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Articles, videos, watch information, Japan scenarios, and player chronicles in publication order.
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- Morning
France beat Morocco 2-0 — Mbappé and Dembélé send Les Bleus to a third straight semi-final
The quarter-finals are under way. In the opener near Boston, France beat Morocco 2-0: Mbappé missed an early penalty, then scored after the break, and Dembélé added the second. France reach a third straight semi-final and will face the winner of Spain v Belgium, which kicks off at 4 a.m. JST tomorrow.
- News
Egypt demand FIFA remove their referee — as an all-Argentine crew takes charge of France v Morocco
Egypt led Argentina 2-0 with the biggest win in their history in sight before a disallowed goal and two waved-away penalties turned the tie. Now the Egyptian FA has formally asked FIFA to remove referee Francois Letexier — and this morning JST, an all-Argentine crew, the first single-nation team of the tournament, took charge of France against Morocco.
- News
Switzerland break their World Cup shootout curse, reach the last eight for the first time since 1954 — Messi's Argentina next
Gregor Kobel saved from Cucho Hernandez, Davinson Sanchez smashed his kick against the bar, and Switzerland won a shootout 4-3 to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 1954. With Japan already out, the last eight holds a quiet side barely discussed back home — and their next opponent is defending champion Argentina.
- Japan
Moriyasu accepts an unusual half-year extension — Japan's coach only through the Asian Cup
The offer the Japan Football Association put to Hajime Moriyasu came with an end date attached: stay on, but only until the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia next January. Several Japanese outlets reported on July 8 that Moriyasu has signaled he will accept. Even a title would not extend him — an unusual half-year term that already has its own finish line.
- News
World Cup last eight are set: France v Morocco, a 2022 rematch, opens the quarterfinals
Forty teams have gone home and eight remain. The 2026 World Cup reaches the quarterfinals, and it opens on Friday at 5am Japan time in Foxborough, near Boston, with France against Morocco — the side France knocked out of the 2022 semifinal four years ago.
- Morning
Round of 16 done — Brazil and Ronaldo gone, and the quarter-finals open tomorrow morning with Morocco v France
The Round of 16 is over. Brazil, the side that knocked Japan out, lost to Haaland's Norway, and 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal fell to Spain. There are no matches today; the quarter-finals begin at 5 a.m. JST tomorrow, 10 July, with Morocco v France near Boston.
- News
Ronaldo's last World Cup ends in tears — Spain's late goal knocks Portugal out
When the whistle went in Arlington, Cristiano Ronaldo was in tears — and being consoled by 18-year-old Lamine Yamal. Mikel Merino's 91st-minute goal sent Spain past Portugal 1-0 and into the quarterfinals, ending the 41-year-old's sixth and final World Cup.
- News
Ten-man England win an Azteca classic — Bellingham's brace beats Mexico 3-2, Norway await in the last eight
Jude Bellingham scored twice inside the first half and England beat Mexico 3-2 to reach the World Cup quarterfinals — holding on for the last 40 minutes with ten men after a red card. The co-hosts went out at a packed Estadio Azteca, and England's next opponent is Norway, the side that knocked out Brazil.
- Morning
France join Morocco in the last eight — the quarter-final is set at Morocco v France, and this morning Brazil are in the Round of 16
France beat Paraguay 1-0 to reach the quarter-finals, joining Morocco, and the two winners will meet on 9 July in a rematch of the 2022 semi-final. Meanwhile, from 5 a.m. JST this morning Brazil — the side that knocked Japan out — are playing their Round of 16.
- News
Brazil, the team that beat Japan, are out — Haaland's Norway win 2-1 to reach the last eight
Erling Haaland scored in the 79th and 90th minutes as Norway beat Brazil 2-1 to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time. The five-time champions who ended Japan's run on June 30 are now gone one round later.
- News
France edge Paraguay 1-0 to set up a quarterfinal with Morocco - a rematch of the 2022 semifinal
France beat Paraguay 1-0 in Philadelphia on a Kylian Mbappe penalty in the 70th minute, awarded after a VAR review on a chaotic, foul-heavy night. It sends them to the quarterfinals against Morocco - the same pairing as the 2022 semifinal in Qatar, which France won 2-0. The rematch is set for Thursday, July 9 in Boston.
- Morning
Hosts Canada out, Morocco first into the quarter-finals; this morning it's France v Paraguay
The last 16 has begun. Overnight into this morning JST, co-hosts Canada lost 0-3 to Morocco in Houston and went out of their home World Cup. Morocco are the first side into the quarter-finals.
- News
Co-host Canada out of its home World Cup; Morocco win 3-0 to reach the quarterfinals first
Canada pushed the game in the first half and had nothing to show for it. Then Azzedine Ounahi scored twice after the break and Soufiane Rahimi added a third in stoppage time, and Morocco beat the co-hosts 3-0 in Houston to become the first team into the 2026 quarterfinals.
- News
Egypt reach the last 16 for the first time, beating Australia on penalties; Messi awaits
Still level at 1-1 after 120 minutes, Egypt turned to spot kicks. Mohamed Salah chipped his down the middle as the goalkeeper dived away, Australia missed twice, and Egypt won 4-2 to claim the first World Cup knockout victory in the country's history. Next in the last 16: Lionel Messi's Argentina.
- Preview
Canada, the co-host who put six past Qatar, meets unbeaten Morocco in the last 16
Co-host Canada battered Qatar 6-0 in the group and then edged South Africa 1-0 to reach the last 16. Morocco came through Group C unbeaten — a 1-1 with Brazil included — and knocked out the Netherlands on penalties in the round of 32. An attacking host meets a side that just won't break at NRG Stadium in Houston, kicking off 02:00 JST on July 5.
- Morning
Debutants Cape Verde fall short of the last 16 as Argentina win 3-2
The World Cup's Round of 32 is reaching its climax. Overnight into this morning JST, Argentina beat first-timers Cape Verde 3-2 in Miami to reach the last 16. The island nation of around 500,000, at their first World Cup, saw a remarkable run end one step short of the last 16.
