England’s players Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have scored 10 of the team’s 11 goals at the 2026 World Cup so far. Their strong performances helped England win 3-2 against Mexico and advance to the quarter-finals.
Key Facts
Kane and Bellingham scored 10 out of England’s 11 goals in the tournament.
Marcus Rashford scored the only other England goal, as a substitute against Croatia.
Kane has scored 6 goals and Bellingham has scored 4 goals in the World Cup.
Kane successfully converted a penalty in the Mexico match, which was the winning goal.
Together, Kane and Bellingham have created over half of England’s attacking chances.
England’s heavy reliance on two players for goals mirrors past tournaments, like 1990 and 1996.
Unlike some teams relying on just one star player, England’s attack depends on the partnership between Kane and Bellingham.
England will face Norway, led by Erling Haaland, in the quarter-finals in Miami.
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Egypt football coach Hossam Hassan spoke before a match against Argentina. He said the suffering of Palestinians is a shame for the world and asked athletes and the media to help more.
Key Facts
Hossam Hassan is the coach of the Egypt national football team.
He gave a speech at a press conference before Egypt’s last 16 match with Argentina.
Hassan described the suffering of Palestinians as a global shame.
He urged athletes to take action to support Palestine.
He also called on the media to increase awareness and help.
The event was related to an important football tournament stage.
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The USA men's soccer team lost 4-1 to Belgium in the World Cup round of 16, ending their tournament earlier than expected. Despite having many strong players and a top coach, the team did not reach its best World Cup performance, and coach Mauricio Pochettino said they will learn from the loss.
Key Facts
The USA team lost to Belgium with a score of 4-1 in the World Cup round of 16.
The team had many players active in top European soccer leagues.
Mauricio Pochettino is the coach of the USA team and said the team was not competitive in the match.
Star player Tyler Adams admitted the team did not perform as well as they wanted.
US President Donald Trump asked FIFA to review a red card suspension for main goalscorer Folarin Balogun, which was overturned.
Some experts believe the controversy around Balogun’s suspension affected the team’s focus.
Pundits mentioned that individual mistakes by US players contributed to the loss.
The USA team still showed progress but is seen as behind the world’s strongest teams.
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Belgium defeated the United States 4-1 in the World Cup, eliminating the US team from the tournament. The match drew attention because US striker Florian Balogun had received a red card but was allowed to play after FIFA lifted his suspension following an appeal involving President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Belgium won the World Cup match against the United States with a score of 4-1.
The US team was eliminated from the World Cup after this loss.
Florian Balogun, a US striker, was initially given a red card and suspended.
FIFA lifted Balogun’s suspension after an appeal linked to President Donald Trump.
The red card situation caused controversy during the match.
The Belgium team is nicknamed the "Red Devils."
The match took place during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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BTS performed their first UK show in seven years at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, coinciding with England’s 3-2 World Cup win over Mexico. The band joked that their presence brought luck to the teams and celebrated their comeback with a sold-out concert, drawing the largest crowd ever at the venue.
Key Facts
BTS played their first UK concert since 2019 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
England won their World Cup match against Mexico 3-2 around the time of the concert.
BTS joked that their shows bring luck to the winning teams.
The band last played in the UK in 2019 and had to pause touring due to Covid and South Korean military service.
65,000 fans attended the London show, the biggest audience ever at that stadium.
Their comeback album, Arirang, celebrates Korean roots and has topped charts in 26 countries.
The stage design was inspired by traditional Korean culture and historic architecture.
BTS’s tour includes 88 dates across 23 countries and is expected to rival major global tours in revenue.
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Kelsey Pfendler, a 32-year-old American woman, became the first US woman to row solo from California to Hawaii. She completed the 2,400-mile trip in just under 44 days, setting a new record for being the fastest, youngest, and first American woman to finish the journey.
Key Facts
Pfendler started her solo rowing trip on May 21 from Monterey, California.
She arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii, on the night of July 3.
Her 44-day time beat the previous female record of 86 days and the male record of 52 days.
