England secured safe passage into the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a controlled 2-0 victory over Panama, a result that confirmed them as Group L winners. Second-half strikes from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane ensured progress, but the performance was overshadowed by growing concern over defensive depth. Thomas Tuchel, who rotated heavily after the underwhelming goalless draw with Ghana, made five changes to his starting XI, including defensive selections for

Canada have received a timely lift ahead of their World Cup knockout campaign, with captain Alphonso Davies declared fit for Sundayâ??s last-32 meeting with South Africa on Sunday. Head coach Jesse Marsch confirmed the Bayern Munich star has recovered from a hamstring injury sustained during his clubâ??s Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain, easing fears that he could miss the decisive stages of the tournament. â??Now that we have Alphonso back and healthy

South Africa head coach Hugo Broos faces a mixed disciplinary landscape ahead of Bafana Bafana's historic 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash against Canada at the Los Angeles Stadium on Sunday. The South African camp received a significant tactical boost with the return of star central midfielder Teboho Mokoena.The Mamelodi Sundowns talisman is fully available for selection after serving a mandatory one-match suspension during the final Group E match against South Korea

Ghana captain Jordan Ayew has opened up about playing at the 2026 World Cup without his brother Andre following Ghana's 2-1 defeat to Croatia.Speaking to reporters in Philadelphia after the Black Stars' final Group L fixture, the forward downplayed media speculation about navigating the 2026 FIFA World Cup without his older brother.The Ayew brothers have been pillars of Ghana's national team for over a decade, making Andre's omission from the tournament squad

Black Stars vice captain Thomas Partey will be available for Ghana's Round of 32 clash against Colombia after the Black Stars' third-place finish in Group L ensured their knockout tie would be played in the United States rather than Canada.Before Ghana's final group match against Croatia, there had been uncertainty over Partey's availability beyond the group stage. Had the Black Stars finished second in Group L, they would have been scheduled to face Portugal

Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has questioned whether FIFA's decision to expand the World Cup to 48 teams has enhanced the competition, arguing that the increased number of qualification places risks reducing the prestige of reaching football's biggest stage.Speaking after Ghana's 2-1 defeat to Croatia on Saturday, which still saw the Black Stars qualify for the Round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams, Queiroz said the long-term impact of the expanded format

Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz believes Saturday's defeat to Croatia could prove beneficial as the Black Stars prepare for the knockout phase of the FIFA World Cup.Croatia's 2-1 victory in Philadelphia denied Ghana the chance to finish second in Group L, but the Black Stars still progressed to the Round of 32 as one of the tournament's best third-placed teams.For Queiroz, the biggest positive from the game was not the result but the lessons his players can take into

Carlos Queiroz has urged Ghana to treat Saturday's defeat against Croatia as an opportunity for growth rather than disappointment after the Black Stars secured a place in the World Cup knockout rounds.Ghana lost 2-1 in their final Group L fixture but still progressed as one of the best third-placed teams and will now face Colombia in the Round of 32.Speaking after the match, Queiroz refused to criticise his players and instead repeated a philosophy that has guided his coaching

Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz believes the Black Stars' World Cup campaign is only just beginning despite Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Croatia, insisting the knockout rounds represent the true test of his side's credentials.The Black Stars suffered their first defeat of the tournament at Lincoln Financial Field but still secured a place in the Round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams. They will now face Group K winners Colombia in Kansas City.Rather than dwell on

England captain Harry Kane returned to the scoresheet in style on Saturday, becoming his country's all-time leading goalscorer at the FIFA World Cup just days after a Ghanaian spiritualist claimed to have "released" him from a self-proclaimed curse.Kane scored his 11th World Cup goal in England's 2-0 victory over Panama, surpassing Gary Lineker's long-standing record of 10 goals. The Bayern Munich striker headed home from a Jude Bellingham cross in the 67th

