Sports Groove

By Trust Ittai and Mishael Emmanuel        The excitement of the FIFA World Cup has extended beyond the football pitch, with parents across Latin America naming their newborns after some of the tournament's biggest stars. In Peru, Norway striker Erling Haaland has emerged as one of the biggest inspirations for new parents, despite Peru failing to qualify for the World Cup.  According to Peru's civil registry (RENIEC), hundreds of babies have been named after the prolific forward, while football icons Lionel Messi, Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo each have around 30,000 name registrations. RENIEC spokesperson Ivan Torres summed up the craze by saying: "Haaland is now Peruvian too." He added that one newborn was even named "Mundial," the Spanish word commonly used for the World Cup. Norway's impressive run to the quarter-finals and the popularity of Haaland have earned the Scandinavian nation a large following across Latin America, particularly among fans who...

By Trust Ittai      United States President Donald Trump will attend Sunday's FIFA World Cup final between Spain and defending champions Argentina, the White House confirmed on Thursday. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that Trump will first attend a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in Manhattan on Friday before travelling to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, for Sunday's showpiece final. The confirmation comes after FIFA President Gianni Infantino revealed last month that Trump would join him in presenting the World Cup trophy to the winners. "We will be together with the president, enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course," Infantino said on June 23 during an appearance on Fox & Friends. World Cup finals have traditionally attracted heads of state, with several taking part in trophy presentation ceremonies, including at the 2018 tournament in Russia and the 2022 edition in Qatar. Despite the tournament b...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye      The winners of Sunday's FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina will receive championship rings alongside the trophy and gold medals, marking a historic first for the tournament and highlighting FIFA's growing embrace of American sporting traditions. FIFA announced that 30 specially designed championship rings will be awarded to the victorious team after the final at New York New Jersey Stadium.  The captain and head coach will initially receive temporary rings during the post-match trophy presentation before the final versions are customised to reflect the identity of the champions and individually fitted for each recipient. Each ring will feature the FIFA World Cup trophy on one side, while the other will display details unique to the winning team. The players' rings will be part of a limited edition of 2,026 individually numbered pieces. The remaining 1,996 rings will be released for sale worldwide as officially l...

By Maxwell Kumoye       The FIFA World Cup trophy will make its journey to the New York–New Jersey Stadium in a bespoke Louis Vuitton trunk, with the French luxury fashion house once again entrusted with creating the carrying case for football's most coveted prize. The handcrafted trunk features a striking gold "V" across the front, symbolising both "Victory" and "Vuitton." It is adorned with the brand's iconic monogram canvas, gold-plated brass corner protectors, and a beige leather-lined interior.  Inside, a commemorative patch celebrates the longstanding partnership between Louis Vuitton and FIFA. This marks the fifth consecutive FIFA World Cup for which Louis Vuitton has designed the trophy trunk, having previously created the cases used at the 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 tournaments. "For over a decade, Louis Vuitton and FIFA have shared an unwavering commitment to excellence, united by a common belief in sport's power to inspire and b...

By Mishael Emmanuel        France captain Kylian Mbappe admitted Les Bleus fell well below their standards after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Spain in Tuesday's FIFA World Cup semi-final in Arlington, Texas, describing his side's performance as "too sloppy" to compete with the European champions. The defeat ended France's quest for a third consecutive World Cup final appearance, with Spain dominating possession and controlling proceedings through the midfield duo of Rodri and Fabian Ruiz. "We were three against two in midfield and against Spain, that's hard," Mbappe said. "Fabian and Rodri had plenty of time to play. There was a lack of communication in our pressing. I think we should have gone man-to-man and forced them to run with us." France had entered the semi-final in impressive form, winning all six of their previous matches and scoring 16 goals. However, they struggled to impose themselves against a disciplined Spanish side. Mikel Oyar...

