United News of Bangladesh

Goalkeeper Eloy Room produced a remarkable display, making 15 saves as Curacao held Ecuador to a goalless draw on Saturday to secure the Caribbean nation's first-ever point at a FIFA World Cup. The result also confirmed Germany's place in the knockout stage after the four-time champions defeated Ivory Coast 2-1 earlier in the day. The 37-year-old Room, who helped Curacao qualify for its maiden World Cup with a clean sheet against Jamaica last November, bounced back impressively from his side's 7-1 defeat to Germany with one of the most memorable goalkeeping performances in World Cup history. His tally of 15 saves fell just one short of the World Cup record of 16, set by American goalkeeper Tim Howard against Belgium in 2014. The draw leaves both Curacao and Ecuador still in contention for a place in the knockout rounds, although Ecuador now face a difficult task heading into their final Group E match. The final group fixtures will be played on Thursday, with Curacao taking on Ivory Coast in Philadelphia and Ecuador facing Germany in New York. Ecuador enjoyed overwhelming support at the home of the Kansas City Chiefs, with thousands of fans in yellow filling the stadium, while only a small contingent of Curacao supporters were present. Among the spectators were Kansas City Royals players Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez and Starling Marte. Ecuador came into the match under pressure after Germany's late victory over Ivory Coast earlier on Saturday meant defeat would have left La Tri on the brink of elimination. However, Curacao frustrated the South Americans from the outset. Coach Dick Advocaat's side repeatedly found openings through the middle of Ecuador's defence during the first half but failed to capitalise due to poor finishing and misplaced final passes. Ecuador's best opportunity in the opening stages fell to veteran striker Enner Valencia, who found himself one-on-one with Room, only for the Curacao goalkeeper to dive to his left and keep out the effort. The pressure from Ecuador intensified after the break, but Room continued to deny them. He made an outstanding save from Moises Caicedo before tipping away a well-directed header from Valencia. From the resulting corner, Room produced two more excellent saves before Curacao finally cleared the danger. The result marked a historic night for Curacao and a frustrating one for Ecuador, whose hopes of progressing now rest on their final group match against Germany.

Substitute Deniz Undav scored twice as Germany rallied from a goal down to beat Ivory Coast 2-1 on Saturday and secure a place in the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup. Germany struggled for much of the match and trailed after the first half before coach Julian Nagelsmann's substitutions transformed the game. Undav, who came on in the 60th minute along with Nadiem Amiri, levelled the score in the 68th minute. Amiri's long pass found the striker after Kai Havertz let the ball run through, and Undav fired home from close range. The forward struck again four minutes into stoppage time, converting a pass from Felix Nmecha in front of goal to complete the comeback and extend Germany's winning streak to 11 matches, dating back to September 2025. "It is important that everyone sees that even the players from the bench can decide games," Undav said after the match. Nagelsmann praised the striker's impact, saying, "Deniz is nobody who needs to be prepared. He can jump in right away." The four-time world champions have now bounced back from disappointing group-stage exits in the 2018 and 2022 tournaments and moved into the knockout rounds for the first time since winning the World Cup in 2014. Ivory Coast took the lead in the 30th minute through captain Franck Kessie. The midfielder capitalised after Amad Diallo's effort was blocked by German defender Nathaniel Brown, slotting the rebound into an open net. Germany had two goals disallowed in the first half. In the 21st minute, goalkeeper Yahia Fofana inadvertently pushed the ball into his own net, but Aleksander Pavlovic was penalised for fouling the goalkeeper in the build-up. A second effort, which would have given Kai Havertz a goal in the 38th minute, was ruled out after Jamal Musiala was judged to have committed a foul during the move. The defeat leaves Ivory Coast still searching for a first appearance in the World Cup knockout stage, though the African side remains in contention to qualify. Meanwhile, striker Elye Wahi, who is under investigation in France over alleged betting-related offences during his time at Nice, did not feature for Ivory Coast despite winning a legal battle to enter Canada.

Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo scored two goals apiece to power Netherlands to a 5-1 win over Sweden on Saturday in the World Cup to bounce back after a disappointing draw in its opener and move atop the Group F standings. Brobbey’s goals came in the first half, helping the Netherlands get off to a great start and roll to the big win after playing Japan to a 2-2 draw Sunday. The victory gives Netherlands a group-leading four points. Sweden has three points, with Japan and Tunisia scheduled to play later Saturday. Gakpo, who also had an assist, extended the lead to 3-0 just after halftime, scoring in the 47th minute off a cross from Denzel Dumfries. He matched Brobbey when he scored on a right-footed shot from the left box in the 54th minute. Sweden couldn’t build on its strong performance in a 5-1 walloping of Tunisia in its first match. The loss to the Dutch was its biggest World Cup defeat since losing 7-1 to Brazil in 1950. The Dutch gameplan to play out wide to open up Sweden and cross to Brobbey worked perfectly early. He put the Netherlands on top in the fifth minute when Gakpo crossed into the middle of the box and Brobbey one-timed it with his right foot before tumbling forward to the grass. His second goal came when he took a cross from Dumfries while sliding and just got his right foot on the ball, scoring inside the far post in the 17th minute. Anthony Elanga’s left-footed goal cut the lead to 4-1 in the 59th minute and allowed Sweden to avoid the shutout. Sweden had plenty of chances to score before that, but Netherlands’ goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen was brilliant in the first half with four saves. Sweden appeared to have cut the lead to 2-1 on a header by Gustaf Lagerbielke in the 44th minute, but he was ruled offside. Lagerbielke is a baron from a noble family in Sweden. His father and grandfather are counts. But he wasn’t the only royalty in the stadium Saturday as the Netherlands had two very special guests cheering them on with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima watching from a luxury suite. The crowd of 68,777 was largely made up of fans of the Netherlands, many of whom made their Oranje Fanwalk 2 1/2 miles from Rice University to Houston Stadium on Saturday morning. Crysencio Summerville, who assisted on Gakpo's second goal, tacked on a goal for Netherlands in the 89th minute and celebrated with NBA star Steph Curry's “night night” gesture. Sweden finishes group play Thursday night against Japan at Dallas Stadium, and Netherlands meets Tunisia that night in Kansas City.

Paraguay manager Gustavo Alfaro said Friday that his side had regained its belief after keeping its World Cup hopes alive with a 1-0 victory over Türkiye. Paraguay's first win of the tournament left it level on points with Australia in Group D ahead of the teams' final group-stage meeting next Thursday. "We are going to play our hearts out against Australia," the Argentine told a post-match news conference. "We hope to make history and we hope it will be something beautiful." "That comes from courage, sacrifice, emotion and a strong sense of belonging." Paraguay is making its first World Cup finals appearance since 2010, when it reached the quarterfinals in South Africa. Its current campaign appeared to be in danger after a 4-1 defeat to the United States in its opening match. Alfaro said his squad had spent the past week dealing with the fallout from that loss. "We went through a very hard week," he said. "It felt like everything was going against us. At the World Cup, you pay the price for that," Alfaro said. "We've hung onto this dream to return to the World Cup after 16 years and it could have been over in seven days. The defeat against the United States was a huge blow to the team, but this group does not fear any opponent and that showed today." Matias Galarza's second-minute goal proved enough to secure victory at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, despite Miguel Almiron's red card that forced Paraguay to play the entire second half with 10 men. Türkiye dominated possession and finished with 32 shots, but was unable to find a way past goalkeeper Orlando Gill as Paraguay defended stubbornly. Alfaro said the result reflected a mentality that had carried Paraguay through difficult moments long before the World Cup. "When everyone thinks Paraguay is finished, that is when Paraguay becomes most dangerous," he said. "In the face of adversity, Paraguay plays its best football. I had nothing to do with this result. The credit belongs entirely to the players. Despite all the difficulties and adversity, they produced a great result." He added that Australia would be a dangerous opponent despite a 2-0 loss to the United States earlier on Friday. "We recovered our faith and trust in ourselves," Alfaro said. "That is what the players showed here. "If this match was difficult, the Australia game will be even harder. We don't yet know which players will be available. We will need pace and we will need to improvise."

