A Black-led social enterprise in southeast London is seeking public support for an ambitious plan to bring one of Lewisham’s historic landmarks back into community use, with a particular focus on disabled, neurodivergent, and underserved residents.

Hackit Design CIC is campaigning to take on the restoration of Ladywell Playtower, the Grade II-listed former public baths on Ladywell Road. The organisation is trying to raise an initial £10,000 to pay for surveys, feasibility work, and other professional studies needed to strengthen its bid to become the building’s restoration partner.

For Angela Stewart, founder of Hackit Design CIC, the campaign is about more than preserving an old building.

“Ladywell Playtower is a Grade II listed civic landmark, and it has been left vacant for too long,” she told The African Gazette. “The longer it sits unused, the more it deteriorates and the more expensive it becomes to save.”

The building has a long place in Lewisham’s history. Originally opened as public baths in 1884, it is considered one of London’s earliest surviving public bath buildings. It later became a community facility known as Ladywell Playtower, hosting activities including gymnastics before closing in 2004. It was Grade II listed in 2006.

Its future has been uncertain for years. An earlier redevelopment plan, which envisaged restoring the building as a cinema with a restaurant and bar, stalled after the developer encountered financial viability problems. Lewisham Council subsequently ended that development agreement and launched a new search for a long-term restoration partner. The process, which began in December 2025, is due to run into late 2026.

A £10,000 first step

Hackit Design does not own the Playtower, and Angela Stewart stresses that the organisation has not yet secured a lease.

The building remains owned by Lewisham Council, which is responsible for selecting a restoration partner and determining the legal arrangement under which the successful organisation would take responsibility for the site.

The £10,000 Hackit Design is seeking through crowdfunding would therefore not pay for the restoration itself. Instead, Stewart describes it as money for the urgent “bid-winning” stage.

The funds would support measured surveys, conservation and heritage advice, accessibility and inclusive-design planning, as well as specialist assessments of potential risks such as asbestos and contamination. Part of the money would also be used to involve residents in shaping the proposal.

“We need to raise £10,000 now so we can complete early-stage surveys, feasibility and professional work that demonstrate credibility and readiness and unlock larger funding,” Stewart said.

The eventual cost of restoring the Playtower has not yet been determined. Stewart said Hackit Design deliberately does not want to announce a headline figure before professional surveys and cost planning have established what the building actually requires.

If its bid succeeds, the organisation plans to approach the restoration in phases, beginning with structural assessments, urgent stabilisation and repairs, and detailed planning for accessibility, fire safety and building services.

Designed around people often excluded

Hackit Design CIC describes itself as a Black-led, not-for-profit social enterprise whose work is informed by experience of disability and neurodivergence.

That background is central to its proposal for Ladywell Playtower.

“Our vision is shaped by lived experience,” Stewart said. “We understand how exclusion shows up in everyday environments and how that affects health, confidence, and participation.”

She said the organization wants the restored building to address issues including privacy, dignity, cultural sensitivity, and sensory comfort, rather than treating accessibility simply as a matter of ramps and physical access.

The organisation proposes a mixed financial model intended to keep the facility sustainable while maintaining affordable access. Standard-priced sessions and venue hire would help cover running costs, while free or reduced-cost access would be targeted at people on low incomes and groups facing additional barriers.

Disabled and neurodivergent residents, carers, young people, and people living with long-term health conditions are among those Hackit Design expects to benefit.

Stewart said the organisation ultimately hopes the Playtower could serve thousands of people annually, although precise numbers will not be published until an operational plan has been completed.

Heritage and accessibility

Transforming a Grade II-listed Victorian building into an accessible modern community facility presents another challenge.

The former Ladywell Baths is a Grade II-listed building of architectural and historical significance. Dating from 1884, it retains elements of its original Victorian public-bath design.

Stewart argues that preserving that history and making the building accessible should not be seen as competing objectives.

“Accessibility and heritage are not in conflict: a civic building survives when it is used and loved,” she said.

Hackit Design proposes what Stewart calls a “conservation-led, restoration-first approach,” retaining important historic features while making alterations as limited and reversible as possible.

Pressure on community space

The campaign also comes amid wider changes in Lewisham.

Stewart is concerned that major redevelopment elsewhere in the borough could displace community organisations from existing premises. She believes Ladywell Playtower could provide a permanent base for some activities that might otherwise struggle to find affordable and accessible space.

“Major redevelopment can displace community activity, even when it is valued and well-used,” she said.

Her vision is for the Playtower to provide space for wellbeing programmes, practical support, training, community meetings, and social activities.

Residents have responded positively to the proposal, Stewart said, particularly to the emphasis on affordable community facilities and accessible well-being services. Hackit Design is gathering letters and statements of support and taking part in the Council’s process.

The council itself has said community views are intended to play a central role in selecting a new restoration proposal. Its partner search calls for a scheme that can protect the Playtower’s historic character while being financially viable and responsive to local priorities.

A building brought back to life

For Angela Stewart, however, the campaign also has a personal dimension.

Five years from now, she hopes to see the Playtower fully restored and busy again—a building where residents can seek support, learn skills, meet others, and find work opportunities.

She particularly wants people who often experience exclusion in public spaces to feel that the building belongs to them too.

“It would mean seeing a building that has been left behind become a place of safety and belonging again,” Stewart said. “It would mean people who are often excluded walking into a space and feeling calm, respected, and able to take part.”

For now, the much bigger restoration remains dependent on the outcome of Lewisham Council’s selection process and on the ability of any successful partner to secure substantial further funding.

Hackit Design’s immediate target is much smaller: £10,000.

But Stewart sees that first fundraising drive as the foundation for something considerably larger—demonstrating community backing, completing the professional work needed to make the proposal credible, and, ultimately, giving a Victorian landmark another chance to serve the people of Lewisham.

Burundian community development advocate Micheline Barandereka has been awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. Medal by Jethro International, a recognition she says belongs not only to her but also to the rural communities at the heart of her work.

Barandereka, who heads Shekinah Centre in Burundi, has spent years working with rural families on education, access to clean water and healthcare, women’s economic empowerment and the education of girls.

For her, having that work recognised internationally carries particular significance.

“This is international recognition, not only for me, but also for Shekina Centre and the work that we are doing,” she told The African Gazette.

The award recognises Shekinah Centre’s work with rural communities in Burundi, where the organisation has sought to address problems that are often interconnected: poverty, limited access to education and healthcare, lack of clean water and the economic vulnerability of women and their families.

Barandereka sees a direct connection between that work and the legacy of the American civil rights leader whose name the medal bears.

“Dr Martin Luther King was committed to civil rights, but he was also committed to fighting poverty and economic inequality,” she said. “It is in the same spirit that Shekina is fighting social and economic injustice and inequality.”

One area she singles out is girls’ education.

In rural communities, she said, girls can still face obstacles that prevent them from attending or remaining in school. Shekina Centre works to keep girls in education while helping women build greater economic independence.

For Barandereka, the two are closely connected. Improving the position of a child within the family and giving women the means to support themselves can change the prospects of an entire household.

That belief was one of the reasons she became involved in rural communities in the first place.

“What pushed us was the choice to work for others, to transform lives and to have an impact on others,” she said.

She describes it as a form of leadership inspired by King’s example: leadership that is measured by what changes in people’s everyday lives.

From savings to a piece of land

Among the stories Barandereka remembers most clearly is that of a woman who was struggling to feed her children.

The woman had children in school but no land of her own to cultivate. Through a Shekinah Centre initiative that brought women together in savings and credit groups, she began putting money aside.

Eventually, she saved enough to acquire land.

Today, Barandereka says, the woman can grow food for her family and sell part of her harvest to pay for other necessities.

“I no longer need help to feed my children,” Barandereka recalled the woman telling her. “I can harvest and feed my children, and I can sell part of my harvest to buy other things that I need.”

It is a story that has stayed with her.

The family no longer faces the same struggle to find food, she said, while the children have been able to continue their education in better conditions.

The battle over women’s land rights

But economic independence can bring another problem into view: who actually owns the assets women work to acquire?

Barandereka says land ownership and inheritance remain major challenges for rural women in Burundi.

She described cases in which women have worked, saved their own money and purchased land, only to encounter resistance when they try to have their names included on the title deed.

