标签： South America

ATLANTA – In a historic first for international soccer’s showpiece tournament, Paraguay international midfielder Miguel Almiron has received a one-match ban and will miss his side’s final Group Stage fixture against Australia this Thursday, becoming the first player ever expelled from a World Cup match for violating the new rule banning mouth covering during player confrontations.

FIFA formally confirmed the disciplinary action on Tuesday, adding that the ruling is not eligible for appeal. The red card that sparked this suspension was issued late in the first half of Paraguay’s 1-0 victory over Turkey last Friday, when Almiron covered his mouth during an on-pitch verbal clash with Turkey’s Mert Mulder, an infraction that triggered an immediate sending-off under competition rules.

The new regulation at the center of this incident was approved back in April by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), soccer’s global governing body for the Laws of the Game. The rule states that any player who covers their mouth to hide their words during a confrontation with another player can be punished with a straight red card. Notably, the rule is not a mandatory core part of the official Laws of the Game, instead allowing individual tournament organizers – including FIFA for the World Cup – to opt into adopting it for their competitions.

The push for the new regulation came from FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who advocated for the change after a high-profile controversial incident during last season’s UEFA Champions League. In that match between Real Madrid and Benfica, Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni was caught on camera covering his mouth while directing homophobic abuse at Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior. UEFA ultimately handed Prestianni a six-game ban, with three of those matches suspended, for what the governing body labeled “discriminatory (i.e. homophobic) conduct.”

On Tuesday, Infantino doubled down on his support for the new rule during an interview with SNTV, framing the policy as a core issue of respect and accountability on the pitch. “This thing about covering the mouth is for us a very, very important rule,” he said. “It’s about respect, it’s about the example that we should give. If you have nothing to hide, you don’t cover your mouth when you speak to somebody. The rules have been made very clear to everyone, everyone knows them, so this is an important element.”

For Paraguay, the suspension leaves the side without their key playmaker for a do-or-die group match against Australia, raising new questions about how the new regulation will shape future matches and disciplinary outcomes in top-tier soccer competitions.

A controversial moment at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has left one Paraguayan broadcaster without credentials, following an on-air outburst over a historic red card that made tournament history. During Paraguay’s 1-0 group stage win against Turkey, Paraguayan midfielder Miguel Almirón made history as the first player in World Cup — and men’s senior international football — to receive a red card for covering his mouth while talking to an opponent.

The incident unfolded deep into first-half stoppage time, when Almirón, 32, held his hand up to obscure his mouth while exchanging words with Turkey defender Mert Muldur. Muldur immediately flagged the interaction to nearby match referee Ivan Barton, prompting a review from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team. After a short review, Barton issued a red card to Almirón, sending the Paraguayan playmaker off before the halftime break.

The call triggered an immediate, unfiltered response from Jorge Vera, a veteran commentator working for Paraguayan media outlets ABC Cardinal Radio and ABC TV. Live on air, Vera launched into an expletive-laden tirade against FIFA, tournament president Gianni Infantino, and referee Barton, calling the officials and governing body “thieves” and accusing them of “killing football” with the controversial decision.

Four days after the incident, FIFA confirmed it had stripped Vera of his World Cup media credentials, a sanction that bars him from any form of World Cup-related coverage for his employers, both inside stadiums and in remote broadcast settings. Vera has since publicly apologized for his outburst, taking full responsibility for his loss of composure in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday.

“In the midst of my frustration over the expulsion of a player from my country, and feeling that my national team was being harmed, I used offensive and unacceptable expressions against the referee, FIFA, and its authorities,” Vera wrote in his statement. The commentator added that he had submitted a formal letter of apology to FIFA’s governing body, acknowledging that his reaction crossed professional lines.

“Questioning a rule or disagreeing with a refereeing decision never justifies losing control the way I did,” he added. “I failed you in something fundamental: maintaining the composure and respect that this profession requires.”

FIFA has not issued an official public statement on the sanction, but anonymous sources close to the governing body told reporters that Vera’s actions were deemed incompatible with the core standards of professionalism and respect required of all accredited media personnel and partners covering the tournament. The historic red card for Almirón has already sparked widespread debate among fans, players, and pundits over the enforcement of FIFA’s unsportsmanlike conduct rules, with many arguing the punishment was overly harsh for a relatively minor infraction.

