United News of Bangladesh

The Japan Football Association (JFA) is considering asking Hajime Moriyasu to remain as head coach of the national team despite Japan's exit from the ongoing World Cup in the round of 32, JFA President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto said on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters, Miyamoto said no formal decision had been made, but indicated the association was preparing to move in that direction. "We would have to make preparations to that end," he said. Moriyasu, 57, has been in charge of the Samurai Blue since 2018 and guided Japan at both the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups. At this year's tournament, Japan finished second in Group F with one win and two draws before losing 2-1 to Brazil in the round of 32 on Monday in Houston, missing out on what would have been the country's first-ever victory in the World Cup knockout stage. According to a JFA official, many participants at an association meeting on Wednesday spoke positively about Japan's overall performance at the tournament. The Japanese squad is scheduled to return home on Thursday, while Moriyasu is expected to hold a news conference to review the team's World Cup campaign.

Senegal's players were left heartbroken after surrendering a two-goal lead in the closing stages of their World Cup Round of 32 match against Belgium, a collapse that ended their hopes of reaching the last 16. For 85 minutes on Wednesday, Senegal appeared to be in complete control. Holding a 2-0 lead, the African side looked set to secure a place in the round of 16 before Belgium mounted a stunning comeback. "We were at the heart of writing the beautiful pages of the history of our football in this world," defender Krépin Diatta said. "And, we have to accept that we failed at our mission." Belgium struck back through late goals from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans to level the score before Tielemans converted a penalty just before the end of extra time to seal a dramatic 3-2 victory. The Lions of Teranga had hoped to become the second African team to reach the World Cup round of 16 after Morocco, one of the nine African nations to qualify for the knockout stage, advanced with a penalty shootout victory over the Netherlands on Monday. Instead, Senegal's World Cup campaign came to a painful end. "We're disappointed," midfielder Habib Diarra said. "We had a good first half, but it wasn't enough. A match lasts 90 minutes, and we're devastated. It's very tough. I don't know what to say. When you're on the pitch, you have to give your all, and that's not what we did. We've only got ourselves to blame." Senegal reached the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams after defeats to France and Norway and a victory over Iraq. Having emerged from one of the tournament's toughest groups, the team looked capable of progressing for most of the match against Belgium. However, Lukaku's goal in the closing minutes revived Belgium's hopes before the referee awarded the European side a penalty deep into extra time. Senegal's players protested the decision, but the spot kick stood. Diatta acknowledged Belgium's determination but admitted Senegal should have managed the game better. "They did the job and they proved they can come back. I think the problem was our side," Diatta said. "We had to win this game. These kinds of tight games in the box, we have to give everything and not give them a chance."

Folarin Balogun scored his third goal of the World Cup before being sent off in the second half, while Malik Tillman added a late free-kick goal as a 10-man United States defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 on Wednesday night to book a place in the World Cup round of 16. Balogun put the Americans ahead in the 45th minute after an impressive first-half display but received a red card in the 64th minute following a foul on Tarik Muharemovic, forcing the United States to play the remainder of the match with 10 men. Tillman sealed the victory in the 82nd minute, curling a free kick from just outside the penalty area past goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj after the ball deflected off the keeper's hand. "We had to dig deep for that one," U.S. star Christian Pulisic said. "It didn't go exactly to plan with the red card, but that just shows what a good team we are. We said in the hydration break, you know, this is what it takes to be a really strong team. And, we were able to do it." The Americans secured only their second knockout-stage victory in World Cup history. They reached the semifinals in the inaugural tournament in 1930 after winning their group and claimed their only previous knockout win by beating Mexico in the round of 16 in 2002. The victory sets up a round-of-16 clash with Belgium on Monday in Seattle as the United States looks to make a deep run on home soil. Belgium defeated the Americans 2-1 after extra time in the 2014 World Cup round of 16. "So proud of all my players," U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said. Tillman revealed he changed his right boot just before taking the decisive free kick because of a bloody sock around his big toe. "You never know when it's going to happen. Today, it happened," he said. The match was played less than 20 miles from Stanford Stadium, where the United States lost 1-0 to heavily favoured Brazil in its first modern-era World Cup knockout match in 1994. This time, the Americans entered a World Cup knockout match as favourites for the first time and rewarded the large crowd of U.S. supporters at Levi's Stadium, who chanted "U-S-A! U-S-A!" during the closing minutes. The win also ended a 10-match winless run against European opponents at the World Cup dating back to a draw with England in 2022. It was the United States' first World Cup victory over a European side since defeating Portugal in the opening match of the 2002 tournament. Bosnia-Herzegovina created the better early opportunities, with U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese making two important saves to deny Ermedin Demirovic after a deceptive goal kick caught the American defence off guard. He also prevented Kerim Alajbegovic from scoring directly from the resulting corner. Balogun then took control of the match. He had one goal ruled out for offside, appealed for penalties on two occasions after being brought down in the box, and finally broke the deadlock in the 45th minute. Tim Ream intercepted a Bosnia goal kick at midfield before Tillman found Balogun inside the penalty area. The striker slid a left-footed shot into the net for his third goal of the tournament, leaving him one short of the U.S. men's single-World Cup record of four goals, set by Bert Patenaude in 1930. Balogun celebrated with his version of the LeBron James "Silencer" celebration, drawing praise from the NBA star himself. He nearly doubled his tally in first-half stoppage time, but his close-range effort struck the crossbar and bounced away. Bosnia-Herzegovina's second World Cup appearance was still considered a success. The team drew with Canada in its opening match and defeated Qatar to qualify for the knockout stage for the first time in its history.

