Preview - R32: France v Sweden

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026

Preview - R32: France v Sweden

East Rutherford: France head coach Didier Deschamps has warned his team to be wary of a Sweden side with "nothing to lose" when the nations meet in the last 32 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Tuesday.

France topped Group I with three wins while Sweden advanced as one of the eight best third-placed teams from Group F.

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R32: Brazil 2-1 Japan

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026

R32: Brazil 2-1 Japan

Houston: Japan's FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign ended in heartbreaking fashion on Monday as Brazil struck late to seal a 2-1 win in their Round of 32 tie.

Kaishu Sano gave Japan the lead in the 29th minute with Casemiro heading home the equaliser in the 56th.

Brazil kept pushing and were rewarded with the winning goal through Gabriel Martinelli deep into added time as Japan's dream came to an end. The five-time champions will face either Cote d'Ivoire or Norway in in the Round of 16 on Sunday.

Preview - R32: Cote d’Ivoire v Norway

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026

Preview - R32: Cote d’Ivoire v Norway

Arlington: Cote d'Ivoire will be on a mission to create more history when they meet Norway in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 on Tuesday.

The African side will be making their knockout stage debut but Norway - whose best achievement on the global stage was a Round of 16 appearance in the 1998 edition. The winners will face Brazil, who beat Japan 2-1 in their Round of 32 tie on Monday, in the next round.

Preview - R32: Mexico v Ecuador

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026

Preview - R32: Mexico v Ecuador

Ciudad De Mexico: Ecuador will have to produce their best if they are to stop Mexico when the sides meet in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 on Tuesday.

Co-hosts Mexico were flawless in Group A with three wins while Ecuador advanced as one of the eight best third-placed sides from Group E, finishing behind Germany and Cote d'Ivoire.

The winners of this tie will meet either England or Congo DR in the next round.

Sellami: Jordan will put lessons learnt to good use

Sun, 28 Jun, 2026

Sellami: Jordan will put lessons learnt to good use

Arlington: Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami believes his players will benefit from their experience at the nation’s first-ever FIFA World Cup after a 3-1 loss to defending champions Argentina saw the West Asian side bow out of the competition without a point in Group J.

Mousa Al Tamari came off the bench to score for the Jordanians 10 minutes into the second half, the France-based striker halving Argentina’s lead after Giovani Lo Celso and Lautaro Martinez had given Lionel Scaloni’s side a two-goal half-time lead.

 

Lionel Messi then scored with an 80th minute free-kick to take the three-times winners into the next round while the Jordanians made their way to the exit door after losses against Argentina, Austria and Algeria.

Cannavaro calls for continued investment in Uzbekistan football

Sun, 28 Jun, 2026

Cannavaro calls for continued investment in Uzbekistan football

Atlanta: Fabio Cannavaro urged Uzbekistan to continue investing in football after their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey came to an end on Saturday.

A 3-1 defeat to Congo DR followed earlier losses against Colombia and Portugal as the tournament debutants learnt some harsh lessons on the global stage.