Yamal Available for Spain’s World Cup Opener After Injury

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Spain Training - Baylor School, Chattanooga, Tennessee, US - June 6, 2026 Spain's Lamine Yamal during training. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Spain Training - Baylor School, Chattanooga, Tennessee, US - June 6, 2026 Spain's Lamine Yamal during training. (Reuters)
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Yamal Available for Spain’s World Cup Opener After Injury

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Spain Training - Baylor School, Chattanooga, Tennessee, US - June 6, 2026 Spain's Lamine Yamal during training. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Spain Training - Baylor School, Chattanooga, Tennessee, US - June 6, 2026 Spain's Lamine Yamal during training. (Reuters)

Teenage Barcelona star Lamine Yamal and fellow winger Nico Williams will be available for Spain's World Cup opener against debutants Cape Verde on June 15, coach Luis de la Fuente said on Sunday.

Yamal and Athletic Bilbao's Williams both missed the end of the club season with hamstring injuries and their imminent returns will be a big boost to the European champions.

Osasuna winger Victor Munoz is also expected to be fit for Spain's opening game in Atlanta, although none travelled to Mexico for Monday's friendly with Peru and instead remained at their training camp in the United States.

"We regret that they are not here with us, but the medical and physical conditioning staff advised them to stay there," De la Fuente said.

"All three should be available for the next match... they are progressing well in their recovery and are doing very well."

Spain will be one of the favorites at the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States, and the 18-year-old Yamal could be one of the star performers.

After facing Cape Verde, Spain will play Saudi Arabia in Atlanta before finishing their group stage campaign against Uruguay in Guadalajara.



Egypt's Coach Waved Palestinian Flag after Winning World Cup Game

Egypt players react during a penalty shootout against Australia for the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Egypt players react during a penalty shootout against Australia for the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
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Egypt's Coach Waved Palestinian Flag after Winning World Cup Game

Egypt players react during a penalty shootout against Australia for the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Egypt players react during a penalty shootout against Australia for the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan waved a Palestinian flag on the pitch after his team's victory over Australia in the World Cup, saying he was dedicating it to both Egyptians and Palestinians.

“My heart and soul are with them,” he said in an emotional post-game interview, The AP news reported.

Egypt won its debut in the elimination round of the World Cup by beating Australia 4-2 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in the round of 32 Friday.

The victory comes in Egypt’s fourth World Cup.

A video of Hassan on social media shows him walking around the pitch holding the flag as people chanted “free free Palestine." The video went viral.

Earlier this year Lamine Yamal waved a Palestinian flag during celebrations of the Spanish league title. The act caused backlash from Israel's defense minister, who criticized Barcelona’s teenage star and said his action “incites hate.”

Hassan is not known to be religious or connected to any political group. In the 1980s and 1990s he was adored by the youth, a street footballer who played in the slums.

On Friday he said he was dedicating the game to the “good and noble” Egyptian and Palestinian people.

It wasn’t immediately clear if FIFA would seek to take any action, and it didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. It has previously sought to restrict what it sees as political statements on the pitch.


Klopp Confirms Germany Talks and Says he's 'Recharged' Since Leaving Liverpool

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group L - England v Croatia - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US - June 17, 2026 Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull and TV pundit, Jurgen Klopp REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group L - England v Croatia - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US - June 17, 2026 Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull and TV pundit, Jurgen Klopp REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo
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Klopp Confirms Germany Talks and Says he's 'Recharged' Since Leaving Liverpool

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group L - England v Croatia - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US - June 17, 2026 Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull and TV pundit, Jurgen Klopp REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group L - England v Croatia - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US - June 17, 2026 Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull and TV pundit, Jurgen Klopp REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo

Jürgen Klopp has confirmed he's in negotiations to take over as Germany coach and says he's “recharged” the energy he was missing when he left Liverpool.

Klopp is the German soccer federation's preferred candidate after Julian Nagelsmann resigned Friday, four days after Germany lost on penalties to Paraguay in the World Cup round of 32.

“Julian has stepped down and the (federation) is working on the succession and has approached me in the course of those considerations,” said Klopp, speaking from New York on German broadcaster Magenta TV in his role as a World Cup commentator late Friday.

Klopp was the only coach named in a federation statement on the team's future, which said Klopp had “signaled his willingness” to take over.

Klopp said talks would take time because of his current contract as head of global soccer for Red Bull's network of clubs.

Klopp hasn't coached since he left Liverpool in 2024, saying at the time he was “running out of energy” after eight years with the club where he won the Premier League and Champions League.

“About two years ago I stopped at Liverpool and said that I lacked the energy for another job or for another year with Liverpool. Since then I'm more than recharged, I'm ready,” he said, according to The Associated Press.

Germany's next coach will need to make sweeping changes and he said he would need “intensive talks” with the federation to agree on the key points of how to transform the team's fortunes.

It was the third men's World Cup in a row that Germany has not reached the round of 16. Germany hasn't won a knockout game since beating Argentina in the 2014 final.

Klopp said Nagelsmann was an “excellent coach” and not to blame for the team's deeper problems.

“German soccer is obviously at a turning point now,” Klopp said. “Now we need to change things fundamentally. Whether that's me in the end or whoever it may be, that doesn't change the fact that changes are necessary.”

Klopp has had a high-profile presence as a pundit on German TV at the World Cup, even taking part in postgame interviews with Nagelsmann at the side of the field. In the immediate aftermath of the Paraguay loss, he said he hadn't thought about taking on the Germany job.


Cape Verde Leave Mark on Scaloni as Argentina Survive World Cup Shock

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Argentina v Cape Verde - Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, US - July 3, 2026 Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni REUTERS/Paul Childs
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Argentina v Cape Verde - Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, US - July 3, 2026 Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni REUTERS/Paul Childs
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Cape Verde Leave Mark on Scaloni as Argentina Survive World Cup Shock

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Argentina v Cape Verde - Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, US - July 3, 2026 Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni REUTERS/Paul Childs
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Argentina v Cape Verde - Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, US - July 3, 2026 Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni REUTERS/Paul Childs

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said a dramatic 3-2 win over Cape Verde after extra-time to reach the last 16 of the World Cup had left a bruising impact on the defending champions.

In oppressive Miami heat, Scaloni's side were pushed all the way by the African archipelago of just over 500,000 people.

Lionel Messi's 20th World Cup goal and seventh of this tournament gave Argentina the perfect start.

But the Blue Sharks refused to give up on a remarkable first appearance at the World Cup, AFP reported.

Deroy Duarte's strike on the hour mark forced the game to extra-time.

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Argentina v Cape Verde - Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, US - July 3, 2026 Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni speaks with Lionel Messi after Cristian Romero scores their third goal REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Even when Lisandro Martinez restored La Albiceleste's lead, a stunning strike from Sidny Lopes Cabral's brought Cape Verde level again.

Argentina finally edged through to a last 16 meeting with Egypt on Tuesday when Diney Borges turned into his own net under pressure from Cristian Romero.

"Of the 100, this one has surely left the biggest mark on me as a coach," said Scaloni after his 100th match in charge of his country.

"It would have been crazy to have lost."

Argentina had appeared to have landed in a kind quarter of the draw.

If they progress past Egypt in Atlanta, a quarter-final against Switzerland, Colombia or Ghana awaits.

But Scaloni said Cape Verde had shown his side can take nothing for granted.

"I want to congratulate the opponent. When people say there are no easy games, today they proved they are a great team," added Scaloni.

"I'm taking away the contribution from everyone. We finished very tired, but they gave it their all."