United News of Bangladesh

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.

Japanese football fans, long admired for cleaning stadiums after World Cup matches, are now facing criticism at home over a perceived double standard in household responsibilities. After recent match photos showed fans collecting litter from the stands with trash bags, social media users in Japan raised concerns that while some men are diligent in public spaces, they may not be equally involved in domestic chores. A viral post compared a man cleaning up at a stadium with the same man relaxing at home, using his phone while his wife handled household work such as dishes and laundry. The post urged Japanese men to “pitch in more at home,” noting that the country ranks among the lowest globally in time spent by men on housework. The post has been widely shared, gaining around 60,000 likes on X (formerly Twitter). “Everyone wants to save the world, but no one wants to help mom do the dishes,” one user commented, quoting American author PJ O’Rourke. Another user wrote that some of the fans seen cleaning stadiums likely leave childcare duties to their wives in order to attend matches. Cleanliness and discipline in public spaces are deeply rooted in Japanese culture. However, data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows a significant gender gap in unpaid domestic work. As of 2021, Japanese women spent more than three hours per day on unpaid labour, over five times more than men, who averaged just 47 minutes. The gap is even wider in families with young children. A 2021 government survey found that in dual-income households with children under six, women spent over seven hours a day on housework and childcare, compared to less than two hours for men. Some social media users also questioned whether the praise for overseas cleanliness overlooks similar issues within Japan, where public areas can become littered after large events. Despite the debate, many others defended the fans, arguing that their stadium cleanups should be appreciated rather than criticised. “There’s nothing embarrassing about it. It’s far better than headlines saying Japanese people are littering abroad,” one user wrote. The practice has also inspired fans from other countries. A recent viral video showed Portuguese supporters collecting rubbish from stadium seats, with some users crediting Japanese fans for popularising the trend. With inputs from NDTV

While the World Cup has delivered excitement on the field, many fans have been left disappointed after tickets purchased through online resale platforms failed to arrive or were canceled at the last minute. Among them was Bina Ramroop, who broke down in tears after learning she would not be able to attend a World Cup match in Atlanta with her grandson Elijah Gomes on his 13th birthday. Ramroop had bought two tickets through resale platform StubHub months earlier for $485 each. But despite spending hours speaking with both StubHub and FIFA representatives outside Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium before Spain's match against Cape Verde, the tickets could not be transferred to FIFA's official ticketing app. Although StubHub offered her a refund, Ramroop said she was devastated. "I didn't want a refund. I wanted to go to the game," she said. Her case is one of many reported by fans on social media and at stadiums during the tournament. Complaints include tickets never arriving, orders being canceled shortly before matches and difficulties resolving issues between FIFA's ticketing system and third-party resale platforms. Most complaints have involved StubHub, although some fans who bought tickets through other resale websites, including SeatGeek and Vivid Seats, have also reported problems. FIFA has advised supporters to buy resale tickets through its official marketplace, where transactions are guaranteed. However, many fans continue to use other platforms because they are familiar with them, offer lower prices or are easier to use. An Associated Press reporter saw more than a dozen frustrated fans outside the Spain-Cape Verde match who faced similar issues. StubHub blamed FIFA's ticket transfer system, saying technical problems, last-minute restrictions and the late launch of FIFA's ticketing app contributed to the difficulties. FIFA, however, reiterated that tickets purchased through its official resale platform are guaranteed to be delivered. Industry experts say the problems may have several causes. Some could be linked to technical glitches, while others may involve speculative sellers who list tickets before actually securing them.   According to ticket industry consultant Scott Friedman, some sellers gamble on buying tickets later at lower prices. But rising World Cup ticket prices have left some unable to fulfill orders, forcing cancellations. "This is not new," Friedman said, noting that similar issues have occurred at other major events, including Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. StubHub says sellers must prove they possess tickets before listing them on the platform. Another disappointed fan, Pape Ndaw of Texas, said tickets he bought for himself and his son to watch the Netherlands play Japan never arrived. Ndaw purchased the tickets for about $550 each as a high school graduation gift for his son. Just two days before the match, StubHub informed him that the seller could not provide the tickets. He accepted store credit, hoping to buy replacements, only to find that last-minute ticket prices had surged to more than $1,500 each. Breaking the news to his 17-year-old son was difficult. "He literally cried," Ndaw said. Not all affected fans had the same outcome. Patrick O'Neil and his family traveled from North Carolina to Atlanta after purchasing five tickets through StubHub. While two tickets were successfully transferred, the other three never arrived. As a result, O'Neil's son and another relative attended the match, while O'Neil, his wife and a family member watched from a nearby bar. After local media highlighted their situation, StubHub contacted the family and offered tickets for another match. The family instead requested that the tickets be donated to a local nonprofit organization so others could enjoy the tournament. "StubHub is not evil, but it's part of a system that makes it difficult for ordinary people to attend these matches," O'Neil said. StubHub later confirmed it would honor the family's request and provide tickets to the nonprofit group.

