Manchester United Vs Manchester City Preview By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade    Twitter: ollyzjinx01          Instagram: sir_ajirowo01 The Manchester Derby is here, and this will be the first one without Pep Guardiola on the touchline. Yes, I mentioned him. He tormented us, and I am happy we beat him in his last season. And who else did it in his first match? Michael Carrick. I believe we are going to enjoy this derby match, no matter the outcome, because the Red Devils always step up in a derby.   After a convincing 4-0 win over Sabah FC in the UCL, giving us our first clean sheet of the season, United will take on a new Manchester City side that are unbeaten this season. Enzo Maresca has been doing a wonderful job up until now, but United will win this.   Michael Carrick could become only the third Man Utd manager to win his first two league games against Man City, after A.H. Albut in 1895 and John Bentley in 1913.   Erling Haaland has scored eight Premier League goals against Man Utd, with only Mohamed Salah (13) and Alan Shearer (10) netting more.   United target Lewis Hall has signed a new contract at Newcastle. What this means now is that we have to look at another left-back option, but with Dorgu’s performance on Thursday, do we still need to buy a left-back? Who do you have in mind? Let us know in the comment section.   United have endured a mixed start to 2026-27, with a loss and a win against Hull and Ipswich respectively on the first two matchdays, followed by conceding a last-gasp equaliser against Everton last weekend.   But defensively, there is an urgent need for improvement. United have conceded twice in all three of their Premier League games in 2026-27 – they have only previously started three league campaigns by shipping multiple goals in four straight matches, in 1926-27 (first 5), 1930-31 (12) and 1969-70 (4).   With United impressing in attack and looking shaky in defence, the Old Trafford faithful have at least seen plenty of entertainment in recent months.   Since Carrick returned for his second stint in charge of United in January, they have won nine of their 10 home Premier League games (L1), scoring at least twice in each victory. They have won their last three despite conceding twice each time, last conceding multiple goals in four consecutive home league games in January 1972.   Carrick’s first Premier League game upon returning to the United dugout was at home to City, and goals from Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu completed a morale-boosting 2-0 win. He could become only the third Red Devils manager to win both of his first two league games against City, after A.H. Albut in 1895 and John Bentley in 1913.   Manchester City’s performances have not been perfect this season, but with three Premier League victories in the bag, in addition to a 2-0 win at Porto to kickstart their UEFA Champions League campaign in the week, Enzo Maresca will be delighted with their results.   Their 100% Premier League record will be tested on Sunday, though, as Maresca gets his first managerial experience of the Manchester derby at Old Trafford.   Eight previous Man City managers have won their first league Manchester derbies – including four this century in Kevin Keegan, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Manuel Pellegrini and Pep Guardiola – and Maresca has already led the visitors to the top of the Premier League table.   Despite only putting one past Coventry City last weekend – Erling Haaland's customary header – the Sky Blues are currently edging out holders Arsenal on goals scored, before the Gunners take on Sunderland on Saturday night.   The Opta supercomputer makes Manchester City favourites for the derby, albeit not overwhelmingly – they have a 45.1% win probability, compared to Manchester United’s 30.6%.   Who do you think will win this derby? I don’t know why, but I have never been so confident of a victory, but I believe United should be able to edge this game. Drop your predictions below. Manchester United record against Manchester City: Games won: 68 Games drawn: 53 Games lost: 53     Team News: (As of today, 13/09/2026) Manchester United: Amad Diallo, Matthias De Ligt, Ugarte, Tom Heaton, and Karl Darlow are out through injury.   Manchester City:  Jeremy Doku is injured.     PREDICTION Derby day has not always gone according to the script of late, as Man City have won just one of their last four Premier League games against Man United, whose fixtures this season have been nothing if not entertaining. Even though the Opta supercomputer believes City will edge it, I have a firm belief that we will surprise everybody. Manchester United 2–1 Manchester City.    

Manchester United Vs Sabah Fc Preview By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade    Twitter: ollyzjinx01          Instagram: sir_ajirowo01 After a last-gasp minute goal by Maitland-Niles to draw the game level on Sunday, United have to dust off the disappointment and focus on our Champions League match against the team from Azerbaijan. It was disappointing because we could have won our last match, but the entire 11, including the manager, have to take the blame. How do we move forward? How do we avoid this type of scenario because it will happen again? That is something the entire board and coaching staff have to solve.   Manchester United will be aiming to begin their 2026-27 Champions League league phase campaign on a winning note when they welcome Azerbaijani outfit Sabah on Thursday night.   This is Man United's first Champions League campaign in three seasons, while it will be the first time that Sabah have competed at this level of European football.   Man United were absent from European competition in 2025-26 for the first time since 2014-15, and this will represent their first Champions League campaign in three seasons and their 26th overall, which is an English record.   In 2023-24, Man United finished fourth in a section which included Bayern Munich, Copenhagen and Galatasaray, and there is undoubtedly pressure on head coach Michael Carrick to deliver a positive Champions League campaign, but winning the trophy this season is a long shot.   Man United will also take on Atletico Madrid, Como, Roma, Sporting Lisbon, RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and Villarreal in the league phase of this season's Champions League.   Yes, we are back in the Champions League where we belong, but are we ready? Will we beat Sabah Fc, with our record against small teams? We were handed a favourable draw, but we all know this new generation of Manchester United players. These are the questions that linger on everybody's mind.   Sabah, meanwhile, began their 2026-27 Champions League campaign at the start of July, already taking to the field on eight occasions in the competition this season.   The Azerbaijani outfit have beaten TNS, KuPS, Aarhus and Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the 2026-27 Champions League qualifying rounds to secure a spot at this stage for the first time, and they will enter the match off the back of a thumping 5-0 win over Zira in the league.   Valdas Dambrauskas' side, who are the reigning Azerbaijani champions, have made a strong start to their domestic campaign, picking up nine points from three matches to top the division.   The Owls will be coming up against a Man United side that have only won one of their last seven Champions League group-stage matches, suffering four defeats in the process, and they can take confidence from the Red Devils' defensive problems this term.   Sabah have won six of their eight Champions League matches this season, keeping four clean sheets, and they are one of four teams in this season's competition making their debut in the league phase alongside Como, LASK and Viking.   There is no small team when it comes to the Champions League, and if we are to compare form, they are currently better than us. We have to start and end better. Who do you think will win?   Drop your predictions below. Manchester United record against Sabah Fc: Games won: 0 Games drawn: 0 Games lost: 0     Team News: (As of today, 10/09/2026) Manchester United: Amad Diallo, Matthias De Ligt, Ugarte, Tom Heaton, and Karl Darlow are out through injury.   Sabah Fc:  No injuries.   PREDICTION We can't expect an easy clean sheet from United considering the problems we have had at the back, but I still believe we have enough going forward to start our Champions League campaign with a win. After what happened in the Manchester derby, the most important thing is to get the job done early, control the game, and hopefully come out without any injuries. Manchester United 3–1 Sabah FC.  

