“When you’ve just drawn 0-0 against a country ranked 64th in the world and which has a population of around 500,000, you can no longer be considered favourites to win the World Cup. Spain will surely improve but they deservedly drop down Tuesday’s rankings. But where do Cape Verde land after shocking the world? And what about Belgium and Egypt after their opening draw? …”
NYT/ATH (Video)
“The World Cup saw one of its biggest-ever surprises when Cape Verde, playing its first game at the tournament, held Spain — European champions and many people’s favorites to win this summer — to a 0-0 draw. The first round of games in Group G ended with all four teams on one point, as another shock was avoided by a late goal from Maxi Araujo, as Uruguay came from behind to salvage a draw against Saudi Arabia. Romelu Lukaku made an immediate impact by forcing an equaliser for Belgium, after it had spent much of the game in Seattle trailing to Egypt, while the other game in that group saw Iran come from behind twice to earn a draw with New Zealand. …”
NYT/ATH (Video)
YouTube: Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay Extended Highlights 🌎🏆 2026 FIFA World Cup
“Football fans around the world are gathering to watch the World Cup together, from small neighbourhood living rooms to giant outdoor screens. In city squares, stadium plazas, cafes and packed fan zones, supporters in team colours and painted faces are following every kick, tackle and goal. Some stay up late or wake before dawn to catch matches across time zones, crowding into makeshift viewing tents, community halls and rooftop spaces. Others watch quietly at home with family and friends, turning their living rooms into mini-stadiums. This photo gallery looks at how a global tournament reaches into everyday life – uniting strangers, amplifying local rivalries and offering brief moments of escape, celebration and hope wherever the game is being watched. …”
Aljazeera
“Soccer unites. This is what we are told. It swoops in, majestic in the players’ grace, and gives a people – any people – a thing to rally around in good times and bad. It’s true, that does happen on occasion. But other times, as in Monday’s 2-2 draw between Iran and New Zealand here in southern California, the magic of this ridiculously simple game lies in its power to make one, or several, or several thousand, forget. Before the game, Iranians worldwide had been divided by decades of political and cultural difficulty and the Iran team were hamstrung by interrupted preparations for what should be the pinnacle of any player’s career. …”
Guardian (Video)
YouTube: Iran vs New Zealand Extended Highlights 🌎🏆 2026 FIFA World Cup
Scissors Kick 