Two late goals earned Morocco a hard-fought 4-2 victory against Haiti in Atlanta, securing their place in the World Cup round of 32 as Group C runners-up.
The 2022 semi-finalists twice trailed to the Caribbean nation before taking control in the closing stages at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Haiti, who were already eliminated heading into their final group match, took a surprise early lead when Lenny Joseph’s team move was credited as a Yassine Bounou own goal.
Atlas Lions fight back in breathless first half
It took almost 40 minutes for the North African side to equalise, with Achraf Hakimi bundling the ball home after goalkeeper Johny Placide parried an initial effort.
That parity lasted just four minutes before Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor smashed a stunning strike past Bounou to restore Haiti’s advantage.
However, Ismael Saibari ensured the teams went into the break level by calmly placing his finish past Placide on the stroke of half-time.
Late strikes seal progression
The second period proved to be a tighter affair until Soufiane Rahimi turned sharply to convert a flicked-on corner in the 78th minute.
Gessime Yassine then sealed the points in the dying moments, netting his first international goal after a lengthy VAR check confirmed the ball had remained in play during the build-up.
The result marks a harsh exit for Haiti, who gave an excellent account of themselves during only their second appearance at the global tournament.
Morocco will now face the winners of Group F in the knockout stages, which could be the Netherlands, Japan, or Sweden.
Brazil forward Vinicius Junior has had a second goal disallowed by the Video Assistant Referee during an international fixture against Scotland due to a foul in the build-up.
The Real Madrid attacker believed he had extended the South American side’s advantage after successfully finding the back of the net.
However, celebrations were swiftly curtailed when the on-field official was instructed to consult the pitchside monitor.
Replays clearly highlighted an infringement during the attacking phase just before the finish was executed.
Technology provides a crucial Scottish reprieve
The referee subsequently overturned the initial decision following a thorough video review.
This critical intervention kept the deficit manageable and offered the Tartan Army a vital lifeline in the contest.
Video technology continues to heavily influence modern international fixtures, with this latest overrule proving pivotal to the match dynamics.
Despite the undeniable frustration of seeing his effort chalked off, the lightning-fast winger remained a persistent offensive threat for the remainder of the tie.
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt is targeting a return for the T20 World Cup semi-finals following a positive MRI scan on her recurring calf injury.
The 33-year-old has missed her country’s past two tournament fixtures after aggravating an issue that previously sidelined her for six weeks at the start of the summer.
While she will remain unavailable for Saturday’s final group match against New Zealand, the all-rounder is firmly optimistic about featuring in the knockout stages.
Positive scan results bring semi-final hope
Her wife, legendary former fast bowler Katherine Sciver-Brunt, revealed the skipper’s improving physical mindset during an interview with BBC Test Match Special.
“She believes she can come into the semi and that she is OK, that is where her head is now and that is great.”
The former international, who claimed 335 wickets during her own storied career, added that the latest medical assessments have provided significant encouragement.
“She has had another MRI, she is happy with the result and positive that it is going in the direction we like.”
Rehabilitation continues as knockout dates loom
The injured star has not featured since retiring out during a commanding victory over Ireland in her team’s second match of the global campaign.
An official statement released after Wednesday’s win against the West Indies confirmed the experienced batter had already successfully returned to the practice nets.
However, the national squad’s medical staff stressed that the dynamic player still requires slightly more rehabilitation time before becoming fully available for match selection.
Risking the influential talisman this weekend was always considered highly unlikely once the upcoming fixture was confirmed as a tournament dead rubber.
Complex scheduling awaits qualified England
The exact date of their highly anticipated semi-final clash remains completely uncertain until the final group standings are officially resolved on Sunday evening.
Tournament organisers have notably scheduled the first semi-final for Tuesday at 14:30 BST to comfortably accommodate massive Indian television audiences.
If the unbeaten group leaders maintain their top spot, they will likely play on Thursday unless India manage to secure second place in Group One.
Should the Indian side finish as runners-up, rigid tournament scheduling rules dictate that the European heavyweights would be automatically switched to the earlier Tuesday fixture.
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are contractually bound to fight in the UK, and any attempt to relocate the bout to the United States will require a complete renegotiation of terms, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.
