United News of Bangladesh

England dominated possession and created numerous chances but were unable to find a breakthrough as Ghana secured a hard-fought 0-0 draw in a rain-soaked World Cup Group L match on Tuesday. The result earned Ghana a valuable point that could prove crucial in its bid to reach the round of 32. Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz, whose Iran team suffered a 6-2 defeat to England at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, was pleased with his side's disciplined performance. "Our plan was to block and frustrate them from the first minute," Queiroz said. "We did it." England, which remains unbeaten against African opponents in nine World Cup meetings, outshot Ghana 19-1 but failed to convert several late opportunities. England midfielder Jude Bellingham admitted his side struggled to break down Ghana's defensive setup. "Frustrated a little bit with how they defended, how they set up," Bellingham said. "They got exactly out of the game what they played for. Couldn't quite break them down, even with all corners, all the possession, all the shots on goal from distance." Both teams entered the match after winning their opening fixtures. Ghana defeated Panama 1-0, while England beat Croatia 4-2. The draw leaves both sides still needing results in their final group-stage matches to secure qualification for the knockout rounds at the first 48-team World Cup. England reached the quarterfinals in 2022 before losing to France, while Ghana has not advanced beyond the group stage since reaching the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. With the expanded tournament format allowing the eight best third-placed teams to progress, both nations remain in a strong position heading into their final group matches. England will face Panama on Saturday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, while Ghana will meet Croatia at the same time in Philadelphia. England came closest to scoring in the 86th minute when Nico O'Reilly's header struck the crossbar. Harry Kane collected the rebound but sent his left-footed effort over the bar. Ghana's best opportunity arrived in the 78th minute when Abdul Fatawu won possession from England midfielder Eberechi Eze and surged forward down the flank. He passed to Prince Adu, who was challenged by Ezri Konsa before he could take a shot. Adu appealed for a penalty, but none was awarded. "It was a clear penalty, if not a red card," Queiroz said. "We have no doubts about that." England coach Thomas Tuchel said his team was surprised by Ghana's defensive approach, with the Africans lining up in a 4-5-1 formation. "They defended with a lot of determination. A lot of discipline," Tuchel said, describing Ghana as one of the most physical teams England has faced in the tournament. Tuchel also rejected suggestions that England relied too heavily on captain Harry Kane. "He was not involved as much as we would like to, but it was so narrow," Tuchel said. "It was difficult to find space. The little moments that he had were just so unlucky." England controlled 60% of possession in the first half but managed only five shots, with Kane missing a chance inside the penalty area shortly before halftime. Ghana looked more threatening after the break and created an opening in the 50th minute when Marvin Senaya got on the end of a ball inside the box, but his header lacked power and was comfortably dealt with by the England defence. Ghana goalkeeper Benjamin Asare kept a clean sheet on his World Cup debut. "I think we did our best to get the best possible result that we were hoping for," Ghana midfielder Kwasi Sibo said. "It's just the plan of the coach and we did follow the coach."

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé are once again stealing the spotlight at the World Cup, producing a series of record-breaking performances that have captivated football fans around the world. Messi has scored five goals in Argentina's first two matches, becoming the tournament's all-time leading scorer with 18 World Cup goals. Mbappé, meanwhile, has netted four times for France, bringing his World Cup tally to 16 and moving into a tie for second place on the all-time list. "Leo always scores," Mbappé said. "He'll always score. If I want to look at what Leo's doing, I'll have to do even more." The two superstars are not the only prolific scorers at the tournament. Norway striker Erling Haaland has already scored four goals in his country's first two World Cup matches, while Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo added two goals against Uzbekistan on Tuesday to take his career World Cup total to 10. Still, Messi and Mbappé have emerged as the standout performers, continuing a rivalry that captured global attention during the dramatic 2022 World Cup final in Qatar. In that match, Messi scored twice and Mbappé completed a hat trick before Argentina eventually prevailed in a penalty shootout. Both Argentina and France have already secured places in the knockout stage and remain among the leading contenders for the title. Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday, continues to defy expectations in a tournament often dominated by younger players. Since turning 35, the Argentina captain has scored 12 World Cup goals. The former Barcelona star, now playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, continues to display the vision, technique and stamina that have defined his career. His second goal in Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria highlighted those qualities. After Julián Álvarez's shot was blocked, Messi chased the rebound and slid the ball through two defenders to seal the victory. "We knew that he is on a level of his own, and Lionel Messi showed us today that he's one of the best, and he is the best," Austria coach Ralf Rangnick said. Mbappé, at 27, is in the prime of his career and appears well-positioned to challenge Messi's records for years to come. The French forward burst onto the international stage at age 19, helping France win the 2018 World Cup in Russia. His goal in the final against Croatia made him only the second teenager after Pelé to score in a World Cup final. Mbappé scored four goals at that tournament and has continued his remarkable run ever since. Now playing for Real Madrid, he combines explosive pace with powerful finishing using both feet. After winning the Golden Boot with eight goals at the 2022 World Cup, Mbappé has now reached 16 career World Cup goals, matching Germany's Miroslav Klose and moving one ahead of Brazilian great Ronaldo. His scoring rate is even more remarkable. Mbappé's 16 goals have come in just 16 World Cup appearances since 2018, while Messi's 18 goals have been scored across 28 matches in six tournaments dating back to 2006. "I've always scored goals in the World Cup, so it's not something I'm thinking about or that I'm worried about," Mbappé said. Norway's Haaland is also making a strong impression in his first World Cup appearance. The 25-year-old Manchester City striker, standing 6-foot-5, has scored twice in each of Norway's opening two victories and could emerge as a serious contender for the tournament's Golden Boot if Norway advances deep into the competition. Norway will face France on Friday in a match that will decide the group winner, with both teams already qualified for the knockout rounds. "We're through (to the next round), which is incredible," Haaland said. "So I couldn't care too much about that game now. They (France) are probably going to win against us, they're probably going to win the whole tournament." Norway coach Stale Solbakken believes Haaland gives his side a chance to compete with the tournament's biggest teams. "He is the best striker," Solbakken said. "He's not playing for France or Argentina. He scores for Norway." Mbappé, however, had a different answer when asked who the world's best player is. "It's clear," Mbappé said. "(Messi) is the best in the world."

