THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Brazil begin FIFA World Cup bid with Morocco draw as Scotland edge Haiti <p>Five-time winners Brazil needed a superb Vinicius Junior equaliser to draw 1-1 with Morocco in their opening game at the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2007143/fifa-world-cup-schedule-of-group-stage-matches">World Cup</a> on Saturday as Scotland marked their return to the tournament after a 28-year absence with a nervy 1-0 victory over Haiti.</p> <p>On the first day to feature four matches at the 48-team tournament, Qatar won the first World Cup point in their history when Miro Muheim’s own goal earned the 2022 tournament hosts a 1-1 draw with Switzerland.</p> <p>The meeting of Brazil and 2022 semi-finalists Morocco at the MetLife Stadium just outside New York City was a clash of the teams ranked sixth and seventh in the world respectively.</p> <p>Ismael Saibari ran through to give Morocco a 21st-minute lead with a clever scoop in the Group C opener, but Vinicius produced a moment of magic to ensure Brazil came away with a point, cutting in from the left and unleashing a thunderous shot to level on 32 minutes.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed ' data-original-src='htt…

FIFA World Cup 2026 MD3 recap: Brazil-Morocco draw, Australia stun ... Matchday 3 of theFIFA World Cuphas already seen some cracking action. Here we recount what has happened so far, with the latest match first (Irankunda 27'; Metcalfe 75') A stunning counter attacking performance from Australia saw them beat Turkiye 2-0 in Vancouver. The opener came via Nestor Irankunda whose pace and skill ripped Turkiye open as he shrugged off Merih Demiral and placed a low shot into the bottom of the net. After holding on without much fuss, Connor Metcalfe doubled their lead with a superb long-range effort as Australia went second in their group, behind USA only on goal difference. (McGinn 29') Scotland took their first World Cup since 1990 with a tense 1-0 win over Haiti in what was an end-to-end, physical encounter: a match that was almost a throwback to the '90s. John McGinn scored the game's lone goal when he scuffed in a rebound after Che Adams hit the Haiti keeper Johny Placide off a Ben Gannon-Doak from close range. As McGinn ran onto it, he scuffed a first-time effort that took a deflection and bounced into the back of the net. Scott McTominay had hit the post earlier with a firs…

Morocco becomes first team to reach World Cup quarterfinals Sports Morocco becomes first team to reach World Cup quarterfinals UzDaily Editorial Team · 05.07.2026 · 00:06 · 41 views Morocco becomes first team to reach World Cup quarterfinals Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The Moroccan national football team became the first quarterfinalist of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a commanding 3-0 victory over co-hosts Canada in their Round of 16 match held in Houston. The victory for the Atlas Lions was propelled by a second-half brace from Azzedine Ounahi, who scored in the 50th and 82nd minutes, followed by a late stoppage-time goal from Soufiane Rahimi in the 98th minute to seal the result. In the quarterfinals, Morocco will face the winner of the upcoming Round of 16 clash between France and Paraguay. The match for a spot in the semifinals is scheduled to take place on July 9. The fixture also produced an unusual statistical anomaly during the first half. The referee issued six yellow cards in the opening 45 minutes, while both teams combined for only five shots on goal. This marks the first time in World Cup history that the number of cautions in a single half exceeded the total…

Morocco are moving on at World Cup, but time for them to step up - ESPN ATLANTA,Georgia-- You have to hand it toMorocco; they're committed to their tag of World Cup dark horses. So committed, in fact, that there have been times during this tournament that it's almost as if they're playing within themselves in an effort to stay under the radar. There have been flashes of brilliance, as there were in their 4-2 victory overHaition Wednesday. But there have also been spells in each group game where Mohamed Ouahbi's team have looked ragged and uncomfortable. The bottom line is that they've qualified from Group C and face a last-32 tie againstNetherlands,JapanorSwedenin Monterrey,Mexicoon June 29. They've done enough in the group stage to ensure no team in the knockouts will take them lightly. But there's also a vulnerability that will give any opponent encouragement. "I'm happy, we just won a World Cup game," Ouahbi said. "We had a lot of possession and a lot of chances. They scored two goals and two other efforts and we should have managed parts of the game better. We were on top of it for most of the game. "It was not an easy game, but we had a lot of positive points." -World Cu…

