Ten-man ​Paraguay eliminated Turkey with a courageous ​defensive effort to seal a dramatic 1-0 win on Friday after suffering a ​dismissal ‌before halftime, with the ⁠fastest goal of the World Cup proving ‌the difference.

Midfielder Matias Galarza wound up ⁠from 25 metres and fired a low rocket home after 64 ​seconds to eclipse Ismael Saibari’s ‌71-second strike in Morocco’s 1-0 win over Scotland conjured hours before.

Paraguay midfielder ‌Miguel Almiron was given a straight red card ​in first-half stoppage time for putting his hand over his mouth in a ​confrontation with Turkey’s Mert Muldur, ​the first to fall ​foul of the new rule at the tournament.

It ​made Paraguay’s task that much harder but they weathered wave after wave of Turkey attacks to claim the win ⁠in a remarkable turnaround following their opening ⁠4-1 ​demolition by the United States.

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)

India pacer Harshit Rana said that he was relieved to be back in the national setup after spending five months on the sidelines with a knee injury, admitting the prolonged absence from cricket was the toughest phase of his career. “For me, especially, it was very difficult. Because as a kid, my dream was to play in the World Cup. And India had won, so I missed out on that. But I had five months. I mean, I’ve been away for five months. But I’ve worked a lot on everything,” Rana said in a BCCI video.

Manchester United fans would have loved what they saw if they stayed up until the early hours to see Matheus Cunha’s display against Haiti

Manchester United needed the bulk of their squad to fly across the pond to realise their attacking solution is already within their ranks.

Matheus Cunha has seemingly solved Carlo Ancelotti’s biggest dilemma with Brazil. Against Morocco, the South Americans were blunt, laboured and devoid of ideas. The ex-Real Madrid manager swapped Igor Thiago for Cunha and, suddenly, Brazil were playing a lot more like… well, Brazil.

The dearth of quality between the Brazilians and Haiti may have been as big as the Empire State Building, but Cape Verde have already proven how resolve can cut down giants like European champions Spain. Haiti set up with a flat back five, which compacted and overlapped like a set of shutter doors.

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Instead of a target man like Thiago, Cunha was deployed at the tip of their attack. He slipped his way between the lines, luring defenders out of their positions, carving neat alleyways for Vinicius Jr and co to run through.

Yet, Cunha was the hammer as well as the creator. While he ghosted in between defenders to bundle home for his first goal, he smacked a thunderbolt of a left-foot into the top corner for his second.

Carrick experimented with him as the centre-forward at the beginning of his reign and was repaid with an assist against Manchester City and a goal against Arsenal.

After the victory at the Emirates Stadium, he only featured up front in two of his next thirteen matches. Against Haiti, it became clear Cunha needs, and deserves, more space to work with, where he is away from the sidelines.

Shunting him out to the left wing, which he put himself forward to do, when he does not have the explosive pace to trouble full-backs, does him an injustice. Before injury cut his campaign short, Patrick Dorgu thrived while playing on the left of Cunha, and it’s still a position United are considering recruiting in.

He dashed through the same corridors Vinicius did in Philadelphia and seemingly became one of United’s most potent goal threats overnight. United have already been linked with left-wingers like Yan Diomande, Rafael Leao and Crysencio Summerville, who both star on the left wing. Once United are done with bringing in new midfielders and a left back, perhaps United should give some serious consideration to pushing Cunha up top and going and buying a new left winger as well to challenge Dorgu.

If they watched Cunha in action playing his all-round role at centre-forward, the prospect of sharing a front line with him would make their mouth water. One person who may not be as enthusiastic is Benjamin Sesko, who may have to content himself with the bench more if Cunha keeps starring in the World Cup in a central position.

But the Slovenian is a different player from the ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers man. His game is built on getting on the end of crosses, passes and balls over the top, while Cunha is more than comfortable with starting and finishing a team move. Yes, Sesko had a strong end to last season, but Cunha showcased the threat he poses from central last night – and is the type of player who, if he’s not scoring, by being central, it gives the opportunity for attack-minded midfielders to thrive.

The World Cup seems to be telling the world that the 10-man low block could soon become a thing of the past.

The games have been more open and less compact. If this theme extends into the Premier League, United would need a creative Brazilian army knife in their front line. He may be the one to unlock all the defences in Europe and in the Premier League, if Carrick is brave enough to trust Cunha to hold the attacking line.

Cunha has still consistently performed well on the left for United, but in the early hours of Saturday, thousands of miles away and in the blue kit of Brazil, he may just have put a case forward for a change in Manchester next season.

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After nine months away from competitive action, India’s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra made a reassuring return at the Doha Diamond League 2026, finishing fourth in a high-quality field while comfortably securing qualification for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

The Olympic and World Championship medallist may not have returned to the top step of the podium, but his performance in Doha offered plenty of positives as he continues his comeback from a back injury that delayed the start of his season.