Everton Vs Manchester United Preview By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade    Twitter: ollyzjinx01          Instagram: sir_ajirowo01  A wonderful response to our opening-day defeat was exactly what was needed in our last match. A 7-goal thriller has definitely pushed the narrative that the team was not ready for the season to the bin. The final day of the transfer window might not have gone the way the supporters wanted, but the motivation and anticipation for the next match against Everton have not wavered.   The David Moyes derby takes centre stage on Sunday, when Everton welcome Manchester United to the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Premier League Gameweek Three.   The Toffees maintained their unbeaten record in 2026-27 with a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth last time out, while the Red Devils got off the mark in emphatic fashion with a 5-2 crushing of Ipswich Town.   On the matter of the club, the fans were clearly not happy that a left-back was not signed during the final days of the transfer window. The club made a few enquiries on the last day but decided that they would take care of it in the January transfer window.   The fans are angry about it because this was exactly what was said last season, and we didn't end up signing anybody in the January transfer window. With this season having so many fixtures and Luke Shaw not giving the fans any confidence that he can survive until January without an injury, you can understand the fans' anxiety.   Even though Dorgu was registered as a left-back, he has played more as a winger under Carrick than as a left-back. I guess that's why the club did not get a left-back.   We are all happy about the midfield rebuild done this season and the attack that was strengthened last season, but we are a big club. We should fix all our glaring problems once and for all so that we can quickly build a team that can compete.   Tell me what you think of our transfer activity. How do you rate it? The Red Devils' triumph over the Tractor Boys took them up to 42 points since Carrick took over from Ruben Amorim—more than any other team in that time—and the Englishman could now become just the sixth Premier League manager to win 45 points from his first 20 matches during a single spell at a club. Even if Man Utd fall behind again on Sunday, disaster may not strike. The last time the visitors conceded the first goal in their first three Premier League games of the season was in 2012-13, the last time they conquered the league. Last season, the two games ended with a 1-0 win for each side. United won at the Hill Dickinson with a late Sesko goal.   Will Manchester United be able to continue the winning streak at this new Everton home ground? The wily Scotsman is unlikely to be overjoyed at the prospect of a reunion with his former employers, having suffered 23 defeats as a manager against Manchester United in the Premier League—only Harry Redknapp (24) has lost more. However, Moyes has overseen a praiseworthy beginning to 2026-27 for the home side, who followed up an opening success over Crystal Palace and an EFL Cup crushing of Preston North End with a comeback draw against Bournemouth. As the owners face a fan revolt after a nightmarish end to the transfer window, Everton are now just 90 minutes away from winning back-to-back Premier League matches at the Hill Dickinson Stadium for just the second time ever. However, not since the 2021-22 season have they prevailed in their first two top-flight home fixtures. With Grealish, Maitland-Niles and Brennan Johnson, who likes scoring against Manchester United, arriving, and Ndiaye leaving, Everton will have a new-look attack on Sunday against Manchester United. Will Manchester United start better and be fitter against Everton? Will they find a way to win on Sunday?   Drop your predictions below. Manchester United record against Everton: Games won: 97 Games drawn: 48 Games lost: 72     Team News: (As of today, 06/09/2026) Everton: Christian Norgaard out through injury.   Manchester United:  Amad Diallo, Matthias De Ligt, Ugarte, Tom Heaton, and Karl Darlow are out through injury.   PREDICTION After the first two games, both Everton and Manchester United have recorded six direct attacks each, so I expect chances to come for both teams on Sunday. But after the disappointment at Hull and the way we responded against Ipswich, I believe United now have the confidence and attacking quality to cause Everton problems. If we play like we did in our last game, I can see us getting the win and handing Moyes his first defeat of the season.   Everton 1-2 Manchester United.  

Manchester United Vs Ipswich Town Preview By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade    Twitter: ollyzjinx01          Instagram: sir_ajirowo01 It wasn't the start we had hoped for. It wasn't the first game of the season any fan wanted to remember. That just tells you how shambolic we were in our last game against newly promoted Hull. Yes, we lost to a promoted club. Now we are facing another newly promoted team, Ipswich Town, on Sunday at Old Trafford. The question on every fan's mind is: Are we really ready for the new season? From what we saw, our fitness is clearly not where it should be.   The Red Devils were beaten by Hull City on the opening day, suffering their first-ever top-flight defeat to the Tigers, while Gary O'Neil's side marked their return to the Premier League with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Sunderland, courtesy of Jack Clarke's 90th-minute winner against his former employers.   In other news, United announced the signing of Baleba from Brighton, which to me completes the midfield revamp. United are still looking at signing a left-back and a striker. Zirkzee might leave on loan to Fiorentina, which means we will need another striker. Hopefully, we move fast because there are just two days left before the window closes.   I would want Mateta or Woltemade to come in if Zirkzee leaves. We might need extra height if we continue struggling for goals. They both bring height and finishing ability, although Mateta has more experience. For the left-back position, I don't mind who we get except Balde because of his injury record. Who would you want Manchester United's recruitment team to sign?   The Champions League draw has also been made. United will play Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid, Roma, Sporting CP, Leipzig, Villarreal, Sabah and Como. There are some familiar faces in there, but what do you think of the draw?   Can Manchester United qualify directly, or will we end up going through the playoffs? Tell us your predictions.   Man United could lose their opening two games of a Premier League season for only the third time, having previously done so in 1992-93 and 2022-23. That becomes a real possibility if we play the same way we did against Hull City.   Carrick also has a lot to explain when it comes to how we struggle against teams playing three at the back. They choke the midfield, switch the ball to the other side and we struggle to deal with it. Our fitness is also terrible. There was one thing Amorim got right, and that was the fitness of the players.   Michael Carrick is winless in his three managerial meetings with promoted clubs in the Premier League (D1 L2). His team could become the first in Premier League history to start a season with back-to-back losses against promoted sides. But Carrick has not lost back-to-back games as United manager. Hopefully, that doesn't change on Sunday.   There was a familiar sinking feeling for Manchester United last week, as they made a losing start to a Premier League season for the fourth time in seven years.   And the nature of their latest Matchday 1 defeat—a 2-0 loss to promoted Hull City that came via two set-piece goals in the first half—has understandably set alarm bells ringing among United supporters.   The Red Devils will hope that a quirk of the fixture list provides them with a chance to get back to winning ways, as they are the first team to open a Premier League campaign with two matches against promoted sides since Bournemouth in 2019-20, when they faced Sheffield United and Aston Villa. It is the third time United have done so, after 2001-02 (Fulham, Blackburn Rovers) and 2009-10 (Birmingham City, Burnley).   Carrick is winless in his three Premier League meetings with promoted clubs (D1 L2), averaging just 0.33 points per game in those matches, compared to his 2.47 points-per-game average against non-promoted teams with United (P17 W13 D3 L1).   The Opta supercomputer is backing Manchester United to get their season up and running on Sunday, giving them a 66.4% chance of beating Ipswich Town.   Ipswich, meanwhile, marked their return to the top flight in style with a last-gasp victory over Sunderland, as Clarke's 90th-minute goal secured all three points for the Championship runners-up against a strong Sunderland side who impressed in the Premier League last season.   Ipswich had suffered relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2024-25 campaign after finishing 19th with 22 points from 38 matches, winning just four times throughout the season.   The Tractor Boys entered the 2025-26 campaign still under Kieran McKenna, who immediately guided them back to the Premier League after a second-placed Championship finish with 84 points.   McKenna then made the surprise decision to take a break from management during the summer, leaving Ipswich to appoint former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Strasbourg boss Gary O'Neil.   O'Neil arrived at Portman Road with plenty of work to do, and Ipswich made a significant investment during the summer in their bid to avoid another immediate relegation. They spent more than £100m in the transfer window, with seven new signings making their debuts on the opening day.   The new arrivals immediately repaid that faith as Ipswich beat Sunderland 2-1 to claim their first Premier League victory of the campaign, something they had waited until November to achieve during their previous top-flight spell.   Will Manchester United start better and be fitter against Ipswich? Will they find a way to win on Sunday? Drop your predictions below Manchester United record against Ipswich Town: Games won: 30 Games drawn: 10 Games lost: 19     Team News: (As of today, 29/08/2026) Manchester United: Amad Diallo, Matthias De Ligt, Ugarte, Tom Heaton, and Karl Darlow are out through injury.   Ipswich Town:  Azor Matusiwa and Florentino Luis are unavailable thro.ugh injury PREDICTION I am clearly not confident going into this match because of what I witnessed in the last two games. But I believe the fans will push us to the end. These players just have to step up.   The visitors should provide another stern test after their impressive opening-day victory. But we have to do better. We cannot afford to lose another game against a newly promoted team. Manchester United 2-1 Ipswich Town.