FIFA World Cup 2026: African Teams Impress With Upsets, Draws and ... Congo impressed in their opener against Portugal. Credit: Reuters African teams have increasingly been given the tag of underdogs at the FIFA World Cups, with recent tournaments proving that the continent’s representatives can challenge even the world’s traditional powerhouses. Some sides delivered statement performances and valuable results, while others were left to lament defensive lapses and missed opportunities. After the opening round of fixtures for Africa’s representatives, multiple teams have once again demonstrated why they are dangerous to the favorites of every match. With two group-stage games still to play, Africa’s best have shown flashes of resilience, quality and ambition, but whether those performances can translate into deep runs in the tournament remains the question heading into Matchday Two. With Matchday One in the books, here’s a look into how the teams performed. Commonly known as Bafana Bafana, South Africa’s squad was an exciting one and many believed they could show-off in the tournament. Their opening game against Mexico was riddled with double red cards, rendering them a 9-man…

World Cup 2026: Morocco beat Netherlands on penalties to reach round of 16 Morocco booked their place in the World Cup round of 16 after defeating the Netherlands on penalties following a dramatic 1-1 draw after extra time in Monterrey. Cody Gakpo gave the Dutch the lead before Issa Diop headed home a stoppage-time equaliser, with Ismael Saibari converting the decisive spot-kick to send the Atlas Lions through.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Australia stun Turkiye, Vinicius Junior's strike ... FIFA World Cup 2026: Australia stun Turkiye, Vinicius Junior’s strike gives Brazil a point against Morocco Sports Top News Vinicius Junior scored the equaliser for Brazil in their inaugural match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 PUBLISHED: 2 mins ago READING TIME: 1 MIN Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Linkedin Telegram Vinicius Junior scored in the 32nd minute to earn a draw for Brazil in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 against Morocco Australia stuned Turkiye in their Group D opener while Brazil opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in Group C with a frustrating 1-1 draw against Morocco. Australia, who were ranked second-best in the tie, sprung a big surprise with Nestory Irankunda and Metcalfe scoring for the Socceroos in counterattacking brilliance. Brazil, facing the 2022 third-place finishers in their opening match at the New York New Jersey Stadium, were still considered the favourites as the South American giants always are. However, it was the North African giants who took the lead through Ismael Saibari in the 21st-minute. Vinicius Junior, however, saved the five-time champions from suffering…

World Cup 2026: Biggest takeaways from Brazil-Morocco group match Vinicius Junior scored a brilliant goal to dig Brazil out of trouble after Ismael Saibari had put Morocco ahead.

The first big World Cup shocker? Why Morocco could beat Brazil FIFA World Cup 2026 LIVE 6m ago LIVE 6m ago Brazil's Vinícius Júnior heads into a World Cup opener on SaturdayWagner Meier/Getty Images One of the most promising group stage fixtures of this World Cup will see Brazil and Morocco clash in New Jersey on Saturday, with both teams targeting a deep run. As five-time former winners and general behemoths of the international game, Brazil are 4/7 favourites to open their World Cup campaign with three points. Nobody would be surprised if Carlo Ancelotti’s team started on the front foot. Advertisement And yet the price of 7/2 for a Moroccan upset is attractive considering the quality of the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists. It’s far from a foregone conclusion that Saturday’s match will end in victory for the Selecao. Brazil enter the 2026 World Cup on the back of a far from convincing qualification campaign which saw them finish a lowly fifth. Had it not been for the expanded format, their place at the tournament would have been at risk. Morocco, on the other hand, qualified with eight wins from eight games — and backed this up by reaching the final of the 2025 Africa C…

