2026 FIFA World Cup – Sahara Football

Full list of 2026 FIFA World Cup award winners

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 11:17:08 +0000

Spain defied the working template to post a 1-0 win over defending champions Argentina at the New York New Jersey Stadium to claim the title for the second time in the country’s history.

Sixteen years ago, they celebrated their first sniff at the World Cup in South Africa over the Netherlands.

In the aftermath of the competition, several individuals were honoured for their outstanding display, notable was Spain trio, Rodri, Cubarsi, and Unani Simon.

Spain midfielder Rodri won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player after playing a pivotal role in his side’s title-winning campaign.

France captain Kylian Mbappé claimed the Golden Boot with 10 goals in eight matches, becoming the first player to win the World Cup’s top scorer award at consecutive tournaments. He also extended his record as the men’s all-time leading World Cup scorer with 22 goals.

Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón received the Golden Glove after helping his side concede just one goal during the tournament. He also set a World Cup record by going 650 consecutive minutes without conceding.

Spain defender Pau Cubarsí was named the Best Young Player following a series of impressive performances that helped anchor La Roja’s defence throughout the tournament.

The Netherlands won the FIFA Fair Play Award.

Full list of 2026 FIFA World Cup award winners

Champions: Spain
Runners-up: Argentina
Third place: England
Fourth place: France
Golden Ball (Best Player): Rodri (Spain)
Golden Boot (Top Scorer): Kylian Mbappé (France)
Golden Glove (Best Goalkeeper): Unai Simón (Spain)
Best Young Player: Pau Cubarsí (Spain)
FIFA Fair Play Award: Netherlands

Ferran Torres stabs 10-man Argentina deep in extra time

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:32:58 +0000

Spain continued their impressive streak to beat ten-man Argentina at the New York-New Jersey Stadium in the USA.

Barcelona winger Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute to help the Spanish side to their second World Cup triumph after sixteen years.

Following wins over Austria, Portugal, and Belgium, the only hurdle left to complete an impressive winning streak was Argentina, and they made it worth their while as they took the La Albiceleste to the cleaners in front of a teeming Blue Army of fans at the stadium.

Spain’s approach was patient, careful, and tidy. They played 20 shots to two from Argentina.

Argentina’s goalkeeper, Emi Martínez, made a series of superb saves from shots from Lamine and Nico Williams to keep his team in the contest.

Nico and Ferrran combined to give Spain the much-needed win in the extra time to help the Spanish side to their second World Cup triumph after sixteen years.

2026 FIFA World Cup : England battle Argentina for final spot

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 11:25:55 +0000

A battle for supremacy awaits us as England and Argentina clash for a sixth time in this competition, with a spot in the final up for grabs.

Bar the goalless draw game against Ghana, England have been sweet on the eye and a touch of class on the field under the supervision of Thomas Tuchel.

The German is in line to become the first foreign manager in 48 years to reach the World Cup final, while England haven’t reached that stage since winning the trophy in 1966, falling at the semi-final in both 1990 and 2018.

Defending champions Argentina have won all six games at this World Cup – and their last 12 at the finals overall – but have had to dig deep to navigate the knockout rounds.

Lionel Scaloni’s men saw a second consecutive game marred by refereeing controversy as they needed extra time to see off ten-man Switzerland 3-1 in the quarter-finals, making them the competition’s top scorers ahead of the semi-finals (17).

The game is billed to be watched by millions around the world.

2026 FIFA World Cup : France vs Spain

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 08:24:44 +0000

Two super heavyweights of European football, France and Spain, will go head-to-head in the semi-finals for a spot in the finals.

For the 2018 World Cup team, France has yet to hit a snag, strolling through the park with easy wins against Sweden (3-0), Morocco (2-0), and others.

Captain Mbappé has lived by example, scoring six goals to carry Les Blues to the semi-finals, aided by Dembélé, Olise, and Rabiot, who weighed in on the goal-scoring responsibilities.

France will rely on the speed of Mbappé, the experience of Dembele, and the trickery of Olise to weave magic in the final third of the pitch, physicality in midfield, and defensive solidity.

Meanwhile, Spain had it all to do against Cape Verde, who infamously held the former World Cup giants to a goalless draw in the opening.

This propelled them to beat Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Austria, Portugal, and Belgium to get to the semi-finals.

Spain’s technical superiority will be tested in the game; it remains to be seen if they will be able to make full use of their high pressing abilities with the likes of Yamal, Baena, Olmo, and others.

This game has all to play for as it will take place at the Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.

Marvin Senaya out for weeks after hamstring surgery in Paris

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 07:58:25 +0000

Black Stars defender Marvin Senaya would be sidelined for two months after he sustained a hamstring injury in Ghana’s Round of 32 clash with Colombia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

After the team’s loss to Colombia, the MRI scan in Kansas City revealed a significant hamstring injury sustained by the fullback.

The player has subsequently undergone a successful surgery in Paris and has now returned to his club, AJ Auxerre, to continue his rehabilitation.

The France-based defender featured in all of Ghana’s four matches at the World Cup before sustaining an injury against Colombia at the Kansas City Stadium on Friday, July 3, 2026.

World Cup 2026: “We win or we learn” – Queiroz reviews Ghana game

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 18:01:48 +0000

Carlos Queiroz recounted what he learned from Ghana’s game against Croatia.

The Black Stars failed to glitter in their last game against Croatia in group L.

The outcome of the game meant that they will face Colombia in the Round of 32.

