Diomande targets World Cup run as Ivory Coast win opener

Philadelphia: Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande said his team haven't come to the World Cup simply to make up the numbers after they struck late to beat Ecuador 1-0 in their opening match on Sunday.

Diomande was a lively presence in attack for Ivory Coast in Philadelphia, where Manchester United's Amad Diallo scored a 90th-minute winner after coming off the bench.

"It's always great to start with a win to help with the confidence," said Diomande, who has attracted interest from a number of Europe's top clubs after an excellent season with RB Leipzig. syntagm.co.za

Ivory Coast's midfielder #18 Ibrahim Sangare carries forward #15 Amad Diallo as they celebrate winning the football match. (Photo by Mauro Pimentel / AFP)

"We know Ecuador is a big team. We had to be patient and wait for our opportunity and we got the goal."

The West Africans are appearing at their fourth World Cup but the first since 2014. They have never made it past the group stage but are well placed to do so with games still to come against Germany and Curacao.

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"We haven't come here just to be part of it all. We want to make history," said Diomande.

He will face some familiar faces when the Ivorians take on four-time World Cup winners Germany, packed with Bundesliga stars, in Toronto on June 20. Germany thrashed Curacao 7-1 to open their account on Sunday.

"We'll do everything we can to win the next match," said Diomande.

"We know that playing against Germany is a tough game and they are one of the biggest teams in the world. We're waiting for them, but the most important thing is to stay calm and be humble."

Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae credited his side for the way in which they overcame their World Cup nerves as they rode their luck in the first half when Ecuador twice hit the bar.

"The players were a bit on edge. It was a first World Cup for everyone, so there was a bit of tension. They were afraid to take risks," said Fae, who guided the Elephants to an Africa Cup of Nations title on home soil two years ago.

"We managed to hold on and dig in," he added.

"In the second half we were a lot more focused... and we have attacking players who can make the difference at any moment."

The loss snapped a 19-match unbeaten run for Ecuador dating back to September.

"It's difficult to start with a loss," admitted captain Enner Valencia.

"This squad has a history of coming through difficult situations. This will be just another one. I'm sure we'll pull through."

Doha, Qatar: Spain will begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Cabo Verde today, with the former world champions aiming to make a strong start in Group H and take an early step towards the knockout stages.

The match, scheduled for 7pm (Qatar time) at Atlanta Stadium, marks the opening fixture in Group H, which also features Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. With every point likely to prove crucial in the battle for qualification, both teams will be determined to open their campaigns with a victory.

Spain arrive at the tournament after finishing first in UEFA qualifying Group E to secure automatic qualification. Under head coach Luis de la Fuente, La Roja have established themselves among the contenders for the title, blending experienced internationals with an exciting generation of young players.

Spain’s only World Cup triumph came in 2010.

Despite Spain’s status as one of the favourites, De la Fuente insists his attention is focused solely on the opening match.Cabo Verde players in action during a training session.

“Being a favourite isn’t a disadvantage, but are we bigger favourites than France, Brazil or Argentina?” the coach said. “The most important game is Cape Verde.”

The Spain coach also confirmed that all members of his squad are available ahead of the tournament opener, giving him a full range of options for the clash in Atlanta.

Among the players expected to shine is teenage star Lamine Yamal, who is preparing for his first World Cup appearance.

“It gives me goosebumps to think I’ll be part of it,” the 18-year-old said ahead of the tournament.

While Spain are targeting a successful start, Cabo Verde arrive in the United States carrying the momentum of a historic qualification campaign. The African nation secured its first-ever appearance at the FIFA World Cup finals after finishing first in Group D of the CAF qualifiers.

Head coach Pedro Leitao Brito, known as Bubista, views the tournament as a unique opportunity for his players and the nation as a whole.

“When we qualified, I said that we wanted to play the best teams at the World Cup, and we were lucky to get Spain,” Bubista said.

“We’re going to play against one of the best teams in the world. There’s no fear. We’re not scared of anything.”

The Cabo Verde coach also described the World Cup as a chance to inspire future generations and demonstrate that smaller nations can compete on football’s biggest stage.

Midfielder Telmo Arcanjo believes his side can rise to the challenge despite facing one of the tournament favourites.

“We know the quality Spain has and the challenge that lies ahead of us, but we also know what we are capable of when we are united and focused,” Arcanjo said.

Veteran player Roberto Carlos Lopes, known as Pico, believes Cabo Verde must remain ambitious despite facing one of the strongest teams in the competition.

“Spain are one of the best teams in the world, which you have to respect, but you still must believe you can win,” Pico said. “We got here on merit, and we have to be competitive now.”