The United States secured a place in the World Cup knockout rounds with a convincing 2-0 victory over Australia on Friday, proving it could succeed even without injured captain Christian Pulisic. The Americans also sealed top spot in Group D after Paraguay national football team defeated Turkey national football team 1-0 later in the day. Pulisic, who plays for AC Milan and has scored 33 goals in 87 international appearances, missed the match due to a calf injury. However, the U.S. squad showed its depth by delivering another strong performance. The victory marked the first time since 1930 that the United States has won its opening two matches at a World Cup. The team has now scored six goals in the tournament, just one short of its all-time World Cup scoring record. The Americans took the lead in the 11th minute when a dangerous attack led by Folarin Balogun resulted in an own goal by Australian defender Cameron Burgess. The second goal came shortly before halftime when 21-year-old Alex Freeman headed home a deflected effort from Sergiño Dest. The goal, Freeman’s first in a World Cup, was confirmed after a video review. U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino praised the young defender's rapid development, describing him as a humble player eager to learn and improve. Australia struggled to cope with the Americans' pace and physicality, particularly in the first half. Socceroos coach Tony Popovic acknowledged the quality of the U.S. side, saying their performance did not come as a surprise. As Group D winners, the United States will play a Round-of-32 match in Santa Clara, California, on July 1 against one of the tournament’s third-place finishers. The strong start has raised expectations for the U.S. team, but Pochettino stressed the importance of staying focused while continuing to build confidence through positive performances and results. The match also highlighted the depth of the American squad, with striker Ricardo Pepi stepping into the lineup in Pulisic’s absence and contributing to the team's success.

Paraguay earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Turkey at the World Cup on Friday, overcoming a second-half numerical disadvantage after playing with 10 men for much of the match. Matias Galarza scored just 65 seconds after kickoff, registering the fastest goal of the tournament so far. The early strike proved decisive as Paraguay held firm despite relentless pressure from Turkey. The result guaranteed the United States men's national soccer team top spot in Group D, while Turkey's second consecutive defeat ended its hopes of reaching the knockout stage. Paraguay will now face Australia national soccer team next Thursday in a match that will determine second place in the group. Paraguay's task became more difficult late in the first half when captain Miguel Almirón was shown a red card for violating a newly introduced World Cup regulation that prohibits players from covering their mouths during confrontations. Despite being reduced to 10 men, Paraguay maintained its lead thanks largely to an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Orlando Gill, who made a series of crucial saves. Turkey dominated attacking play and outshot Paraguay 32-7 but failed to find the net. Paraguay rebounded strongly after its opening 4-1 defeat to the United States. Coach Gustavo Alfaro introduced Galarza into the starting lineup, and the midfielder quickly justified the decision by scoring from long range less than two minutes into the match. Turkey came close to leveling the score before halftime when Mert Müldür struck both the crossbar and post with a header from a free kick. The confrontation that led to Almirón's dismissal involved Müldür. Following a foul near midfield, the Paraguayan midfielder covered his mouth while speaking to his opponent. After a video review, referee Iván Barton issued a straight red card under the tournament's new disciplinary rules. Turkey controlled possession throughout the match but once again lacked finishing quality. After also losing 2-0 to Australia, the team’s first World Cup appearance since 2002 will end in the group stage despite entering the tournament with high expectations. Midfielder Arda Güler expressed disappointment with Turkey's performances, acknowledging that the team failed to convert its numerous chances. According to tournament statistics, Turkey has recorded 62 shots across two matches without scoring a goal. Gill continued to frustrate Turkey in the second half, producing key saves against efforts from Merih Demiral, Abdülkerim Bardakcı and Can Uzun. A late header from Demiral narrowly missed the target, ending Turkey’s final chance of rescuing a point. Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella said he was disappointed by the result but praised his players for their determination and effort until the final whistle.

Brazil forward Neymar will return from a muscle injury for the team's final World Cup group stage match against Scotland on Wednesday, manager Carlo Ancelotti announced. Ancelotti confirmed the availability of the 34-year-old attacker following Brazil's 3-0 victory over Haiti on Saturday. Neymar missed the opening two matches of the tournament—a 1-1 draw against Morocco and the win over Haiti—after sustaining an injury in May. "Neymar will train alone tomorrow," Ancelotti said during the post-match press conference. "Then on Monday, he will join training with the rest of the squad. He will be available for the match against Scotland." The Santos forward initially suffered the injury on May 17 during a club match. While his club reported minor muscle swelling, the Brazilian Football Confederation later diagnosed it as a Grade-2 muscle strain requiring a three-week recovery window that concluded on June 17. Neymar was retained in the World Cup squad despite the injury, having previously scored two goals and provided three assists in just four qualifying appearances. The victory keeps Brazil at the top of Group C with four points from two matches, leading Morocco on goal difference. Morocco defeated Scotland 1-0 in the other group match on Saturday, leaving the Scots in third place with three points. Ancelotti said that finishing first in the group remains the primary objective for the final matchday. He added that the coaching staff would prepare extensively for Scotland, noting that their opponents showed strengths against Morocco that could cause problems for the Brazilian side.  