The Matchroom Boxing chairman, who represents the two-time unified champion, insists the heavyweight clash remains entirely on track for a British venue.
Despite growing speculation that Las Vegas could host the highly anticipated contest, no formal request has been made by Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh.
“If he comes to me and says, I want to do the fight in America for this reason, we’ll all be very disappointed because I don’t think there’s a person on the planet that doesn’t think this fight should take place in the UK.”
Financial hurdles and contract renegotiations
Alalshikh is financing the event, giving the Saudi official significant leverage over its ultimate location.
“But he’s paying the bill and the bill is extortionate. So you’ve got to find a way to make it work.”
“So, if they want to change anything in the contract, we have to renegotiate the contract and start again.”
The veteran British heavyweights, aged 36 and 37 respectively, have circled each other for years in a rivalry that has defined an era of cross-over boxing appeal.
White and Zuffa Boxing rejected as promoters
Hearn firmly dismissed recent claims from UFC president Dana White regarding his involvement in the blockbuster event.
Zuffa Boxing currently holds no official promotional role unless the former Olympic gold medallist formally agrees to an altered contract.
“The contract clearly states that Dana White and Zuffa Boxing, or anyone associated, cannot be the promoters of this.”
Neither Matchroom nor Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions can act as the sole lead promoter to ensure complete neutrality for both fighters.
Interim bouts threaten 2026 super-fight
Warren indicated earlier this week that key stakeholders will meet shortly to finalise the highly anticipated date and venue.
Hearn expects these discussions to conclude next week, though immediate ring assignments pose the biggest threat to the 2026 mega-fight.
The Londoner faces Kristian Prenga on 25 July, while the ‘Gypsy King’ is scheduled for an interim bout mooted for 1 August.
“I’m 100% confident it happens in 2026 unless someone gets beat.”
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has stated he will immediately sign with the Washington Commanders if his current team releases him.
The player posted a video to social media on Wednesday declaring his intention to move to the nation’s capital.
It follows a series of posts where the disgruntled pass-catcher shouted his support for Washington and held an NFL football bearing the franchise logo.
And if I’m crazy or if I’m cappin’, tell them boys cut me today. And I’ll sign with the Commanders tomorrow.
Stand-off in San Francisco
The former All-Pro remains stuck in professional limbo while formally under contract with San Francisco.
General manager John Lynch stated in January that the 26-year-old had likely taken his final snap for the Californian franchise.
However, the organisation has retained his rights in the hope of securing a trade partner before veterans report to training camp on 25 July.
Because he remains under contract, Washington cannot publicly express interest without violating the NFL’s strict tampering rules.
Injury dispute and contract void
Relations between the receiver and his employers broke down entirely following a severe knee injury last year.
Despite signing a lucrative four-year extension worth $120m (£93m) in August 2024, the franchise voided his remaining guaranteed money.
The team took this drastic action after the wideout failed to participate in mandatory rehabilitation sessions for a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus.
He was subsequently placed on the reserve/left team list in December after refusing to attend the team facility.
Arizona State reunion
A potential move to Washington would reunite the unsettled star with highly-rated quarterback Jayden Daniels.
The pair formed a close friendship during their time as collegiate team-mates at Arizona State.
Before his devastating knee injury, the San Francisco star had emerged as one of the NFL’s most dangerous offensive weapons, recording 1,342 receiving yards in 2023.
Former Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has faced severe criticism after describing Ivory Coast’s playing style as “wild” ahead of a 2026 World Cup group match.
The 39-year-old World Cup winner made the remarks while working as a television pundit for German broadcaster ARD.
He praised the athleticism of the African side but controversially characterised their approach as “sometimes unorthodox, a bit wild, and not quite as tactical”.
French publication L’Equipe noted the terminology sparked immediate outrage across social media due to its racist and colonialist connotations.
The former Bayern Munich star has not yet responded publicly to the backlash, nor faced sanctions from his employer.
Klopp walks out of interview
The off-field controversy quickly escalated when Jurgen Klopp was questioned about the incident by a broadcast reporter.
The former Liverpool manager, who is also providing television analysis for the tournament, was visibly angered by the line of questioning.
He interrupted the journalist to express his extreme frustration before prematurely ending the interview.
