Estrella · Defender · #0 · 0 yrs
If we rewind 36 years to 16 June 1990 and the Italian city of Genoa, Stuart McCall was busy scoring to help Scotland secure a 2-1 win over Sweden. The former midfielder jokes that he "was always deadly from a yard out" and ultimately that victory wasn't enough to ensure Scotland progressed to the knock-out stage, but up until this weekend, it was their last win at a World Cup finals. Now the 62 year-old is assistant to Paul Heckingbottom at Preston North End, but he's also enjoying absorbing all the action from the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Despite Elijah Just scored a brace, Iran and New Zealand shared points in a thrilling 2-2 draw in their 2026 World Cup debut. Iran and New Zealand clashed Monday at SoFi Stadium, temporarily renamed Los Angeles Stadium, for a Matchday 1 Group G showdown at the 2026 World Cup. While Elijah Just found the back of the net twice, his heroic brace wasn’t enough to secure the first World Cup victory in All Whites history. The All Whites weathererd an early wave of Iranian dominance before striking on a high note. In the 7th minute, Chris Wood unlocked the defense by holding up a long ball and feeding his teammates, setting up Just to unleash a clinical strike and open the scoring. The early deficit rattled Iran, forcing goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand into several key saves to keep the match within reach. The breakthrough arrived in the 32nd minute when Ramin Rezaeian delivered a brilliant trivela cross; after Saman Ghoddos and Shahriyar Moghanlou battled for the ball, Rezaeian ghosted into the area to smash home the rebound and equalize. New Zealand recaptured the momentum early in the second half. In the 54th minute, Just linked up beautifully with Wood once again, orchestrating a quick combination before going one-on-one with the keeper to complete his brace. However, Rezaeian turned playmaker in the 64th minute, whipping in a remote-controlled cross that found Mohammad Mohebi’s head to level the score, and despite late chances for both sides, the deadlock held. Shoja Khalilzadeh #4 of IR Iran and Elijah Just #11 of New Zealand shakes hands after the 2-2 draw. The 2-2 draw leaves Group G completely deadlocked. With Belgium and Egypt playing to a 1-1 tie earlier Monday, Iran must now hunt for three points against the Red Devils on June 21, while the All Whites prepare for a Matchday 2 clash against the Pharaohs.
⚽️ World Cup kick-off: 6pm EDT/11pm BST/8am AEST⚽️ Spain 0-0 Cape Verde | Player guide | BracketologyHello and welcome to live, minute-by-minute coverage of Saudi Arabia v Uruguay at the Miami Stadium. Saudi Arabia started the last World Cup with a stunning victory over Argentina. They’d love to do the same another South American giant tonight – not least because it would increase their chances of getting out of a World Cup group for only the second time. The first, as any football nerd worth their loneliness will know, came on their World Cup debut at USA 94.Uruguay didn’t even qualify for that tournament. They also missed out in 1998 and 2006, but a memorable run to the semi-finals in 2010 reminded everyone of their pedigree – and their ability to attract or cause controversy. Continue reading...
The 90th Minute recaps a wild slate of World Cup matches, including Germany’s 7-1 rout of Curaçao and dramatic finishes across the groups. The latest action at the 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered a mix of tactical chess matches, dominant displays, and historic milestones. On the newest episode of The 90th Minute, hosts break down a fascinating day of group stage football that reshaped expectations across multiple brackets. Listen to the full episode on Spotify to hear the complete matchday review. The headline story came from Group E, where Germany cruised to an emphatic 7-1 victory over World Cup debutants Curaçao. While the four-time champions flexed their attacking muscle, the Caribbean nation captured global attention by scoring a historic, first-ever tournament goal to briefly level the match. The show also dives into a tense tactical battle in Group A, where Japan punished the Netherlands’ defensive approach by snatching a dramatic late equalizer. The hosts analyze how a cautious tactical setup ultimately cost the Dutch side two crucial points in the final minutes. The remaining slate featured a highly anticipated matchup between Ivory Coast and Ecuador, with the African nation emerging victorious in a tight battle of tournament dark horses. Meanwhile, Sweden bounced back from a difficult qualification campaign to secure a ruthless, high-scoring win over Tunisia. You can stream the entire tactical recap right now. Check out The 90th Minute World Cup Review on Spotify to get the complete breakdown of the latest goals, surprises, and group standings.
