Colombia and Portugal played out a highly entertaining goalless draw in their World Cup group stage match, ensuring both teams advanced to the round of 32. The match, held amid a vibrant atmosphere with strong Colombian support in South Florida, saw Colombia top Group K while Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, finished as runners-up. Despite the lack of goals, the contest was marked by relentless attacking play and intensity from both sides.

Ronaldo struggled to make an impact, while midfielders James Rodríguez and Bruno Fernandes dictated the tempo, driving their teams forward in a match that featured 37 total shots, including a record 24 attempts by Colombia. Rodríguez, playing his 11th World Cup match, impressed with 38 successful passes in the final third and received a standing ovation when substituted.

Colombia will face Ghana in Kansas City on July 4, while Portugal will meet Croatia on July 3 after one day less of rest. Both teams are seen as potential threats in the knockout stage following their strong performances.

Croatia confirmed their place in the Round of 32 at the World Cup after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Ghana in Philadelphia. The 2018 runners-up took the lead in the 31st minute through Petar Sucic’s low strike from outside the box. Ghana equalized in the 73rd minute when Derrick Lukasen volleyed home after a free-kick from Ernest Nuamah was reviewed and confirmed by VAR. However, Nikola Vlasic’s header from a Luka Modric corner in the 83rd minute sealed Croatia’s win.

The match saw Croatia dominate possession early, while Ghana improved significantly after halftime, creating sustained pressure. Despite Ghana’s late efforts, including Abdul Fatawu’s missed chance in stoppage time, Croatia held on for victory. The result made Croatia the Group L runners-up with six points from three matches.

In the group’s other match, England beat Panama 2-0 to top the group with seven points. Ghana finished third with four points but advanced as one of the best third-placed teams, while Panama exited the tournament with one point.

England defeated Panama 2–0 in their final Group L match at the New Jersey Stadium, ensuring they advanced to the Round of 32 as group leaders. Despite already qualifying for the knockout stage, Thomas Tuchel’s team needed a win to confirm first place. Panama’s strong defense frustrated England in the first half, but Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane scored in the second half to seal the victory.

Bellingham opened the scoring in the 62nd minute with a side volley from Bukayo Saka’s corner. Panama missed a golden chance to equalize shortly after, and England captain Kane doubled the lead five minutes later with a header from Bellingham’s cross. The goal made Kane England’s all-time top scorer in World Cup history with 11 goals, surpassing Gary Lineker’s record. Bellingham, aged 22 years and 363 days, also became the youngest English player since 1966 to score and assist in the same World Cup match.

England finished the group stage with seven points, while Panama exited the tournament without scoring a goal, becoming the first team in 16 years to leave a World Cup goalless.

Five additional teams have confirmed their places in the last 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup before the group stage concludes. Following the completion of Group H matches, Portugal, England, Ghana, Egypt, and Paraguay have all secured progression to the knockout stage. Spain topped Group H with seven points, while debutant Cape Verde made history by qualifying as runners-up with three points after three draws. Uruguay, a two-time world champion, was eliminated following a 1–0 defeat to Spain, and Saudi Arabia also exited after a goalless draw with Cape Verde.

The eliminations of Uruguay and Saudi Arabia clarified the standings across other groups, ensuring qualification for teams with four points, including Portugal, England, Ghana, and Egypt. Each still has one group match remaining but is guaranteed at least a best third-place finish. Paraguay, having completed all three group matches, advanced from Group D with four points after a goalless draw against Australia.

Cape Verde’s qualification with only three points stands out as one of the biggest surprises of the new 48-team World Cup format, while teams like South Korea, Scotland, and Senegal remain in contention depending on other results.

Cape Verde has made history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup by advancing to the knockout stage in its debut appearance. The African island nation secured its place among the last 32 after a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia in its final Group H match. Spain topped the group with seven points after defeating Uruguay 1–0, while Cape Verde finished second with three points from three consecutive draws. Uruguay and Saudi Arabia were eliminated with two points each.

Argentina, the reigning world champion, had already secured first place in its group and will now face Cape Verde in the round of 32. The match is scheduled for July 3 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, marking the first-ever meeting between the two teams in World Cup history.

If Argentina wins, it will advance to the round of 16 to face the winner between the runners-up of Groups D and G. Cape Verde’s remarkable debut run has drawn global attention, and the team now faces the challenge of continuing its fairytale journey against one of football’s strongest sides.

