The Ivory Coast’s quest for a World Cup got off to a great start with a 1-0 victory over Ecuador on Sunday, but a recent scandal involving one of its players may put a dark cloud over its entire tournament run.

According to The Athletic, Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi was arrested on suspicion of fixing offenses less than two weeks before the start of the tournament.

Elye Wahi of Cote d’Ivoire plays during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match against Ecuador at Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia, Pa., on June 14, 2026. (Joe Prior/Visionhaus)

The arrest stems from an incident during a May 17 match in the French Ligue 1, in which Wahi, while playing for his club Nice, intentionally earned a yellow card against Metz.

Wahi was arrested on May 29 by French police, mere hours after scoring two goals in a win over Saint-Étienne.

FRENCH FOOTBALL MATCH DESCENDS INTO CHAOS AS FURIOUS NANTES FANS BREACH SECURITY, STORM PITCH

According to a spokesperson for the Marseille public prosecutor’s office, Wahi was released from police custody after he was interviewed by authorities.

While the investigation is still ongoing, Wahi has traveled to the United States and even played in the Ivory Coast’s win over Ecuador this past weekend.

The belief is that Wahi participated in a practice called “spot-fixing,” which is essentially manipulating events within a match that gamblers with inside knowledge can then bet on.

New York City FC forward Jovan Mijatovic receives a yellow card from referee Keylor Herrera during the second half against Queretaro FC at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, N.Y., on July 28, 2024. (Mark Smith/USA TODAY Sports)

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The Athletic says suspicions were raised when Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), the governing body that runs the league in France, were tipped off about suspect betting patterns in Nice’s Ligue 1 fixture against Metz, involving wagers on Wahi to receive a yellow card.

A yellow card was shown to Wahi in the 35th minute of the match against Metz, and he was suspended on yellow card accumulation for the following match, the first leg of a relegation playoff against Saint-Étienne, which Nice drew 0-0.

Ivory Coast’s Elye Wahi and teammate Nicolas Pepe react after missing a chance to score against Ecuador during a World Cup Group E soccer match in Philadelphia on June 14, 2026. (Matt Slocum/AP)

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Wahi has not been charged with any crimes as the investigation continues.

OutKick has reached out to FIFA for comment on the matter.

England began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign in impressive fashion with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Croatia in Dallas, with captain Harry Kane producing a man-of-the-match performance.

Thomas Tuchel’s side showed attacking quality throughout the contest, scoring four goals to secure all three points in their opening Group match.

Kane was the standout performer for the Three Lions. The Bayern Munich striker scored twice, including a retaken penalty and a powerful header from a Declan Rice set-piece. He also linked up well with Noni Madueke and was voted Player of the Match with an average rating of 8.32.

Jude Bellingham also impressed in the number 10 role. The Real Madrid midfielder scored England’s third goal and looked dangerous whenever he drove forward. His display earned him a rating of 7.

Madueke was another bright spark in attack. The winger’s pace caused Croatia several problems and his intelligent movement won England’s penalty. He finished with a rating of 7.

In midfield, Rice delivered another commanding performance. The Arsenal star provided the assist for Kane’s second goal and created two more opportunities from set-pieces. Elliot Anderson also continued his promising start to international football, providing the pass that led to Bellingham’s goal.

Substitutes Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka made important contributions after coming on in the second half. Rashford scored England’s fourth goal with a composed finish after being set up by Saka.

While England’s attack flourished, there were some concerns at the back. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford endured a mixed evening and may feel he could have done better with Croatia’s opening goal.

Central defenders John Stones and Ezri Konsa also looked short of understanding at times as Croatia managed to score twice against the new-look defence.

Nico O’Reilly, making his first start at a major tournament, delivered a solid display and came close to scoring from two second-half corners, while Reece James improved as the game progressed despite a relatively quiet outing.

The result gives England the perfect start to their World Cup campaign and will boost confidence ahead of their next group-stage fixture.

England Player Ratings

Harry Kane – 8

Jude Bellingham – 7

Noni Madueke – 7

Declan Rice – 7

Marcus Rashford – 7

Bukayo Saka – 7

Elliot Anderson – 6

Nico O’Reilly – 6

Reece James – 6

Anthony Gordon – 6

Morgan Rogers – 6

Djed Spence – 6

Marc Guehi – 6

Jordan Pickford – 5

John Stones – 5

Ezri Konsa – 5

Cbus Super Stadium will play host to Saturday’s
Round 16 NRL game between Gold Coast Titans and
Penrith Panthers. The game kicks off at 5:30 pm with Penrith Panthers heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Gold Coast Titans vs.
Penrith Panthers
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday June 20, 2026 at 5:30 pm

