United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh fans have spent more than two decades waiting for isolated ODI victories against Australia. To secure two wins in a single week and lock down a historic series victory felt entirely surreal. Yet, on Sunday at Mirpur, the hosts stood on the precipice of an even greater feat: a clean sweep. Australia, however, managed to claw their way out of trouble, escaping with a nerve-shredding one-wicket victory with only three balls left. Chasing a target of 275, Australia’s chase concluded in high drama. With 35 runs needed off the final 42 deliveries, Cooper Connolly spearheaded the charge alongside young Oliver Peake. Even when Shoriful Islam returned to trigger a late collapse, Australia’s lower order kept their composure. In the final over, tasked with defending just three runs, Taskin Ahmed bowled a wide fuller delivery outside off stump. Adam Zampa met it cleanly, driving it through the covers for a boundary to seal a consolation win for the visitors. The grandstand finish was set up by a bowling masterclass from left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam, who finished with magnificent figures of 6 for 48. Stepping into the side for the rested Nahid Rana, Shoriful tore the heart out of the Australian order. He struck twice in his opening over, removing Josh Inglis and Matt Renshaw off consecutive deliveries. He later returned to dismiss a well-set Marnus Labuschagne (29), before collecting three more lower-order wickets—including a double-strike in the 46th over to remove Peake and Xavier Bartlett—to claim a memorable six-wicket haul. Despite Shoriful's heroics, a single over from Taskin Ahmed shifted the momentum back to Australia. In the 45th over, with the visitors needing 30 runs off 36 balls, Connolly launched an extraordinary assault against Taskin, hitting three consecutive sixes over midwicket, fine leg, and the sight screen. The 21-run over broke the pressure and ultimately cost Bangladesh the match. Earlier in the day, Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat, posting a competitive 274 for 5. The innings was built on excellent half-centuries from Towhid Hridoy (83 off 88 balls) and Mosaddek Hossain (56* off 51 balls), who put together a crucial middle-order partnership. Litton Das also fought through calf cramps to contribute a gritty 58 before retiring hurt. For Australia, Matt Renshaw was the pick of the regular bowlers with 2 for 7, while Xavier Bartlett and Ben Dwarshuis chipped in with a wicket each to keep the target within reach. Australia’s response got off to a flyer despite a revamped opening pair. Cooper Connolly and Josh Inglis added 30 runs inside three overs before Shoriful's spectacular introduction reduced them to 38 for 2. Taskin then removed Alex Carey for 8, courtesy of a brilliant diving catch by Soumya Sarkar, leaving Australia at 71 for 3. Connolly anchored the remainder of the chase beautifully, registering a magnificent maiden ODI century. He anchored a 53-run stand with Labuschagne and later found an able ally in Peake (27). Connolly was eventually dragged on by a Mustafizur Rahman cutter for a magnificent 149 off 134 balls, featuring 13 boundaries and 6 sixes. His dismissal left Australia’s tail to navigate a tense final two overs, which Zampa safely negotiated to deny Bangladesh a 3-0 whitewash.    

Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi said his side had laid down an early World Cup marker after a 1-1 draw with Brazil on Saturday, declaring his team was capable of more. Morocco led through Ismael Saibari's early goal and created several problems for the five-time world champion before settling for a point in its Group C opener. "We won't settle for this. I can promise you this is not the end," Ouahbi told a post-match news conference in New Jersey. "The competition is long and you'll have a lot of fun watching us." Ouahbi said his team was determined to improve on its showing in Qatar four years ago, when it became the first African side to reach the World Cup's last four. "I want to go beyond the semifinals, but it was a good match. We got a point. We hoped to have more, but one isn't a bad result and we hope to improve." Morocco controlled the midfield for long stretches of the opening half as Brazil struggled to retain possession in the oppressive heat. Ouahbi said his players displayed the qualities he has sought to instill since replacing Walid Regragui in March. "The message to our fans is that I know they are very proud of us," he said. "Today we showed we're ambitious. We drew, but we showed we wanted to win. We showed that we have a strong personality and we'll continue to do this." Ouahbi also praised 18-year-old Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, whose request to represent Morocco was approved by FIFA last month. Capped at youth level by France, where he was born, Bouaddi was making only his fourth appearance for Morocco but played a key role in neutralizing the influence of Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes and Lucas Paqueta. "We already knew what he was capable of," Ouahbi said. "This is why we had many talks with him to choose Morocco. He played well. Everyone is excited about him, but other midfielders were great as well." "Maybe because it was his first [competitive] match at international level. But in terms of experience, he has much more than others. He has experience in the Champions League." Morocco next faces Scotland in Boston on June 19 before meeting Haiti in Atlanta on June 24.  

World Cup first-timers Curacao are aiming for a major upset when they face four-time champions Germany in their opening Group E match on Sunday, with head coach Dick Advocaat insisting his side is ready to challenge one of football’s giants. The Caribbean team, largely made up of players of Curacao heritage born in the Netherlands, arrives at the tournament determined to prove it belongs on football’s biggest stage. Veteran coach Advocaat, 78, will make history on Sunday as the oldest manager ever to appear at a World Cup. He is also set to become the first coach to lead three different national teams at the tournament, having previously guided the Netherlands and South Korea. Despite being grouped with Germany, Ecuador and Côte d’Ivoire, Advocaat said his team has no intention of being intimidated. “We are a small team compared to Germany, but we will make life difficult for them and be a tough team to play,” he told reporters on Saturday. He added that smaller sides can sometimes produce surprise results against stronger opponents. “It sometimes happens that small teams, amateur teams, beat much bigger sides. In the Netherlands, this happens regularly,” he said. Advocaat said Curacao would try to exploit space left by Germany’s attacking style. “Germany will be the dominant team and we have to respond to that. We are going to use the space that Germany will create when they attack and benefit from it,” he said. The coach also praised the strong unity within the squad, calling it the best team spirit he has experienced in his long career. “The team spirit in this team is something I've never seen before. As a team we will give everything to win for the island, but we're not the favorite,” he said. “When you are participating with the Netherlands or a bigger team, you are one of the favorites. Now it is just amazing to be a part of this.” He said Curacao are focused on showing their quality and making the most of their historic opportunity. “We would like to show them what we can do and what we're worth,” he added. Advocaat said all players are fit and available, stressing that the team aims to compete rather than simply take part.   “We have nothing to lose. The expectation is not that high outside of us as a squad, because we think we can surprise people,” he said. “I think we will have to steal some points, but in a legitimate way. We want to show them that we have a good plan.” The team’s relaxed and cheerful atmosphere has also drawn attention during the tournament build-up, with videos of players singing and dancing on the team bus going viral on social media. Captain Leandro Bacuna said enjoying the moment is part of Curacao’s identity. “We are a team that we love to have a little bit of a party as well. We love to have fun,” he said. Like many teammates, Bacuna was born in the Netherlands but represents Curacao through family roots. “People sometimes say I'm not really from Curacao. But these are people, my parents, who had been looking for opportunities and these opportunities are not always present on Curacao,” he said. “But we are Curacaoans and we love Curacao!”

Australia marked the start of its World Cup campaign with a convincing 2-0 victory over Turkey on Sunday, dampening the Turks’ long-awaited return to football’s biggest stage after a 24-year absence. Goals from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe secured the Group D win for the Socceroos, while goalkeeper Patrick Beach delivered an impressive performance with eight saves in the match attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Australia, making its sixth consecutive World Cup appearance and seventh overall, took the lead in the 27th minute when Irankunda broke through Turkey’s defence and fired a low shot past the goalkeeper. The goal came shortly after a first-half hydration break. The 20-year-old Watford forward celebrated by punching the corner flag in tribute to Australian football legend Tim Cahill. The strike also made Irankunda the youngest Australian player to score at a World Cup. Turkey, appearing in its first World Cup since reaching the semifinals in 2002, created several opportunities but were repeatedly denied by Beach. The Australian goalkeeper produced a key save to stop a long-range effort from Abdulkerim Bardakcı moments after Irankunda’s opener. Turkey introduced Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz at halftime in an attempt to revive its attack. Later, Real Madrid midfielder Arda Güler tested Beach with a dangerous free-kick in the 57th minute, but the goalkeeper again came to Australia’s rescue. Australia doubled its advantage in the 75th minute when Metcalfe capitalised on a turnover by Ismail Yüksek and calmly finished to seal the victory. Coach Tony Popovic’s decision to start Beach ahead of veteran goalkeeper Matthew Ryan proved successful as the young keeper played a decisive role in preserving the clean sheet. Turkey qualified for this year’s tournament by defeating Kosovo in a playoff after missing the previous five World Cups. This marks only the country’s third appearance at the global showpiece, having first qualified in 1954. Australia, meanwhile, advanced to the Round of 16 at the last World Cup in Qatar after defeating Tunisia and Denmark in the group stage before being eliminated by eventual champions Argentina. The teams are competing in Group D alongside the United States and Paraguay. The United States opened its campaign with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Friday.