In some households, she said, husbands insist that property should be registered solely in the man’s name rather than in the woman’s name or jointly in the names of both spouses.

“This is a struggle that we are still fighting,” she said.

She has nevertheless seen signs of change.

Some husbands, she said, are now accepting that their wives’ names should appear on land titles, something she regards as an important step.

But the underlying issue remains.

“These plots of land were bought with money that the woman herself saved,” Barandereka said. “She is the one who worked to buy the land. But when it comes to registering the title, the woman can still be excluded.”

For Barandereka, that is why the work recognised by Martin Luther King Jr. Medal is far from finished.

The award may provide international recognition, but the measure of progress remains much closer to home: a girl who stays in school, a mother who can feed her children from her own harvest, and a woman whose name finally appears on the title to land she bought herself.

For Pastor Frank K. Teye, Christianity has no shortage of churches, prayers or people seeking miracles. What concerns him is what happens after the Sunday service is over.

Does faith change the way people live?

It is a question that has followed the Ghanaian pastor through years of preaching and counselling. He worries that the search for prosperity, miracles and supernatural intervention can sometimes crowd out the quieter work of faith: knowing Scripture, raising a family, forgiving others and living by what one professes to believe.

That concern eventually found its way into five books, all launched at the same time.

In the Law Court of God, Breaking Every Curse, Raising a Holy Ghost Fired Choir, Dreams and Their Meanings and Raising Godly Children in a Gen-Z Era may look like five very different books. They deal with prayer, spiritual warfare, worship, dreams and parenting. Teye sees them as parts of the same conversation.

“The greatest need of the church is not always another miracle,” he says. “Sometimes it is a deeper understanding of God’s Word.”

A calling dating back to 1998

Teye dates his call to ministry to 1998.

He spent years serving and preparing before becoming a full-time pastor with Winners Chapel International, also known as Living Faith Church, in June 2012. After serving in different branches, he was transferred to Aflao, in Ghana’s Volta Region, on 31 August 2022.

Much of what he later put into books came from those years on the ground: sermons, conversations with families, counselling sessions and the problems people brought to him.

Writing was not part of his original plan.

He began to think differently about it when he realised how quickly a sermon disappears. You preach it, people listen, and the service ends. A book could stay with them. It could also reach someone who had never sat in his congregation.

“The books chose me before I chose writing,” he says.

His experience in Aflao reinforced that feeling.

Christianity there, as in many parts of Africa, exists alongside older spiritual traditions and beliefs. Teye says he encountered Christians who were deeply interested in miracles and quick spiritual solutions to their problems.

He believes in miracles himself. That is not his argument.

His concern is what happens when seeking a miracle becomes more important than seeking God.

Taking prayer into the courtroom

That tension appears in In the Law Court of God, where Teye uses the courtroom as a way of talking about prayer.

In his telling, God is not only a loving Father but also a righteous Judge. Christ is the believer’s advocate, and Scripture is the basis on which the believer approaches God.

This means prayer, for Teye, cannot simply be a list of things someone wants.

He asks readers to look at their own faith, obedience, forgiveness and repentance. What is their relationship with God? What needs to change in their own lives?

The point, he says, is not to discover a formula for getting every prayer answered. It is to understand prayer differently and become more confident in one’s identity as a Christian.

Breaking curses without living in fear

Breaking Every Curse takes on a particularly sensitive subject in African Pentecostal Christianity.

Illness, financial problems, family difficulties and other misfortunes are sometimes blamed on curses or spiritual attacks. Teye does not deny the spiritual world, but he warns Christians against looking for a curse behind every setback.

Some of what holds people back, he argues, can also be found in fear, bitterness, unforgiveness, and destructive thinking and behaviour repeated from one generation to another.

Family history matters, he says, but it should not become a life sentence.

Knowing where you come from does not mean accepting that your future has already been decided.

For Teye, faith and personal responsibility have to go together. Prayer matters, but so can forgiveness, a change in behaviour and the decision to confront destructive habits.

When worship becomes performance

Then there is music.

Anyone familiar with African Pentecostal churches knows the place a choir can occupy in Sunday worship. Music can be powerful, polished and sometimes spectacular.

Teye asks what happens when the performance becomes more important than the worship.

“There is a difference between singing to entertain people and singing as an act of worship to God,” he says.

That question sits behind Raising a Holy Ghost Fired Choir.

Teye is not arguing against good musicianship. He wants choirs to rehearse and sing well. But a perfect performance, he says, is not the same thing as spiritual depth.

He sums up his approach in a phrase: “consecration before performance, character before charisma, worship before entertainment.”

In that sense, the book is not really about how to sing. It is about who is doing the singing and why.

Dreams — but not superstition

Dreams occupy a complicated place in many religious communities. They can be treated as warnings, prophecies or messages from God. They can also become a source of fear.

Teye enters that territory carefully in Dreams and Their Meanings.

He accepts that dreams can have spiritual significance; the Bible itself contains many examples. But that does not mean, he says, that every dream is God speaking.

Sometimes a dream may simply come from what someone has seen, feared, wanted or spent the day thinking about.

For Teye, the important thing is discernment.

He cautions against making major life decisions on the strength of a dream alone. He is equally wary of interpretations that assign a fixed spiritual meaning to every animal, colour, object or event that appears during sleep.

His advice is surprisingly simple.

Do not spend your life chasing dreams.

“The answer is not to chase supernatural experiences,” he says. “The answer is to pursue God.”

Raising children in the age of algorithms

Of the five books, Raising Godly Children in a Gen-Z Era may speak most directly to life beyond the church walls.

Teye sees parents struggling to raise children in a world they did not grow up in themselves.

A child with a smartphone can now encounter in a few minutes ideas and influences that previous generations might never have encountered at home, at school or even in their community. Social media, artificial intelligence, gaming, celebrities and peer groups all compete for their attention.

Parents, Teye argues, cannot respond simply by repeating the methods their own parents used.

One mistake is confusing provision with parenting.

A mother or father may work hard to pay for a good school, clothes, a phone and everything else a child needs but still fail to give that child enough time and attention.

“A parent can provide everything materially and still lose the heart of the child,” he says.

He also questions parenting based mainly on control.

Instead of simply declaring phones, gaming and social media to be the enemy, parents need to understand what their children are doing online and why it matters to them.

His phrase for this is “connection before correction”.

That does not mean abandoning rules. Teye believes children need boundaries. But he also believes rules work better when there is conversation and trust.

And then there is faith itself.

Christian parents, he says, should not assume their children will believe simply because they were raised in a Christian home or taken to church every Sunday.

Young people will ask questions — about God, relationships, sexuality, money, identity and success. Parents have to be willing to hear those questions.

Otherwise, Teye warns, plenty of others are waiting to provide the answers.

“Social media will disciple them. Celebrities will disciple them. Their peers will disciple them. Algorithms will disciple them. Culture will disciple them.”

Why five books?

Teye did not sit down one morning and decide to write five books at once.

The material had been accumulating for years — through sermons, counselling, prayer and the everyday problems people brought to him.

Eventually, the separate subjects began to look like different sides of the same work.

A parent worried about a child may pick up one book. A choir member may pick up another. Someone frightened by recurring dreams or convinced that a curse is destroying their life may turn to another.

The launch was supported by Pastor Ben Andrew, National Pastor of Winners Chapel International in Ghana, who attended and publicly expressed pride in Teye’s achievement.

Teye was especially encouraged by the reaction to Raising Godly Children in a Gen-Z Era. For him, what happens to the next generation is not a side issue for the church. It is one of its most pressing concerns.

Beyond Aflao

For now, Teye pastors in Aflao. But he hopes the books will travel much further.

He wants them read by parents, pastors, young people, prayer groups and church choirs across Ghana and beyond.

Behind that ambition is a larger question about Christianity in Africa.

Churches across the continent can be packed on Sundays. Prayer gatherings can draw crowds. People can spend hours worshipping and seeking God’s intervention in their lives.

For Teye, however, numbers alone do not tell the whole story.

What happens on Monday matters too.

The faith preached from the pulpit, he argues, should be visible at home, at work, in business and in the way Christians treat other people.

Perhaps that is the thread running through all five books.

Teye believes in miracles. But he also believes that a changed life can be one of them.

The FIFA World Cup in North America drew to a close with a Spanish triumph over the defending champions, Argentina, who were denied a second consecutive claim to the most coveted honour in sport.