- News
Portugal edge Croatia 2-1 on a 94th-minute goal; Spain awaits in the last 16
At the final whistle in Toronto, Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo held each other for a long moment. One is going home; the other plays on. Goncalo Ramos headed Portugal in front in the 94th minute to beat Croatia 2-1, ending Modric's World Cup at 40 and sending Portugal to a Round of 16 meeting with Spain.
- News
Canada reach the last 16 for the first time on a 92nd-minute goal, and all three hosts are through
Stephen Eustaquio scored in the 92nd minute to beat South Africa 1-0, sending Canada into a World Cup Round of 16 for the first time in its history. With that, all three co-hosts — Canada, the United States and Mexico — are in the last 16.
- Preview
Spain didn't concede a goal in the group; Austria drew 3-3 — they meet in the last 32
Spain came through Group H without conceding a single goal. Austria advanced from Group J after a 3-3 shootout with Algeria, scoring six and conceding six along the way. The tightest defence of the round meets one of its most open teams at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, kicking off 04:00 JST on July 3.
- Preview
Portugal won their group with one win; Croatia shipped four to England — now they meet
Portugal topped Group K but scored five of their six goals in one game and drew the other two. Croatia lost 4-2 to England on matchday one, then won twice to advance. The two arrive in opposite states at BMO Field in Toronto, kicking off 08:00 JST on July 3.
- Morning
Mexico reach the last 16 for the first time in 40 years; waiting at the Azteca, England after a comeback
The World Cup's Round of 32 is nearing its end. Overnight into this morning JST, co-hosts Mexico broke a 40-year knockout drought and England came from behind, and both reached the last 16. The two now meet at the Azteca in Mexico City on 6 July.
- News
Kane's late double rescues England; the last-16 tie is Mexico at the Azteca
England trailed DR Congo from the seventh minute in Atlanta. Then Harry Kane scored twice in the last 15 minutes to win it 2-1, and the round-of-16 opponent came into focus: Mexico, at the Estadio Azteca.
- News
Germany lose their first World Cup shootout, and the Netherlands who drew Japan go out too
On June 30 Japan time, Japan were not the only side to leave. Within the same day, Germany lost a World Cup penalty shootout for the first time ever, beaten by Paraguay, and the Netherlands — the team Japan drew 2-2 in the group — went out to Morocco on spot-kicks. The round of 32 has thinned the field of favourites.
- Preview
Argentina won every group game; Cape Verde drew all three and held Spain — now they meet
Argentina came through their group with three wins, eight goals scored and one conceded. Cape Verde reached the last 32 without winning a game — three draws, including a 0-0 with Spain and a 2-2 with Uruguay. The two extremes of the round meet at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, kicking off 07:00 JST on July 4.
- Preview
Belgium never lost a group game; Senegal never kept a clean sheet — they meet in Seattle
Belgium and Senegal reach the last 32 as near-opposites. Belgium came through Group A unbeaten but scored just once in two of their three games. Senegal lost two of theirs yet outscored almost everyone when they attacked. Kickoff is 05:00 JST on July 2 at Lumen Field in Seattle.
- Preview
Host USA open the knockout at Levi's Stadium against a first-time Bosnia
The United States play their first knockout game of their home World Cup on Thursday afternoon in the Bay Area, kicking off at 09:00 JST on July 2 at Levi's Stadium. Their opponent is Bosnia and Herzegovina, into the last 32 for the first time. The USA won two of three group games; Bosnia sneaked through after a heavy loss to Switzerland.
- Japan
Why Mainz holds the cards on Kaishu Sano: contract to 2028, no release clause
Mainz's football bosses left the door ajar: at a certain level of offer, they would consider their options. After scoring Japan's opener against Brazil in the World Cup last 32, Kaishu Sano — under contract to 2028 with no release clause — sits at the center of a summer transfer question that Mainz, not the suitors, controls.
- News
Brazil, the side that knocked Japan out, will meet Haaland's Norway in the last 16
Erling Haaland scuffed his shot in front of the Ivory Coast goal, but it crept over the line and Norway won 2-1. That settled Brazil's round-of-16 opponent: Haaland's Norway, the same Brazil side that knocked Japan out.
- News
Who are World Cup hydration breaks really for? The three minutes quietly reshaping the tournament
Introduced to protect players from North American heat, the mandatory three-minute hydration break in all 104 matches is also reshaping broadcasts and tactics. As the knockouts head into July's hottest weeks, the question of who benefits matters more, not less.
- Column
Do not reduce Kento Shiogai's comments to one player's fault
Kento Shiogai's pre-Brazil comments were received overseas as a lack of respect. But a candid remark after training can change shape as it passes through media, translation, and social platforms. The lesson is not to make every young player safer and quieter, but to understand how words are amplified.
- Opponent View
Brazil credit Japan after the win — Ancelotti calls it their 'most complete match'
Trailing 1-0 at the break, Carlo Ancelotti told his players in the dressing room: "Stay calm, and put weight in the box." From there Brazil turned the game around to win 2-1 and reach the round of 16. Yet after the final whistle, the winning coach and the Brazilian press led not with how they won, but with how good Japan had been. "Our most complete match — precisely because Japan were so compact." Reading the opponent's own words on how Japan's exit looked from the other side.
- Morning
Japan's World Cup is over: beaten 1-2 by Brazil, out in the Round of 32
Japan's tournament ended overnight. In the Round of 32 in Houston, Sano Kaito's first international goal put Japan ahead, but Casemiro levelled and Martinelli struck in stoppage time as Brazil won 1-2. From today there are no more Japan matches — the early-hours window now belongs to the rest of the bracket.
- Japan
Japan lose 2-1 to Brazil on a stoppage-time goal and go out in the round of 32
Japan led five-time champions Brazil from the 29th minute and were six minutes from one of the World Cup's biggest shocks. Then Gabriel Martinelli scored in stoppage time to make it 2-1 in Houston, and Japan's tournament ended in the first knockout round.
