National and international soccer - Irish Examiner

Sign in

soccer

South Africa v Canada: Round Of 32 - FIFA World Cup 2026

Stoppage time Eustaquio strike breaks South African hearts and sends co-hosts into R16

Jesse Marsch’s side, the first ever World Cup host to play a knockout match on foreign soil, marches onwards to Houston thanks to a gorgeous touch and hit from Stephen Eustaquio two minutes into additional time

Panama v England - FIFA World Cup - Group L - New York New Jersey Stadium

‘We don’t want penalties’: Pickford backs England’s attacking approach

FIFA World Cup 2026 - Scotland Team Hotel

Applications already in for Scots job as Clarke departs

FBL-WC-2026-MATCH76-BRA-JPN

Japan look to turn tables on mentors Brazil

Sport Top Pics

Cabo Verde v Saudi Arabia - 2026 FIFA World Cup Group H

World Cup all you need to know: who's in, who's out, round of 32 schedule

The round of 32 gets underway on Sunday night when South Africa face co-hosts Canada

Sun, 28 Jun, 2026

Congo DR v Uzbekistan: Group K - FIFA World Cup 2026

While You Were Sleeping: Messi scores again, Congo do unthinkable, Algeria and Austria play out classic...

Here's all the action from the late Saturday games

Sun, 28 Jun, 2026

Jordan v Argentina: Group J - FIFA World Cup 2026

Seventh heaven for Messi as Argentina beat Jordan 3-1

Lionel Scaloni made nine ‌changes to the line-up that beat Austria but goals from Giovani Lo Celso, Lautaro Martinez and Messi, who started on the bench, sealed a victory that sent a warning to Cape Verde

Sun, 28 Jun, 2026

FBL-WC-2026-MATCH69-ALG-AUT

Austria and Algeria progress to last 32 in thrilling finish to 3-3 draw

Wolves striker Kalajdzic was ultimately the man to get the job done, heading in a wide cross in the last seconds of the game that sent the Austrian fans into raptures and eliminated Iran from the tournament

Sun, 28 Jun, 2026

Congo DR v Uzbekistan: Group K - FIFA World Cup 2026

DR Congo seal place in World Cup knockouts with comeback win over Uzbekistan

A penalty from Wissa and an opportunist finish from substitute striker Fiston Mayele saw the Congolese turn around the ‌score with two goals in the space of 10 second-half minutes before Wissa got his second a minute into stoppage time

Sun, 28 Jun, 2026

FBL-WC-2026-MATCH71-COL-POR

Colombia and Portugal advance after no-bore draw in Miami

The Colombians will rue their profligacy in front of goal but take encouragement from dominating quality European opposition for large periods as they head off to Kansas City as group winners to take on Ghana on Friday

Sun, 28 Jun, 2026

Croatia v Ghana: Group L - FIFA World Cup 2026

Vlasic header sends Croatia into World Cup knockouts with 2-1 win over Ghana

Vlasic’s perfect finish off the inside of the left post came 10 minutes after Derrick Luckassen had pulled Ghana level on his international debut, with half the time in between spent on a VAR review determining whether he was onside

Sun, 28 Jun, 2026

Coach Clarke steps down after Scotland exit World Cup, says Scottish FA

Coach Clarke steps down after Scotland exit World Cup, says Scottish FA

Scotland, back at the World Cup ⁠after a 28-year absence, ended up third in Group C ⁠but are not among the top eight third-placed ⁠finishers who progress to the knockout rounds

Sun, 28 Jun, 2026

Panama v England - FIFA World Cup - Group L - New York New Jersey Stadium

Bellingham and Kane shine as England sink Panama to top group

England finished with seven points, ahead of Croatia on six, after their 2-1 win against Ghana, who ended on four. Panama lost all three matches and finished bottom. England will play one of the eight best third-placed teams in the Round of 32

Sun, 28 Jun, 2026

Switzerland v Jordan - International Friendly

Chelsea show interest in Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka

Will Xhaka return to London to play for rivals of his old club Arsenal?