HOUSTON – In a moment that redefined men’s World Cup records, 41-year-old Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo etched his name deeper into global soccer folklore on Tuesday, becoming the first male player in history to score at six consecutive FIFA World Cup tournaments. The landmark goal came just six minutes into Portugal’s match against Uzbekistan, when a pinpoint cross from teammate João Cancelo found Ronaldo in the box, who converted a clinical right-footed strike to put his side up 1-0. Immediately after the ball hit the back of the net, the forward sprinted toward the Portuguese bench to share the celebratory moment with his coaching staff and teammates, capping off a milestone that had been months in the making after a shaky opening match.

Ronaldo’s history-making strike comes on the heels of widespread public criticism that followed his goalless performance in Portugal’s 1-1 opening draw against Congo. For many observers, the early tournament drought sparked questions about whether the aging star would get another chance to add to his World Cup scoring tally in what is widely expected to be his final run at the international competition.

This year’s tournament already marked a shared piece of history for Ronaldo and Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi: the pair are the only two male players ever to compete at six different World Cup tournaments. But Ronaldo’s goal on Tuesday cemented a unique record that separates him from his long-time rival. Messi, who appeared at every World Cup since 2006 alongside Ronaldo, failed to find the back of the net at the 2010 tournament in South Africa, leaving Ronaldo as the sole holder of the six-tournament scoring streak.

Ronaldo’s scoring run stretches back to his World Cup debut in 2006, with goals added in every iteration of the tournament since: 2010 in South Africa, 2014 in Brazil, 2018 in Russia, 2022 in Qatar, and now the 2026 edition. Tuesday’s strike pushed his all-time World Cup goal total to nine. For comparison, Messi extended his own record-breaking tally to 18 total World Cup goals this tournament, notching a hat trick in Argentina’s opening match against Algeria and adding two more in a recent fixture against Austria to claim the title of the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer.

Beyond the scoring milestone, Tuesday’s match marked the 230th senior international appearance of Ronaldo’s career – a total that stands as the most in the history of men’s international soccer. Widely considered to be playing in his final World Cup, Ronaldo already holds an unparalleled collection of top-tier trophies: he led Portugal to a UEFA European Championship title in 2016, and claimed five UEFA Champions League titles during his storied club career with Manchester United and Real Madrid.

As Scotland prepares to lock horns with five-time World Cup champions Brazil at Miami Stadium on June 24, 2026, the entire Scottish football community is gripped by a mix of anticipation, anxiety and historic hope. Captain Andy Robertson will lead his side out for the crunch group stage tie, where even a single point from a draw will secure Scotland’s place in the World Cup knockout round for the first time in their modern history. A narrow defeat could also still see Steve Clarke’s side advance as one of the eight best third-place finishers across the tournament’s groups, a scenario that has become the central obsession for Scottish fans poring over tournament standings this week.

The prospect of only needing a draw to make history has sparked intense debate around what approach the Scottish side will take when they step onto the pitch. The match will kick off at 23:00 BST, with full live coverage available across BBC platforms including BBC One, iPlayer, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio 5 Live, and live text updates on the BBC Sport app and website.

Conventional football wisdom almost universally rejects the idea of setting out to play for a draw. No top-level coach or player will openly admit they are not going into a match chasing all three points, and the Scotland camp will be no different in pre-match media commitments. But the constant external discussion around the ‘only a point needed’ narrative raises a critical question: could it create an undercurrent of caution that subtly shifts the team’s mindset heading into kickoff?

Former Scotland player and manager Craig Levein, who has first-hand experience of navigating high-stakes matches where a draw was a desired outcome, warned of the inherent risks of prioritizing a result over an aggressive approach. Speaking to BBC Sport, Levein referenced his 2010 clash with Czech Republic where he deployed a controversial 4-6-0 setup designed to secure a draw. “I don’t believe Steve will be playing for a draw because there’s a dangerous element to that,” Levein said. “Because you’re in a mode where if you do lose a goal then getting shifted out of that mind space is difficult. I’ve been in that situation on a number of occasions.”