- News
Uruguay crash out in the group stage as Bielsa says he 'leaves nothing'
Spain's only goal came off a Fernando Muslera error, and a 1-0 defeat left Uruguay third in Group H on two points — beaten to second place by debutants Cape Verde. At 19th in the FIFA ranking, Uruguay are the highest-ranked side eliminated so far, and Marcelo Bielsa is leaving after three winless tournament games.
- Opponent View
Brazil call the Japan tie 'a final' — and Zico warns his homeland
"This is a final." That is how Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti described the round-of-32 tie with Japan at his eve-of-match press conference — bracing for extra time and penalties, and refusing English-style mind games. Brazil are the favorites. Even so, the words of their coach, their captain, and Zico, the man who knows both Brazil and Japan, all point the same way: do not underestimate Japan. Reading the opponent's own press to see how heavily Brazil are taking this match.
- News
Ranking every Round-of-32 tie by FIFA rank: the strongest matchup is Netherlands vs Morocco, Japan vs Brazil sits third
Which Round-of-32 tie is the strongest on paper, and which one opens the door for a surprise run? Add the two teams' FIFA ranking positions, and the bracket starts to tell a different story. Netherlands vs Morocco comes out as the strongest matchup at 15, Portugal vs Croatia follows at 16, and Brazil vs Japan is tied for third at 24.
- Morning
Canada strike late to open the knockouts; Japan face Brazil tonight
The knockout stage opened with late drama: Stephen Eustaquio's 92nd-minute goal beat South Africa 1-0 and put co-hosts Canada into the Round of 16 for the first time in their men's history. It was the only tie settled while Japan slept. The 29th is a quiet day with no matches until the small hours, when the biggest one for Japanese fans arrives — Japan vs Brazil at 2am on the 30th, Japan time, in Houston.
- Opponent View
Brazil set up nine mannequins as Japan's deep block — and drilled how to break it
Ahead of their round-of-32 tie with Japan, Brazil lined up nine mannequins as a stand-in for Japan's deep defensive block and rehearsed, again and again, how to pull it apart. The starting XI has settled too: young Rayan in for the injured Raphinha on the right, Neymar on the bench. Brazil's own preparation shows the Selecao that Japan will actually meet.
- Morning
Cape Verde reach the last 16 on debut as two-time champions Uruguay crash out
Cape Verde slipped into second place in Group H with a 0-0 draw and became the smallest nation ever to reach a World Cup knockout round, on their tournament debut. In the same group Spain beat Uruguay 1-0 to win it, sending the two-time world champions home. In Group G, Belgium ran out 5-1 winners to top the group with Egypt second. Only today's final group games remain, and Japan's Round-of-32 tie with Brazil now looms at 2am on the 30th, Japan time.
- News
Dembélé's first-half hat trick wins Group I for France — and Norway leave Haaland on the bench
Ousmane Dembélé scored three times before half-time — in the 7th, 20th and 32nd minutes — as France beat Norway 4-1 in Foxborough on Friday to top Group I. Norway could have won the group themselves, but had already left their star striker Erling Haaland out of the starting line-up, choosing to keep him fresh for the knockout rounds.
- News
Population 500,000, three draws, no defeats: Cape Verde reach the last 32 on debut — next up, Argentina
Cape Verde drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia on June 27 and went through to the Round of 32 as Group H runners-up, unbeaten in their first-ever World Cup. The Atlantic archipelago of about 500,000 people held Spain and Uruguay to draws on the way, and now face the reigning world champions, Lionel Messi's Argentina, in Miami on July 3.
- Opponent View
Neymar is back and Brazil's camp is relaxed — a contrast to a Japan side missing Kubo
Brazil, Japan's round-of-32 opponent, are in a light mood after Neymar's return. Ancelotti can keep the same starting XI for the first time since taking the job, while Raphinha is out. Brazil's own press shows how the Selecao are shaping up for Japan.
- Morning
Dembele's first-half hat-trick sends France top of Group I; Senegal hammer Iraq 5-0
In the Group I finale, France beat Norway 4-1 to win the group, Ousmane Dembele scoring a hat-trick inside the first half — the first half-time treble at a World Cup since 1994. In the other game Senegal thrashed Iraq 5-0 to climb to third and keep their best-third hopes alive. The group stage finishes today, and Japan's Round of 32 tie with Brazil now looms on 30 June, Japan time.
- World Voices
Unbeaten and second, Brazil next: how the world read Japan's 1-1 with Sweden
Daizen Maeda put Japan in front, Anthony Elanga curled Sweden level six minutes later, and the 1-1 sent both teams into the last 32. But the sentence each country built around that scoreline split sharply: Sweden wrote relief and a goalscorer who didn't know he was through, England wrote the beauty of Elanga's strike, Brazil wrote a wary favourite, and almost everyone's gaze had already moved to Japan-Brazil in Houston. Eight voices, in the original and in translation.
- News
The U.S. lost to Turkey and still won Group D — and now all three hosts are in the Round of 32
Already certain of topping Group D, the United States lost its final group game 3-2 to an eliminated Turkey in Los Angeles on Thursday, beaten by Kaan Ayhan's stoppage-time winner. The result changed nothing: the U.S. advances as group winner. With that, Mexico, the United States and Canada — all three co-hosts — are through to the Round of 32.
- Chronicle
Keito Nakamura: The chance turned around the post
Right on the stroke of half-time, Keito Nakamura had Japan's sharpest opening of a goalless first half. From inside the box he forced Sweden goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström into a good save, the ball turned around the post for a corner. It did not count, but it was the clearest sign of the pressure Japan were building — pressure that paid off ten minutes after the restart when they finally went ahead.
- Chronicle
Zion Suzuki: Two saves after the one that beat him
Zion Suzuki could do little about Anthony Elanga's curled, left-footed cross-shot for Sweden's 62nd-minute equaliser. What he did next mattered more. Minutes later he met Alexander Isak's low, close-range effort with a sharp stop from the edge of the box, then produced a reaction save late on as Sweden pushed for a winner that would have leapfrogged Japan. The 1-1 — and second place in Group F — held because the goalkeeper answered the goal he had just conceded.
