's 3-1 World Cup defeat to France on Tuesday to lack of concentration at critical moments, saying they failed to execute their game plan despite a strong first half and missed chances.

    17 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  5. Haaland scores twice as Norway beats Iraq 4-1

    Erling Haaland scored twice in his first World Cup game as Norway defeated Iraq 4-1 on Tuesday in their opening match of the 2026 tournament, with Leo Ostigard and an own goal adding further goals. Norway topped Group I on goal difference level with France after the win.

    17 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  6. Mbappe scores twice as France beats Senegal 3-1

    Kylian Mbappe scored twice in France's 3-1 World Cup win against Senegal at MetLife Stadium, with Bradley Barcola also scoring. Mbappe's 14 World Cup goals move him level with Gerd Mueller as the third-highest scorer in World Cup history.

    17 June 2026 · The Standard

  7. Norway coach praises Haaland after two-goal World Cup victory

    Norway coach Stale Solbakken said striker Erling Haaland proved the World Cup "wasn't too big" for him after scoring two goals in a 4-1 win over Iraq. Haaland has now scored 57 international goals in 51 appearances for Norway.

    17 June 2026 · The Standard

  8. Messi equals World Cup goal record as Argentina beats Algeria

    Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to become the tournament's joint all-time top scorer with 16 goals, matching Miroslav Klose, as Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in their World Cup opener. The 38-year-old also became the first player to appear in six World Cups.

    17 June 2026 · The Standard

  9. Mbappe scores twice as France defeats Senegal 3-1

    Kylian Mbappe scored twice to lead France to a 3-1 victory over Senegal in their opening World Cup Group I match, with Bradley Barcola also on target. Mbappe became France's all-time top scorer with 58 goals.

    17 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Sunday 7 June

  1. Iran World Cup team departs for Mexico amid US visa dispute

    Iran's World Cup squad departed Turkey for Mexico on Saturday ahead of the 2026 tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, after the US refused to issue visas for some team support staff, triggering a diplomatic row between Tehran and Washington.

    7 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 3 June

  1. Spain's Yamal, Williams fit for World Cup opener: De la Fuente

    Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said forwards Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, both sidelined by hamstring injuries at the end of the club season, should be ready for Spain's World Cup Group H opener on June 15 against Cape Verde in Atlanta.

    3 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Iraq — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute