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Bielsa accepts blame for exit, but says Uruguay deserved more

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Bielsa accepts blame for exit, but says Uruguay deserved more

Guadalajara: Marcelo Bielsa said Uruguay deserved more from all three of their FIFA World Cup 2026bgames, but accepted the critics that will come his way after the two-time winners crashed out in the group stage.

Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera's mistake condemned Bielsa's side to an early exit in a 1-0 defeat to Spain on Friday after disappointing draws against Cabo Verde and Saudi Arabia.

Norway's Solbakken defends decision to bench Haaland, Odegaard against France

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Norway's Solbakken defends decision to bench Haaland, Odegaard against France

Foxborough: Norway head coach Stale Solbakken defended his decision to leave out star duo Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard in Friday's 4-1 FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I defeat against France, saying it was a "no-brainer".

Solbakken said the relatively quick turnaround from Monday's win over Senegal was the key factor, adding that Haaland and Odegaard were "team players, so they know what is best for the team."

Group G: Egypt 1-1 IR Iran

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Group G: Egypt 1-1 IR Iran

Seattle: Islamic Republic of Iran must wait to discover their fate after playing to a 1-1 draw with Egypt in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match on Friday.

Iran - who had a goal heartbreakingly ruled out for offside in the dying seconds - finished third in the group and will only know if the point is enough to take them through to the knockout stage for the first time as one of the eight best third-placed sides.

Egypt, meanwhile, secured their place in the knockout phase for the first time in their history and will face Australia in the Round of 32.

Group G: New Zealand 1-5 Belgium

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Group G: New Zealand 1-5 Belgium

Vancouver: Belgium defeated New Zealand 5-1 to book their place in the knockout rounds of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Friday, securing their first win of the tournament to finish on top of Group G in Vancouver.

A double strike from Arsenal's Leandro Trossard and goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers carried the Red Devils into the last 32 in first place ahead of Egypt on goal difference.
 
Egypt claimed the runners-up spot after a 1-1 draw with Islamic Republic of Iran in Seattle. The Central Asian side finished third in the group.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/fifa_world_cup.html/photo/group-g-egypt-v-ir-iran

Cote d'Ivoire see no limits after creating history

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Cote d'Ivoire see no limits after creating history

Philadelphia: Cote d'Ivoire forward Nicolas Pepe believes the Elephants can keep on going at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after beating Curacao 2-0 on Thursday to reach the knockout rounds for the first time in their history.

Cote d'Ivoire finished in second place in Group E with six points, only behind table-toppers Germany on head-to-head - they beat Ecuador 1-0 in their opening game before losing 2-1 to the Germans.

Group H: Uruguay 0-1 Spain

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Group H: Uruguay 0-1 Spain

Zapopan: Uruguay bowed out of the FIFA World Cup 2026 as goalkeeper Fernando Muslera's howler gifted Spain a 1-0 win on Friday in Guadalajara to secure top spot in Group H.

Alex Baena's weak shot slipped through Muslera's grasp for the only goal as Spain avoided a last 32 showdown against Argentina. The European champions will instead face Austria or Algeria next in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Uruguay's defeat allowed debutants Cabo Verde to secure second place and a meeting with Lionel Messi and the defending champions thanks to a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia.

Group H: Cabo Verde 0-0 Saudi Arabia

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Group H: Cabo Verde 0-0 Saudi Arabia

Houston: Saudi Arabia were eliminated from the FIFA World Cup 2026 after playing to a goalless draw with Cabo Verde in their final Group H match on Friday.

The stalemate meant Saudi Arabia finished on two points while debutants Cabo Verde stunningly advanced to the knockout stage as runners-up behind Spain.
Unbeaten in their three group matches, the archipelago nation of just over 500,000 will play Lionel Messi's Argentina in Miami on July 3 in another chapter to their remarkable story.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/fifa_world_cup.html/photo/group-h-cabo-verde-v-saudi-arabia

Better to qualify this way, says Ecuador hero Plata

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Better to qualify this way, says Ecuador hero Plata

East Rutherford: Ecuador's FIFA World Cup 2026 hero Gonzalo Plata said qualifying for the last 32 with a dramatic 2-1 win over Germany on Thursday made the achievement even sweeter.

Plata bagged the winning goal in the 77th minute in New Jersey as Ecuador snatched a place in the knockout rounds as one of the best third-placed sides.

However, they did it the hard way after taking just one point from their opening two Group E games, including a frustrating 0-0 draw against rank outsiders Curacao.

Potter realistic about Sweden's chances

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Potter realistic about Sweden's chances

Arlington: Graham Potter said his Sweden team will be underdogs no matter who they face after sneaking into the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage on Thursday.

Sweden grabbed a place in the last 32 following a 1-1 draw with Japan in Group F to advance as one of the best third-placed finishers.

Sweden defeated Tunisia 5-1, then lost to the Netherlands by the same scoreline, before giving Japan a fright at the home of the Dallas Cowboys.

Japan's Moriyasu looking forward to Brazil challenge

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Japan's Moriyasu looking forward to Brazil challenge

Arlington: Japan will head into their FIFA World Cup 2026 clash against Brazil with confidence, head coach Hajime Moriyasu said on Thursday.

The Japanese tactician said he was relishing the chance of locking horns with the five-time world champions, with the sides to meet in the Round of 32 on Monday.

The last meeting between the sides - an international friendly last October - ended 3-2 in favour of Japan which halted a run of 13 consecutive matches without victory for the East Asian side against the South American giants.