“And now you want to carry on this subject. I have no chance to answer this question.”
“Everybody likes it, so you bring me into this situation. It’s not my job that everyone likes it.”
“But this is a serious subject. And I don’t even know what is appropriate to say.”
The 59-year-old then sarcastically thanked the German reporter before abruptly walking away.
Undav secures late victory
Amid the media storm, Julian Nagelsmann’s side secured a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory at Toronto Stadium.
Franck Kessie had given the Elephants a surprise lead with 25 minutes remaining.
However, substitute Deniz Undav levelled the proceedings shortly after his introduction from the bench.
The 29-year-old forward then snatched all three points with a decisive strike in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
The European heavyweights have already guaranteed top spot in Group E following the narrow result.
They will conclude their group-stage campaign against Ecuador before travelling to Boston for a last-32 fixture.
Canada midfielder Ismael Kone was given a rousing reception by fans at BC Place Vancouver as he made his first public appearance in a wheelchair ahead of a World Cup match against Switzerland following severe leg fractures.
The central midfielder was stretchered off during his nation’s emphatic 6-0 victory over Qatar in their second match of the 2026 tournament.
Medical examinations subsequently confirmed that the Canadian star had sustained complex fractures to both his tibia and fibula.
The devastating blow occurred following a heavy challenge from Assim Madibo, which resulted in the Qatari international being shown a straight red card.
Emotional return to BC Place
Despite his tournament-ending setback, the stricken athlete was wheeled onto the pitch on Wednesday to the delight of the home supporters.
The stadium crowd offered a standing ovation for the midfielder as the co-hosts prepared for their final Group B fixture against the Swiss.
National team officials confirmed last week that the player had successfully undergone a medical procedure to stabilise the broken bones.
A statement from the governing body detailed the extent of his enforced absence.
“Last night, Ismael Kone underwent successful surgery to repair a lower limb fracture. He is expected to make a full recovery but will miss the remainder of the FIFA World Cup 2026.” Canada Soccer
Club support and rehabilitation
Domestic employers Sassuolo have also offered positive news regarding their midfield asset’s long-term prognosis.
The Italian side issued their own update to reassure supporters about the success of the surgical intervention on his left leg.
The club expressed total confidence in his upcoming rehabilitation programme.
“The operation to repair the fracture in his left leg was a complete success. The player will begin his rehabilitation programme in the coming days. The whole club sends Ismael their best wishes for a speedy recovery.” Sassuolo
While the national team must navigate the rest of this expanded North American World Cup without their dynamic central presence, his touchline appearance served as a significant morale boost for the squad.
Uefa has fined Paris Saint-Germain £78,380 and imposed a suspended ban on away supporters following fan disorder during last month’s Champions League final against Arsenal in Budapest.
The French club emerged victorious in the Hungarian capital, defeating Mikel Arteta’s side 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
However, the post-match focus immediately shifted to the stands following the disruptive behaviour of the travelling Parisian supporters.
Fireworks and thrown objects
The Uefa Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) launched a formal investigation into the disturbances following the final whistle.
European football’s governing body subsequently issued an €80,000 (£69,000) penalty specifically for the lighting of fireworks inside the stadium.
A further €10,875 (£9,380) fine was levied against the Ligue 1 outfit for the throwing of objects towards the pitch.
Alongside the financial penalties, the governing body imposed a one-match ban on away fan attendance for the French champions.
Suspended sentence applied
The stadium restriction has been formally suspended for a probationary period of two years.
This means the Parisian side will be permitted to travel with their supporters during next season’s campaign, provided no further infractions occur.
An official statement confirmed the ruling from the disciplinary committee.
To fine Paris Saint-Germain €80,000 and to ban Paris Saint-Germain from selling tickets to its away supporters for the next (1) UEFA competition match, for lighting of fireworks.
Said ban from selling tickets to its away supporters is suspended for a probationary period of two (2) years, starting from the date of the present decision.
Arsenal look to next season
The Gunners will return to Europe’s elite competition next season after successfully clinching the Premier League title.
Both Arsenal and their recent final opponents are seeded in pot one for August’s upcoming league phase draw.
They could potentially face each other once more under the newly revamped tournament format.