All posts tagged: 2026 FIFA World Cup

The Ghana witch doctor who put a spell on Harry Kane at the World Cup

The Ghana witch doctor who put a spell on Harry Kane at the World Cup

Published by Webster

When Harry Kane miscued a rebound deep into the stands in the dying moments of the goalless draw against Ghana, an England fan turned to a Ghanaian neighbour and quipped: “Oh, the spell is working after all.” The Ghana supporter retorted: “No spell friend, he needs some shooting practice.” The banter was about a claim made before the match by Nana Kwaku Bonsam — whose name translates as Devil of Wednesday — a Ghanaian witch doctor who told the Daily Star he had cast black magic on Kane. He had credentials of a sort: in 2014, he claimed to have engineered a knee injury that threatened Cristiano Ronaldo’s participation in the World Cup ahead of Portugal’s clash with Ghana. “I am working on Harry Kane,” he said. “I have shown what I am capable of before so I know what work I must do to stop him.” He added, with some care: “I am not wishing him serious injury. It will be just enough to stop him against my country.” AS IT HAPPENED | England …

‘Vincelotti’ pair is giving Brazil sceptics a reason to believe again at FIFA World Cup

‘Vincelotti’ pair is giving Brazil sceptics a reason to believe again at FIFA World Cup

Published by Webster

Vinicius Junior could scarcely conceal his delight after Brazil’s 3-0 victory over Haiti on Saturday. Truth be told, he made little effort to. There was not an iota of reticence in his grin. In an all-scourging world that lacks a moral compass, not acting stoically could be precarious. Yet, the standard-bearer of football’s most decorated team does exactly that. At a Brazil press conference in 2024, he broke down in tears. Not snivelling, but bawling. Unrelenting racism testing his tolerance threshold, Vinicius had announced: “I am losing the will to play football.” Two years later, you would find it hard to believe he ever contemplated retirement. Tricks forged in the favelas, showboat celebrations and the improvisation that has become increasingly rare in elite football have all returned. When confronted with the inevitable question — what had changed after an unconvincing 1-1 stalemate against Morocco? — Vinicius offered a remarkably simple explanation: “Today I played in a different position. The coach asked me to.” Across the two press conferences, one figure remained constant. Carlo Ancelotti. Tears …

Who is Michael Olise – Mbappé’s wingman, as French captain chases Messi’s goal count

Who is Michael Olise – Mbappé’s wingman, as French captain chases Messi’s goal count

Published by Webster

5 min readJun 23, 2026 09:00 AM IST There are 75 players at the 2026 FIFA World Cup who are born in France – representing around 10 nations. Michael Olise, the lynchpin of the French attack, the puppeteer pulling the strings from the right wing, while setting up Kylian Mbappé’s strikes – isn’t one. Olise was born in London. He has been called the ‘today and tomorrow’ of French football by Mbappé, after his assists first helped France steady early nerves and a ponderous first half against Senegal, when the French captain finally scored. Against Iraq in a rain-drenched game, Olise was quicker to get France going, when his pinpoint service to Mbappé took his captain to 15 World Cup goals in his 100th match. Roving on the right, well out of the defensive unit’s peripheral sights, Olise kept pinging in precise passes that the French forwards could convert, with Dembele receiving an Olise assist and scoring the French third in a 3-0 win. ALSO READ | Mbappé approaching Messi’s 18-goal record in World Cup’s …

How Egypt star won much-awaited World Cup duel

How Egypt star won much-awaited World Cup duel

Published by Webster

3 min readJun 16, 2026 02:50 PM IST For the better part of a decade, the world was in thrall of their feats in northwest England. On Monday, the Kevin De Bruyne-Mohamed Salah duel reprised, now transposed to northwest America. The Premier League giants captained their respective teams in a taut FIFA World Cup encounter, which stood level after a goal precipitated by another ageing great — Romelu Lukaku. The draw perhaps pleased Egypt supporters more than those of Belgium, but for the neutrals, it was a rare opportunity to see the Manchester City and Liverpool legends cross swords amid different, bigger stakes. De Bruyne too was looking forward to the reunion with Salah, saying before the game that it would be “nice to compete again like old times”. It remains to be seen how ‘nice’ the Belgian midfield rock still felt, after falling excruciatingly short of scoring on several occasions. Having slammed a shot wide in the early exchanges, De Bruyne very nearly got it right in the 53rd minute with a deftly crafted …

Indian-origin New Zealand World Cup star whose first international goal was scored in India

Indian-origin New Zealand World Cup star whose first international goal was scored in India

Published by Webster

3 min readJun 16, 2026 12:08 PM IST Sarpreet Singh starred for New Zealand in their thrilling 2-2 draw against Iran in their first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Los Angeles Stadium, thus joining the list of Indian-origin players at the tournament this year, the others being Qatar’s Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid, DR Congo’s Samuel Moutoussamy and Australia’s Nishan Velupillay. Sarpreet had a major role to play in New Zealand’s first goal, with Elijah Just exchanging passes with him and captain Chris Wood before putting the ball into the back of the net. He was taken off in the 92nd minute of the match, being replaced by Jesse Randall. Who is Sarpreet Singh? Born in Auckland, New Zealand on February 20, 1999, Sarpreet currently plays for Wellington Phoenix, on loan from Serbian club TSC. Sarpreet’s parents hail from Jalandhar, Punjab, and ran a grocery store in Auckland. The 27-year-old played for Onehunga Sports in his youth before signing for Wellington Phoenix in 2015. He played with the A-League team till 2019, when …

