Also known as: hosts Mexico
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
The Namibian
Iraq became the 48th and final team to qualify for the World Cup on Tuesday, defeating Bolivia 2-1 in an intercontinental playoff in Mexico to seal their first appearance at the finals in 40 years. …
Iraq beat Bolivia 2-1 to claim final World Cup placeThe Namibian
… Defender Axel Tuanzebe, who plays in the Premier League for Burnley, was the hero with the only goal in a 1-0 win over Jamaica after extra time in an intercontinental playoff in Mexico on Tuesday. …
DR Congo fans dance in the rain after sealing World Cup spotThe Namibian
… The goal completes a dramatic qualification campaign for the Leopards, who eliminated African football giants Nigeria and Cameroon on their way to Tuesday’s playoff in Mexico. …
DR Congo beat Jamaica 1-0 to qualify for World CupThe Namibian
… The Czechs will play their first World Cup since 2006, facing Mexico, South Africa and South Korea in Group A of the tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico in June and July. …
Czech Republic beat Denmark on penalties to reach World CupThe Namibian
… Italy are the first World Cup winners to miss out on three consecutives editions of the tournament, which this year will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. …
Italy to miss third straight World Cup after shoot out defeat to BosniaThe Namibian
… With the match locked at two-apiece the Arsenal striker forced the ball over the line after a frantic goalmouth scramble with just two minutes remaining to qualify Sweden for the finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada. …
Gyokeres sends Sweden to World Cup with dramatic winner against PolandThe Namibian
… The London-based human rights organisation’s report — “Humanity Must Win” — called on both FIFA and host countries the US, Canada and Mexico to take urgent action to protect fans, players and other communities. …
World Cup risks being ‘stage for repression': AmnestyThe Namibian
… Peru finished ninth in the ten-team South American group and did not qualify for the summer’s finals in Mexico, Canada and the United States.
Senegal parade Afcon trophy at Stade de France, despite being stripped of titleThe Namibian
… They parted ways with coach Walid Regragui in the wake of the final, a few months before the 2026 World Cup begins in the United States, Mexico and Canada. …
Controversial African champions Morocco salvage Ecuador draw on Ouahbi debutThe Namibian
… South Africa are in Group A at the World Cup with co-hosts Mexico, South Korea and the Czech Republic or Denmark. …
Mudau atones for error by helping South Africa draw with PanamaAfrican football boss Patrice Motsepe defended FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Wednesday, praising his commitment to football and support for Africa, despite growing criticism over Infantino's handling of issues including a suspension decision and tournament format changes.
22 hours ago · The Namibian →
African football boss Patrice Motsepe defended FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Wednesday, praising his commitment to football and support for Africa, despite growing criticism over Infantino's handling of issues including a suspension decision and tournament format changes.
22 hours ago · The Namibian →
Fifa declares the expanded 48-team World Cup across the United States, Mexico and Canada a triumph, marked by thrilling football and strong performances from smaller nations including Cape Verde, Curaçao, and Egypt, who reached knockout rounds in record numbers.
19 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Argentina are one game away from becoming just the third team to successfully defend the World Cup, with European champions Spain standing in their way. The article examines how previous World Cup winners fared when they reached the final in the following tournament, including Italy (1938), Brazil (1962), and Argentina (1990).
18 July 2026 · The Namibian →
England and Argentina will meet in a World Cup semi-final on Wednesday, with the winner advancing to the final on July 19. The match carries decades of rivalry, including a 1986 quarter-final encounter won by Argentina on goals from Diego Maradona, and takes place amid a lingering sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands.
13 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Jude Bellingham netted twice in extra-time to lead England past Norway 2-1 in the World Cup quarter-final. England will face Argentina or Switzerland in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
12 July 2026 · The Namibian →
England play Norway in a World Cup quarter-final in Miami on Friday with Kane and Haaland as their leading scorers; the winners will face either Argentina or Switzerland in the semi-finals.