For 105 minutes, Spain dominated possession, territory and chances without reward. Then Ferran Torres delivered the defining moment of the final, firing La Roja to a 1-0 extra-time victory.

The substitute’s emphatic finish at MetLife Stadium ended one of the most tactical and hard-fought encounter in recent World Cup history, restoring Spain to football’s summit 16 years after their maiden triumph in South Africa.

It was the first World Cup final between the reigning European and South American champions, adding another historic layer to a contest that promised much long before kick-off.

The final opened with Spain immediately imposing their familiar identity. Their aggressive press and patient passing pinned Argentina deep inside their own half, forcing Lionel Scaloni’s men to spend long spells defending.

Lamine Yamal provided Spain’s first warning five minutes from kickoff, forcing Emiliano Martínez into an early save before another dangerous run was blocked moments later.

Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal and Álex Baena combined intelligently between the lines, but Argentina’s disciplined defensive structure, marshalled by Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez frustrated Spain’s attempts to break through.

Argentina, by contrast, struggled to establish any attacking rhythm. Lionel Messi found little space between Spain’s midfield and defence, while Julián Álvarez and Nico González were isolated for long periods.

The opening 45 minutes lacked the attacking fireworks witnessed in recent World Cup finals. Unlike the goal-filled contests of 2018 and the unforgettable 2022 final between Argentina and France, chances were scarce as tactical discipline took centre stage.

Spain nevertheless finished the half as the better side, with Martínez producing another comfortable stop from Oyarzabal before Marc Cucurella curled narrowly wide. After the restart, little changed.

Spain continued to monopolise possession while Argentina concentrated on disrupting their rhythm through physical challenges and defensive organisation.

By half-time, Argentina had failed to register a single attempt on goal, underlining Spain’s complete territorial control.

Luis de la Fuente refreshed his side by introducing Pedri, Ferran Torres, Nico Williams and Mikel Merino, substitutions that gradually increased Spain’s attacking intensity. Martínez once again became Argentina’s saviour.

The Aston Villa goalkeeper denied Dani Olmo after spilling a long-range effort before reacting brilliantly to successive headers from Ferran Torres, Pau Cubarsí and Aymeric Laporte as Spain piled on the pressure.

Argentina’s resistance suffered a significant blow in stoppage time when Enzo Fernández received a second yellow card, reducing the defending champions to ten men before extra time.

With their numerical advantage, Spain thought they had finally broken the deadlock early in extra time when Nico Williams found the net, only for the goal to be ruled out following a foul on Martínez during the build-up.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 106th minute. Pedro Porro’s delivery towards the far post was intelligently kept alive by Nico Williams, whose headed knockdown fell invitingly for Ferran Torres.

The forward made no mistake, crashing his finish into the roof of the net to spark wild celebrations among the Spanish players and supporters.

Argentina finally showed greater urgency after falling behind, with Messi dropping deeper in search of possession as Scaloni’s side pushed desperately for an equaliser.

Giuliano Simeone came agonisingly close deep into stoppage time, first firing wide before blazing another golden opportunity over the crossbar from inside the penalty area. It proved to be Argentina’s final opportunity.

Spain managed the closing minutes with the composure that has become their trademark, keeping possession and frustrating an increasingly desperate opponent until the final whistle confirmed their return to the top of world football.

Early Lead

England denied France a daring second-half comeback to claim third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a pulsating 6-4 victory on Saturday, producing the highest-scoring bronze-medal match in the tournament’s history.

What appeared destined to become one of England’s most comfortable World Cup victories quickly turned into one of its most dramatic before Bukayo Saka’s hat-trick and Jude Bellingham’s stoppage-time strike finally extinguished France’s remarkable fightback at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Thomas Tuchel’s side raced into an early lead when Declan Rice won possession inside the French half before driving forward and firing low into the corner after just three minutes.

The goal was England’s second-fastest in World Cup history, behind only Bryan Robson’s famous 28-second strike against France in 1982. England never allowed France to settle.

Daunting

Ezri Konsa doubled the advantage in the 19th minute, rising highest to head home Rice’s corner, before Saka crowned a devastating first-half display with two goals either side of halftime.

Long before the final wistle, the 4-0 halftime scoreline represented a daunting challenge for Les Bleus. But Didier Deschamps responded with four substitutions at halftime, and the changes transformed the contest.

Kylian Mbappé pulled one back three minutes into the second half before setting up Bradley Barcola to reduce the deficit further.

When, again, Mbappé combined brilliantly with Michael Olise to score in the 66th minute, England’s seemingly unassailable four-goal lead had shrunk to 4-3, and France sensed history.

No team had ever avoided defeat after trailing by four goals at a FIFA World Cup, yet England suddenly looked vulnerable as wave after wave of French attacks poured forward.

The pressure finally eased three minutes from final time when Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Djed Spence was brought down inside the penalty area. Still, France refused to surrender.

Ousmane Dembélé struck deep into stoppage time to reduce the deficit once again before Jude Bellingham sprinted through half the field, on a counterattack, delivering the final fruitful strike of the match to seal England’s victory.

Bellingham’s goal carried its own piece of history. His seventh goal of the tournament set a new England record for the most goals scored by one player in a single FIFA World Cup, surpassing Harry Kane’s six goals in 2018, 2026 and Gary Lineker’s six in 1986.

Despite finishing on the losing side, Mbappé also rewrote the record books. His two goals lifted his overall World Cup tally to 22, moving him ahead of Lionel Messi as the competition’s all-time leading scorer, while his 10 goals at the 2026 tournament kept him firmly on course for the Golden Boot.

The contest itself also entered World Cup folklore. The 10 goals made it the highest-scoring third-place play-off in FIFA World Cup history, eclipsing France’s 6-3 victory over West Germany in 1958.

Only Austria’s famous 7-5 victory over Switzerland in the 1954 quarter-finals has featured more goals in a men’s World Cup match.

England ultimately would leave North America with the bronze medal after one of the greatest attacking displays in their World Cup history, while France departed looking back at how close a comeback was complete.

Bellingham, Bellingham

England beat Norway 2-1 on Saturday to book their ticket for the semi-finals of the World Cup, with striker Jude Bellingham scoring twice. The England-vs-Norway quarter-final played in intense Florida heat after a delayed kick-off, producing a contest full of momentum swings and late drama.

But once again, England turned to their midfield superstar when they needed inspiration, and in him they found it.

Before kick-off, both teams observed a moment of silence in memory of Mamelodi Sundowns and South Africa midfielder Jayden Adams, who died on Saturday morning. Then, the game.

England started positively, with Noni Madueke providing an early threat from the right, while Norway looked to use the pace and power of Erling Haaland and Alexander Sørloth in attack.

After a cautious opening, Norway grew into the game and eventually punished England’s defensive mistakes.

In the 36th minute, Andreas Schjelderup produced a moment of individual brilliance, sending a stunning effort into the top corner after receiving the ball from Martin Ødegaard.

It was Norway’s first-ever goal in a World Cup quarter-final, and it appeared they were on course for another night of revelling, the second after eliminating Brazil, five-time winner of the cup.

England, however, responded shortly afterwards. In first-half stoppage time, Anthony Gordon created space down the left before finding Bellingham inside the box. The midfielder controlled the ball with one touch before firing a powerful low finish beyond the goalkeeper to make it 1-1.

The 23-year-old has become England’s decisive figure at this tournament, combining the drive of Steven Gerrard, the goalscoring ability of Frank Lampard and the vision of Paul Scholes in one complete midfield package.

Norway came out strongly after the break and thought they had regained the lead when Torbjørn Heggem bundled the ball home following a corner. However, after a VAR review, the goal was ruled out because of a foul by Haaland in the build-up.

Holding Firm

The second half remained tense, with Norway creating clearer opportunities. Kristoffer Ajer hit the crossbar, while Jordan Pickford was forced into important saves to keep England alive.

Neither side could find a winner in normal time, sending the match into extra time. And six minutes into extra time, Bellingham struck again to complete his second brace of the tournament and put England ahead 2-1.

His goalscoring form has placed him among the leading contenders for the Golden Boot, while his influence has drawn comparisons with some of England’s greatest tournament performers.

Since 1966, only Harry Kane and David Beckham have recorded more goal involvements for England at major tournaments than Bellingham, who has now matched Gary Lineker’s contribution with his performances on the international stage.