He added: “You can plan all you want to play for a certain outcome, but football is so random that you’re not guaranteed to get that.” Levein argued that Clarke’s approach to training, team selection and gameplan will be far more impactful on the squad’s mentality than outside noise. Pointing to the potential inclusion of young attacking winger Ben Gannon-Doak in the starting lineup, Levein noted that adding an extra attacking threat can send a clear message to the whole squad to play without defensive shackles. “If we just put another attacking player on, it gives everybody the idea that it’s time to take the shackles off and have a go,” he explained.

While the conversation around needing a draw has dominated headlines, critics argue the bigger issue facing Scotland is not subconscious caution from the stakes, but an overly passive defensive approach that has held the side back in their first two group matches against Haiti and Morocco. Against Haiti, Clarke’s side held just 46% of possession, and that share dropped to 40% in their narrow 1-0 defeat to Morocco. Through two matches, Scotland have managed only two shots on target, and have failed to apply consistent high pressure when out of possession. Opta data from the Morocco match shows Scotland took an average of 25 seconds to recover possession after losing it, while Morocco won the ball back an average of eight seconds faster.

Former Hibernian and Celtic midfielder Scott Allan argued that sitting deep does not require a passive mindset. “When you’re constantly sat off the game and you’re passive, players go into a certain mindset where they start to worry, instead of having that real belief about going and creating and scoring goals,” Allan told the Scottish Football Podcast. “You can sit in a low block and still be aggressive. There’s a point where once they [the opposition] reach here, when they make a square pass, can we go with real purpose and go and try and get the ball back?”

Former Rangers and Motherwell midfielder Andy Halliday echoed that assessment, stressing that Scotland must inject far more urgency into their off-the-ball work against Brazil’s world-class attacking talent. “When you’re going to be this team that wants to sit in and frustrate then try and be as quick as you can on transitions. I think we need to be a lot more aggressive than we’ve been off the ball,” Halliday said. “I think every chance we created actually came from us putting pressure on Moroccan players and turning the ball over at the top end of the pitch.”

Halliday acknowledged that Scotland are unlikely to dominate possession against Brazil, but warned that giving elite global stars too much time and space on the ball will play directly into the opposition’s hands. “I’m not expecting a huge difference in possession [against Brazil], but I think, out of possession, we can’t just allow these top players time and space on the ball and make it easy for them to just feel their way into the game,” he added.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already produced one of the most historic individual competitions in the tournament’s history, as three of the world’s greatest forwards have mounted an unprecedented Golden Boot challenge that has sent records tumbling within the first two matchdays.

After just two games each, Lionel Messi of Argentina sits atop the goal-scoring standings with five strikes, while Kylian Mbappe of France and Erling Haaland of Norway trail closely behind with four goals apiece. This historic start marks only the second time in World Cup history that three players have notched at least four goals within the first two matches, a feat not seen since 1954, and fans and pundits alike are hailing the opening stretch of the tournament as something truly extraordinary.

The historic run of goalscoring unfolded across a single matchday, with each superstar matching their rivals’ output step for step. First, Messi broke the men’s World Cup all-time goal-scoring record with a brace in Argentina’s victory over Austria, pushing his cumulative tournament total to 18 goals across 28 World Cup appearances. Before that, former Germany striker Miroslav Klose held the all-time record with 16 goals, meaning Messi has already surpassed the mark that stood before the tournament kicked off.

Not to be outdone, Mbappe hit his own double on his 100th international cap, powering France to a weather-delayed win over Iraq. The French star has now drawn level with Klose on 16 all-time World Cup goals, and has already claimed the title of France’s all-time leading World Cup goalscorer after just two matches this tournament. He is also in position to become the first men’s player to win multiple Golden Boot awards, should his current form hold.

Hours later, Haaland matched his two fellow superstars by scoring twice in Norway’s win over Senegal, securing the nation’s place in the round of 32 in the 24-year-old’s first World Cup appearance. Haaland, who has already become Norway’s top World Cup goalscorer after just two matches, is only the sixth player in history to score multiple goals in each of his first two World Cup appearances, extending his club-form red hot streak to international football with an incredible 59 goals in 52 caps for Norway.

