Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Joy Online
The plan The 2022 hosts’ preparations for the tournament were disrupted as the US-Iran war caused the cancellation of valuable friendlies against Serbia and champions Argentina in March. …
Qatar World Cup 2026 team guideThe Ghanaian Times
… Algeria face World Cup holders Argentina in their opening game in Group J in Kansas City on June 16. …
Algeria stun NetherlandsJoy Online
… FIFA should not have a problem selling out the games featuring the marquee teams – Argentina, Brazil, England, Germany and Spain, to name a few. …
What is happening with World Cup ticket prices?The Ghanaian Times
… Despite the turbulence, Bielsa kept his job and will lead Uruguay at his third World Cup, having previously coached Argentina in 2002 and Chile in 2010. …
Bielsa says Suarez ‘owes no apology’ after World Cup omissionThe Chronicle
Argentina icon Angel Di Maria has identified the favourites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer. …
World Cup 2026: ‘They add unique flair to the game’ –Di Maria names favourites to win trophyJoy Online
… The trade department said it would impose 10% tariffs on imports from Canada, the EU, Britain, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Malaysia, and Taiwan. …
US announces new tariffs over forced labour concernsJoy Online
… The trade department said it would impose 10% tariffs on imports from Canada, the EU, Britain, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Indonesia, Malaysia and Taiwan. …
US targets UK, EU, China and others in fresh tariff move over forced labour allegationsThe Ghanaian Times
… Maradona’s classy inch perfect pass to Valdano in the dying embers of the final game against West Germany, handed Argentina a thrilling 3-2 win and edged his name in World Cup folklore. …
World Cup Soccer Fiesta to discuss infamous ‘hand of God’ goal in tonight’s showJoy Online
… Many countries in the region have shifted to the right in recent elections, including Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Honduras and El Salvador. …
Colombia presidential runoff pits leftist senator against pro-Trump rivalJoy Online
Argentina star Lionel Messi suffered an injury scare before the World Cup, requesting a substitution during Inter Miami’s Major League Soccer game on Sunday. …
Messi suffers injury scare before World CupGoalkeepers at this World Cup have reported difficulties with the Adidas Trionda ball, with several conceding goals despite getting a hand to the ball. Former Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel trained with the ball before the tournament, suggesting the ball's design may be contributing to the pattern of goalkeeper errors.
5 hours ago · The Chronicle →
Goalkeepers at this World Cup have reported difficulties with the Adidas Trionda ball, with several conceding goals despite getting a hand to the ball. Former Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel trained with the ball before the tournament, suggesting the ball's design may be contributing to the pattern of goalkeeper errors.
5 hours ago · The Chronicle →
Ivory Coast advanced to the round of 32 after defeating Curacao 2-0, with Nicolas Pepe scoring twice. It is the first time the Ivorians have reached the knockout stages in World Cup history.
12 hours ago · Joy Online →
Ghanaian businesses often find it cheaper to source from Europe, Asia, or the Americas than from neighbouring African countries, according to AmCham Ghana. High logistics costs, expensive air travel, fragmented customs systems, and infrastructure bottlenecks continue to obstruct regional trade and economic integration despite the African Continental Free Trade Area initiative.
23 hours ago · Business & Financial Times →
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi said his side aim to beat Haiti and finish top of Group I ahead of Brazil in their final group fixture on Wednesday. With four points already, Morocco's qualification is highly likely, though the outcome of Brazil's match against Scotland will also determine final group standings.
23 hours ago · Daily Guide →
Mexico scored three second-half goals to eliminate the Czech Republic from the World Cup and complete the group phase with maximum points, with teenager Gilberto Mora becoming the sixth-youngest player in history to start a men's World Cup match.
25 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Switzerland defeated Canada 2–0 to finish top of Group B and secure a place in the World Cup last 32, becoming only the third nation to reach the knockout stages in each of the last four World Cups. Canada qualified for the knockout stages for the first time in their history by finishing second, though they will now play their next match in Los Angeles rather than Canada.
24 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Lionel Messi broke Miroslav Klose's World Cup scoring record after scoring two goals against Austria, taking him to 18 goals across his sixth World Cup appearance. Argentina, the defending champions, qualified for the round of 32 with the victory.
24 June 2026 · Daily Guide →
Lionel Messi, who retired from international football in 2016 after Copa America heartbreak, has reversed that decision and at 38 become the World Cup's all-time leading scorer. Since reversing his retirement, Messi has guided Argentina to two Copa America titles and the 2022 World Cup championship, scoring 13 tournament goals across his sixth World Cup appearance.
24 June 2026 · The Chronicle →
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi said his team aim to beat already-eliminated Haiti in their final group fixture to finish ahead of Brazil in Group I, though he downplayed concerns about possible knockout-round permutations.
24 June 2026 · Joy Online →
France head coach Didier Deschamps has been granted permission to return to France following the death of his mother, and will miss France's final World Cup group game against Norway on Friday. Assistant coach Guy Stephan will take charge of the squad.
