Also known as: Defending champions Argentina
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
The Namibian
… His team are on a 14-match unbeaten run in all competitions, including all eight of their qualifiers, but are rarely mentioned alongside Spain, France, Argentina and England as leading contenders. …
Netherlands under the radar as they chase long awaited World Cup crownThe Namibian
… Ronald Koeman’s side are bidding to build on impressive displays in their past two major tournaments, after being edged out on penalties by Argentina in the 2022 quarter-finals before suffering a heartbreaking defeat by England in the semis of Euro 2024. …
Sweden bidding to make most of back door World Cup entryThe Namibian
… In 2023, it caused mass deaths in Southern Elephant Seals in Argentina, killing more than 17 000 pups. …
Avian flu detected in Cape Fur Seals for the first timeThe Namibian
… There is the quick counter-attack, something PSG have demonstrated in devastating fashion in the Champions League and which Argentina used to score their stunning second goal in the 2022 World Cup final against France. …
How might this World Cup be won on the pitch?The Namibian
Lionel Messi’s career seemed complete after he led Argentina to victory at the 2022 World Cup, but the motivation to keep playing is still there for him and his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo as the duo prepare to make history at this year’s tournament in North America. …
The last dance: Messi and Ronaldo get ready for sixth and final World CupNamibian Sun
BBC As Argentina's southernmost city, Ushuaia has long enjoyed its reputation as 'The End of the World' and as a gateway to Antarctica and to the dramatic, natural beauty of Patagonia.But in recent days, it has been grappling with a different kind of fame, one that has cast a sha …
Tourist hotspot at 'end of the world' denies causing hantavirus outbreakThe Namibian
… Defending champions Argentina and Lionel Messi head into the tournament among the favourites, alongside European champions Spain, 2018 World Cup winners France and England, desperately chasing a first major tournament win since 1966. …
Anxiety, anticipation as Fifa World Cup one-month countdown beginsInformanté
… The statement comes after recent reports of a Hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship travelling across the South Atlantic. “A cluster of severe respiratory illness cases was identified on a cruise ship which had travelled from Argentina to Cabo Verde. …
No hantavirus cases detected in Namibia, Health Ministry confirmsWindhoek Observer
… The outbreak was reported on a cruise ship travelling from Argentina to Cabo Verde. …
Namibia on alert over Hantavirus outbreakThe Namibian
… Three passengers have died either on board or after travelling on the ship, which set sail from Argentina a month ago. …
How worried should we be about hantavirus?Jude Bellingham scored twice as 10-man England defeated Mexico 3-2 at the Estadio Azteca to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, with Harry Kane also scoring from the penalty spot. England will face Norway in the last eight.
18 hours ago · The Namibian →
Jude Bellingham scored twice as 10-man England defeated Mexico 3-2 at the Estadio Azteca to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, with Harry Kane also scoring from the penalty spot. England will face Norway in the last eight.
18 hours ago · The Namibian →
England play Mexico on Sunday in the Estadio Azteca as Erling Haaland and Norway face Brazil in a separate round-of-16 match, with two more quarter-final spots available after France and Morocco qualified on Saturday.
5 July 2026 · The Namibian →
South Africa defeated England 45-21 in a Nations Championship first-round match at Ellis Park, outscoring them seven tries to three. England were reduced to 13 men late in the match after centre Tommy Freeman and replacement forward Guy Pepper were yellow carded.
4 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Jac Morgan scored two tries as Wales beat Fiji 39-24 in their opening Nations Championship match in Cardiff on Saturday, giving Wales back-to-back Test wins for the first time since the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
4 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Cape Verde, in their first World Cup, progressed from the group stage by drawing with Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, then lost 3-2 to Argentina in the last-32 round in Miami. The island nation's fans celebrated the team's performance, with supporters saying they felt victorious despite the defeat and that Cape Verde had made Argentina struggle.
4 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Argentina survived an improbable challenge from Cape Verde, defeating the African team 3-2 after extra time in a World Cup match on Friday, with a Diney Borges own goal in the 111th minute breaking Cape Verde's resistance. Argentina will face Egypt on Tuesday for a place in the quarter-finals.
4 July 2026 · The Namibian →
England must confront Mexico's fanatical home crowd and high-altitude Azteca Stadium on Sunday in a World Cup round-of-16 tie with a quarter-finals place at stake. Mexico have won all four home games without conceding a goal, while England narrowly beat DR Congo 2-1 to advance.
3 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Egypt defeated Australia 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw to advance to the World Cup last 16, marking Egypt's first time reaching this stage. Egypt will next face Argentina.
3 July 2026 · The Namibian →
France has won all four games so far with 13 goals scored, including a 3-0 defeat of Sweden, and faces Paraguay in the last 16. Kylian Mbappe has scored six goals in the tournament and has 18 in 18 World Cup appearances.