A return after nine challenging months

All eyes were on Chopra as he stepped into the throwing circle for the first time since his lengthy injury layoff.

The 28-year-old entered the competition looking to test both his fitness and rhythm against some of the world’s leading javelin throwers. While expectations were naturally tempered after such a long absence, Chopra showed enough to suggest that he remains on track for another strong season.

His evening began with a false throw, an understandable sign of rust after months away from competition. However, he quickly settled into his rhythm and responded with an 82.77m effort on his second attempt.

That throw immediately achieved one important objective.

Commonwealth Games qualification secured

Chopra’s second-round effort of 82.77m comfortably surpassed the Athletics Federation of India’s Commonwealth Games qualifying standard of 82.61m.

With that throw alone, he effectively secured his place for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 2.

Best effort comes in third round

The Indian superstar saved his best throw for the third round.

Chopra launched the javelin to 85.69m, a mark that would ultimately stand as his best effort of the competition. While it was not enough to secure a podium finish, it demonstrated that he remains capable of competing at an elite level despite limited competitive preparation.

Perhaps the most encouraging aspect was how close he came to the medal positions.

His best throw was only 0.30m behind third-placed American Curtis Thompson, underlining just how competitive Chopra was on his return.

Sri Lanka’s Pathirage steals the spotlight

The standout performer of the evening was Sri Lanka’s rising star Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, who continued his impressive season by claiming victory with a world-leading throw of 88.68m.

Former world champion Anderson Peters finished second with 86.38m, while Curtis Thompson took third place with 85.99m.

Bigger goals lie ahead for Neeraj

While a fourth-place finish may not normally satisfy an athlete of Chopra’s stature, context is important.

This was his first competitive appearance in nine months, following a back injury that disrupted his preparations and delayed his season. Under those circumstances, an 85.69m throw and immediate qualification for the Commonwealth Games represent a highly encouraging return.

Most importantly, Chopra came through the competition without any apparent setbacks and showed signs that his form is steadily returning.

With the Commonwealth Games approaching and major international competitions later in the season, Doha may ultimately be remembered not for the finishing position, but for the successful beginning of another comeback chapter in Neeraj Chopra’s remarkable career.

The expansion of the FIFA World Cup to 48 teams was met with skepticism in some quarters. Critics feared that increasing the number of participants would dilute the quality of the competition and create more one-sided contests. Yet after the opening round of group-stage matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Africa’s representatives have emerged as some of the tournament’s most compelling stories.

While the numbers show African teams recording three wins, five draws and four defeats from their opening fixtures, the results only tell part of the story. Across the United States, Canada and Mexico, African nations have demonstrated that they are no longer content with simply participating. Instead, they are competing toe-to-toe with some of football’s most established powers.

Morocco continue where Qatar 2022 left off

No African side has made a stronger statement than Morocco.

The Atlas Lions arrived at the tournament carrying the legacy of their historic run to the semifinals in Qatar four years ago. Against five-time world champions Brazil, they showed that achievement was no fluke.

Morocco secured a 1-1 draw and arguably looked the better side for large stretches of the contest. Their pressing unsettled Brazil, their midfield controlled key phases of the game and Ismael Saibari’s goal highlighted the attacking quality within the squad.

They went on to take all 3 points against Scotland to almost ensure qualification to the next round

Ivory Coast deliver Africa’s biggest victory

If Morocco produced the performance, Ivory Coast delivered the result.

Making their first World Cup appearance in 12 years, Les Elephants defeated Ecuador 1-0 thanks to Amad Diallo’s dramatic 90th-minute winner.

The victory was significant not only because it ended Ecuador’s impressive unbeaten streak but also because it represented a shift in mentality. African teams have often produced impressive performances against higher-ranked opponents only to fall short due to missed chances or late setbacks.

Cape Verde’s dream debut continues

One of the tournament’s biggest surprises came from Cape Verde.

Facing former world champions Spain in their first World Cup campaign, few gave the island nation much chance of taking anything from the match. Yet Cape Verde frustrated Spain throughout a disciplined defensive display and earned a remarkable 0-0 draw.

The result highlighted the growing depth within African football. Even teams without the pedigree of Morocco, Senegal or Ivory Coast are now capable of competing with elite opposition on the world’s biggest stage.

Senegal show they can still challenge the elite

Senegal may have lost 3-1 to France, but the scoreline does not fully reflect their performance.

For long periods, the Lions of Teranga matched one of the tournament favourites. They competed physically, created opportunities and demonstrated why they remain one of Africa’s most respected footballing nations.

Ultimately, the individual brilliance of France’s attackers proved decisive. However, Senegal’s display suggested they remain capable of advancing from their group and potentially causing problems in the knockout rounds.

Not every story has been positive

The opening round also provided some difficult lessons.

