All posts tagged: football news india

Congo superfan on how his standing-still pose is a tribute to ex-PM Lumumba

Congo superfan on how his standing-still pose is a tribute to ex-PM Lumumba

Published by Parlour News

Last week, when the Democratic Republic of Congo played Colombia in a Group K match at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico, in the stands on a small makeshift podium stood motionless a lean man; right hand raised, wearing a red slim-fit blazer, yellow shirt, tie and blue pants — the colours of the national flag. Congo fan Michel Kuka Mboladinga drew attention for his pose, a tribute to DR Congo’s first democratically elected Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, who was assassinated in 1961. Forty-nine-year-old Mboladinga, whose nickname is ‘Lumumba Vea’ — meaning ‘Lumumba Lives’ — travelled as an official member of the Congo delegation for the FIFA World Cup at the insistence of current President Félix Tshisekedi. However, after watching two games in Mexico, even as Congo progressed to the knockouts for the first time, his journey hit a roadblock when he was denied a US visa. Congo supporter Michel Nkuka Mboladinga poses as a statue of the country’s assassinated independence hero Patrice Lumumba ahead of the World Cup Group K soccer match between Colombia and …

Bosnia’s golden lily blooms again as Srebrenica’s son faces the USA

Bosnia’s golden lily blooms again as Srebrenica’s son faces the USA

Published by Webster

Esmir Bajraktarević, born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin, became a Bosnian sensation when he scored the winning penalty in qualification against Italy. His assists from the left have lit up their World Cup, and his reputation for nutmegging opponents precedes him. The American-raised family never forgot their roots. Several of Esmir’s relatives were killed in the Srebrenica genocide of 1995, years before he was born. His parents, Elmir and Emina, fled first to Switzerland as refugees, before settling in Appleton in 2001. “My parents lost a good part of their family,” Esmir told The Blazing Musket. “It’s a tragedy and something I will never forget. Srebrenica is something I will never forget. It’s a part of me and who I am.” Choosing to represent Bosnia wasn’t a difficult choice for the 21-year-old. He shares that deep tug at the Bosniak heart with Zlatan Ibrahimović, who is entertaining Americans on FOX as a World Cup TV pundit. Ibrahimović has joked about the connection before. Bosnian NBA player Nihad Dedovic was once asked if he was related …

Jurgen Klinsmann after loss to Paraguay

Jurgen Klinsmann after loss to Paraguay

Published by Webster

3 min readJun 30, 2026 06:10 PM IST Favourites Germany were shockingly eliminated from the World Cup after losing to Paraguay on Tuesday, going down in a penalty shoot-out for the first-time ever in their World Cup history. Former German player Jurgen Klinsmann was left stunned by the developments, calling the result embarrassing. “Obviously it’s a very sad day for all of us in Germany, because we didn’t expect going out in the round of 32. And the way we went out is hugely, hugely disappointing. It seemed like the team was not prepared to take control of matters during the 120 minutes. They were not energetic enough, decisive enough, aggressive enough to win this battle with a very strong Paraguayan team, which we knew it’s going to be a difficult game,” Klinsmann said to ESPN. “At the very end it looked like they were not prepared for a penalty shootout, which for is for us insane, because we love penalty shootouts, usually. The way we went out tonight is devastating, is an embarrassment, is …

How World Cup 2026 changed its sound

How World Cup 2026 changed its sound

Published by Webster

3 min readJun 30, 2026 04:24 PM IST At the 2026 World Cup, music is no longer something you just hear in the background. It has become part of the tournament itself, built into the way matches are staged and experienced inside stadiums. For a long time, World Cups were remembered through one shared soundtrack. Songs like “Waka Waka” or “La Copa de la Vida” played everywhere, from stadiums to television broadcasts. They gave each tournament a single identity – one sound that belonged to everyone, no matter which team you supported. That is no longer the case. The World Cup has moved away from one global anthem. Instead, there are now multiple songs and playlists tied to different teams and different moments in a match. Music is being used more deliberately, almost like another layer of the game, to shape how fans feel inside stadiums. Each team has been allowed to choose or submit its own music for specific moments. England players and fans, for instance, sang Oasis’ “Wonderwall” after their first match, turning …

Why are French away kits tinged green?

Why are French away kits tinged green?

Published by Webster

2 min readJun 27, 2026 01:58 AM IST Needing to switch up their iconic bleus blue against Norway in their World Cup Group I encounter on Friday night, France have brought one of the most iconic World Cup jerseys to the field at Boston. They may look white, but they radiate pista green. Even as Ousmane Dembele scored a hat-trick, the French magicians had a green halo to their kit. It was the faintest of pista icecream green coloured trimmings on the shirts – the collar, the silhouette hemline bands on the stitch, and the thin lining to the whole shirt which gleamed that shade of green when the sun rays hit it. But the thinking behind the away jersey – which tends to be white – which the French have tinged green is rooted in history, a hat tip to a New York symbol. The green is the green of Statue of Liberty – after the copper frame oxidised over the years, an effect of humidity, rust and dust. Game on! 👊🇳🇴 🇫🇷#FIFAWorldCup — …

