Match reports
Match reports, previews and analysis.
Wednesday, 17 June 2026
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Harry Kane breaks World Cup penalty record after retake drama against Croatia
Harry Kane is the first player to score five World Cup penalties after a retake against Croatia, moving past Lionel Messi's previous mark of four.
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USA vs Australia preview: Balogun and Beach headline the Group D battle
Folarin Balogun scored 2 against Paraguay and Patrick Beach made 8 saves on debut as USA vs Australia heads to Seattle in World Cup 2026 Group D.
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Canada's first-goal imperative against Qatar
Canada are 7-0-3 scoring first but never recover after conceding first (0-31). Jonathan David chases his first goal since September.
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At 40, Vozinha makes World Cup history—but almost without his mother watching
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, 40, earns man of the match with clean sheet against Spain while his mother races to secure a U.S. visa to watch him.
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Van der Vaart's remarks overshadow Netherlands' World Cup draw with Japan
Van der Vaart's offensive remark overshadowed Netherlands' 2-2 World Cup draw, along with Van Dijk criticism and shin pad safety concerns raised.
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Cristiano Ronaldo makes World Cup history, but Portugal held to disappointing draw
Portugal held 1-1 by DR Congo as Ronaldo becomes oldest World Cup outfield player. Wissa's stoppage-time header gives Leopards historic draw.
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João Neves shines as Portugal held by Congo DR
João Neves scored in the opening six minutes with an 8.0 rating, but Portugal drew 1-1 with Congo DR. Cristiano Ronaldo extended his nine-game major
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Tuchel's system-first philosophy: tournament readiness over reputation
Tuchel's England squad drops star players for system fit. Chalobah's selection restructures the defense; Foden, Palmer, Maguire, Shaw pay the price.
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Scotland's possession lesson: how Clarke plans to test Morocco
Steve Clarke demands improved possession from Scotland against Morocco, but plans to strike on the break.
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Portugal vs DR Congo: Leao and Conceicao on the bench
Portugal open their 2026 World Cup campaign against DR Congo with Rafael Leao and Francisco Conceicao on the bench, while Bernardo Silva and Pedro Neto start.
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Thomas Tuchel explains why Trent Alexander-Arnold was left out again
Tuchel explains why Chalobah replaced injured Livramento and why Trent Alexander-Arnold still was not recalled for England’s opener against Croatia.
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Adrien Rabiot pitch concerns overshadow France's win over Senegal
Adrien Rabiot criticised the New York New Jersey Stadium pitch after France's 3-1 win over Senegal, with Vinicius Junior backing the complaint.
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Folarin Balogun one of the night’s biggest winners as USA beat Paraguay 4-1
Folarin Balogun scored twice on his World Cup debut as the USMNT beat Paraguay 4-1, with a huge crowd and record TV audience behind it.
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Austria vs Jordan was a lot messier than Austria's 3-1 win suggests
Austria vs Jordan finished 3-1 after Schmid's opener, Olwan's historic equaliser, a disallowed Arnautovic goal and late drama.
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Lionel Messi's record night gives Argentina the perfect World Cup start
Lionel Messi scored a hat trick in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria, tying Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals in his 200th cap.
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Kylian Mbappé's brace did not tell the full story against Senegal
Kylian Mbappé scored twice in France's 3-1 win over Senegal, but Michael Olise and a denied penalty shaped the game before the records did.
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Michael Olise gives France a sharper edge alongside Kylian Mbappé
Michael Olise's assist and 4 key passes helped France beat Senegal 3-1, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice in New York.
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Uzbekistan vs Colombia preview
Colombia open their World Cup campaign against debutants Uzbekistan in a first-ever meeting, with James Rodríguez, Luis Díaz and Abdukodir Khusanov key.
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Ghana vs Panama is being shaped by Thomas Partey’s absence
Thomas Partey’s denied Canada entry overshadows Ghana vs Panama, with Carlos Queiroz forced into a midfield reshuffle in Toronto.
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Tuchel says England will keep their style in Dallas heat
Thomas Tuchel says England will keep their style in Dallas, where temperatures will exceed 30C for the Croatia opener and hydration breaks apply.
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Erling Haaland's World Cup debut showed Norway are more than a one-man team
Erling Haaland scored twice on his World Cup debut as Norway beat Iraq 4-1 in Boston and moved top of Group I on goal difference.
Tuesday, 16 June 2026
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Jurgen Klopp apology after Germany's 7-1 win takes centre stage
Jurgen Klopp's live-TV apology to Julian Nagelsmann after Germany's 7-1 opener over Curaçao becomes the story, with Tuchel's Trent debate lingering.
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Scotland vs Morocco: Dykes warns of a proper test
Lyndon Dykes says Scotland must be at their best against Morocco, with Boston Stadium, squad calm and belief shaping the build-up.
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Thomas Partey to miss Ghana opener after Canada rejects visa appeal
Thomas Partey will miss Ghana vs Panama after a Canadian federal court rejected his visa appeal on the eve of Ghana's World Cup opener.
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France beat Senegal as Mbappe sets a new record
Mbappe scored twice and became France’s all-time top scorer as Les Bleus beat Senegal 3-1, with Olise and Barcola driving the turnaround.
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Kylian Mbappé's record night could not escape France's penalty row
Kylian Mbappé scored twice as France beat Senegal 3-1, but the World Cup 2026 opener turned on a disputed 58th-minute penalty call.
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Portugal vs Congo DR: Ronaldo minutes are the real issue
Portugal face Congo DR with Cristiano Ronaldo expected to start, but Roberto Martinez must manage his minutes if they want a deep World Cup run.
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Argentina World Cup opener now looks like a selection puzzle
Messi, Emiliano Martínez and Julián Alvarez are all available for Argentina's World Cup opener. Only Nicolas Tagliafico is still being monitored.
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Austria vs Jordan preview: World Cup debut meets long-awaited return
Austria return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, while Jordan make their debut in a Group J opener shaped by form and injuries.
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Iran's World Cup opener became about travel chaos as much as the 2-2 draw
Iran's 2-2 World Cup opener with New Zealand was overshadowed by travel restrictions, anthem boos and flag protests in Los Angeles.