United News of Bangladesh

Cape Verde continued its fairytale debut at the FIFA World Cup by securing a place in the knockout round after playing Saudi Arabia to a 0-0 draw on Friday. The result made the tiny island nation the smallest country ever to advance beyond the group stage of the tournament. Located off Africa’s west coast, Cape Verde has impressed throughout its first World Cup appearance. The Blue Sharks opened with a goalless draw against 2010 champions Spain before battling back to earn a 2-2 draw against Uruguay. With three draws from three matches, Cape Verde finished second in the group with three points, behind Spain, which defeated Uruguay on Friday to claim top spot. Cape Verde will now face defending champions Argentina in the Round of 32 in Miami on July 3. Although three draws are not always enough to progress at a World Cup, Cape Verde joined a select group of teams to qualify without winning a group-stage match. Wales achieved the feat in 1958, while Ireland and the Netherlands did so in 1990, followed by Chile in 1998. New Zealand, however, drew all three of its matches in 2010 but failed to advance. Ahead of Friday’s match, Cape Verde head coach Bubista expressed optimism, saying everyone has the right to dream and that nothing is impossible. His team proved those words true by overcoming the odds and guiding the nation of just over 500,000 people into the last 32. Supporters embraced the historic occasion, with one fan displaying a sign reading, “Small Islands, Big Dreams,” while wearing face paint in the colors of Cape Verde’s flag. The Blue Sharks were once again inspired by veteran goalkeeper Vozinha. The 40-year-old produced another outstanding display, adding to a tournament that has earned him more than 16 million Instagram followers. Vozinha made a crucial stop in first-half stoppage time, comfortably collecting Mohamed Kanno’s header before denying Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat with an acrobatic save in the 66th minute. He preserved the clean sheet again in stoppage time by blocking Abdullah Al-Hamdan’s late effort. Fans celebrated their goalkeeper throughout the match, with a group of shirtless supporters each painting one letter of his name across their chests. Watching proudly from the stands was Vozinha’s mother, Ana Candida Evora, who waved a small Cape Verde flag from a luxury suite. It was her second appearance at the tournament after visa complications prevented her from attending her son's remarkable seven-save performance against Spain. Cape Verde also threatened at the other end. Kevin Pina fired narrowly over the crossbar early in the second half, while Laros Duarte was denied by Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais in the 74th minute. Nuno da Costa missed one final opportunity in the closing moments when his shot drifted wide. The missed chances ultimately mattered little. Shortly after the final whistle, Spain completed its win over Uruguay, officially confirming Cape Verde’s place in the knockout stage. The historic achievement sparked emotional celebrations among the players and supporters, many of whom were reduced to tears as Cape Verde completed one of the tournament’s most remarkable underdog stories.

Kaan Ayhan scored with the final kick of the match as Turkey secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over the United States on Thursday, earning its only win of the World Cup despite an earlier group-stage exit. The United States had already sealed top spot in Group D with victories over Paraguay and Australia and will face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on Wednesday. Coach Mauricio Pochettino rested several regulars, making nine changes to the starting lineup, while Christian Pulisic returned from a calf injury as a second-half substitute. Auston Trusty put the Americans ahead in the third minute before Arda Güler equalised in the 10th minute. Orkun Kökçü gave Turkey the lead in the 31st minute after a move initiated by Güler. Sebastian Berhalter levelled the match in the 49th minute with a powerful strike from outside the box. Pulisic, making his first appearance since suffering a calf injury in the opening match against Paraguay, came on in the 58th minute and quickly created chances, including a shot that struck the post. Turkey sealed victory in the eighth minute of stoppage time when Can Uzun squared the ball to Ayhan, who slid home the winner. Trusty’s early goal had matched the US record of seven goals before the knockout stage, while it also became the tournament’s 173rd goal, setting a new World Cup scoring record before the round of 32.

The expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially passed its halfway point, with 54 of the tournament’s 104 matches completed and the battle for the title now moving into a more intense phase. With 50 matches still to be played before the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19, teams are beginning to secure places in the knockout stage while others have already seen their World Cup dreams end. Hosts the United States, Mexico and Canada have all advanced to the Round of 32, while several football stars have made strong starts to the tournament. Argentina captain Lionel Messi has scored five goals so far, while France’s Kylian Mbappé, Norway’s Erling Haaland and Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior have each netted four times. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the tournament’s most exciting moments are still ahead. “The best is yet to come,” Infantino told SNTV earlier this week. So far, stadiums have attracted large crowds, with FIFA reporting record attendance figures. One of the tournament’s most heartwarming stories has been the journey of Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, whose mother was able to attend the World Cup. Teams already through Thirteen teams had secured Round of 32 spots by Wednesday. Group winners include Mexico, Switzerland, Brazil, the United States, Germany and Argentina. France, Norway, Canada, Morocco, Colombia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and South Africa have also booked their places in the knockout stage. South Africa coach Hugo Broos celebrated after guiding his team to its first-ever appearance in the knockout rounds. Teams eliminated Seven teams have already been knocked out of the tournament. They are the Czech Republic, Haiti, Turkey, Tunisia, Jordan, Qatar and Panama. Race for remaining places With 13 teams qualified and seven eliminated, 28 teams are still competing for the remaining 19 spots in the Round of 32. Several decisive group-stage matches are still to come, including Australia against Paraguay and Japan against Sweden. Cape Verde could reach the knockout stage for the first time with a victory over Saudi Arabia, while Colombia and Portugal will battle for top spot in Group K. United States eyes deep run The United States will begin its knockout campaign in Santa Clara, California, on July 1. If the Americans continue winning, their path would take them to Seattle for the Round of 16, Inglewood for the quarterfinals and Arlington, Texas, for the semifinals. Bosnia and Herzegovina is currently viewed as the most likely Round of 32 opponent. Knockout stage brings higher stakes Once the group phase ends, every match becomes a do-or-die contest. Any team that loses in the knockout rounds will be eliminated, except in the semifinals where losing teams will still compete in a third-place playoff. A team must win five straight knockout matches to lift the World Cup trophy. Goals flowing freely The tournament is also producing goals at a remarkable rate. A total of 161 goals had been scored through 54 matches, putting the competition on track to surpass the previous World Cup record of 172 goals set in Qatar in 2022. The current average stands at 2.98 goals per match, the highest scoring rate in more than 50 years. Possibility of another Argentina-France final Football fans could also witness a repeat of the memorable 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France. Based on the current tournament bracket, the two sides are likely to remain on opposite sides of the draw, meaning they could meet again in the final. Messi, who turned 39 on Wednesday, has scored all five of Argentina’s goals in the tournament so far, taking his World Cup tally to a record 18 goals. Meanwhile, Mbappé's four goals have lifted his World Cup total to 16, tying him with German great Miroslav Klose for the second-highest tally in tournament history. As the group stage nears its conclusion, attention is now turning to the knockout rounds, where the pressure will rise and every match could decide a team's fate.  

Switzerland defeated Canada 2-1 on Wednesday to finish top of Group B and secure a place in the World Cup knockout stage as group winners. Goals from Rubén Vargas and Johan Manzambi helped the Swiss claim the victory and earn a week-long break before returning to Vancouver on July 2 to face one of the tournament's best third-placed teams in the Round of 32. “I think we deserve to be where we are right now,” Switzerland coach Murat Yakin said. “In three days we will know our next opponent, and now we have the opportunity to watch the tournament and prepare for what comes next.” Canada finished second in the group and advanced to the knockout round for the first time in its history. However, the Canadians missed the chance to secure a Round of 32 match on home soil after failing to win or draw Wednesday’s game. Instead, Canada will travel to Inglewood to face South Africa national football team on Sunday. South Africa secured second place in Group A with a 1-0 win over South Korea earlier in the day. “We wanted to stay here in Vancouver, but we still have a huge opportunity ahead of us,” Canada coach Jesse Marsch said. Twenty-year-old Johan Manzambi retained his place in the starting lineup after scoring twice as a substitute in Switzerland’s 4-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina. The midfielder continued his impressive form against Canada. Switzerland took the lead less than a minute into the second half when Rubén Vargas fired a shot past goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau. The ball struck the post before finding the net. Manzambi doubled the advantage in the 57th minute after receiving a pass from Breel Embolo. His effort slipped through Crépeau’s hands to make it 2-0 and silence the sellout crowd, which included Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Canada responded in the 76th minute when substitute Promise David scored with his first touch of the match, just moments after coming off the bench. Despite creating several chances late on, the hosts were unable to find an equaliser. Swiss captain Granit Xhaka came close to scoring in the first half, but his free kick in the 37th minute sailed over the crossbar. Canada’s Ali Ahmed also threatened before halftime, but his effort was comfortably saved by Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. Canada entered the match after a historic 6-0 victory over Qatar, the country's first-ever World Cup win. However, that success was overshadowed by a serious injury to midfielder Ismaël Koné, who suffered a broken left leg and watched Wednesday’s match on crutches. Switzerland began its campaign with a 1-1 draw against Qatar before defeating Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-1. Considered the strongest team in Group B, the Swiss are appearing in their fifth consecutive World Cup and have reached the Round of 16 in each of the previous three tournaments. “We needed some time to settle into the tournament,” Yakin said. “The way we are playing now, I am very happy with it.” Canada, making its third World Cup appearance, opened the tournament with a 2-2 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Marsch praised his players for overcoming injuries and setbacks throughout the competition, saying the team remained competitive despite narrowly missing out on first place. In the other Group B match, Bosnia-Herzegovina defeated Qatar 3-1 and still has a chance to advance as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams. Qatar was eliminated.