Her journey covered more than 2,400 miles (3,900 km) across the Pacific Ocean.
She shared her experiences and challenges, such as blistered hands and bad weather, on social media.
The US Coast Guard communicated with her during the trip and celebrated her birthday.
Pfendler has worked as a professional raft guide on the Grand Canyon’s Colorado River for eight years.
She experienced both fear and awe at sea while navigating natural forces like currents and winds.
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The U.S. men's national soccer team lost to Belgium 4-1 and was eliminated from the World Cup. President Donald Trump claimed he made phone calls to FIFA's president to overturn a red card against a U.S. player, which led to controversy over fairness and interference.
Key Facts
The U.S. lost 4-1 to Belgium in the World Cup, ending their run in the tournament.
President Trump said he intervened by calling FIFA president Gianni Infantino three times to overturn a red card given to U.S. player Folarin Balogun.
The red card was initially given to Balogun but then rescinded after the intervention.
FIFA’s president explained the decision by citing rules and independent bodies, but critics doubted the fairness.
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter criticized Infantino, saying red cards should not be changed due to political pressure.
UEFA, the European soccer governing body, expressed strong disapproval of the decision, saying it harms the game's integrity.
The controversy sparked widespread discussion about fairness and outside influence in sports decisions.
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The Belgium football team imitated President Donald Trump's well-known dance moves after scoring in their World Cup match against the USA. Many athletes in different sports have copied these moves, which include swaying hips and fist pumping, as a way to celebrate or join a popular trend.
Key Facts
Belgium players performed President Trump's dance after their fourth goal against the USA in the World Cup last-16 game.
There was controversy before the match when President Trump helped overturn a suspension for the US player Folarin Balogun.
Trump's dance includes hip swaying, fist pumping, and sometimes mimicking a golf swing.
Several American athletes have done the dance after Trump's election victory, including football players like Nick Bosa and Christian Pulisic.
The dance has spread globally to sports like golf and English football, with players copying the moves for fun or other reasons.
UFC fighter Jon Jones performed the dance after retaining his heavyweight title; he thanked President Trump for attending the event.
The NFL said it does not consider the dance a political statement and has no plans to restrict it.
Some athletes said the dance is just a fun celebration without political meaning.
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Argentina will play Egypt in the World Cup Round of 16 in Atlanta, featuring two top football players, Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah. Messi is a World Cup winner and holds several records, while this is Egypt’s first time in the knockout stage with Salah playing a key role.
Key Facts
Argentina and Egypt face each other in the World Cup Round of 16.
Lionel Messi, 39, is playing in what he has said may be his last World Cup.
Messi has won the World Cup and holds records for most goals and appearances in the tournament.
Mohamed Salah, 34, is in his third World Cup and helping Egypt reach the knockout stage for the first time.
Salah scored a decisive penalty in a shootout win over Australia in the last 32.
Messi has scored seven goals in this World Cup and is playing very well despite his age.
Argentina aims to become one of the few countries to win back-to-back World Cups.
Some critics say Argentina’s team depends too much on Messi’s performance this tournament.
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The World Cup is in a critical phase, with important matches like Argentina vs Egypt and Switzerland vs Colombia deciding which teams move on to the quarterfinals. The tournament also marked Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup, while Kylian Mbappe spoke out against racism, and the USA was eliminated after losing to Belgium.
Key Facts
Argentina faces Egypt in Atlanta to defend their World Cup title.
Switzerland plays Colombia in Vancouver for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Argentina is favored to win against Egypt, with a 69.1% chance of victory in 90 minutes.
Colombia is slightly favored over Switzerland, with a 41.9% chance of winning in regular time.
Cristiano Ronaldo ended his World Cup career after Portugal’s defeat and said he was sad but proud.
The United States lost 4-1 to Belgium, ending their hopes in the tournament.
Kylian Mbappe made public statements against racism during the event.
The USA’s exit was marked by injuries and mistakes, and coach Mauricio Pochettino showed visible frustration.