The United States has eased travel restrictions on Iran's World Cup squad, allowing the team to enter the country two days before its next match, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday. However, the team will still be required to leave the United States after Friday's match in Seattle, according to a department spokesperson. A spokesperson for the Iran Football Federation confirmed that the team will depart its base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, on Wednesday and travel to Seattle. "This was planned on our end," Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, told The Associated Press. "We were going to look at how the first two movements went, and if they went smoothly, we would extend the extra day in light of the longer travel time." The policy change was first reported by NBC News and comes as officials from Washington and Tehran continue negotiations aimed at ending the war in Iran. Iran's national team has repeatedly voiced concerns over the travel restrictions imposed during the tournament and the challenges it has faced since the conflict began. Iran had initially sought to move its group-stage matches to Mexico, with which it maintains diplomatic relations. The team's base camp was later shifted from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana. Several team officials and support staff members have also been barred from entering the United States with the squad. For its first two matches in Los Angeles, the team was only allowed to travel to the venue one day before kickoff. Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said the arrangement placed his side at a disadvantage. The team had less than 24 hours in Los Angeles before Sunday's noon match against Belgium ended in a 0-0 draw. "Right now we need recovery more than anything," Ghalenoei said through a translator after the match. "The conditions have been extremely hard for us." While teams commonly travel one day before matches, FIFA regulations state that teams should travel from their base camps to match venues one day before a game and, in exceptional cases, two days before. Iran had requested additional time to adjust to host cities and recover between matches, particularly ahead of the 1,200-mile (1,930-kilometre) trip to Seattle. The team has scheduled a training session at the University of Washington on Thursday. "We don't ask for much. We just ask for the same procedure as for all the other 47 teams," Iran midfielder Alireza Jahanbakhsh said on Sunday. "Hopefully we can bring everyone who is involved and help us with us." The Iranian team has also reported difficulties entering and leaving the United States during its trips between Tijuana and Los Angeles. According to team captain Mehdi Taremi, the normally short 127-mile (204-kilometre) flight took five hours on the day before Iran's opening match against New Zealand. Hours before Sunday's match against Belgium, U.S. Homeland Security official Markwayne Mullin told Fox News that Iranian authorities had "tried to get somebody in yesterday" who had direct links to Iran's Revolutionary Guard. In response, the Iran Football Federation strongly rejected the allegation, describing it as "an outright and undeniable lie." It remains unclear whether Iran's next opponent, Egypt, will also be allowed to arrive in Seattle two days before the match. After defeating New Zealand 3-1 in Vancouver on Sunday, Egypt requested permission to fly directly to Seattle. FIFA denied the request, citing a lack of security resources to accommodate the late change. The Egyptian team instead returned to its base camp in Spokane, Washington, located about a 45-minute flight from Seattle. Egypt's national team did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Portugal cruised to a 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan at the FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, bouncing back strongly from a disappointing performance in the team's opening match. The 41-year-old captain was named man of the match after becoming the first player in history to score in six different World Cup tournaments, adding another milestone to his illustrious career. The win lifted Portugal to four points in Group K. Colombia, with three points, were scheduled to face Congo later on Tuesday in Guadalajara. Ronaldo had come under criticism following Portugal's 1-1 draw against Congo in the opening match, with some questioning whether he should remain in the starting lineup. However, coach Roberto Martínez retained faith in the veteran forward and was rewarded almost immediately. Ronaldo opened the scoring in the sixth minute, converting João Cancelo's cross with his right foot before performing his trademark "SIUUU" celebration with teammates. Portugal doubled their lead in the 17th minute through Nuno Mendes, who found the net from a free kick. Ronaldo struck again in the 39th minute, receiving a pass from Bruno Fernandes and firing a right-footed shot inside the near post to make it 3-0 before halftime. Portugal extended their lead to 4-0 in the 60th minute thanks to an own goal. Substitute Rafael Leão, who came on in the 83rd minute, completed the rout by scoring in the 87th minute and celebrating by posing for the camera. Uzbekistan thought they had pulled one back in the 30th minute when midfielder Azizjon Ganiev found the net, but the goal was disallowed after a video review showed Abbosbek Fayzullaev had fouled João Cancelo in the build-up. Martínez made two changes to the side that drew with Congo, bringing in João Félix for Bernardo Silva and restoring defender Rúben Dias, who had missed the opener through injury, in place of Tomas Araújo. Ronaldo nearly opened the scoring in the fourth minute when he narrowly missed connecting with a cross from Mendes. The Portuguese star also came close to completing a hat-trick in stoppage time, but his effort went just wide. Uzbekistan will next face Congo in Atlanta on Saturday, while Portugal will take on Colombia in their final Group K match in Miami on the same day.