Belgium staged a remarkable comeback from two goals behind to defeat Senegal 3-2 after extra time on Wednesday, completing the biggest comeback of the World Cup so far. Senegal was leading 2-0 with only five minutes of normal time remaining, but late goals from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans forced the Round of 32 match into extra time. Tielemans completed the turnaround by converting a penalty in the 125th minute, the latest goal ever scored in World Cup history. "Being part of this comeback is a proud moment because I scored the last two goals to give the team the win today. I'm very proud of that to be able to help the team to score goals and bring us over the line," Tielemans said. The midfielder won the decisive penalty after being fouled in the closing moments of extra time. Following a video review, the referee awarded the spot kick despite protests from Senegal's players, with a penalty shootout just seconds away. "I do not want to interpret the decision. We all have different interpretations when it comes to awarding a penalty," Senegal coach Pape Thiaw said. "I'd rather not comment, not interpreting the referee's decision." The victory marked only the second time in the last 11 World Cups that a team has recovered from a deficit of two or more goals in a knockout match to advance. Belgium also achieved the feat in a 3-2 win over Japan in the Round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup. "Senegal deserved to win," Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said. "But, I am happy it was us." Several experienced players from Belgium's 2018 squad, which finished third in Russia, played key roles in the comeback. Lukaku, Belgium's all-time leading scorer, came off the bench to make it 2-1 in the 86th minute before Tielemans equalised to send the game into extra time. "It is a cruel loss, as we were good in the game," Thiaw said. "We had the advantage. We were leading 2-0. However a football match is not an 85-minute one. Belgium came back, and we were not able to deal with that. We must congratulate Belgium as they progress." Belgium has now reached the Round of 16 for the third time in the last four World Cups. The team advanced to the quarterfinals in 2014 and the semifinals in 2018 before failing to get out of the group stage in Qatar four years ago. Belgium will next face the United States on Monday in Seattle. Senegal looked set to secure victory after Habib Diarra opened the scoring in the first half and Ismaïla Sarr doubled the lead early in the second half. Sarr's goal, his fourth of the tournament, was among the finest of the World Cup. He controlled a long pass from Moussa Niakhaté with his chest before firing past Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Courtois, playing in his fourth World Cup, later produced three crucial saves to keep Belgium in the match. Senegal defender Krépin Diatta said his side should not have allowed Belgium back into the contest. "It shouldn't have happened. You have to defend your box and you have to be the boss of your box," he said. "We suffered, but we have to go on. It's a pity." Lukaku praised Belgium's determination after the dramatic victory. "This Senegal side is one of the best teams in the tournament," he said. "Technically, physically and tactically, it was really tough. But when we stepped up the intensity of our pressing, when we were there for the second ball, our team spirit shone through and we won the match." Senegal entered the tournament as Africa's second-highest ranked team behind Morocco. It won the Africa Cup of Nations final on Jan. 18 against Morocco, although the result was later overturned by African football's governing body after Thiaw temporarily pulled his players off the pitch. Senegal reached the World Cup knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams after losses to France and Norway and a victory over Iraq. "It's the best African nation. It's as simple as that," Garcia said. "They showed that even against France, they dominated in the first half. They came out of a difficult group. I would have preferred not to play against them."