Where: Cbus Super Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Gold Coast Titans vs Penrith Panthers Odds

Gold Coast Titans vs Penrith Panthers Preview

The Titans face a daunting challenge when they host Penrith after letting a winning position slip in heartbreaking fashion last weekend. Gold Coast appeared on course for victory before errors and poor game management proved costly late in the contest. The Panthers arrive on the back of another strong campaign and remain one of the benchmark teams in the competition, with their trademark discipline and defensive resilience continuing to frustrate opponents. Penrith’s ability to identify and exploit weaknesses across the field makes them a particularly dangerous opponent for a Titans side still searching for consistency. With premiership experience throughout the roster and plenty to play for as the finals approach, the Panthers will be confident of extending their strong record against lower-ranked opposition.

England’s Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring his side’s 3rd goal. (AP Photo)

England midfielder Jude Bellingham continued his remarkable rise on the international stage by becoming the youngest European player to feature in four major tournaments, capping the milestone with a goal in the Three Lions’ thrilling 4-2 victory over Croatia in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener.The 22-year-old star etched his name into the record books once again, surpassing Germany’s Jamal Musiala to become the youngest men’s player from Europe to appear in four major international tournaments — the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship combined.

Bellingham rewrites European record books

Bellingham, aged 22 years and 353 days, reached the landmark after previously representing England at UEFA Euro 2020, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany.His latest appearance added another chapter to an already extraordinary career that began when he made his England debut at just 17 years and 136 days, making him the third-youngest player ever to represent the Three Lions behind Theo Walcott and Wayne Rooney.The Real Madrid midfielder moved ahead of Musiala (23 years, 108 days) in the all-time list, with Spain’s Pedri and Belgium’s Jeremy Doku also among the youngest players to reach four major tournaments.Youngest European players to play in four major tournaments

Goal seals memorable night against Croatia

Bellingham’s historic achievement came on a night when England produced one of the most entertaining performances of the opening round. Harry Kane struck twice before second-half goals from Bellingham and Marcus Rashford sealed a 4-2 victory over Croatia in Group L.The midfielder’s contribution underlined his growing importance to Thomas Tuchel’s side, with Bellingham insisting that wearing the England shirt comes with immense responsibility.“It’s my responsibility to my team and my country to give everything I have when I cross the line and when I wear that badge on the front, that No. 10 on the back, I want to give everything I have, with and without the ball, to the team,” Bellingham said.

Eyes on another milestone

Despite a demanding club campaign, Bellingham said he always finds extra motivation when representing England.“It’s been a long season for me. I’ve probably missed more camps than I would have liked, more training than I would have liked, but I like to think I’ve always got something in me where I know when it comes to this time, I’ll step up for my team,” he added.Bellingham could bring up his 50th England cap when the Three Lions face Ghana next.

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana (Pic credit: ICC)

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana produced one of the most remarkable all-round performances in Women’s T20 World Cup history, becoming the first skipper to score a half-century and claim three wickets in the same match, though her heroic effort ultimately ended in heartbreak as South Africa edged a thrilling contest by two wickets in Birmingham.The 23-year-old entered the record books with an unbeaten 55 off just 38 deliveries and figures of 3/16, joining an elite list of players to register a 50-plus score and take three or more wickets in a Women’s T20 World Cup match. However, she became the first captain to accomplish the feat.

Historic all-round feat lights up Birmingham

Pakistan appeared destined for an embarrassing collapse after South Africa’s pace attack, spearheaded by Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail, reduced them to 50/8. Kapp struck with the very first ball of the innings, leaving Pakistan staring at disaster on a sluggish surface.But Fatima refused to surrender. Alongside Tuba Hassan, she stitched together a fighting 71-run stand, the highest ninth-wicket partnership in Women’s T20 World Cup history, to drag Pakistan to a competitive 126.The skipper launched a late counterattack, smashing two sixes off Nadine de Klerk in the final over before bringing up her half-century and finishing with a flourish.“We just tried to take the game deep because we know we have the capability, and Tuba has the capability as well. We tried to take it deep and execute our plans,” Fatima said.50+ scores & 3+ wickets in a Women’s T20 World Cup match

‘The fight was there’

Fatima then sparked hopes of an unlikely defence with three wickets as Pakistan’s spinners pushed South Africa to the limit in a tense chase.Despite her extraordinary effort, Pakistan fell agonisingly short as South Africa held their nerve to register a two-wicket victory — one of the narrowest wins in Women’s T20 World Cup history. South Africa have now won all four of their World Cup meetings against Pakistan.Lowest win margin in WT20 World Cups (in wickets)

Reflecting on the defeat, an emotional Fatima admitted her side failed to seize the key moments.“I think we just couldn’t finish the game. The fight was there and the effort was there, but we couldn’t finish it,” she said.Asked about enjoying the additional responsibility of captaincy, she replied: “I’m enjoying the role, but we still need to win games. I’m enjoying it, but there’s still a long way to go.”Looking ahead, Fatima stressed the importance of staying composed under pressure.“We need to stay calm in the field, especially when the momentum is against us. We need to be calmer in those situations, and we’ll try to improve and execute better next time,” she added.

