分类： sports

The 2026 expanded-format FIFA World Cup has already delivered one of its most compelling underdog stories, as 82nd-ranked New Zealand stands one win away from breaking a decades-long tournament drought and punching its first-ever ticket to the knockout round. When the All Whites touched down in British Columbia for this year’s competition, just qualifying for their first World Cup appearance since 2010 felt like a victory in its own right. But a dramatic 2-2 draw against 22nd-ranked Iran in their opening group stage match has transformed their unlikely underdog run into a genuine shot at history this Sunday against 29th-ranked Egypt.

New Zealand’s path to this year’s tournament would not have existed without FIFA’s decision to expand the World Cup field from 32 to 48 teams. The expansion marked the first time the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) earned an automatic berth to the tournament, a long-awaited change that cleared the way for New Zealand to claim the spot after a three-step qualifying run that ended with a 3-0 win over 151st-ranked New Caledonia.

The dynamic of the OFC has shifted dramatically since 2006, when former regional powerhouse Australia left the confederation to join the Asian Football Confederation in pursuit of stiffer competition and more reliable qualifying paths to the World Cup. Australia’s departure left New Zealand as the undisputed top side in a region with a stark ranking gap: after the All Whites, the next highest-ranked OFC side is New Caledonia, leaving New Zealand without consistent top-tier competition in regional play.

This imbalance highlights a long-debated feature of FIFA’s World Cup qualification structure: allocation of tournament slots is based heavily on confederation geography, rather than global team rankings. This system means that many higher-ranked teams from deeper, more competitive confederations miss out on qualification entirely; this year alone, 17 of FIFA’s top 48 ranked teams failed to qualify, including 20th-ranked Denmark from the UEFA confederation and 14th-ranked Italy, which has now missed three consecutive World Cups. By contrast, smaller confederations get far fewer slots: UEFA claims 16 berths for this expanded tournament, while OFC holds just one.

Well aware that regional competition cannot prepare them for the global stage, New Zealand has actively sought out friendly matches against far higher-ranked opponents to sharpen their play. That intentional strategy paid off in their opening match against Iran, where winger Elijah Just netted both of the All Whites’ goals to secure the draw. Just’s two goals matched New Zealand’s total goal output across both of its previous World Cup appearances in 1982 and 2010, giving the side a surge of confidence heading into their critical match against Egypt.

Head coach Darren Bazeley has emphasized that the team is staying grounded, refusing to let the weight of a potential historic berth distract from the task at hand. “We can’t let the occasion get too big,” Bazeley said in a pre-match press conference. “It’s about us winning a game of football.” He added that the side has no fear of facing higher-ranked opponents, noting: “If we’re going to win a World Cup, we have to play against top teams and top players and perform well.”

Midfielder Ben Old echoed that confidence, saying the entire squad relishes the once-in-a-generation opportunity to make New Zealand football history. “Putting ourselves in such a great position – like this opportunity to create history – we know how good we can be,” Old said. “It’s just a really exciting moment to be in.” The side has long embraced its identity as international football’s underdog, Old added, a mindset that has taken away any pressure of expectation against higher-profile opponents: “We’re always used to being the underdogs. We’re not afraid to play any of these teams.”

With one point already in the group stage table and two matches remaining, New Zealand is not only in contention for knockout stage qualification, but also poised to break multiple team World Cup records: a single win against Egypt would send them through, and even one more goal would break their record for most goals scored in a single World Cup tournament.

LAS VEGAS — For 12 years, award-winning Associated Press veteran photographer John Locher has called Las Vegas home, covering beats ranging from high-stakes professional sports to sudden breaking news, in-depth human interest features and original enterprise reporting. When the 2022 FIFA World Cup rolled around, Locher approached his assignment with a creative eye that set his work apart from typical tournament coverage.

Unlike traditional match-day photography that centers on action inside stadiums, Locher set out to capture the far-reaching passion the World Cup sparks across the globe, even in cities not hosting any tournament games. For the Friday matchup between Australia and the United States, he turned his lens to local fan gatherings to showcase the widespread excitement that extends far beyond match venues. Known for its one-of-a-kind approach to entertainment, Las Vegas offered the perfect unconventional backdrop: a poolside watch party.

Locher’s first stop was Circa Resort and Casino, a venue that had already built a reputation for hosting large-scale sports watch parties on a massive outdoor screen above its swimming pool. Anticipating the scene would be unlike any standard viewing event, he planned his shoot to highlight this uniqueness. After capturing close-up shots of cheering fans reacting to game moments, he began searching for an elevated vantage point that could frame the full scope of the gathering. Using a wide-angle lens, Locher captured a sweeping shot that included hundreds of fans gathered in the pool alongside the iconic casino skyline of downtown Las Vegas, emphasizing the unusual setting of this World Cup viewing experience.

