World Cup Page 9 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Spain eke out win to finish atop Group H, eliminate Uruguay
Alex Baena scored in the 42nd minute as Spain topped Uruguay 1-0 to capture the top spot in Group H of the World Cup on Friday in Zapopan, Mexico.,In a lackluster match in which both teams struggled to create quality chances, Unai Simon had two saves for Spain, who won their second straight match af...

Cape Verde tie Saudi Arabia, become smallest nation to reach knockouts
Cape Verde became the first World Cup debutant to reach the knockout phase in 20 years with their 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia to close out Group H.,The nation of islands off Africa's Atlantic Coast was the third-smallest qualifier in tournament history when it topped a qualifying group that includ...

Lionel Messi will begin Argentina group final on bench
Lionel Messi might be leading the Golden Boot race with his World-Cup leading five goals, but Argentina aren't willing to play around with their star's health.,On Friday, manager Lionel Scaloni confirmed that Messi will begin the squad's Saturday contest against Jordan -- Argentina's final game in G...

Didier Deschamps rejoining France after attending mother's funeral
Longtime France manager Didier Deschamps is flying back to Boston on Saturday to rejoin his team after missing Friday's 4-1 defeat of Norway to attend his mother's funeral back in France.,"I have big thoughts for Didier. We are happy that he comes back," France assistant Guy Stephan said after overs...

Senegal ring up 5-0 win over 10-man Iraq, keep knockout hopes alive
Substitute Pape Gueye scored a pair of sensational second-half goals from long range, and Senegal got a much-needed boost for their goal differential with a 5-0 victory over 10-man Iraq in their Group I finale on Friday.,Ismaila Sarr added his third goal of the tournament, the first of four after ha...

Ousmane Dembele's hat trick helps France rout Norway to sweep Group I
Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele netted a hat trick in just 32 minutes, Kylian Mbappe had two assists and France steamrolled Norway's reserves 4-1 to sweep Group I at the World Cup on Friday in Foxborough, Mass., ,Desire Doue scored during second-half stoppage time, and goalkeeper Mike Maignan sto...

Report: USMNT offers Mauricio Pochettino extension through 2030 World Cup
U.S. men's national team coach Mauricio Pochettino has an offer on the table to continue leading the squad through the 2030 World Cup, The Athletic reported Friday.,The United States Soccer Federation has offered the proposal but no decisions will be made until after the current tournament, per the ...

Report: Norway star Erling Haaland out vs. France
Norway superstar Erling Haaland is among 10 players being rested by coach Stale Solbakken in Friday's World Cup clash with France, ESPN reported.,The Manchester City forward is in the race for the Golden Boot with four goals, tied with France's Kylian Mbappe and one goal behind Argentina's Lionel Me...

Ecuador declares national holiday after Germany upset
Ecuador's president declared Friday a public holiday to celebrate the national team's 2-1 upset of Germany at the World Cup.,"Thank you to the players and the coach who, despite the criticism, the insults, and the tough times they went through, managed to bounce back and bring this immense joy to th...

Netherlands grab early 2-goal lead vs. Tunisia, win Group F
The Netherlands scored two goals in the first seven minutes en route to a 3-1 victory over Tunisia on Thursday night in Kansas City, Mo., in the final match of World Cup Group F play for both teams.,The win secured passage to the knockout stage for the Netherlands (2-1-0, 7 points), who finished fir...

Japan, thanks to late saves, draw with Sweden, finish second in Group F
Zion Suzuki made four saves, including two big ones in stoppage time to preserve the tie, as Japan finished in second place in World Cup Group F with a 1-1 draw against Sweden on Thursday in Arlington, Texas.,Japan (1-0-2, 5 points) finished as the runner-up to Netherlands (2-0-1, 7 points) and will...

Ivory Coast coach 'disappointed' in Bastian Schweinsteiger's 'African football' remarks
PHILADELPHIA -- Even in one of the most joyous moments in his country's footballing history, Ivory Coast manager Emerse Fae found himself managing sadness over the remarks of a former role model that have sparked debate about potential racist connotations.,Behind Nicolas Pepe's brace, Ivory Coast de...

Sweden's Isak Hien helped off field with injury vs. Japan
Swedish defender Isak Hien had to be helped the field with an apparent left hamstring injury in the first half of the team's Group F match with Japan on Thursday night in Arlington, Texas.,Hien went down in the penalty box after stretching the leg out to try and deflect a crossing pass by Yukinari S...

FIFA will allow rainbow flags at Egypt, Iran World Cup match
SEATTLE -- FIFA said it will allow fans to bring rainbow flags inside Seattle Stadium for Friday's World Cup match between Egypt and Iran, although it appears no additional activations will be permitted promoting the city's annual PrideFest.,Both countries' federations have stated objections to the ...

Ivory Coast punch ticket to first knockouts by beating Curacao
PHILADELPHIA -- At last, Les Elephants are into the knockout phase.,Nicolas Pepe's double sealed Ivory Coast's first trip to the World Cup elimination rounds with a 2-0 victory over Curacao on Thursday to finish second in Group E.,For manager Emerse Fae, the feat ends a wait of 20 years since he was...
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe Headline a New Era of World Cup Scoring
Lionel Messi's latest World Cup scoring record highlights a new era of attacking soccer led by stars like Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal....

Vinicius Junior nets brace as Brazil handles Scotland
Vinicius Junior scored his third and fourth goals of the tournament and Brazil cruised into the last 32 with a 3-0 Group C victory over Scotland on Wednesday night in Miami Gardens, Fla.,With the brace, Vinicius pulled even with Norway's Erling Haaland and France's Kylian Mbappe, one behind Argentin...

Morocco rally past Haiti, book round of 32 spot
Soufiane Rahimi's 78th-minute goal on a corner kick sequence lifted Morocco to a come-from-behind 4-2 victory over Haiti on the final Group C matchday Wednesday in Atlanta.,Rahimi, who was subbed on eight minutes earlier, headed a cross from Chadi Riad across the box with a stellar right-foot touch....

Bosnia and Herzegovina near advancement after bouncing Qatar
Kerim Alajbegovic's goal and an own goal gave Bosnia and Herzegovina an early cushion that led to a 3-1 Group B victory over Qatar on Wednesday afternoon in Seattle.,Bosnia and Herzegovina's (1-1-1, 4 points) win secured third place in Group B. With the victory over Qatar and the draw with Canada, t...

Bosnia and Herzegovina nears advancement after bouncing Qatar
Kerim Alajbegovic's goal and an own goal gave Bosnia and Herzegovina an early cushion that led to a 3-1 Group B victory over Qatar on Wednesday afternoon at Lumen Field in Seattle.,Bosnia and Herzegovina's win secured third place in Group B and, with four points from the victory over Qatar and the d...