Lopetegui: Qatar have earned the right to dream

Sun, 14 Jun, 2026

Lopetegui: Qatar have earned the right to dream

Santa Clara: Julen Lopetegui has urged his players to keep believing after Qatar secured a last-gasp 1-1 draw with Switzerland in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B opener on Saturday.

Boualem Khoukhi's late equaliser sealed Qatar their first ever FIFA World Cup point, with their debut as hosts four years ago ending in three defeats.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/3178024

Group F: Netherlands 2-2 Japan

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

Group F: Netherlands 2-2 Japan

Arlington: Japan scored an 88th-minute equaliser as they twice fought back to rescue a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in front of 69,285 fans in Texas on Sunday to open their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaigns.

A match that had bubbled away in the first period sparked into life in the second half.

Netherlands skipper Virgil van Dijk scored with a fine header, only for Keito Nakamura to quickly level, before winger Crysencio Summerville's delicious curled finish into the bottom corner just after the hour.

The Dutch looked like they would hold on, but Japan levelled at the death with Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada credited with the goal after a deflection.

Group E: Germany 7-1 Curacao

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

Group E: Germany 7-1 Curacao

Houston: Germany won their first opening match at a FIFA World Cup since lifting the trophy in 2014 as they eased to a 7-1 win against debutants Curacao in their opening Group E match in Houston on Sunday.

The Germans will face stiffer tests against Ecuador and Ivory Coast but the win against the tiny Caribbean nation puts them in a good position to progress to the knockout stages for the first time since 2014.

Group E: Cote D’Ivoire 1-0 Ecuador

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

Group E: Cote D’Ivoire 1-0 Ecuador

Philadelphia: Manchester United's Amad Diallo struck in the 90th minute as Cote D’Ivoire stunned Ecuador and their huge support to edge a tight affair 1-0 in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E opener on Sunday.

The encounter had looked set to finish 0-0, hardly a surprise given Ecuador's incredible defensive record during qualifying, and that result may well have suited both teams.
 
But the 23-year-old Diallo, who had been introduced in place of Bazoumana Toure shortly before the hour mark, had other ideas as he finished first-time from a right-wing cross right just as the game was heading for injury time.

Preview - Group G: IR Iran v New Zealand

Sun, 14 Jun, 2026

Preview - Group G: IR Iran v New Zealand

Inglewood: Islamic Republic of Iran will be expecting maximum points when they take on New Zealand in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G opener on Monday.

The Central Asian side have never advanced past the group stage in their previous six FIFA World Cup appearances, but arrive determined to break new ground.

Preview - Group H: Saudi Arabia v Uruguay

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

Preview - Group H: Saudi Arabia v Uruguay

Miami Gardens: Saudi Arabia will be determined to not slip up when they begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H campaign against Uruguay on Monday.

The three-time AFC Asian Cup™ winners are seeking to advance to the knockout stage for the first time since making their debut on the global stage in the 1994 edition.