Verbatim sentences from the source article.
The Namibian
… Diaz starred in Colombia’s run to the World Cup last-16 and the winger lit up a sometimes scrappy game between last season’s German double-winners and the Europa League champions. …
Diaz inspires Bayern to friendly win over VillaInformanté
… Switzerland, meanwhile, ended a 72-year wait for a World Cup quarter-final appearance by defeating Colombia 4-3 on penalties following a goalless 120 minutes. …
FIFA World Cup quarter-finals set as eight teams battle for semi-final placesThe Namibian
… Now they face Switzerland in Kansas City, who beat Colombia on penalties in Vancouver after a goalless draw. …
World Cup: Eight teams remain in the hunt for gloryThe Namibian
Switzerland beat Colombia 4-3 on penalties after a goalless draw on Tuesday to set up a quarter-final with defending champions Argentina. …
Switzerland beat Colombia on penalties to reach World Cup quarter finalsThe Namibian
… But despite a second almighty scare against African opposition, Argentina will face either Colombia or Switzerland in the last eight on Saturday. …
Argentina produce epic World Cup fightback to beat Egypt, reach quartersThe Namibian
… If they were to win that game in Miami on Saturday, they would face defending champions Argentina, Switzerland, Colombia or Egypt in the semi-finals. …
England’s World Cup campaign takes flight with Mexico winThe Namibian
… After coming second behind Colombia in their group, Roberto Martinez’s side beat Croatia 2-1 in the last 32 with Ronaldo scoring from the spot. …
‘World Cup starts now’ as Spain, Portugal clash in last 16The Namibian
… In Friday’s late game, Colombia stayed on course for a quarter-final meeting with Argentina after squeezing past Ghana 1-0 in Kansas City. …
Argentina advance after Cape Verde World Cup scare, Egypt throughThe Namibian
… Goals from Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye saw Switzerland into the next round, where they will face the winners of Friday’s game between Colombia and Ghana. …
Portugal advance after VAR drama to set up Spain showdownThe Namibian
… A narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia meant they had to beat Uzbekistan to reach the knockout stages for the first time. …
We came from nothing’: DR Congo dreams of England World Cup upsetLuis Diaz scored a spectacular goal to help Bayern Munich defeat Aston Villa 2-1 in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong on Friday. Kim Min-jae opened the scoring for Bayern before Diaz added a dipping shot off the crossbar, with Joao Gomes pulling one back for Villa late in the match.
7 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Luis Diaz scored a spectacular goal to help Bayern Munich defeat Aston Villa 2-1 in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong on Friday. Kim Min-jae opened the scoring for Bayern before Diaz added a dipping shot off the crossbar, with Joao Gomes pulling one back for Villa late in the match.
7 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals feature Argentina versus Switzerland, France versus Morocco, Spain versus Belgium, and Norway versus England, with matches beginning 9 July at various venues and times.
9 July 2026 · Informanté →
The FIFA World Cup has reached the quarter-final stage with eight teams remaining, including France, Morocco, Spain, and Belgium. Matches are taking place in the United States beginning Thursday.
8 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Switzerland defeated Colombia 4-3 on penalties after a goalless draw in the final Round of 16 match of the 2026 World Cup outside the United States, setting up a quarter-final against defending champions Argentina.
8 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Argentina staged a stunning comeback from 2-0 down to beat Egypt 3-2 and reach the World Cup quarter-finals, scoring three goals in the final 11 minutes plus stoppage time. Lionel Messi scored the equaliser to extend his record to nine consecutive World Cup games with a goal.
7 July 2026 · The Namibian →
England won 3-2 against Mexico in Mexico City at the Estadio Azteca despite playing with ten men after defender Jarell Quansah received a red card early in the second half. The victory sets up a quarter-final match against Norway and is hailed as England's greatest win on foreign soil.
7 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Spain and Portugal meet in a World Cup last-16 clash in Texas on Monday, with the quarter-finals and possibly Cristiano Ronaldo's international career at stake. Spain advanced by defeating Austria 3-0 in the first knockout round.
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 →
Portugal advanced to the World Cup last 16 with a 2-1 victory over Croatia, with Goncalo Ramos scoring the winner in stoppage time after VAR ruled out Croatia's apparent late equaliser for offside. The match sets up a showdown with Spain, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a penalty in the contest.
3 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Despite navigating 13 qualifiers, a pre-tournament quarantine due to an Ebola outbreak, and decades of conflict, DR Congo has reached the World Cup for the first time since 1974 and will face England in the last 32. The squad includes players born outside Congo, many in France, including Newcastle striker Yoane Wissa.
