Author: James Brooks

Egypt have finally ended their long wait for a World Cup win, with Mohamed Salah delivering a match-winning performance against New Zealand in a 3-1 victory. The result is Egypt’s first World Cup win at their ninth attempt, ending a 92-year drought that had haunted the Pharaohs across generations of footballers. Salah, 34, had endured a slow start to the tournament, looking ineffectual in the opening draw with Belgium and quiet during the first half against New Zealand. New Zealand even took an early shock lead, threatening to extend Salah’s personal World Cup misery yet again before Egypt fought their…

Cape Verde’s stunning World Cup campaign has captured the imagination of football fans worldwide, and they are now within touching distance of the knockout rounds. The Blue Sharks produced one of the tournament’s greatest shocks when they drew with Spain, who sat 65 places above them in Fifa’s world rankings, in their very first World Cup match. They followed that up with an equally impressive 2-2 draw against two-time winners Uruguay, leaving them third in Group H with two points from two games. Cape Verde were creative, entertaining and fearless throughout Sunday’s thriller, combining attacking ambition with the defensive steel…

A Cape Verde supporter has been caught in a wonderfully raw moment of celebration during a live BBC News broadcast at the 2026 World Cup. Reporter Paul Njie was mid-interview with the fan when Cape Verde scored against Uruguay, producing one of the tournament’s most memorable television moments. The goal was historic, marking the first time Cape Verde had ever found the net at a World Cup finals in their history. The fan’s reaction was immediate and completely unfiltered, with the interview rapidly dissolving into unbridled joy as the goal was confirmed on the pitch. Paul Njie, to his credit,…

Spain got their 2026 World Cup campaign up and running in emphatic fashion, defeating Saudi Arabia 4-0 to claim their first victory of the tournament. Lamine Yamal was at the heart of the action, opening his World Cup account just ten minutes into his first start at the competition. The teenager has long been regarded as one of the most exciting talents in world football, and he wasted no time making his mark on the grandest stage. For Spain, the result will come as a huge relief after what had been a slow start to their tournament campaign heading into…

Evans will return to VAR duty for New Zealand’s Group G clash against Egypt on Sunday, his first appointment since being cleared by Fifa. The Australian will serve as assistant VAR official to Mohammed Khamid for the match scheduled to take place in Vancouver. It marks Evans’ comeback following a Fifa investigation into a hand gesture he made before Germany’s 7-1 victory over Curacao. Television cameras captured the 38-year-old appearing to form an upside down ‘OK’ sign with the fingers of his right hand while at the VAR referee hub in Dallas. The gesture carries a well-documented association with white…

There is nothing quite like the wonder of your first World Cup, that misty-eyed nostalgia of summers that seemed to stretch on forever and stars who felt immortal. Those childhood heroes eventually become familiar faces cut to in the crowd, greying legends like Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Kaka sitting in suits rather than pulling on boots. Tournaments that once felt world-stopping begin to blur into adulthood, plotted like postcards along the timeline of your life with details growing increasingly grainy. The World Cup cycle seems to arrive far quicker as an adult, yet something significant shifted since Qatar four years…

Cumbria is a region celebrated for the Lake District, Beatrix Potter, and Cumberland sausages, but it has quietly produced something far more surprising. All three of England’s goalkeepers at the 2026 World Cup have featured for Carlisle United at some stage of their careers. Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, and James Trafford all passed through the Cumbrian club, representing one of football’s most extraordinary coincidences. Pickford joined Carlisle on loan from Sunderland and played 18 games for the then-League One side, going on to earn 85 caps and become Thomas Tuchel’s undisputed number one. Goalkeeping coach Ben Benson recalled a particularly…

Japan produced a dominant display to defeat Tunisia 4-0, booking their place at the 2026 World Cup while sending their opponents crashing out of the competition. Ayase Ueda was the standout performer on the night, scoring twice to help Japan to a commanding and emphatic victory in what was a one-sided contest. The result marks a miserable start to life as Tunisia head coach for Herve Renard, who saw his side eliminated from the tournament in his very first game in charge. Renard, a well-travelled and experienced international manager, could not inspire a response from his players as Japan took…

Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room produced one of the most extraordinary individual performances in World Cup history to earn his country a famous 0-0 draw against Ecuador. The 37-year-old Miami FC stopper made 15 saves across 90 minutes, equalling the record for most stops in a single World Cup match since records began in 1966. Room’s heroics came against an Ecuador side ranked more than 50 places higher than Curacao in the FIFA world rankings, who were themselves desperate to bounce back after losing to Ivory Coast. The tone was set inside the opening three minutes when Ecuador forward Enner Valencia…

England midfielder Declan Rice says he feels like he will get an assist “every time” he steps up to take a corner at the World Cup. The 27-year-old played a key role in England’s 4-2 opening victory over Croatia, contributing to two of Harry Kane’s goals from dead-ball situations. Kane converted from the penalty spot after Noni Madueke was fouled following a Rice delivery, before heading home his second from a Rice corner. Rice became Arsenal’s primary set-piece taker in January 2024 following a mid-season training camp in Dubai, transforming the Gunners’ threat from dead balls. Arsenal scored from a…