Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Informanté
Staff Reporter THE 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest edition of the tournament in history, featuring 48 teams competing in 104 matches across the United States, Mexico and Canada from 11 June to 19 July 2026. …
FIFA World Cup 2026 set to make history with 48 teams across three host nationsThe Namibian
… Substitute Koki Ogawa scored in the 87th minute to send Japan to the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico on a high after a tough night in front of more than 60,000 at the National Stadium. …
Japan edge Iceland in final pre World Cup friendlyThe Namibian
… The overwhelming majority of supporters were clad in green for Mexico, which will co-host the 2026 edition along with the US and Canada, with just a smattering of Australian yellow dotted around the cavernous stands. …
World Cup co hosts Mexico edge Australia in friendlyThe Namibian
After a decade-long march up the Fifa rankings, co-hosts Canada are hoping to crown their rise by claiming a piece of World Cup history in Group B — a first ever win. …
Canada targeting World Cup first in Group B campaignThe Namibian
… ine for his return to physical activity will depend on his clinical and functional progress.” That gave precious little indication about the status of the eight-time Ballon D’Or winner as Argentina prepares to defend the crown in a World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada …
Messi diagnosed with left hamstring fatigue, return plan uncertainThe Namibian
… Canada’s Boady Santavy and US lifter Wesley Kitts attempted record men’s snatch lifts of 183kg and 197kg respectively, but fell short — despite organizers bending the rules to give each a fourth attempt. …
Swimmer Gkolomeev ‘breaks’ record at drug fueled Enhanced GamesThe Namibian
… In seafood products, countries such as Russia and Canada continue to maintain strong positions. …
Namibia’s Export Opportunities and the Challenge Over Policy CertaintyInformanté
… Globally, the company reported consolidated gold production of 237,763 ounces during the first quarter, with operations in Mali, the Philippines, Canada and Namibia all performing above expectations. …
B2Gold records robust first-quarter earningsThe Namibian
… Jesse Marsch, who’s right into high pressing up in Canada, might be able to do that, but I’m not sure that in some parts of the US or even Mexico it will be easy to do.” There is also something more basic, but which has become a defining feature of this Premier League season: the …
How might this World Cup be won on the pitch?The Namibian
… However Neymar, who rejoined boyhood club Santos in January after an injury-ravaged stint in Saudi Arabia, has now earned Ancelotti’s stamp of approval for the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. …
Neymar back in Brazil squad for fourth World CupThe 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.
5 hours ago · 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.
5 hours ago · Informanté →
Japan defeated Iceland 1-0 in Tokyo on Sunday in their final warm-up before the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Coach Hajime Moriyasu said the win, secured by a substitute Koki Ogawa goal in the 87th minute, demonstrated that Japan can grind out victories at the tournament, despite a flat performance and Iceland's dangerous counter-attacking chances.
31 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Mexico defeated Australia 1-0 in a friendly at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles on Saturday, with defender Johan Vasquez scoring from a corner in the first half. Mexico will co-host the 2026 World Cup alongside the US and Canada.
31 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Canada, co-hosts for an upcoming World Cup, are targeting their first-ever tournament victory after losing all six previous matches across appearances in 1986 and 2022. Coach Jesse Marsch's squad, featuring Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies and Juventus's Jonathan David, reached the 2024 Copa America semi-finals and will face Bosnia-Herzegovina, Qatar, and Switzerland in their group.
26 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Lionel Messi was diagnosed with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring after leaving Inter Miami's match on Sunday, with no clear return date announced. The injury comes weeks before the World Cup, which kicks off June 11 with Argentina's first match scheduled five days later against Algeria.
26 May 2026 · The Namibian →
At the Enhanced Games in Las Vegas, Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev posted a time of 20.81sec in the men's 50m freestyle, faster than the world record of 20.88sec, though the record is not official as the event permits performance-enhancing substances. The time earned him a $1 million bonus, though athletics governing bodies have refused to recognize records from the competition.
25 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's recent inclusion in China's zero-tariff market access arrangement marks a major development as trade relations between the countries deepen. In 2025, bilateral trade exceeded N$39 billion with China as Namibia's second-largest trading partner, with exports accounting for 18.1% of total exports (N$22.7 billion) driven primarily by uranium, nickel, cobalt, lead, and copper ores.
20 May 2026 · The Namibian →
B2Gold Corp reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter 2026 results, with Namibia's Otjikoto Mine producing 24,529 ounces of gold—lower than the prior year's 52,578 ounces but exceeding internal expectations due to higher ore grades and gold prices. The mine generated US$155.1 million in gold revenue, compared to US$148 million in Q1 2025, with cash operating costs of US$896 per ounce, below projections.
20 May 2026 · Informanté →
The article examines how international football differs from club football, citing the absence of a transfer market and the pragmatic constraints on national team coaches who must work with available players and fewer high-profile matches.
19 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer Neymar was recalled to the national team for the World Cup after a near three-year absence, the biggest surprise in coach Carlo Ancelotti's 26-man squad. Neymar, who last played for Brazil in 2023 before injuries sidelined him, has now rejoined Santos and earned selection for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
18 May 2026 · The Namibian →
FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom described a meeting held Saturday in Istanbul with the Iranian football federation as "excellent" and "constructive," aimed at ensuring Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Iranian federation president said discussions covered concerns and joint commitment to Iran's smooth participation, though visas had not yet been issued.
18 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Iran held a send-off ceremony for its national football team ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The team, coached by Amir Ghalenoei, will face New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in Group G, opening their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.
