Spain's Rodri warns Portugal best yet to come at World Cup

Dallas: Spain captain Rodri warned Portugal on the eve of Monday's World Cup last-16 clash that the European champions can still get a lot better.

Spain, one of the favourites in North America, were held to a shock 0-0 draw with debutants Cape Verde to open their title charge. djcc.club

They then beat Saudi Arabia 4-0 and Uruguay 1-0 to top their group, before a statement 3-0 win over a dogged but limited Austria in the last 32.

That impressive performance served notice to their rivals, and midfield general Rodri said that was just the start.

"Spain's evolution (at the tournament) has been gradual," the 30-year-old Manchester City ace told reporters on Sunday ahead of the meeting with Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in Texas.

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"Obviously in a sense that is normal -- in the first games you try to adapt to a different environment, different pitch, different type of teams you face, it is never easy.

"So I think in a gradual way, always growing and always knowing that the big things are coming now."

Spain's goalless stalemate with Cape Verde came as a huge surprise, but Rodri said: "We didn't lose our heads, we stayed calm, and I think right now we still have a big gap of improvement."

Los Angeles, United States: England face Mexico in a World Cup blockbuster at the Estadio Azteca on Sunday [Monday, July 6, 3am, Qatar Time], while Erling Haaland and Norway bid to ambush Brazil as the battle for quarter-final places heats up.

A day after France and Morocco sealed their places in the last eight of the tournament, two more spots are up for grabs in round-of-16 duels in Mexico City and New Jersey.

England's encounter with Mexico has been one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament, with the Three Lions returning to the Azteca 40 years after their iconic 'Hand of God' game against Argentina at the 1986 World Cup.

Thomas Tuchel's side have stumbled into the last 16, needing a late double from captain Harry Kane to secure a 2-1 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo to advance to Sunday's game.

England entered the World Cup with dreams of ending the country's 60-year wait for a major title.

But the English have failed to live up to their billing so far, struggling through the group phase before squeezing past DR Congo.

England will also need to overcome the challenge of altitude, with the Azteca sitting some 2,240 metres (7,350 feet) above sea level.

"The altitude will be, of course, a big disadvantage because we cannot physically adapt to it in four days. It's just impossible," England boss Tuchel said before the team's departure for Mexico City.

After visiting the Azteca on Saturday, Tuchel said at his pre-match press conference: "It just catches you straight away once you get in here and see the excitement and see the emotions.

"I felt straight away that this will be a proper World Cup match for tomorrow.

"We knew it before. We are in an iconic place, an iconic stadium," Tuchel added.

Tuchel is also grappling with the issue of how to shore up England's porous defence, which has looked vulnerable to pace, especially down the problematic right flank.

Mexico, by contrast, are flying. El Tri have won all four games on home soil, without conceding a goal.

A 2-0 victory over Ecuador secured their first knockout win at the World Cup for 40 years and more history beckons if England can be eliminated in front of an expectant home crowd.

'11 vs 11'

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre on Saturday questioned whether the altitude would be a factor, insisting the game would come down to a contest of "11 v 11".

The 67-year-old told reporters his team would have to play a "near-perfect match" to beat England, who are fourth in the FIFA rankings to Mexico's tenth place.

"They have major players who play both inside and outside the country," he said. "They're pretty powerful, physically speaking, and they're great players."

Sunday's game is due to kick off at 6:00pm local time (0000 GMT) [Monday, July 6, 3am, Qatar Time].

FIFA on Friday reportedly considered bringing the start time forward to avoid thunderstorms due at kick-off before confirming the game would stay at the scheduled time.

Sunday's forecasts still predicted thunderstorms in Mexico City around the time of the game, although with highs of 21 Celsius, far below the near-record World Cup temperature of 38 degrees when France beat Paraguay in Philadelphia on Saturday.

The winner on Sunday will face a quarter-final in Miami against Norway or Brazil, who meet at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where severe storms were also forecast and the U.S. National weather service had issued a regional flood warning.

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti cut a relaxed figure on Saturday as he discussed how his team planned to tackle Norway's in-form striker Manchester City forward Haaland, who has scored five goals in three appearances at the tournament so far.

Haaland will line-up against a familiar opponent, Gabriel Magalhaes, who plays for City's Premier League rivals Arsenal.

Brazil's other central defender, Marquinhos, has also faced Haaland while on duty for Paris Saint-Germain.

"Everyone knows how he works," Ancelotti said of Haaland. "I have nothing to explain to my defenders how to play against him. They've obviously played against him several times."

Norway coach Stale Solbakken meanwhile has urged his team to focus on their opponents rather than the size of the occasion as they take on the five-time world champions.

"We need to make sure that we don't play according to the occasion, but that we simply play the match," Solbakken said Saturday.

"Obviously, Brazil is the favourite, but I also said that I don't think they are big favourites, which they maybe had been some years ago, or two, three, four years ago."

Mexico City: Canada have already made World Cup history, while Mexico and the USA are also on course to beat their best ever runs in the tournament as home advantage has paid dividends.

AFP Sports looks at how all three co-hosts have thrived while others have struggled with the sprawling tournament spread over three countries and 17 cities.
Mexico

Swept along by fanatical support in the stadiums and the streets, Mexico have already ended a 40-year wait to win a knockout game by beating Ecuador to make the last 16.

El Tri are confident of eliminating England in what could be a World Cup classic on Sunday.

Javier Aguirre's side made the most of a kind group-stage draw to ease past South Africa, South Korea and the Czech Republic.

