Sports
Writing a magnificent new chapter in American soccer history, the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) officially punched their ticket to the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage on Friday afternoon, June 19, 2026, with a commanding 2-0 victory over Australia. Playing before a raucous, sold-out home crowd at Seattle Stadium, head coach Mauricio Pochettino orchestrated a high-energy, possession-heavy tactical masterpiece that limited the Australian Socceroos to minimal offensive traction. The Americans established dynamic control early in the 11th minute when a lethal low cross from Folarin Balogun forced a desperate own goal from Australian defender Cameron Burgess, before 21-year-old Alex Freeman sealed the historic result in the 43rd minute with a sensational, VAR-verified header off a deflected loose ball. What made the performance remarkably significant was that the USMNT executed this clinical triumph without their talismanic captain Christian Pulisic, who sat out with a calf strain—relying instead on the robust central midfield engine of Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie to dictate terms. Backed mathematically by Paraguay’s subsequent win over Türkiye, the Stars and Stripes have won back-to-back World Cup fixtures for the first time since 1930, granting Pochettino the luxury of resting key starters for their final Group D clash at SoFi Stadium.
Vaibhav Suryabanshi’s altercation with Sri Lanka A players after India’s Super Over defeat on Monday raises questions. The tri-series in Dambulla was supposed to be another step in the rise of the teenage prodigy.
Captain Shubman Gill battled intense heat and cramps to produce a masterful 154, while the increasingly confident Ishan Kishan scored a statement century as India recorded a dominant 170-run win over Afghanistan in the second ODI here on Wednesday to seal the series.India have taken a 2-0 unassailable lead in the three-match series.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru created history on Thursday night, chasing down a massive target of 204 runs to defeat the Delhi Capitals by six wickets in the Women’s Premier League final at the BCA Stadium.
No team had ever chased a target as high as 311 at the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup before, but on Wednesday in Harare, India made it look like a walk in the park. A magnificent hundred from Aaron George and a blistering opening salvo from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi saw India pull off a record chase and beat Afghanistan by seven wickets in the second semi-final.
Opener Abhishek Sharma smashed an incendiary 84 to fashion India’s 48-run victory against New Zealand in the first Twenty20 international in Nagpur on Wednesday.
DARYL Mitchell, who loves playing in and against India, helped New Zealand level the series with a classy, unbeaten 100 in the second ODI of the three-match series. India, asked to bat on a tricky surface, took their time to get going before setting a target of 285. Mitchell, whose game against spin is one of the best in the business across formats, took a liking to both of India’s frontline spinners.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday strongly criticised the BCCI’s recent move asking Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman.
Kolkata, a city known far and wide for its sports lovers who have a record of going berserk when things do not live up to its expectations saw access taking precedence. when Lionel Messi briefly and chaotically appeared at Yuba Bharati stadium in Salt Lake recently. It was indeed a revealing moment of how not to showcase global icons.
Advertisement
