… The partnership distributes meaningful governance roles across its membership with Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Brazil, Pakistan, South Africa and Uzbekistan holding deputy chair positions to reflect a design that is explicitly multilateral rather than bilateral. …
… DR Congo are then scheduled to head to Guadalajara, Mexico, to play Colombia on June 23 before returning to the United States to play Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 27.
… DR Congo are then scheduled to head to Guadalajara, Mexico, to play Colombia on June 24 before returning to the United States to play Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 28.
… DR Congo are then scheduled to head to Guadalajara, Mexico, to play Colombia on June 24 before returning to the United States to play Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 28.
… est run came in 2006, when Portugal reached the semi-finals before losing to France. Since then there have been two round-of-16 exits, a quarter-final defeat and a grim group-stage departure in Brazil in 2014.This time they face Democratic Republic of Congo, debutants Uzbekistan …
… DR Congo are then scheduled to head to Guadalajara to play Colombia on June 24 before returning to the United States to play Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 28. …
… DR Congo are then scheduled to head to Guadalajara to play Colombia on June 24 before returning to the United States to play Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 28.A US official said Tuesday the team would be able to travel to play in the World Cup. …
… The team is scheduled to head to Guadalajara to play Colombia on June 24 before returning to the United States to play Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 28.
At the 12th Inter-Parliamentary Union Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Nominated Senator Miraj Abdillahi urged parliaments worldwide to centre young people in peacebuilding, crisis response and post-conflict recovery. She highlighted Kenya's Care and Protection of Child Parents Bill, 2023, as a legislative response to protect pregnant learners and child parents from stigma and discrimination.
At the 12th Inter-Parliamentary Union Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Nominated Senator Miraj Abdillahi urged parliaments worldwide to centre young people in peacebuilding, crisis response and post-conflict recovery. She highlighted Kenya's Care and Protection of Child Parents Bill, 2023, as a legislative response to protect pregnant learners and child parents from stigma and discrimination.
The FIFA national team ranking indicates each country's standing in world football and influences World Cup draw seeding and competition structures. Spain leads the ranking after winning the World Cup, and FIFA now provides live provisional ranking updates during matches.
Five years after returning to power, Afghanistan's Taliban authorities have built working relationships with multiple countries despite lacking formal recognition from most. Russia remains the only nation to officially recognize the Taliban government, while many Western countries demand domestic human rights reforms before considering recognition, though many states are engaging with Afghanistan's leaders on practical grounds.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka aims to extend her hard court dominance at the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto ahead of her US Open title defense, after disappointing results at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Sabalenka has won 23 of 24 hard court matches this year but must reach the round of 16 to hold onto her ranking, or Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina could claim number one if she wins the trophy.
Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov signed a five-year contract extension with the Premier League club on Saturday. The 22-year-old centre-back, who joined City from French side Lens in January 2025, helped City win the FA Cup and League Cup last season and has been capped 30 times for Uzbekistan.
When conflict-affected countries qualify for the World Cup, their participation becomes more than sport—a rare moment of national unity where citizens gather around one flag. DR Congo's return to the 2026 World Cup after 52 years exemplifies this, as the nation uses football as national therapy while managing ongoing conflict in its eastern provinces.
Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup dream ended in a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the last-16 match, with the 41-year-old Portugal captain fighting back tears after a disappointing performance. He said he would leave the tournament with a clear conscience and reflect on what comes next.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, played his final World Cup match as Portugal lost to Spain 1-0 in the round of 16, ending his bid to win the tournament. The Portugal captain said he would leave "with a clear conscience" and reflected that his 2016 Euro title with the national team was equally significant to him as a World Cup would have been.
The United States will face Belgium on Monday in a World Cup quarter-final match in Seattle. US striker Folarin Balogun, who had received a straight red card for stepping on an opponent's foot in the previous round and faced a one-game ban under FIFA rules, has had his ban suspended after Donald Trump intervened with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino.
Australian winger Jordan Bos, clocked as faster than Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland in pure speed, is expected to play a key role when Australia faces Egypt in the World Cup last 32 in Texas, with neither nation having won a knockout match at the tournament.