England captain Harry Kane, who already scored a brace on opening day against Ghana, will get his chance to add to his tally and join the leading group on Tuesday, adding even more stakes to what is already shaping up to be a historic race. Beyond the all-time cumulative record, all the leading contenders are also targeting Just Fontaine’s 65-year-old record of 13 goals scored in a single World Cup, set in 1958. Only three players in history have ever hit double-digit goals in a single World Cup, but pundits widely predict that number will grow by the end of this 2026 tournament.

The expanded 48-team format of the 2026 World Cup has been cited as one factor contributing to the surge in goals from elite attackers. The new structure adds an extra knockout round for tournament winners, giving star players more opportunities to find the back of the net, while the inclusion of more lower-ranked opponents has allowed the world’s best forwards to capitalize on chances against less experienced defenses.

Industry experts and former players have weighed in on the once-in-a-generation competition for the Golden Boot. French football journalist Julien Laurens noted that the elite stars are not only competing for the current tournament’s top scorer prize, but are also chasing historic all-time records that have stood for decades. Former Scotland striker Ally McCoist argued that while it is impossible to directly compare the three superstars, Haaland stands alone as the most clinically lethal finisher in the world right now. “When it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net, Haaland is probably the best out there. When it comes to finishing, he takes some beating,” McCoist said.

Former England international Karen Carney summed up the opening matchday: “It was a superstar day. Messi stole the show, but what performances from Mbappe and Haaland as well. Let’s hope Harry Kane can get in on the act on Tuesday.”

While the race for goals has captured global attention, Mbappe sought to downplay his individual pursuit, noting that he is focused first on helping France succeed rather than tracking Messi’s progress. “If I start watching him, I’ll feel like I have to do even more, so no, I don’t watch what he’s doing. I’m only thinking about helping my team – by helping the team, I score goals and get closer to that kind of level,” Mbappe said.

Norway manager Stale Solbakken was quick to advocate for his star striker, arguing that Haaland’s four-goal start is even more impressive coming off a smaller nation than global powerhouses France and Argentina. “It’s easier to win the Golden Boot when you play for France and Argentina, but we’ll try to give Erling more games, and more help also in the next games. So he’s on fire and I’m very happy for him that he can score on the biggest stage,” Solbakken said.

Even other top young strikers in the tournament have expressed awe at the three superstars’ historic form. American striker Folarin Balogun, who notched two goals in his own first two matches, joked: “I think it’s annoying. Seeing players like Messi, Mbappe, Haaland – they’re so inevitable. I think they’re scoring a goal a game, sometimes more. For me, it’s just about trying to get to that level – to be inevitable as well.”

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will remain fixed on the Golden Boot race, as what is already the most competitive individual goal-scoring chase in decades continues to unfold on football’s biggest global stage.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Severe weather has thrown a last-minute curveball into Colombia’s preparation plans for its critical second Group K FIFA World Cup matchup against Congo, forcing the South American squad to halt an outdoor training session just minutes after it kicked off on Monday.

The incident unfolded at Guadalajara’s dedicated training facility, where Colombia’s squad had begun going through tactical drills and warm-up routines. Within 30 minutes of starting the session, a sudden rolling storm swept through the region, prompting coaching staff to immediately order players to evacuate the outdoor pitch and move to indoor shelter for safety.

Rather than scrapping the day’s workout entirely, the Colombian Football Federation confirmed that the team adjusted its schedule and completed the remaining portion of the training session inside a nearby gym, allowing players to maintain their fitness routines ahead of the upcoming high-stakes game.

For their part, Congo avoided the Guadalajara storm on the same day: the African side held its full morning training session on U.S. soil before boarding a charter flight to the Mexican host city later on Monday.

This upcoming fixture marks the second group-stage match for both teams, with each entering the game riding different early results from their opening outings. Colombia got its World Cup campaign off to a strong start, securing a solid 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan in its first match. Congo, meanwhile, earned a credible 1-1 draw against a Portugal side led by global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo to open its tournament run.