Errol Spence Jr has explained how a “messed up” training camp was what cost him in his undisputed showdown with Terence Crawford.

‘The Truth’ lost his WBC, IBF and WBA welterweight titles to ‘Bud’ in July 2023, suffering a ninth-round stoppage defeat in what was widely considered to be a 50/50 fight.

Since then, he has remained out of the ring, but the 36-year-old is now gearing up to face fellow former world champion Tim Tszyu on July 25.

The pair will square off in Australia at a catchweight of 158lbs, with Spence not only competing at a higher weight but also training under the tutelage of new head coach Ronnie Shields.

It seems as though a major change was needed, both in a weight-making and training-related sense, with the American hoping that Shields can guide him towards his first victory since April 2022, back when he scored a 10th-round finish over Yordenis Ugas.

Or at least, Spence is surely confident that his preparations for Tszyu will be more straightforward than they were for Crawford, whose switch-hitting style must be a nightmare to replicate in sparring.

In fact, the former unified champion has told All The Smoke Boxing that esteemed former coach Derrick James failed to arrange the proper sparring partners.

“Nope [no conversations with Derrick James about how to go about the fight]. That camp was bulls**t. I did no sparring. The guys didn’t fit – I had no southpaws in there to spar. It was all out of whack.

I was basically living wrong. Even out of camp, you’ve got to live right so, once you get in camp, everything [is] cool.

Derrick’s [job to pick the sparring partners], he’s the teacher right? We were just working the mitts. You would think he would put on some gloves and have me blocking shots, but it was none of that.

I was just feeling weak, depleted. Even if I worked out, I feel like I wasn’t getting stronger. The whole camp – it was just a whole messed up situation.”

Clearly, Spence also blames himself for not turning up in the best of shape, yet no credit should be taken away from one of Crawford’s career-defining performances.

In fact, Spence later took to social media to say just that:

Regardless Bud was disciplined & he deserved and earned his W…

— Errol Spence (@ErrolSpenceJr) June 16, 2026

This was not the first game where boos have been at the hydration break, and the wave of dislike for them among fans appears to be gathering momentum.

On Tuesday, during Norway’s match against Iraq in Boston, the pause in play was greeted by boos from the crowd, with the temperature a more than manageable 23C at the time.

It was goalless just before the break but Iraq conceded four minutes after play resumed, and went on to lose 4-1.

There were loud boos for the pause during Sweden’s 5-1 thrashing of Tunisia on Monday and Spain’s goalless draw with Cape Verde on the same day, with that game played in the air-conditioned Atlanta Stadium.

And after England’s win against Croatia, the first hydration break during the match between Ghana and Panama was also greeted by jeers.

The hydration breaks have effectively turned games into four quarters rather than two halves, a concern for some of those England supporters who booed the break.

“It is like the Americanisation of football here,” said one.

“It is turning the game into quarters and I don’t love it. I get why people were booing and I was one of them.”

But some supporters do think there are benefits to them.

“I think they are badly marketed,” said another fan.

“If they were not called a hydration break, and were called a relief break then everyone doesn’t miss a goal.

“I think we have to think about it in a new way, corporate [bodies] get what they want, we get what we want and everyone is happy.”

Accor Stadium will play host to Saturday’s
Round 16 NRL game between Canterbury Bulldogs and
Manly Sea Eagles. The game kicks off at 7:35 pm with Manly Sea Eagles heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Canterbury Bulldogs vs.
Manly Sea Eagles
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday June 20, 2026 at 7:35 pm

Where: Accor Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Canterbury Bulldogs vs Manly Sea Eagles Odds

Canterbury Bulldogs vs Manly Sea Eagles Preview

Saturday night’s clash at Accor Stadium shapes as an intriguing contest between two sides with finals aspirations. Manly will be buoyed by the return of Tom Trbojevic, whose influence in attack remains among the most significant in the NRL. The Sea Eagles have shown encouraging signs in recent weeks, particularly down their left edge, and Trbojevic’s playmaking ability adds another layer to an already dangerous attack. Canterbury, meanwhile, continues to show signs of improvement despite inconsistent results. The Bulldogs have been building steadily throughout the season and remain capable of troubling more fancied opponents when their defence holds firm. With both teams eyeing a strong finish to the year, this shapes as an important encounter in the race for finals positions.