FIFA World Cup 2026: Ronaldo Fires Blank as Yoane Wissa Makes History ... Yoane Wissa scored DR Congo's first-ever World Cup goal to salvage a shock 1-1 draw with Portugal in their World Cup opener in Houston Stadium. Joao Neves had given Portugal a sixth-minute lead, but they struggled to build on that as Wissa levelled on the stroke of half-time to share the points in Group K. Portugal made a dream start with Pedro Neto lifting a lovely cross into the box from the left, and Neves rose highest to head across goal and in, dedicating his opener to Diogo Jota. DR Congo attempted to immediately fight back, with Wissa drilling a low shot wide, while Edo Kayembe's bouncing shot was easily held by Diogo Costa shortly after the half-hour mark. Though Portugal dominated possession, DR Congo scored the next goal in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time. After a short corner, Arthur Masuaku whipped a delightful cross into the crowd at the back post, and the unmarked Wissa thumped his header into the roof of the net with the last touch of the half to create history. Portugal thought they had retaken the lead 10 minutes into the second half when Neves chested down another Bruno Fe…

World Cup 2026: Belgium stun Senegal with dramatic comeback and penalty heartbreak Belgium staged an extraordinary second-half comeback to eliminate Senegal 3-2 in an epic Round of 32 encounter in Seattle, advancing to the last 16 after Youri Tielemans' coolly converted penalty in extra time. The Diables Rouges erased a two-goal deficit in a remarkable turnaround that sends them through despite Senegal's dominant first-half display.

Morocco: Morocco Hold Brazil, Germany Hit Seven, Dutch Draw With Japan [Scrolla] The first weekend of Fifa World Cup action did not disappoint, with Morocco earning a statement 1-1 draw with Brazil before Germany put seven past Curacao and the Netherlands drew 2-2 with Japan.

Africa: Morocco Hold Brazil As Atlas Lions Begin World Cup Journey With Confidence [CAF] Morocco once again demonstrated why they remain one of world football's most respected emerging powers after holding five-time champions Brazil to an entertaining 1-1 draw in their opening Group C match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Saturday.

France Set Up Morocco Quarter-Final Showdown as First Last-Eight Clash ... Football International Football Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Morocco and France became the first two nations to book their places in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals after impressive victories in the opening Round of 16 fixtures, setting up a blockbuster meeting in the last eight. Morocco continued their remarkable tournament with a commanding 3-0 victory over co-hosts Canada, becoming the first team to reach the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Atlas Lions extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches with another disciplined and clinical display, proving once again why they are among the tournament’s standout performers. Canada, who captured the imagination of their home supporters throughout the group stage, saw their historic campaign come to an end, becoming the first of the three co-host nations to be eliminated from the competition. Morocco controlled proceedings from the outset and made the most of their chances, shutting down Canada’s attacking threats while displaying the defensive resilience that has become their trademark during this World Cup. Later in the day, France ove…

World Cup roundup: Brazil rallies for draw against Morocco in opener <p>Vin&#237;cius J&#250;nior scored an equalizing goal in the 32nd minute, giving five-time champion Brazil a 1-1 draw against Morocco on Saturday in a pulsating, high-profile group match at the World Cup.</p>

Morocco expose Brazil flaws in drawn World Cup heavyweight clash - RNZ Vinicius Junior of Brazil celebrates his team's first goal against Morocco during the Fifa World Cup.Photo:AFP Brazil and Morocco have played out a 1-1 draw in the first heavyweight clash of the World Cup, with the African side confirming their potential, while exposing familiar weaknesses in their opponents at a soldout New York/New Jersey stadium. Ismael Saibari gave Morocco a deserved first-half lead, before Vinicius Jr produced a moment of brilliance to restore parity, ensuring the points were shared in the opening Group C match. The result leaves the group finely balanced, before Haiti's meeting with Scotland later in the other group fixture. For Morocco, semifinalists at the 2022 World Cup, the performance offered further evidence they could challenge the game's traditional powers. However, Carlo Ancelotti's side were left with questions to answer, after a disjointed display where they were repeatedly stretched by their opponents' pace and movement. "I don't think we started the match well," said Ancelotti. "The team was a bit nervous, we lost possession too often and lost too many challenges. "The…