Brazil national football team secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Haiti national football team on Friday in Philadelphia, eliminating Haiti from the World Cup and boosting Brazil’s chances of advancing from the group stage. Matheus Cunha starred for Brazil with two goals, while Vinícius Júnior contributed a goal and an assist. Haiti, appearing in its first World Cup since 1974, became the first team officially eliminated from the tournament. Making his first start of the competition, Cunha quickly justified his selection after being used only as a substitute in Brazil’s disappointing 1-1 draw against Morocco national football team. The forward opened the scoring by converting a rebound after Vinícius’ effort was saved by goalkeeper Johny Placide. Cunha doubled Brazil’s lead later in the first half with a powerful left-footed strike into the top corner after receiving a precise pass from Vinícius. His two goals energized the large Brazilian contingent among the crowd of more than 68,000 spectators at Lincoln Financial Field. Brazil had an earlier goal from Raphinha ruled out for offside before he was forced off with an injury in the first half. Despite that setback, the South Americans dominated the match. Vinícius added Brazil’s third goal before halftime, effectively sealing the result and keeping alive the team's hopes of winning its first World Cup title since 2002. The atmosphere inside the stadium was vibrant, with Haitian supporters singing traditional chants while Brazilian fans celebrated their nation’s rich football history and paid tribute to legendary football icon Pelé. Brazil will conclude its Group C campaign against Scotland national football team on Wednesday in Miami Gardens, Florida. Meanwhile, star forward Neymar missed his second consecutive match due to an ongoing calf injury.

South Korean fans react before the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. Photo: AP

Mexico took advantage of a defensive blunder by South Korea to win 1-0 and become the first team to advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup on Thursday. It marks a major triumph for a team that failed to get out of the group stage in 2022 and now has won twice on home soil in front of jubilant crowds. Mexico players celebrated at midfield and waved to the fans who cheered and sang from the packed stands at Estadio Akron. Luis Romo scored in the 50th minute after South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu collided with defender Lee Gi-hyuk and dropped the ball inside the area. Romo easily found the open net after picking up the loose ball. The South Koreans nearly equalized in the 87th minute when Mexico goalkeeper Raúl Rangel stopped a header from close range by Cho Gue-sung, then made an even better save of Yang Hyun-jun's attempt on the rebound, extending his right arm to keep the ball from crossing the line. “We've been doing very well,” Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said. “It wasn’t a great match, but I think that our opponent didn’t let us do too much. But we still were able to score, on that mistake, in addition to another two or three opportunities.” Mexico won Group A with six points in two matches, three more than South Korea and five more than the Czech Republic and South Africa, who drew 1-1 earlier Thursday in Atlanta. The top two teams from each group move on to the knockout stage, along with the best eight third-place teams. A round of 32 is being played for the first time at the World Cup after the tournament was expanded to 48 teams. Mexico opened with a 2-0 win over South Africa, while South Korea rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Czechs. Mexico closes group play on Wednesday against the Czech Republic in Mexico City, while South Korea takes on South Africa in Monterrey. Mexico had never won a World Cup game on home soil outside Mexico City. Before 2026, all but one of its nine World Cup matches at home, spanning the 1970 and 1986 tournaments, had been played at Estadio Azteca, with five wins and three draws. When it played in Toluca in 1970, it lost 4-1 to Italy in the quarterfinals. Thursday's match got off to a lackluster start, with neither team creating significant scoring opportunities and both squads getting loudly booed after the halftime whistle. Mexico, ranked 13th, was eliminated in the group stage four years ago in Qatar. That followed seven straight eliminations in the round of the 16. South Korea star Son Heung-min had another disappointing game and was substituted out in the 57th. The 33-year-old Son is looking to become South Korea’s top goal scorer at the World Cup and the Asian player with the most goals in the tournament. The former Tottenham star, currently with Los Angeles FC, entered with three goals over three prior World Cups. Kim kept Mexico from adding to the lead by coming up with a tough save off a close-range shot by Raúl Jiménez in the 75th. The South Koreans pressed through the end but could not equalize. South Korea, ranked 22nd, is making its 11th straight World Cup appearance and 12th overall, the most of any Asian country. Its best result was a fourth-place finish at the tournament it co-hosted with Japan in 2002. Since then, the South Koreans have never gone beyond the round of 16. “The mistake that we made was unfortunate,” coach Hong Myung-bo said. This time there were no empty seats in Guadalajara, contrary to what happened in the earlier match between South Korea and the Czech Republic. FIFA had blamed fans standing in the concourses for the empty seats. Thursday's crowd was announced at 45,522 for the 45,664-capacity stadium, which was hosting the national team for the first time.