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.

Team formations have become a major talking point at the World Cup, with coaches using a variety of tactical setups to get the best out of their players and counter their opponents. While every team starts with a goalkeeper, coaches have different ways of arranging their 10 outfield players. These formations, often represented by numbers such as 4-4-2, 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, indicate how players are positioned across defence, midfield and attack. According to FIFA match reports, nine different formations were used during the opening round of group-stage matches. The traditional 4-4-2 system, featuring four defenders, four midfielders and two forwards, was the most widely used formation, adopted by 12 teams. However, it produced only two wins, with Scotland defeating Haiti and Ivory Coast beating Ecuador. Brazil, Uruguay and co-host Canada were among the teams using the setup. The 4-2-3-1 formation, which includes two defensive midfielders, three attacking midfielders and a lone striker, was used by 10 teams. The system proved successful for the United States, England, France and Austria. Another effective formation was the attack-minded 4-1-2-3, used by eight teams. It produced four victories, including wins for Mexico, Norway, Ghana and Colombia. Spain and the Netherlands also adopted the setup, which places greater emphasis on attacking play with three forwards. Seven teams opted for a 3-4-3 formation, designed to balance defence and attack through a strong midfield. South Korea and Germany were the only winners using this system, with Germany recording the tournament’s biggest win so far by defeating Curacao 7-1. Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, used the well-known 4-3-3 formation to beat Algeria 3-0, with Messi scoring all three goals. The system, once famously used by Brazil’s 1970 World Cup-winning team, remains popular for its attacking flexibility. The defensive 5-3-2 formation was used by South Africa, Tunisia and Congo. While South Africa and Tunisia lost, Congo managed an impressive 1-1 draw against Portugal. The Czech Republic was the only team to use a 5-2-3 setup, but suffered defeat against South Korea. Australia found success with a defensive 5-4-1 formation, defeating Turkey by prioritising solidity at the back. Meanwhile, Sweden used a 3-4-1-2 formation to secure a 5-1 victory over Tunisia. The system includes an attacking midfielder positioned behind two strikers to help link defence and attack. Football analysts note that many coaches now adjust formations depending on opponents or match situations, often changing tactics during games to protect leads or chase results.

Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Tuesday dropped a strong hint that he supports England in the ongoing FIFA World Cup, though he stopped short of naming his favourite team. He gave the hint while responding to a question from senior journalist Sumon Mahmud while exchanging views with reporters covering the BNP beat after having lunch with them at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre at Agargaon. As the journalist asked which team he supports in the World Cup, Tarique Rahman offered a light-hearted and diplomatic reply. Without naming any team directly, he smiled and said, “I spent a long time in one country. You can understand.” He then turned to the journalist and asked, “You got your answer, didn't you?” The remark was widely interpreted as a reference to England, where Tarique Rahman lived for nearly 17 years. Tarique Rahman left Bangladesh in September 2008 for medical treatment after securing bail from the Supreme Court. He later settled in London with his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman. After spending 17 years abroad, he returned to Bangladesh with his family on December 25, 2025. Football fever has gripped Bangladesh following the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The tournament officially kicked off on June 11 with an opening ceremony and the first match between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. A record 48 teams are taking part in the 39-day tournament, which will conclude with the final in New York on July 19. England will begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia in the early hours of June 18 (Bangladesh time), a match that is expected to draw much interest among local football fans.

