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The World Cup game that no one wants to win

CNN By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Well, this World Cup has found its Cinderella. Tiny Cape Verde, which shocked the soccer world by drawing with Spain in its first World Cup match, is through to the knockout rounds after drawing with Saudi Arabia in Houston and Spain’s defeat of Uruguay on Friday night. It’s

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Jorge Messi

Messi’s father ‘is going through a health situation,’ says his family

By Mauricio Torres, CNN en Español (CNN) — Jorge Messi, father of Argentine football star Lionel Messi, “is going through a health situation,” his family said in a statement released Thursday. “At this time, he is under medical supervision, recovering and progressing favorably within the condition he presents,” the family stated, without providing details about

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Iran's Ramin Rezaeian celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal during the World Cup Group G soccer match between Iran and New Zealand on June 15.

US says Iran was always supposed to fly back to Mexico immediately after World Cup match, despite coach’s complaints

By Priscilla Alvarez, Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — The Iranian men’s soccer team’s quick departure from Los Angeles following its opening World Cup match was always the plan, according to the US government, despite complaints from the team. Iran’s coach and players made it clear they were upset with having to fly back to their

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A star-laden Tuesday at the World Cup

CNN By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This is story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. It’s a big day in North America It’s the day after the night before and, if you listen carefully, you can probably still

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How smartphones and the New York Knicks created Brooklyn’s biggest block party

By Hannah Keyser, CNN Brooklyn (CNN) — Early in the Eastern Conference Finals, as the New York Knicks pulled off miraculous comebacks and marched to unprecedented blowouts, I noticed that the official watch parties outside Madison Square Garden had become meta funhouse mirrors of phone screens. Semi-professional streamers encouraged antics for cameras suspended on gimbals,

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Julen Lopetegui speaks with his players during a hydration break in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B match between Qatar and Switzerland.

Meet the new kids on the World Cup block

CNN By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This is story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. The first games of the World Cup always seem to have a little shock in them. On Saturday, Switzerland, Brazil and Turkey found

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Lionel Messi shines on eve of World Cup

CNN By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This is story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. Happy World Cup Eve all! We’re just one day away from action getting underway and I personally can’t wait until the soccer takes

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Everybody loves Wemby… for now

By Leah Asmelash, CNN (CNN) — Factually, Victor Wembanyama could have sent New York Knicks fans into fits of loathing. As the Knicks return to the Finals for the first time since 1999, when they were summarily dismissed by the San Antonio Spurs and the towering young superstar Tim Duncan, they find themselves facing the

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World Cup referee denied entry to US

By Kyle Feldscher, Priscilla Alvarez, Larry Madowo, CNN (CNN) — Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will not take part in this summer’s World Cup after he was denied entry into the United States, FIFA confirmed on Monday. When asked about Artan’s case, a US Customs and Border Protection spokesperson told CNN that he underwent additional

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Fans of Iran's soccer team wave as players arrive in Tijuana

Tehran lambasts US ‘obstruction’ of Iran’s soccer team as players land in Mexico ahead of World Cup

By Billy Stockwell and Aida Karimi, CNN (CNN) — Iran’s soccer team touched down in Mexico’s northwestern city of Tijuana on Sunday – a stone’s throw from the United States border – as Tehran criticized Washington over its visa restrictions ahead of the World Cup this summer. The president of Iran’s football federation, Mehdi Taj,

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Marta Kostyuk reacts after victory over Elina Svitolina in the French Open quarterfinals.

Marta Kostyuk dedicates historic French Open quarterfinal win to ‘the ​Ukrainian people’

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — After beating compatriot Elina Svitolina in an all-Ukrainian quarterfinal at Roland Garros 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 on Tuesday, tennis player Marta Kostyuk was overcome with emotion. With tears rolling down her face, the 23-year-old addressed the French Open crowd after reaching the first grand slam semifinal of her career, dedicating

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