30 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Jude Bellingham scored and assisted as England defeated Panama 2-0 to top World Cup Group L, with Harry Kane adding a second goal. England will now face a third-placed team in the knockout rounds rather than Portugal.
28 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, destroying buildings in Caracas including a 22-story structure, according to the USGS. The quakes triggered panic, with some buildings collapsing and the Interior Minister urging people to leave their homes; fatalities were not yet confirmed.
25 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Colombia defeated DR Congo 1-0 on Tuesday, with Daniel Munoz scoring in the 76th minute, securing their place in the World Cup knockout stage and moving to the top of Group K with six points.
24 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score at six World Cup tournaments, netting twice as Portugal defeated Uzbekistan 5-0. The 41-year-old captain said it was "a difficult week, a dark week" but that he remained committed to helping his country achieve its objectives.
23 June 2026 · The Namibian →
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 →
Portugal defeated Nigeria 2-1 in a World Cup warm-up fixture, with goals from Pedro Neto and Francisco Conceicao securing the victory despite Cristiano Ronaldo wasting several chances. Portugal will face the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia in Group K of the World Cup, opening their campaign on June 17 in Houston.
11 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 →
Portugal beat Chile 2-1 and Belgium defeated Tunisia 5-0 in home friendlies on Saturday. Both sides will face their World Cup group opponents after the upcoming matches.
7 June 2026 · The Namibian →
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 →
Cristiano Ronaldo is making a record sixth World Cup appearance with Portugal, who face DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia in Group K. At 41, Ronaldo has not scored in his last nine World Cup and Euro matches combined, though manager Roberto Martinez has kept faith in him after his recent success in the Nations League.
30 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Germany, four-time champions seeking to break their recent World Cup struggles after failing to advance from the group stage in both 2018 and 2022, will face Ivory Coast, Ecuador, and Curaçao in Group E at the 2026 World Cup in North America.
28 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Four-time champions Germany will compete in Group E at the 2026 World Cup alongside 2023 Africa Cup of Nations champions Ivory Coast, Ecuador, and World Cup debutants Curacao, seeking to escape group-stage elimination after failing to advance in the last two tournaments.
27 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are set to become the first players to appear in six different World Cups at this year's tournament in North America, two decades after their debuts at the finals. Despite Messi suggesting his career was complete after Argentina's 2022 World Cup victory, he has continued playing, most recently winning the MLS Cup with Inter Miami and captaining Argentina to Copa America victory in 2024.
16 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The MTC Nestor Sunshine Boxing Academy will host the Tribute to Founding President Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma Boxing Bonanza on 9 May, featuring title defences by Fillipus Energy Nghitumbwa and Mateus Heita, alongside other top Namibian fighters. The event aims to celebrate Nujoma's legacy in sport development and position local fighters for world title opportunities.
13 April 2026 · New Era →
The Democratic Republic of Congo reached the World Cup for the first time since 1974 after defeating Jamaica 1-0 in an intercontinental playoff. Delirious fans celebrated in the rain across the capital Kinshasa, viewing the qualification as a rare moment of national unity amid ongoing conflict.
2 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The Democratic Republic of Congo defeated Jamaica 1-0 after extra time in an intercontinental playoff to secure their first World Cup appearance in 52 years. Axel Tuanzebe scored the decisive goal in the 100th minute, sending the Leopards to this summer's finals where they will face Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan in Group K.
2 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Desire Doue scored twice as France beat Colombia 3-1 in a friendly in the United States on Sunday, with captain Kylian Mbappe limited to a late substitute appearance. The victory gave France a second win over South American opposition in four days as preparation for the World Cup.
30 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Jordan Bos scored a late goal to give Australia a 1-0 victory over Cameroon in a friendly at Sydney's Stadium Australia, a confidence-boosting result ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Coach Tony Popovic used the match to assess new players, including two debutants, as Australia prepares for their Group D campaign.
28 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Colombia's leftist President Gustavo Petro alleged that an unexploded bomb fell on Colombian territory near the border after Ecuadoran military operations against criminal hideouts, claiming it belongs to the Ecuadoran army. Ecuador's right-wing President Daniel Noboa denied the allegation, saying Ecuador is operating within its own territory against criminal groups largely composed of Colombians.
19 March 2026 · New Era →
Venezuela's ambassador to Namibia has urged the country to learn from Venezuela's political crisis and develop mechanisms to protect its emerging oil and gas sector, cautioning that traditional international law and respect for sovereignty cannot be relied upon. The warning comes as Namibia positions itself as a key oil and gas frontier following major offshore discoveries in the Orange Basin.
5 February 2026 · New Era →