Hull City Vs Manchester United Preview By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade    Twitter: ollyzjinx01          Instagram: sir_ajirowo01 The new season is finally upon us, and we start by taking on one of the newly promoted teams, Hull City. Welcome back to a fresh start. Hope you didn't miss us too much. Thanks for all your support throughout last season, and hopefully, we Manchester United fans have something to celebrate this season. Let's go straight into the match.   The Red Devils finished third in last season's Premier League table, while Hull secured their return to England's top flight through the 2025-26 Championship playoffs. Manchester United have had a decent pre-season run of three wins, one draw and two losses. It's not a bad result considering these were friendly games meant to get the players fit and ready for the new season.   We all saw a style of play being implemented, especially when trying to break down teams that sit back, as well as the way we dominated possession in most of those games. Hopefully, all of that will come together properly this season.   In other news, Manchester United are working to close the Baleba deal so they can move on to other positions before the transfer window closes. Balde, Hall and others are being looked at for the left-back position, but I know Vivel will never buy Balde because of his injury record. You can't be replacing Shaw with another injury-prone player.   I definitely believe a new signing will be made and unveiled in our next match at Old Trafford, continuing the tradition of unveiling new players at our home matches. You can tell me in the comment section: who would you like Manchester United to sign, and which position do you think still needs strengthening?   Sergej Jakirovic's side progressed through last season's Championship playoffs to secure their return to the top flight, and it has been a busy summer for the club, with 11 new signings already made. The biggest of those is Nobel Mendy from Rayo Vallecano.   Hull have also moved a number of players on, so there will be a fresh look to the squad this season. That was probably needed if they are going to compete in the 2026-27 Premier League.   The Tigers won two, drew two and lost one of their five pre-season friendlies, and they will enter this match off the back of a goalless draw with Nice.   Hull have only won three of their previous 18 meetings with Man United in all competitions, but it was 0-0 when the two teams last met in the Premier League in February 2017.   Man United recorded a 1-0 victory over Hull on their last visit to the Tigers in the Premier League back in August 2016, and the Red Devils will be looking to open their 2026-27 campaign with a victory over their newly promoted opponents.   The 20-time English champions have brought in Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Karl Darlow this summer to strengthen the squad. Carlos Baleba is expected to follow in the near future, while the club could also bring in a left-back and a forward before the transfer window closes.   Man United rounded off their pre-season with a 4-2 defeat to AC Milan last weekend, but overall, their preparations for the new campaign have been strong. They recorded wins over Rosenborg, Atletico Madrid and Leeds United, as well as a draw against European champions Paris Saint-Germain.   Michael Carrick's side finished third in the Premier League last season, but there will be an added challenge this term with Champions League football returning. The Red Devils will also be looking to go further in both the FA Cup and EFL Cup.   The 20-time English champions will welcome Ipswich Town in their first home game of the season next weekend, giving the team a chance to put six points on the board early before travelling to Everton in their first game of September.   The Opta supercomputer gives Man United a 68.9% chance of starting the new season with a win, while Hull have just a 12.2% chance. In the Premier League era, United have only faced Charlton (16), QPR (14) and Birmingham (14) more often than Hull without ever losing.   Still, only Man United (65%, 22/34) and Blackpool (100%, 1/1) can boast a better win ratio on the Premier League's opening matchday than the Tigers, who have won 60% of their opening-day games (3/5).   Drop your score predictions below.Manchester United record against Hull City: Games won: 22 Games drawn: 5 Games lost: 6     Team News: (As of today, 21/08/2026) Hull City: Eliot Matazo, Darko Gyabi, Jack Butland, Oscar Zambrano, Charlie Hughes, Joe Gelhardt and Hidemasa Morita are all out of the match through injury. Manchester United: Benjamin Sesko, Mason Mount, Matthias De Ligt, and Karl Darlow are out through injury.   Prediction: Playing a newly promoted side is always very tricky, not to talk of one that qualified through the Championship playoffs. I believe with last season's form and quality, United should be able to get through this one. I'm just not so sure about our defence. Hull City 1-3 Manchester United

2026 FIFA WORLD CUP FINAL By: Babatunde Ajibade (World Cup correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade    Twitter: ollyzjinx01          Instagram: sir_ajirowo01 The 2026 FIFA World Cup has finally come to an end.   What a tournament it has been. From the opening match right through to the final, it gave us unforgettable moments, stunning goals, major upsets and plenty of drama. Yes, the final ended up being one-sided, but that shouldn't take anything away from Spain's performance. It was another reminder of Spanish football at its very best. We got to see tiki-taka in full flow once again.   The third-place match produced plenty of goals, but for me, it felt more like a glorified friendly, so I never expected it to have any influence on how the final would unfold.   The match started exactly as many expected, with Spain dominating possession. However, I didn't think they would dominate Argentina to this extent. They completely controlled the game from start to finish and restricted Argentina to just two attempts, with none on target. I honestly can't remember the last time I saw a team control a World Cup final like that.   The biggest talking point during normal time was Enzo Fernández's second yellow card, which reduced Argentina to 10 men. Fortunately for them, it came late in regulation time, allowing them to hold on and force extra time.   The breakthrough finally arrived in extra time when Nico Williams brilliantly pulled the ball back with a header for Ferran Torres, who calmly side-footed home to put Spain on course for only the second World Cup title in their history.   Argentina tried to find a response, but the closest they came was a wayward effort from Simeone that sailed over the bar. After 120 minutes, they had managed just two attempts and failed to register a single shot on target.   For me, Argentina simply got their game plan wrong. It looked like they believed they could frustrate Spain and somehow grind out a result, but Spain never allowed that to happen.   The Spanish midfield completely controlled the contest, and that was where the game was won. Their defence also deserves enormous credit. Conceding just one goal throughout the entire tournament is an incredible achievement.   And yes... I just love that Spain made Messi cry.   Thank you to everyone who followed this journey throughout the tournament.   Until the next World Cup.   Congratulations, Spain!   The Golden Boot race is officially over.   Kylian Mbappé finished as the tournament's top scorer with 10 goals and four assists, while Lionel Messi ended the competition with eight goals and four assists.   Just as expected, the third-place playoff played a huge role in deciding both the Golden Boot and the Top Assist awards.   Michael Olise finished the tournament with seven assists.   𝐌𝐈𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐄𝐋 𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐊𝐄 𝐏𝐄𝐋𝐄'𝐒 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐂𝐔𝐏 𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝟕 𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐒.   Congratulations once again to Spain on becoming world champions for the second time in their history.   Pau Cubarsí deservedly won the Young Player of the Tournament award. Was he your choice?   Unai Simón also deservedly claimed the Golden Glove after conceding just one goal throughout the tournament.   Rodri was named Player of the Tournament following a series of outstanding performances from start to finish. I absolutely loved his display in the final.   Who scored the best goal of the tournament? For me, it's still Jude Bellingham's goal against France.   Which goalkeeper produced the save of the tournament? We witnessed some incredible stops over the course of the competition.   Overall, what did you make of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final?   Which moment stood out the most for you?   Drop your thoughts in the comments.    