Netherlands vs. Morocco (Jun 29, 2026) Live Score - ESPN FOX +2 Guadalupe,Mexico Referee:Wilton Pereira Sampaio First Half Extra Time ends, Netherlands 1, Morocco 1. First Half Extra Time ends, Netherlands 1, Morocco 1. Before tonight - Morocco had already scored as many goals in three games at the 2026 World Cup as they managed in seven games in 2022 (six). They’re averaging 16 shots per game in 2026, up from just nine shots per game in 2022 (11 against the Netherlands currently). El Aynaoui’s pass through the lines finds the feet of Saibari, who tries to turn 30 yards from goal but he’s immediately sent to the ground by another crunching Van Hecke challenge, which gets the ball cleanly before the man according to the referee. VERBRUGGEN WITH THE SAVE OF THE MATCH! ALL THE HARD WORK WAS DONE! Saibari shows incredible movement to receive the ball from Talbi before chopping a pass into the 18-yard box for Rahimi, who cuts back coolly in front of a sliding Koopmeiners before attempting to place a finish at the goalkeeper’s right-hand side, but Verbruggen makes himself big and denies the substitute from an impossibly close distance! Of the four round-of-32 ties so far betwee…

Vinícius and Cunha fire Brazil past Haiti and into World Cup contention Vinícius Júnior scored and set up one of Matheus Cunha's two goals as Brazil beat Haiti 3-0 on Friday to strengthen their bid for a place in the World Cup knockout stage. Haiti became the first team eliminated from the tournament, while Brazil responded emphatically after their opening draw with Morocco.

2026 World Cup: Brazil Drop Points Against Morocco, Australia Stun ... Vinicius Junior celebrate after scoring the equalizer against Morocco during their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener on Saturday, June 30. Brazil needed a moment of brilliance from Vinicius Jr to avoid a shock defeat against Morocco as the five-time world champions were held to a 1-1 draw in their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match at the New York New Jersey Stadium. The Selecao fell behind after 21 minutes when Ismael Saibari capitalised on a misunderstanding between goalkeeper Alisson Becker and defenders Gabriel and Marquinhos, lifting the ball over the stranded Liverpool shot-stopper from outside the area. The strike made history as Morocco became the first African champions to score against South American opposition at the World Cup. Morocco dominated much of the first half and had registered 12 shots by the half-hour mark, the highest number Brazil had faced in a World Cup game since meeting Mexico in 2018. However, Morocco’s inability to convert further chances proved costly. Vinicius, making his 50th appearance for Brazil, restored parity 13 minutes before the interval. The Real Madrid forward collected a pass …

FIFA World Cup: Morocco denied famous win as Vinícius rescues Brazil Brazil staged a spirited comeback to secure a 1-1 draw against Morocco in a thrilling World Cup Group C opener. Vinícius Júnior's stunning strike canceled out Ismael Saibari's early goal, ensuring Brazil extended their unbeaten streak in World Cup openers to 21 matches. The result leaves Group C wide open.

Morocco exposes Brazil flaws in World Cup heavyweight clash Brazil and Morocco played out a 1-1 draw in the first heavyweight clash of the World Cup on Saturday, with the Africans confirming their potential while exposing familiar weaknesses in their opponents at a sold-out stadium.Ismael Saibari gave Morocco a deserved first-half lead before Vinicius Jr produced a moment of brilliance to restore parity, ensuring the points were shared in the opening Group C match.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The result leaves the group finely balanced ahead of Haiti’s meeting with Scotland later on Saturday.For Morocco, semi-finalists at the 2022 World Cup, the performance offered further evidence it can challenge the game’s traditional powers.However, Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil side was left with questions to answer after a disjointed display in which it was repeatedly stretched by its opponents’ pace and movement.“I don’t think we started the match well, the team was a bit nervous, we lost possession too

Fifa World Cup: Morocco make history with remarkable starting XI vs Brazil Atlas Lions display global spread of talent with 10 of 11 players born outside Morocco Those who stayed up late to watch the mouth-watering Morocco vs Brazil clash early on Sunday would probably not have been too surprised by the 1-1 draw, given the Atlas Lions are ranked 7th, just behind the Selecao at 6th. Having made the semi-final in their record-breaking run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Mohamed Ouahbi’s men again created history when they lined up against Carlo Ancelotti’s men by fielding a starting XI made up almost entirely of players born outside the country. The line-up showcased the global spread of Moroccan football talent. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was born in Montreal, Canada, while defenders Achraf Hakimi and Chadi Riad were born in Madrid and Palma in Spain, respectively. Centre-back Issa Diop was born in Toulouse, France, and full-back Noussair Mazraoui in Leiderdorp, Netherlands. Morocco's midfield also reflected the depth of its diaspora. Ayyoub Bouaddi, born in Senlis, France, partnered with Nancy-born Neil El Aynaoui, while Bilal El Khannouss was born in Molenbeek in Belgium. St…

Congo-Kinshasa: Portugal Held By DR Congo As England and Argentina Start Strong [Scrolla] DR Congo held Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal to a 1-1 draw in Houston just hours after Lionel Messi made history in a 3-0 win over Algeria.