By Trust Ittai      The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has received a complaint accusing FIFA president Gianni Infantino of repeatedly violating rules on political neutrality through his public support for U.S. President Donald Trump. The complaint, filed by advocacy group FairSquare, highlights several incidents, including the suspension of Folarin Balogun's automatic one-match ban, which allowed the striker to feature in the United States' 4-1 World Cup round-of-16 defeat to Belgium.  Although Infantino confirmed receiving a call from Trump, who publicly urged FIFA to allow Balogun to play, he insisted he did not influence the decision, stating FIFA's judicial committees operate independently. FairSquare also cited Infantino's public endorsement of Trump, including support for a Nobel Peace Prize nomination, social media posts, and his presentation of the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to the U.S. president.  The group argues these actions breach the IOC's ...

By Trust Ittai      France head coach Didier Deschamps admitted his side were comprehensively outplayed after a dominant Spain defeated Les Bleus 2-0 in Tuesday's FIFA World Cup semi-final, ending France's hopes of reaching a third consecutive final. The pre-tournament favourites struggled to impose themselves throughout the contest as Spain controlled possession, dominated midfield and neutralised France's attacking threats with an impressive all-round display. Speaking after the defeat, Deschamps acknowledged that his team failed to reach the standards required against a Spanish side he described as exceptional. "Obviously, this Spain team are very strong and they proved it tonight," Deschamps said. "We were slightly below our usual level and made more technical mistakes than in previous matches. We were also a step short physically." France's feared attacking trio of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise found little room to operate as ...

By Trust Ittai and Mishael Emmanuel  Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi insists his side will stick to their identity when they face favourites France in Thursday's FIFA World Cup quarter-final, despite the absence of influential forward Ismael Saibari. Saibari has been ruled out after suffering a hamstring injury early in Morocco's 2-1 round-of-16 victory over Canada. "He's not ready, but I hope it's not the end of the tournament for him," Ouahbi told reporters on Wednesday. The forward has been one of Morocco's standout performers, scoring in all three group-stage matches before converting the decisive penalty in the shootout victory over the Netherlands in the previous round. Ouahbi said Morocco would not deviate from their established approach against France. "There will not be any surprises. I have nothing to hide," he said. "Those who have analysed our games know we have a clear idea of how we want to play. "The key will be to hurt them...

The Egyptian football federation have complained to FIFA over the officiating team that led Argentina’s 3-2 win against the Pharoahs in the round of sixteen of the World Cup.  It was a game marred by controversy as key refereeing decisions and VAR intervention changed the course of the game that Egypt had led 2-0, been denied a goal from a sweeping counter attack, had a clear penalty claim turned down and then crumbled in the last 15 minutes, giving away their 2-0 lead. In a statement, the Egyptian governing body, said: “Hany Aburida, President of the Egyptian Football Federation, filed a complaint with Fifa, demanding an investigation into the French referee Francois Letexier… after the serious refereeing mistakes committed by the team of referees and double standards, which caused the Egypt team to lose the match and leave the World Cup.” Letexier became the villain of the piece after he disallowed a Mostafa Ziko goal when Egypt were leading 1-0 after VAR intervened to spot a fo...

Following their 4-1 victory against the USA in the World Cup round of 16, Belgium said they will keep fighting for the sporting integrity of the game, but have stopped short of pursuing legal action for the moment.   Belgium – USA was overshadowed by the Folarin Balogun scandal before the co-hosts exited in lacklustre fashion to wrap up their World Cup campaign in embarrassing fashion. On Tuesday the world’s media reacted furiously as FIFA came under fire for undermining the sporting integrity of its own competition. FIFA president Gianni Infantino and US president Donald Trump’s were lambasted for their political interference in the game. The Belgian FA said they will keep fighting for football’s sporting integrity, pursuing the correct application of FIFA regulations. In a statement, the Belgian FA wrote: “The RBFA remains committed to advocating for a review of the current FIFA regulations and their application.”  “The RBFA firmly believes that international football i...