Mexico defeated the Czech Republic 3-0 on Wednesday night to win all three of its World Cup group-stage matches for the first time in the country's history. Mateo Chávez and Julián Quiñones scored within six minutes early in the second half, while Álvaro Fidalgo added a goal in stoppage time to seal the victory. The 22-year-old Chávez, playing in his first World Cup, broke the deadlock in the 55th minute. Quiñones doubled Mexico’s lead in the 61st minute with his second goal of the tournament before Fidalgo completed the scoring late on. Mexico's previous best group-stage performances came in 1986 and 2002, when the team recorded two wins and a draw. Both campaigns involved coach Javier Aguirre, first as a player and later as manager. He is now leading the national team for a third time. Having already secured first place in Group A, Mexico will return to action on Tuesday at Estadio Azteca in the Round of 32 against an opponent yet to be determined. Mexico extended its impressive World Cup record at Estadio Azteca, remaining unbeaten in nine matches at the iconic venue. A crowd of 80,824 attended Wednesday’s game. The match also highlighted both the future and history of Mexican football. Seventeen-year-old Gilberto Mora became the youngest Mexican player to start a World Cup match, while veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa entered as a substitute in the 77th minute. At 40, Ochoa joined Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to appear in six World Cups. Mexico's victory was overshadowed somewhat by the return of a homophobic chant from sections of the crowd, an issue that has previously led to fines and disciplinary measures against the country's football federation. The chant was heard near the end of the first half during a goal kick by Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar. The Czech Republic finished bottom of the group with one point from three matches and was eliminated from the tournament. Mexico is now unbeaten in 11 matches, a run stretching back to a friendly defeat against Panama in November. Aguirre has also rotated his squad extensively, using 25 of his 26 players during the tournament. Ochoa's appearance is expected to be his final World Cup outing. The goalkeeper, who turns 41 next month, has indicated he plans to retire from international football after the tournament. He was part of Mexico's squads in 2006 and 2010 as a reserve goalkeeper before starting at the World Cups in 2014, 2018 and 2022. Ochoa also became the oldest Mexican player to appear in a World Cup, surpassing the previous record held by Cuauhtémoc Blanco.

Ermin Mahmic scored a crucial late goal as Bosnia-Herzegovina defeated Qatar 3-1 on Wednesday, significantly improving its chances of advancing to the knockout stage of the World Cup. The 21-year-old midfielder celebrated his 80th-minute strike by removing his jersey and running toward Bosnia-Herzegovina supporters at Lumen Field, earning a yellow card in the process. Bosnia coach Sergej Barbarez said the booking mattered little given that yellow cards are wiped out after the group stage. “I also heard that he shed a tear. I think it was quite emotional for him,” Barbarez said. The victory leaves Bosnia-Herzegovina, currently third in its group, in a strong position to reach the Round of 32. Under the expanded World Cup format, the eight best third-placed teams from the 12 groups qualify for the knockout phase. Bosnia-Herzegovina has appeared at only one previous World Cup, in 2014, when it failed to advance beyond the group stage. “We all wanted to make history,” Barbarez said. “But we still have to wait and see whether we progress to the next stage.” The team's fate now depends on results elsewhere in the tournament. Bosnia took the lead in the 29th minute through 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic, who fired a powerful shot past Qatar goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada from about 20 yards. The goal made him the eighth-youngest scorer in World Cup history. Goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj praised the teenager's performance, saying it was impressive to score on such a big stage at his age. Bosnia doubled its advantage five minutes later when a cross from Sead Kolašinac was redirected by Edin Džeko, with the ball eventually deflecting off Qatar defender Sultan Al-Brake for an own goal. Qatar reduced the deficit before halftime through Hassan Al Haydos, who scored in the 42nd minute. However, Mahmic's late goal sealed the win and confirmed Qatar's elimination from the tournament. For Bosnia-Herzegovina, a nation of around three million people, reaching the World Cup was already a notable achievement. The team qualified through the European playoffs by winning penalty shootouts against Wales and four-time champions Italy. If Bosnia advances, it could face the United States men's national soccer team in the Round of 32 at Levi's Stadium on July 1. Barbarez declined to discuss potential opponents but said his players would be ready for any challenge. “All of this is a bonus for us,” he said. “We will try to take on any team that comes our way. We are confident enough to face anyone.”