Norway continued pushing for an equaliser, but England’s defence held firm. John Stones, Marc Guéhi and Pickford made crucial interventions as Thomas Tuchel’s side protected their narrow advantage.

The final whistle confirmed England’s return to the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2018, when they reached the last four in Russia before losing 2-1 to Croatia after extra time.

England now await their semi-final opponent, which will be decided by the quarter-final clash between defending champions Argentina and Switzerland.

France’s Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé struck hard on Thursday at Boston Stadium to end Morocco’s World Cup journey in a 2-0 quarter-final victory.

Les Bleus overcame a determined Moroccan side to book their ticket for a third consecutive World Cup semi-final, a feat that underlines their remarkable consistency in international football.

Morocco’s defeat marked the end of another memorable campaign. The Atlas Lions arrived in Boston as the last remaining African team in the tournament, but they were ultimately undone by France’s attacking quality and experience.

The game began with France immediately applying pressure. Their dangerous attacking quartet of Mbappé, Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Michael Olise constantly tested Morocco’s defensive organisation, forcing goalkeeper Yassine Bounou into early action.

France came closest in the opening minutes when Dayot Upamecano met a corner at the back post, but Bono reacted quickly to keep the scores level.

Morocco, aware of the threat posed by France’s pace, tried to slow the game down by keeping possession and defending in numbers.

Their plan was clear: absorb pressure and look for opportunities on the counterattack through Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Díaz.

But France continued to dominate territory, and their biggest chance of the first half arrived when Mbappé won a penalty after being brought down by Noussair Mazraoui inside the box.

Crucial save

The moment appeared set for the French captain to add another World Cup goal to his growing legacy. However, Bono had other ideas.

Mbappé’s penalty lacked power and direction, allowing the Moroccan goalkeeper to dive low and make a crucial save that lifted the Atlas Lions.

Despite France’s dominance, Morocco survived until half-time with the score goalless, thanks largely to Bono’s heroics and their disciplined defensive structure.

The second half brought more of the same pressure from France. Morocco showed more attacking ambition after the restart but struggled to create clear chances against a French defence that remained composed.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 60th minute. Mbappé, who had endured a frustrating evening until that moment, produced a piece of individual brilliance.

Receiving the ball on the edge of the penalty area, the Paris-born forward created space before curling a superb effort beyond Bono and into the far corner.

It was another landmark moment in a remarkable tournament for Mbappé, who continued his pursuit of the Golden Boot while strengthening his reputation as one of the greatest World Cup performers of his generation.

Devastating spell

Morocco’s hopes of another famous comeback disappeared only six minutes later. Dembélé doubled France’s advantage after finding space created by Mbappé’s movement. The Paris Saint-Germain forward drove into the box before calmly finishing into the bottom corner to make it 2-0.

The goal completed a devastating spell for Morocco, who had worked tirelessly to stay in the contest but were eventually punished by France’s clinical finishing.

Mohamed Ouahbi’s side continued fighting until the final whistle, with Hakimi and Azzedine Ounahi coming close to reducing the deficit, but France’s defensive organisation remained intact.

The victory sends France into another World Cup semi-final, keeping alive their dream of lifting the cup only 8 years after they did so back in Russia.

Late Goals

Argentina survived a major scare against Egypt, scoring three late goals to overturn a two-goal deficit and secure a dramatic 3-2 victory that sends the reigning champions into the World Cup quarter-finals.

The three-time winners appeared to be heading towards a shock elimination after Egypt built a 2-0 lead, but Argentina’s quality and experience proved decisive as they produced a remarkable late comeback at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The defeat ended Egypt’s historic World Cup campaign after the Pharaohs had already achieved a landmark by recording their first-ever victories at the finals.

Egypt started with confidence and took the lead in the 15th minute when Yasser Ibrahim rose highest inside the penalty area to power a header beyond Emiliano Martínez.

The goal gave Egypt belief, and they continued to frustrate Argentina with disciplined defending and quick counter-attacks.

Argentina had a chance to immediately respond after being awarded a penalty, but captain Lionel Messi was denied by goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, who produced an excellent save to maintain Egypt’s advantage.

Shobeir continued to be the difference between the two sides, making important saves to keep out efforts from Alexis Mac Allister and Julián Álvarez as Argentina struggled to break through Egypt’s organised defence.

Despite dominating possession, Argentina went into the interval behind, with Egypt holding onto a deserved lead.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Argentina increasing the pressure while Egypt remained dangerous on the break.

Egypt thought they had doubled their advantage when Mostafa Ziko found the net, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR review identified a foul during the build-up. However, Egypt soon found another breakthrough.

Ziko made no mistake in the 67th minute, finishing a well-worked counter-attack involving Mohamed Salah and Haissem Hassan to put the Pharaohs 2-0 ahead.

The Comeback

Argentina responded by introducing more attacking urgency and began their comeback in the 79th minute when Cristian Romero headed home a Messi cross.

The goal changed the momentum of the contest, and the holders pushed forward in search of an equaliser.

Messi delivered once again in the 84th minute, scoring to bring Argentina level and complete a stunning recovery after they had been on the brink of elimination.

The comeback was completed deep into stoppage time when Enzo Fernández headed in the winning goal, completing one of the most dramatic turnarounds of the tournament.

Egypt continued fighting until the final whistle but could not find another equaliser, ending their impressive run with a narrow defeat.

Argentina will now continue their title defence in the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner between Colombia and Switzerland.

The remaining quarter-final fixtures have also been confirmed, with France facing Morocco, England meeting Norway, and Spain taking on Belgium on Tuesday.

For Egypt, the result was a painful ending to a campaign that showed their growing competitiveness on the global stage. Their performance against the reigning champions demonstrated their ability to challenge the world’s best teams.

The match also continued a recurring theme at this World Cup, with several teams struggling to protect comfortable leads after taking control of matches.

Argentina’s escape against Egypt was another reminder that no advantage is guaranteed in knockout football, where moments of quality can change the outcome in an instant.

No longer applicable

Russian athletes could compete under their national flag at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, ending a ban imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The IOC confirmed that the suspension introduced in 2023 was “no longer applicable”, clearing the way for Russian athletes to return to international competition, provided they meet all relevant anti-doping requirements.

However, the governing body said no decision has yet been made on whether Russian athletes will be permitted to compete under the country’s flag, colours and national anthem at the 2028 Games.

The IOC added that it would continue its existing measures against Russia, including not organising Olympic events in the country or inviting Russian government and state officials to IOC events.

Russian athletes previously competed as neutral athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the Milan Winter Olympics.

Only 32 athletes from Russia and Belarus were approved to compete in Paris, where they won a combined five medals.

The participation marked a significant reduction from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, when Russia sent more than 300 athletes and finished the Games with 71 medals.

Standing condemnation

Russia welcomed the IOC’s latest decision, describing it as a step towards separating sport from politics.

“The IOC is sending a clear signal: the Olympic movement must remain free from politics,” Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev said on Telegram, adding that Russia intends to enter qualification events for the Los Angeles Games.

Despite lifting the suspension, the IOC reiterated its condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

It said it continues to oppose the war but believes an athlete’s opportunity to compete internationally should not automatically be restricted because of the actions of their government.

The decision comes amid continuing debate across international sport over Russia’s return to competition.

In May, World Athletics rejected an IOC recommendation to lift restrictions preventing Belarusian athletes and teams from competing under their national flag.

The IOC has not announced when it will decide whether Russia will compete under its national symbols at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Stoppage-time

Spain booked their place in the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2010 after substitute Mikel Merino struck a dramatic stoppage-time winner to defeat Portugal 1-0 in a tense Round of 16 clash at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday.

Merino’s composed finish in the first minute of added time finally separated two evenly matched sides after 90 minutes dominated by defensive discipline rather than attacking flair.

The result ended Portugal’s campaign and with it Cristiano Ronaldo’s quest to win the World Cup, while Spain advanced to face either Belgium or the United States in the last eight.

Spain arrived in Dallas with history within reach. Luis de la Fuente’s side had already become the first European nation since Switzerland in 2006 to keep clean sheets in each of their opening four World Cup matches.

Their 3-0 victory over Austria also made them the first team since Germany in the 2014 World Cup final not to face a single shot on target in a knockout match.

Sunday’s victory completed a sixth consecutive World Cup clean sheet stretching back to Qatar 2022, setting a new tournament record.

The match also symbolised football’s changing generations. When Ronaldo made his World Cup debut for Portugal in Germany in 2006, Spain’s teenage star Lamine Yamal had not yet been born.

The 18-year-old is 23 years younger than the Portuguese captain, who praised him before kick-off as “a player with a lot of future” and “many talents.”

The fixture renewed one of international football’s fiercest rivalries. Their last World Cup meeting, in Russia in 2018, produced a memorable 3-3 draw inspired by Ronaldo’s hat-trick.

This encounter, however, unfolded as a far more cautious affair, with neither side willing to take unnecessary risks.

Tribute

There was an emotional moment before kick-off when Portugal paid tribute to the late Diogo Jota during the national anthem, his image appearing on the stadium’s giant screens.

Watching from the stands were former Portugal captain Pepe, Spain legend Carles Puyol and CAF President Patrice Motsepe.

Spain enjoyed more possession from the outset but found Portugal’s organised defence difficult to break down.

The first clear opportunity arrived in the ninth minute when Dani Olmo released Mikel Oyarzabal through on goal, only for the forward to slide his effort wide with Diogo Costa beaten.

Portugal responded through Ronaldo, who appealed in vain for a penalty after a tussle with Rodri inside the penalty area before forcing Unai Simón into a routine save from distance.

Despite Rodri appearing to tug Ronaldo’s shirt, referee Anthony Taylor waved play on and VAR did not intervene.

As Spain settled into their rhythm, Yamal began to influence proceedings, forcing Costa into two excellent saves, while Alex Baena and Marc Cucurella repeatedly found space down the left flank without producing the decisive final pass.

Portugal remained patient, looking to strike on the counter-attack. João Félix combined well with Pedro Neto to create Ronaldo’s best chance of the half, but the veteran forward could only direct his effort straight at Simón.

The closest either side came before the interval arrived three minutes before half-time. Portugal worked a clever short corner to Nuno Mendes, whose fierce left-footed strike took a slight deflection off Pedro Porro before crashing against the crossbar, preserving Spain’s remarkable defensive record.

The match resumed with the same tactical caution that had defined the opening period. Portugal suffered a major setback in the 56th minute when the outstanding Mendes was forced off injured.

The Paris Saint-Germain full-back had largely contained Yamal in one of the contest’s key individual battles, and his departure immediately gave Spain greater freedom down the right.

Spain continued searching for an opening. Pedri saw a powerful effort blocked by Renato Veiga before Yamal forced Costa into another excellent save with a curling free-kick.

Roberto Martínez introduced Rafael Leão, Bernardo Silva and Francisco Conceição in an attempt to inject life into Portugal’s attack, but Spain remained the more threatening side as the match edged towards extra time. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 91st minute.

Merino, introduced from the bench, timed his run perfectly between Portugal’s central defenders before calmly sliding the ball beyond Costa to spark wild celebrations among the Spanish players and supporters.

Portugal suddenly abandoned the caution that had characterised much of their performance.

Bernardo Silva came agonisingly close to forcing extra time when he headed narrowly over from close range before Bruno Fernandes delivered one final free-kick into the area. João Neves threw himself at the cross but could only send his diving header inches wide.

Those late chances came too late to rescue Portugal after a performance in which they created too little despite the wealth of attacking talent available.

Spain, meanwhile, once again demonstrated the defensive resilience that has become their trademark under De la Fuente. Simón recorded another clean sheet behind a defence that has now gone six consecutive World Cup matches without conceding, an unprecedented achievement in the competition’s history.

The victory also extended De la Fuente’s remarkable record on the biggest stage. The Spain coach is now unbeaten in his first 12 matches across the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship, joining Aime Jacquet and Louis van Gaal in achieving that feat.

It was not the thrilling spectacle many expected from two European heavyweights. Instead, it was a contest decided by patience, discipline and a single moment of quality.

For Spain, that was enough to keep their World Cup dream alive. For Portugal and Ronaldo, it marked the end of another campaign that promised much but ultimately fell one goal short.

England reached the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals after surviving an inspired second-half fightback from co-hosts Mexico to secure a 3-2 victory at the Estadio Azteca on Sunday, with Jude Bellingham’s first-half brace proving decisive in one of the tournament’s most compelling knockout ties.

The result sends Thomas Tuchel’s side into a last-eight meeting with Norway, who earlier eliminated Brazil, but only after England sustained a red card, two VAR interventions and a great deal of pressure from a Mexico side that threatened to force extra time until the final whistle.

Mexico controlled much of the opening half in front of a partisan home crowd, pressing England high and forcing the visitors into long spells without possession.

Raúl Jiménez tested Jordan Pickford with a powerful diving header that required an outstanding reaction save, while England struggled to establish any rhythm against the hosts’ intensity. Yet England needed only one opportunity to change the momentum.

Their breakthrough arrived in the 36th minute after Pickford launched a quick transition. Declan Rice carried the ball through midfield before releasing Bukayo Saka on the right, whose inviting cross found Bellingham arriving unmarked to head beyond goalkeeper Raúl Rangel.

Before Mexico had recovered, England struck again. This time Harry Kane provided the final pass, slipping Bellingham into the penalty area, where the midfielder calmly finished to double England’s lead just 98 seconds after opening the scoring.

The quickfire double transformed a match Mexico had largely controlled and made Bellingham the first player since Diego Maradona in 1986 to score twice in a FIFA World Cup match at the Azteca.

Restoring Belief

Mexico, however, refused to let the contest slip away. A set-piece deep into first-half stoppage time exposed uncertainty inside England’s penalty area, allowing Julián Quiñones to volley home and reduce the deficit before the interval.

The goal restored belief among the hosts and ensured England entered the second half with only a one-goal advantage despite their clinical finishing. The contest became increasingly chaotic after the restart.

England’s task grew significantly harder when Jarell Quansah was sent off following a VAR review that upgraded his initial yellow card to a straight red for his challenge on Jesús Gallardo.

Reduced to ten men with more than half an hour remaining, England appeared set for an extended defensive battle. Instead, they found another decisive moment.

Anthony Gordon raced onto a through ball before being brought down by Rangel inside the penalty area, giving Kane the opportunity to restore England’s two-goal cushion.

The captain calmly converted from the spot, placing his effort beyond the Mexican goalkeeper to make it 3-1. Mexico responded almost immediately.

Following another VAR review, the referee awarded the hosts a penalty after Kane’s attempted clearance caught Brian Gutiérrez inside the area. Jiménez confidently converted, reducing the deficit to one goal and setting up a tense final 20 minutes.

“We had to fight and we had to find something. The occasion, the team, everything against us, we found a way.”
— Harry Kane

From then on, England were forced almost entirely into defence. Mexico poured forward, repeatedly delivering crosses into the penalty area and earning a succession of corners as England’s back line, marshalled by Marc Guéhi and later reinforced by defensive substitutions, absorbed wave after wave of pressure.

Pickford remained composed throughout, commanding his area and making several crucial interventions as the hosts searched for an equaliser.

The pressure intensified when 11 minutes of stoppage time were added. Jiménez came closest to forcing extra time when a dangerous cross flashed across the six-yard box, but the striker could not direct his effort on target.

England survived the closing barrage before finally clearing the danger to secure their place in the last eight.

“We had to fight and we had to find something,” Kane told BBC Sport after the final whistle. “The occasion, the team, everything against us, we found a way.”

England’s performance was far from sterling, but it underlined qualities that often define successful tournament sides.

Outplayed for significant periods, reduced to ten men and confronted by one of the tournament’s most intimidating atmospheres, they remained clinical when chances arrived and resilient when the match demanded defensive discipline.

Now, those qualities will be tested again in the quarter-finals against Norway, whose victory over Brazil has already established them as one of the competition’s surprise packages.

England, however, travel to Miami knowing they have already negotiated one of the World Cup’s sternest examinations.

Erling Haaland scored twice in the final 11 minutes as Norway stunned Brazil 2-1 on Sunday to reach the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals for the first time, ending the five-time champions’ hopes after a dramatic clash at MetLife Stadium.

Brazil dominated long spells of the contest and squandered a first-half penalty before Haaland delivered the decisive blows, heading Norway in front in the 79th minute before firing home a spectacular second in the 90th.

Neymar pulled one back from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time, but it came too late to rescue Brazil’s campaign.

Norway’s victory ranks among the biggest in the country’s football history and sets up a quarter-final against either Mexico or England. For Brazil, the defeat extends another painful World Cup story.

They arrived among the favourites after edging Japan in the previous round but were undone by missed chances, inspired goalkeeping from Orjan Nyland and the clinical finishing of one of the tournament’s outstanding players.

Open contest

The opening exchanges hinted at an open contest. Norway thought they had taken the lead inside four minutes when Patrick Berg swept home after Brazil failed to clear a corner, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside following a VAR review.

Brazil quickly settled and began to dictate possession through Bruno Guimaraes and Casemiro, while Vinicius Junior repeatedly tested Norway’s defence down the left. Their biggest opportunity came in the 13th minute.

Referee pointed to the spot after Kristoffer Ajer clipped Matheus Cunha inside the penalty area, with the decision confirmed after a video review.

Guimaraes stepped up looking to give Brazil the lead, but Nyland guessed correctly, diving low to his right to push away the midfielder’s penalty and preserve the deadlock. The save proved a turning point.

Brazil continued to create openings but lacked the composure that has defined their greatest World Cup teams.

Gabriel Martinelli fired wide from a promising position before Alisson had to react sharply at the other end to deny Martin Odegaard after clever work from Haaland.

The match remained finely balanced heading into the interval, with Brazil enjoying more possession but Norway looking increasingly dangerous whenever they broke forward.

Carlo Ancelotti introduced fresh attacking options after the restart, sending on Endrick before later turning to Neymar in an attempt to unlock Norway’s disciplined defence. Instead, Nyland continued to frustrate Brazil.

The goalkeeper produced outstanding saves to deny Endrick, Rayan and Guimaraes as Brazil’s attacks became increasingly desperate. Norway, by contrast, never abandoned their game plan.

Odegaard controlled the tempo whenever his side regained possession, while Haaland remained a constant threat despite receiving limited service. The breakthrough finally arrived 11 minutes from full time.

Andreas Schjelderup found space on the left and delivered an inviting cross into the penalty area, where Haaland rose above Gabriel to power a header beyond Alisson and spark wild celebrations among the Norwegian supporters.

Brazil suddenly found themselves chasing the game. As they committed numbers forward in search of an equaliser, spaces began to open. Haaland exploited one of them perfectly.

Golden Boot

Collecting the ball outside the penalty area in the 90th minute, the striker shifted onto his stronger foot before drilling an unstoppable low strike into the bottom corner, leaving Alisson rooted to the spot and effectively ending Brazil’s resistance.

The goal was Haaland’s seventh of the tournament, drawing him level with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot.

It also made him the first European player since Christian Vieri at the 1998 World Cup to score in each of his first four World Cup matches.

Brazil were handed one final opportunity when Leo Ostigard was penalised for catching Casemiro inside the area during stoppage time.

Neymar calmly converted the resulting penalty in the 100th minute, but Norway safely negotiated the remaining minutes before the final whistle confirmed one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.

The statistics reflected Brazil’s frustration as much as Norway’s resilience. The South Americans created enough chances to progress but failed to convert them, while Nyland delivered one of the best performances of the tournament.

Norway’s reward is a first appearance in the World Cup quarter-finals, achieved through organisation, discipline and ruthless efficiency when the defining moments arrived.

For Brazil, the journey ends earlier than expected. For Haaland and Norway, however, the dream of a first World Cup title remains alive.

Resolutely

Morocco booked their ticket in the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals with a clinical 3-0 victory over Canada at NRG Stadium on Saturday, scoring all three goals after the break to punish a Canadian side that failed to convert an impressive first-half performance into goals.

Azzedine Ounahi struck twice before substitute Soufiane Rahimi added a late third as Morocco became the first team to secure a place in the last eight. The Atlas Lions will now face the winners of France and Paraguay in the quarter-finals.

The final scoreline did not reflect the balance of the first half. Canada dominated possession, pressed aggressively from the opening whistle and created the better chances, but Morocco defended resolutely and goalkeeper Bono produced two important saves to keep the match level before half-time.

Canada made an energetic start and immediately pushed Morocco onto the back foot. Richie Laryea won the game’s first corner inside five minutes before Jonathan David tested Bono from a tight angle.

Moments later, the Moroccan goalkeeper was called into action again, making an outstanding save to deny Tani Oluwaseyi after Canada forced a turnover high up the pitch.

The North Americans continued to control proceedings during the opening half-hour, winning a series of corners and keeping Morocco largely confined to their own half.

Morocco did not register an attempt on goal until after the first hydration break, highlighting Canada’s early dominance.

Morocco’s afternoon suffered another setback in the 23rd minute when Ismael Saibari was forced off through injury. He was replaced by Rahimi, whose introduction would later prove decisive.

Despite Canada’s control, clear-cut chances became less frequent as the half progressed. Morocco gradually settled into the contest, slowing the tempo and frustrating their opponents.

Physical

The match also became increasingly physical. Referee Michael Oliver showed six yellow cards before the interval as challenges flew in from both sides, including cautions for Achraf Hakimi, Richie Laryea, Jonathan David, Azzedine Ounahi and Bilal El Khannouss.

The teams went into the break level at 0-0, with Canada left to wonder how they had failed to make their first-half superiority count. Meanwhile, Morocco needed only five minutes after the restart to seize control.

Awarded a free-kick just outside the penalty area following a foul by Luc De Fougerolles, Hakimi rolled the ball into the path of Ounahi, whose precise right-footed effort curled beyond Maxime Crépeau and into the bottom corner to give Morocco a 50th-minute lead.

It was Morocco’s first shot on target of the match and dramatically changed the momentum.

Canada responded positively and continued to commit players forward in search of an equaliser. Jesse Marsch, the Canadian coach, introduced experienced striker Cyle Larin before later sending on Jacob Shaffelburg and Promise David to increase the attacking threat.

The pressure created several dangerous moments, but Morocco remained organised defensively. Bono commanded his penalty area confidently, while the back line dealt effectively with crosses and set-pieces.

Canada believed they might have a penalty just after the hour when Tajon Buchanan went to ground under a challenge from Redouane Halhal, but the assistant referee had already raised the flag for offside, ending any possibility of a spot-kick review.

Decisive Second Gaol

As Canada continued to push forward, Morocco found increasing space on the counter-attack.

The decisive second goal arrived in the 82nd minute. Morocco broke quickly after winning possession deep inside their own half.

Brahim Diaz carried the attack before cutting inside and slipping a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Ounahi, who powered his finish beyond Crépeau to complete his brace and put Morocco firmly in control.

Canada continued to fight until the closing stages, with Jonathan David sending a free-kick over the crossbar and Buchanan narrowly missing with an ambitious long-range effort that almost caught Bono off his line.

Rahimi nearly added a third when his header struck the crossbar, but the substitute would not be denied.

Eight minutes into stoppage time, Brahim Diaz again provided the assist, threading another intelligent pass into Rahimi, who calmly slotted past Crépeau to complete a convincing victory and seal Morocco’s passage into the quarter-finals.

The result was harsh on Canada, whose energetic first-half display deserved greater reward.

However, Morocco demonstrated the clinical finishing and defensive discipline often required in knockout football, converting their opportunities while denying Canada any route back into the contest.

Morocco now become the first nation to reach the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and will await the outcome of France’s meeting with Paraguay to discover their next opponents.

Canada, meanwhile, exit the tournament after a spirited campaign that included their first appearance in the knockout stages of an expanded World Cup.

High Tempo

Colombia booked their ticket in the Round of 16 after a 1–0 victory over Ghana in the early hours of Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The result sets up a Colombia clash with Switzerland on July 7 in Vancouver.

The match kicked off at 02:30 BST and began at a high tempo, with Ghana’s Thomas Partey testing from distance early on, while both sides were disrupted by early injuries.

Colombia lost striker Jhon Córdoba to a groin problem, while Ghana defender Marvin Senaya also went off with a hamstring injury inside the opening minutes.

Colombia struck the only goal in the 14th minute when Jhon Arias converted from close range after a cross from Luis Suárez, who had been introduced early as a substitute for the injured Córdoba.

The goal gave Colombia control of possession and territory for much of the contest, with Ghana struggling to build sustained attacks and failing to register a shot on target.

Luis Díaz went close on several occasions, including a missed opportunity shortly after the opener and another effort saved by Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi. Colombia also had a second goal ruled out for offside early in the second half.

At the break, Colombia led 1–0 and continued to dominate the game after the halftime recess. James Rodríguez was introduced before being replaced by Richard Ríos as Colombia reinforced midfield control. Meanwhile, while substitute Juan Quintero added creativity and nearly extended the lead with a long-range effort.

Today’s performance was below average, no sense of urgency. We did not have men in the box.
—Asamoah Gyan

Ghana introduced Inaki Williams, Abdul Fatawu and others in search of an equaliser, but they continued to struggle in the final third.

Thomas Partey and Antoine Semenyo both attempted efforts from distance, but Colombia’s defence remained solid and goalkeeper Camilo Vargas was not seriously tested.

Former Ghana international Asamoah Gyan, speaking on SuperSport, criticised the Black Stars’ performance.

“Today’s performance was below average, no sense of urgency. We did not have men in the box,” Gyan said.

Colombia saw out six minutes of added time comfortably to clear their way forward. Despite the narrow scoreline, they were the better side throughout and never looked in danger of losing control of the match.

Incredible Vizinha

Defending World Cup champions Argentina survived a spirited challenge from African debutants Cape Verde, requiring extra time to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory on Friday and book their ticket for the competition’s Round of 16.

Lionel Messi scored the opening goal and later delivered the corner that led to the decisive own goal as Argentina ended Cape Verde’s remarkable campaign.

Argentina eventually surged back six minutes into the second period of extra time when Messi’s corner caused confusion inside the penalty area, with defender Diney Borges inadvertently turning Cristian Romero’s header into his own net.

The goal finally broke the resistance of a Cape Verde side that refused to be intimidated despite facing one of football’s most decorated nations.

Messi had given Argentina the lead in the 29th minute after latching onto a long pass from Lisandro Martínez.

The Argentine captain controlled the ball brilliantly with the outside of his left foot before firing into the roof of the net beyond veteran goalkeeper Vozinha for his seventh goal of the tournament.

Cape Verde, however, continued to play with belief. Having already impressed during the group stage with draws against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, the Blue Sharks once again showed discipline, organisation and determination. Their persistence paid off just before the hour mark.

Captain Ryan Mendes broke down the right flank before delivering a low pass into the penalty area where Deroy Duarte controlled with his left foot before calmly finishing past Emiliano Martínez to level the score at 1-1.

The equaliser stunned the majority of the crowd, who had expected Argentina to progress comfortably. Instead, Cape Verde continued to frustrate the South Americans, with Vozinha producing a performance that will be remembered long after the tournament.

The 40-year-old repeatedly denied Messi during the second half. He rushed off his line to block a point-blank effort from the Argentine captain in the 63rd minute before producing a superb fingertip save to push away one of Messi’s trademark free kicks ten minutes later.

He was called into action again in stoppage time, reacting sharply to keep out another Messi free kick through a crowded penalty area, before making yet another outstanding save early in extra time to deny the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner from the edge of the box.

Despite Vozinha’s heroics, Argentina regained the lead just two minutes into extra time. Defender Lisandro Martínez collected possession on the edge of the penalty area before unleashing a powerful strike into the roof of the net to make it 2-1. Once again, however, Cape Verde refused to surrender.

In the 103rd minute, left-back Sidny Lopes Cabral curled a magnificent effort into the top corner to draw the Blue Sharks level for a second time and reignite hopes of an extraordinary upset.

With penalties looming, Argentina finally found the breakthrough they desperately needed.

Messi’s dangerous corner into the six-yard area was met by Cristian Romero, whose header deflected off Cape Verde defender Diney Borges before crossing the goal line to restore Argentina’s advantage at 3-2.

Cape Verde still had one final opportunity to force a penalty shootout, but Lopes Cabral’s well-struck free kick was brilliantly saved by Emiliano Martínez in the closing minutes as Argentina held on to secure qualification.

Although their World Cup journey came to an end, Cape Verde departed Miami with their reputation significantly enhanced.

Ranked 67th by FIFA World before the tournament, the Blue Sharks became the only one of the four World Cup debutants to progress beyond the group stage and pushed the defending champions to extra time in a display full of courage and resilience.

The team’s result guarantees Cape Verde prize money of $11 million from FIFA, but perhaps more importantly, the Blue Sharks leave the tournament having firmly put their little on the map for those who knew little or nothing about it.

Front foot start

Switzerland advanced to the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Algeria 2-0 in match played on Friday at BC Place.

Goals from Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye secured a controlled and disciplined performance from Murat Yakin’s side, who continued their strong run in the tournament with another convincing victory.

Algeria began the match on the front foot and applied early pressure, creating the first clear opportunity when Ibrahim Maza delivered a low cross into the penalty area, but Houssem Aouar was unable to direct his effort on target.

Shortly after, Algeria appealed for a penalty when Ramiz Zerrouki went down under pressure from Manuel Akanji while chasing a through ball, but the referee allowed play to continue.

Despite Algeria’s bright start, Switzerland struck first in the 11th minute with a meaningful opening attack.

Johan Manzambi broke forward down the left flank before cutting the ball back for Breel Embolo, who finished from close range to give Switzerland the lead.

The goal shifted momentum, with Switzerland growing into the contest and controlling possession through midfield, led by Granit Xhaka. Algeria, meanwhile, continued to threaten but struggled to create clear chances in the final third.

Switzerland almost doubled their advantage before halftime when Denis Zakaria met a Ruben Vargas delivery, but his header went narrowly wide of the post.

The second half began in devastating fashion for Algeria. Just 48 seconds after the restart, Algeria failed to clear a cross from Denis Zakaria, allowing Dan Ndoye to fire a low shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-0.

Following the goal, Algeria introduced Amine Gouiri, Jaouen Hadjam, Anis Hadj Moussa and Hicham Boudaoui in an attempt to change the course of the match.

The changes added urgency, and Riyad Mahrez came closest to reducing the deficit, but his close-range effort was blocked inside the area.

Switzerland remained compact and organised defensively, limiting Algeria’s attacking threat for the remainder of the match, while Fabian Rieder missed a clear chance to extend the lead after being played through on goal.

The result extended Switzerland’s impressive tournament run, marking three consecutive World Cup victories for the first time in their history, while they have now also scored in six successive World Cup matches for the first time ever.

For Algeria, the World Cup campaign is over. Switzerland will now face either Ghana or Colombia in the Round of 16 as the tournament continues.

Portugal scored in stoppage time on Thursday to defeat Croatia 2-1 and become the 12th team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Round of 16—the outcome of a dramatic encounter at Toronto Stadium.

Portugal dominated possession during the opening half but were unable to find a breakthrough against a disciplined Croatian defence.

Bruno Fernandes forced two early saves from Dominik Livaković, while Renato Veiga, Cristiano Ronaldo and Rafael Leão all went close before the interval, which ended goalless.

Croatia took the lead eight minutes after the break when Ivan Perišić met Josip Stanišić’s cross with a first-time finish beyond Diogo Costa. Portugal responded quickly and thought they had equalised through Ronaldo, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

Their pressure eventually paid off in the 68th minute after Video Assistant Referee (VAR) advised referee Espen Eskås to review a challenge by Nikola Vlašić on Renato Veiga inside the penalty area. Ronaldo converted the resulting penalty to level the score.

The match remained evenly poised as both teams searched for a winner. Mateo Kovačić struck the post for Croatia before Costa produced an important save, while Portugal continued to press in the closing stages.

Gonçalo Ramos settled the contest in the third minute of added time, turning home from close range to give Portugal the lead. Croatia appeared to have forced extra time when Joško Gvardiol found the net later in stoppage time, but the goal was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.

The victory sends Portugal into the Round of 16 as the tournament’s 12th qualified team, where Roberto Martínez’s side will face Spain. Croatia exit the competition, their World Cup campaign effectively dead-ended in Toronto by Ronaldo and team mates.

Stronger start

In a dramatic knockout tie decided by a late penalty, Belgium defeated Senegal 3-2 at Lumen Field on Wednesday, earning their place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16.

The match, played in front of a crowd of 66,925, swung repeatedly across 131 minutes of action, with Senegal leading 2-0 before Belgium staged a late comeback and ultimately secured victory in extra time.

Senegal made the stronger start, controlling early possessions and creating the first clear chance in the 13th minute when Ismaïla Sarr broke through on goal. Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois produced an important save to keep the match level.

Belgium responded through Leandro Trossard, but Senegal goalkeeper Mory Diaw was alert to deny him from close range as the African side continued to dictate the tempo.

The breakthrough came in the 25th minute. Sadio Mané delivered a dangerous cross into the box, Pape Gueye’s effort was saved by Courtois, and Habib Diarra reacted quickest to finish from close range and put Senegal 1-0 ahead.

Belgium struggled to build rhythm in midfield and were forced into changes, including the withdrawal of Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku, as they searched for attacking control.

Commanding Position

Senegal doubled their lead in the 51st minute. Moussa Niakhaté provided the assist for Ismaïla Sarr, who finished clinically to make it 2-0 and put Senegal in a commanding position.

Belgium responded by introducing Romelu Lukaku, Nicolas Raskin and Dodi Lukebakio, increasing their physical presence in attack but still finding Senegal well organised defensively.

For much of the second half, Senegal remained in control, limiting clear chances while threatening on the counter-attack through Sarr.

Belgium’s clearest opening before the late turnaround came when Youri Tielemans fired into the side net from a tight angle.

As the match entered its closing stages, Belgium increased pressure significantly, committing more players forward and forcing Senegal deeper.

Reversal

The comeback began in the 86th minute when Romelu Lukaku reacted quickly inside the box to turn in a low cross from Thomas Meunier, reducing the deficit to 2-1.

Three minutes later, Belgium completed the equaliser. Leandro Trossard delivered an in-swinging cross from the right, and goalkeeper Mory Diaw failed to deal with it under pressure. Youri Tielemans headed into an empty net to make it 2-2.

Senegal were forced into sustained defending in stoppage time as Belgium pushed for a winner, but the match finished level after 90 minutes and moved into extra time.

Extra time began cautiously after the frantic end to regulation, with both sides initially reluctant to commit forward. Tensions rose briefly when referee Héctor Sorto interfered with play, while chances remained limited in the early stages of the additional period.

Belgium came closest when Dodi Lukebakio struck the crossbar in the 118th minute after a loose ball fell to him inside the box, but his effort clipped the top of the woodwork and went over.

The decisive moment came in the 121st minute after a Video Assistant Referee review awarded Belgium a penalty. Youri Tielemans stepped up and calmly converted, sending his effort into the top corner to complete the comeback and put Belgium 3-2 ahead.

Senegal pushed forward in the closing moments, with a free-kick from distance and a late cross into the box, but Thibaut Courtois held firm to secure Belgium’s victory.

Belgium, with the upsetting win, will face next the winner of USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina.

For Senegal, it was a painful exit after a performance that put them in control for long periods before late defensive lapses and the penalty decision turned the tie.

Belgium, meanwhile, will take confidence from their resilience in overturning a two-goal deficit in one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament so far.

Early shock

England recovered from an early shock on Wednesday to defeat DR Congo 2-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with captain Harry Kane scoring twice and sending his side into the FIFA World Cup Round of 16.

The victory sets up an encounter with Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on 5 July, while DR Congo’s impressive World Cup campaign came to an end despite a spirited display that pushed one of the tournament favourites to the limit.

DR Congo stunned England after just seven minutes. Captain Chancel Mbemba started a flowing move before Brian Kipenge Cipenga finished clinically beyond Jordan Pickford for his first international goal.

The striker, who plays in Spain’s second division, calmly converted after a well-worked attacking move to give the Leopards an early lead.

The goal lifted the African side, who continued to threaten on the counter-attack. Yoane Wissa had an opportunity to double the advantage but England’s defence recovered in time to frustrate the Brentford forward.

England struggled to find their rhythm during the opening stages and midfielder Jude Bellingham was shown a yellow card in the 15th minute after bringing down a DR Congo player as the Africans continued to press aggressively.

Although England enjoyed more possession, clear-cut chances were limited. Their best opening of the first half came in the 29th minute when Bellingham forced an outstanding save from goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, whose performance kept DR Congo in front.

England increased the pressure as the half progressed. Harry Kane was denied by excellent defending from Axel Tuanzebe before Marcus Rashford saw another promising attack stopped by Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who repeatedly frustrated the English forwards.

DR Congo remained dangerous whenever they broke forward. Wissa came closest to extending the lead in the 42nd minute when his effort struck the post after another dangerous attack created from the right flank.

England appealed twice for penalties before half-time. Rashford was brought down following a challenge from Noah Sadiki that resulted in a free-kick but no penalty, while Kane also went to ground after contact with Tuanzebe.

Referee Adham Makhadmeh waved play on both occasions, with the Video Assistant Referee also declining to intervene.

Mpasi continued his outstanding performance deep into first-half stoppage time, producing successive saves to deny both Bellingham and Kane and preserve DR Congo’s lead at the interval.

Greater urgency

England returned after the break with greater urgency but still struggled to break down DR Congo’s disciplined defence. Rashford fired over from distance before Bellingham again tested Mpasi, whose one-handed save was among the best of the evening.

Thomas Tuchel responded by introducing Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon in place of Rashford and Noni Madueke shortly after the hour mark in an attempt to increase England’s attacking threat.

DR Congo coach Sébastien Desabre also refreshed his side, introducing Meshack Elia, whose decisive goal against Uzbekistan had helped secure the Leopards’ place in the knockout stage.

England’s persistence finally paid off in the 74th minute. Declan Rice and Gordon combined to create space for Kane, who finished confidently to level the score and shift the momentum firmly in England’s favour.

England then continued to dominate possession and pinned DR Congo deep inside their own half as Saka and Elliot Anderson stretched the African defence.

DR Congo still carried a threat on the break. Elia had a chance to restore the lead, but Rice tracked back well to make a crucial defensive intervention.

England completed the turnaround five minutes from time. Sustained pressure from Bellingham and Gordon created another opening for Kane, who struck his second goal of the match to put England ahead for the first time.

Speaking after the match, Kane said England’s determination had been key to their comeback.

“The pressure was higher but we managed to stick together and never give up. I just want to enjoy with the fans and all the players because most of the time these big games you can’t enjoy, but we want to enjoy this win.”

The result sends England into the Round of 16, where they will face Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on 5 July.

For DR Congo, elimination ends a memorable campaign in which they reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in decades and demonstrated the progress made under Desabre since his appointment in 2022.

Morocco now remain Africa’s only representatives left in the tournament following the exits of South Africa, Ivory Coast and DR Congo.

Morocco booked on Tuesday their place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16, defeating the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in a game that played into extra time.

The Atlas Lions came from behind after Cody Gakpo had given the Dutch the lead before Issa Diop struck a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser to send the match into extra time.

The Netherlands made the brighter start and controlled possession for much of the opening half, but Morocco’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou produced a series of important saves to deny Crysencio Summerville and keep the scores level.

Morocco gradually grew into the contest and created chances of their own, with Bart Verbruggen called into action to keep out efforts from Neil El Aynaoui and captain Achraf Hakimi as the teams went into the interval goalless.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 72nd minute when Cody Gakpo finished off a swift Dutch counterattack, giving Ronald Koeman’s side a 1-0 advantage. Morocco refused to give up and continued to push forward in search of an equaliser.

Their persistence paid off when substitute Chemsdine Talbi picked out Issa Diop, who fired home in the 90+1st minute to level the match at 1-1 and silence the Dutch supporters.

Neither side could find a winner during the additional 30 minutes despite Morocco enjoying more possession and creating the better opportunities.

Verbruggen made another outstanding save to deny Soufiane Rahimi, while Bounou remained composed whenever the Netherlands threatened. The tie was eventually decided in a penalty shootout.

Teun Koopmeiners and Wout Weghorst converted for the Netherlands, but Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber and Crysencio Summerville all missed their spot-kicks.

Morocco converted three of their penalties through Soufiane Rahimi, Chemsdine Talbi and Ismael Saibari. And although Achraf Hakimi and Neil El Aynaoui failed from the spot, the Atlas Lions had done enough to secure a memorable victory.

Morocco will now face Canada in the Round of 16 as they continue their bid for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.