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
Mexico ignited their World Cup party with a dominant 2-0 victory over nine-man South Africa on Thursday as the biggest ever edition of the global footballing showpiece kicked off at the iconic Estadio Azteca. …
Mexico beat South Africa to kick off World CupThe Namibian
Portugal beat Nigeria 2-1 in a World Cup warm-up on Wednesday, with goals from Pedro Neto and Francisco Conceicao making up for an off night for Cristiano Ronaldo. …
Portugal beat Nigeria in World Cup tune up despite Ronaldo woesThe Namibian
South Africa coach Hugo Broos has challenged his players to block out an expected wall of sound on Thursday when they take on co-hosts Mexico in their World Cup opener. …
South Africa brace for Azteca test against MexicoNamibian Sun
BBC Somali referee Omar Artan says he was subjected to an 11-hour immigration interview before being denied entry to the United States for the World Cup despite holding the "righ... …
I have right papers and visa - barred referee ArtanThe Namibian
Olympic chief Kirsty Coventry said on Wednesday she was confident for the successful hosting of the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles despite what she described as “challenges” for the World Cup. …
Olympic chief confident for LA Games despite World Cup ‘challenges’The Namibian
Martin Odegaard scored a second-half equaliser as Norway came from behind to force a 1-1 draw with African giants Morocco in a World Cup warm-up match on Sunday. …
Odegaard on target as Norway draw with MoroccoThe Namibian
Coach Darren Bazeley called it “really disappointing” as his New Zealand side suffered a demoralizing 4-0 World Cup warm-up defeat to fellow qualifiers Haiti on Tuesday, in a match delayed by lightning in Florida. …
‘No hiding’ as Haiti thrash New Zealand in pre World Cup friendlyThe Namibian
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu backed his team to grind out wins at the World Cup after edging Iceland 1-0 in their final warm-up friendly in Tokyo on Sunday. …
Japan edge Iceland in final pre World Cup friendlyThe Namibian
Mohamed Salah has unfinished business in what could be his final World Cup as Egypt’s superstar seeks to deliver a first win at the tournament for the Pharaohs. …
Egypt eye World Cup breakthrough in Salah’s likely last World CupThe 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 campaignBayern 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 →