France continued its impressive run at the FIFA World Cup with a commanding 3-0 victory over Sweden on Tuesday, becoming the first team to score at least three goals in five consecutive World Cup matches and reinforcing its status as one of the tournament favourites. The win secured Les Bleus a place in the round of 16, where they will face Paraguay this weekend as they pursue a third consecutive appearance in the World Cup final. France has won all four of its matches so far, scoring 13 goals while conceding only two, with its dynamic attacking quartet of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola drawing widespread praise. Norway coach Ståle Solbakken described France's front four as the strongest attacking unit in the competition, while Sweden coach Graham Potter also hailed the French side as the best team he has faced during the tournament. Mbappé continued his prolific form by scoring twice against Sweden, taking his tournament tally to six goals—level with Argentina captain Lionel Messi at the top of the scoring chart. Dembélé has scored four goals, while Olise leads the tournament with five assists. Barcola has contributed one goal and two assists. Mbappé has now scored 18 goals in 18 World Cup appearances, leaving him one short of Messi's career World Cup record of 19 goals. Despite France's dominant performances, midfielder N'Golo Kanté urged his teammates to remain grounded, saying the squad's quality alone would not guarantee success against stronger opponents in the knockout rounds. Head coach Didier Deschamps echoed that view, saying there was still room for improvement despite the team's unbeaten start. He noted that France must continue refining its performances as the level of competition increases. France has adopted an attack-minded 4-2-3-1 formation, allowing its forwards the freedom to interchange positions, making them difficult for opponents to defend against. Deschamps, who captained France to its 1998 World Cup triumph and has managed the national team since 2012, has already recorded his 18th World Cup victory as coach. He announced earlier this year that he will step down after the tournament. Mbappé credited Deschamps with transforming France into a more attacking side than in previous World Cups, pointing to the emergence of a new generation of talented players. France, now ranked No. 1 in the FIFA rankings ahead of Argentina, has defeated Senegal, Iraq, Norway and Sweden en route to the knockout stage. If France overcomes Paraguay, it could face Morocco or Canada in the quarter-finals, with Spain a possible semi-final opponent. The French side is aiming to become only the third nation after Germany and Brazil to reach three consecutive World Cup finals. Midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni said the players remain motivated by the disappointment of losing the 2022 final to Argentina on penalties and are determined to make the French people proud by challenging for another world title.

Cape Verde President José Maria Neves has predicted that his country will pull off a surprise 1-0 victory over defending champions Argentina in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32, as the debutants continue what he described as “writing their destiny.” In an interview with the BBC, Neves said Cape Verde could defy expectations against the football giants. “I think Cape Verde can beat Argentina 1-0,” he said. “We are playing to win. When expectations are low for a team and there is a strong desire to win, it becomes possible. A small nation like Cape Verde must always try to surprise people.” His remarks came ahead of Friday’s knockout match in Miami, where Cape Verde, known as the Blue Sharks, will face Lionel Messi’s Argentina, nicknamed La Albiceleste, at 22:00 GMT. This marks Cape Verde’s first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance, with the island nation of 10 Atlantic islands also becoming the smallest country to reach the knockout stage. They impressed in the group stage with a goalless draw against Spain, where veteran goalkeeper Vozinha played a key role, followed by a 2-2 draw against Uruguay. A 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia secured their place as Group H runners-up after Spain defeated Uruguay. Now set to face the tournament favourites, Cape Verde enter the match as major underdogs, with a significant gap in world rankings separating the two sides. President Neves, however, expressed full confidence in his team, saying they carry “100% faith and 100% hope” and believe they have a real chance of victory. “We came to this World Cup to write our own destiny, and that means facing champions,” he said. “We will face Argentina and Messi with the same determination and desire to win and progress to the next round.” Head coach Pedro Leitão Brito, popularly known as Bubista, echoed similar sentiments, saying earlier that “nothing is impossible” for his team and that reaching this stage was already a proud moment for the nation. Midfielder Deroy Duarte also described the experience as “a dream,” acknowledging the difficulty of the match but adding, “Anything is possible.” President Neves said that even if Cape Verde are eliminated, the team will leave the tournament with pride. “Regardless of the result, we will leave with our heads held high and a sense of mission accomplished,” he said. Source: BBC

Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scored first-half goals as Mexico defeated Ecuador 2-0 on Tuesday night to end a 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout-stage victory and book a place in the round of 16. Quiñones gave Mexico the lead in the 22nd minute before Jiménez doubled the advantage nine minutes later. It was Mexico's first win in the knockout stage since beating Bulgaria in the round of 16 at the 1986 World Cup, which the country hosted. Since then, El Tri had lost seven consecutive round-of-16 matches between 1994 and 2018. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Mexico failed to advance beyond the group stage for the first time since the 1978 tournament in Argentina. Quiñones scored his third goal of the tournament and moved into second place on Mexico's all-time World Cup scoring list, behind Luis "Matador" Hernández and Javier "Chicharito" Hernández, who each scored four goals. Jiménez netted his second goal of the tournament and took his international tally to 47, moving past Jared Borgetti. He now needs five more goals to equal Chicharito Hernández as Mexico's all-time leading scorer. Mexico will play another home match on Sunday against the winner of Wednesday's round-of-32 clash between England and Congo. Playing at the iconic Azteca Stadium, Mexico extended its unbeaten World Cup record at the venue to 10 matches. The national team has suffered only two official defeats at the stadium, the most recent coming in a World Cup qualifier against Honduras on Sept. 6, 2013. The victory also stretched Mexico's unbeaten run to 12 matches, dating back to a friendly defeat against Paraguay in November. Mexico also became the first CONCACAF team to eliminate a CONMEBOL nation in a World Cup knockout-stage match after South American teams had won the previous five meetings. Ecuador had been aiming to reach the World Cup round of 16 for only the second time in its history and the first since the 2006 tournament in Germany. Kickoff was delayed by one hour because of a thunderstorm. It was the second World Cup match affected by severe weather. Earlier in the tournament, the France-Iraq match in Philadelphia on June 22 was suspended for two hours and 11 minutes at the end of the first half due to a storm.

Mexican fans used a chant widely regarded as homophobic during Tuesday night's World Cup round of 32 match against Ecuador. The chant, a one-word slur that translates to "male prostitute" in Spanish, is typically shouted when the opposing goalkeeper takes a goal kick. Supporters first used the chant in the fifth minute as Ecuador goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez prepared for his first goal kick of the match. It marked the second time during the tournament that the chant has been heard. FIFA has previously fined the Mexican Football Federation several times over the use of the offensive chant by supporters. The chant first emerged during an Olympic Games qualifying match between Mexico and the United States in Guadalajara and gained international attention during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The atmosphere surrounding the match had been tense even before kickoff. Late Monday night and into the early hours of Tuesday, Mexican fans gathered outside Ecuador's team hotel in Mexico City, using horns, drums, motorcycles, cars and DJs to create noise in an apparent attempt to disturb their opponents. The rivalry between the supporters also reflects wider political tensions between the two countries. Diplomatic relations between Mexico and Ecuador have remained severed since April 2024, when Ecuadorian police raided the Mexican embassy in Quito to arrest former Vice President Jorge Glas, who had been granted political asylum there. Although Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa recently said he was willing to restore ties, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said last Monday that she would not discuss the issue until after the high-profile World Cup match.

Kylian Mbappé scored twice as France defeated Sweden 3-0 on Tuesday, moving level with Lionel Messi as the top scorer of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with six goals and booking a round of 16 clash against Paraguay. Mbappé produced his third two-goal performance of the tournament and also became the highest scorer in World Cup knockout-stage history, helping France continue its impressive run. “I personally haven't seen a better team,” Sweden coach Graham Potter said. “The quality they have all over the pitch and then the options for them off the bench are very, very strong, so they've got as good a chance as anybody, I would suggest.” France’s 27-year-old captain opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time with a superb individual effort before adding his second goal in the 74th minute. His six-goal tally now matches Messi’s tournament-leading total, while his overall World Cup record stands at 18 goals in 18 matches, one behind Messi’s career record of 19 in 29 World Cup appearances. Bradley Barcola added France’s second goal in the 53rd minute as Les Bleus became the first team to score at least three goals in five consecutive World Cup matches. “I'm very aware of who I am, how I play, what I shall do, but it's not just about me,” Mbappé said through a translator. “The entire team is aware of what should be done. It is a new competition that has started today. We did play well, but we were timid. We could have done better at the beginning.” Mbappé’s 10 knockout-stage World Cup goals are now two more than the previous record jointly held by Brazilian legends Leonidas and Ronaldo. France coach Didier Deschamps, who returned to the team after attending his mother's funeral in France, bowed to Mbappé when the forward came off in the 85th minute. “We're on a mission — so am I with them,” Deschamps said through a translator. France has now outscored its opponents 13-2 in the tournament. Michael Olise has also emerged as one of the standout performers, registering five assists, the most by a player at a World Cup since Germany’s Thomas Hassler recorded five in 1994. “They are skilled at knowing when to change the pace and increase it, when to possess the ball, went to fall back,” Sweden captain Victor Lindelöf said through a translator. France, aiming to reach its third successive World Cup final, will face Paraguay on July 4 in Philadelphia. The winner will advance to a quarterfinal against either Canada or Morocco on July 9 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Played in hot and humid conditions with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius), France dominated throughout the match, outshooting Sweden 25-7, including a 15-3 advantage in the first half. Mbappé struck the post in the 32nd minute before Michael Olise also hit the woodwork with an acrobatic bicycle kick four minutes later. “I said I think we needed a couple of miracles. We had a couple, but we ran out of them,” Potter said. “So we needed a few more.” France finally broke the deadlock just before halftime after goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström pushed Olise’s shot behind for a corner. From the resulting move, Ousmane Dembélé found Mbappé near the byline. The striker beat Viktor Gyökeres with a clever step before firing into the far corner from close range. Mbappé celebrated by embracing Deschamps after the goal. “He knows that he will never be alone with us, and we will support him,” Mbappé said. France doubled its lead after Gustaf Lagerbielke lost possession. Aurélien Tchouaméni passed to Olise, who nutmegged Lagerbielke before Barcola calmly finished. Mbappé completed the scoring after a flowing attacking move involving Barcola and Olise, racing into the penalty area before placing his shot beyond Zetterström for his 62nd international goal. “We continue to deliver great performances,” Mbappé said. The match attracted a crowd of 80,663, taking total attendance for the expanded 104-match tournament beyond five million spectators. “I have no complaints to the players whatsoever. I said to them after the game I don't think it's a disgrace to lose to France,” Potter said. “For us it's about using this as a foundation to go forward and to be proud of what we've done so far.” Speaking after the final whistle, Mbappé joked that his immediate priority was not the next match. “I'm looking forward to the changing room and the AC,” he said.