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Czechia v Mexico: Group A - FIFA World Cup 2026

Ireland's conquerors Czechia deal with fallout of disastrous World Cup

Pavel Nedvěd insisted Miroslav Koubek will continue as Czechia manager

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Uruguay v Spain: Group H - FIFA World Cup 2026

Marcelo Bielsa laments Uruguay tenure 'that left nothing behind'

Uruguay were eliminated from the World Cup after a 1-0 defeat to Spain

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Cabo Verde v Saudi Arabia - 2026 FIFA World Cup Group H

Coach Bubista hails Cape Verde's fearless dreamers after World Cup leap

Cape Verde, the smallest nation ever to reach the World Cup knockouts, finished second in Group H. They will face Argentina in the round of 32

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Cabo Verde v Saudi Arabia - 2026 FIFA World Cup Group H

While You Were Sleeping: All the World Cup action you missed on Friday night

Cape Verde, Belgium and Egypt make it through, amongst others who discovered their fate as the night progressed

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

New Zealand v Egypt: Group G - FIFA World Cup 2026

Iran wait on World Cup progress after late goal disallowed in Egypt draw

Egypt, whose qualification for the ‌last-32 was already guaranteed, took the lead inside five minutes through Mahmoud Saber, before Ramin Rezaeian equalised from a tight angle in the 14th minute of a frantic start

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

New Zealand v Belgium: Group G - FIFA World Cup 2026

Belgium beat New Zealand 5-1 to advance to World Cup knockout stage

Belgium finished ‌above Egypt on goal difference after they both finished with five points from three matches, followed by Iran on three points and New Zealand on one. In the other match in the group, Egypt drew 1-1 with Iran

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

England Fans

England, Portugal and Egypt among five teams to seal World Cup knockout spots

Uruguay's defeat by Spain and Cape Verde's draw with Saudi Arabia in Group H ‌guaranteed ⁠qualification for the five teams.

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Cabo Verde v Saudi Arabia: Group H - FIFA World Cup 2026

Jubilant Cape Verde set date with Argentina in World Cup round of 32

Spain's 1-0 ‌victory over Uruguay earned them top spot in the pool with seven points, while three draws were enough for Cape Verde to earn second place. Uruguay and the Saudis were both eliminated with two points

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Uruguay v Spain: Group H - FIFA World Cup 2026

Spain eclipse Uruguay 1-0 in fiery encounter to finish top of Group H

Spanish midfielder Alex Baena received a clean cross in the box and was able to get just enough touch on it to guide it towards the bottom right corner, but not without the help of Fernando Muslera who helped it on its way with a moment to forget

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

FBL-WC-2026-MATCH62-SEN-IRQ

Five-star Senegal keep World Cup hopes alive and send Iraq home

Survival was on the line as both sides entered the match needing to win, preferably by a large margin, to stay in the hunt for one of the last eight spots in the round of 32

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Derry City v Drogheda United - SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division

Dummigan hits goal of the season contender as Derry beat Drogs

Derry picked up their sixth win of the season

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Cork City look unstoppable as Keating double fires them past Bray

Cork City look unstoppable as Keating double fires them past Bray

Cork City have won eight on the bounce

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

UCD v Kerry FC - SSE Airtricity Men's First Division

Borden grabs winner as Kerry close on play-off spots

All three goals came in the final 10 minutes of normal time

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Ross Tierney celebrates after the game 26/6/2026

10-man Bohs dig deep to beat Pat's

Bohs had Pat Hickey sent off just before half-time

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

FBL-WC-2026-MATCH61-NOR-FRA

Ousmane Dembele hat-trick sees off Norway and ensures France top Group I

Elsewhere in the group, Senegal thrashed Iraq 5-0

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

John Mahon celebrates scoring his side’s third goal with teammates 26/6/2026

John Mahon completes stunning Waterford comeback to sink Dundalk

Waterford were second best to Dundalk for the opening 40 minutes but then the game changed

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Shamrock Rovers v Galway United - SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division

Adam Brennan stars as Shamrock Rovers see off Galway

Brennan unstoppable down the Hoops’ left flank in delivering two first half assists for Aaron Greene and John McGovern.

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Freddy Gonzalez makes pitch for Finn Harps takeover

Freddy Gonzalez makes pitch for Finn Harps takeover

Gonzalez has been in takeover talks with the First Division club for a number of months and his proposal has been publicised ahead of a ballot of members next week to ratify the new era.

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Joey O'Brien dejected after the match 22/6/2026

Shels eyeing quick manager appointment after O'Brien exit

The Reds face Sligo Rovers this weekend.

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Spain v Cabo Verde - 2026 FIFA World Cup Group H

History beckons for Pico as Ireland watches

The Shamrock Rovers man will be part of the Cape Verde side to take on Saudi Arabia on Friday night.