- Chronicle
Ritsu Doan: The pass that opened Sweden up
Japan's goal began with Ritsu Doan. In the 56th minute he threaded a disguised through ball into the Sweden box, hiding his intention until the last moment so that Daizen Maeda could slide in and finish. After 40 minutes in which Japan struggled to register a shot on target despite controlling the ball, it was the single pass that turned territory into a lead — the kind of final-third decision Japan had been missing all evening.
- Chronicle
Daizen Maeda: The slide that put Japan ahead
Ten minutes after half-time, Daizen Maeda gave Japan the lead. Reading Ritsu Doan's disguised through ball at the edge of the box, he slid in to finish from inside the area in the 56th minute. It was the reward for a relentless night: Maeda had already headed the best chance of the first half over the bar in the 22nd minute, and his running, interceptions and link play ran through everything Japan did. Sweden equalised soon after, so the goal did not win the game, but it was the moment a controlled draw started to look like qualification.
- Scenario
Japan drew 1-1 with Sweden to finish Group F unbeaten in second place. In the Round of 32 they meet Brazil, the Group C winners, in Houston in the early hours of June 30 Japan time.
The Netherlands won the group on seven points, with Japan second on five. Sweden are third on four and must wait on the remaining groups to see if they make the eight best third-placed sides. Tunisia are out.
- Summary
Japan draw 1-1 with Sweden, go through unbeaten as Group F runners-up — Brazil next
Japan drew 1-1 with Sweden in Dallas and finished their group unbeaten, with one win and two draws, to take second place in Group F and reach the Round of 32. In the other Group F game, played at the same hour, the Netherlands beat Tunisia 3-1 to win the group, so Japan go through in second. Next up is Brazil, the Group C winners, in Houston in the early hours of June 30 Japan time.
- Morning
Japan draw 1-1 with Sweden, through as runners-up; Brazil next in the last 32
In Dallas, Japan drew 1-1 with Sweden to finish second in Group F and reach the knockout stage. Daizen Maeda put Japan ahead in the second half before Anthony Elanga levelled. The Netherlands beat Tunisia 3-1 to top the group. Japan now meet Group C winners Brazil in the Round of 32 on 29 June in Houston — the early hours of 30 June in Japan.
- News
Germany lose to Ecuador but still top Group E; Ivory Coast reach the knockouts for the first time
Germany were beaten 2-1 by Ecuador in their final group match, Gonzalo Plata striking the winner in the 77th minute. It made no difference to first place — Germany still topped Group E — but it reshaped everything below them: Ivory Coast reached a World Cup knockout stage for the first time in their history, Ecuador survived as the leading third-placed team, and Curaçao, the smallest nation ever at a men's World Cup, went out.
- News
South Korea benched Son and slipped to third — where Asia's record nine stand on the eve of Japan's decider
South Korea dropped captain Son Heung-Min for its Group A decider, lost 1-0 to South Africa and finished third, its fate now in other groups' hands. With a record nine Asian teams at the first 48-team World Cup, none has yet clinched a knockout spot — and Japan's own decider is next.
- Opponent View
After conceding five, Sweden's defense is under fire at home — and the space behind it is where Japan strikes
In TV4's studio after Sweden's 1-5 collapse against the Netherlands, former international John Guidetti pointed the finger at center-back Isak Hien. Captain Victor Nilsson Lindelöf did not deflect it. 'It's not just Isak who should take the criticism — the whole back line can do better. On the third goal I could have sprinted back a bit faster,' he told Aftonbladet. The day before Japan, Sweden's problem is not its strikers. It is the line behind them.
- Preview
Japan go through with a draw against Sweden, who must win to survive
Japan reach Group F's final game on four points, level with the Netherlands. A draw against Sweden is enough to guarantee a top-two finish and a place in the last 16. Sweden, on three, have to win. Kickoff is 08:00 JST on Friday, June 26, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, with the Netherlands playing Tunisia at the same time.
- Morning
Host Canada beaten at home and miss top spot; Japan need only a draw at 8am tomorrow
In Vancouver, host nation Canada lost 1-2 to Switzerland and handed over top spot in Group B. In the same group, Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Qatar 3-1 and went through as one of the best third-placed teams, while Colombia saw off DR Congo 1-0 to reach the knockouts. Japan have no game today and turn to Friday's group decider with Sweden, where a draw would be enough to reach the last 32.
- News
Japan still sits on zero cards, and in the final round discipline could decide who goes through
Heading into the final round of group games, Japan is one of only about a dozen of the 48 teams that have yet to pick up a single disciplinary point. In an expanded format where eight of the twelve third-placed teams advance, that clean sheet of cards is not a detail. After points, goal difference and goals, the next thing separating teams is the 'team conduct score' — and a single yellow card can be the difference between playing on and flying home.
- Preview
Japan first or second? The Netherlands-Tunisia game played alongside them decides it
Group F's last round runs in two stadiums at once. While Japan face Sweden in Arlington, the Netherlands meet an already-eliminated Tunisia in Kansas City. The Dutch sit top only because they have scored one more goal than Japan, so their result is what sets the bar for whether Japan can finish first. Kickoff is 08:00 JST on Friday, June 26, at Arrowhead Stadium.
- Opponent View
Sweden's real fear before Japan isn't elimination — it's third place, and France
Swedish public broadcaster SVT called its own route to the round of 32 'advanced mathematics' — 495 combinations, by FIFA's count. For Sweden before the Japan match, the final group game is not a simple win-or-go-home. A draw keeps a thin lifeline; a defeat could still end the tournament. And the outcome Sweden most wants to avoid is not elimination — it is finishing third, where France could be waiting.
- News
Ronaldo scores twice at 41, the first to find the net at six World Cups, as Portugal close on the last 32
Cristiano Ronaldo broke a goal drought stretching back to November 2022 with a near-post finish in the sixth minute, then added another before halftime as Portugal beat Uzbekistan 5-0. The brace made him the first player to score in six different World Cups — and, at 41, the second-oldest scorer in the tournament's history.