Portugal and Croatia meet in a 2026 World Cup round of 32 match in Toronto on July 2, with Canada's environment ministry warning that temperatures could reach 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit), feeling like 44 Celsius due to humidity. Both teams have declined to use the heat as an excuse ahead of the 7:00 pm kickoff.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, both over 40, will meet for the first time as outfield players aged over 40 at a World Cup when Portugal face Croatia in the last-32 clash on Friday. Both players face questions about whether their veteran status benefits or burdens their teams' tournament hopes.
DR Congo's coach says his team has "nothing to lose" against England in the World Cup last 32, having already achieved their targets by qualifying after beating Uzbekistan 3-1 and securing their first World Cup win in 52 years. The pressure is on England, who aim to end a 60-year wait to win a major tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric will make history as the first two outfield players aged over 40 to face each other at a World Cup when Portugal take on Croatia in the last-32. Both players, once Real Madrid teammates, have shown their age despite their status as national heroes, though Ronaldo scored twice against Uzbekistan to become the first player to score at six World Cups.
DR Congo has qualified for its first World Cup in 52 years and will face England in the last 32 on Wednesday. Despite navigating 13 qualifiers, a pre-tournament quarantine due to an Ebola outbreak, and decades of conflict, the nation secured its first World Cup win against Uzbekistan.
Yoane Wissa scored twice as DR Congo defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 to qualify for the last 32 of the World Cup for the first time in their history, securing a knockout-stage clash with England.
DR Congo beat Uzbekistan 3-1 to qualify for the World Cup last 32 for the first time in their history, advancing to face England. Yoane Wissa scored twice in the victory.
Co-hosts Canada and South Africa will play each other in the opening game of the World Cup knockout round at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, marking the first time either nation has reached this stage of the tournament. South Africa advanced after a 1-0 win against South Korea following an opening loss to Mexico, while Canada progressed despite a 2-1 defeat to Switzerland in their final group game.
England, level on four points with Ghana after two games, face Panama at MetLife Stadium seeking a victory to claim top spot in Group L. Portugal enter their Group K clash with leaders Colombia knowing only a win will enable them to leapfrog the South Americans into first place.
England, level on four points with Ghana, face Panama aiming for top spot in Group L, while Portugal take on Colombia knowing only a win will let them leapfrog into first place in Group K. Both nations have shown inconsistency, mixing laboured performances with moments of quality.
In their final Group K match, the Democratic Republic of Congo will face Uzbekistan on Saturday, with victory offering them the chance to advance to the last 32. Uzbekistan, making their World Cup debut, have yet to earn any points after losses to Colombia and Portugal, while DR Congo have one point from a draw with Portugal and a loss to Colombia.
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.
Colombia beat DR Congo 1-0 on June 23 to reach the World Cup knockout rounds, with defender Daniel Muñoz scoring in the 76th minute. Colombia topped Group K with six points, two ahead of Portugal heading into the final group game.
Colombia defeated DR Congo 1-0 on Tuesday to secure qualification for the World Cup knockout rounds, with Daniel Muñoz scoring in the 76th minute. The victory placed Colombia atop Group K with six points, two ahead of Portugal with one group-stage match remaining.
Colombia beat DR Congo 1-0 in Guadalajara on Tuesday, with a 76th-minute goal from Daniel Munoz securing their place in the World Cup knockout rounds and moving them top of Group K with six points.
Brazil will seek to qualify for the last 32 of the World Cup against Scotland as the tournament shifts to six games a day. Carlo Ancelotti's side expect to progress, though Scotland aims to qualify for the knockout rounds for the first time in their history.
Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score at six World Cups and struck twice as Portugal defeated Uzbekistan 5-0 in a Group K match on June 23, 2026, in Houston, advancing the team toward the knockout rounds.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Portugal defeated Uzbekistan 5-0 in the 2026 World Cup, making him the first player to score at six World Cup tournaments, a record surpassing Lionel Messi. The 41-year-old captain's performance came after what he described as "a dark week," and he now has 10 World Cup goals overall, more than any other Portuguese player.
England will aim to book their place in the knockout rounds on Tuesday against Ghana in Group L, seeking to build on a 4-2 win over Croatia. Portugal attempt to kickstart their campaign after a lacklustre opening draw.
England face Ghana in Group L on Tuesday aiming to secure a place in the World Cup last 32, a day after Argentina and France advanced. Portugal look to kickstart their campaign after an opening draw, while England seek to build on their 4-2 win over Croatia.