World Cup | DD News

June 18, 2026 12:02 PM

Kane draws level with Lineker as England outgun Croatia

Harry Kane struck twice while Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford delivered the knockout blows as England survived a back-and-forth battle to beat Croatia4-2 on Wednesday and launch their World Cup campaign in a heavyweight clash that lived up to its billing. The Group L meeting carried heavy expectations long before kickoff, given the history between the sides, with Croatia's extra-time victory over England in the 2018 ‌World Cup semi-finals adding an extra edge to the occasion. The matc...

June 17, 2026 12:34 PM

Austria return from long World Cup absence with nervy 3-1 win over Jordan

Austria marked their return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence with a tense ‌3-1 win over debutants Jordan in their Group J opener on Tuesday, relying on a second-half own goal and a last-gasp penalty to claim the three points. Austria ⁠took the lead on 20 minutes through a Romano Schmid thunderbolt, but were pegged back five minutes after the break when striker Ali Olwan found space in the area and fired a sizzling shot inside the far post. Austria's veteran tar...

June 17, 2026 9:42 AM

Norway’s Haaland sparkles on World Cup debut with two goals for 4-1 victory over Iraq

Norway's prolific striker Erling Haaland bagged two goals in his maiden World Cup appearance on Tuesday to guide his team to an opening 4-1 Group I victory over Iraq, and put down a ‌marker for the tournament. The 25-year-old, one of the most exciting forwards in world football, was in the spotlight long before the match, and he lived up to his big-name billing on his debut on the biggest of stages, as Norway returned to the World Cup after a 28-year absence. After a cautious start, Haala...

June 15, 2026 2:09 PM

Iran team arrive in US for World Cup opener as the two nations reach peace deal

Iran's soccer team arrived in the United States for the first time at this World Cup on Sunday, landing at Los Angeles International Airport and holding a press conference on the same day that ‌a peace deal between the two nations was announced. The Iran squad arrived after a short flight from Tijuana, Mexico, where they left their base camp earlier to a rousing sendoff ahead of their opening game against New Zealand at Los Angeles Stadium on Monday. "I am very happy to be representing th...

June 15, 2026 9:54 AM

Japan battle back to draw 2-2 with Netherlands in Texas thriller

Japan showed their battling qualities to salvage a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in their World Cup Group F opener on Sunday as Hajime Moriyasu's side backed up their desire to make an impact at the tournament with ‌a gritty display. Daichi Kamada was credited with his side's all-important second goal in the 88th minute when the ball deflected off the Crystal Palace midfielder's head to beat Bart Verbruggen after Koki Ogawa had powered his header towards goal. The equaliser was Japan's se...

June 13, 2026 11:33 AM

US thrash Paraguay in LA to launch home World Cup in style

The United States opened their World Cup campaign with a 4-1 win over Paraguay on Friday, powered by a first-half double from striker Folarin Balogun, but the victory was tempered by concern over the fitness of Christian Pulisic. The emphatic Group D win marked a dream start for the co-hosts, whose four goals were their most ever in a World Cup match. Balogun became the first U.S. player to score twice in a World Cup game since the 1930 tournament. "Amazing result," U.S. captain Tim Ream said....

June 10, 2026 2:53 PM

Somali soccer referee who was denied US entry says what happened was ‘fate’

Somali soccer referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan on Wednesday said the decision to bar him entry to the United States for the World Cup was "fate" and urged his fellow Somalis not to lose heart over it. Artan, Africa's referee of the year in 2025, had been set to become the first Somali to officiate at soccer's global showpiece, but was turned back by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) over the weekend. The Trump administration said on Tuesday the U.S. had denied Artan entry for the World Cup...

June 9, 2026 3:31 PM

Climate cost of expanded World Cup under scrutiny as emissions set to soar

The World Cup kicks off on Thursday as a celebration of goals, drama and global fandom, but it is also expected to carry a climate cost more than double that of Qatar 2022, throwing a harsh spotlight on the environmental price of football's expanding showpiece. The tournament's enlarged footprint will see 48 teams and venues scattered across North America and an assessment published last week by global carbon accounting platform Greenly estimates it could generate 7.8 million metric tons of car...

May 29, 2026 11:17 AM

Messi leads Argentina squad for sixth World Cup

Argentina named their 26-man squad for the World Cup on Thursday, with Lionel Messi set to lead the defending champions at the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The 38-year-old Inter Miami forward will play in his sixth World Cup, extending his national record, while Emiliano Martinez, Nicolas Otamendi, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez are among 17 players returning from the squad that lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2022....

May 22, 2026 2:33 PM

Ebola risk minimal for World Cup fans, logistics challenges remain

The risk of Ebola affecting fans at the World Cup is low, according to Dr Oliver Johnson, a global health academic at King's College London, but heightened screening and travel restrictions could complicate logistics. The expanded 48-team tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, runs from June 11 to July 19. An Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded around 600 suspected cases and more than 130 deaths, prompting the World Health Organization to...