Yasin Ayari scored twice and Sweden showed it belonged at the 2026 World Cup, pounding Tunisia 5-1 on Sunday night to move atop Group F. Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres each had a goal and an assist, and Mattias Svanberg also scored for Sweden, which entered ranked 39th in the world and missed the 2022 World Cup after reaching the quarterfinals eight years ago in Russia. Omar Rekik scored for 45th-ranked Tunisia, which is playing in its seventh World Cup but has never advanced beyond the group stage.

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!”

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.

Bangladeshi streaming platform Toffee has come under fire as it failed to provide smooth and uninterrupted coverage of the opening match of the FIFA World Cup for hundreds of football fans. Many have reportedly lodged complaints with the Directorate of National Consumers' Right Protection against the platform. While millions of fans around the world celebrated the tournament's kickoff, many viewers in Bangladesh experienced severe technical difficulties while trying to watch the match through Toffee, a freemium video streaming and digital entertainment platform owned by Banglalink Digital Communications Ltd. Subscribers alleged that they faced lengthy delays throughout the registration process. Many users reported waiting nearly 40 minutes to receive one-time passwords (OTP) required for account verification, followed by an additional 30-minute delay in obtaining payment links. Even after completing the subscription process, viewers said the livestreaming frequently froze, with videos stopping every few seconds and repeatedly displaying loading screens. The disruptions affected a large number of users during Thursday night's opening match, prompting widespread criticism on social media. Frustrated subscribers complained that despite paying for access, they were unable to watch the game properly. Industry observers noted that companies involved in World Cup broadcasting had invested heavily in acquiring broadcasting rights and launched extensive promotional campaigns to attract subscribers ahead of the tournament. However, many consumers questioned whether sufficient investments had been made in technical infrastructure to handle the anticipated surge in viewership. "Not everything should be allowed to pass without accountability. Although Tk 99 may seem like a small amount for one subscriber, I believe they have collected more than Tk 200 crore from subscribers. Everyone should file complaints," said Anisur Rahman, a Toffee user. Md Joy Hasan Nil, another Toffee subscriber, said he had filed a complaint against the platform, alleging that users had faced a similar experience during the 2022 World Cup. He said many subscribers were students who had spent their hard-earned money to purchase access to the service. Calling on other affected users to come forward, he said he had shared instructions on how to file complaints with the authorities. “If consumers do not raise their voices, the company will never improve. They will continue to benefit while ordinary customers suffer,” Nil said, urging all subscribers who purchased access to lodge formal complaints, as many of the tournament’s high-profile matches are yet to be played. Critics argued that the World Cup schedule had been known years in advance, providing ample time for service providers to prepare their platforms for increased traffic. They said the inability to deliver uninterrupted service after collecting subscription fees amounted to a failure to meet commitments made to customers. As the platform holds exclusive digital streaming rights in the country, viewers have limited alternatives, making questions of accountability and consumer protection even more significant. In a statement posted on its Facebook page, Toffee attributed the disruption to issues related to the digital broadcast feed. “Due to complications with the digital broadcast feed, interruptions are occurring in the livestreaming of the World Cup. We are working tirelessly with Bangladesh Television (BTV), the broadcast rights holder, to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and will provide further updates soon,” the platform said. Launched in November 2019, Toffee operates as both a live TV and sports streaming application as well as a content creator platform across mobile devices and smart TVs in Bangladesh. Football fans have expressed hope that streaming platforms will ensure uninterrupted coverage of upcoming matches. Many also believe that if such failures continue, affected subscribers should receive appropriate compensation or refunds for services they were unable to use.