… Spain’s three-time basketball medalist Pau Gasol, now chair of the IOC’s athletes’ commission, said: “While every athlete’s journey is different, every Olympian has made sacrifices to reach the Olympic stage years of dedication, years of hard work, years of believing in a dream. …
Heatwave conditions that have left Spain, France and the UK sweltering for days are set to shift to the east, with forecasters in Germany and the Czech Republic warning of extreme conditions. …
… Spain coach Luis de la Fuente and Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk have supported the intent behind the rule in extreme heat, but questioned the need for it in cooler conditions and at covered venues. …
… Organised with the support of ICEX Spain Trade and Investment, the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade — Taste Spain Accra has been promoting Spanish gastronomy and strengthening commercial relations between Spain and Ghana for more than a decade. …
… So far, France, Spain and Italy have been hardest hit by the heatwave. Forty people have drowned in heatwave-related incidents in France since last Thursday, according to the prime minister. …
The Head of the Economic and Commercial Office of Spain, Yann Emonet Ripoll, has underlined the strong commercial relationship between Spain and Ghana, which has experienced significant growth in recent years. …
… The African nation have now drawn with heavyweights Spain and Uruguay to put themselves in contention for a historic knockout stage qualification. …
Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde face off on Friday in Group H with both teams needing a win to qualify for the Round of 32; Cape Verde, making their World Cup debut, have drawn praise for performances against Spain and Uruguay, while Saudi Arabia seek redemption after a 4-0 loss to Spain.
Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde face off on Friday in Group H with both teams needing a win to qualify for the Round of 32; Cape Verde, making their World Cup debut, have drawn praise for performances against Spain and Uruguay, while Saudi Arabia seek redemption after a 4-0 loss to Spain.
The International Olympic Committee has created a new "fit for the future Olympian grant" of $10,000 per Games to support the sporting careers and career transitions of Olympic athletes, with a $140m fund allocated per Olympics and around 14,000 athletes per Games expected to be eligible.
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.
Extreme heat sweeping Spain, France and the UK is moving to Germany and the Czech Republic, with temperatures potentially reaching 40C in parts of Germany. France has raised its health alert to the highest level after record-breaking temperatures, citing deaths linked to extreme heat among young people with cardiac arrests and the elderly.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended mandatory three-minute hydration breaks introduced in the 22nd and 67th minutes of World Cup matches, saying they are driven purely by sporting considerations for player safety in high temperatures, not commercial interests. The breaks have drawn criticism from players and coaches who argue they disrupt match momentum, though some supporters say they serve a legitimate purpose in extreme heat conditions.
Taste Spain Accra held its 8th edition as a professional platform for Spanish food and beverage companies to showcase their products in Ghana. The event brought together 8 Spanish companies and 3 Ghanaian importers and distributors, with Spanish wine among the featured products alongside a broader selection of Spanish food and beverages.
France faces another day of exceptionally hot weather with more than half the country under red heat alert, following its hottest June day on record at 29.8°C on Tuesday. The heatwave is spreading across western Europe, with severe heat warnings issued for the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Croatia, Hungary and other eastern European countries, and 40 people have drowned in heatwave-related incidents in France since last Thursday.
Forty people have drowned in heatwave-related deaths in France since last Thursday, according to Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, as record temperatures grip France, Spain, and Italy. France recorded its hottest June day on record and issued red alerts across more than half the country, while Spain and Italy also face severe heatwave conditions with temperatures exceeding 40C in some areas.
Spain's Economic and Commercial Office head says bilateral trade has grown significantly, with Ghanaian exports to Spain exceeding €273 million and Spanish exports reaching €267 million in 2025, a 26% increase from the previous year. The Spanish Embassy is promoting commercial ties through events like TASTE SPAIN ACCRA, which showcases Spanish food and beverage products.
Cape Verde's coach Bubista expressed confidence after his World Cup debutants drew 2-2 with Uruguay on Sunday, joining an earlier draw with Spain, putting the African nation in contention for historic knockout stage qualification. The team stands third in their group with two points and Bubista says they should legitimately focus on qualifying despite financial constraints.