2 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Harry Kane scored two goals in England's 2-1 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo in the World Cup round of 32, bringing his tournament total to five goals and moving him to sixth on the all-time World Cup goal-scoring list.
2 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Mexico defeated Ecuador 2-0 in a World Cup round-of-32 match at the Azteca Stadium, ending their 40-year drought in knockout-stage play dating to 1986, when they last hosted the tournament.
1 July 2026 · The Namibian →
For the first time in World Cup history, a record nine African countries have progressed beyond the group stage, marking a significant advancement for the continent in the tournament. Previously, only one African nation at a time had managed to qualify for the knockout stage.
29 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Uruguay exited the World Cup after losing 1-0 to Spain in Guadalajara, with goalkeeper Fernando Muslera's error allowing Alex Baena's weak shot to decide the match. Spain secured top spot in Group H and avoided a knockout round against Argentina, while Uruguay became the highest ranked side to crash out in the group stages.
27 June 2026 · The Namibian →
France and Norway meet in a crucial World Cup group-stage match on Friday, with Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland — both on four goals — set to feature prominently. France need only a draw to clinch first place in the group owing to superior goal difference.
26 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Lionel Messi became the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer with two goals in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria, breaking Miroslav Klose's record of 16 goals. Messi's tournament tally now stands at 18 goals.
23 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Lionel Messi scored twice to guide Argentina to a 2-0 victory over Austria, becoming the leading scorer in World Cup history with 17 goals total. The 38-year-old captain's performance sent Argentina into the last 32.
22 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Cristiano Ronaldo had his fewest touches (25) in a full match at a major tournament for Portugal in a 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo, with coach Roberto Martinez defending his decision to keep the 41-year-old on the field despite Portugal searching for a winner.
18 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia has accepted responsibility for hosting the Global Water Partnership's (GWP) headquarters in Windhoek, positioning the capital at the centre of international efforts on water security, climate resilience and sustainable development. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said the organisation's headquarters belongs to the global community and Namibia must help deliver on its expectations, with a new investment facility expected to influence nearly US$15 billion in water-related investments by 2030.
18 June 2026 · New Era →
England begin their World Cup bid against Croatia on Wednesday, seeking to end a 60-year wait for a trophy, while Cristiano Ronaldo is set to play in a record-equalling sixth World Cup tournament for Portugal against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
17 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria to become the joint all-time top scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals, equalling Miroslav Klose's record.
17 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Tunisia have replaced coach Sabri Lamouchi with Frenchman Herve Renard following a 5-1 World Cup defeat by Sweden. Renard, who previously coached Saudi Arabia at the 2022 World Cup and the France women's team, has been contracted until the end of the 2026 World Cup.
16 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Uruguay dominated but settled for a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia in Miami, with Abdulelah al-Amri giving the Saudis a first-half lead and Maxi Araujo equalizing in the second half, leaving Group H with all four teams on one point after Spain's 0-0 draw with Cape Verde.
16 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Across South America, football-inspired baby names are booming, with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe among the most popular in Ecuador and Colombia. In Ecuador, 3,847 children are named Neymar and over 2,800 are named Kylian, according to the country's civil registry.
11 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The FIFA World Cup kicks off Thursday with the first tournament co-hosted by three nations (United States, Canada, and Mexico) featuring a record 48 teams. The opening match pits co-host Mexico against South Africa in Mexico City, while the final will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.
10 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Six teams from CONCACAF have secured places at the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup: co-hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States, plus Curaçao, Haiti, and Panama. The tournament will be held from 11 June to 19 July 2026 and will be the first World Cup to feature 48 teams and be hosted by three countries.
6 June 2026 · Informanté →
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay have secured direct places in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held jointly in Canada, Mexico and the United States from 11 June to 19 July 2026 and will feature an expanded 48-team format for the first time.
5 June 2026 · Informanté →
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams competing in 104 matches across the United States, Mexico and Canada from 11 June to 19 July 2026. It marks the first World Cup hosted by three countries and the first with 48 teams, up from the previous 32-team format.
1 June 2026 · Informanté →
Lionel Messi, who led Argentina to victory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, will compete in his sixth World Cup during the upcoming tournament in North America at age 39, despite having seemingly retired from international football after winning the trophy.
29 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Former Welwitschias and Falcons winger Johan Corné Greyling, who represented Namibia at three Rugby World Cups and earned 48 caps for his country, is Namibia's all-time top try scorer with 29 tries. He credits his evolution from speed-focused play as a younger player to a more technical and tactical approach as he aged.
29 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Spain's World Cup campaign is shadowed by injury concerns, with star winger Lamine Yamal potentially missing the opening two matches against Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia due to a hamstring injury, and key players including Ballon d'Or winner Rodri struggling with recent injuries. Coach Luis de la Fuente has nonetheless expressed confidence that Spain can win the tournament.
28 May 2026 · The Namibian →