Cristiano Ronaldo made football history on Tuesday by becoming the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments after finding the net in Portugal's match against Uzbekistan. The 41-year-old forward scored in the sixth minute of the Group-stage match when João Cancelo delivered a cross that Ronaldo converted with a right-footed strike to give Portugal a 1-0 lead. He celebrated the milestone with his teammates near the bench. The goal also made Ronaldo the second-oldest player to score in a World Cup, behind Cameroon's Roger Milla, who was 42 when he scored during the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Ronaldo's latest feat came after criticism over his failure to score in Portugal's opening 1-1 draw with Congo. Earlier this year, Ronaldo and Argentina captain Lionel Messi became the first male players to appear in six World Cup tournaments. Ronaldo's World Cup scoring run began in his debut tournament in 2006 and continued with goals in the 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026 editions. Although he shares the record for the most World Cup appearances with Messi, Ronaldo stands alone as the only player to score in each of his six World Cup campaigns, as Messi did not score during the 2010 tournament in South Africa. Tuesday's strike took Ronaldo's World Cup tally to nine goals. Messi, meanwhile, has 18 World Cup goals after scoring a hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina's opening match and adding two more goals against Austria on Monday, making him the tournament's all-time leading scorer. The match against Uzbekistan marked the 230th international appearance of Ronaldo's career, extending his record for the most international matches played by any footballer. The 2026 World Cup is widely expected to be Ronaldo's final appearance at the tournament. The Portuguese star won the European Championship with Portugal in 2016 and has claimed five UEFA Champions League titles with Manchester United and Real Madrid.

Algeria came from behind with two second-half goals from corner kicks to defeat Jordan 2-1 on Monday night, boosting their chances of reaching the World Cup knockout stage. Second-half substitute Nadhir Benbouali equalised in the 69th minute with a header from a Riyad Mahrez corner, before Amine Gouiri struck the winner in the 82nd minute to seal Algeria’s first World Cup victory since 2014. Jordan had taken a surprise first-half lead through Nizar Al Rashdan, scoring the nation’s first-ever World Cup goal, but could not hold off sustained Algerian pressure after the break. The win marked the first time Algeria have come from behind to win a World Cup match. Previously, they had seven defeats and two draws in matches where they conceded first. Algeria recovered from a 3-0 opening defeat to Argentina and can secure second place in Group J and a place in the knockout round with a win against Austria on Saturday. Jordan, meanwhile, suffered a second consecutive defeat and are out of contention for the knockout stage, having earlier lost 3-1 to Austria, though they impressed in their first World Cup appearance. Momentum shifted after Benbouali’s equaliser, when Mahrez’s corner found him in the box and he directed a header into the corner beyond goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila. Algeria continued to press and took the lead when Gouiri touched a ball in the area that deflected off Abulaila and into the net, sparking celebrations from Algerian fans behind the goal at Levi’s Stadium.