Vinícius Júnior scored twice as Brazil cruised to a 3-0 victory over Scotland on Wednesday, securing top spot in Group C and advancing to the knockout stage of the World Cup. The Brazilian forward opened the scoring in the seventh minute after capitalising on an early Scottish mistake and added his second goal just before halftime. He has now scored in all three of Brazil’s group-stage matches. Vinícius moved level with Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé on four goals in the tournament, one behind Lionel Messi. Matheus Cunha also found the net for Brazil, which has reached the World Cup knockout stage for the 15th consecutive tournament. Morocco finished second in the group and also advanced after defeating Haiti 4-2. After opening the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Morocco, Brazil responded with back-to-back 3-0 wins over Haiti and Scotland. Coach Carlo Ancelotti said his team had shown steady improvement during the group stage. “We are working to play the best that we can,” Ancelotti said. “But the goal is not to play well. The goal is to win. If we win the World Cup, we played well. If we don't win the World Cup, we played really bad.” Brazil took control early when Vinícius collected a pass from 19-year-old striker Rayan, rounded goalkeeper Angus Gunn and slotted home for an easy finish. He later headed in his second goal after another Scottish defensive error. “It’s always important to score goals and play good matches,” Vinícius said. “I managed to do that and perform very well.” Brazil also welcomed back star forward Neymar, who made his tournament debut as a substitute in the 76th minute after missing the first two matches with a right calf injury. Fans at Hard Rock Stadium cheered loudly as the 34-year-old entered the game. Ancelotti said Neymar deserved the opportunity to play and performed well despite his limited time on the field. Neymar remains Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 130 international appearances. He has featured in the country’s last four World Cups and has scored eight goals in the tournament. Scotland, playing in its first World Cup since 1998, failed to advance beyond the group stage for the ninth time. The team’s supporters, known as the Tartan Army, created a festive atmosphere around Boston and Miami throughout the tournament. “We knew they were a top side,” Scotland defender Nathan Patterson said. “They have massive threats. Giving them easy goals is not what you need.”

Former Brazil star Ronaldinho has come out of retirement to sign for Italian Serie C club Ravenna at the age of 46, more than a decade after his last professional appearance. The two-time FIFA World Player of the Year expressed his excitement about returning to the pitch during his presentation in Miami. "I cannot wait to dance with the ball," Ronaldinho said. "Football has always been joyful for me, and I'm excited to bring that spirit to Ravenna. Let the magic begin!" Ravenna is owned by Ignazio Cipriani of the renowned Cipriani restaurant brand. Cipriani said Ronaldinho had been his childhood idol and expressed hope that the Brazilian's arrival would inspire a new generation of supporters. "(Ronaldinho) was my idol growing up," he said. "I hope his involvement inspires a new generation of supporters to fall in love with Ravenna." Ronaldinho last played professionally for Brazilian club Fluminense in 2015 before retiring from football. The move marks his second stint in Italian football, having previously played for AC Milan between 2008 and 2011. One of the most celebrated footballers of his generation, Ronaldinho won the 2002 FIFA World Cup with Brazil and claimed the Ballon d'Or in 2005.