- Morning
Portugal hammer Uzbekistan 5-0 to top Group K as the final group round opens tonight
Overnight in Houston, Portugal thrashed Uzbekistan 5-0 to lead Group K. Before dawn in Boston, England and Ghana drew 0-0 and Croatia edged Panama 1-0 to keep their hopes alive. Japan have no game today and turn to Friday's group decider with Sweden. From tonight the final group matchday gets going, with Brazil and Canada among those playing for top spot and a place in the last 32.
- Japan
Kubo set to miss Sweden, but back to light running — his real target is the knockout round
Three days before the match that can send Japan through, Takefusa Kubo showed up for the team photo in Nashville on June 23 — then watched the full session from the side. He has started light running again, but is now expected to miss Sweden. The realistic target for his return has shifted to the knockout round.
- News
Lightning halts France-Iraq for 2 hours 11 minutes — Japan's group finale sits inside a climate-controlled dome
France's 3-0 win over Iraq in Philadelphia was halted for 2 hours and 11 minutes by lightning, the first weather stoppage of the 2026 World Cup. At the open-air Lincoln Financial Field, fans had to leave their seats and shelter before play resumed. Heat has dominated the pre-tournament worry list; this was a different kind of weather risk, and it arrived suddenly.
- News
Messi misses a penalty, then breaks the record: 18 World Cup goals, the most of any player
Argentina beat Austria 2-0 in Dallas on Monday, and Lionel Messi turned it into history. After missing an early penalty that would have given him the record on the spot, he scored in the 39th minute for his 17th World Cup goal — passing Germany's Miroslav Klose, who had held the men's record on 16. A second goal in stoppage time took him to 18, more than any player has scored at a World Cup, men's or women's.
- Morning
Messi breaks the men's World Cup scoring record as Argentina beat Austria 2-0 to reach the last 32
Overnight in Arlington, Lionel Messi scored twice as Argentina beat Austria 2-0, taking him clear of Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in the men's World Cup and sending Argentina into the knockout stage. Before dawn France edged Iraq 1-0 through a Kylian Mbappe strike. Japan, who thrashed Tunisia 4-0 on Sunday to reach four points, have no game today and now look ahead to Friday's group decider with Sweden.
- News
Egypt win at a World Cup for the first time, 92 years on — a transformed second half, and Salah decided it
Egypt trailed New Zealand at halftime in Vancouver, then scored three times after the break to win 3-1 — their first victory at a World Cup, 92 years and 25 days after their debut. Mohamed Salah, at 34, scored the go-ahead goal and set up another; he is now the oldest scorer for Egypt at a World Cup and, on record, the oldest African player to both score and assist in a World Cup match.
- Preview
Scotland face Brazil with a knockout place on the line in Miami
Scotland go into the last Group C game on three points, a single result away from the knockout rounds — and their opponents are Brazil, who top the group on four. Morocco, also on four, play eliminated Haiti at the same time. Kickoff is 07:00 JST on Thursday, June 25, in Miami.
- Preview
Co-hosts Canada can win the group at home; Switzerland stand in the way in Vancouver
Group B's final round is a straight fight for top spot: co-hosts Canada and Switzerland are both on four points, and the winner takes the group. Canada arrive off a 6-0 rout of Qatar. Kickoff is 04:00 JST on Thursday, June 25, at BC Place in Vancouver, played at the same time as Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar.
- Preview
South Korea need only a draw with South Africa to stay in second; the Boks must win
Group A's final round pairs South Korea, who sit second on three points, against bottom-but-alive South Africa on one. Mexico have already taken the group out of reach at the top. Kickoff is 10:00 JST on Thursday, June 25, in Monterrey, played at the same time as Czechia vs Mexico.
- Opponent View
Sweden's papers put a demand on its strike pair: 'make it work against Japan'
Sweden's goals are supposed to come from Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres. But before the Japan match, the loudest local debate is not about defending the back line that the Netherlands tore apart — it is about whether the two strikers actually fit together. Swedish pundits flagged it after the Tunisia win and named Japan directly. Then in the 5-1 loss to the Netherlands, the starting pair did not score at all.
- News
Undav's 94th-minute winner off the bench sends Germany into the last 32
Germany were losing to Ivory Coast in Toronto until Julian Nagelsmann sent on Deniz Undav, who scored twice off the bench, the second in the 94th minute, to win it 2-1 and become the third team into the 2026 World Cup round of 32. Undav now has five goal involvements as a substitute at this tournament, a tally no player has matched in a single edition since the 1960s.
- Chronicle
Keito Nakamura: The run that opened the game
Japan's whole afternoon started on the left boot of Keito Nakamura. Four minutes in, he carried the ball into the Tunisia box, beat his man and pulled a low cross back across the face of goal for Daichi Kamada to finish. With Takefusa Kubo out injured, Nakamura was the one giving Japan their cutting edge from wide, and his early delivery set the tone for a 4-0 win. Not the name on the scoresheet, but the reason the scoreline started moving when it did.
- Chronicle
Junya Ito: The third goal that ended the contest
By the 69th minute Tunisia were still chasing a way back into the game when Junya Ito removed it. Working the right side as he has for Japan for years, Ito rolled a finish past goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen to make it 3-0. It was the goal that turned a comfortable lead into a settled result, and it came from one of the most familiar sources in this Japan side — the wide runner who keeps arriving in the right places long into a tournament cycle.
- Chronicle
Daichi Kamada: Four minutes in, the game was set
Japan barely needed to settle. In the fourth minute Keito Nakamura carried the ball into the box on the left and pulled it back across the face of goal, and Daichi Kamada was there at the near post to turn it in. It was Japan's quickest goal of the tournament, and it changed the shape of the night immediately — Tunisia, needing a result, now had to chase from behind against a side happy to let them come. Kamada's value was not in the difficulty of the finish but in being exactly where the cross was going.