In reflecting on the power of the image, Locher noted that the photograph succeeds because it embodies Las Vegas’ signature tendency to turn ordinary events into extraordinary experiences. While bars and restaurants across the United States hosted watch parties for the highly anticipated Australia-US clash, this poolside gathering offered a distinctly Las Vegas twist that could not be replicated anywhere else. The image stands as a testament to how deeply the World Cup’s cultural pull penetrates communities across the country, even far from the tournament’s host stadiums.

This photo is part of The Associated Press’ ongoing comprehensive coverage of the FIFA World Cup. More of AP’s award-winning World Cup reporting can be viewed on their dedicated coverage hub.

As the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup moves into its second round of group-stage play on Sunday, June 21, all eight teams competing across the four scheduled fixtures head into the day still searching for their first victory of the tournament – all having opened their campaigns with hard-fought draws.

Four opening matches on the previous Monday produced four draws, a rare result that marks the most draws on a single men’s World Cup matchday since 1958. This historic run of stalemates has left both Group G and Group C completely open, with no team yet able to lock in an early advantage going into the second round of group play.

Sunday’s first fixture, kicking off at 12 p.m. EDT in Atlanta, Georgia, pits second-ranked Spain against Saudi Arabia in a Group H showdown. Spain kicked off its tournament with a surprising 0-0 stalemate against Cape Verde, while Saudi Arabia earned a 1-1 draw against Uruguay, with defender Abdulelah Al-Amri netting the Arab side’s opening goal of the competition. Young star Lamine Yamal will lead Spain’s line as the European side looks to lock in its first win and cement its status as a title contender.

The second match of the day, at 3 p.m. EDT at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, sees 10th-ranked Belgium take on Iran in a Group G clash. Belgium will be missing key starting winger Jérémy Doku, who has been ruled out of the fixture due to an illness. The Manchester City speedster, who played 86 minutes of Belgium’s opening 1-1 draw with Egypt, has been in the headlines in recent days after revealing he would leave the tournament temporarily if needed to attend the birth of his first child, due in early July during the knockout stage. Without Doku, the Red Devils will rely heavily on star forward Romelu Lukaku to secure a crucial three points to stay on track for group advancement. Iran opened its run with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand, and will also be hungry for its first win of the competition.

At 6 p.m. EDT in Miami Gardens, Florida, Uruguay faces off against Cape Verde, the tournament’s debutant side from the small archipelago off West Africa, in the second Group H fixture of the day. Already holding a draw against second-ranked Spain, a win for Cape Verde would go down as one of the biggest upsets of this World Cup, catapulting the underdog debutants into the knockout stage conversation. Uruguay, for its part, will look to bounce back from its opening draw with Saudi Arabia and lock in the win to climb the group table.

The final fixture of Sunday closes out the day at 9 p.m. EDT in Vancouver, British Columbia, with New Zealand facing Egypt in the remaining Group G matchup. New Zealand held Iran to a 2-2 draw in its opener, while Egypt also opened with a 1-1 stalemate against Belgium. All four of the day’s games will be broadcast across Fox, FS1, Telemundo and Peacock.

In other World Cup news from Saturday, the Netherlands became just the eighth national men’s side in World Cup history to hit the 100-goal milestone at the tournament, after striker Brian Brobbey netted a first-half brace in the Oranje’s 5-1 lopsided win over Sweden. The Dutch side joins elite company including Brazil, Germany, Argentina, France, Italy, Spain and England as the only nations to reach the 100-goal mark in World Cup competition.

HOUSTON – In a dominant display of attacking football that pulled the Netherlands to the top of Group F at the FIFA World Cup, Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo each netted two goals to power the Dutch side to a lopsided 5-1 victory over Sweden on Saturday. The convincing win marked a sharp rebound for the Oranje, who were left frustrated by a 2-2 draw with Japan in their tournament opener just days earlier.

Brobbey set the tone for the match early, putting his name on the scoresheet twice inside the opening 18 minutes to give the Netherlands a comfortable two-goal advantage before halftime. The forward’s first strike came in the 5th minute, when he connected cleanly on a first-time right-footed finish from Gakpo’s well-placed cross into the penalty box, sending the ball into the back of the net before tumbling to the turf. Twelve minutes later, Brobbey doubled his tally, sliding to meet a cross from Denzel Dumfries and tapping the ball past the Swedish goalkeeper with the tip of his right boot to find the far post.

