Also known as: 2018 World Cup finals · summer World Cup · T20 Cricket World Cup · T20 Cricket World Cup 2026
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
The Namibian
… Traeen stripped reigning champion Tadej Pogacar of the jersey just two days after Norway stunned five-time winners Brazil at the World Cup thanks to a brace from Erling Haaland. …
Nordic joy as Traeen takes yellow, Pedersen wins Tour de France 4th stageThe Namibian
Fired-up Belgium brought the United States’ World Cup party to a shuddering halt on Monday, thrashing the tournament co-hosts 4-1 to set up a quarter-final showdown with Spain. …
Belgium thrash USA to end World Cup dream and set up Spain showdownThe Namibian
Fifa chief Gianni Infantino on Monday defended the decision to reprieve US World Cup star Folarin Balogun after Donald Trump said he had appealed directly to the head of world football’s governing body over the issue. …
Fifa chief forced to defend Balogun World Cup reprieveThe Namibian
… said Del Toro. “To appreciate Tadej, being in the same team as him, and the best team in the world. “It’s just really like full emotions, and you cannot believe how it feels now for me, and especially for my country,” added Del Toro, with Mexico due to play England in a World Cup …
Del Toro wins Tour de France stage, Pogacar up to 2ndThe Namibian
England face Mexico in a World Cup blockbuster at the Estadio Azteca on Sunday while Erling Haaland and Norway bid to ambush Brazil as the battle for quarter-final places heats up. …
England, Mexico take centre stage in Azteca blockbusterThe Namibian
Canada became the first of the co-hosts to exit the World Cup as a clinical Morocco won 3-0 to reach the quarter-finals on Saturday in Houston. …
Ruthless Morocco break Canadian hearts to reach World Cup quartersThe Namibian
Erling Haaland has feasted on defences throughout the World Cup, and Norway will need their talismanic striker at his ruthless best if they are to topple Brazil in Sunday’s last-16 clash. …
Norway pin hopes on Haaland against Brazil in World Cup last 16The Namibian
France coach Didier Deschamps promised Friday his team would be able to adapt to the potential impact of extreme weather on their World Cup last-16 tie against Paraguay on Saturday as a brutal heatwave hits the northeastern United States. …
France braced for extreme heat threat in World Cup clash with ParaguayThe Namibian
Portugal battled into the last 16 of the World Cup with a drama-filled 2-1 victory over Croatia on Thursday to set up a titanic showdown with European champions Spain. …
Portugal advance after VAR drama to set up Spain showdownThe Namibian
… The ban began at noon on Friday local time ahead of France’s World Cup match with Norway and lasted until Sunday morning. …
Europe’s heatwave linked to 1 300 deathsBayern Munich striker Harry Kane received his second European Golden Shoe after scoring the most goals in Europe's top divisions last season, with 36 in 31 Bundesliga games. Kane said his "best season ever" — during which he scored 73 goals for club and country — positions him to compete for the Ballon d'Or.
19 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane received his second European Golden Shoe after scoring the most goals in Europe's top divisions last season, with 36 in 31 Bundesliga games. Kane said his "best season ever" — during which he scored 73 goals for club and country — positions him to compete for the Ballon d'Or.
19 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Spain's World Cup-winning captain Rodri has completed his move to La Liga champions Barcelona from Manchester City on a deal running until 2030, with the transfer value reaching 76.5 million euros including bonuses after two failed bids.
19 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Former Liverpool star Mohamed Salah completed a transfer to Turkish club Trabzonspor on a two-year contract after leaving Liverpool at the end of his contract. The 34-year-old Egyptian international will earn 17 million euros per season plus bonuses and a 20 percent share of jersey and merchandise revenue, described as a record for the Turkish league.
6 August 2026 · The Namibian →
New AC Milan coach Ruben Amorim has vowed to honour club legend Franco Baresi, who died last week, as he begins his tenure with a Milan derby against Inter in Perth on Wednesday. The Portuguese coach aims for a top-four Serie A finish after AC Milan missed the Champions League last season, and will have veteran midfielder Luka Modric available after his contract extension.
4 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who rode high after overseeing the successful 2026 World Cup expansion to 48 teams, now faces his position under threat following the collapse of a private investor plan.
4 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has lost the confidence of European football's governing body Uefa after withdrawing his plan to allow private investment in the World Cup, which Uefa had dismissed as a "shabby, back room, opaque deal" and threatened to boycott all Fifa competitions over.
1 August 2026 · 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 July 2026 · The Namibian →
South Africa and France top their respective tables after the southern hemisphere Tests in the inaugural Nations Championship. The Springboks, New Zealand and other southern hemisphere nations will visit the northern hemisphere in November to play three Tests apiece before a grand final at Twickenham on November 27-29.
