Category: FIFA WORLD CUP 2026

Cape Verde earn impressive draw with Uruguay at Miami Stadium In their Group H tie at the FIFA World Cup 2026, Kevin Pina's free kick and a fortunate goal from Helio Varela helped Cabo Verde get a startling 2-2 draw with Uruguay
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Cape Verde earn impressive draw with Uruguay at Miami Stadium

In their Group H tie at the FIFA World Cup 2026, Kevin Pina’s free kick and a fortunate goal from Helio Varela helped Cabo Verde get a startling 2-2 draw with Uruguay.

Fans were once again impressed with Cabo Verde’s draw with a former World Cup champion. Coach Bubista’s team rallied from behind to contain Uruguay at Miami Stadium after ending without goals versus Spain.

When Telmo Arcanjo earned a free kick, Cabo Verde surprisingly took the lead. From 34 yards, Kevin Pina kicked the ball and put it through a hole in the wall towards the bottom corner.

But the first two half goals helped Uruguay to rapidly change the game. Following Rodrigo Bentancur’s header off the post, Maxi Araujo scored; Agustín Canobbio scored after Araujo knocked the ball down.

Cabo Verde levelled when Varela capitalised on a defensive error to score. Then, despite Luis Suarez’s encouragement from the sidelines, Uruguay controlled the game but could not get past Cabo Verde’s stout defense headed by Pico Lopes and Sidny Lopes Cabral.

Important number: With Uruguay’s Fernando Muslera and Cabo Verde’s Vozinha, this game saw two goalkeepers in their 40s start in a World Cup game for the first time.

Uruguay 2-2 Cabo Verde

Uruguay goals: Araujo (44), Canobbio (45+6)

Cabo Verde goals: Pina (21), Varela (61)

Mohamed Salah nets in Egypt's first win at the 2026 World Cup
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mohamed Salah nets in Egypt’s first win at the 2026 World Cup

By defeating New Zealand 3-1 in Vancouver, Egypt got their first World Cup triumph ever. Africa’s fourth victory in the 2026 tournament, this one propelled Egypt to the top of Group G.

Finn Sirman’s 15th-minute headed corner kick goal set Egypt 1-0 down in the first half. Egypt battled tenaciously in the second half to guarantee the victory and raise their chances of making it to the knockout rounds for the first time in their 92-year World Cup history.

Eight minutes into the second half, most of Mostafa Zico’s Egyptian teammates tied the score. Mohamed Salah, their captain and star player, then scored a goal after a one-two pass with a colleague, placing the ball with his preferred left foot in the corner of the net. Salah became Egypt’s all-time top goalscorer in World Cup history with three goals with this aim.

Trézégue’s low header from another corner kick helped his side to win. This victory, following their prior 1-1 tie with Belgium, left Egypt four points from two games. Earlier in the day, Belgium tied goalless with Iran and had a player, Nathan Ngoy, dismissed in the 67th minute.

Having played two games and drawn twice, Belgium and Iran have not won any matches. Iran ranks second in goal difference.e New Zealand is last with one point.

Mohamed Salah gave Egypt a significant moment. In addition to scoring the game-winning goal New Zealand, the captain was the first Egyptian to compete in two World Cups.

This win is notable since it follows Egypt’s World Cup debut by 92 years and 25 days. Given that Iran and Belgium drew earlier, Egypt now leads Group G with a two-point advantage heading into the final group stage match.

Important Statistic: At 34 years and 6 days, Mohamed Salah surpassed Magdy Abdelghany, who was 30 years and 320 days old when he scored against the Netherlands in 1990 to become the oldest player to score for Egypt.

Chosen by the fans: Mohamed Salah, your Superior Player of the Match
Chosen by the fans: Mohamed Salah, your Superior Player of the Match
Japan's historic win sends Tunisia crashing out
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Japan’s historic win sends Tunisia crashing out

In the 1,000th match of the FIFA World Cup, Japan defeated Tunisia to edge closer to the knockout stage. This landmark game in Monterrey saw Japan make history at Monterrey Stadium on Saturday.