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Fifa defended its decision to lift the suspension of USA striker Folarin Balogun after he received a red card, saying this kind of action is common in football leagues. Uefa criticized Fifa, saying overturning the suspension breaks World Cup rules and affects the competition’s fairness. The case involved lobbying from President Donald Trump and high-level officials, but Fifa says its disciplinary committee acted independently.
Key Facts
Folarin Balogun, a USA soccer player, had his red card suspension lifted by Fifa before a World Cup match against Belgium.
Uefa called this decision “crossing a red line” because World Cup rules automatically suspend players after red cards.
Fifa said overturning red cards is common in many football leagues and defended their decision as balanced and normal.
The disciplinary committee did not cancel the red card but suspended its effect for probation.
President Donald Trump and other White House officials lobbied Fifa to review Balogun’s suspension.
Fifa’s executive president, Gianni Infantino, denied involvement in the decision.
The disciplinary committee explained its process is independent from Fifa’s executive branch.
This is the first time such a last-minute red card suspension lift has happened at a World Cup.
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Switzerland and Colombia will play against each other in the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The match takes place on July 7 at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada, with both teams aiming to reach the quarterfinals for a strong tournament finish.
Key Facts
The game is on Tuesday, July 7, at 1pm local time (20:00 GMT) in Vancouver, Canada.
Switzerland topped Group B and won their Round of 32 match 2-0 against Algeria, their first knockout win since 1938.
Colombia won Group K and beat Ghana 1-0 in the Round of 32, conceding just one goal so far.
Swiss player Johan Manzambi, 20 years old, has scored three goals and made two assists, becoming a key player for Switzerland.
Switzerland’s attacking players Manzambi, Breel Embolo, Dan Ndoye, and Ruben Vargas scored eight of the team’s nine goals in the tournament.
Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo praised his team’s versatility, technical skills, and ability to adapt to different game situations.
Switzerland aims to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 1954, while Colombia tries to repeat their best 2014 performance reaching the last eight.
Fans can follow pre-match coverage and live text commentary on Al Jazeera Sport starting at 16:45 GMT.
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The USA was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup after losing 4-1 to Belgium in the round of 16. The USA team said that a controversy about player Folarin Balogun’s red card did not affect their performance. Portugal also left the tournament after a 1-0 loss to Spain.
Key Facts
The USA lost 4-1 to Belgium in Seattle during the World Cup round of 16.
Folarin Balogun, a USA player, received a red card which caused a controversy, but the team denied it influenced their loss.
Belgium’s social media reacted strongly to the red card event.
Portugal was knocked out by Spain with a 1-0 score in Dallas, marking Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup.
The tournament will continue with Argentina vs. Egypt and Switzerland vs. Colombia in the remaining round of 16 matches.
The USA co-hosted the World Cup along with other countries.
The last 16 matches are part of the knockout rounds leading to the final on July 19.
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Brad Parks, who was paralyzed in a skiing accident, created the sport of wheelchair tennis 50 years ago. He developed the rules and helped grow it until it became a recognized sport played in major tournaments like the Grand Slams and Paralympics.
Key Facts
Brad Parks was 18 when he had a skiing accident that left him paralyzed.
He came up with the idea of wheelchair tennis while watching family play tennis in Indiana.
Parks started playing tennis daily despite using a standard hospital wheelchair.
He partnered with physiotherapist Jeff Minnebraker to develop rules for wheelchair tennis.
The main rule difference is allowing the ball to bounce twice before being returned.
The first wheelchair tennis event was held in 1977 in California, which Parks won.
Early tournaments took place on public courts with poor conditions and no professional officials.
The sport has since grown, becoming part of major events like the Paralympics.
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The United States men's soccer team lost 4-1 to Belgium in the World Cup round of 16. The match attracted attention not only for the score but also because FIFA allowed US player Folarin Balogun to play despite a ban, following intervention linked to President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Belgium defeated the USA 4-1 in the World Cup last-16 match.
Charles De Ketelaere scored twice for Belgium, contributing to their win.