Spain will face off against Cape Verde in their opening FIFA World Cup group-stage match. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the action live in the United States. Here are all of the details of where you can watch Spain vs Cape Verde on US television and via legal streaming: WHO Spain vs Cape Verde WHAT 2026 World Cup WHEN 12:00pm ET / 9:00am PT • Monday, June 15, 2026 WHERE Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling, Peacock Premium, FOX, Telemundo and Hulu + Live TV STREAM WATCH NOW Match Overview Spain arrives at the 2026 tournament as the reigning European champions and one of the top contenders to lift the trophy. Ranked second in the world, La Roja are expected to make a powerful statement in their opening match. For a team with immense depth and a history of success, anything less than a convincing victory against the group’s underdog would be seen as a significant disappointment and could complicate their path to the knockout stages. Meanwhile, Cape Verde is living a football fairy tale. As the third-smallest nation ever to qualify for the global showpiece, their presence is a testament to their remarkable progress. The Blue Sharks topped a challenging African qualification group that included giants like Cameroon, and now they step onto the biggest stage for the first time. This match is a historic moment for the island nation, representing a chance to defy the odds and produce one of the greatest upsets in the tournament’s history. Tactical Analysis & Match Context The two nations enter this Group H clash on vastly different trajectories. Spain operates as a finely tuned machine under coach Luis de la Fuente, fresh off a Euro 2024 triumph and a dominant qualifying campaign. Their system is built on technical superiority and suffocating possession. In contrast, Cape Verde‘s journey has been one of grit and tactical discipline, outperforming more experienced African sides to book their historic ticket to North America. The tactical battle will be a classic clash of styles. Spain is expected to monopolize the ball, leveraging their 70.4% average possession from qualifying to patiently probe for weaknesses. With Rodri anchoring the midfield, they will dictate the tempo and look to break down a packed defense. Cape Verde will almost certainly respond with a disciplined low block, aiming to congest space, absorb pressure, and hit Spain on the counter-attack with explosive pace. For Spain, the motivation is clear: secure a comprehensive win to build momentum and establish an early advantage in a group that also features a tough Uruguay side. For Cape Verde, this match is about national pride and the opportunity to announce their arrival on the world stage. A draw would be a monumental achievement, while a victory would be legendary, sending shockwaves through the entire tournament. Head-to-Head Record & Historic Trends This opening group stage match will be the first-ever meeting between Spain and Cape Verde at any level, making it a historic encounter for both nations. With no prior history to draw from, the context must come from their respective records against similar opposition. Spain has faced African teams six times in past tournaments, compiling a record of three wins, two draws, and one loss in regulation time. However, their most recent encounter was a painful one: a penalty shootout elimination at the hands of Morocco in the Round of 16 of the 2022 tournament after a scoreless draw. Cape Verde, as debutants, will be playing their first-ever match against a European opponent at the finals. Historical data from previous tournaments heavily favors the experienced side. Nations making their debut have won only two of their last 16 matches over the past four competitions. Furthermore, data since 1998 shows that systematically wagering against newcomers has yielded a positive return, underscoring the steep challenge Cape Verde faces. The trends strongly suggest Spain will control the game and has a high probability of securi
News, buildup and reaction from North AmericaPlayer guide | Bracketology | Wallchart | Mail us hereHow Group D stands after the opening games…Group D also continued today, with Australia earning a 2-0 win over Turkey in Vancouver. You can recap the action below. Continue reading...
Scotland won their opening match at the World Cup for the third time (also 1974 and 1982). This was Scotland's fifth World Cup win, their first since a 2-1 victory over Sweden in 1990 – also their first ever with only one goal scored in the tournament. Scotland have kept a clean sheet for the fourth time in a World Cup match (W2 D2) – three of them were against opponents from the Americas, including this 1-0 win over Haiti and 0-0 draws against Uruguay in 1986 and Brazil in 1974.
Taking into account the World Cup's magnitude, the pressure of being a host, SoFi Stadium's sweeping backdrop, the weight of an opening match, the number of eyeballs watching on screens both wide and handheld, the 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Friday stands alone in U.S. men's soccer lore.