World Cup 2026: Resilient DR Congo hold off Ronaldo's Portugal onslaught Portugal and DR Congo played out a dramatic 1-1 draw in Houston as the African underdogs showed remarkable resilience against one of the tournament's favorites. João Neves gave the Portuguese an early lead, but Yoane Wissa's equaliser just before half-time earned the Leopards a crucial point in their first World Cup appearance since 1974.

Fifa World Cup: Morocco reach World Cup quarter-finals as co-hosts ... Advertisement Advertise with NZME. 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 Sunday (NZ time) in Houston. The 2022 semi-finalists Morocco will face title favourites France or Paraguay as the business end of the tournament in North America approaches. After a first half littered with more bookings than shots, midfielder Azzedine Ounahi fired the opener on 50 minutes. Canada - playing the biggest game in their footballing history -- pushed for an equaliser, but Ounahi scored his second to finally see off the resistance of Jesse Marsch’s men. Advertisement Advertise with NZME. Advertisement Advertise with NZME. Substitute Soufiane Rahimi slipped in the third with the last kick of the match. It was tough on Canada, who were the better side in the opening period in front of a crowd of 68,777 as they sought to make more history. They came into the contest in uncharted territory, having won a World Cup match and then a knockout game for the first time to get to the last 16. They were clear underdogs and their fans were outnumbered by Moro…

FIFA World Cup: Morocco's overseas-born starting XI creates history in ... FIFA World Cup: Morocco's overseas-born starting XI creates history in draw against Brazil By ANI | Updated: June 14, 2026 10:05 IST 2026-06-14T15:31:59+5:30 2026-06-14T10:05:04+5:30 Preferred on Preferred on Next New York [US], June 14 : Morocco became the first team in FIFA World Cup history to field a ... FIFA World Cup: Morocco's overseas-born starting XI creates history in draw against Brazil New York [US], June 14 : Morocco became the first team in FIFA World Cup history to field a starting XI made up entirely of players born outside the country, and the landmark selection was vindicated with an impressive 1-1 draw against five-time champions Brazil in their Group C opener at MetLife Stadium here on Saturday (Local Time). The historic line-up showcased the global spread of Moroccan football talent. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was born in Montreal, Canada, while defenders Achraf Hakimi and Chadi Riad were born in Madrid and Palma in Spain, respectively. Centre-back Issa Diop was born in Toulouse, France, and full-back Noussair Mazraoui in Leiderdorp, Netherlands. Morocco's midfield also reflected the dep…

France - Morocco: The Atlas Lions face the Blues in the Quarterfinals. Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Morocco now knows its opponent for the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup. Following their clear victory against Canada (3-0), Mohamed Ouahbi’s men will meet France, who qualified after a narrow win over Paraguay (1-0). This duel will undoubtedly have a special flavor. Four years after the semifinal of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, won by the Blues, the Atlas Lions will have the chance to face France again in a major encounter. This time, the stakes will be a place in the final four of the competition. Against Canada, Morocco confirmed its rise in power. After a fiercely contested first half, the Atlas Lions made the difference thanks to Azzedine Ounahi , who scored twice, before Soufiane Rahimi sealed the qualification in stoppage time. A controlled victory that allows Morocco to reach the quarterfinals for the second consecutive World Cup. À lire aussi Canada – Morocco: The Atlas Lions win 3-0 and advance to the Quarterfinals France, on the other hand, had to wait before making the difference against Paraguay. The Blues were saved by Kylian Mbappé, who scored fr…