Star-studded England left with one ball and no shoes as theft hits FIFA World Cup camp | Football News

Star-studded England left with one ball and no shoes as theft hits FIFA World Cup camp | Football News

Published by Webster

2 min readUpdated: Jun 13, 2026 02:42 PM IST England are just about four days away from starting their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a match against Croatia in a rematch of the 2018 semi-final, but they have been left without any boots to wear for the match! The Football Association are scampering to procure equipment, including the players’ match shoes, with the vehicles transferring them to their Swope Soccer Village base in Kansas City being broken into. The heist has reportedly left England, who boast some of the most prominent names in the sport in their lineup, with just one football remaining for training. Thomas Tuchel and his squad are scheduled to arrive at the in Kansas City on Saturday afternoon and the equipment was due to be in place beforehand, according to BBC Sport. They are scheduled to have their first full training session at the site on Sunday and the theft could disrupt some of these plans. Among other items being transported from Florida were analysis equipment, tactical whiteboards and massage …

At FIFA World Cup, yellow card given, revoked, then given to another player: What happened?

At FIFA World Cup, yellow card given, revoked, then given to another player: What happened?

Published by Webster

3 min readJun 13, 2026 02:11 PM IST The United States’ 4-1 victory over Paraguay on the opening night of 2026 World Cup action on American soil was a historic occasion, but history of a different sort was also made in the game when a yellow card was handed, then revoked before being brandished on a player of the other team. The match saw the first intervention by the video assistant referee (VAR) for mistaken identity at the World Cup, and US defender Tim Ream was the beneficiary. The 38-year-old had been booked after a tackle on Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron. Despite his protests, the free kick was taken before VAR Carlos del Cerro Grande asked on-field Dutch referee Danny Makkelie to go to the pitch-side TV screen. Makkelie subsequently revoked his decision and gave a yellow card to Almiron for ‘simulation’, a euphemism for diving. This is something new as generally, after the game restarts, the referee cannot revisit an earlier passage of play. But a rule change for this World Cup addresses any case …

USA’s World Cup moment arrives: How Pulisic, Balogun turned opening night into a spectacle | Football News

USA’s World Cup moment arrives: How Pulisic, Balogun turned opening night into a spectacle | Football News

Published by Webster

6 min readUpdated: Jun 13, 2026 09:55 AM IST When the final whistle blew, the beatific Los Angeles Stadium was a blizzard of miniature US flags fluttered in the stadium. The stands fully enjoyed a blockbuster evening, arguably the co-hosts’ most authoritative display in the World Cups. The 4-1 scoreline, Giovanni Reyna splashing the icing on the cake in the last minute, fully captured their domination over an unusually frazzled Paraguay. So joyous the occasion was that the celebrations brought bedlam. They piled onto each other near the corner flag, some weeping, some screaming, before they huddled bang in the middle of the pitch, joined by the support staff. In the broadcasters’ box, Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave the appraisal. “We were speaking before the game about believing. My message to the American people is, if you didn’t believe before the game, that performance in the first half — start believing. This American team can do something big.” It’s a wave that could spill on and grip the entire nation in football mania. AS IT HAPPENED | …

Katy Perry, Lisa, Future bring the star power at star-studded FIFA World Cup 2026 USA opening ceremony in Los Angeles

Katy Perry, Lisa, Future bring the star power at star-studded FIFA World Cup 2026 USA opening ceremony in Los Angeles

Published by Parlour News

Pop star Katy Perry, K-pop idol Lisa, and rapper Future headlined a star-studded FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday. This was one of the three opening ceremonies for the world’s biggest football tournament, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Katy Perry performs during the Parade of Nations before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by JAMIE SQUIRE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP) Katy Perry floors the crowd Katy Perry delivered a memorable performance at the ceremony, captivating thousands of fans with an emotional rendition of her song Wonder ahead of the United States’ campaign opener against Paraguay. The ceremony marked the start of the US leg of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Taking the stage around 10 minutes before kickoff, Katy was joined by Tius Luka, who recorded the song with her in 2021 when he was five …

When Peter Drury immortalised Tshabalala’s goal, welcomed World Cup to Africa | Football News

When Peter Drury immortalised Tshabalala’s goal, welcomed World Cup to Africa | Football News

Published by Webster

“Tshabalalaaaaaa! Goal Bafana Bafana! Goal for South Africa! Goal for all Africa! Jabulile! Rejoice!” Even now, the call sends a shiver down the spine. Sixteen years later, it remains one of the defining sounds of World Cup history, a commentator’s voice straining to contain the emotion of a moment that felt bigger than football itself. Peter Drury has called many games since, few top the emotions of that moment, though. As Mexico prepares to face South Africa in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup on Thursday, it is impossible not to be transported back to Johannesburg on that winter evening exactly 26 years ago, on June 11, 2010. The fixture is the same, but everything else feels worlds apart. Then, South Africa were welcoming the World Cup to African soil for the first time. Now, the tournament returns with a new generation, a new host landscape and new stars. Yet, the shadow of that unforgettable opener hangs over the rematch. Back in 2010, the stakes extended far beyond the result. The World Cup …