Ousmane Dembele scored one of the earliest hat-tricks in World Cup history on Friday as the Ballon d’Or winner starred in France’s 4-1 win over a second-string Norway, while Erling Haaland watched on from the bench. Paris Saint-Germain forward Dembele opened the scoring in the seventh minute at Gillette Stadium near Boston, struck again on 20 minutes, and, after…
Senegal became the first African side to score five goals in a World Cup match, a stunning double by Pape Gueye inspiring them to a 5-0 win over 10-man Iraq in their final Group I match on Friday. Senegal also boosted their chances of progressing to the last 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams — they…
Ecuador kept their World Cup campaign alive as Gonzalo Plata’s winner completed a memorable come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Germany to send them through to the last 32 on Thursday. Leroy Sane controversially fired Germany ahead less than two minutes into the Group E clash, but Ecuador hit back through a fine strike from Sunderland winger Nilson Angulo. Plata then…
The Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire are through to the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup for the first time after a 2-0 victory over Curacao in their final Group E match on Thursday. Going into the match at Philadelphia Stadium, Côte d’Ivoire needed only a draw to secure a place in the round of 32, but a brace…
Canada and Switzerland are through to the round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite the North American co-hosts losing 2-1 to the European side in their final group-stage match on Wednesday. Ruben Vargas opened the scoring for Switzerland just one minute after the half-time break from an assist by John Manzambi before the latter scored in…
Colombia finally broke down a stubborn DR Congo side on Tuesday to secure a 1-0 win that guaranteed their place in the World Cup knockout rounds. Victory in Guadalajara, courtesy of a 76th-minute goal from Daniel Muñoz, took them top of Group K with six points — two clear of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal with one game to go in…
