Forward Elye Wahi will miss Ivory Coast’s second World Cup match against Germany after he was denied a visa to enter Canada, the Ivorian federation said on Thursday.

The United Arab Emirates announced a social media ban for children under 15 on Thursday, joining a growing group of countries including Australia, Britain and Canada to take similar measures.

Portugal head coach Roberto Martínez has stood firmly behind his decision to play Cristiano Ronaldo for the entirety of Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against DR Congo, despite growing backlash over the veteran forward’s performance.

The race for the Ballon d’Or 2026 has officially ignited now that the 48-team World Cup is underway in North America, with the first round of fixtures already shaking up the individual power rankings.

The 27-year-old moved to Liverpool in 2021 from RB Leipzig, playing 183 times and winning the Premier League in 2025 and the FA Cup in 2022 amongst other silverware.

As of June 17, 24 players have received the award following the opening round of group-stage matches.

The opening round of matches at the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered plenty of drama, surprise results and goals as all 48 teams began their campaigns across 12 groups.

According to the report, French authorities are examining suspicious betting patterns linked to wagers placed on the striker receiving a booking during the match. The practice, known as spot-fixing, involves manipulating a specific event within a game for betting purposes.

The victory showed England at their attacking best, but they were flimsy at the back, especially in the first half.

Ghana scored a dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama in their opening World Cup Group L clash in Toronto on Wednesday.

Colombia beat World Cup debutants Uzbekistan 3-1 in their opening Group K game on Wednesday thanks to an inspired performance from Luis Diaz at the Estadio Azteca.

South Africa captain Ronwen Williams has called for African unity after addressing controversy surrounding comments that were allegedly attributed to him in recent days.

Harry Kane netted a brace as England began their World Cup Group L campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia on Wednesday.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva suggested Wednesday that Brazil should hire Argentina’s Lionel Messi, when asked about his country’s performance in the World Cup so far.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s bid to mark his record-equalling sixth World Cup appearance with victory fell flat as Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday.