NEW DELHI: One of the most recognisable faces of DR Congo football was missing from the stands when the African nation held Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal to a 1-1 draw in their opening World Cup match on Wednesday.Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, better known as Lumumba Vea, could not attend the match in Houston because he is currently undergoing a 21-day quarantine following an Ebola outbreak.Mboladinga has become famous around the football world for his unique support of the DR Congo national team. During the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025, television cameras repeatedly focused on the sharply dressed supporter who would stand perfectly still for entire matches, sometimes for 90 or even 120 minutes.His unusual appearance quickly went viral on social media, with many fans calling him “the statue fan”. Mboladinga’s pose is a tribute to Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of DR Congo and one of the country’s most important historical figures. His raised arm mirrors the famous Lumumba monument in Kinshasa, while the vintage glasses, tailored suit and rigid posture are all carefully chosen to honour the independence leader.After gaining worldwide attention during AFCON, DR Congo decided to include him as part of their official delegation for the World Cup.However, his quarantine meant he was unable to watch his country’s historic match against Portugal from the stands.His absence was felt by many supporters who had become accustomed to seeing him during DR Congo matches.
There is good news, though. Mboladinga is expected to complete his quarantine in time to attend DR Congo’s next World Cup match against Colombia on June 23.On the field, DR Congo produced one of the surprises of the tournament by holding Portugal to a 1-1 draw.Playing in their first World Cup in 52 years, DR Congo became the second African nation to impress against European opposition after Cape Verde’s goalless draw against Spain earlier in the week.Portugal coach Roberto Martinez admitted his side failed to produce their best performance.“The World Cup is a tournament where this happens,” Martinez said. “At times the performance is not up to the challenge.”In front of a crowd of 68,777 at NRG Stadium, most of whom were supporting Portugal, DR Congo earned the first World Cup point in their history after losing all three of their previous matches in the competition.While the result on the pitch was memorable, many fans will be hoping that when DR Congo face Colombia next, their famous “statue fan” will once again be back in his place in the stands.
Dak Prescott disclosed on Thursday that he delivered a bold promise to Quinnen Williams at the Dallas Cowboys minicamp. The defensive tackle, who was acquired from the New York Jets in the middle of last season, has yet to make the playoffs in his seven-year career in the NFL.
In his media availability, the quarterback noted that he’s promised to end Williams’ lengthy playoff absence while also placing a challenge in front of the veteran tackle. Prescott made the bold promise despite the Cowboys failing to make the playoffs in the last two seasons.
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“You miss it for two years,” Prescott said. ‘Yeah, it sucks, definitely. But we’re pushing. That’s our goal. That’s a minimum. When you have a team like this, and they’ve done everything they have in the offseason, we just said, obviously, we’ve got to push and get better on offense.
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“But when we know we’re already improving on defense, that’s the minimum. It’s everybody’s goal in here. To hear Q say he’s never been to the playoffs, that’s what you want to do it for. And that’s where I told him, I said, ‘I’ll get you the playoffs, and we need you to go help us win it.’”
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Dak Prescott‘s promise to Quinnen Williams has ignited a lot of reactions from NFL fans. While a section of the fans admires the quarterback’s confidence ahead of the 2026 season, others believe he needs to lower the bar of his lofty expectations for the team.
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Here’s a look at some of the reactions online:
@JoeJHoyt I love 4 but man oh man this dude sell more hopium than Jerry Jones 😂
@JoeJHoyt Translation: Defense be selling my shit in the playoffs 🤣🤣
@JoeJHoyt To which Quinnen responded: “then stop giving the other team the ball so often”
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@JoeJHoyt Dak has a mental block when real pressure hits, plain and simple. 2-5 He can’t get over it. No amount of reps, coaches, players, money can solve it.
@JoeJHoyt @dmn_cowboys Dak get us to the playoffs and yes he does come up short but he right.,. Nobody steps up to help. Hopefully that changes
@JoeJHoyt 🤣🤣🤣🤣 easiest bookmark of my life. Choke artist ain’t making the playoffs 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Dak Prescott evaluates the Cowboys’ defense
Without a doubt, the defense was one of the biggest downsides of the Cowboys team last season. They ranked among the worst in most defensive metrics, leading to the firing of DC Matt Eberflus. With Christian Parker coming in, Dak Prescott offers his evaluation on Thursday.
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“They’re playing with a lot of confidence,” Prescott said. “You can just tell by the way they’re communicating, whether it’s walkthroughs, whether it’s out there at practice, seven on seven. Guys are taking ownership in what they’re being asked. We’ve got great energy from not only CP, but the rest of the coaches.
“So it’ll be a battle. They’ve already gotten us in some of these days, and OTAs, and the rushes, and even there. So once you let Quinnen, Gary, Kenny and all those guys take off and put pressure on me, I’m sure it’s gonna be tougher. But it’s iron sharpens iron. Super, super excited about it.”
The Cowboys had it pretty good on offense last season, with Dak Prescott going wild in a host of games. Nothing less than a noteworthy improvement on that is expected from the unit ahead of next season. However, for the team to achieve is playoff aims, the defense has to rise up to the occasion.
Welcome to our live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The carnival has truly arrived at the Estadio Guadalajara as co-hosts Mexico lock horns with Asian giants South Korea in a blockbuster Group A fixture. The stakes could not be higher tonight—with both teams winning their opening encounters, a victory for either side will guarantee a spot in the Round of 32.
El Tri enter this clash riding a massive wave of home support following their commanding 2-0 victory against South Africa on opening night. Javier Aguirre’s men looked fluid, efficient, and lethal. However, the hosts face an immediate defensive hurdle tonight. Influential center-back Cesar Montes is suspended following a red card, forcing skipper Edson Alvarez to drop into a deeper defensive role. On the brighter side, winger Julian Quinones has recovered from a knock and joins the veteran Raul Jimenez to lead a formidable Mexican attack. On the other hand, South Korea’s Taegeuk Warriors have shown that they love a good fight.
Hong Myung-bo’s side pulled off a spectacular, resilient 2-1 comeback victory over Czechia in their opening match. Boasting a fully fit squad, the Asian powerhouse will rely heavily on their trademark high press and lightning-fast transitions. All eyes will undeniably be on captain Son Heung-min and creative wizard Lee Kang-in to unlock the reshuffled Mexican defense. Historically, Mexico hold an 8-4 advantage over South Korea, including victories in both of their previous World Cup meetings. But past records matter little on a night like this. Expect a high-octane battle of contrasting styles—Mexico’s elegant possession play up against South Korea’s blistering pace.
Stay tuned as we bring you live commentary, real-time updates, key moments, and all the action as it unfolds!
Canada produced a stunning performance in front of their home supporters in Vancouver, crushing Qatar 6-0 to register the first men’s FIFA World Cup victory in the nation’s history and take a huge step towards the knockout stages.
After being held to a draw by Bosnia and Herzegovina in their opening fixture, Jesse Marsch’s side responded emphatically with an attacking display that overwhelmed the reigning Asian champions from start to finish.
Canada attacking from the get go
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The Canadians set the tone early, pressing aggressively and forcing Qatar onto the back foot from the opening whistle. Their dominance was rewarded in the 16th minute when Cyle Larin opened the scoring, finishing confidently to ignite celebrations around the stadium.
Canada continued to create chances at will, and Jonathan David bounced back brilliantly after a disappointing outing in the opener. The Lille striker struck twice before halftime, showcasing his composure in front of goal to send Canada into the break with a commanding 3-0 advantage.
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Any hopes of a Qatari comeback disappeared shortly after the restart. Nathan Saliba produced one of the moments of the match with a superb free-kick that flew into the net to make it 4-0. Canada’s relentless pressure then forced further problems for Qatar, who conceded an own goal to extend the lead to five.
David completed a memorable evening deep into stoppage time, finishing off a flowing move to secure the first World Cup hat-trick in Canadian men’s football history and cap a remarkable 6-0 victory.
Kone suffers horrific injury
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The only concern for Canada came midway through the second half when midfielder Ismael Koné suffered a serious-looking leg injury following a late challenge from Assim Madibo. The Qatari midfielder was shown a straight red card, Qatar’s second dismissal of the match, while Koné was taken to hospital with his leg stabilised.
The emphatic win leaves Canada firmly in control of Group B. Marsch’s side now need only a draw against Switzerland in their final group-stage match in Vancouver to secure top spot and continue their dream World Cup campaign.
VANCOUVER — Jonathan David ended a scoring drought by scoring three goals to lead Canada to its first-ever FIFA World Cup victory with a 6-0 decision over Qatar Thursday before a boisterous sellout crowd at BC Place Stadium.
David, who had been denied in his previous four World Cup matches, scored in the 29th minute and the third minute of added time in the first half. He finished the hat trick in second minute of stoppage time.
Cyle Larin also scored for Canada in the 16th minute, bringing an explosion from the crowd of 52,497. Nathan Saliba, who came in for an injured Ismaël Koné, scored in the 63rd minute and Jacob Shaffelburg in the 75th.
Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau didn’t face a shot in earning a clean sheet. Canada led 30-2 in shot attempts.
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The historic victory moved the Canadians into a tie for first place with Switzerland in Group B standings and improved their chances of advancing to the knockout round of the 48-team tournament.
Canada’s next game will be against Switzerland on Wednesday at BC Place Stadium.
The shine of the victory was tarnished when Koné was carried off the field on a stretcher with a left leg injury suffered in the 51st minute. Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo was issued a red card leaving the team down two men.
There was an electric atmosphere in the building for Canada’s first match in Vancouver. Before the game, fans dressed in red jerseys while waving Maple Leafs sang along to Bryan Adam’s “Summer of 69” then belted out O’Canada.
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An avalanche of cheers and chants of “Ca-Na-Da” greeted the team when it stepped on the field.
In the sea of red was an island of white where Qatar fans dressed in traditional robes, waved flags and cheered their team.
Among the fans watching the game were Prime Minister Mark Carney, B.C. Premier David Eby and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim.
The Canadians, dressed in their black uniforms, controlled most of the early stages of the match. Their first good chance came in the seventh minute when David blasted a shot from the side of the net that goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada handled.
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The energy that had been building in the stadium exploded when Larin gave the Canadian fans what they came to see. David started the play with a shot that Abunada blocked. Larin, the hero of Canada’s opening 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina, banged the loose ball in for a 1-0 lead.
David put Canada ahead 2-0 with a right-footed shot from about 15 metres out that curled inside the post.
Larin and David combined again in first-half extra time. Larin took a shot that was stopped but David put in the rebound for a 3-0 lead.
There was controversy in the 31st minute when forward Tajon Buchanan was hauled down by defender Homen Ahmed. At first it looked like Canada would be awarded a penalty kick but VAR overruled the decision. Ahmed was shown a red card, leaving Qatar a man down.
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Canada was awarded a free kick but David sent the ball over top of the net.
Just a few minutes later, Buchanan had a shot but a Qatar defender cleared it off the line.
Saliba’s goal came off a free kick with a shot that hit the post and went in.
Shaffelburg added another nail in the coffin with a strike that deflected in off a Qatar player.
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Earlier in the day, Switzerland defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-1 in Los Angeles. Canada and Switzerland lead Group B with four points each with 1-0-1 records. Bosnia-Herzegovina and Qatar have one point from 0-1-1 records.
In eight games over three World Cups, Canada has a one win, six losses and a draw.
Canada didn’t score a goal in its first World Cup appearance in 1986 in Mexico and managed just one at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Canada is 30th and Qatar 49th in FIFA world rankings.
Sportsbooks believe the NFC North will shake out in this order during the 2026 regular season: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings, in fact, are quite the underdog to win the division, with +500 moneyline odds in June, which gives Minnesota a 17% chance and is equivalent to a 10-point underdog on a single-game scale.
But VikingsTerritory has a different take, and to the surprise of none, does not believe the Vikings will inhabit last place in 2026.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown celebrates a touchdown with teammates Jameson Williams and David Montgomery during second-half action against the Cleveland Browns at Ford Field. The scoring play occurred on Sept. 28, 2025, in Detroit as the Lions continued a strong offensive performance and added another highlight in front of the home crowd. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
1. Detroit Lions | 12-5
While the Lions finishing last in the NFC North in 2025 was undoubtedly concerning — they played terribly down the stretch — their roster isn’t the problem. Dan Campbell’s team still has the juice to reach the postseason and do some damage in the tournament.
Detroit has three main perks at its disposal: a powerful, playmaking offense, a defense with enough talent to support that offense, and a Top-5 or Top-8 coach in Campbell. The Lions also have the benefit of a last-place schedule, which Vikings fans thought Minnesota might enjoy when the season looked rough at 4-8 last November. Instead, the Vikings won their final five games.
The Lions get the “tiebreaker” here in a tight division because of the schedule’s strength. It’s also worth noting that, when it’s all said and done with the current iteration of the Lions, their Super Bowl window might’ve closed the day they coughed away the NFC Championship in 2023 to the San Francisco 49ers in the largest collapse in NFC title game history.
Lions’ Main Veteran Offseason Additions:
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Larry Borom (OT)
Teddy Bridgewater (QB)
Chuck Clark (S)
Tyler Conklin (TE)
Greg Dortch (WR)
Christian Izien (DB)
Cade Mays (OL)
Roger McCreary (CB)
Isiah Pacheco (RB)
Juice Scruggs (OL)
D.J. Wonnum (DE)
Lions’ Main Veteran Offseason Departures:
Kyle Allen (QB)
Alex Anzalone (LB)
Taylor Decker (OT)
Graham Glasgow (IOL)
Roy Lopez (DT)
David Montgomery (RB)
Al-Quadin Muhammad (EDGE)
Josh Paschal (EDGE)
Kalif Raymond (WR)
Amik Robertson (CB)
Grant Stuard (LB)
2. Minnesota Vikings | 11-6
If the Vikings could finish 2025 with a winning record while showcasing the NFL’s fifth-worst quarterback performance per Dropback EPA, they can get two more wins with Kyler Murray under center.
Murray’s current contract with the Vikings — one year and $1.3 million — is absurdly sweet value, so much so that it doesn’t feel like it should be allowed. Props to the Arizona Cardinals for paying Murray’s ticket to play in Minnesota.
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. reacts following a matchup against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. The veteran defensive back remained on the field on Dec. 25, 2025, in Minneapolis after Minnesota’s divisional showdown as players reflected on the outcome of a key late-season contest. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
With the Vikings. Murray will join a Top 3 or Top 5 defense for the first time in his career, tasked with distributing the ball to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, T.J. Hockenson, Jordan Mason, and Aaron Jones.
The experiment will work to the tune of 11 wins, as Murray will likely stay on as Minnesota’s QB1 for multiple seasons.
Vikings’ Main Veteran Offseason Additions:
Johnny Hekker (P)
Jauan Jennings (WR)
Kyler Murray (QB)
James Pierre (CB)
Ryan Van Demark (OL)
Vikings’ Main Veteran Offseason Departures:
Jonathan Allen (DT)
C.J. Ham (FB)
Javon Hargrave (DT)
Jonathan Greenard (EDGE)
Ryan Kelly (C)
Jalen Nailor (WR)
Harrison Smith (S)
Ryan Wright (P)
3. Green Bay Packers | 10-7
The Packers never stray too far from relevance, making it unwise to pick them as cellar dwellers in the NFC North — like ever.
Green Bay lost its defensive coordinator, Jeff Hafley, to the Miami Dolphins, and if Jordan Love misses time due to injury, it will call on Tyrod Taylor, a game manager, not Malik Willis, in 2026. The Packers also have some uncertainty at running back with Josh Jacobs’ bizarre legal ordeal, an alleged choking incident that still needs resolution.
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Regardless, we trust Green Bay to win 9 or 10 games; that’s what the franchise does as a baseline.
Packers’ Main Veteran Offseason Arrivals:
Zaire Franklin (LB)
Javon Hargrave (DT)
Skyy Moore (WR)
Benjamin St-Juste (CB)
Tyrod Taylor (QB)
Packers’ Main Veteran Offseason Departures:
Zayne Anderson (S)
Romeo Doubs (WR)
Kingsley Enagbare (EDGE)
Rashan Gary (EDGE)
Nate Hobbs (CB)
Elgton Jenkins (C)
Malik Willis (QB)
Quay Walker (LB)
Rasheed Walker (OT)
Emanuel Wilson (RB)
Colby Wooden (DL)
4. Chicago Bears | 9-8
Bears fans will simply refuse to believe it, and that’s fine, but teams that find ways to win a litany of close games generally return to earth the following season. That happened to the Vikings in 2022, even if fans insisted close-game wins indicated a “team of destiny.” Bears fans experienced the same phenomenon in 2025, and Chicago even beat Green Bay in the postseason, a monkey-off-the-back moment.
Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat walks off the field following a game against the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field. The veteran pass rusher appeared after the final whistle on Sept. 21, 2025, in Chicago as the Bears wrapped up another regular-season matchup and turned their attention toward the next week. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Chicago, though, will face a first-place schedule in 2026 and has a target on its back, with quarterback Caleb Williams climbing the NFL’s radar as the next big thing.
The upcoming campaign feels ripe for a miniature Bears regression, putting them around 9 wins and fighting for playoff entry around the 7th seed.
Bears’ Main Veteran Offseason Arrivals:
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Garrett Bradbury (C)
Coby Bryant (S)
Devin Bush (LB)
Neville Gallimore (DT)
Cam Lewis (DB)
Scott Miller (WR)
Kalif Raymond (WR)
Jack Sanborn (LB)
Kentavius Street (EDGE)
Jedrick Wills Jr. (OT)
Bears’ Main Veteran Offseason Departures:
Kevin Byard (S)
Tremaine Edmunds (LB)
Dominique Robinson (EDGE)
Durham Smythe (TE)
Nahshon Wright (CB)
Chris Williams (DT)
Olamide Zacchaeus (WR)
The Los Angeles Rams, of course, are the overwhelming favorite to win the Super Bowl. Los Angeles’s roster is so stacked that it feels like NFC North standings may not even matter, at least from a June standpoint.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Smriti Mandhana achieved a historic feat during India’s Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 match against Netherlands on Wednesday in Leeds. After beginning their campaign on a blistering note with a 64-run win against arch-rivals Pakistan, Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. maintained their dominance and defeated Netherlands by 95 runs. Batting first, India posted a total of 209/5, with Mandhana scoring 74 off 47 balls. In response, the Netherlands were bundled out for 114, with Sree Charani picking up four wickets.
Mandhana was at her absolute best, with her knock comprising 11 boundaries and one six. With this performance, she completed 600 boundaries in T20Is, becoming the only player in the history of the format to achieve this feat. No other player, male or female, has managed to reach this milestone so far.
New Zealand veteran Suzie Bates is second on the list with 521 boundaries, while Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu is third with 493. Among men’s cricketers, Pakistan batter Babar Azam tops the list with 477 boundaries, while former India captain Rohit Sharma occupies third spot with 383.
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Meanwhile, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur hailed the opening stand between Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma as the key factor in her team’s comprehensive 95-run victory over the Netherlands.
Shafali also picked 3-20, while N Sree Charani took 4-19 as India secured their second straight win and moved to the top of Group A. “I think we were really good with the bat. It wasn’t that easy a wicket, but Smriti and Shafali gave us a great platform. She (Shafali) is always ready with the ball whenever the team needs it. She keeps giving us breakthroughs, and she can go on to be a great all-rounder,” Harmanpreet said at the end of the game.
“Kranti is one who is always bowling for us, and Nandani has got very good experience from WPL, and she’s using that here, and it’s a good thing that she’s giving us breakthroughs in the Powerplay.”
(With IANS Inputs)
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IPL 2026 News | Shami’s Sensation Leads Lucknow to First Win of Season
Manchester United have been linked to a transfer for Mateus Fernandes, with Real Madrid’s plans potentially set to impact any midfielder deal
Real Madrid are reportedly targeting a move for Mateus Fernandes, which could yet open the door for Manchester United to sign Aurelien Tchouameni. Both midfielders have been strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford this summer, and one of those names could be signed in addition to Ederson.
Arsenal and Tottenham are other Premier League clubs looking to sign a midfielder this summer but it is the Spanish giants that could play a huge role in United’s plans. That is because, according to Mundo Deportivo, Fernandes is Jose Mourinho’s favoured signing and his potential arrival would require an exit.
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As things stand, Tchouameni is the most likely candidate to depart over the likes of Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Ceballos. Their report states that any funds acquired from selling Tchouameni, who would cost a sizeable amount, would be used to sign a replacement.
Enzo Fernandez is also an option for Los Blancos, who have already signed his Chelsea team-mate Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries and Bernardo Silva have also joined on free transfers.
Tchouameni is currently at the World Cup alongside Real’s four new additions while Fernandes was not included in Portugal’s squad despite an impressive season at West Ham.
Lewis Hall, El Hadji Malick Diouf and Nathaniel Brown have all been linked with the latter putting in a strong display for Germany at the World Cup earlier this month.
Departures are also expected to occur with Rasmus Hojlund already joining Napoli permanently and Manuel Ugarte likely to join Casemiro as a midfielder leaving the club.
The future of Marcus Rashford remains a hot topic with his chances of joining Barcelona dwindling in the wake of signing Anthony Gordon. The former came off the bench to score in England’s 4-2 win over Croatia on Wednesday with his future likely to be resolved after the World Cup.
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Substitute Johan Manzambi scored twice as Switzerland defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-1 in an entertaining FIFA World Cup Group B match to move closer to a place in the last 32.
The Swiss struggled to break down Bosnia for much of the game, but a dramatic final 20 minutes changed everything.
Manzambi opened the scoring in the 74th minute, less than three minutes after coming off the bench. The 20-year-old reacted quickly inside the penalty area and volleyed home past goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj with only his fourth touch of the match.
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Bosnia’s problems increased moments later when Tarik Muharemovic was sent off for bringing down Breel Embolo as he raced clear on goal.
With the extra man advantage, Switzerland took control. Ruben Vargas curled a fine effort into the bottom corner to make it 2-0 before setting up Manzambi for his second goal in the 90th minute.
Captain Granit Xhaka added a fourth goal from the penalty spot during stoppage time after Djibril Sow was fouled inside the box.
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Bosnia managed a late consolation through Ermin Mahmic, who scored with a superb volley following a corner kick.
“It is probably the best moment of my career so far,” Manzambi said after the match. “We had to stay patient because we knew we were a good team. I think we showed that.”
The young midfielder has continued his rapid rise after an impressive season with Freiburg and once again proved his value to the Swiss national team.
Switzerland had created chances earlier in the game but lacked the finishing touch. Dan Ndoye came close on several occasions, including a spectacular bicycle kick that was tipped over the crossbar by the Bosnia goalkeeper.
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Bosnia also had moments of promise, with veteran striker Edin Dzeko leading the attack. However, the experienced forward could not find a breakthrough and was substituted midway through the second half.
Swiss coach Murat Yakin praised Manzambi’s impact after the match.
“Johan is a player full of quality and confidence,” Yakin said. “He can surprise both us and our opponents. He was very important for today’s victory.”
The result leaves Switzerland top of Group B with four points, while Bosnia remain bottom with one point and a goal difference of minus three.
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Switzerland will face co-hosts Canada in their final group match, while Bosnia take on Qatar as they hope to keep their slim qualification hopes alive.
Despite not being physically present at Royal Randwick this Saturday, trainer Bjorn Baker is set to unleash a strong contingent for the feature race, the Listed Civic Stakes, run over 1400 metres.
Baker has been at Royal Ascot this week, attending to his stable star sprinter Overpass, who put in a gallant third-place effort in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1005m) on Tuesday night. A final decision on whether Overpass will back up on Saturday night to compete against Joliestar in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1207m) is still pending, but the stable will be represented by four runners in the Civic Stakes.
Racing manager Luke Hilton, who is managing the home operations, confirmed that Hollywood Hero, Midnight Dynamite, Amor Victorious, and Point And Shoot are all slated for winter campaigns. “Hollywood Hero was really good the other day. He may need further again, but he was outstanding,” Hilton said. He also mentioned, “Midnight Dynamite was really good the other day too.” On Amor Victorious, Hilton elaborated, “Amor Victorious is coming back off a short let-up. He had a bit of a setback (after Scone) so he had a bit of a break, but he’s in good order now. He doesn’t love wet ground. If we can just not have really wet ground it will suit him.” Adding about Point And Shoot, he stated, “With Point And Shoot, it depends which Point And Shoot turns up.”
Last year’s Civic Stakes winner, Headley Grange, went on to achieve Group One success. While the Baker quartet may not reach those same heights, the winter racing program should offer ample opportunities for stakes victories. “We’re going to roll through with all four of them. You’ve got the Winter Stakes, the Winter Challenge. Unfortunately they’ve probably all got to keep taking each other on, but it’s a good problem to have,” Hilton commented.
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Hollywood Hero requires three scratchings to make the final 15-runner field, while Midnight Dynamite is the current market elect, opening at $3.60 with Jason Collett booked to ride from barrier eight. The Listed Winter Stakes (1400m) is scheduled for Rosehill on July 4, and the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) will take place at Rosehill on July 18.
The online bookmakers will be offering a wide range of racing odds for the Civic Stakes and other upcoming races.
On the pitch, the focus in Germany during Sunday’s FIFA World Cup match was on the national team’s convincing 7–1 victory over Curaçao.
Off the pitch, however, many social media users were fixated on something entirely different: an image of a fan inside the stadium wearing a German shirt, holding a German flag, and bearing a resemblance to Adolf Hitler.
The image was shared across several platforms, amassing millions of views.
This post on X, for example, has garnered more than 3 million views, while this one on Instagram has attracted over 460,000 likes.
Some posts also contained undertones of anti-German sentiment, such as a Reddit postthat sarcastically read: “It’s always awesome to see the fans truly show up to support their team!”
The alleged image of the Hitler look-alike appears to be a screenshot from the television broadcast of the match, complete with a timestamp corresponding to stoppage time in the first half.
This was shortly after Kai Havertz had scored a penalty to make it 3-1 for Germany. The fans were happy and celebrating.
A review of the original broadcast shows the same group of fans celebrating after Havertz’s goal, but with one key difference: the alleged Hitler look-alike is nowhere to be seen.
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Instead, the original footage shows a gray-haired man who bears no resemblance to Hitler.
You can see the clear differences by sliding between the two images shown above: one is the real broadcast (in this case from German public broadcaster ARD on the right side), while the other one is the image manipulated with AI.
It’s important to note that for major sporting events like the World Cup, an official broadcast is produced by the organizing body (in this case, FIFA) and distributed as a central feed to partner broadcasters.
This means the core images are the same across all channels, with only minor elements customized by individual broadcasters.
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Beyond the central broadcast, another clue to the composition of the fan group can be found by examining images from photo agencies accredited to the match.
For example, this photo below by Imago, a Berlin-based agency that frequently covers major sporting events, captures the same group of fans from a different perspective, again, without any Hitler look-alike.
A review of photos taken by photographers accredited to the match shows the same group of fans, but without any Hitler look-alikeImage: Joao Bravo/Sports Press Photo/IMAGO
While it was not possible to verify the exact moment the image was taken based on the metadata provided by the agency, it can nevertheless be considered further evidence that no such figure was part of the group.
2) Is it AI?
A further step in verifying the image’s authenticity is to determine whether it was created or manipulated using artificial intelligence.
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Several AI chatbots now offer the ability to check whether their systems have been used to generate or manipulate an image.
This is possible because such tools embed a digital watermark. It is invisible to the naked eye, but detectable when using the tool to verify content.
OpenAI confirmed its tools were used to generate the fake contentImage: Open AI
A search using OpenAI, the US-based organization behind ChatGPT, indicates that its tools were indeed used to create the image of the Hitler lookalike.
OpenAI’s analysis states that it “found a SynthID watermark that originated from OpenAI.”
A further check using another tool, this time from Google’s Gemini, provides additional clues.
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Google’s Gemini said there was a ‘strong’ indication that the image was digitally alteredImage: Google AI
While it indicates that no Google AI systems were used to manipulate the image, it also notes that “a visual analysis and context check strongly indicate that this image has been digitally altered or generated.”
A third tool, X’s Grok, describes the image as a “classic fake,” responding to a user’s question on X under the viral post.
It adds: “This picture is not real. It’s digitally edited (AI or Photoshop) inserting Adolf Hitler into a 2026 World Cup crowd.”
While these tools should always be used with caution, as they can sometimes make mistakes, in this case three independent tools reached similar conclusions, reinforcing the analysis based on the original footage.
3) Think about the context
While the World Cup is known as a celebratory event that showcases fans and cultures from around the world, a supporter resembling the Nazi dictator who initiated World War II and was the central figure responsible for the Holocaust would likely have caused a major controversy in the stands.
Such an incident would likely have drawn immediate attention from broadcasters or stadium officials. It would also likely have been met with strong disapproval from many German fans in the stadium.
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Moreover, it should be noted that the image shows the alleged Hitler impersonator wearing a German jersey in black, red, and gold. These national colors represent Germany’s democratic tradition and the Federal Republic.
Although right-wing extremists and populists have long attempted to appropriate the colors and the flag for their own purposes, black, red, and gold stand for values that are fundamentally opposed to those of Adolf Hitler and National Socialism.
For Hitler, these colors symbolized what he viewed as a weak parliamentary system, one he ultimately abolished.
This fake image is part of a broader trend of disinformation, much of it generated or manipulated by AI, that has circulated before and during the World Cup.
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