South Africa struggled in a 2-0 defeat to Mexico, appearing overwhelmed by both the occasion and the atmosphere. Tunisia endured the heaviest defeat among African teams, losing 5-1 to Sweden in a result that immediately increased pressure on the squad.

Iraq’s heavy loss to Norway also served as a reminder that tournament football often punishes defensive lapses.

Yet even these setbacks must be viewed in context. Several African teams faced elite opponents, host nations or traditional World Cup contenders in their opening matches.  However. South Africa’s late draw against Czechia showed promise yet again that there is still hope for the ‘Bafana Bafana’ to stay at this year’s World Cup.

Africa’s strongest World Cup generation?

The most encouraging sign for African football is not the results themselves but the manner in which they have been achieved.

Morocco controlled Brazil. Ivory Coast defeated Ecuador. Cape Verde frustrated Spain. Senegal competed evenly with France.

These are no longer isolated surprises. They are becoming recurring themes.

As the World Cup progresses, African nations appear well-positioned to place multiple teams in the knockout rounds. If the opening week is any indication, the continent’s representatives are not merely filling places in the expanded tournament—they are helping define it.

The expanded World Cup was designed to give more regions a greater voice on football’s biggest stage. Africa has wasted little time showing why it deserves one.

There is no shortage of respect between Brad Pauls and Denzel Bentley, yet they both know a middleweight rematch is becoming increasingly more likely.

The pair squared off for Pauls’ British title, and the vacant European strap, in December 2024, when the challenger triumphed by unanimous decision in a competitive contest.

Since then, both have claimed significant stoppages, with Bentley coming off a seventh-round finish over Endry Saavedra for the WBO ‘interim’ title in April and Pauls halting Shakiel Thompson with a stunning ninth-round onslaught in March.

Prior to his victory, Pauls had been sparring his former foe and, even ahead of his next outing, the two of them have shared plenty of rounds.

With both signed to Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, though, it could be a matter of time before they once again meet under the bright lights.

Speaking with Boxing News, Pauls reveals that he and Bentley have already discussed this possibility.

“I really like Denzel, he’s a cool guy, but we’ve both been saying that, if we keep winning, [Queensberry are] going to make us fight again. It makes complete sense, especially if I get a world title. We’d have to stop sparring but, more than likely, we’ll end up fighting again.”

With Bentley in line for an eventual world title shot, Pauls would need to leverage his No.12 ranking with the IBF in order to secure their unification match.

The more likely route, however, would be a direct WBO title challenge, given Pauls’ No.4 ranking with the sanctioning body and the possibility of Bentley being elevated to full champion; otherwise the Londoner will need to defeat Janibek Alimkhanuly once the Uzbek returns from his year-long doping suspension.

Either way, it seems that Pauls is edging closer to a major opportunity following his tremendous underdog victory over Thompson.

After trailing on the judges’ scorecards, ‘The Newquay Bomb’ took a gamble in round nine and managed to suddenly swing the result in his favour.

Reflecting on his performance, Pauls believes it was his overall experience that made a considerable difference.

“It’s got to add 10 or 15%. I always go back to the [Tyler] Denny fight – my first fight on TV – and it really threw me off.

“But since then, it all just feels familiar – the big occasions, the cameras, the massive venues. Going into the late rounds against Shakiel, that’s when you pull on the experience to get you through.

“A member of my corner team, Ellis [Steward], said: ‘I’d rather you get knocked out trying to knock him out than just play it safe and cruise it to a points loss’. And I was like, ‘I’ve got two rounds left –  I need to start taking big chances’.”

Sure enough, the risk paid off as Pauls pulled off a sizable upset to secure his place on the undercard of Ryan Garner vs Michael Magnesi at St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton, this Saturday.

The 33-year-old will face tricky southpaw Bradley Goldsmith, having just defeated another lefty in Thompson.

If he emerges victorious then Pauls could end up in another domestic dustup later this year, potentially against Sam Gilley, who comes off a clinical fifth-round stoppage over Aston Brown.

“There were about eight names in the hat. [Gilley] was one of the first names but I think my management team would rather do it at the end of the year, when it could become a bigger fight.

“But Queensberry were like, ‘You’re not getting no easy fight’, so that’s how I ended up with Bradley Goldsmith.”

Whether he ends up facing Gilley, Bentley or a totally different fighter, Pauls’ ultimate goal is to headline a televised show in the South West of England.

From a logistical perspective, the nearest venue to Newquay, his home town, is Plymouth Argyle’s Home Park Stadium, where he hopes to eventually fight for world honours.

“We could do it at Plymouth Argyle [Home Park Stadium]. There’s a few more fighters coming out of the South West, like [British welterweight champion] Constantine Ursu.

“That’d be a dream, to bring big time boxing to the South West.”

In order for Pauls to keep this dream alive, he must first take care of the Dominic Ingle-trained Goldsmith.