But the first half destruction of Ecuador, who beat Germany in the group stages and finished second to Argentina in South American qualifying, served as a warning to England.

Winger Julian Quinones has been Mexico's breakout star with three goals in four games, while veteran striker Raul Jimenez broke down in tears after ending his long wait for a World Cup goal in the opening game of the tournament.

Now in his third spell in charge, Aguirre is aiming to achieve where he failed in 2002 and 2010 by taking Mexico to the quarter-finals, matching their best ever World Cup performance on home soil in 1970 and 1986.

"I can tell you that this team deserves what is happening," he said after a reported 1 million people took to the streets of Mexico City to celebrate the win over Ecuador.

"This big connection with the fans and playing the World Cup."

USA

Any fears that the Americans would fail to show up to their own party have been emphatically swept away as Mauricio Pochettino's men have energised a nation where football has to fight for its place in the spotlight.

A 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the last 32 was the most-watched football match in US television history, averaging 33.5 million viewers across all networks.

The brand of high-energy, attacking football that made Pochettino one of the most sought after coaches in European football has been successfully implemented at international level.

Paraguay, who went on to eliminated Germany to reach the last 16, were blown away in a 4-1 victory that got the US off to a flying start.

Even the sending off of Folarin Balogun, who has been one of their stars of the tournament with three goals, against Bosnia could not derail the USA as the 10 men saw the game out with ease.

Even without the suspended Balogun, a last 16 clash with Belgium should hold no fear for Pochettino's men as they eye the quarter-finals for just the second time.

Canada

The glass ceiling for Canada at a World Cup was shattered when they made the knockout stages, and in some style, as they thrashed Qatar 6-0.

A second-place finish in Group B behind Switzerland, meant Canada were forced onto American soil for the remainder of the tournament.

A first ever knockout victory followed against South Africa, thanks to Stephen Eustaquio's late strike in Los Angeles.

A much tougher taks awaits in Houston on Saturday when highly-fancied Morocco face Jesse Marsch's men.

Outspoken American Marsch has branded his team "Canadian heroes" just for making it this far and said taking on the 2022 semi-finalists was a "free hit" at more glory.

Doha, Qatar: Qatar and Saudi Arabia basketball teams meet in Jeddah today in the closing fixture of the third window of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 in Qatar.

The clash comes amid an intense battle for group leadership. Lebanon currently tops the standings with 9 points, while Saudi Arabia and Qatar are level with 8 points each. India sits fourth with 5 points, reflecting the close competition among the top three teams ahead of the conclusion of the third window.

Although Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have already advanced, the qualification system - which carries forward results among qualified teams - adds extra significance to this match, as its outcome will directly impact the standings in the next stage. This makes the game both a technical and strategic contest beyond its immediate result.

Qatar enter the match with high morale following a 65–56 victory over India in Ahmedabad during the opening round of the third window. The team rallied in the second half after a balanced start, demonstrating its ability to handle the pressure of away fixtures before a major test in Jeddah.

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, approaches the game after a narrow 88–82 defeat to Lebanon in a fiercely contested match that remained competitive until the final moments. Despite showing strong performance, the Saudis fell short in decisive moments. Their technical staff now aims to restore balance and close the window with a morale-boosting win against a direct rival. At the same time, Lebanon will face India in the other group fixture.

Qatar’s qualifying journey began with a dramatic one-point loss to Lebanon (75–74) in Doha, followed by a crucial away win over Lebanon (86–83). The team later fell to Saudi Arabia 80–86 in Doha during the fourth round.

The Qatari delegation is headed by Mr. Saadoun Sabah Al-Kuwari, Secretary General of the Qatar Basketball Federation and Director of National Teams, assisted by Jassim Ibrahim Ashkanani (Team Manager) and Nabil Jumaa (Assistant Team Manager).

يشهد برنامج «السباحة للجميع» الصيفي المخصص للأطفال من سن 7 إلى 12 عاماً، والذي انطلق بالنادي العربي إقبالاً كبيرا، ومشاركة مميزة ودعما أسريا كبيرا، يبدو واضحا من خلال حرص أولياء الأمور، على تشجيع أبنائهم على تعلم السباحة، واكتساب مهارات جديدة، واستثمار العطلة الصيفية في ممارسة النشاط الرياضي والبدني.
وتقام تدريبات تعلم السباحة، ضمن روزنامة “صيف الرياضة للجميع 2026″، الذي ينظمه الاتحاد القطري للرياضة للجميع، تحت مظلة وزارة الرياضة والشباب، بالتعاون مع العديد من الوزارات والهيئات والمؤسسات، ويهدف برنامج تعلم السباحة على وجه الخصوص، إلى تنمية قدرات النشء، وإكسابهم المهارات الأساسية في السباحة، من خلال توفير بيئة تدريبية آمنة ومحفزة، تعزز أنماط الحياة الصحية في المجتمع. وتستمر الحصص التدريبية في النادي العربي، تحت إشراف مدربين متخصصين، وتقام تدريبات الأولاد من الأحد إلى الأربعاء،
وأكد عبد الله الدوسري، المدير التنفيذي للاتحاد القطري للرياضة للجميع، أن برنامج السباحة الصيفي، سيشمل مسبح نادي الوكرة الرياضي أيضا، اعتباراً من اليوم الأحد، الموافق للخامس من يوليو، في إطار خطة الاتحاد لإتاحة الفرصة أمام أكبر عدد ممكن من الأطفال، للاستفادة من البرنامج، وسوف تقام التدريبات على مسبح نادي الوكرة، من الأحد إلى الأربعاء، لمدة ساعة،