2026 WC: Ronaldo fires blank as Portugal held to shock draw by DR Congo 2026 WC: Ronaldo fires blank as Portugal held to shock draw by DR Congo Source Eurosport Sports Football Sports News World Cup June 17, 2026 7:37 pm - Audio By Carbonatix Yoanne Wissa’s emphatic header proved pivotal as the Democratic Republic of the Congo earned their first-ever FIFA World Cup point in a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Portugal in Houston. On a night he became the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match, Cristiano Ronaldo failed to live up to the matchday-one goalscoring heights of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. Ronaldo fired a blank in the Group K opener and Selecao das Quinas left Texas with just one point, despite taking a sixth-minute lead when Joao Neves headed in from an inviting Pedro Neto cross. At that moment, Portugal, among the favourites to win the competition, were confident they could go on to win the game comfortably. But DR Congo had other ideas, reacting superbly and showing great bravery to press high, stopping Portugal from developing any rhythm whatsoever. Wissa equalised with the last touch of the first half and you can’t say it wasn’t deserved, as DR…

DR Congo spoil Cristiano Ronaldo's 2026 World Cup debut ... - Bolavip World Cup / World Cup 2026 DR Congo spoil Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2026 World Cup debut with 1-1 draw vs Portugal Portugal pushed until the last second, but the go‑ahead goal never came and Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2026 World Cup debut ended in a draw. DR Congo held firm through the final stretch and took a valuable point from their opener. Watch the goals, highlights and key moments here. Are Nico Williams and Inaki Williams brothers? Why is Eze not starting for England vs Croatia at the 2026 World Cup? By Alexander Rosquez Updated on June 17, 2026 03:40PM EDT Follow us on Google! © Molly Darlington/Getty Images Cristiano Ronaldo frustrated during the Portugal vs. DR Congo game. Portugal delivered a controlled but ultimately frustrating 1–1 draw against DR Congo in Houston, in a 2026 FIFA World Cup opener marked by Cristiano Ronaldo ’s tournament debut and long stretches of Portuguese dominance that didn’t translate into a winning goal. The breakthrough arrived in the 6th minute, when João Neves timed his run perfectly, met a precise delivery into the box, and guided a composed header into the net to give Portugal a dese…

Have Morocco just scored the goal of the World Cup so far? Ismael Saibari gives Morocco lift-off (Image credit: Dan Mullan/Getty Images) Copy link Facebook X Pinterest Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Ismael Saibari may have just scored the goal of World Cup 2026 so far. The Morocco centre-forward capitalised on a through ball that ripped through the Brazil defence, before lobbing the ball over Alisson. The PSV star breezed between Marquinhos and Gabriel, latching onto a beautiful ball from Brahim Diaz. Ismail Saibari nets for Morocco against Brazil We've had some decent goals so far at World Cup 2026 : and no doubt this one from Saibari will be beaten in the weeks that follow. But for now, is this the best goal at the tournament? MOROCCO LEAD BRAZIL! 😮🇲🇦Brahim Diaz threads a superb through ball to Ismael Saibari to give Morocco the lead in New Jersey!#FifaWorldCup pic.twitter.com/DH31szXvKz June 13, 2026 For our money, yes: especially considering it came against Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil. Morocco are actually unlucky it's only 1-0. Get FourFourTwo Newsletter The best features, f…

Morocco reach FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-finals after ending Canada's ... July 5 (Daily Mirror)- Morocco booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals with a commanding 3-0 victory over co-hosts Canada on Saturday, ending the hosts' historic run and becoming the first team to reach the last eight. For 45 minutes, however, Canada dared to dream. Making their first-ever appearance in the men's World Cup knockout stage, Les Rouges were the better side for much of the first half against the world's sixth-ranked team. They pressed high, created promising openings and kept Morocco largely quiet, but could not find the breakthrough. Morocco, who reached the semi-finals at the 2022 World Cup, struggled to impose themselves early and were dealt a blow when leading scorer Ismael Saibari limped off injured in the 22nd minute. The Atlas Lions managed just a handful of chances before the break as a physical opening half ended goalless, with six yellow cards shown. The match changed after halftime. Azzedine Ounahi broke the deadlock in the 50th minute before adding his second in the 82nd to put Morocco in complete control. Substitute Soufiane Rahimi rounded off the scoring de…