Speaking after the match, Queiroz touched on the positives from the game.
“Yeah, I think, as I used to say, we win or we learn. Today we learn.”

“And we learn to be better prepared for the World Championship.”

“Everything to the winner, nothing to the loser.”

“So that means that every single game is about drama. Nobody can hide anything since the first minute.”

The Portuguese coach will hope to parade his best men on the field against Colombia in the Round of 32.

The game will take place in Kansas on July 4, 2026 at 1:30 am GMT.

World Cup 2026: Nine African teams qualify for knockout stage

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 17:42:13 +0000

Nine African countries gave their best bet to secure qualification to the next stage of the global tournament.

IIn the expanded 48-country tournament, African teams represented the continent with pride and passion going on to deliver their best performance against the rest of the World .

Bar Tunisia, all other countries qualified to the Round of 32, , Ghana, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Egypt, South Africa, Cape Verde, Algeria, Senegal and DR Congo .

Ghana was housed in group L, England, Croatia and Panama. They entirely finished 3rd after winning one, drawing and losing one apiece.

They will now face Group K winners Colombia at Kansas City Stadium on Saturday, July 4. The Black Stars are aiming to reach the Round of 16 for the third time in their history.

Elsewhere, Morocco take on the Netherlands, Ivory Coast face Norway, Egypt meet Australia, Senegal square off against Belgium, Algeria play Switzerland, South Africa open the knockout stage against Canada, Cape Verde face defending champions Argentina and DR Congo have a daunting meeting with England.

2026 FIFA World Cup : ‘I didn’t deserve it’ – Bellingham after MOTM award

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:57:45 +0000

England supertsar Jude Bellingham has conceded that he did not deserve the Man of the Match award after the goalless draw with Ghana.

According to the English star, other players in the Ghana set up deserve teh award ahead of him after the hard-fought stalemate at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.

Bellingham was subbed off in the 73rd minute after failing to score or assist in the game.

Speaking after the match, he recounted with humility that others were more deserving of the accolade.

”I didn’t deserve it, to be honest,” Bellingham told broadcasters. “It probably should’ve gone to one of their lads who defended so well. Had a couple of moments but couldn’t get in the game. I’m grateful to whoever voted.”

Both have now accrued four points from two games with the final round of games set to take place on Saturday, 27,2026.

The three Lions will play Panama at MetLife, while the Black Stars will take on Croatia at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, USA.

2026 FIFA World Cup: Ghana drop poiints against England

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:35:07 +0000

England and Ghana played out a hard-fought goalless draw in their second Group L match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.

Following England’s 4-2 opening win against Croatia, Thomas Tuchel’s England side were looking to build on that display against Ghana, but Ghana had different plans.

Despite a whopping 79% possession and 19 shots, the West African team held its nerve against the European giants.

England nearly found the back of the net through substitute Nico O’Reilly, but his header came off against the woodwork in the 89th minute, and Harry Kane scuffed the effort, much to the disappointment of their fans.

Both have now accrued four points from two games with the final round of games set to take place on Saturday, 27,2026.

England will play Panama at MetLife, while Ghana will take on Croatia at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, USA.

Beyond the Stats : Can the Black Stars find their spark against England?

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:53:16 +0000

On the back of beating Panama in the opening group game at the BMO Stadium in Canada, the Black Stars of Ghana would hope for an improved performance against tournament favorites, England.

The three Lions of England took Croatia to the cleaners, dispatching them in a six-goal thriller.

The last time the Black Stars of Ghana squared off with the one-time World Cup winner was on March 29, 2011, with the equalizer scored by Asamoah Gyan.

Ghana and Africa’s highest-scoring player at the World Cup is currently providing massive motivation to the current crop of Black Stars players. He is vibing quite well with them.

In Ghana’s game against Panama, I observed a few things which I penned down in my previous article, which is available for your readership.

In this piece, I look at what we can do right against England on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at the Boston Stadium.

Panama was a tough test; the stats did not do us any favors. We managed a paltry 38% possession, 7 shots, and an xGOT of 1.04. We created just one big chance the whole game; even though it resulted in the goal, it was not enough.

Carlos Queiroz deployed Ati Zigi, Mensah, Jonas, Opoku, Senaya, Yirenkyi, Owusu, Sulemana, Semenyo, Nuamah, and Ayew, but there were tweaks in the course of the game.

The defense led by Jonas Adjetey and the others was unsung in the discharge of their duties as combined efforts to thwart the constant threats from the Panamanian attack. I know there were moments your tongue was cut in your mouth, and your heart raced beyond the normal BP rate of 120/80, but they have to brace themselves for an even tougher conquest in England.

This time, they have to be solid against an English attack led by Harry Kane, who has hit the ground running already. He scored two goals against Croatia and loves to increase his tally, with Benjamin Asare set to be given the nod to man the post for Ghana.

We did not see Thomas Partey partake in the opening game as a result of his visa denial by Canada, but his inclusion in the game against England is certainly coming at the right time and will provide the needed steel and solidity in midfield.

Caleb Yirenkyi has shown that he is a lad ready to take on the world. At 20-years, his energy and pace were evident and a constant threat for the Panama team; he would need to play levels above what he showed in the previous game.

The good thing is that the Black Stars forward men are not short of pace, trickery, and energy; if deployed well, they can terrorise any defense on a good day.

I hope Querioz selects the right men to do the job against an agile defensive partnership of John Stones and Marc Guehi.

This game has loads riding on it, a win for either teams would set them on the path of Round of 32, hopefully, the Black Stars shine bright against the three lions of England.