2026 FIFA WORLD CUP THIRD PLACE By: Babatunde Ajibade (World Cup correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade    Twitter: ollyzjinx01          Instagram: sir_ajirowo01 Like I have always said, this tournament has not failed to deliver. There were plenty of people who believed the third-place match would lack intensity because the two teams involved would have little motivation to play. Well, the scoreline told a completely different story.   France took on England in the third-place playoff and, for me, France only had themselves to blame for how they approached the first half. Some people might argue that England simply outclassed them, and that's fair, but I think France made it far too easy.   This was Didier Deschamps' final game in charge, yet the French players never looked up for it. They were sluggish, careless and lacked urgency from the opening whistle. I wasn't even surprised when they conceded after just two minutes. Declan Rice capitalised on a misplaced pass, drove forward and unleashed a brilliant strike from outside the box to give England the perfect start.   Rice then turned provider for England's second goal, delivering a corner that Ezri Konsa buried with ease. Konaté looked like a shadow of himself throughout the first half. Then Theo Hernández seemed to say, "Konaté, I can do even worse." Bukayo Saka added England's third after another piece of poor defending, and the fourth goal was even more embarrassing. The entire French defence switched off as Eberechi Eze skipped past Zaïre-Emery before slipping Saka through for his second of the game.   To put it simply, France were dreadful in the first half.   The second half was a completely different story—or should I say it was the response everyone expected. Four substitutions. Yes, four. They were badly needed.   France looked far more like themselves after the break, but unfortunately for them, the damage had already been done.   Kylian Mbappé pulled one back after being played through brilliantly by Michael Olise. Not long after, Mbappé returned the favour with an excellent through ball of his own, and Bradley Barcola produced a superb finish to make it 4-2.   Mbappé wasn't finished.   He grabbed his second goal of the match to take his tally to 10 goals at this World Cup, becoming only the fourth player in history to score 10 or more goals in a single World Cup tournament and the first to achieve the feat in 56 years. He has now scored 22 goals in World Cup history. At this rate, I genuinely believe he will eventually surpass Lionel Messi's record, whatever number Messi eventually finishes on.   France had more than enough opportunities to level the game, but their finishing let them down. Instead, England were awarded a penalty. Saka stepped up confidently and completed his first-ever World Cup hat-trick.   At that point, most of us thought the game was over.   But Upamecano, who came on in the second half and clearly treated the match with the seriousness it deserved, played a brilliant pass to send Ousmane Dembélé through on goal. Dembélé sat the defender down before calmly slotting the ball beyond Dean Henderson.   France were suddenly on the front foot and looked capable of completing an incredible comeback.   Then Jude Bellingham happened.   He won possession in midfield, drove straight at the French defence, twisted Lacroix inside out and fired his shot through the legs of Upamecano to cap off an incredible 10-goal thriller.   Bellingham also became the first English midfielder in World Cup history to score seven goals. In fact, he is now the first England player ever to score seven goals in a single World Cup tournament.   It also became the highest-scoring third-place match in FIFA World Cup history.   So, for a match many expected to be nothing more than a formality, it ended up producing goals, drama and several historic records.   Hopefully, the final gives us even more.   As it stands now, we await the...   Final   🇪🇸 Spain 🆚 🇦🇷 Argentina   The Golden Boot race is still alive, although it now appears to be a battle between two familiar names.   Kylian Mbappé leads the standings with 10 goals and four assists, while Lionel Messi has eight goals and four assists of his own.   Just as expected, the third-place match ended up playing a huge role in both the Golden Boot and Top Assist races.   In the assist rankings, Michael Olise finished the tournament with seven assists.   𝐌𝐈𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐄𝐋 𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐒 𝐏𝐄𝐋𝐄'𝐒 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐂𝐔𝐏 𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝟕 𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐒.   Who do you think will lift the World Cup trophy?   Who deserves to win the Young Player of the Tournament award?   Who has scored the best goal of the tournament so far? For me, it's still Jude Bellingham's goal against France.   And which goalkeeper has produced the save of the tournament? We've seen some absolutely incredible stops throughout this competition.   Overall, what have you made of the third-place match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?   Which moment stood out the most for you?   Drop your thoughts in the comments.    