DR Congo eliminates Nigeria to advance to World Cup playoffs The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has secured the final African slot in the 2026 World Cup intercontinental playoff tournament after dramatically eliminating Nigeria in a penalty shootout final held in Rabat on Sunday. The Congolese Leopards defeated Nigeria with a 4-3 victory in the penalty shootout, following a 1-1 deadlock after extra time. This victory marks a significant step toward the DRC’s first return to the global stage in 52 years. The match was tense from the start. Nigeria drew first blood early, scoring in the 3rd minute through Frank Onyeka. However, the Congolese responded quickly, with Meschack Elia finding the equalizer in the 32nd minute. Despite a fierce battle through the second half and a grueling extra time period, neither team could break the 1-1 tie, leading to penalties. The shootout went in favor of the DRC, thanks primarily to the decisive performance of goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu, who made two crucial saves. The winning penalty was ultimately converted by captain Chancel Mbemba, securing the victory and their ticket to the intercontinental stage. The DRC will now compete in the FIFA …

2026 FIFA World Cup: Morocco denied opening victory as Vinicius rescues ... A thrilling draw. 🤩#FIFAWorldCup The Atlas Lions, ranked seventh in the world and fully deserving oftheir status as one of the tournament's genuine contenders,made the brighter start and were rewarded in the 21st minute. Saibari. 🫡🇲🇦#FIFAWorldCuppic.twitter.com/mWMXiUAim6 A quick transition from defence into attack finished with Brahim Díaz sending Ismael Saibari through on goal, and the PSV striker produced an exquisite chip over the onrushing Alisson to give Morocco the lead. Their advantage was short-lived, as Brazil leveled proceedings at the half-hour mark. Vinícius Júnior cut inside from the left and sent a powerful shot into the far corner. Lucas Paqueta almost put the Brazilians in front on the stroke of halftime with an acrobatic effort in the box that was denied by the excellent Yassine Bounou. Ancelotti made a double substitution ahead of the restart, introducing Danilo and Fabinho for Casemiro and Roger Ibanez. Even though Brazil looked more balanced, both teams struggled to create any notable chances in a low-intensity second period. Morocco looked for a late winner, coming closer to …

Haiti becomes first team out of 2026 World Cup, Morocco edges Scotland Haiti became the first team eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 3-0 defeat to Brazil on Friday, while Morocco boosted its knockout hopes with a 1-0 victory over Scotland in Group C. The results left Brazil and Moroccolevel on four pointsheading into the final round of group-stage matches, while Scotland remained on three points and Haiti was mathematically eliminated. Brazil took control midway through the first half at Philadelphia Stadium and never allowed Haiti back into the contest, collecting its first victory of the tournament and moving to four points in Group C. After a disappointing 1-1 draw with Morocco in its opening match, Brazil bounced back with a commanding display led by Matheus Cunha. The forward opened the scoring in the 23rd minute and struck again three minutes later to put his side firmly in control. Vinicius Junior added a third in first-half stoppage time, capping a dominant opening 45 minutes and leaving Haiti with a mountain to climb after the break. Haiti struggled to create meaningful chances as Brazil controlled possession and dictated the tempo from the opening whis…

World Cup group stage: Portugal 1-1 DR Congo (2nd half) Portugal appeared on course for victory after an early goal from Joao Neves, but DR Congo's resilience was rewarded when Wissa headed home in first-half added time to secure a historic point. Portugal made a bright start and broke the deadlock in the sixth minute. Pedro Neto delivered a cross from the left and Neves, left unmarked at the near post as defenders focused on Ronaldo, rose to head past goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi. The goal continued the rapid rise of the 21-year-old midfielder, who was not even born when Ronaldo made his first appearance for Portugal at Euro 2004. Portugal dominated possession after taking the lead but struggled to turn their control into clear chances. Bruno Fernandes nearly created a second goal in the 18th minute with a lofted pass to Nuno Mendes, only for Aaron Wan-Bissaka to make a crucial recovery tackle. DR Congo gradually settled into the match and began to threaten. Cedric Bakambu and Wissa both tested Portugal's defense, while Joris Kayembe's long-range effort forced Diogo Costa into routine action. Despite Portugal's territorial advantage, the Africans remained within reach and struck …