Category: Sports

New Delhi: Captain Kylian Mbappé produced another match-winning performance as France began its FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Senegal in a Group I encounter at New Jersey Stadium on Wednesday. The two-time world champions and runners-up from the previous edition were made to work hard by a determined Senegal side before Mbappé’s brilliance ultimately made the difference. The French superstar scored twice and became France’s all-time leading international goal scorer, taking his tally to 58 goals and surpassing the previous national record. Despite the…

Read More

New Delhi: Austria made a winning start to its FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, defeating debutants Jordan 3-1 in a closely contested Group J encounter at the Bay Area Stadium in San Francisco on Wednesday. Competing in its first World Cup match in 28 years, Austria overcame a spirited challenge from Jordan to secure all three points. Goals from Romano Schmid and substitute Marko Arnautović, along with an own goal from Jordan defender Yazan Al-Arab, sealed the victory for the European side. Austria took the lead in the 20th minute…

Read More

New Delhi: Football may be the ultimate team sport, but Lionel Messi once again demonstrated how individual brilliance can shape the outcome of a match on the biggest stage. The Argentine captain delivered a masterclass performance, scoring a stunning hat-trick as reigning champions Argentina opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over Algeria in a Group J encounter in Kansas City. The emphatic win marked a far more comfortable start for Argentina than their 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar, which began with a shock…

Read More

Atlanta: Debutants Cape Verde produced one of the standout surprises of the FIFA World Cup 2026, holding reigning European champions Spain to a 0–0 draw in a disciplined and fearless Group H encounter at Atlanta Stadium. Facing a star-studded Spanish side featuring Lamine Yamal, Cape Verde delivered a defensive masterclass to secure a historic point in their first-ever World Cup appearance. Spain Dominate Possession but Fail to Break Through Spain entered the contest as clear favourites and controlled large spells of possession, creating several promising chances but repeatedly being denied…

Read More

Washington: Iran produced a spirited comeback to secure a 2–2 draw against New Zealand in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G encounter in Los Angeles, denying the All Whites a historic first World Cup victory. Despite a brilliant brace from Elijah Just, Iran twice fought back to earn a point, keeping Group G tightly balanced after Egypt also drew with Belgium earlier in the day. New Zealand Start Bright with Early Lead New Zealand made a dream start when Elijah Just struck a superb first-time volley in the 7th…

Read More

Tokyo: A dramatic late goal from Daichi Kamada earned Japan a hard-fought 2–2 draw against the Netherlands in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F clash, as the Asian side once again showcased their trademark resilience on the global stage. Despite falling behind twice, Japan refused to back down and secured a valuable point against one of Europe’s strongest sides in a match defined by momentum swings, tactical discipline, and late drama. Early Stalemate Before the Break The opening half at the Dallas Stadium was a tactical battle, with both…

Read More

Washington: Sweden made a powerful statement in their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a commanding 5–1 victory over Tunisia, climbing to the top of Group F after an all-round dominant performance. A standout brace from Yasin Ayari set the tone for the match, while goals from Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres, and Mattias Svanberg completed a convincing win that highlighted Sweden’s attacking depth and control. Early Strike Sets the Tone Sweden started aggressively and were rewarded early when Yasin Ayari unleashed a powerful long-range strike in the 7th minute to…

Read More

Philadelphia: A dramatic late goal from Amad Diallo secured a hard-fought 1–0 victory for Ivory Coast over Ecuador in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E clash, as the African side opened their campaign with a crucial three points in Philadelphia. In a match that appeared destined for a goalless draw, Amad produced a moment of brilliance in the 90th minute, finding space just outside the box before delivering a precise finish that sent Ivory Coast supporters into celebration. A Tight First Half Full of Near Misses The opening half…

Read More

Houston: Germany made a statement start to their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, cruising to a commanding 7–1 victory over debutants Curaçao in their Group E opener at Houston Stadium. Powered by a brace from Kai Havertz, the four-time champions showcased their attacking depth and tournament intent in a one-sided encounter. The match also saw goals from Felix Nmecha, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown, and Deniz Undav, as Germany overwhelmed their opponents with relentless pressure and clinical finishing. Early Exchange Before Germany Take Control Germany struck early when Felix…

Read More

Retired Ranji Veteran Ashok Bambi Lucknow: India once again demonstrated why they remain one of the dominant forces in world cricket, comfortably brushing aside Afghanistan in the opening ODI. While Afghanistan cricket has grown tremendously over the years—with significant support from the BCCI and the Government of India—the gap between the two sides was evident when it mattered most. Afghanistan have made impressive strides in white-ball cricket, particularly in T20s and One-Day Internationals, and have shown the ability to challenge established teams. In the rain-curtailed 25-over contest, they started brightly…

Read More