Senegal delivered a dominant performance to stay in contention for the World Cup knockout stage, defeating Iraq 5–0 in their final Group I match at Toronto Stadium. The African side needed a big-margin win to remain in the race and achieved it convincingly. Habib Diarra opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a deflected header, marking Senegal’s fastest World Cup goal. Iraq’s Rabin Sulaka was sent off in the 13th minute after a VAR review for denying a clear scoring chance, forcing Iraq to play with ten men for most of the match.

Senegal controlled the game but failed to add more goals before halftime. The second half saw a surge in attack, with Ismaila Sarr, Pape Gueye, Habib Diarra, Pape Thiaw, and Iliman Ndiaye all finding the net. The victory lifted Senegal to fifth among third-placed teams, keeping their knockout hopes alive, though their qualification now depends on results from other groups.

Iraq, meanwhile, ended their campaign without a point after three consecutive defeats, exiting the tournament at the group stage.

As the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup nears its end, 18 teams have already secured their places in the Round of 32 under the tournament’s new 48-team format. From 12 groups, the top two teams and the eight best third-placed sides advance to the knockout phase. Confirmed teams include Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Netherlands, France, United States, Mexico, Switzerland, Canada, South Africa, Morocco, Japan, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Sweden, Norway, Colombia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Host nation Mexico dominated Group A with three wins, while South Africa advanced as runner-up. Brazil topped Group C with nine points, joined by Morocco. The United States, Germany, and the Netherlands also finished as group champions. Ecuador made history by defeating Germany 2–1 to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams, and Ivory Coast reached the knockout stage for the first time.

Several high-voltage knockout fixtures are already confirmed, including Brazil versus Japan and Netherlands versus Morocco. The United States is set to face Bosnia-Herzegovina, while other matchups await final confirmation as remaining group games conclude.

International oil prices dropped by about 2 percent on Friday, even after a cargo ship near Oman’s coast was hit by a missile from an unidentified source. According to Reuters, Brent crude fell by $1.47, or 1.95 percent, to $73.79 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude declined by $1.44, or 2 percent, to $70.48. Both benchmarks are heading for an 8 percent weekly loss.

LSEG shipping data showed that Saudi Aramco resumed crude loading at its Ras Tanura terminal in the Persian Gulf after nearly four months of suspension. Two very large crude carriers were loading oil, with another waiting nearby. Analysts from Sparta Commodities attributed the price drop to increased oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz and weak demand from China.

The report also noted that oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have reached their highest level since the February conflict between Iran, the U.S., and Israel, though still below prewar levels. ING analysts warned that once previously trapped tankers clear the Gulf, supply could tighten again.

Nike’s new ‘Mind’ shoes, launched in January 2026, have generated worldwide excitement for their claim to influence mental well-being. The sportswear giant describes the product as its first neuroscience-based footwear, designed not for exercise but for pre- and post-activity relaxation. Available in mule and sneaker styles priced at $95 and $145 respectively, the shoes reportedly sold out quickly, with over two million people signing up for restock notifications. On resale platforms like StockX, the ‘Light Smoke Grey’ mule version has become Nike’s top-listed shoe since 2016.

According to Nike’s Sport Research Lab, the shoes feature 22 foam nodes that stimulate foot nerves, increasing electrical activity in the brain’s sensorimotor network while calming the default mode network associated with wandering thoughts. The company claims this creates a state of “relaxed alertness.” However, no peer-reviewed studies have yet verified these findings.

Loughborough University’s Dr. Ishara Dharmasena considers the concept scientifically plausible, comparing it to traditional Ayurvedic foot massage. He cautions that prolonged use might reduce effectiveness as the brain adapts, classifying the product as a “passive neuro-wearable” that promotes calm without tracking data.

A major controversy has arisen during the World Cup match between Brazil and Scotland after Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior’s goal in the 25th minute was disallowed. Although Brazil went on to win 3–0, the decision by Mexican referee Cesar Ramos and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team to cancel the goal has sparked widespread debate. The referee ruled that Vinicius had fouled Scottish defender Jack Hendry just before scoring, following a VAR review that showed slight contact between the players.

BBC rules expert and former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann sharply criticized the decision during the live broadcast. He stated that referee Ramos made a clear mistake, arguing that the contact was minimal and did not constitute a foul. According to Cann, Vinicius merely held his position while the defender initiated the contact. He added that Scotland was fortunate to benefit from the call, describing the outcome as lucky for the team.

The incident has fueled ongoing discussions about the consistency of VAR decisions and their impact on key World Cup moments.