More updates and full coverage of the 202X FIFA World Cup can be found via the Associated Press at their official website.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Just hours after helping Argentina secure a 2-0 victory over Austria in a World Cup match held in this northern Texas city, star forward Julián Álvarez sent shockwaves through European soccer by publicly confirming his intention to leave La Liga side Atletico Madrid. The 26-year-old Argentine international did not shy away from addressing his future in an interview with ESPN, breaking his silence on months of unreported transfer speculation.

“The best outcome for all parties involved is for me to move on this transfer window,” Álvarez told reporters. “While I recognize this may not be the ideal moment to discuss this matter publicly, I also cannot hide the truth from anyone. I have been honest about my position, and I have already communicated my wishes directly to the club’s leadership, as I felt I owed them that transparency.”

News of Álvarez’s comments spread rapidly across global soccer media, and within hours of the comments being circulated in Spanish outlets, visual evidence of angry Atletico Madrid supporters burning the player’s jersey began circulating widely on major social media platforms. The images highlighted the deep frustration among the fanbase over one of their key attackers openly pushing for an exit from the club.

The public confirmation of Álvarez’s desire to leave comes just weeks after Real Madrid, Atletico’s city rivals, confirmed that they had tabled a 150 million euro (equivalent to $171 million) offer for the forward earlier this month, an offer that Atletico Madrid’s board rejected out of hand. Spanish soccer reporting has also connected this offer to the ongoing re-election campaign of Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, who included a high-profile pursuit of the Argentine star as a key promise to voters ahead of the club’s leadership vote.

Real Madrid are not the only top Spanish side linked with a move for Álvarez: multiple reports out of Catalonia have also confirmed that FC Barcelona, another of European soccer’s biggest clubs, has also expressed concrete interest in signing the talented forward. Despite the overt interest from rival clubs and Álvarez’s public push for a transfer, Atletico Madrid has repeatedly maintained its position that it has no intention of entering negotiations to sell the player this summer. Per Spanish football media, Álvarez’s current contract with the club includes a massive release clause set at 500 million euros ($571 million), a figure designed to deter clubs from pursuing a mandatory exit for the player.

As the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup builds up to a critical Group C showdown between Brazil and Scotland, a unique new animal oracle has thrown its weight behind Brazil – and most soccer fans are eager to see if its prediction will hold true. On Monday, Poty, a majestic black jaguar based at Rio de Janeiro’s BioParque, stepped into the global spotlight for a lighthearted pre-match forecasting event that drew crowds of local residents and curious soccer supporters.

The event organizers set up two specially designed enrichment boxes for the big cat, each decorated to represent one of the two competing nations. As onlookers held their breath, Poty slowly approached the offerings, sniffing each box carefully to weigh her decision. After a few moments of consideration, she made her decisive move, selecting the box marked with Brazil’s national colors. But in a twist that has sparked discussion among the jaguar’s handlers, Poty doubled back after her initial pick to give the Scotland box a second, thorough inspection.

That small, final gesture is not something to brush off, according to Caio de Souza Silva, a biologist who works closely with Poty at BioParque. Speaking to reporters after the event, Silva noted that the jaguar’s second look could signal a far more challenging match for Brazil than many fans expect. “Maybe it indicates a tough game for us,” Silva explained. “Maybe it’s a win, but it could also be a more complicated match. Hopefully we don’t concede a goal, but it may suggest a more physical game for Brazil.”

Heading into Wednesday’s clash, which is set to take place in Miami, Group C standings remain tightly contested. Brazil currently sits as co-leader of the group alongside Morocco, with both nations holding four points. Brazil edges out Morocco on goal difference, putting them in a strong position to advance. Scotland, meanwhile, is not far behind with three points, and the side remains in contention to move on to the knockout stage regardless of the result of their match against Brazil. In the other Group C fixture matchday, Morocco will face Haiti, a side that has yet to earn a single point in the tournament so far.

Animal oracle predictions have become a beloved quirky tradition for major international soccer tournaments, stretching back to the iconic Paul the Octopus who rose to fame for his perfect prediction streak at the 2010 World Cup. For many fans, these lighthearted forecasts add an extra layer of fun and anticipation ahead of high-stakes matches.