United News of Bangladesh

Egypt's World Cup opener against Belgium on Monday will pit former Liverpool standout Mohamed Salah in an underdog role against longtime Manchester City stalwart Kevin De Bruyne and his talented teammates. Egypt has never won a World Cup match and has led only once in seven games. Still, the Pharaohs insist they are to be taken seriously in Group G. Aside from Salah, who has yet to decide where he will play next after a nine seasons with Liverpool, Egypt’s attack features Omar Marmoush of Manchester City. The tandem of Salah and Marmoush has caught the eye of Belgium manager Rudi Garcia, who coached the former when he played for Roma. “Obviously, they’ve got other qualities, they’ve got other players,” Garcia said Sunday in French. “This is a team that is always raring to go. They’re a solid team that needs to be respected.” Egypt coach Hossam Hassan was quietly confident ahead of the match. Hassan, Egypt's career scoring leader with 69 international goals, netted one against Algeria in 1990 to propel Egypt to one of its four World Cup appearances. Hassan said Egypt's goal is to advance past the group stage in the expanded field. “We have some negative perception here because we have not participated, except for four times in the World Cup,” Hassan said in Arabic. “But I think now we have a generation that deserves to be here.” Even so, the odds will be against Hassan’s squad for reasons beyond having to play at noon local time amid a heat wave in Seattle. The Belgian side features holdovers from the “Golden Generation” like De Bruyne and goalkeeper Thibault Courtois, as well as rising stars such as winger Jérémy Doku. “As I said at the outset, the Belgian squad is an amazing one, a star-studded one,” Hassan said. “I respect the Belgian national team. It goes without saying that the entire world is very well aware of what they are capable of.” Yet Egypt believes it can compete, having beaten Belgium three times in four exhibition matches. “We would like to have history repeat itself,” Hassan said. Belgium faces pressure to avoid repeating its performance in 2022 in Qatar, when it did not advance beyond the group stage. The Belgians finished third in 2018 in Russia. Belgium will need to shut down Salah, or at the very least slow down the four-time Premier League Golden Boot winner. Salah, who slumped by his standards in his final season with Liverpool, had nine goals and three assists in six World Cup qualifying matches. “It goes without saying that Mohamed Salah is important,” Hassan said. “(But), everyone is important.” Hassan believes Egypt can pull off an upset because of the players around Salah. “We have many talents besides Salah, besides Marmoush,” Hassan said. “We have very good players, and, God willing, people will watch them and they will be a contributing factor to their country.”

Against one of the tournament’s most formidable sides, Japan arrived with a clear game plan: stay disciplined, remain patient and strike when the opportunity arises. Over 90 minutes, the Samurai Blue executed that strategy to near perfection, twice coming from behind to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw against the Netherlands and begin their World Cup campaign on a positive note. The Group F encounter at AT&T Stadium in Texas on Sunday night was a fascinating contest between Dutch attacking dominance and Japanese resilience. While the Netherlands controlled possession for long stretches and launched wave after wave of attacks, Japan absorbed the pressure with composure before delivering timely counterpunches. From the opening whistle, the Dutch asserted their authority, pinning Japan back with fluid possession. They nearly found an early breakthrough as early as the third minute when Donyell Malen tested Zion Suzuki, but the Japanese goalkeeper produced a crucial save to keep his side level. Japan, however, refused to panic, building a low block with icy composure, and after absorbing heavy pressure for the first quarter of an hour, Japan gradually began to venture out of their shell. In the 15th minute, Daizen Maeda created danger with a low cross into the box, but the Dutch defence reacted quickly to snuff out the threat. Five minutes later, the Oranje intensified their pressure, only to see Malen and Cody Gakpo denied in quick succession by Japan’s organised backline.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The United States made a memorable start to its first home World Cup in 32 years, defeating Paraguay 4-1 on Friday night in Inglewood, California. Forward Folarin Balogun led the way with two goals during a dominant first-half display, helping the Americans build a commanding 3-0 lead before halftime—the largest halftime advantage in U.S. World Cup history. Captain Christian Pulisic played a key role in the attack, providing an assist and helping create the opening goal, which came through a Paraguayan own goal. Balogun then added goals in the 31st minute and deep into first-half stoppage time to put the match firmly under U.S. control. The Americans continued to press after the break under head coach Mauricio Pochettino, whose attacking system appeared to unlock a new level of creativity from the team. Midfielder Gio Reyna capped the performance with a goal in second-half stoppage time, giving the U.S. four goals in a World Cup match for the first time ever. Paraguay pulled one back in the second half through Maurício, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome in the team's first World Cup appearance in 16 years. The victory marked the largest World Cup win in U.S. history and highlighted a dramatic improvement from the team's last tournament appearance in Qatar, where it scored only three goals across four matches. Balogun's two-goal performance was especially significant, as it became the first multi-goal World Cup game by a U.S. player since 1930. Born in New York and raised in London, the 24-year-old striker chose to represent the United States over England and has quickly emerged as one of the team's most important attacking players.

The United States is set to begin its World Cup campaign on Friday night against Paraguay, marking the country's first time hosting the tournament in more than three decades. Thousands of enthusiastic fans gathered early at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, to support the U.S. men's national team, which enters the competition with high expectations. Led by captain Christian Pulisic and a seasoned group of players, the Americans are currently ranked 17th in the world and hope to advance beyond the knockout stage for only the second time in World Cup history. The match also marks the World Cup debut of head coach Mauricio Pochettino with the U.S. team. The game is being played at SoFi Stadium, the state-of-the-art venue that serves as home to the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. Although the stadium typically uses artificial turf, natural grass was installed specifically for the World Cup. Supporters arrived hours before kickoff, creating a festive atmosphere around the stadium. Many fans wore U.S. team apparel, while others dressed in patriotic costumes, including outfits inspired by the Statue of Liberty and America's Founding Fathers. The last men's World Cup hosted by the United States took place in 1994, when the host nation won only one match before being eliminated. Since then, soccer's popularity has grown significantly across the country, fueled by increased youth participation and the development of Major League Soccer, which launched in 1996. The expanded World Cup began on Thursday with co-host Mexico defeating South Africa 2-0. Earlier Friday, co-host Canada earned a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto. The United States will play two of its three group-stage matches in Inglewood, with its remaining group game scheduled for next week in Seattle.