- Chronicle
Ayase Ueda: Two goals, two answers
Ayase Ueda's first goal against Tunisia was a striker's craft: a touch to set himself 18 yards out, then a low shot curled past the defender's leg into the bottom-left corner before half-time. His second, late in the game, was a different skill — drifting unmarked to the far post to glance in Kaishu Sano's right-wing cross. One finish struck, one finish read. After a year of questions over Japan's center-forward, Ueda's brace was the simplest possible reply, delivered on the biggest stage.
- Japan
Ueda's two goals answer the question over Japan's No. 9
In the 31st minute Ayase Ueda took a touch, opened his body and curled an 18-yard shot into the bottom-left corner. By full time he had two, Japan had four, and the long argument over who leads their attack had a clear answer.
- Summary
Ueda's double powers Japan past Tunisia 4-0; qualification now hinges on Sweden
Daichi Kamada struck in the fourth minute and Tunisia never recovered. Japan won 4-0, two goals in each half, to reach four points in Group F. Level with the Netherlands at the top, Japan now settle qualification in the final round against Sweden on June 26.
- Opponent View
Sweden's 5-1 cushion is gone; local coverage turns toward Japan, points and goal difference
Sweden beat Tunisia 5-1, then lost to the Netherlands by the same score. In the hours after the Houston defeat, Swedish outlets framed the Japan game around two things at once: the group is still in Sweden's hands, but the goal-difference cushion has vanished.
- Opponent View
Netherlands' 5-1 win makes Japan's 2-2 draw harder for Tunisia to ignore
The Netherlands beat Sweden 5-1 before Tunisia face Japan in Group F. For Tunisia, who lost 5-1 to Sweden in their opener, Japan's 2-2 draw with the Dutch now looks harder to dismiss. Recent Tunisian and Arabic-language coverage does not show a fresh public panic, but it does show Herve Renard trying to shut out the noise and push the squad toward one demand: beat Japan.
- Preview
Sweden can clinch with a win; eleven hours before Japan play, Group F moves
Group F leaders Sweden could book a place in the last 32 with a win, four days after beating Tunisia 5-1. Their opponents are the Netherlands, who only drew their opener with Japan 2-2. Kickoff is 02:00 JST on Sunday, June 21, in Houston — and the result will reshape the table eleven hours before Japan kick off against Tunisia.
- Preview
Japan without Kubo, now ruled out; a win over a cornered Tunisia takes control of Group F
Japan's Group F second match comes against a Tunisia side that, four days after a 5-1 opening loss to Sweden, swapped Sabri Lamouchi for Herve Renard. Japan have a change of their own: Takefusa Kubo, hurt in his left knee, has been ruled out and stays behind at the team's Nashville base for treatment rather than travelling to the match. Level on a single point, Japan would take control of the qualifying race with a win — kickoff 13:00 JST on Sunday, June 21, in the open air at Monterrey.
- Japan
Netherlands–Sweden goes first: on Group F's second matchday, Japan reads the table before facing Tunisia
On June 21, Group F plays both its second-round games on the same day: Netherlands vs Sweden in the early hours, then Japan vs Tunisia at midday Japan time. Japan will kick off already knowing the updated table — and if teams finish level, the first thing that separates them is the head-to-head result, not overall goal difference.
- Morning
USA edge Australia 2-0 to reach the last 32; today Brazil's second game and Turkey-Paraguay
Co-host United States beat Australia 2-0 in Seattle overnight to make it two wins from two and top Group D, securing a place in the knockout stage even without the injured Christian Pulisic. Japan, on one point, are now about 31 hours from facing Tunisia in Monterrey, with Takefusa Kubo's knee still in doubt. Later today Brazil play their second match against Haiti, and Turkey meet Paraguay to complete Group D's second round.
- Opponent View
Tunisia's local press reads a likely goalkeeper change before Japan
Before Tunisia face Japan, the first position being questioned at home is the one closest to goal. Local papers are now reading Aymen Dahmen as a possible starter instead of Mouhib Chamekh. That is not just a change-for-change's-sake rumor: it comes out of the five goals conceded against Sweden, the criticism of Chamekh's role in that defeat, and Herve Renard's preference for a cleaner 4-3-3 structure.
- News
Three minutes or six? The World Cup's heat-break fight, as Japan heads into a Monterrey night
This World Cup is the first to make a three-minute hydration break mandatory in each half of every match. A group of scientists — including Waseda University's Yuri Hosokawa — wrote to FIFA in May arguing three minutes is too short. Japan's next stop sits inside that argument: a night match in Monterrey.
- Opponent View
"Japan are Asia's best": Renard's Tunisia prepares for a Kubo-less Japan
Japan's Takefusa Kubo has been ruled out of Saturday's Group F game against Tunisia with a left-knee injury; he stays at the Nashville base for treatment and does not travel with the squad. The team waiting for Japan in Monterrey has a four-day-old coach, Herve Renard, who has already called Japan "the best in Asia." Here is what he is trying to rebuild, in his own words.
- Morning
Switzerland erupt for four late goals to top Group B; this morning Mexico meet South Korea
Switzerland beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-1 with a late flurry to move top of Group B; the game was goalless until the 73rd minute before two substitutes blew it open. Japan, on one point, still have doubts over Takefusa Kubo's knee with Tunisia three days away. And this morning at 10am (JST), Mexico face South Korea for the lead in Group A.
- News
Korea and Mexico both on 3 points: Group A's top spot is decided this morning in Guadalajara
A late penalty earned South Africa a 1-1 draw with Czechia overnight, leaving all four Group A teams alive. Now Korea and host Mexico, both perfect from Matchday 1, meet this morning JST to take control of the group.
- News
Uzbekistan's first World Cup goal: Fayzullaev heads in on debut, but Colombia win 3-1
On their first appearance at a World Cup, Uzbekistan went behind to Daniel Munoz before Abbosbek Fayzullaev headed in their first goal in the country's history just after the hour in Mexico City. Luis Diaz and Jamilton Campaz then pulled Colombia clear for a 3-1 win. The result was a defeat, but the debutants left with a record that cannot be taken back.