Keito Nakamura created the first goal by driving into the box and passing the ball to Daichi Kamada, who scored from close range. This was Kamada’s second goal of the tournament and the fastest goal Japan has scored in a World Cup.

Ayase Ueda increased the lead on the half-hour mark, making a powerful shot from the top of the box.

New Tunisia coach Herve Renard could not get his team to respond. Japan scored again when Ueda assisted Junya Ito, who netted the third goal midway through the second half. Ueda later scored his second goal to secure the victory.

Japan’s win is the largest by any nation in World Cup history. They now sit level with the Netherlands at the top of Group F, while Tunisia has been eliminated.

Key stat: Daichi Kamada’s goal in the fourth minute is the fastest scored by a Japanese player in World Cup history. The previous record was held by Shinji Kagawa, who scored in the sixth minute in 2018 against Colombia.

Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match: Ayase Ueda (Japan)

What they said:

“We prepared well and played aggressively. Our coaching staff clearly laid out our goals, which helped the players perform at their best. Many Japanese fans came to Monterrey, sang the national anthem with us, and cheered us on. Their support was a huge boost for us.” Hajime Moriyasu, Japan coach

Tunisia 0-4 Japan

Japan goals: Kamada (4), Ueda (31, 83), Junya Ito (69)

Morocco's Ismael Saibari pleased with win over Scotland
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco’s Ismael Saibari delighted with victory over Scotland

Morocco’s midfielder Ismael Saibari expressed his pleasure that the team is tied for first place in Group C with four points, more than his two goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 24-year-old underlined following Morocco’s 1-0 victory over Scotland that the team’s good group standing is more fulfilling than his personal performance.

Saibari remarked, “I am happy with the two goals I have scored, but what makes me happier is having four points and being top of the group.” One more game has still to be played; hopefully, we will win that one as well.

In his first World Cup, Saibari has started well. In Morocco’s first 1-1 draw, he scored against Brazil and grabbed the winning goal against Scotland only 70 seconds into the game. This is one of the fastest goals of the 2026 competition and the fastest World Cup goal by an Arab player ever.

Though Saibari has his own successes, he underlined that Morocco’s strength results from its cooperation. “All of us have the same goal. We play as one group. He said, “We are like family.”

Côte d’Ivoire Receives Boost as Striker Elye Wahi Is Cleared to Enter Canada
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Côte d’Ivoire Receives Boost as Striker Elye Wahi Is Cleared to Enter Canada

The Ivory Coast’s football federation announced that striker Elye Wahi has been permitted to enter Canada, therefore providing a major boost before their FIFA World Cup match against Germany.

On Thursday, the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football (FIF) said that the forward’s travel administrative problems had been solved so he could keep playing in the competition.

The federation said in an official statement that Wahi’s arrival into Canadian territory had been duly authorised, therefore clearing the path for him to accompany the Elephants’ mission.

Elye Wahi’s administrative status has improved. The statement read, “The required clearances for his admission into Canadian territory have now been sought.”

Thus, the Ivorian international is permitted to accompany the Elephants team to Canada and will keep competing alongside his colleagues as usual.

The statement ends days of doubt regarding the 23-year-old striker, who had apparently struggled getting into Canada, given an investigation in France over claimed match-fixing infractions now underway.

French authorities are presently looking into Wahi over claims that he purposefully sought a yellow card during a May Ligue 1 game against Metz, playing for Nice. Still qualified for selection, the striker has not been accused of any offence.

Having played in Cote d’Ivoire’s World Cup opener against Ecuador, the ex-France youth international helped the Elephants win a prized 1-0 match.

Before Saturday’s pivotal Group E match against Germany in Toronto, his availability is projected to give coach Emerse Faé a significant boost.

Additionally , thanking everyone engaged in resolving the problem, the FIF welcomed the good result.

Wahi is scheduled to rejoin the team in Canada as Cote d’Ivoire pursues a berth in the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stages with the travel problem fixed.