All posts tagged: World Cup schedule

Brazil-Japan promise goals, Portugal face KO specialists

Brazil-Japan promise goals, Portugal face KO specialists

4 min readUpdated: Jun 28, 2026 11:28 AM IST With seven goals apiece, averaging 2.33 per game, Brazil and Japan boast two of the most prolific attacks at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. From a purely statistical standpoint, there is little to separate them. Choosing the more potent attack, hence, would have been a matter of opinion if they were not to meet in a round of 32 fixture on Monday. Brazil versus Japan headlines the first wave of knockout fixtures as the bracket for the last 32 is finally set following a captivating group stage. Here’s a quick look at five matches from those 16 that you can ill-afford to miss: Brazil vs Japan Only five teams have scored more goals in the group stage than Brazil and Japan, which highlights the potency in their respective attacks. Though, there is a characteristic difference: seven of Brazil’s eight goals have come from the pair of Vinicius Junior and Matheus Cunha. Japan, on the contrary, believe in the philosophy of decentralisation, having found five scorers so …

Can Spain be knocked out? Points Table, qualification scenarios

Can Spain be knocked out? Points Table, qualification scenarios

3 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026 02:20 PM IST FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H Scenarios: Entering the last two days of group-stage action, Group H has retained one of the most thrilling scenarios for knockout qualification ahead of the third-round matches. While qualification has been largely straightforward elsewhere in the expanded 12-group, 48-team format this edition, the Round of 32 spots from Group H are still fairly open for all four teams, involving two former champions, an unlikely first-timer and an underdog with giant-killing capabilities. Spain, Uruguay, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia will confront their final league-stage matches, knowing that an outright win could seal a knockout spot. It has largely been made possible due to the stoic resistance of World Cup debutants Cape Verde, who held both Spain and Uruguay to 0-0 and 2-2 draws, respectively. In the final round, Spain (4 points) take on Uruguay (2 points) while Cape Verde (2 points) take on Saudi, who also drew with Uruguay for a vital point. FIFA World Cup 2026: Group H Standings ahead of …

Messi leads in record 6th WC, but who’s in and out?

Messi leads in record 6th WC, but who’s in and out?

2 min readUpdated: May 29, 2026 09:14 AM IST Defending world champions Argentina have finally picked their 26-man squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday, with talismanic striker Lionel Messi set to spearhead the Albiceleste in a record sixth appearance. While Messi, who recently picked up an injury, is expected to be fit in time for their tournament opener on June 16, Argentina have retained a majority of their World Cup-winning squad from the 2022 edition.  Goalkeeper 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 four years ago. The official announcement of the Argentina squad was shot at the Lionel Messi Training Complex, featuring Scaloni alongside the iconic kit man, ‘Marito’. Trueno’s “Tierra Zanta” played in the background, adding an unmistakable Argentine touch. ALSO READ | Argentina FIFA World Cup squad announcement delay explained: Six lists and an online group chat Argentina also included several younger players expected to …

FIFA President breaks silence on whether Iran’s World Cup matches will be shifted from the US| Football News

FIFA President breaks silence on whether Iran’s World Cup matches will be shifted from the US| Football News

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that the upcoming World Cup in Mexico, the USA and Canada would go as planned and there would be no changes to the schedule. He also stated that all teams will participate. His comment came amid the doubts over Iran’s participation, considering the ongoing war with the US and Israel. Earlier this week, Iran Football Federation chief Mehdi Taj said the country was in “negotiations” with the world body and was seeking to have its Group G World Cup matches shifted from the USA to Mexico. “FIFA is looking forward to all teams participating at the World Cup to compete in a spirit of fair play and mutual respect,” Infantino said from Zurich during an online FIFA Council meeting, as reported by news agency AFP. “We have a schedule. We will soon have the 48 competing teams confirmed, and we want the World Cup to go ahead as scheduled,” he added. According to the FIFA World Cup schedule, Iran are set to play all three group stage matches in the …