23 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Portugal winger Francisco Conceicao said teammates feel no pressure to pass to Cristiano Ronaldo, insisting he passes to whoever is in the best position. Conceicao defended Ronaldo as "just another member of the squad" while acknowledging criticism of the 41-year-old's mobility following Portugal's 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
23 June 2026 · The Chronicle →
Argentina striker Julián Álvarez said he has told Atlético Madrid that a transfer is "the best thing for everyone" to fulfil his dreams, with Barcelona and Paris St-Germain reportedly interested. Álvarez joined Atlético from Manchester City for £81.5m in summer 2024 and has scored 49 goals in 106 games.
23 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Lionel Messi, who retired from international football in 2016 after Copa America disappointment, reversed that decision and has led Argentina to two Copa America titles and the 2022 World Cup. At nearly 39, he became the World Cup's all-time leading scorer after scoring twice against Austria.
22 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Lionel Messi scored twice against Austria to reach 18 World Cup goals, breaking Miroslav Klose's previous record of 16, as Argentina advanced to the last 32 of the 2026 tournament. Messi now has five goals in two matches, having scored a hat-trick in Argentina's opening 3-0 victory over Algeria.
22 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Abelardo de la Espriella, endorsed by Donald Trump and pledging military action against armed groups and drug trafficking, has narrowly won Colombia's presidential election with 49.7% of votes counted, defeating left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda's 48.7%. Cepeda has not conceded, saying the preliminary count is not yet official.
22 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Brazil defeated Haiti 3-0 in their second 2026 World Cup group match, with goals from Matheus Cunha and Vinicius Jr before half-time, but registered no shots on target in the second half while Haiti had seven attempts, prompting questions about when the best version of Brazil will appear in the tournament.
21 June 2026 · Joy Online →
The expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup will see the top two teams from each of 12 groups advance to the last 32, along with eight third-placed teams, with new tiebreaker rules and complex scheduling across three host countries making qualification patterns complex.
20 June 2026 · Joy Online →
African and Caribbean countries have called for formal apologies and reparations from nations that benefited from the transatlantic slave trade, following a three-day conference in Accra. A 19-point reparations plan was endorsed, calling for debt relief, restitution of cultural property, and establishment of a global reparations fund.
20 June 2026 · Joy Online →
The first week of group matches at the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States featured performances by ten African representatives, with standout moments including Amad Diallo's late winner for Ivory Coast against Ecuador, Cape Verde's 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha's draw against Spain, and Ghana's Caleb Yirenkyi scoring a 96th-minute winner against Panama.
19 June 2026 · The Chronicle →
England captain Harry Kane scored twice in England's 4-2 World Cup victory against Croatia, equalling Gary Lineker's record of 10 World Cup goals. Lineker called Kane "the greatest English striker we've ever had," noting Kane's all-round game as exceptional.
18 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Lionel Messi's father is currently under medical supervision and recovering favourably from a health-related condition, the family said in a statement. The statement was issued following speculation after Messi was seen in tears during Argentina's 3-0 World Cup victory over Algeria.
18 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in his 200th international appearance as Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The emotional performance was Messi's first World Cup hat-trick, drawing him level with Miroslav Klose on 16 all-time competition goals, and made him the first player to appear at six FIFA World Cups.
18 June 2026 · Daily Guide →
Kylian Mbappe became France's all-time leading scorer with 58 goals after scoring twice in a 3-1 World Cup Group I win over Senegal, with his second goal coming in stoppage time. He now has 14 World Cup goals, two behind Miroslav Klose and level with Lionel Messi.
18 June 2026 · Daily Guide →
Portugal took a sixth-minute lead through Joao Neves but DR Congo equalized in first-half stoppage time when Yoane Wissa headed home, claiming a draw despite Portugal's dominance of possession.
17 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Tunisia sacked coach Sabri Lamouchi after a 5-1 defeat by Sweden in their World Cup opener and appointed Frenchman Herve Renard to take charge for the remainder of the tournament. Renard, a twice Africa Cup of Nations winner, will negotiate a long-term deal after the World Cup campaign.
17 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a £52m deal with Brighton for Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke, who has one year left on his current contract. The deal includes a significant sell-on clause for Brighton.
16 June 2026 · Joy Online →
France head coach Didier Deschamps says his side will show proper respect to Senegal in their opening 2026 World Cup match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, seeking to avenge a 1-0 defeat to the Lions of Teranga in 2002 when France were defending champions. Deschamps, who won the World Cup as both player (1998) and manager (2018), will step down after the tournament.
16 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Jordan captain Ehsan Haddad said his team approaches their first World Cup appearance with pride rather than pressure ahead of matches against Austria, Algeria, and Argentina. The squad scored 32 goals in qualifying and hopes to become the first team to reach the knockout stage on debut since Slovakia in 2010.
16 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Uruguay's Maxi Araujo scored in the final 10 minutes to earn a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia in a World Cup Group H match, denying the Saudis a second successive opening-game victory after their 2022 win over Argentina. Uruguay dominated with 28 shots on goal.
16 June 2026 · Joy Online →
France captain Kylian Mbappé has pledged to increase his defensive efforts as the two-time world champions begin their World Cup campaign against Senegal on Tuesday, acknowledging criticism over his performances both at Real Madrid and for his country.
15 June 2026 · Joy Online →