2026 FIFA WORLD CUP SEMI-FINAL By: Babatunde Ajibade (World Cup correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade    Twitter: ollyzjinx01          Instagram: sir_ajirowo01 The semi-finals certainly lived up to expectations. FIFA's top four teams gave us exactly what we hoped for—quality football, drama and moments to remember. If you love football, there was plenty to enjoy.   France took on Spain in the first semi-final, and in my opinion, France were completely outclassed. They were outplayed, outthought, and outworked by a Spanish side that looked like they had the answers to every question France asked.   Rodri reminded everyone why he won the Ballon d'Or. He completely controlled the midfield, while Mbappé and Michael Olise never really got going. Spain took the lead when Mikel Oyarzabal calmly converted from the penalty spot after Lucas Digne's reckless challenge on Lamine Yamal.   From that moment on, Spain took control. Every passing lane to Mbappé was closed off, and Marc Cucurella deserves a lot of credit for the job he did on both Olise and Dembélé. He probably won't get the headlines, but he was one of Spain's unsung heroes.   The biggest difference between the two teams was the midfield battle. Rodri and Fabián Ruiz completely dominated that area of the pitch, cutting off spaces and controlling the tempo.   Pedro Porro eventually put the game beyond France with his second goal of the tournament after a brilliant one-two with Dani Olmo caught the French defence sleeping. Spain deserved every bit of their 2-0 victory.   The Spaniards are now through to only the second World Cup final in their history since lifting the trophy in 2010. Can they do it again? We'll find out soon.   The second semi-final gave us another reminder of why Lionel Messi is simply different.   Argentina came from behind to beat England 2-1 in the closing minutes of normal time, with Messi once again pulling the strings. He finished the night with two more assists, taking his tally to four in this tournament.   The game started with plenty of fierce tackles but, surprisingly, only two yellow cards were shown in the first half. Both teams spent the opening stages sizing each other up without wanting to make the first big mistake.   Everything changed after the break.   Anthony Gordon gave England the lead with a simple finish after excellent work from Morgan Rogers. At that point, most people expected England to keep attacking and try to finish the game.   Instead, they did the complete opposite.   From around the 56th minute, England gradually dropped deeper and deeper. Thomas Tuchel kept introducing defenders instead of attackers, and for me, that decision completely changed the game. The more England sat back, the more confidence Argentina gained.   Lionel Scaloni saw it immediately and responded by bringing on more attacking players, including Lautaro Martínez. It turned out to be the winning move.   Argentina equalised in the 85th minute after Messi played a clever short corner to Enzo Fernández, whose curling effort from outside the box left Jordan Pickford with no chance. Pickford actually had an excellent game, but sometimes you simply have to applaud a great finish.   Then came the decisive moment.   Messi delivered a wonderful cross with his weaker right foot, and substitute Lautaro Martínez powered home a brilliant header to complete the comeback.   What surprised me most was how Argentina managed to score a header against an England defence that had Guehi, Konsa, Stones, and the towering Dan Burn. You don't expect that to happen.   Thomas Tuchel is definitely going to have plenty of questions to answer when he gets back home because the English media won't let this one slide.   As it stands now...   Third-Place Fixture   🇫🇷 France 🆚 🏴 England   Final   🇪🇸 Spain 🆚 🇦🇷 Argentina   The Golden Boot race is still alive, although it looks like it's now between two familiar names.   Lionel Messi leads the way with eight goals and four assists, while Kylian Mbappé also has eight goals, along with three assists.   That means both the final and the third-place playoff could decide not only the Golden Boot winner but also the tournament's Best Player.   In the assist rankings, Michael Olise still leads the competition with five assists.   Who do you think will win the third-place match?   Who do you think will lift the World Cup trophy?   Who do you think deserves the Young Player of the Tournament award?   Who has scored the best goal of the tournament so far?   And which goalkeeper has produced the save of the tournament? We've seen some absolutely incredible stops throughout this competition.   Overall, what has been your impression of the semi-finals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?   Which moment stood out the most for you?   Drop your thoughts in the comments.    

2026 FIFA WORLD CUP QUARTER FINALS By: Babatunde Ajibade (World Cup correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade    Twitter: ollyzjinx01          Instagram: sir_ajirowo01 As the tournament draws closer to its end, the excitement just keeps growing. The biggest players continue to show up on the biggest stage with brilliant goals, crunching tackles and unbelievable saves. The quarter-finals were no different. This World Cup may have been longer than previous editions, but one thing is certain—it has delivered.   France took on Morocco in the opening quarter-final, and for me, Morocco gave France far too much respect. From the way the coach set up the team, it looked like they were more concerned about stopping France than hurting them. France, on the other hand, came out like a team on a mission.   Mbappé missed a penalty in the first half, but that didn't stop him. He responded with a brilliant finish after the break to put France ahead. It was his eighth goal of the tournament, drawing him level at the top of the Golden Boot race. He has now scored 20 goals in World Cup history. At this rate, I honestly believe he will surpass Messi's record before he retires.   Dembélé also got on the scoresheet to seal a 2-0 victory and send France into their third semi-final in the last three World Cups. You can already see they have one eye on another final, and I'm sure they'll be hoping for another meeting with Argentina to get revenge for that unforgettable defeat in the 2022 World Cup final. But before dreaming about that, they must first get past Spain.   The 2010 World Cup winners, Spain, faced Belgium in the second quarter-final, and what a game it was. It started at a frantic pace, then slowed down for a while before bursting back into life again.   Fabian Ruiz, a surprise starter with Pedri beginning on the bench, gave Spain the lead. Belgium responded just 11 minutes later through De Ketelaere. The second half belonged largely to Spain, but the biggest turning point came when Thibaut Courtois picked up an injury and had to be substituted.   Lammens came on in goal, while Spain introduced their own game changer, Mikel Merino. Once again, just like he did against Portugal in the Round of 16, Merino delivered when his country needed him most. He reacted quickest after Cubarsí's effort slipped through Lammens' hands to score the winner and send Spain into their first World Cup semi-final since lifting the trophy in 2010.   Can Spain go all the way again?   One thing is worth remembering. Spain have beaten France in their last two meetings, including that memorable victory at the European Championship. So, I definitely wouldn't rule them out. But who do you think reaches the final? Let me know in the comments.   Norway against England had all the ingredients of a classic. Haaland versus Kane. Ødegaard versus Bellingham. Everywhere you looked, those were the headlines, and thankfully, the match lived up to the hype.   England controlled possession early on but struggled to break down Norway's disciplined defence. Everything changed after the hydration break. Norway became the better side, and they got their reward when Schjelderup's cross—well, I'm still not sure whether it was a cross or a shot—completely fooled Jordan Pickford and found the back of the net. I was just as confused as Pickford.   Norway should have doubled their lead moments later, but Sørloth chose not to square the ball to Haaland. The Manchester City striker was unusually quiet for long spells and looked like he might produce another late moment of magic like he did against Brazil.   Instead, it was his friend Jude Bellingham who stole the spotlight.   Bellingham drove into the box from midfield, collected Gordon's cross and calmly slotted the ball into the far corner to level the score. Both goalkeepers then produced outstanding saves to force the game into extra time, but football can be cruel.   The same man who rescued Norway against Brazil, goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland, became the villain. He spilled a straightforward effort from substitute Morgan Rogers, and Bellingham reacted quickest to fire home his second goal of the match. That took his tally to six goals at this World Cup.   No English player has ever scored more non-penalty goals in a single World Cup than Jude Bellingham.   Can the Three Lions finally win their second World Cup?   The final quarter-final saw Argentina take on Switzerland in a match that was much tighter than many expected. The Swiss started brightly and looked the better side early on, but Argentina reminded everyone why they are the reigning world champions. Alexis Mac Allister, one of the shortest players on the pitch, rose highest to head home from a Lionel Messi corner and give La Albiceleste the lead. That assist was Messi's second of the tournament and his 10th in FIFA World Cup history.   To Switzerland's credit, they never stopped believing. They continued to control large spells of the game and got the equaliser they deserved through Dan Ndoye early in the second half. However, the turning point came just minutes later when Breel Embolo received a second yellow card for simulation after a VAR mistaken-identity review. I honestly couldn't understand that decision from Embolo. Your team had Argentina under pressure, pushing for a winner, and you chose that moment to go down looking for a foul. For a player of his experience, it was a needless mistake that completely changed the game. With neither side able to separate themselves after 90 minutes, the match went into extra time. Switzerland gave everything, but Argentina's quality finally told in the second half of extra time. Julián Álvarez produced a stunning strike before Lautaro Martínez added the killer goal with a calm finish to seal a 3-1 victory. The reigning world champions are through to the semi-finals, where England now stand in their way.   The Golden Boot race is becoming even more fascinating. At this rate, don't be surprised if the winner finishes with double figures.   Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé lead the standings with eight goals each.   Erling Haaland follows with seven, while Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are right behind on six.   In the assist rankings, Michael Olise still leads the way with five assists.   Semi-final Fixtures   🇫🇷 France 🆚 🇪🇸 Spain   🏴 England 🆚 🇦🇷 Argentina   Who do you think will qualify for the final?   Who has scored the best goal of the tournament so far?   And which goalkeeper has produced the save of the tournament? We've seen some absolutely incredible stops throughout this competition.   Overall, what has been your impression of the quarter-finals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?   Which moment stood out the most for you?   Drop your thoughts in the comments.  