Ghana's Black Stars play England's Three Lions in a Group L match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Gillette Stadium, with both teams occupying the top two spots and able to secure knockout stage progression with a win. The encounter is historic as it presents the first competitive meeting between the nations, who previously drew 1-1 in a 2011 friendly.
Red heat alerts have been issued in France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg as heatwave conditions intensify with forecasts of temperatures exceeding 40°C. The rising temperatures, driven by hot air moving north from the Sahara desert, are expected to peak mid-week and could result in one of the longest heatwaves in recent years.
Cape Verde held two-time champions Uruguay to a 2-2 draw in their World Cup campaign, with Kevin Pina scoring a free-kick and Helio Varela adding a second, before Uruguay equalized twice through Maxi Araujo and Agustin Canobbio.
The 18-year-old Lamine Yamal started Spain's match against Saudi Arabia after being limited to 19 minutes in their previous goalless draw with Cape Verde, and was central to Spain's dominant 4-0 performance. His impact lifted the atmosphere and transformed the first half with confident play that impressed former team-mate Cesar Azpilicueta.
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.
Ghana's Black Stars defeated Panama 1–0 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and climbed eight places to 65th in the latest FIFA ranking, up from 73rd. The team next faces England on Tuesday, June 23rd, before playing Croatia in their final group game.
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.
Liverpool have signed Spain winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna for €40m (£34.5m) and offered RB Leipzig a package worth approximately 100m euros (£86m) for Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande, though Leipzig want more and prefer not to sell the 19-year-old during the transfer window.
France centre-back Ibrahima Konate is leaving Liverpool on a free transfer to join Real Madrid on a four-year contract until June 2030, after the two parties failed to agree on new contract terms over wages and value.
FIFA's decision to expand the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams for 2026 has divided opinion, with critics arguing it dilutes competition and represents a money-grabbing scheme, while confederations that gained extra slots view it as beneficial. The expansion has particularly benefited Arab football participation, with the Middle East region gaining increased opportunities through FIFA's 'Grow the Game' initiative.
Liverpool are set to sign 22-year-old winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna after triggering his £34.6m release clause, with the club conducting his medical in the United States. Munoz will be Liverpool's first signing since Andoni Iraola became head coach.
Former England captain John Terry, now a SuperSport FIFA World Cup analyst, believes England have a genuine opportunity to win the 2026 World Cup, citing a strong squad and the importance of keeping Harry Kane fit. England begin their campaign against Croatia on Wednesday, 17 June.
Ghana's Black Stars play their first group match against Panama today in Toronto in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match comes as African nations have shown mixed results in the tournament, with Côte d'Ivoire securing a 1-0 win over Ecuador, Cape Verde drawing with Spain, and Egypt drawing 1-1 with Belgium.
Spain, one of the pre-tournament favorites to win the World Cup, drew 0-0 with 67th-ranked Cape Verde on Monday in the first major shock of the group stage. Goalkeeper Vozinha made several saves to deny Spain's attack, while Cape Verde also had a late chance to win through Diney Borges' header.
Tunisia have terminated head coach Sabri Lamouchi's contract by mutual agreement following the side's 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opening World Cup 2026 fixture. Former Morocco and Saudi Arabia manager Herve Renard has been appointed to lead Tunisia for the remainder of the tournament.
Spanish left-back Marc Cucurella has completed a transfer from Chelsea to Real Madrid for an initial £47.5 million plus potential add-ons, becoming José Mourinho's first signing. Cucurella will officially join Madrid after the 2026 FIFA World Cup after four years at Chelsea, signing a six-year contract.
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.
Rafael Jodar, 19, has risen from outside the top 800 to world number 23 in just over 12 months, reached the French Open quarter-finals, and now prepares for his ATP-level grass-court debut at Wimbledon despite limited experience on the surface.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, 40, earned player-of-the-match honours as his country achieved a 0-0 draw against World Cup favourites and European champions Spain at Atlanta Stadium. Vozinha, emotional after the result, credited his family and his team's unity as their greatest strengths.
FIFA World Cup debutants Cabo Verde, a nation of just over 500,000 people, secured a 0-0 draw against Spain. Cabo Verde were tightly organised throughout, with goalkeeper Vozinha making several key saves to frustrate Spain's attacks despite the European side's dominance in possession.