14 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Koryx Copper has filed a new technical report with an updated mineral resource estimate for its Haib Copper Project in southern Namibia, prepared by independent consultants. The company plans to publish a new preliminary economic assessment by the end of Q2 2026 and complete 50,000 metres of additional drilling by summer 2026 to support a prefeasibility study expected in Q4 2026.
12 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The one-month countdown to the 2026 Fifa World Cup begins Monday with a record 48 teams descending on the United States, Canada and Mexico, though soaring ticket prices, political tensions, and conflict in Iran have cast an early shadow over the tournament.
10 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Paladin Energy says rising global nuclear energy demand and a uranium supply shortage are creating opportunities for the company to strengthen value from its uranium assets, including the Langer Heinrich Mine in Namibia's Erongo region. The company is focused on increasing production while maintaining financial flexibility and benefiting from long-term uranium supply contracts.
7 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Elaine Thompson-Herah anchored Jamaica to victory in the women's 4x100m relay at the world relays in Botswana, with Canada second and Spain third. Botswana won the men's 4x400m relay, with Letsile Tebogo anchoring for the team that defeated South Africa and Australia.
3 May 2026 · The Namibian →
FIFA boosted total World Cup cash distributions to nearly $900 million (specifically $871 million) from an initial $727 million, citing concerns over rising costs for the 48 teams competing in Mexico, Canada and the United States. The increase includes raising preparation costs per team from $1.5 million to $2.5 million and qualifying payments from $9 million to $10 million per team.
29 April 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece reflects on a Big Ben concert at Zoo Park, describing a chaotic but emotionally connected crowd that sang along enthusiastically, with moments including a live proposal, though the artist struggled with lyrics and the performance was imperfect overall.
25 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia scored 46/100 in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, dropping six places to 65th globally and recording its worst-ever performance. A criminal intelligence analyst outlines international anti-corruption policy options—including asset disclosure, whistleblower protection, extractive industry transparency, and fiscal openness—that Namibia could adopt to strengthen enforcement and accountability.
17 April 2026 · New Era →
Namibian commercial banks have no policies to refund defrauded clients, even as the Bank of Namibia reports losses of over N$6 million monthly to fraud. Banks claim liability rests with customers who authorize transactions under deception, while victims say they have been denied compensation; international regulators in the UK and EU are moving to mandate refunds to fraud victims.
16 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution on 25 March declaring the transatlantic slave trade and system of chattel slavery "the gravest crime against humanity," with 123 votes in favour, three against, and 52 abstentions. Ghana led the effort, which marks a shift in global discourse from historical remembrance to institutional accountability and reparatory justice, though major nations including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and EU members abstained, reflecting continued international unease about acknowledgment and potential liability.
15 April 2026 · The Namibian →
A health education researcher argues that the migration of healthcare workers from poorer to wealthier countries is not simply driven by individual choice, but is shaped by colonial legacies and global inequality. Solutions require African governments to invest in local retention and working conditions, while high-income countries must reduce reliance on international recruitment and reform global knowledge hierarchies that devalue non-Western expertise.
15 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The FNB Namibia Eagles suffered a seven-wicket defeat to Scotland and now hold fifth place on the Cricket World Cup Division 2 log with 22 points from 28 matches, six points behind the Netherlands in fourth and facing increased pressure to qualify for the World Cup final qualifier.
14 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts, and Culture has sponsored N$400,000 to support the Namibian choir Collective Singers for a singing tour in Canada from 11 to 25 April, representing the country alongside choirs from around the world. Deputy Minister Dino Ballotti said the financial support reflects the government's commitment to investing in talent and enabling Namibian artists to perform on global stages.
10 April 2026 · New Era →
Namibia is repositioning its foreign policy to compete in a world where economic strength defines global standing, with 69.5% of the International Relations and Trade Ministry's N$1.37 billion budget allocated to foreign missions. Minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi warned of emerging "electro state nations" and called for diplomatic missions to act as economic engines protecting national interests amid global instability and competition over critical minerals and technology.
2 April 2026 · New Era →
According to a Higher School of Economics analysis, NATO is experiencing structural fractures as the US under Trump repositions from European leadership to a demanding hegemon role focused on China containment, while questioning allies' territorial integrity and reducing Ukraine support. European members now doubt the credibility of US nuclear guarantees and seek alternatives, though a unified European defence remains politically unrealistic, suggesting the alliance will persist but with reduced cohesion and interest-driven rather than collective cooperation.
2 April 2026 · New Era →
Italy's Sport Minister Andrea Abodi called for the head of the national football federation, Gabriele Gravina, to step down after the team failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shoot-out. Gravina said he would not resign but a board meeting next week would determine his position, while he blamed a lack of state support and insisted Italian football faces a "profound crisis."
2 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Israel's defence minister announced that after the war with Hezbollah ends, Israel will maintain military control over a swath of southern Lebanon extending to the Litani River, and will demolish houses in border villages. Lebanon's government and international critics including the UN, Canada, and European nations have condemned the plan as an illegal occupation and collective punishment.
1 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The Czech Republic beat Denmark 2-2 after extra time and won 3-1 on penalties in a World Cup playoff in Prague on Tuesday, securing their first World Cup appearance since 2006. They will face Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea in Group A of the tournament in June and July.
1 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Italy fell to Bosnia and Hercegovina 4-1 on penalties in a World Cup qualification play-off, with the Azzurri playing most of the match with 10 men after Alessandro Bastoni's red card and failing to convert their penalty attempts. The loss marks Italy's third consecutive World Cup absence, while Bosnia qualified for the tournament in North America for the second time.
1 April 2026 · The Namibian →