Stand-in captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bat first as Bangladesh sought a clean sweep in the third and final One-Day International against Australia at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday. Bangladesh were forced to make changes after regular captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz was ruled out following a head injury sustained from a Nathan Ellis bouncer during the second ODI. Off-spinner Mahedi Hasan replaced fast bowler Nahid Rana, who was rested for the match. Speaking at the toss, Shanto said Mehidy was recovering well but remained under medical observation. Bangladesh have already secured their first-ever ODI series victory over Australia, winning the opening match by 86 runs and the second by five wickets, with both results determined under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method due to weather interruptions. Australia, meanwhile, made two changes as they looked to avoid a series whitewash. Fast bowler Ben Dwarshuis and all-rounder Oliver Peake were included in the side, replacing opener Matthew Short and pacer Nathan Ellis. A victory would complete a landmark 3-0 series sweep for Bangladesh against the five-time world champions. Line Ups: Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam. Australia: Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis (captain), Matt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Oliver Peake, Xavier Bartlett, Ben Dwarshuis, Adam Zampa, Riley Meredith.

Thousands of football enthusiasts stayed up late at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University (DU) to watch Brazil’s FIFA World Cup match against Morocco, which kicked off at 4:00am on Sunday, on a giant screen, turning the area into a vibrant gathering spot for supporters of the five-time world champions. Fans from different parts of the capital flocked to the venue to cheer for their favourite team, creating a festive atmosphere filled with excitement, anticipation and passionate support throughout the match.  

Scotland marked its return to the FIFA World Cup after a 28-year absence with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Haiti in a Group C match on Saturday. Midfielder John McGinn scored the decisive goal in the 28th minute when his shot from inside the box deflected off a Haitian defender and beat goalkeeper Johny Placide. The victory gave Scotland its first World Cup win since a 2-1 triumph over Sweden at the 1990 tournament and its first appearance in the competition since France 1998. With pre-tournament favorites Brazil and Morocco sharing a 1-1 draw earlier in the day, Scotland moved to the top of the Group C standings. Haiti, making only its second World Cup appearance after debuting in West Germany in 1974, remains without a point in World Cup history. Scotland came close to opening the scoring in the 17th minute when captain Scott McTominay struck the crossbar. The breakthrough eventually arrived after Che Adams’ effort was parried by Placide, allowing McGinn to capitalize on the rebound. Backed by thousands of supporters known as the “Tartan Army,” Scotland controlled much of the first half at Gillette Stadium near Boston. Haiti created its best chances after the break. In the 74th minute, Ruben Providence delivered a cross to Wilson Isidor, who failed to convert from close range. Frantzdy Pierrot then headed wide in the 84th minute as Haiti pushed for an equalizer. Scotland will remain in Foxborough to face Morocco on Friday, while Haiti will take on Brazil in Philadelphia the same day.

Football is often a game governed by numbers. History dictated that Brazil never lose when Vinícius Júnior scores, and Morocco remain equally undefeated when Ismael Saibari finds the net. On Sunday morning in Bangladesh, both trends refused to buckle as the Group C heavyweights settled for a hard-fought 1-1 draw in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026. In front of 80,663 captivated spectators at MetLife Stadium, Morocco produced a spirited display against the five-time world champions, only to see Vinícius deliver a moment of brilliance that ensured Brazil avoided defeat. The encounter was a masterclass in contrasting styles. Brazil orchestrated spells of elegant, possession-based dominance, while Morocco remained a coiled spring, threatening to shake the Seleção defense with razor-sharp counter-attacks. In the end, the scoreboard reflected a poetic and fair justice. The Atlas Lions started the game with ferocious intent as they repeatedly tested the Brazilian backline. They created six opportunities within the opening twelve minutes. Yet a lack of composure in front of goal prevented them from capitalising on their dominance, and missing three clear-cut chances in the opening ten minutes. Real Madrid’s Brahim Díaz carved out the first meaningful opportunity, but his effort from outside the penalty area was blocked by Gabriel near the goalmouth. Brazil created their first clear golden chance in the 13th minute. Vinícius exploded down the left flank, delivering a dangerous cross into the six-yard box, though Igor Thiago was unable to connect.  