يُعد تأهل منتخب كوراساو إلى كأس العالم 2026 حدثًا تاريخيًا استثنائيًا، إذ أصبحت الجزيرة الكاريبية الصغيرة، التي لا يتجاوز عدد سكانها 155 ألف نسمة، أصغر دولة من حيث عدد السكان تبلغ نهائيات المونديال.
هذا الإنجاز لم يكن وليد الصدفة، بل جاء تتويجًا لمسار طويل من التحول داخل كرة القدم في الجزيرة الصغيرة المجهولة الواقعة في البحر الكاريبي التي نجحت في تحويل محدودية المساحة والسكان إلى قصة نجاح رياضي. فقد اعتمد المشروع الكروي على الاستقرار الفني، إلى جانب تطور واضح في أسلوب اللعب المستلهم من المدرسة الهولندية، بما يجمع بين الانضباط التكتيكي وسرعة التحول داخل الملعب، ليشكّل ذلك الأساس الحقيقي لهذا الصعود التاريخي.
وتعود جذور كرة القدم في كوراساو إلى بدايات القرن العشرين، حين أدخلها البحارة والعمال الهولنديون، لتصبح جزءًا من الحياة اليومية في الجزيرة الكاريبية. وعلى مدى عقود، شكّلت كوراساو مركز الثقل الكروي في جزر الأنتيل الهولندية، قبل أن تبدأ مرحلة جديدة عقب حل الاتحاد عام 2010 وتأسيس منتخب مستقل بهوية خاصة. ومنذ ذلك الحين، اعتمدت كوراساو على إعادة بناء منتخبها وفق أسس أكثر احترافية مع مرحلة إعادة بناء المنتخب، عبر ربطه بالمدارس الكروية في هولندا واستقطاب لاعبين من أصول كاريبية نشأوا في أوروبا. ومع مرور الوقت، تبنّت كوراساو إستراتيجية واضحة تقوم على دمج الخبرة الأوروبية بالروح الكاريبية، من خلال الاعتماد على لاعبين محترفين في الدوريات الأوروبية إلى جانب تطوير الفئات السنية محليًا.
ومع انطلاق تصفيات كأس العالم 2026 في منطقة الكونكاكاف، ظهر منتخب كوراساو بصورة مختلفة، مستفيدًا من الاستقرار الفني والتطور الواضح في أدائه. ونجح الفريق في فرض نفسه كواحد من أبرز منتخبات التصفيات، بعدما قدم مستويات قوية ومتماسكة أهلته لإنهاء مشواره دون هزيمة، محققًا سبعة انتصارات في عشر مباريات.
وجاءت لحظة الحسم في مواجهة مثيرة أمام جامايكا، انتهت بتعادل درامي شهد جدلًا تحكيميًا بعد إلغاء ركلة جزاء في الدقائق الأخيرة عقب مراجعة تقنية الفيديو، ليحافظ المنتخب على النتيجة التي منحته بطاقة التأهل التاريخية إلى كأس العالم لأول مرة، مؤكداً قدرته على التعامل مع ضغوط اللحظات الحاسمة. ولعب المدرب الهولندي المخضرم ديك أدفوكات دورًا محوريًا في هذا النجاح، مستفيدًا من خبرته الطويلة مع عدد من المنتخبات الكبرى لبناء فريق متوازن يجمع بين الصلابة الدفاعية والفاعلية الهجومية. كما قد يصبح أكبر مدرب سنًا يقود منتخبًا في كأس العالم، إذ سيبلغ نحو 78 عامًا خلال البطولة.
واعتمد منتخب كوراساو الذي يُلقب بـ«الموجة الزرقاء» باللغة المحلية، نظراً للون قميصه الأساسي وارتباطه بموقعه في جزر الكاريبي على مجموعة من اللاعبين المحترفين في أوروبا.

Le Mans: Team Qatar successfully completed its first-ever appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Sunday, June 14, 2026, reaching the chequered flag after an impressive and determined performance in one of motorsport’s most prestigious events.

Competing at Le Mans for the first time, Team Qatar by Iron Lynx rose to the challenge of the iconic endurance race with pace and professionalism, bringing home the Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 entry after more than 320 laps of the Circuit de la Sarthe.

Starting 12th on the LMGT3 starting grid, the car shared by Abdulla Al-Khelaifi, Julian Hanses and Giuliano Alesi established itself in the fight from the opening stages of the race, immediately settling into the rhythm of the twice-around-the-clock contest. Team Qatar climbed the order of the ultra-competitive class, rising to as high as second place at one stage, a
remarkable achievement for a team making its Le Mans debut.

As the race evolved, in hot, clear conditions, the team executed its strategy perfectly, with Hanses taking over from Abdulla’s initial triple stint, before Alesi continued the momentum into the night. Navigating traffic, yellow flags, Safety Cars, and more than 30 pit stops for fuel, tyres and driver changes, Team Qatar remained firmly in contention for a strong finish.

But as the 24-hour race continued, suspension issues forced the car into the garage for repairs. Despite losing valuable time, the decision was taken to rectify the problem and continue to the finish, underlining the perseverance and resilience that have characterised the team’s efforts throughout the week.

To epitomise how gruelling this race is, eight runners from the class were forced to retire. "It was an emotional rollercoaster from beginning to end. I was very happy that we stuck to the race and made it to the finish. I'm really proud of my team-mates and everyone at Team Qatar and Iron Lynx,” said Abdulla Al-Khelaifi. “This is a historic moment for the whole team, and to get to the finish, we never gave up.