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South Korea have been eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after finishing 10th among the 12 third-place teams. Despite a strong start, a loss to South Africa left them at the mercy of other results. Senegal claimed the final knockout spot on goal difference.
The group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has concluded, with the knockout rounds set to begin. The tournament has already set new records for total goals and attendance, and all Round of 32 pairings have been finalized.
South Africa's men's football team made history by defeating South Korea 1-0 to reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time. Thapelo Maseko scored the decisive goal in the 63rd minute at Monterrey Stadium, securing second place in Group A and a last-32 clash with Canada.
Brazil and Morocco secured their places in the World Cup knockout rounds, with Brazil topping Group C and Morocco impressing in a 4-2 win over Haiti. The Round of 32 saw seven UEFA teams and four South American nations advance, including Paraguay's historic penalty shootout win over Germany. Other highlights include Ivory Coast's first-ever knockout appearance, Scotland's first World Cup victory in 28 years, and Australia's 2-0 win over Turkiye.
South Korea's 2026 FIFA World Cup ended in group-stage elimination after a 1-0 loss to South Africa, finishing third in Group A with three points and failing to crack the top eight among third-place teams. Bosnia and Herzegovina secured a spot, while Croatia's win over Ghana further narrowed South Korea's path.
Brazil secured top spot in Group C with a 3-0 victory over Scotland, with Vinicius Junior scoring twice and Matheus Cunha adding a third. Neymar made his first international appearance in over two-and-a-half years, while Morocco earned second place after a 4-2 comeback win over Haiti.
Bosnia and Herzegovina have secured a spot in the FIFA World Cup playoffs for the first time after Brazil's 3-0 victory over Scotland in Group C. The result ensures that at least four third-placed teams will finish with fewer points than Bosnia, who took third in Group B with four points. Brazil topped Group C with seven points, while Scotland and Haiti finished below.
Qatar's World Cup campaign ends at the group stage after a 3-1 defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the win puts Bosnia on the verge of a historic knockout-stage appearance. Reports detail goals from Kerim Alajbegovic, an own goal, Hassan Al Haydos, and Ermin Mahmic, but a separate report records a 1-1 draw against Switzerland that was later overturned.
As the 2026 World Cup group stage concludes, a new tiebreaker system and an expanded 48-team format are changing how teams qualify. Eight teams already have nothing to play for, while Mexico has secured a home knockout game and South Korea faces an uncertain path after a surprise loss.
South Korea meet South Africa in their final Group A match at the FIFA World Cup, needing just a draw to advance but with coach Hong Myung-bo demanding a win. The match is goalless at halftime, with captain Son Heung-min not in the starting lineup.
Canada secured their first-ever men's World Cup victory with a 6-0 thrashing of Qatar in Vancouver, but the win was overshadowed by a serious leg injury to midfielder Ismaël Koné and late-game brawls. Jonathan David scored a hat-trick as Qatar finished with nine men after two red cards.
Switzerland secured a dramatic 4-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in their World Cup Group B clash, with substitute Johan Manzambi scoring twice after coming on in the 71st minute. The match erupted in the final 30 minutes, featuring a red card, a stoppage-time penalty, and a late consolation goal for Bosnia.
Russian officials report that air defense systems shot down multiple drones approaching Moscow on several dates in June, with Mayor Sergey Sobyanin confirming the interceptions and emergency response efforts. The incidents reflect a series of aerial threats neutralized by the Defense Ministry's systems.
European Union member states have agreed to open the first stage of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, a move long blocked by Hungary's previous government. The talks are set to begin on Monday in Luxembourg, marking a significant step in both countries' efforts to join the bloc.
Qatar earned a historic 1-1 draw in their World Cup opener against Switzerland in San Francisco, with Boualem Khoukhi scoring in stoppage time to earn the Asian champions their first point in the competition. The late goal denied Switzerland, who had dominated possession and led through a Breel Embolo penalty.
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss the team's World Cup opening match against Panama in Toronto after Canada denied his visa application, FIFA confirmed. Partey awaits trial in London on multiple charges of rape. He is expected to rejoin the squad and play in subsequent group matches in the US.
Milorad Dodik, leader of Bosnia’s Republika Srpska, said the EU is trying to turn itself into a military alliance to pressure Russia, praised President Putin for avoiding mass civilian casualties, and blamed Kiev for a deadly strike on a college. His comments, carried by TASS, come amid ongoing Western sanctions and the Ukraine conflict.
Austria returned to the World Cup after 28 years with a tense 3-1 victory over debutants Jordan in their Group J opener. Marko Arnautovic sealed the win with a stoppage-time penalty, while Ralf Rangnick's side showed resilience after being pegged back. The result places Austria second in the group behind Argentina, who beat Algeria 3-0.
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, a record-breaking group of veteran players, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Tim Ream, are defying age through advanced sports science and personal determination. Experts highlight the role of technology, training loads, and human support in extending football careers.
EU and Western Balkan leaders gathered in Montenegro for a summit focused on accelerating EU enlargement, with a new Franco-German initiative offering incentives for faster reforms. Host Montenegro is seen as the frontrunner among six candidate countries, while geopolitical tensions with Russia and China loom large.