A late first-half scare for the Dutch was averted when Gustaf Lagerbielke’s 44th-minute header was ruled out for offside, keeping Sweden off the scoreboard heading into the break. The Swedish center-back, who comes from a prominent noble family in the country with his father and grandfather holding the title of count, was unable to turn his side’s first solid chance into a goal before halftime. Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen also turned away four Swedish efforts in the opening 45 minutes, turning in a standout performance to preserve his side’s clean sheet heading into the second half.

Just two minutes after play resumed, Gakpo extended the Netherlands’ lead to 3-0, converting Denzel Dumfries’ cross in the 47th minute to add his name to the scoresheet. Seven minutes later, the winger matched Brobbey’s two-goal haul, drilling a right-footed shot from the left side of the penalty box to push the lead to 4-0, with Crysencio Summerville notching an assist on the play. Gakpo also picked up an assist on Brobbey’s first goal of the afternoon, turning in a complete all-around performance.

Sweden finally got on the board in the 59th minute, when Anthony Elanga slotted home a left-footed strike to cut the deficit to 4-1 and avoid a total shutout. The result marks a devastating fall for Sweden, who impressed in their opening match with a 5-1 blowout win over Tunisia. Saturday’s defeat is Sweden’s heaviest World Cup loss since a 7-1 defeat to Brazil back in 1950.

Crysencio Summerville put the final nail in the coffin for the Dutch in the 89th minute, netting the team’s fifth goal of the match and celebrating with NBA star Stephen Curry’s viral “night night” gesture that has become popular across global sports. In total, 68,777 fans packed into Houston’s stadium for the match, with the overwhelming majority supporting the Netherlands. Many of the Dutch supporters traveled 2.5 miles from Rice University to the venue on Saturday morning as part of the traditional Oranje Fanwalk. The match also drew two high-profile special guests: King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, who watched the match from a private luxury suite.

Heading into the final round of Group F matches, Netherlands sit atop the group standings with four points, while Sweden hold three points. The final group fixtures are scheduled for next Thursday: Sweden will face Japan at Dallas Stadium, while the Netherlands will take on Tunisia in Kansas City.

SOUTHAMPTON, England — The Australian women’s national cricket team extended its perfect run at the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup on Saturday, securing a dominant third consecutive victory with a 98-run defeat of first-time qualifier the Netherlands at the Rose Bowl.

In a historic batting performance, Australia crossed the 200-run mark for the first time in tournament history, posting an equal tournament-record total of 219 runs for the loss of six wickets. The Dutch side was only able to muster 121 runs for the loss of three wickets in response, never coming close to challenging the massive target set by the defending favorites.

Australia’s run chase got off to a promising start, but delivered an early scare when star opening batter Beth Mooney was forced to retire hurt on 74 runs off 42 deliveries after complaining of a stiff back. Speaking to reporters after the innings, Mooney downplayed the injury, saying the withdrawal was purely a precautionary measure. The issue, she explained, likely stemmed from the extensive bus travel the team has undertaken throughout the tournament, to which she has not yet adjusted.

Despite Mooney’s early exit, Australia’s batting line-up held firm to deliver a record-breaking total. Mooney shared a 50-run opening stand off just 28 balls with Georgia Voll, who scored 17, before building a 101-run partnership off 55 deliveries with all-rounder Ash Gardner, who returned to the side following a recent ankle sprain and finished with 58 runs. It was spinner Georgia Wareham who pushed Australia across the 200-run threshold, bludgeoning 41 runs off 18 deliveries, with 32 of those coming from boundaries.

Mooney’s early departure created an unexpected gap behind the stumps, as the team’s usual backup wicketkeeper Phoebe Litchfield was already sidelined with a quad injury. The gloves were handed to opening batter Voll, who stepped up seamlessly to the role, pulling off a clean catch in just the second over of the Netherlands’ innings. Australian pace bowler Kim Garth capitalized on the early opportunity, taking two wickets for just 10 runs in her opening two overs to put the Dutch side on the back foot immediately.

Making their first-ever appearance at the Women’s T20 World Cup, the Netherlands never looked likely to chase down the target of 220 runs. However, the side delivered a gritty middle-order performance, with captain Babette de Leede and batter Sterre Kalis putting together a 96-run partnership from the fourth over through to the 19th. Kalis, who was dropped twice while on 21 and 40, was eventually bowled for 44 runs. De Leede remained unbeaten on 56 runs off 57 deliveries to close out the innings alongside Robine Rijke, with the pair both playing their 100th Twenty20 international match in the historic fixture.

Speaking after the match, de Leede framed the clash against the world-leading Australian side as a landmark moment for her team. “This is a massive moment for us,” she said. “Australia are a quality team, so to learn from them, see how they go about their innings, it’s just incredible.”

The match was the first of four fixtures scheduled for Saturday at the tournament, with subsequent group stage matches between Pakistan and Bangladesh, and hosts England against Scotland kicking off later in the day.