Match Reports and Cody Gakpo's Emotional Moment
Essential reading: here are yesterday’s match reports:
And a word on Cody Gakpo, scorer of a rasping goal for the Netherlands but enduring a difficult time following the loss of his and his partner’s unborn son, as our correspondent in Monterrey, Nick Ames, detailed:
Football is a vessel for myriad thoughts and feelings so it was an intensely affecting moment when, after he had rammed his team into a 72nd-minute lead, the entire Dutch squad piled on to the pitch in joy. More than that, they had done so in support. Gakpo had elected to play despite the announcement that he and his partner had tragically lost their unborn son. He was tearful upon making his way back to the centre circle, pointing to the sky and being comforted by his teammate Denzel Dumfries.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Impact Beyond Sport
One of the stories of this World Cup has been the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), England’s opponents on Wednesday. The assured progress of the team from Africa’s second largest country has carried significant meaning, as Louis Mukoma explains:
The DRC is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Africa. There are hundreds of ethnic communities. And hundreds of languages and dialects. Four national languages have been adopted to help create cohesion. There are different cuisines, customs and histories. And today, profound political and societal fractures. The biggest story here is not a sporting one. It is what the Leopards have done for their country.
Eastern Congo has spent decades living through successive wars. Many people there have long felt abandoned by Kinshasa. Whenever violence intensifies, discussions about federalism, autonomy and the country’s fragmentation resurface. Yet, whenever the Leopards play, those divisions seem to pause.
Following the draw with Portugal, celebrations erupted not only in Kinshasa but also in Lubumbashi – in the Katanga region, which has its own secession history – as well as in Goma and Bukavu. The same happened again after the victory against Uzbekistan, but with even greater intensity.
It is, of course, a matter of concern that the DRC’s most celebrated fan, “Lumumba Vea” (nicknamed in tribute to the country’s independence leader), has been denied a visa to the tournament that brings the world together.
US Homeland Security Secretary Reacts to Iran’s Exit
In 'staying classy' news, here’s ’ latest report from the Department of Homeland Security regarding the intersection of politics and sport:
US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin celebrated Iran’s elimination from the World Cup, saying he did a “happy dance,” Sports Business Journal reported on Monday.
The Iranian team narrowly missed advancing to the knockout rounds. They drew all three of their matches in Group G and finished as the ninth-best third-place team after Austria scored a last-minute goal against Algeria in the final group-stage match. The top eight third-place teams earned spots in the round of 32.
Mullin did not conceal his reaction to Iran’s elimination. Speaking at a World Cup security briefing in Washington, according to SBJ, he said he was “so glad they’re gone” and that he was “very happy they’re going back because there wasn’t a single team that we dealt with more than them.”
With the United States engaged in military and political conflict with Iran, the US government restricted the Iranian soccer team’s movements during the World Cup. Prior to the event, Iran relocated its planned training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana. The US limited the amount of time the Iranian team could spend in the country before each match and required the squad to exit the nation immediately after each contest.
Mullin told reporters following the Monday briefing, according to SBJ, “I’m just glad they’re done, and they’re not coming back. I was so happy when we were able to pull their visas and said they could leave the U.S. soil, and I might’ve sung a song or two or maybe even danced a happy dance.”
World Cup 2026 Update: Eliminations and Upcoming Matches
Greetings all, and welcome to the latest from the World Cup that never sleeps. When the draw was made last December, it always appeared unbalanced. On Monday, three potential winners (of sorts) were eliminated from the competition.
Japan’s dark horse run ended as they paid the price for sitting too deep against an uneven Brazil side, which nonetheless featured several match-winners. The Japanese team might have benefited from a player like Mitoma to alleviate pressure.
Germany was subdued by a disciplined Paraguay defensive masterclass and subsequently lost in the first of two penalty shootouts. The other shootout occurred in Monterrey, where Morocco defeated the Netherlands. Unlike Paraguay, the Netherlands were penalized for adopting a too defensive approach. Given Morocco’s world ranking and recent form, this result was not unexpected.
Later on Tuesday, another significant fixture awaits: Côte d’Ivoire versus Norway. Côte d’Ivoire has been slick and well-organized in the group stages, while Norway is recognized for its attacking prowess. Coverage will include buildup to that match, as well as previews of France versus Sweden and the all-Latin American clash between Mexico and Ecuador at the venue known as the Azteca Stadium, despite FIFA’s branding conventions.