20 July 2026 · The Namibian →
England beat France 6-4 in the 2026 World Cup third-place playoff as Kylian Mbappe became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history. Both teams had reached the semi-finals but suffered exits — France were outplayed by Spain while England suffered a late collapse against Argentina.
19 July 2026 · The Namibian →
England rugby's No. 8 Ben Earl scored twice to guide England to a 31-24 victory over Argentina in the Nations Championship on Saturday, with a late Argentina try being ruled out after a television review. The match was marked by ill-discipline and tension stemming from Argentina's recent football World Cup victory over England.
19 July 2026 · The Namibian →
France defeated Japan 42-15 on Saturday in Tokyo to complete their Nations Championship southern hemisphere series with two wins and one loss. France scored six tries in the comfortable victory over the outclassed Japan side.
18 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Spain and Argentina face off in a World Cup final on Sunday, with reigning champions Argentina seeking to become the first team in 64 years to successfully defend the title, while Messi, aged 39, is likely playing his final World Cup match.
17 July 2026 · The Namibian →
All Blacks coach Dave Rennie has confirmed that playmaker Richie Mo'unga will not be selected for the upcoming four-Test series against South Africa, as Mo'unga remains ineligible under national union eligibility rules until October due to his time playing club rugby in Japan.
17 July 2026 · The Namibian →
England were beaten 2-1 by defending champions Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals, with Lionel Messi setting up both Argentina goals in a second-half turnaround after Anthony Gordon had put England ahead. Captain Harry Kane said the team were "gutted" after working hard to reach the semi-finals.
16 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Spain beat tournament favourites France 2-0 in the World Cup semi-final on Tuesday, with goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro, to advance to Sunday's final where they will face either Argentina or England.
14 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 →
Ireland beat Japan 36-20 in the Nations Championship on Saturday to stretch their win streak to six, with five Irish players scoring tries on neutral territory at Newcastle, north of Sydney.
11 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Belgium meet Spain in the World Cup quarter-finals on Friday, seeking to break Spain's defence, which has recorded six consecutive World Cup clean sheets—a first in history. Spain have conceded just six shots on target in five matches and are playing possession-based football similar to their 2010 World Cup-winning approach.
9 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Fifa referees chief Pierluigi Collina has rejected "unfounded allegations" of malpractice by officials who oversaw Argentina's 3-2 World Cup victory over Egypt in Atlanta. Egypt coach Hossam Hassan had speculated the officiating team was subjected to external pressure to favour Argentina and criticised several decisions, including a goal chalked off by VAR.
9 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Egyptian Football Federation filed a complaint with FIFA after Egypt's 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the World Cup last 16, demanding an investigation into French referee Francois Letexier and his team over what it claims were serious refereeing mistakes, including a disallowed goal and a missed penalty decision.
8 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Torstein Traeen of Norway claimed the Tour de France race leader's yellow jersey while Mads Pedersen of Denmark won the fourth stage, a 182km stage from Carcassonne to Foix. Pedersen, the 2019 world champion, also took the green points jersey with his victory in the sprint finish.
7 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Belgium beat the United States 4-1 in a World Cup last-16 match at Seattle's Lumen Field, with Charles De Ketelaere scoring twice and Romelu Lukaku adding a goal. The result ended USA's hopes of reaching a first World Cup quarter-final in 24 years and set up a quarter-final between Belgium and Spain.
7 July 2026 · The Namibian →
FIFA chief Gianni Infantino defended the decision to suspend a red card issued to US World Cup star Folarin Balogun, allowing him to play against Belgium in a last-16 match. The reprieve followed US President Donald Trump's direct appeal to Infantino, who insisted FIFA's disciplinary process remained independent, while Belgium's appeal was dismissed as "inadmissible."
7 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 →
Morocco defeated Canada 3-0 on Saturday in Houston to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, with goals from Azzedine Ounahi (twice) and Soufiane Rahimi. Canada, the first co-host to exit the tournament, fell despite a strong first-half performance and will not advance past the last 16.
4 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Norway will play Brazil in Sunday's World Cup last-16 match, hoping to repeat their 1998 group-stage victory. Erling Haaland, who scored his fifth goal at the tournament against Ivory Coast, is central to their hopes, though Coach Solbakken acknowledges Brazil are favourites.
4 July 2026 · The Namibian →
France coach Didier Deschamps said his team would adapt to potential extreme weather impacts ahead of their World Cup last-16 tie against Paraguay in Philadelphia on Saturday, as a heatwave hits the northeastern United States with temperatures reaching 38 degrees Celsius.
3 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 →
A heatwave sweeping Europe has been linked to more than 1,300 excess deaths since 21 June, according to WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus, with France reporting around 1,000 extra deaths since Wednesday. Record temperatures have been broken across the continent, including in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic, with Tedros warning that Europe is heating at twice the global average and calling for heat health action plans.
2 July 2026 · The Namibian →