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland all delivered standout performances on the same day at the World Cup, underlining their status as the tournament’s biggest stars. Haaland scored twice in Norway’s 3-2 win over Senegal on Monday night, finding the net in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. His goals helped him recover from an earlier missed header and a shot that struck the post just before halftime. His display came hours after Messi scored twice for Argentina to set a new World Cup scoring record, while Mbappé also netted a brace for France in a separate match. Haaland, who is still a month away from turning 26, continues to impress for a national team that lacks the international pedigree of Argentina or France. “He is the best striker,” Norway coach Ståle Solbakken said through an interpreter. “He is not playing for France or Argentina. He scores for Norway.” Between them, the three forwards have now scored 13 goals in the tournament — five for Messi and four each for Mbappé and Haaland — intensifying the Golden Boot race. “It’s easier to win the Golden Boot when you play for France and Argentina,” Solbakken added. “But we’ll try to give Erling more games and more help in the next matches.” Messi moved to 18 World Cup goals after Argentina’s win over Austria in Arlington, Texas, becoming the tournament’s all-time top scorer. Mbappé reached 16 goals, tying former record holder Miroslav Klose after France defeated Iraq 3-0 in Philadelphia. Haaland, playing in his first World Cup after Norway’s long absence since 1998, now has four goals in the competition. “I’m part of something special. Norway’s part of something special. We’re making history,” Haaland said. The Manchester City striker has now scored in 12 consecutive competitive matches for Norway, collecting 24 goals in that run. The last time he failed to score in a competitive match for his country was in October 2024. “He’s on fire,” Solbakken said. “I’m very happy for him that he can score on the biggest stage.” Haaland’s first goal against Senegal came during a 4-on-2 counterattack after earlier frustration in front of goal. His second, which hit the crossbar before going in, saw him celebrate by cupping his ear toward Norway fans dressed in red. When asked about his scoring form, Haaland gave a modest explanation. “It’s my specialty to score goals,” he said. “It’s like many other things: I’m just really good at scoring goals, and I’m quite lucky. I don’t know what I’m doing, but yeah. That’s just how it is.”

The World Cup has turned into a goal-scoring spectacle, with the tournament producing one of the highest scoring rates in its history. So far, matches have delivered nearly 25 percent more goals compared to the same stage of the previous edition. One key factor behind the surge may be FIFA’s new match ball, which features deep seams designed for better flight stability. Players and coaches say it travels at high speed and becomes extremely difficult for goalkeepers to handle, especially when struck cleanly. It also offers improved grip for dribbling and shooting in wet or humid conditions. Austria coach Ralf Rangnick described the ball as extremely fast, saying it moves “like a cannonball” and is very hard to save when hit well. Alongside the new ball, increased stoppage time — introduced for hydration breaks — has extended match duration, creating more scoring opportunities. Another contributing factor is the expanded 48-team format, which has widened the gap between stronger and weaker sides. Colombia coach Néstor Lorenzo said high scoring is expected given the attacking talent, adding that modern refereeing also offers more protection to forwards compared to earlier decades when physical defending was more common. The result has been a total of 121 goals in the first 40 matches, averaging about three goals per game, with only a few goalless draws. The tournament is now on pace to surpass the previous record set at the 2022 World Cup. A large share of goals has come from players in Europe’s top leagues, particularly the English Premier League, followed by Germany’s Bundesliga and Spain’s La Liga. Premier League players alone have contributed more than half of the goals so far. Club contributions have also stood out, with Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich players among the leading scorers. Real Madrid stars including Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham have featured prominently, while Liverpool and Bayern players have also made significant impacts. Overall, the tournament has become a high-scoring showcase, with attacking football dominating and records under serious threat as the competition continues.