2026 FIFA WORLD CUP ROUND OF 16 By: Babatunde Ajibade (World Cup correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade    Twitter: ollyzjinx01          Instagram: sir_ajirowo01 The tournament feels longer than previous editions, but it has certainly lived up to expectations. The Round of 16 delivered everything—expected victories, huge upsets, and plenty of drama both on and off the pitch.   Co-hosts Canada were swept aside by North African giants Morocco. A brace from Ounahi, followed by Rahimi's late goal in normal time, sealed an impressive 3-0 victory. Morocco will, however, be without one of their key players in the quarter-finals after Saibari picked up an injury in the 22nd minute. Despite that setback, the Africans never looked rattled and kept pushing. The game really came alive after the break as Morocco completely took control. They now face France in the quarter-finals, a repeat of their famous 2022 World Cup meeting in Qatar, although this time they meet much earlier than the semi-final clash four years ago.   Next up was Paraguay against France. France managed to grind out a hard-fought 1-0 victory thanks to a Kylian Mbappé penalty. It was a very physical contest, with the hot conditions making life difficult for both teams. France may not have scored their usual three or four goals, but this performance showed they can battle when the game demands it. How far do you think France can go? And how many goals will Mbappé finish with in this competition?   Now to the biggest shock of the round. History tells us Brazil has never beaten Norway, but who honestly expected them to lose to Norway at the 2026 World Cup? Yet that's exactly what happened. Erling Haaland once again proved why he is one of the best in the world, scoring a brace before Neymar pulled one back from the penalty spot. The match ended 2-1 in favor of Norway. Brazil had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the first half, but Bruno Guimarães failed to beat Nyland from the spot. Nyland was outstanding throughout the match, producing save after save before Haaland took matters into his own hands and increased his tally to seven goals in his very first World Cup. Brazil has nobody to blame but themselves after wasting so many clear chances. They have now been eliminated before the semi-finals in back-to-back World Cups, and for the first time in a very long while, they are heading home at the Round of 16 stage. Norway will now face England in the quarter-finals.   England knocked out the second co-host, Mexico, in a thrilling five-goal encounter that kept delivering right until the final whistle. Jude Bellingham opened the scoring before England doubled their lead just two minutes after the restart. Mexico responded through Quiñones with a free-kick that England defended poorly, but just two minutes later, Bellingham struck again to restore the two-goal cushion. The game changed when Jarell Quansah was shown a red card after a VAR review for a reckless challenge on Mexico's left-back. Surprisingly, despite going down to ten men, England won a penalty just six minutes later, and Harry Kane converted to make it 3-1 and move onto six goals in the tournament. At that point, the game looked over, but Jiménez scored again to reduce the deficit to 3-2 and set up a tense finish. England had to defend for their lives against not just the Mexican team but what felt like an entire nation cheering them on. In the end, they held firm. How far do you think England will go? Can they finally win the World Cup for the second time?   Another GOAT has been sent home. Cristiano Ronaldo could not inspire Portugal past the European champions as they failed to reach the quarter-finals for the second consecutive World Cup. Ironically, they also lost 1-0 at this stage to Morocco in 2022. Spain didn't completely dominate Portugal, but they controlled the tempo of the game and dictated the pace from start to finish. I honestly don't know whether Roberto Martínez believed he could hang on until extra time to make changes, but Merino had other ideas. The substitute combined brilliantly with fellow substitute Ferran Torres to score the goal that sent Portugal home. Lamine Yamal hasn't quite reached the heights many expected from him in this tournament, but do you think he'll finally explode in the quarter-finals? Let me know in the comments.   As expected, Belgium dismantled the USA 4-1, despite all the controversy surrounding the match. There was plenty of talk after reports that the President of the United States had contacted the FIFA President before the game. The co-hosts were eventually undone by their own defensive mistakes. FIFA's decision to overturn Folarin Balogun's suspension also sparked debate across the football world, even though Gianni Infantino defended the decision by referring to Article 27 of the FIFA rulebook. Regardless of the controversy, Belgium celebrated in style. Romelu Lukaku extended his record as Belgium's highest World Cup goalscorer, although the only concern for them was the injury to Onana. Belgium now faces Spain in what promises to be another blockbuster all-European quarter-final. Who do you think qualifies?   Argentina against Egypt produced one of the most entertaining matches of the tournament. Argentina eventually won 3-2, but not before surviving plenty of drama. They had to come back from two goals down, and once again Lionel Messi dragged his team back into the contest. VAR dominated the headlines as Egypt saw a goal ruled out, while Argentina were awarded a penalty that Messi surprisingly missed in the first half. Egypt gave absolutely everything, but as the match wore on, frustration with several controversial refereeing decisions seemed to affect their concentration. Many fans felt some of those decisions favoured Argentina. In the end, though, Messi had the final say. He scored his eighth goal in eight consecutive World Cup matches and also surpassed Diego Maradona with his ninth World Cup assist as Romero scored from his cross. He remains both the tournament's leading scorer and the highest goalscorer in World Cup history with 21 goals. Enzo Fernández then scored the dramatic late winner to complete Argentina's comeback. Can Argentina become the first nation to successfully defend the World Cup in the modern era? And how many goals do you think Messi will finish with?   Colombia against Switzerland was a cagey affair from start to finish. The first half saw both teams feeling each other out, with neither side willing to take too many risks. The second half wasn't much different, as clear-cut chances were few and far between. Even extra time couldn't separate them, and the match had to be decided on penalties.   I still don't understand why some teams allow their centre-backs to take penalties. Switzerland's Manuel Akanji and Colombia's Davinson Sánchez both stepped up and missed from the spot. In the end, it was Cucho Hernández's miss that proved decisive. While many will remember Ruben Vargas for calmly dispatching the winning penalty, I think the real hero was Gregor Kobel. His save in the shootout gave Switzerland the edge when it mattered most. They qualified for the quarter-final for the first time in 72 years.    Switzerland eventually won 4-3 on penalties and booked their place in the quarter-finals, where they will face Argentina.   The Golden Boot race is becoming even more exciting.   Lionel Messi leads the standings with eight goals.   Just behind him are Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland on seven goals each, while Harry Kane follows closely with six.   In the assist rankings, Michael Olise still leads the way with five assists.   Quarter-final Fixtures   🇫🇷 France 🆚 🇲🇦 Morocco   🇳🇴 Norway 🆚 🏴 England   🇪🇸 Spain 🆚 🇧🇪 Belgium   🇦🇷 Argentina 🆚 🇨🇭 Switzerland   Who do you think will qualify for the semi-finals?   Who has scored the best goal of the tournament so far?   And which goalkeeper has produced the save of the tournament? We've seen some absolutely incredible stops throughout this competition.   Overall, what has been your impression of the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?   Which moment stood out the most for you?   Drop your thoughts in the comments.    