11 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Hugo Broos has confirmed his exit as South Africa's national football coach after the team's elimination from the 2026 World Cup. Multiple candidates, including Pitso Mosimane, have applied to succeed him, though the football federation may retain Broos in an advisory capacity.
10 July 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 →
France begin their push for a third World Cup title Thursday against African champions Morocco in a blockbuster quarter-final at Gillette Stadium. France have scored 14 goals in five games, with captain Kylian Mbappe accounting for seven of them, while Morocco advanced through the group phase and eliminated the Netherlands and Canada.
8 July 2026 · The Namibian →
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 →
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.
6 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Mexican Isaac Del Toro won the second stage of the Tour de France in Barcelona on Sunday, ahead of reigning champion Tadej Pogacar, while Jonas Vingegaard maintained his overall lead.
5 July 2026 · 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 →
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 →
Harry Kane says he feels "as good as ever" as he pursues more World Cup goals for England; the captain has scored 72 goals for club and country in the 2025/26 campaign, second only to Lionel Messi's 82-goal haul in 2011/12, and has five goals at the World Cup so far.
3 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 →
Coach Hugo Broos's South Africa beat South Korea 1-0 to finish second in Group A and qualify for the World Cup knockout phase for the first time, ahead of a last-32 match against Canada in Los Angeles.
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 →
The Netherlands defeated Tunisia 3-1 to finish atop World Cup Group F with seven points, avoiding Brazil and setting up a second-round match against Morocco in Monterrey on Monday.
26 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Ecuador upset Germany 2-1 to qualify for the World Cup last 32, with Gonzalo Plata scoring the winning goal in the 77th minute. Ivory Coast beat Curacao 2-0 to finish second in Group E, eliminating the tournament's smallest country by population.
26 June 2026 · The Namibian →
South Africa beat South Korea 1-0 on Wednesday to reach the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in their history, recovering from an opening 2-0 loss to Mexico. The victory, sealed by Thapelo Maseko's second-half goal, comes as Bafana Bafana compete in a World Cup for the first time since hosting it in 2010.
25 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Belgium drew 0-0 with Iran in a World Cup Group G match, with Nathan Ngoy sent off in the second half after fouling Mehdi Taremi. All three games in Group G have ended in draws, leaving Belgium on two points ahead of their final group match against New Zealand.
22 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Cody Gakpo and Brian Brobbey both scored twice as the Netherlands defeated Sweden 5-1 in Houston. The win put the Dutch on top of Group F with four points from two games, ahead of Sweden on three points.
20 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Brazil defeated Haiti 3-0 in a World Cup Group C match to eliminate the Caribbean nation from contention, with goals from Matheus Cunha (two) and Vinicius Junior, though Brazil's Raphinha suffered an apparent injury. Morocco won their first tournament game, defeating Scotland 1-0 with a goal from Ismael Saibari in the second minute.
20 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The United States defeated Australia 2-0 in a Group D match, advancing to the last 32 of the World Cup with a game to spare. A Cameron Burgess own goal and an Alex Freeman header secured the victory for Mauricio Pochettino's side.
19 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia has been removed from the Financial Action Task Force Grey List after successfully addressing strategic deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework. The decision, announced at the FATF Plenary in Paris in June 2026, follows Namibia's completion of all actions in its agreed action plan since being placed on the list in February 2024.
19 June 2026 · Informanté →
The United States and Australia will compete in Group D on Friday in Seattle, with the winner advancing to the knockout rounds. The USA defeated Paraguay 4-1 in their opening match, while Australia upset Turkey 2-0, leaving both teams in confident form ahead of their clash.
19 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Mexico became the first team to reach the knockout round of the World Cup with a 1-0 victory over South Korea, while Canada thrashed Qatar 6-0 to move towards the last 32 and secure their first ever World Cup victory.
19 June 2026 · The Namibian →