LaLiga’s outspoken president Javier Tebas has added his voice to criticisms of FIFA’s decision to lift US striker Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension at the request of US president Donald Trump. In a damning statement that focuses on FIFA’s ethical integrity, Tebas says that the Balogun decision “is neither a mere anecdote nor an isolated mistake. It is, quite simply, the tip of the iceberg of a governance model that has been undermining the credibility of FIFA and football in general for many years.” He goes on to criticise FIFA’s member associations who tacitly allow Infantino to run roughshod over them and the game in general, saying that they are part of a “complicit silence”. Tebas makes the point that FIFA is making decisions that without any form of dialogue and without involving the leagues that drive the professional game all year. There are very few that would disagree with Tebas. To date not a single football federation or football leader has come out in support of Infanti...

The US Men's National Team's run at a home World Cup did something no soccer tournament has managed before in the United States: it shattered betting records. And when the run ended, the sportsbooks were the ones smiling. Monday’s round-of-16 loss to Belgium became the most-bet soccer game in the history of several major American books. BetMGM said it drew more bets than any 2026 College Football Playoff game bar the championship, the men’s college basketball final, or any title-series game from the NBA, NHL or MLB. The record has kept falling all tournament. “This World Cup has been record-type handle stuff for us this whole time,” BetMGM’s Christian Cipollini told ESPN, crediting the primetime timing and home soil for the frenzy. Here’s why the books won. American bettors backed their team relentlessly. Caesars’ Mark Bickerdike said 81% of the handle was on the US to qualify, with plenty also riding on Folarin Balogun to score and whose controversial suspension reversal by FI...

France have launched an appeal to FIFA to have Michael Olise’s (pictured) yellow card rescinded, and the timing could hardly be more pointed, coming amid what has become a full-blown disciplinary scandal at this World Cup. The backdrop is the mess FIFA made of the Folarin Balogun case. Governing bodies lifted the USMNT forward’s red card suspension mid-tournament, a reversal that has left players, coaches and federations openly questioning how discipline is being applied. Olise was booked in France’s win over Paraguay on Saturday, leaving him on a disciplinary tightrope. Another caution in Thursday’s quarter-final against Morocco at Boston Stadium would rule him out of the semis. The FFF has approached FIFA to correct what it sees as a clear officiating error. England coach Thomas Tuchel wasn’t about to let the inconsistency pass without comment either. He questioned the process behind Balogun’s reprieve and joked that Harry Kane could ask President Trump to help overturn Jarell Quansa...

The Paraguayan senator at the centre of a racism storm with Kylian Mbappé has now demanded an apology from the France forward and threatened legal action against him for “gender-based violence”. The row erupted after Paraguay’s round-of-16 defeat to France, sealed by an Mbappé penalty. Senator Celeste Amarilla had launched a racial attack on the Real Madrid man, calling him “stupid” and telling Paraguay’s goalkeeper he “should have given him the middle finger.” Mbappé hit back, branding her “unworthy” of her position and refusing, he said, to let people “spread their hatred and racism across the world.” Now, in an open letter, Amarilla has retracted the slurs but doubled down on the rest. She said her posts were written “in the heat of the moment,” while insisting Mbappé withdraw his remarks and apologise. “This is gender-based violence, plain and simple,” she wrote, threatening legal proceedings. The institutional weight has landed firmly on one side. The Paris prosecutor’s office has...

By Mishael Emmanuel and Trust Ittai     Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan says he has no intention of watching the rest of the World Cup after blaming controversial refereeing decisions for his side's dramatic last-16 elimination by Argentina. The Pharaohs looked set to pull off one of the tournament's biggest upsets after racing into a 2-0 lead with just 11 minutes remaining against the defending champions.  However, a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina mounted a stunning late comeback, scoring three unanswered goals to snatch victory. Despite the collapse, Hassan insisted Egypt had been the better side. "I'm going home and won't be watching any more games from the tournament," Hassan told reporters after the match. "What happened to us wasn't fair. We should have had a penalty, a goal was disallowed, and I don't know why it was disallowed." Egypt thought they had extended their advantage in the 62nd minute when Mostafa Zico found the net, only fo...