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Curacao v Cote D'Ivoire: Group E - FIFA World Cup 2026

World Cup overnight: All the Thursday night action and what's in store Friday

Ecuador and Ivory Coast progress in Group E, Netherlands march on to knockouts with Japan and Sweden, Australia make it out of Group D alongside already qualified USA with Paraguay having to wait to realise their fate

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Paraguay v Australia: Group D - FIFA World Cup 2026

Australia reach World Cup knockouts after goalless draw with Paraguay

In a physical, scrappy ‌contest at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Paraguay pushed late after being dominated early but it ended with the Socceroos making the tournament's knockout phase for a third time, four years after reaching the last 16 in Qatar

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Türkiye v USA: Group D - FIFA World Cup 2026

Kaan Ayhan stuns United States with last-ditch winner for Turkey

Auston Trusty and Sebastian Berhalter scored early in each half for the co-hosts in Los Angeles, either side of goals from Arda Guler and Baris Yilmaz, but Ayhan had the final say to restore some Turkish pride despite finishing bottom of Group D

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Japan v Sweden: Group F - FIFA World Cup 2026

Japan and Sweden share points to book places in last 32 of World Cup

The point sends Japan through in second place behind the Netherlands with Sweden top of the third-place teams, dealing another blow to Scotland’s hopes of reaching the last 32

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Tunisia v Netherlands: Group F - FIFA World Cup 2026

Netherlands cruise into last 32 with 3-1 win over Tunisia

The Dutch started at a red-hot pace, taking just seven minutes to establish a 2-0 lead

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Curacao v Cote D'Ivoire: Group E - FIFA World Cup 2026

Nicolas Pepe double fires Ivory Coast into last 32 with victory over Curacao

Forward Pepe, who plays for Spanish side Villarreal, collected a pass from Ibrahim Sangare to double his tally in the 64th minute

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

FBL-WC-2026-MATCH56-ECU-GER

Ecuador fight back to beat Germany and progress to last 32 at World Cup

Germany had a penalty at the start of the second half overturned following a VAR review for a foul in the build-up before Gonzalo Plata stabbed in the winner with 13 minutes left to leave the South Americans on four points and top of the third-place rankings

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

Elliot Anderson file photo

Manchester City agree £130m deal to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest

Anderson looks set to move to the Etihad Stadium for a British record fee.

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

France Ivory Coast Soccer

Aurelien Tchouameni urges France to top group for absent boss Didier Deschamps

Deschamps will miss Friday’s clash with Norway after the death of his mother.

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

Catherine from Kilkenny during the protest 20/2/2026

FAI to call Egm on July 8 to debate Israel games

The motion to be balloted upon is unlikely to be a boycott of the Israel fixtures.

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

England Press Conference - KC Parks - Thursday June 25th

Eberechi Eze happy to bide his time with England after Arsenal experience

The Three Lions face Panama on Saturday night.

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

Scotland v Brazil - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Miami Stadium

The great paradox of Scotland’s World Cup. The fans, superb. The team? Dismal

A mess against Brazil, Steve Clarke’s side are in purgatory, hanging around as a faint hope of a place in the last 32 lives on

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

Cote D'Ivoire v Ecuador: Group E - FIFA World Cup 2026

Piero Hincapie makes permanent move to Arsenal

Hincapie is currently in action for Ecuador at the World Cup

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

Shelbourne v Bohemians - SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division

Shelbourne part ways with head coach Joey O'Brien

Shels currently sit fifth in the Premier Division table, 14 points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers.

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

Scotland v Brazil - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Miami Stadium

The matches which hold Scotland’s World Cup fate

We look at what needs to happen for Scotland to stay above other third-place teams and sneak through to the knockout stages.

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

Gianni Infantino file photo

World Cup nears halfway point with little time to reflect, just as USA and FIFA wants it

The first day off of this breakneck tournament doesn’t arrive until after the last 16, Wednesday July 8 to be exact, a full 27 days into the thing.

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

Sport

Newsletter

Sign up to our daily sports bulletin, delivered straight to your inbox at 5pm. Subscribers also receive an exclusive email from our sports desk editors every Friday evening looking forward to the weekend's sporting action.

IE_logo_newsletters

Check out our diverse library of newsletters and get the best of the Irish Examiner delivered straight to your inbox