Cristiano Ronaldo sent a strong message to his critics after scoring twice in Portugal’s 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, declaring, “I’m back! I’m back!” while celebrating a historic World Cup milestone. The 41-year-old forward scored two goals as Portugal cruised past Uzbekistan, becoming the first player in history to score in six different editions of football’s biggest tournament. Visibly emotional after the match, Ronaldo celebrated the achievement and responded directly to criticism that had followed Portugal’s earlier 1-1 draw with DR Congo in their opening Group K match. Ronaldo had been under pressure after that result, especially as other global stars such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Vinicius Jr and Harry Kane had impressed early in the tournament. However, the Portuguese captain made a rapid impact against Uzbekistan, opening the scoring within six minutes with a sharp half-volley from a Joao Cancelo cross. He added his second goal before half-time after finishing a precise through-ball from Bruno Fernandes. He came close to a first-half hat-trick but was denied by a goal-line clearance from Abdukodir Khusanov. After the match, Ronaldo said his “I’m back” celebration was aimed at those who had doubted him. “It’s only so they [his critics] don't forget - 23 years [doing so] like this,” he said. “I’m very happy but the most important thing is the work the team did and the confidence it gives us,” Ronaldo added. “Personal records are always nice but my goal is always to help the team achieve its objectives.” He said the team had gone through a difficult week but managed to respond strongly. “It’s been a difficult week, a dark week without kicking a ball, but we dealt with it as we always do because we believe in our work. It was difficult, but we’re back,” he said. Portugal manager Roberto Martinez praised Ronaldo’s leadership, saying the captain played a key role in lifting team morale after their opening draw. Former England captain Wayne Rooney also praised Ronaldo’s performance, saying his ability to respond to criticism with goals has defined his career. “He’s taken a bit of criticism and this is how he responds,” Rooney said. “He has done that his whole career.” The win also saw goals from Nuno Mendes, an own goal from Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov, and a late strike from Rafael Leao, giving Portugal a dominant victory. Uzbekistan coach Fabio Cannavaro said Ronaldo’s performance showed his continued quality even at 41, describing him as “part of the history of the World Cup.” Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane also praised Ronaldo’s hunger and determination, calling him a “doubted genius” who continues to set an example with his work ethic and scoring ability. With inputs from BBC.

Daniel Muñoz scored the only goal as Colombia edged Congo 1-0 on Tuesday night to secure a place in the World Cup knockout stage. Muñoz struck in the 76th minute after Colombia had repeatedly been denied by an inspired performance from Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who produced five difficult saves inside the first 20 minutes. Mpasi had no chance to stop Muñoz’s left-footed effort from inside the box after it deflected off a defender. It was Muñoz’s second goal of the tournament, and the Crystal Palace defender was named man of the match. "We played with intensity and aggression, and we stuck to our style," Muñoz said. "We earned these three points as a team and for all the fans who came out to support us. This victory gives us a morale boost. We don't want to settle for this." Congo came close to equalising twice in stoppage time, but Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas produced a superb save to deny a long-range effort from Nathanael Mbuku before also stopping a header from Chancel Mbemba off the resulting corner. "We probably could have scored more goals, but Congo made it difficult and it was tense there until the end," Colombia coach Néstor Lorenzo said. "But I think we were the deserved winners." Colombia forward Luis Díaz had two goals disallowed late in the second half, one for a foul in the 79th minute and another for offside in the 80th minute. Congo had opened its first World Cup in 52 years with a surprise 1-1 draw against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. Colombia now has six points from two matches in Group K, sitting two points ahead of Portugal and five ahead of Congo. Portugal defeated Uzbekistan 5-0 in Houston earlier on Tuesday, with Ronaldo scoring twice. Colombia will need at least a draw against Portugal on Saturday to win the group, which would also be enough for Portugal to advance to the knockout stage. Colombia, ranked 11th in the world and third among South American teams behind Brazil and Argentina, began the tournament with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan. Congo, ranked 47th, has faced preparation challenges due to an Ebola outbreak, with many fans unable to travel because of quarantine restrictions. One supporter who managed to attend in Guadalajara was Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, known for posing as a statue of assassinated Congolese independence hero Patrice Lumumba during the Africa Cup of Nations. He maintained his statue-like pose throughout the match. Colombia had never previously played out a goalless draw in 23 World Cup appearances. The team improved after Juan Quintero came on as a substitute for James Rodríguez, who joined Colombia greats Freddy Rincón and Carlos Valderrama with 10 World Cup appearances. Colombia dominated early, creating several chances that Mpasi kept out, including long-range efforts from Rodríguez, Johan Mojica and Gustavo Puerta, as well as close-range attempts from Díaz and Muñoz. Mpasi also made a key save from Díaz in the 50th minute. "Our goalkeeper was excellent today, but I'm not surprised. He's been having excellent matches with us," Congo coach Sébastien Desabre said. "Collectively the defense had a hard time but we did defend well overall, except for the goal. We must recognize that Colombia is superior, even though we could have equalized in the end. Now we have a decisive match ahead of us."