Erling Haaland scored two more goals as Norway secured a place in the World Cup round of 32 with a 3-2 victory over Senegal on Monday night. The Norwegian striker took his tally to four goals in the tournament as the Vikings booked their place in the knockout stage with a second consecutive win. After the final whistle, Norway's players and coaching staff celebrated with their supporters by performing the "Viking Row" chant inside MetLife Stadium. Led by captain Martin Ødegaard on a bongo drum, the squad joined fans in mimicking rowing movements while chanting together. "It was fun for the players to join in," Norway coach Ståle Solbakken said through an interpreter. "We will not be rowing after the World Cup, but this will be a gimmick throughout the tournament." Marcus Pedersen gave Norway the lead in the 43rd minute after coming on as an early substitute, while Haaland struck in the 48th and 58th minutes to extend the advantage to 3-1. For his first goal, Haaland latched onto a pass from Ødegaard and fired a left-footed shot beyond Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy to complete a rapid counterattack and double Norway's lead. Ten minutes later, the Manchester City star broke through the defence and volleyed Patrick Berg's cross with his right foot from close range. After scoring, he cupped his hand to his ear toward the Norway supporters. Haaland has now scored 24 goals in his last 12 international matches and has found the net in each of those games. His overall international record stands at 59 goals in 52 appearances. The 25-year-old joined England's Harry Kane as the only players in the last 50 years to score two goals in each of their first two World Cup appearances. Haaland is now second in the race for the Golden Boot with four goals, one behind Argentina's Lionel Messi and level with France's Kylian Mbappé. He nearly completed a hat trick before halftime but hit the post after Mendy failed to control the ball. "He could have scored even four," Solbakken said. "It's easier to win the Golden Boot when you play for France or Argentina." Senegal's goals came from Ismaïla Sarr, who scored in the 53rd minute and again in the third minute of second-half stoppage time. Making their first World Cup appearance since 1998, Norway improved to 2-0 in Group I and are guaranteed a place in the knockout rounds alongside France. The Vikings will face France on Friday, with the winner expected to finish top of the group and potentially secure a more favourable route in the knockout stage. Senegal, meanwhile, remain without a point after two matches and are in danger of an early exit. The Lions of Teranga must defeat Iraq, who are also 0-2, and hope results elsewhere go in their favour to have any chance of advancing as one of the best third-placed teams. Pedersen made his World Cup debut after replacing the injured Julian Ryerson in the 13th minute and later opened the scoring with help from mistakes by Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly and goalkeeper Mendy. Ødegaard's cross was cleared only as far as Pedersen by Koulibaly. The defender took two touches before sending a shot toward goal that slipped through Mendy's hand and into the net. Mendy's difficult evening ended in the 63rd minute when he was forced off with an injury.

Kylian Mbappé moved closer to Lionel Messi's World Cup scoring record on Monday, netting twice in France's 3-0 victory over Iraq to reach 16 career World Cup goals and tie for the second-highest total in tournament history. The French star now shares second place with German great Miroslav Klose, while Messi sits alone at the top with 18 goals after scoring twice earlier in the day for Argentina. "If I want to keep up with what Leo is doing, I'll have to do even more," Mbappé said after helping France secure a place in the knockout stage. France will be hoping Mbappé can continue his scoring form as Les Bleus chase their second World Cup title in the last three editions of the tournament. While breaking Messi's record would be a personal achievement, winning another World Cup remains the primary objective. At 27, Mbappé is 11 years younger than Messi and is expected to have at least two or three more World Cup opportunities to challenge the Argentine's record. "He's here to score goals and that's something he's been doing," France coach Didier Deschamps said. "He's somebody that has a worldwide aura." Playing in his 100th international match and competing in his third World Cup, Mbappé opened the scoring in the 14th minute to give France an early lead. Following a weather interruption that extended halftime by more than two hours, he struck again in the 54th minute to equal Klose's tally. Messi had broken Klose's record earlier Monday when he scored twice in Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria. He had already matched the German's mark with the first World Cup hat trick of his career in Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria last week. "Leo always scores," Mbappé said. His first goal against Iraq came from a powerful left-footed effort from around 20 yards that beat goalkeeper Ahmed Basil, who was making his first appearance of the tournament. Mbappé added his second after Iraq defender Zaid Tahseen misplaced a pass to his goalkeeper. Ousmane Dembélé intercepted the ball and set up Mbappé, who calmly finished from close range. The Real Madrid forward nearly completed a hat trick late in the match but missed a breakaway chance before being substituted in stoppage time. "I've seen enough criticism on his egotistical side," Deschamps said. "But that's not who he is. I reiterate, he's the team captain. And he's a bright example for the rest of the group." Mbappé helped France win the World Cup in 2018 and finish runners-up in 2022, when he received the Silver Ball as the tournament's second-best player. With Mbappé leading the attack alongside Désiré Doué and reigning Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, France entered this year's World Cup as one of the favourites alongside Spain. Dembélé also scored in the second half against Iraq to complete France's comfortable victory. France won World Cup titles in 1998 and 2018 before losing the 2022 final to Argentina in a penalty shootout. Mbappé had already scored twice in France's 3-1 opening win over Senegal, taking his World Cup tally from 14 to 16 goals with Monday's brace. His World Cup record now includes four goals in the current tournament, eight goals in 2022 when he won the Golden Boot as top scorer, and four goals during France's 2018 title-winning campaign. The two goals also took Mbappé's international tally to 59, moving him two clear of Olivier Giroud as France's all-time leading scorer.