- Japan
Ito or Suzuki? With Kubo's knee scanned, Japan's open question for Tunisia is the right shadow
Kubo's MRI came back as a left-knee injury, and Japanese reporters in Monterrey have already moved past how bad it is. The question now is who starts in his right-shadow role against a winless Tunisia on June 21.
- Morning
Mbappe's double sinks Senegal 3-1 and makes him France's all-time World Cup top scorer past Fontaine — and tonight, Messi's 200th
While you slept, France beat Senegal 3-1, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice. His goals took him to 14 World Cup goals, passing Just Fontaine (13, in 1958) as France's all-time World Cup top scorer. Japan, on one point, await news on Kubo's knee. Today brings the favourites' openers — headlined by Messi's 200th cap against Algeria at 10am JST.
- Morning
Congo's first-ever World Cup goal holds Portugal; today the last group openers play out
While you slept, DR Congo scored their first goal in World Cup history to hold Portugal 1-1. The scorer was Yoane Wissa — their first goal at a finals since they played as Zaire in 1974, 52 years ago. Japan, on one point, await the result of Takefusa Kubo's knee scan. Today the final group-stage openers play out, and the second round of matches begins overnight.
- News
52 years on, DR Congo's first World Cup goal: Wissa's header holds Portugal to 1-1
Joao Neves headed Portugal in front after six minutes in Houston, but Yoane Wissa levelled in first-half stoppage time to earn DR Congo their first-ever World Cup point — and their first goal at the tournament since their only previous appearance in 1974, when the country was Zaire. Cristiano Ronaldo played the full 90 on his sixth and final World Cup opener and never scored.
- Opponent View
Tunisia's Local Coverage Is Not Focused on Kubo — It Is Focused on Tunisia
Chant 26 checked Tunisian local outlets, radio clips and football commentary for references to Takefusa Kubo before Tunisia vs Japan. The pattern was clear: Kubo is visible in international coverage, but Tunisian discussion is centred on Tunisia's own crisis and Japan as a collective opponent.
- Opponent View
Tunisia Sacks Coach After 5-1 Defeat; Local Media Reports 'Confusion' and Wariness of Japan
Tunisia dismissed manager Sabri Lamouchi following a 5-1 loss to Sweden, just ahead of their match against Japan. Local media are reporting the move not as a simple tactical shift, but as a sign of turmoil within the federation, coupled with a growing wariness of their next opponent.
- News
Mbappé Ties Record as France Scrape Past Senegal 1-0 in World Cup Opener
A single goal from Kylian Mbappé was enough for France to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Senegal in their Group I opener. The 66th-minute strike not only broke the deadlock but also brought Mbappé level with Just Fontaine's long-standing record as France's all-time top scorer in the World Cup with 13 goals.
- News
Haaland Scores Twice on Debut as Norway Beats Iraq 4-1 in World Cup Return
Erling Haaland scored two goals on his World Cup debut, leading Norway to a 4-1 victory over Iraq in their Group I opener. The win marked a successful return to the tournament for the Scandinavian nation after a 28-year absence.
- Opponent View
Tunisia appoint 'firefighter' Hervé Renard four days before Japan clash
Japan's next opponent, Tunisia, has made a shock managerial change just four days before their match. Following the dismissal of Sabri Lamouchi after a 5-1 thrashing by Sweden, the federation bypassed an interim solution and appointed Hervé Renard. Renard is a master of the upset, famously known for leading Saudi Arabia to a victory over eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 World Cup. According to reports, Renard arrived in Monterrey on Tuesday and immediately took charge of the team. Now at the bottom of the group with nothing to lose, Tunisia will face Japan under the guidance of a proven tournament specialist.
- News
World Cup's Historic Day: Four Draws Leave Eight Teams Tied in Groups G & H
June 16 marked a first in World Cup history: all four matches played on the day ended in a draw. The results mean every team in Groups G and H sits on one point. The deadlock, which leaves favorites like Spain and Belgium without an opening win, will be broken when the second round of matches is played on June 21.
- Opponent View
Tunisia Sack Coach 4 Days Before Japan Match; Kebaier Returns as Interim
Tunisia, Japan's next opponent in Group F, have dismissed head coach Sabri Lamouchi just four days before their crucial match on June 21. The decision came hours after a heavy 1-5 defeat to Sweden in their opening game. Mondher Kebaier, who managed the national team from 2019 to 2022, has been appointed as interim coach for the remainder of the group stage.
- Morning
Spain Held 0-0 by Debutant Cape Verde; Belgium Also Stumble in Opener
Favorites Spain were held to a 0-0 draw by World Cup debutants Cape Verde, while Belgium also dropped points in a 1-1 draw with Egypt, as two heavyweights stumbled in their opening matches. Japan, who drew 2-2 with the Netherlands, are concerned about the condition of Takefusa Kubo's knee. Tonight features Uruguay vs. Saudi Arabia.
- World Voices
Dropped Points or a Golden Point? How Global Media Viewed Japan's 2-2 Draw with the Netherlands
Japan's 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in their World Cup opener was framed in starkly different ways. In the Netherlands, the focus was on coaching criticism, while media in France and Italy celebrated Japan's valuable point. We analyze the reactions from seven major outlets to understand the multiple narratives of this single result.
- News
Spain Stunned in 0-0 Draw with Debutant Cape Verde; 40-Year-Old Keeper Vozinha the Hero
FIFA's third-ranked Spain was held to a shocking 0-0 draw by World Cup debutant Cape Verde in their Group H opener in Atlanta. Despite dominating with 27 shots and 74% possession, the tournament favorite could not break the deadlock, thwarted by 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha who made seven crucial saves to earn his nation a historic first point. The result throws the group wide open ahead of the Uruguay vs. Saudi Arabia match.
- News
Sweden 5-1 Tunisia: Analyzing the scoreline for Japan's next two World Cup opponents
Sweden defeated Tunisia 5-1 to take the lead in Group F after the first round of matches. For Japan, who drew 2-2 with the Netherlands, the result has significant implications. While the scoreline suggests a rout, the match was competitive for an hour before a key Tunisian error shifted the momentum. This game offers crucial insights into Japan's next two opponents.