...As Messi inspired Argentina stage stunning comeback By Maxwell Kumoye      Seven time African champions Egypt's World Cup campaign came to a heartbreaking stop on Tuesday as they wasted a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to defending champions Argentina in the last 16 at Atlanta Stadium. Egypt was 2-0 up until the 79th minute before Argentina scored three times in the final 11 minutes to complete a dramatic comeback and book their place in the quarter-finals. Defender Yasser Ibrahim opened the scoring in the 15th minute before Mostafa "Zizo" Abdel-Raouf doubled Egypt's lead in the 67th. Cristian Romero halfed the score in the 79th minute, before eight Baloon d'or winner Lionel Messi levelled five minutes and Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez struck deep into stoppage time to seal a hard-fought victory for Argentina. The winner came from a counter-attack as Lautaro Martinez crossed from the right and Fernandez cushioned a back-post header past goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubi...

By Trust Ittai    The United States' World Cup campaign came to a disappointing end on Monday after Belgium powered to a 4-1 victory in their Round of 16 clash, with Charles De Ketelaere scoring twice in a match overshadowed by FIFA's controversial decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's ban. Belgium made the perfect start as De Ketelaere opened the scoring in the ninth minute, tapping home from close range after the U.S. defence failed to deal with an early attack, silencing the partisan home crowd. The Americans responded in the 31st minute when Malik Tillman equalised with a deflected free-kick that wrong-footed Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.  However, their joy was short-lived as De Ketelaere restored Belgium's lead just over a minute later, heading in at the back post. "From the beginning, we didn't connect with the game," U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said. "Even when we scored the goal to make it 1-1, we conceded in the very next action....

By Mishael Emmanuel  Mikel Merino emerged as Spain's hero, coming off the bench to score a dramatic stoppage-time winner as La Roja edged Portugal 1-0 in a blockbuster FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash in Dallas. With extra time looming, Merino latched onto a perfectly weighted pass from fellow substitute Ferran Torres and calmly slotted a low finish beyond Diogo Costa in the 91st minute to seal Spain's place in the quarter-finals. The victory mirrors Spain's triumph over Portugal at the same stage of the 2010 World Cup and books a last-eight showdown with either co-hosts the United States or Belgium in Los Angeles on Friday, July 10. The defeat also brought the curtain down on the World Cup career of Cristiano Ronaldo. The 41-year-old Portuguese captain had confirmed before the tournament that this would be his final appearance on football's biggest stage. Spain made a bright start and should have taken the lead inside three minutes. Dani Olmo's incisive pass releas...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye     Charles De Ketelaere was the man with the shovel as the Belgians buried USA dream winning the 2026 World Cup in Seattle on Monday. The De Ketelaere scored a braceas Belgium went on to win in 4-1 in a match overshadowed by FIFA's controversial decision to suspend U.S. forward Folarin ‌Balogun's ban. De Ketelaere gave Belgium the lead in the ninth minute with a simple tap-in, taking full advantage of a nervous start by the U.S. to quickly deflate the partisan crowd. Malik Tillman equalised in the 31st minute with a deflected free kick which wrong-footed Thibaut Courtois, but De Ketelaere restored Belgium's lead little more than a minute later with a back-post header. The U.S. played with more authority after the break until a calamitous error from goalkeeper ⁠Matt Freese allowed substitute Hans Vanaken to score in the 57th minute, irreversibly shifting the momentum in a stunned Seattle Stadium. Romelu Lukaku then added a fourth in ad...

By Maxwell Kumoye    European football governing body UEFA has strongly criticised FIFA's decision to suspend the implementation of U.S. striker Folarin Balogun's one-match World Cup ban, following an appeal by U.S. President Donald Trump for the case to be reviewed. In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, UEFA described FIFA's action as "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable", warning that it had crossed a dangerous line and undermined the integrity of the game. "We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision," UEFA said. "When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined." Balogun, who has scored three goals for the United States at the tournament, was shown a red card after a VAR review during his side's Round of 32 victory over Bosnia.  The forward was dismissed...