Africa has delivered one of its strongest collective performances at the FIFA World Cup, with nine of the continent's 10 representatives progressing to the Round of 32 in the expanded 2026 tournament.Following the conclusion of the group stage, Ghana, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Egypt, South Africa, Cape Verde, Algeria, Senegal and DR Congo all secured places in the knockout rounds, leaving Tunisia as the only African nation to exit before the last 32.The achievement means 90 percent

The knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been confirmed after the completion of all 72 group-stage matches across the United States, Canada and Mexico.The expanded 48-team tournament now moves into the Round of 32, with the top two teams from each of the 12 groups joined by the eight best third-placed finishers.Ghana secured their place in the knockout stage after finishing third in Group L behind England and Croatia, setting up a mouthwatering clash against Group K winners

South Africa will look to make more history on Sunday night when they take on Canada in the first Round of 32 match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Bafana Bafana have reached the knockout stage of the tournament for the first time in their history and now face co-hosts Canada for a place in the next round.The clash in Los Angeles will also mark the first-ever World Cup knockout appearance for both nations.South Africa Riding a Wave of HistoryScenes of celebration erupted across South

Carlos Queiroz has insisted the knockout stage of the World Cup marks a new level of intensity as Ghana prepare for a round-of-32 meeting with Colombia after finishing third in Group L.Croatia secured second place in Group L with a 2-1 victory over Ghana in Philadelphia, a result that confirmed both sides' progression to the knockout phase but with different routes ahead."I have just told my players that the real world championship starts in the next round,� Queiroz

The expanded World Cup format has come under sharp criticism from Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz, who has questioned whether footballâ??s biggest stage has lost its exclusivity following FIFAâ??s decision to increase the tournament to 48 teams.This yearâ??s edition is the first to adopt the new structure, moving away from the 32-team format that had defined the competition since 1998.Approved in 2017 under FIFA president Gianni Infantino, the expansion was presented as

Trailing 1-0 at half-time to World Cup debutants Uzbekistan, the DR Congo bounced back in spectacular fashion at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, turning the game on its head to secure a historic 3-1 victory that sends them through to the round of 32 for the first time in their history.For 45 minutes, it looked like the dream was slipping away but the Leopards roared back purposefully.Uzbekistan had stunned the Africans early, taking the lead in the 10th minute when Eldor Shomurodov fired

Ghana will face Colombia in the 2026 World Cup round of 32 after the South Americans avoided defeat final group game against Portugal on Saturday.The goalless draw between Colombia and Portugal at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami meant Colombia finished top of Group K with seven points, while Portugal remained second on five points. As a result, Ghana, who finished third in Group L, will now face the Group K winners in Kansas City on Friday, July 4.How Ghana qualifiedDespite losing 2-1

Harry Kane has etched his name into the history books, becoming England's all-time leading goalscorer at the FIFA World Cup with his 11th goal in the tournament.The England captain scored England's third goal in their 3-0 victory over Panama on Saturday, a strike that saw him surpass Gary Lineker's long-standing record of 10 goals.Kane's 11th World Cup goal came in the 73rd minute, a composed finish after a well-worked move from the Three Lions. The strike further

Derrick Luckassen has offered a candid assessment of Ghana's 2-1 defeat to Croatia, acknowledging that the Black Stars struggled in the first half before producing a much-improved display after the break.Speaking after the Group L finale at Lincoln Financial Field, the defender, who was handed his first World Cup start, reflected on a performance that he believes was divided into two distinct halves."I think in the first half, we had the ball, but we didn't do a lot;

Derrick Luckassen experienced a rollercoaster of emotions on Saturday night, scoring on his World Cup debut but ultimately left disappointed as Ghana fell 2-1 to Croatia at Lincoln Financial Field.The Pafos defender, who was handed his first World Cup start after Jerome Opoku was rested as a precaution, headed home in the 73rd minute to bring Ghana level against the 2018 runners-up.However, Croatia quickly restored their lead through Nikola Vlasic, securing the victory and confirming