2026 FIFA WORLD CUP ROUND OF 32 By: Babatunde Ajibade (World Cup correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade    Twitter: ollyzjinx01          Instagram: sir_ajirowo01   The Round of 32 certainly didn't disappoint. It had everything—goals, extra time, penalties, red cards, and, as expected, a few major shocks. New records were created, others were broken, and even though this is the first World Cup to feature a Round of 32, we've already seen more goals at this stage than in the previous edition.   The opening match saw co-hosts Canada edge South Africa thanks to a late winner from co-captain Stephen Eustáquio. That victory sends Canada into the Round of 16 for the first time in their history. They will now face Morocco in what promises to be another exciting encounter.   Next up was Brazil against Japan. What a game that was. Japan stunned Brazil early with a brilliant long-range strike from Asano, but Brazil responded like the tournament favourites they are. Casemiro brought them level before Martinelli scored a dramatic last-minute winner to seal a 2-1 victory. Brazil remains one of the favourites, although they'll have a tricky Round of 16 clash against Norway.   Now to the biggest shock of the round. Paraguay knocked Germany out on penalties. The match finished 1-1 after Enciso's first-half header gave Paraguay the lead before Havertz equalised with the slightest of touches. After 30 minutes of extra time couldn't separate them, penalties followed, and Orlando Gill stole the show. The 198cm Paraguayan goalkeeper produced save after save in a shootout that fans won't forget anytime soon. Germany has now been eliminated in the knockout stages of three consecutive major tournaments since winning the World Cup. Paraguay now faces France in the Round of 16, their first appearance at this stage since 2010.   Then came another blockbuster as the Netherlands faced Morocco, and once again, the African side pulled off a huge result. The Dutch went ahead through Cody Gakpo, who had sadly lost his baby just a day earlier. May God continue to strengthen him and his family. After scoring, he broke down in tears before his teammates lifted him in celebration. It was a truly emotional moment. But Morocco had the final say as Diop equalised with virtually the last kick of the game. The penalty shootout then became the Bono show, as Morocco booked their place in the Round of 16. How far do you think Morocco can go in this tournament? Let me know in the comments.   Norway against Ivory Coast left me frustrated. Once again, I have to say African teams still have a long way to go when it comes to game management under African coaches. How do you dominate large spells of a match, respond brilliantly after going behind to Nusa's stunning opener through Diallo's excellent equaliser, and then decide to sit back? Instead of taking control of the midfield and pushing for the winner, they invited pressure. It was disappointing to watch. Meanwhile, the Vikings continue their impressive World Cup run. Haaland found the net again, even if it was a funny little tap-in. But a goal is a goal. How far do you see Norway going? And how many more goals will Haaland score? Drop your thoughts in the comments.   As expected, France comfortably defeated Sweden. Mbappé scored twice to take his tally to six goals in the tournament, while Barcola added another. However, Michael Olise was the real star with two assists. Mbappé has now scored 18 World Cup goals, making him the second-highest scorer in World Cup history behind Messi. Looking at this French squad, who is stopping them?   Mexico defeated Ecuador thanks to two quick first-half goals from Quiñones and Jiménez. Ecuador's task became even harder when Hincapié was sent off for covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent, an offence under the tournament's new communication rule. He became the second player to receive a red card for it after Paraguay's Miguel Almirón. Mexico now faces England in what, for me, is one of the big Round of 16 fixtures.   England has to improve if they seriously want to beat co-hosts Mexico, let alone win a second World Cup. They looked far too rigid against DR Congo, who gave everything despite making the mistake I've spoken about before—African teams dropping too deep when they should keep attacking. DR Congo shocked England with an early goal from Cipenga, but Harry Kane's brace eventually rescued the Three Lions. Thomas Tuchel still has plenty of work to do because, if these performances continue, the English media will soon be saying Gareth Southgate did a better job.   The match of the round was undoubtedly Belgium against Senegal. It was brilliant entertainment for the neutrals but absolutely heartbreaking for Senegal. Imagine leading 2-0 in the 85th minute, only to draw in normal time and eventually lose in extra time. Senegal has nobody else to blame but themselves, especially the coach. He took off key players, thinking the game was already won. Belgium punished them and reminded everyone why many consider them the tournament's dark horses. To be fair, Rudi Garcia also took a huge gamble by substituting De Bruyne and Doku while trailing by two goals, but somehow it all worked out. Lukaku was back on the scoresheet as he continues to regain both fitness and confidence. But the biggest credit goes to Tielemans, whose brace completed the remarkable comeback. Belgium will now meet co-hosts the USA.   Despite going down to ten men, the USA defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 to set up that clash with Belgium. The Americans will, however, be without their leading scorer, Folarin Balogun, after his red card against Bosnia. Can the USA reach the quarter-finals?   Spain showed their quality against Austria with a comfortable 3-0 victory. Oyarzabal scored twice before Porro wrapped things up with a brilliant header. The European champions finally look like they've found their rhythm. They'll now face Portugal in one of the standout ties of the Round of 16. I genuinely can't wait for that one.   Portugal versus Croatia was also a meeting between two legends—Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić, the oldest players representing their respective countries. I won't lie, the first half was difficult to watch, but everything changed after the water break. Perišić put Croatia ahead before Ronaldo converted from the penalty spot to score his first-ever World Cup knockout goal, becoming the oldest player to do so. Then came the drama. Gonçalo Ramos gave Portugal the lead in the 94th minute. Because of the celebrations and the VAR review for the penalty, the added time stretched well beyond the original ten minutes. Right at the end, Joško Gvardiol thought he had forced extra time, only for the new ball technology to detect the faintest touch from a Croatian attacker, making the goal offside. Technology truly saved this game. Hopefully, Roberto Martínez finally finds the right balance for this talented Portugal squad because if he doesn't, they may regret appointing him.   Switzerland defeated Algeria thanks to early goals in each half from Embolo and Ndoye. Algeria actually controlled much of the game but struggled to break down the Swiss defence, making the match feel a little flat overall.   Egypt became the second African nation to reach the Round of 16 after beating Australia on penalties following a 1-1 draw. Ashour gave Egypt the lead before an own goal from Hany levelled things up. Unfortunately for Hany, it was already his second own goal of the tournament. Mohamed Salah confidently converted a Panenka during the shootout, while misses from Souttar and Herrington secured Egypt's place in the next round.   Argentina against Cape Verde produced yet another fantastic match. Messi and his teammates eventually edged what has easily been Africa's most entertaining team. The tiny island nation pushed the defending champions into extra time and even produced what might be the goal of the tournament through left-back Sidney López. They may be heading home, but they leave with their heads held high. Even the Argentine supporters applauded them at full-time. Vozinha was outstanding once again between the posts. Messi now has seven goals in the tournament and has become the first player to score in eight consecutive World Cup matches. Cape Verde did not lose a match in 90 minutes in this tournament. What a team. Argentina will now face another African side, Egypt. Can Egypt go one better than Cape Verde and eliminate the world champions? Let me know what you think.   Colombia vs Ghana brought the curtain down on an unforgettable Round of 32. The game got off to a worrying start, with two players forced off through injury inside the opening 12 minutes—a first in FIFA World Cup history, making it a new tournament record. Jhon Arias broke the deadlock with his first-ever World Cup goal, but Ghana's goalkeeper was the real standout performer, producing a string of outstanding saves to keep his side in the contest. In the end, Colombia did just enough to book their place in the Round of 16, where Switzerland now awaits.   The Golden Boot race is heating up.   Lionel Messi leads with seven goals.   Behind him are Kylian Mbappé with six, while Erling Haaland and Harry Kane both have five.   In the assist rankings, Michael Olise leads the way with five assists.   Round of 16 Fixtures   🇨🇦 Canada 🆚 🇲🇦 Morocco   🇵🇾 Paraguay 🆚 🇫🇷 France   🇧🇷 Brazil 🆚 🇳🇴 Norway   🇲🇽 Mexico 🆚 🏴 England   🇵🇹 Portugal 🆚 🇪🇸 Spain   🇺🇸 USA 🆚 🇧🇪 Belgium   🇦🇷 Argentina 🆚 🇪🇬 Egypt   🇨🇭 Switzerland 🆚 🇨🇴 Colombia   Who do you think will qualify for the quarter-finals?   Who has scored the best goal of the tournament so far?   And which goalkeeper has produced the save of the tournament? We've seen some absolutely incredible stops.   Overall, what has been your impression of the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?   Which moment stood out the most for you?   Drop your thoughts in the comments.

