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  World Cup 2026: Day 7 – Wednesday 17 June   What a day of World Cup action it was yesterday. Sixteen goals across four matches from some of the world’s best players, including a hat-trick from arguably the greatest player to ever play the game. Oh, and England play tonight. Let’s get into it…   Yesterday’s results: France 3-1 Senegal The pre-match build-up to France’s opening match was dominated by the question, will there be a repeat of 2002? Senegal stunned the world at the opening match of the 2002 tournament by defeating France, but they were unable to repeat the feat in New Jersey on Tuesday. A goalless first half was followed by an all-action second period, and, just after Kylian Mbappe was sensationally denied a penalty, even after the referee went to the touchline monitor, the French captain put them ahead, latching onto a sensational Michael Olise through-ball before sliding a low shot past Edouard Mendy. Bradley Barcola was then played in...
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  World Cup 2026: Day 6 – Tuesday 16 June   A monumental result for Cape Verde dominated proceedings at the World Cup yesterday in a day full of draws. There wasn’t a single winner in any of the matches yesterday – I wonder what the odds would have been for that. Let’s take a look at the results…   Yesterday’s results: Spain 0-0 Cape Verde   The most eye-catching result of the tournament so far as European Champions and one of the favourites for this tournament, Spain, were held to a goalless draw by minnows Cape Verde, in their first World Cup appearance. 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha and 32-year-old Irish born centre-back Roberto Lopes, who plays his football at Shamrock Rovers, were in inspired form to keep out the likes of Mikel Oyazarbal, Ferran Torres and substitutes Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams. The first-timers could have even snatched victory at the death as Diney Borges got his head to a corner but it was straight at Unai Simon. Never...
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  World Cup 2026: Day 5 – Monday 15 June   Day 4’s results saw Germany survive an early scare to demolish Curaçao, Ivory Coast grab a late winner against Ecuador, Netherlands and Japan play out a thriller and Sweden comfortably beat Tunisia. Let’s take a closer look at yesterday’s action, and look ahead to today…   Yesterday’s results: Germany 7-1 Curaçao   Die Mannschaft secured their joint-biggest win at a World Cup (tied with a very famous semi-final) by thrashing tournament debutants Curaçao – but not before they had to survive an early scare. Felix Nmecha gave the Germans the lead with a tidy finish into the far corner before the tiny island nation levelled. German-born Jurgen Locadia, once of Brighton, saw his shot blocked, the ball fell to Livano Comenencia to shoot, left-footed, past Manuel Neuer via a deflection. What a moment for Curaçao – but it didn’t last. Further goals from Nico Schlotterbeck, a double from Kai Havertz including one from the penalty spo...
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  World Cup 2026: Day 4 – Sunday 14 June Saturday saw the busiest day so far of World Cup action: four games in total, of which I only saw two but we’ll plough on with the analysis! Victories for Scotland – their first at a World Cup since Italia 90 – saw them soar to the top of Group C, while Australia picked up an impressive victory against a strong Türkiye side. Let’s have a look at yesterday’s results, and today’s fixtures…   Yesterday’s results: Qatar 1-1 Switzerland   A historic point for Qatar, as Boualem Khouki rescued a draw for the 2022 hosts to earn them their first-ever World Cup point. Unsurprisingly, most of the match saw dominance from the Swiss side, and they were rewarded for their early pressure with a penalty after 15 minutes – despite replays appearing to show that Remo Freuler was in an offside position when receiving the pass before he was fouled by goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada. However, the penalty stood, and Breel Embolo, so often ...
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  World Cup 2026: Day 3 – Saturday 13 June   Day Two of the World Cup in North America saw the final two host nations play their opening matches; Canada snatched a deserved point against Bosnia-Herzegovina, while USA comfortably saw off Paraguay. Let’s have a look back at yesterday’s action, and look forward to today…   Yesterday’s results: Canada 1-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina   It was a glorious occasion for Canada; hosts of a World Cup for the very first time, the marked the occasion with Michael Buble serenading the crowd (I thought he only came out at Christmas?) and Alanis Morisette singing the national anthem… but they would surely look back on this game as two points dropped. Jonathan David missed a guilt-edged chance to put the Canadians ahead, before Bosnia threatened to spoil the party by taking the lead. Sead Kolasinać, once of Arsenal, flicked a corner on for Jovo Lukić to get the finishing touch on the line. Canada keeper Maxime Crépeau came out and flapped at ...
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  World Cup 2026: Day 2 – Friday 12 June: Mexico and South Korea off the mark, Canada and USA due to take their bow   The 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially underway, and what a night of action it was yesterday. Two games, five goals and three red cards – all in one match! Today promises to be equally eventful, as the other two co-hosts kick off their tournament.   Yesterday’s results: Mexico 2-0 South Africa One of the more memorable opening matches to a World Cup in recent memory. A reverse fixture to the first game in South Africa in 2010, but with a much different outcome. After a glamorous opening ceremony featuring music artists such as J Balvin, Burna Boy, Danny Ocean and FIFA’s favourite Shakira, Mexico started on the front foot and could’ve found themselves in front after five minutes. Talismanic striker Raul Jimenez, who has just secured a return to Wolves in time for the new season, hit a left-footed half-volley which was well saved by Bafana Baf...
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World Cup 2026: Opening Day Preview                                          Four years after Gonzalo Montiel scored the decisive penalty to help Argentina defeat France amid the controversies of Qatar 2022, the most-watched sporting tournament in the world returns today (11 June). Let's forget about all the off-pitch stories which I won't be touching on (this is purely football only!), the World Cup promises to be five weeks of immense global competition, talking points and global stars being born – the largest and longest tournament to date. Hosted in a record three countries, Canada, USA and Mexico, the 2026 showpiece features representatives from all six FIFA confederations for the first time since 2010, and four nations have qualified for the first time ever – Uzbekistan, Jordan, Curaçao and Cape Verde. The group stage will last from 11 June – 28 June, and the knockouts from 29 ...
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