World Cup | DD News

July 7, 2026 6:24 AM

Substitute Merino hits late winner as Spain end Ronaldo’s World Cup career

Spain substitute Mikel Merino broke through a stubborn Portugal defence in the 91st minute to earn his side a 1-0 win on Monday to take the former champions into the quarter-finals and bring the curtain down on Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career. The midfielder scored six minutes after coming off the bench in the Iberian Derby at Dallas Stadium to move the European champions into the last eight, prevailing where his teammates had been frustrated by a determined Portuguese backline. “Mike...

July 3, 2026 11:38 AM

Embolo, Ndoye fire Switzerland past Algeria into World Cup last 16

Switzerland eased past Algeria 2-0 on Thursday to book their place in the World Cup round of 16, with Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye on target. The Swiss opener was crafted by 20-year-old talent Johan Manzambi, who surged down the left flank before drilling a low ball across the face of goal for Embolo to convert. The assist was Manzambi's second of the tournament. The youngster has also scored three goals in four World Cup appearances despite making only two starts. Switzerland doubled their adv...

July 3, 2026 9:34 AM

Mikel Oyarzabal nets 2 as Spain roll past Austria into round of 16

Mikel Oyarzabal scored his third and fourth goals of the World Cup and Spain eased into the last 16 with a 3-0 victory over Austria on Thursday afternoon in Inglewood, Calif. Pedro Porro added his first-ever goal for Spain after halftime, a header that made it 2-0 and, for all intents and purposes, ensured victory against an opponent that rarely threatened. Fullback Marc Cucurella assisted both of Oyarzabal's goals for La Roja, who outshot Das Team 23-5 overall and led 10-0 in efforts on targe...

July 3, 2026 9:20 AM

Croatia coach Dalic slams ‘bad refereeing’ in 2-1 loss to Portugal

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic was unhappy with what he called the "bad refereeing" in his team's 2-1 loss to Portugal in their round of 32 clash on Thursday that eliminated them from the World Cup but said he did not want to use it as an excuse. Portugal were awarded a penalty after a Video Assistant Referee review, which Cristiano Ronaldo slotted home to tie the game before Goncalo Ramos fired them ahead in the 94th minute. Drama ensued late in stoppage time when Josko Gvardiol thought he had eq...

July 1, 2026 10:18 AM

Mexico beat Ecuador 2-0 to reach World Cup last 16 and end knockout hoodoo

Mexico ended a 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout victory as first-half goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez secured a 2-0 win over Ecuador on Tuesday, sending the co-hosts into the last 16 amid euphoric scenes at a rocking Azteca Stadium. The victory was Mexico's first in the knockout stages of a World Cup since beating Bulgaria on home soil in 1986 and booked a meeting with either England or the Democratic Republic of Congo in the last 16, with the co-hosts returning to the Azteca f...

July 1, 2026 9:53 AM

Haaland the hero again as Norway edge Ivory Coast to advance at World Cup

Norway striker Erling Haaland shattered Ivory Coast's World Cup hopes on Tuesday, returning to their starting lineup to net an 86th-minute winner that sent his side into the last 16 with a 2-1 victory at Dallas Stadium. Haaland's fifth goal of the tournament sealed Norway's progression, and their first-ever World Cup knockout-round victory, after Amad Diallo had cancelled out Antonio Nusa's 39th-minute opener, setting up a mouth-watering clash with Brazil in New York on Sunday. "It's insane," ...

July 1, 2026 9:37 AM

Mbappe uncorks France as Sweden are swept aside in Champagne World Cup show

France uncorked a Champagne performance on Tuesday to sweep Sweden aside 3-0 with a display of attacking verve and precision and book their place in the World Cup last 16. The scoreline flattered Sweden. France’s flamboyant attack might have reached double figures were it not for the woodwork and a series of near-misses measured in millimetres. Paraguay lie in wait, and the exhilarating football France produced here will do little to help the South Americans sleep before their last-16 meeting...

June 30, 2026 10:32 AM

Morocco advance in World Cup after penalty shootout win over the Netherlands

Morocco beat the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties on Monday to reach the World Cup last 16 after their Round of 32 tie ended 1-1 following extra time, setting up a meeting with co-hosts Canada. Ismael Saibari converted the winning spot kick after Yassine Bounou saved Crysencio Summerville's penalty, sending Morocco through after a dramatic contest in which they had forced extra time with a stoppage-time equaliser. Morocco's Neil El Aynaoui and Dutch substitute Justin Kluivert missed their attempts...

June 25, 2026 9:34 AM

Mexico stay perfect and bounce Czechs out of World Cup with 3-0 win

Mexico continued their perfect start to the World Cup with a 3-0 romp against the Czech Republic on Wednesday, finishing their group-stage campaign with a flourish and killing off their tame opponents' hopes of making the knockouts. The co-hosts had already booked their spot in the last 32 as Group A winners but they kept their foot firmly on the throttle to complete a third straight victory that left the Czechs bottom of the standings and out of the tournament. The game looked to be drifting ...

June 25, 2026 9:27 AM

Vinicius fires Brazil into World Cup knockouts with 3-0 win over Scotland

Brazil sambaed their way into the World Cup knockout stages with a commanding 3-0 win over Scotlandon Wednesday, as Vinicius Jr netted twice and Neymar made his first appearance in a Brazil shirt in nearly three years. Vinicius's double at a packed Miami Stadium helped Carlo Ancelotti's side top Group C with seven points, while 64,478 fans witnessed the emotional return of Brazil's prodigal son Neymar, who had not donned the famous yellow jersey since October 2023. Vinicius has scored in every...