2026 FIFA WORLD CUP ROUND THREE By: Babatunde Ajibade (World Cup correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade    Twitter: ollyzjinx01          Instagram: sir_ajirowo01   The final round of group-stage matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup gave us everything we could have asked for — drama, upsets, records, and plenty of talking points. Most importantly, it has set up a mouthwatering Round of 32.   Group A ended with one of the surprises of the tournament. South Korea crashed out after losing 1-0 to South Africa, a result very few people saw coming. Co-hosts Mexico completed a perfect group stage with nine points after a convincing 3-0 victory over Czechia.   For Czechia, the draw against South Africa will probably be the result they look back on with regret. Football can be cruel, and small moments often decide tournaments.   Group B was another entertaining one. Co-hosts Canada lost to Switzerland, but thanks to their superior goal difference, they still progressed alongside the Swiss. Bosnia and Herzegovina also won their final game against Qatar, but it wasn't enough to finish above Canada.   It is still a historic achievement, though, as both Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina reached the knockout stage for the first time. Switzerland topped the group with seven points.   Group C almost produced another upset.   Haiti pushed Morocco all the way, but the Atlas Lions showed their quality when it mattered most. Haiti may be heading home, but they have certainly earned plenty of respect during this tournament.   Brazil, meanwhile, continued to look dangerous. Vinicius Junior grabbed another brace as the five-time champions comfortably defeated Scotland 3-0.   Brazil and Morocco move on as group winners and runners-up.   Group D had its own twist.   Turkiye finally picked up its first points of the tournament with a victory over the United States. The Americans made nine changes to their starting lineup and paid the price.   Paraguay and Australia played out a draw, meaning the USA still finished top of the group, while Australia and Paraguay progressed as second and one of the best third-placed teams.   At least Turkiye leaves the tournament with something to smile about.   Group E continued to produce surprises.   Ecuador stunned Germany to finish as one of the best third-placed teams, while Ivory Coast defeated Curacao thanks to two goals from Pepe to secure second place.   Germany still finished top of the group, but losing your final group game in back-to-back World Cups is certainly something they will want to address before the knockout rounds.   Group F once again lived up to expectations.   The Netherlands beat Tunisia 3-1 to finish top, while Japan and Sweden settled for a 1-1 draw, a result that sent both teams through.   This has probably been the group that has produced some of the best goals of the tournament so far.   Group G delivered late drama.   Belgium finally came alive with a convincing 5-1 victory over New Zealand. They eventually finished top of the group after Egypt were held to a controversial 1-1 draw by Iran.   There were plenty of talking points from that match, but credit must go to Iran. They gave a very good account of themselves and frustrated one of Africa's strongest sides.   Group H produced perhaps one of the best stories of the group stage.   Spain edged Uruguay 1-0 in a tense encounter that also saw Uruguay finish with ten men.   But the real headline belongs to Cape Verde.   The tiny island nation qualified for the Round of 32 in its first-ever World Cup appearance after drawing all three group games. Their reward? A blockbuster clash against Argentina.   What an achievement for African football.   Group I had a different hero.   For once, it wasn't Kylian Mbappe stealing the headlines.   Ousmane Dembele produced a stunning hat-trick as France demolished a heavily rotated Norway side 4-1. Norway also made nine changes, but they simply couldn't live with France's attacking quality.   However, the biggest story in the group belonged to Senegal.   After losing their opening two matches, they somehow qualified by thrashing 10-man Iraq 5-0, becoming the first African nation to win a World Cup match by five goals.   France, Norway, and Senegal all progress.   Group J belonged to Lionel Messi once again.   Coming off the bench, the Argentine captain curled home a beautiful free-kick to take his tournament tally to six goals.   Argentina defeated Jordan 3-1 to finish with a perfect nine points.   Meanwhile, Algeria and Austria played out an incredible 3-3 draw, a result that sent both nations through.   There were rumours and plenty of debate surrounding the late goals, but in the end, another African nation booked its place in the knockout rounds.   Group K saw Portugal produce another disappointing performance.   They escaped with a draw against Colombia but were second best for most of the game. Colombia deservedly topped the group, while Portugal settled for second.   The real story, however, was DR Congo.   Formerly known as Zaire, they defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 to qualify for the knockout stage for the first time in their history.   History made.   And finally, Group L.   England defeated Panama 2-0 thanks to two second-half goals, with Jude Bellingham once again leading by example.   Croatia edged Ghana 2-1 to finish second, but Ghana also progressed as one of the best third-placed teams.   Another positive story for African football.   Speaking of Africa, what a tournament it has been.   Nine of the ten African nations qualified for the Round of 32, an incredible achievement that shows just how much football on the continent continues to grow.   How far do you think the African teams can go?   The Golden Boot race is becoming even more exciting.   Lionel Messi leads with six goals.   Behind him are Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Vinicius Junior, all sitting on four goals.   In the assists race, Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes, and Michael Olise lead the way with three assists each.   Round of 32 Fixtures   🇿🇦 South Africa vs 🇨🇦 Canada 🇧🇷 Brazil vs 🇯🇵 Japan 🇩🇪 Germany vs 🇵🇾 Paraguay 🇳🇱 Netherlands vs 🇲🇦 Morocco 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast vs 🇳🇴 Norway 🇫🇷 France vs 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇲🇽 Mexico vs 🇪🇨 Ecuador 🏴 England vs 🇨🇩 DR Congo 🇧🇪 Belgium vs 🇸🇳 Senegal 🇺🇸 USA vs 🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina 🇪🇸 Spain vs 🇦🇹 Austria 🇵🇹 Portugal vs 🇭🇷 Croatia 🇨🇭 Switzerland vs 🇩🇿 Algeria 🇦🇺 Australia vs 🇪🇬 Egypt 🇦🇷 Argentina vs 🇨🇻 Cape Verde 🇨🇴 Colombia vs 🇬🇭 Ghana   Who do you think will qualify for the next round?   Who has scored the best goal of the tournament so far?   And which goalkeeper has produced the save of the tournament? They have been absolutely outstanding.   So, what has been your overall impression of Round Three of the 2026 FIFA World Cup?   Which moment stood out the most for you?   Comment below and share your thoughts.