Long after West Germany, Austria played out a farce, history could be repeated

Long after West Germany, Austria played out a farce, history could be repeated

Published by Webster

4 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026 08:58 PM IST The 1982 World Cup saw one of the biggest shock results in the tournament’s history when West Germany went down 1-2 to Algeria in their opening game. But the bigger notoriety was reserved for the last match of the group when the Germans and Austrians contrived to fashion the exact result that sent both teams to the next round, even as Algeria cried foul from the sidelines. The travesty, infamous as The Disgrace of Gijon, prompted a FIFA rule change stipulating that the final two games in a group would be played simultaneously to prevent any side from garnering an advantage from knowing what they needed to do to progress. But even with that rule in place, the 2026 edition of the World Cup could end up testing fair play – due to the 48-team draw and the prospect of the eight best third-place finishers advancing in the draw. First, a flashback to events in 1982: For Algeria to progress to the tournament’s second phase, they …

Viral Dutch ‘Hop’ in Kansas City, involved teaching locals left, right in Dutch

Viral Dutch ‘Hop’ in Kansas City, involved teaching locals left, right in Dutch

Published by Webster

2 min readJun 26, 2026 07:38 PM IST After the Norwegian ‘Row’ comes the Netherlands ‘Hop’. Arms linked in hundreds of lines, the Dutch supporters on a ‘Oranje walk’ (March to the match) in Kansas City ahead of their last game against Tunisia, did the crowd hop – an act of impossible coordination needing sync. The ‘Hop’ entails fans linking up at the shoulder standing in lines, then hopping up and down, while the whole wave moves first left, then right to happy music. The chant has three hops in each direction, then repeat. The song lyrics went, “Now it’s time to party, pull out all the stops .. let’s hope it doesn’t rain cause the roof is coming off ….skip your medication, so you can lose your mind… everyone from left to right, we’re going side to side.” Thousands arrived at downtown Kansas City in Missouri to form a sea of orange, and the number was estimated at 20,000-23,000 as they were joined by locals according to KCTV. Kansas City police gloated the fan …

Can Messi’s Argentina and Ronaldo’s Portugal meet in knockouts of World Cup?

Can Messi’s Argentina and Ronaldo’s Portugal meet in knockouts of World Cup?

Published by Webster

3 min readJun 26, 2026 06:07 PM IST One of the most mouthwatering clashes in recent World Cup might take place in the quarterfinals if Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal can both survive their respective Round of 32 clashes. The two legends have faced off countless times for their clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona but have never met in a World Cup stage. The last time these two rivals shared a pitch together was in a friendly match where Messi’s Paris Saint Germain played a friendly against a combined all-star XI of Al Hilal and Al Nassr, who also included Ronaldo. PSG ended up winning the match 5-4 with both Messi and Ronaldo on the scoresheet. Now, they might face off once again in a potential quarterfinal match this World Cup. Both players look to be at their best with Messi scoring a hattrick and a brace vs Algeria and Austria respectively while Ronaldo roared back to form with 2 goals vs Uzbekistan after a quiet night vs Congo. How will we get …

Japan’s genius lies in reducing chaos. The World Cup is finding that out

Japan’s genius lies in reducing chaos. The World Cup is finding that out

Published by Webster

The move began with a simple 1-2 down the right wing between Kaishu Sano and Junya Ito. Sano shifted a little wide, receiving the pass under pressure, and curled a cross into the box. Ayase Ueda attacked the space between two defenders and powered a header into the net. It was a simple goal. Which is precisely why it was beautiful. For years, Japan’s football story has been told through its soft edges. The fans who stay back to clean stadiums after matches. The players who leave dressing rooms spotless. The nation that fell in love with football through manga. Even now, mention Japanese football and most people instinctively reach for tales of discipline, humility and order. They are wonderful stories. They are also a distraction. Because somewhere along the way, Japan became very good at football. Good enough to draw with the Netherlands at this World Cup. Good enough to dismantle Tunisia 4-0. Japan’s Daichi Kamada (15) celebrates scoring his side’s first goal against Tunisia during the World Cup Group F soccer match in …

FIFA World Cup recap: Neymar returns, Morocco suffer scare, Messi birthday bash | Football News

FIFA World Cup recap: Neymar returns, Morocco suffer scare, Messi birthday bash | Football News

Published by Webster

4 min readJun 25, 2026 06:35 AM IST Brazil made short work of Scotland with a 3-0 win courtesy of a brace by the mercurial Vinicius Jr and a lone strike from Matheus Cunha. The result enabled the Selecao to top their group stage for the 12th consecutive World Cups. One of the biggest stories coming out from the match though is the return of Neymar Jr in Brazil colours since October 2023. The 34-year-old had been recovering from a calf strain and last played for Santos in Brazil’s top flight on May 17. The Brazil superstar checked in during the 76th minute against Scotland with the team leading 3-0 and well on its way to clinching a spot in the knockout stage that starts next week. Neymar is Brazil’s career scoring leader with 79 goals in 129 international appearances entering Wednesday. The 34-year-old appeared in each of the past three World Cups for Brazil, scoring eight goals. “We played well, it was much like the match against Haiti (a 3-0 win). It was a …