- Brief
Kamada Credited with Netherlands Equaliser, but Ogawa's Header Was Key
Japan's 88th-minute equaliser against the Netherlands was officially credited to Daichi Kamada. However, the crucial play that created the goal was a header from Koki Ogawa.
- Japan
Japan Draw With Netherlands, but Concern Grows Over Kubo's Knee Injury
Japan secured a valuable point in a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in their World Cup opener, but it may have come at a cost. Takefusa Kubo, who had been instrumental in the attack, was forced off with a left-knee injury after signaling to the bench for his own substitution, leaving his availability for the next match in doubt.
- Morning
Japan fight back twice to seal 2-2 draw with Netherlands in World Cup opener
While you were sleeping, Japan came from behind twice to secure a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in their World Cup opener. Goals from Keito Nakamura and a late Daichi Kamada earned a point against the group's top seed. Elsewhere, Germany routed Curaçao 7-1. Group F continues with Sweden vs. Tunisia at midday JST.
- Chronicle
Daichi Kamada: Japan's latest-ever World Cup goal
In the 89th minute, with Japan a goal down and time almost gone, Koki Ogawa's header deflected off Daichi Kamada and into the top corner. Opta recorded it as the latest goal Japan has ever scored in a World Cup match. It was not a clean, picked-out finish — it was the reward for staying in the right place when the game was slipping away. Kamada's instinct in the box turned a likely defeat into a point against a tournament contender.
- Chronicle
Koki Ogawa: The header that started the record goal
With Japan trailing again to Crysencio Summerville's strike, Koki Ogawa rose to meet a delivery in the 89th minute. His header deflected off team-mate Daichi Kamada and flew into the top corner — the goal Opta logged as the latest Japan has ever scored at a World Cup. The finish went down as Kamada's, but the leap that set it in motion was Ogawa's, a forward's instinct that rescued a point.
- Chronicle
Keito Nakamura: The first answer to van Dijk
After Virgil van Dijk headed the Netherlands ahead early in the second half, Keito Nakamura provided Japan's first reply. Fed by Takefusa Kubo down the left, his 57th-minute shot took a deflection and beat the goalkeeper. It was not a clean strike, but it was the product of Japan finally working into a shooting position — and it kept the opener alive until the late drama arrived.
- Chronicle
Takefusa Kubo: Eleven touches, one that mattered
It was a quiet night for Takefusa Kubo by volume — around 11 touches, a reflection of how little clean possession Japan had in the Dutch third. But the one that counted set up the first equalizer: working the left, he fed Keito Nakamura for the deflected finish on 57 minutes. On an evening of scarce chances, Kubo provided the moment that turned resistance into a goal.
- Chronicle
Zion Suzuki: Kept Japan in it before half-time
Against a Netherlands side that controlled possession and pushed Japan deep, Zion Suzuki was the reason the opener was still goalless at the break. He topped Sofascore's half-time ratings and made the saves that kept Japan within range of a match it was not dominating. The two second-half equalizers only counted because Suzuki had first refused to let the game get away.
- Japan
Kamada's Historic 89th-Minute Goal Earns Japan 2-2 Draw with Netherlands
Japan earned a crucial point in their World Cup opener, twice coming from behind to secure a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands. Despite being largely out-possessed and missing key player Kaoru Mitoma, Japan's resilience, critical saves from Zion Suzuki, and a dramatic, historic late goal from Daichi Kamada proved decisive.
- Summary
Kamada's Last-Gasp Goal Secures 2-2 Draw for Japan Against Netherlands
Japan secured a crucial point in their 2026 World Cup opener, drawing 2-2 with the Netherlands in Group F. Despite falling behind twice, a goal from Keito Nakamura and a last-gasp equalizer from Daichi Kamada earned them a share of the spoils against the group's top seed.
- News
Curaçao: World Cup's Smallest-Ever Nation, Led by 78-Year-Old Coach, to Debut Against Germany
Hours before Japan faces the Netherlands, another Group E match will mark a historic moment. Curaçao, a Caribbean island with a population of about 156,000, will make its World Cup debut against Germany. The team is the smallest nation by population and area to ever reach the tournament. Its squad is also unique: 25 of its 26 players were raised in the Netherlands, and it is led by 78-year-old Dutch coach Dick Advocaat.
- Opponent View
Koeman: 'We are Holland' — But Dutch Media Questions Midfield Ahead of Japan Opener
The Netherlands begin their World Cup campaign against Japan on June 15. While coach Ronald Koeman and captain Virgil van Dijk project confidence, the narrative in the Dutch press is more cautious, highlighting a lack of open-play goals in recent friendlies and a midfield vulnerability that Japan is well-equipped to exploit.
- Morning
Brazil, Switzerland Stumble; Japan Face Netherlands After Captaincy Shock
The World Cup delivered early drama as title favourites Brazil were held by Morocco, while Qatar secured a historic first point against Switzerland. Co-hosts USA began with a convincing win. Meanwhile, Japan face a tough opener against the Netherlands after a sudden change in captaincy.
- Preview
New Captain Itakura Leads Japan Against Netherlands in World Cup Opener
Japan's 2026 World Cup campaign begins against the Netherlands at the climate-controlled AT&T Stadium, kicking off at 05:00 JST on June 15. Following Wataru Endo's retirement, new captain Ko Itakura leads the side in a crucial Group F opener.
- Japan
Captain Wataru Endo Withdraws; Ko Itakura Named New Captain 3 Days Before World Cup Opener
Just three days before their World Cup opener, the Japan national team has undergone a significant change. Captain Wataru Endo has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury. Defender Ko Itakura has been appointed as the new captain, while forward Shuto Machino, called up as a replacement, will inherit Endo's number 6 shirt. Ahead of the opening match against the Netherlands in Dallas on June 15 (JST), here is a breakdown of this major shift and a clarification on the timeline of Kaoru Mitoma's absence, a point often misreported by international media.