Elon Musk has lost his trillionaire status within just two weeks, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. As of Wednesday’s U.S. market close, his net worth fell to 957 billion dollars, down from 1.11 trillion dollars less than 14 days earlier. The decline followed a sharp global stock market downturn that heavily impacted technology shares, including those of SpaceX and Tesla.

Despite the loss, Musk remains the world’s richest individual, with wealth still far exceeding that of his closest competitors. He had become the first person to surpass one trillion dollars in net worth after the stock market debut of his rocket, satellite, and artificial intelligence company. The blockbuster initial public offering was priced at 135 dollars per share and opened trading at 150 dollars, giving the company a market value of over 1.77 trillion dollars.

Musk’s 42 percent ownership in SpaceX had initially pushed his paper wealth beyond the trillion-dollar mark, but the recent market slump reversed that milestone.

Three powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, Japan, and the United States on June 25, 2026, causing widespread damage and triggering emergency responses. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), Venezuela experienced two major quakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude near San Felipe and Yumar, west of Caracas. The tremors caused severe destruction across several states, with buildings collapsing in multiple areas. The USGS estimated a 44 percent chance of 10,000 deaths and a 30 percent chance of fatalities exceeding 100,000. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency, closing Simón Bolívar International Airport, suspending schools, metro, and rail services, and halting nonessential activities.

In Japan, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck northeast of Kuji, but no tsunami warning was issued. Authorities reported no immediate casualties or major damage. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ordered an urgent assessment of losses, while Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara confirmed no abnormalities at nuclear facilities. East Japan Railway Company suspended bullet train services between Shin-Aomori and Tokyo.

In northern California, a 5.6 magnitude quake hit near Redwood Valley, cutting power to about 7,400 homes and businesses. The USGS’s ShakeAlert system successfully warned residents through the MyShake app.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that he will jointly present the World Cup trophy with U.S. President Donald Trump at the final on July 19. The decision marks a break from FIFA’s long-standing protocol, under which the FIFA President alone hands the trophy to the winning team’s captain. Infantino disclosed the plan during an interview with Fox & Friends, saying, “We are always together.”

The move has sparked renewed debate in the football world about Infantino’s close relationship with Trump. The FIFA chief had previously drawn criticism for awarding Trump the “FIFA Peace Prize” during a World Cup draw event. Trump also broke protocol last season by handing the Club World Cup trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James, which caused confusion among players and widespread criticism. Historically, only FIFA presidents such as Sepp Blatter or Infantino have presented the trophy, though exceptions occurred when Queen Elizabeth II and King Juan Carlos did so in 1966 and 1982 respectively.

Infantino’s latest decision has reignited controversy over the blending of politics and football ceremonies.

Ghana held England to a goalless draw but controversy erupted over a late penalty appeal that was not reviewed by VAR. Ghana’s coach Carlos Queiroz expressed frustration, sarcastically suggesting that the video assistant referee might have been on a coffee break. The incident occurred when Ghana’s Prince Kwabena Adu was challenged by England defender Ezri Konsa inside the box, with replays showing contact on Adu’s knee rather than the ball.

Queiroz questioned whether VAR was functioning properly and argued that the foul warranted both a penalty and a red card. BBC analysts, including former England captain Wayne Rooney and ex-defender Micah Richards, agreed that the challenge could easily have been penalized. Former assistant referee Darren Cann also said the referee should have been advised to review the incident.

Analysts noted that FIFA’s current VAR policy under chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina gives more authority to on-field referees, reducing VAR intervention in borderline cases. Ghana, despite earning one point, left the match questioning whether VAR had truly seen the incident.

Meta Platforms and eyewear manufacturer EssilorLuxottica have jointly announced the launch of a new line of AI-powered smart glasses priced at 299 US dollars. The product, named 'Meta Glasses', will be significantly more affordable than last year’s 800-dollar 'Ray-Ban Display' model, aiming to make AI-integrated wearables accessible to a wider consumer base.

Although developed in partnership with Luxottica, this marks the first eyewear series released under Meta’s own branding rather than Luxottica’s well-known labels such as Ray-Ban or Oakley. The glasses will be available in multiple colors and shapes, including a rectangular design and a slim oval frame created in collaboration with media personality Kylie Jenner. The devices will feature Meta’s first in-house AI model, 'Muse Spark', developed by its Superintelligence Labs to deliver advanced Meta AI services.

Unlike Snap’s smart glasses that overlay digital content on real-world views, Meta’s new glasses focus on text display and direct AI interaction, highlighting the company’s continued investment in personal artificial intelligence technologies.