A powerful heat wave is expected to grip much of the central and eastern United States this week, bringing dangerously high temperatures to several cities hosting FIFA World Cup knockout matches and raising concerns for both players and fans. Forecasters say a strong heat dome will push temperatures and humidity to uncomfortable levels, with the heat index, or the "feels-like" temperature, expected to climb above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) in several areas. Open-air stadiums in cities including Boston, Philadelphia and Kansas City are expected to be among the hardest hit. "This week is going to be extremely hot," said Geoff Cornish, assistant chief video meteorologist at AccuWeather. He described it as a major heat wave that is not seen every year. Heat has been a growing concern throughout the tournament, which is being hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Scientists say climate change, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, is making extreme heat more frequent and intense around the world. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, extreme heat causes more deaths in the US each year than hurricanes, floods or tornadoes. The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat watch for Philadelphia and nearby areas from Wednesday afternoon through Saturday evening, with "feels-like" temperatures expected to reach as high as 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 degrees Celsius). In response, FIFA has adjusted the operating hours of its Fan Festival in Philadelphia. Saturday's fan event will end after the conclusion of the 1 p.m. match. Kansas City is also under an extreme heat warning through Friday night, with the heat index forecast to range between 105 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit (40.6 to 43.3 degrees Celsius). The New York City area could experience near-record heat, with temperatures feeling as high as 109 degrees Fahrenheit (42.8 degrees Celsius), while Boston and much of southern New England could see heat index values of up to 111 degrees Fahrenheit (43.9 degrees Celsius). Weather officials warned that the extreme heat could be life-threatening for people without access to cooling or enough drinking water and could also put pressure on transportation, electricity and water systems. Players will have several protections during matches, including medical support and mandatory three-minute cooling breaks in each half. However, health experts warn that even elite athletes remain at risk of heat-related illnesses. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include severe tiredness, headaches, dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps and dehydration. In more serious cases, heat stroke can develop and requires immediate medical treatment. Experts also say high temperatures can reduce the intensity of matches, as players often run less and conserve energy to cope with the heat. Fans, volunteers and stadium workers may face even greater risks, especially in outdoor fan zones, parking areas and transport hubs where they could spend long periods in direct sunlight. Health experts also caution that drinking alcohol in extreme heat increases the risk of dehydration. Several host cities and stadiums have expanded access to shaded areas, cooling stations and free drinking water. Medical teams will also be available at FIFA Fan Festivals and around stadiums to treat heat-related illnesses if needed. Health experts advise people attending matches or outdoor events to drink plenty of water, stay in shaded or air-conditioned areas whenever possible, wear light, loose-fitting clothing and avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day. Maggie Aldousany, an associate clinical professor at the University of Miami, said people should begin drinking enough fluids well before attending matches or celebrations rather than waiting until they feel thirsty. Experts also recommend limiting alcohol consumption and checking for signs of dehydration. Light yellow urine is generally considered a sign of good hydration. Older adults, people taking certain medications and those not accustomed to hot weather are among those most at risk. Cornish advised anyone who feels dizzy, overheated or notices they have stopped sweating to move to a cooler place, drink water and seek medical attention immediately if symptoms become severe.