It might go down as one of the iconic moments of the 2026 World Cup. It will certainly take something special to eclipse it as the goal of the tournament, even only three days in. Deep into added time at Los Angeles Stadium and with virtually the last kick of the game, Gio Reyna capped a spectacular 4-1 win for the United States against Paraguay on Friday with an exquisite finish to a wonderful team move. This was Pochettino-ball at its finest. “This might be one of the best back-to-front team goals this country and this team has ever put together," Fox TV analyst Stu Holden said. It might've been even better than that. Done in 70 seconds With the clock on 96 minutes and 10 seconds, the U.S. just had to see out time and ensure a Paraguay team that had already pulled one goal back in the second half didn't spark a late rally. Over the course of the next 70 seconds, Mauricio Pochettino's team put together a 26-pass move from left to right, through defense and attack and left Paraguay's players chasing shadows. Not one Paraguayan got a foot on the ball. Then it was over to Reyna, who went on for a cameo as an 82nd-minute substitute for the outstanding Malik Tillman. Receiving a pass from Alexander Freeman outside the box, Reyna took one touch to control the ball and another to carry it into the area. Then, with the outside of his right boot and with a touch of curl, he swept the shot past Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill into the far corner to send the U.S. supporters wild one last time. And they weren't the only ones going crazy. As Reyna wheeled away in celebration, hands covering his ears, he was mobbed by teammates, substitutes and even Pochettino, who raced across the field to join in the moment. “There’s not a whole lot of words to describe the feeling,” U.S. captain Tim Ream said after the team's biggest ever World Cup win. Just like watching Brazil Such was the U.S. control of the ball that it brought back memories of what many believe to be the greatest ever team goal in the World Cup when Brazil's Carlos Alberto finished off a multi-pass move against Italy in the 1970 final. That game also finished 4-1 and Carlos Alberto's strike, like Reyna's, came late, in the 86th minute. A nine-pass move ended with Pele laying the ball off to Carlos Alberto, who drove a low shot into the corner. The stakes were much higher for Brazil, but for the U.S. it was an opening statement performance against a Paraguay team that had one of the best defensive records among the South American teams during qualification. Pochettino's team already has more goals than the U.S. managed in the entire 2022 tournament where it scored just three and was eliminated at the round of 16. “Congratulations to Team USA on their Big Win, 4-1, over a very good Paraguay team,” President Donald Trump wrote Saturday on his social media site. “Keep it going!” A taste of what's to come The U.S. Men's National Team went big when it hired Pochettino, the former Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Tottenham coach in 2024. There was a run to the Gold Cup final last year and he has not been shy about his ambitions at the World Cup. “Why not us?” has become something of a motto going into the tournament. With extended time to work with the players ahead of the opening game, Pochettino believes the full potential of the team will be seen. “When you only have few days, you know, to reunite and to play, you only select players, but you cannot coach players,” he said Friday. “Only in this type of tournament like the Gold Cup or now the World Cup, because you have preparation, two, three, four weeks, I think that is the only moment that we can coach.” Reyna's goal was a perfect example of Pochettino's insistence of concentrating on the team over individuals. “One thing we need to praise is the collective effort,” the coach added. Reyna erases pain of 2022 It was a triumphant return for Reyna after controversy in Qatar four years ago for alleged lack of hustle nearly got him sent home from that World Cup by then-coach Gregg Berhalter. Pochettino made the bold call to include Reyna in his squad even though he made just four league starts last season for Borussia Mönchengladbach and none after Dec. 19. Reyna's celebration with his hands over his ears may have been in reference to the noise that has surrounded him since the last World Cup. The US has had great goals in the past Fans will debate whether this was the greatest goal by the USMNT. In 1989 Paul Caligiuri struck a long-range volley against Trinidad and Tobago that saw the U.S. qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1950. In 1994, the last time America hosted the tournament, Eric Wynalda's free kick against Switzerland earned the U.S. its first point in the World Cup since 1950. There was also Benny Feilhaber's volley that won the Gold Cup in 2007.

Skipper Shubman Gill scored 84 not out off 66 balls for India to beat Afghanistan by seven wickets in a rain-affected one-day international on Saturday. Rain delayed the toss for more than four hours and reduced the match to 25 overs per side. India won with 13 balls to spare at 193-5 in reply to Afghanistan's 194 all out. Gill hit 11 fours and two sixes with help from Lokesh Rahul, 39 not out off 19 balls. Rahmanullah Gurbaz's 102 off 51 balls went in vain, though he helped Afghanistan recover from 54-7. India debutants did well; pacer Gurnoor Brar took 3-27 and left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey 3-47. India leads the first bilateral ODI cricket series between the teams 1-0. Lucknow hosts the second ODI on Wednesday and Chennai hosts the third and last match on June 20. Put into bat, Afghanistan was cut down to 26-3 in 4.3 overs when Gurbaz counterattacked. He hit four sixes and four boundaries en route to 50 off only 25 balls. The next 50 came off 23 balls with another four sixes and four fours — the ninth century for Gurbaz and the first for an Afghanistan batter against India. It was also the second quickest ODI century against India after Shahid Afridi took 45 balls in 2005 for Pakistan. Gurbaz was eventually bowled in the 16th over — off Nitish Reddy — after putting on 116 off 66 balls with skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (27). Afghanistan slipped again. Dubey dismissed Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai (26). The last five batters didn’t reach double digits, out for 22 runs in 26 balls. In reply, Rohit Sharma was run out on 16. Gill, though, carried his form over from the Indian Premier League in scoring his 18th ODI half-century off 37 balls. Ishan Kishan added 34 runs and Shreyas Iyer 12, but Gill and Rahul hung tough. They put on 53 unbeaten together off 32 balls and Rahul cleaned up with three sixes and four boundaries in only 19 balls.