Folarin Balogun’s one-game suspension was lifted by FIFA before the match, allowing him to start.
US President Donald Trump’s involvement played a role in the ban being overturned.
Belgium players celebrated with a dance resembling President Trump’s signature move.
The US team’s performance was widely criticized on social media.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended the match along with officials from Belgium and the US.
There were ongoing controversies around FIFA’s decisions during the tournament, including visa issues affecting teams and referees.
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Egypt’s soccer coach Hossam Hassan spoke about the suffering of Palestinians during a news conference before Egypt’s World Cup match against Argentina. He urged people around the world to show compassion for Palestinians and highlighted the human impact of the conflict in Gaza.
Key Facts
Egypt defeated Australia in the World Cup round of 32 and prepared to play Argentina in the round of 16.
Coach Hossam Hassan waved a Palestinian flag after the victory and spoke for over four minutes about the Palestinian situation.
He said anyone who does not feel sympathy for Palestinians is "not human," regardless of nationality or religion.
Over 2 million Palestinians in Gaza face hardship after a war sparked by a Hamas attack and Israel’s response, which has killed over 73,000 Palestinians.
Hassan compared the global reaction to animal suffering with the lack of similar response to human deaths in Gaza.
FIFA allows the Palestinian flag to be displayed at the World Cup.
Hassan expressed hope for respect and peace, calling for recognition of people’s right to live.
Egypt aims to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time with this match against Argentina.
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Spain won 1-0 against Portugal in the World Cup round of 16 and advanced to the quarter-finals. This match was the last World Cup game for Cristiano Ronaldo. All the countries hosting the tournament, including the United States, have now been eliminated.
Key Facts
Spain beat Portugal 1-0 to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.
Cristiano Ronaldo played his final World Cup match in this game.
The United States, one of the host nations, lost to Belgium and was knocked out.
Spain’s young player Lamine Yamal (19) was involved in the match.
Other recent sports updates include Tadej Pogacar leading the Tour de France and Arthur Féry progressing at Wimbledon.
The French basketball team beat Finland and moved closer to qualifying for the 2027 Basketball World Cup.
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Belgium’s soccer team felt unfairly treated after Fifa suspended a one-match ban for US striker Folarin Balogun just before their World Cup match. Despite the controversy and President Donald Trump asking Fifa to review the case, Belgium won the game 4-1 and reacted with gestures mocking the situation.
Key Facts
Folarin Balogun, a US striker, was given a red card but had his automatic one-match ban suspended by Fifa before the World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium.
Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin said his team felt a “sense of injustice” and wanted to respond on the field.
Belgium won the match against the US with a score of 4-1.
Belgium players celebrated by doing a dance similar to President Trump’s “Trump dance” from his 2024 campaign.
The Belgium national team’s official Instagram posted a picture of Romelu Lukaku with the caption “overturn this,” mocking the controversy.
President Donald Trump confirmed he asked Fifa to review Balogun’s ban because he believed the foul was not serious.
Belgium’s football association appealed the decision but was ruled not eligible to contest it.
US and international soccer officials, including England’s coach Thomas Tuchel and Uefa, criticized Fifa’s ruling as setting a bad example.
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Trish Patterson became the fastest woman to complete the Three Peaks Challenge on foot, finishing in five days and 21 hours. She ran between the three highest peaks in the UK—Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Yr Wyddfa—covering 425 miles and raising money for a mental health charity.
Key Facts
Trish Patterson is from Hythe, Hampshire, and is 41 years old.
She completed the challenge in five days and 21 hours, beating the previous record of six days and over five hours.
The challenge involved climbing Scotland’s Ben Nevis, England’s Scafell Pike, and Wales’ Yr Wyddfa.
Patterson ran between the peaks, covering a total distance of 425 miles with over 10,000 meters of elevation gain.
She raised money for the charity Mind Over Mountains in memory of a close friend.
She survived on just 90 minutes of sleep each night during the challenge.
Patterson was supported by friends and family along the way.
She plans to take time off after the challenge and return to lighter running activities.
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