This is Frenchman Sebastien Desabre’s 11th coaching role in Africa.
The 49-year-old has qualified DR Congo for successive Africa Cup of Nations, reaching the semi-finals in 2023, as well as the World Cup. He had previous success with Uganda.
How did DR Congo get to the last 32?
They earned the first World Cup point in their history by holding strongly-fancied Portugal to a 1-1 draw but then lost 1-0 to Colombia. That left DR Congo needing to beat Uzbekistan, which they duly did 3-1 to progress to the last 32 as one of the best third-placed teams.
Where can I watch DR Congo?
Their last-32 tie against England will be live on BBC One on Wednesday 1 July, with build-up from 16:00 BST.
The match will also be covered live on BBC Radio 5 Live, the BBC Sport website and app.
Give me a fact to impress my friends
Superfan Michel Kuka Mboladinga, who went viral at the Africa Cup of Nations for his eye-catching patriotism during games, has been included in DR Congo’s official World Cup delegation at the request of the players.
Since 2013, Mboladinga has worn colourful suits and silently imitated a statue of revered revolutionary leader Patrice Lumumba, with one arm raised, for entire matches.
Now give me some proper detail
The Congolese proverb little by little, grow the bananas emphasises the virtues of patience and steady progress. But during the national football team’s 52-year gap between World Cups – the joint-fourth longest of any nation – patience has been exhausted and progress stalled. Until now.
There has been a determination to change the country’s World Cup narrative after a 1974 debut that left them ripe for ridicule. Zaire, as DR Congo was then known, lost all three games – including 9-0 against Yugoslavia.
Then came the infamous moment when right-back Mwepu Ilunga charged out of a defensive wall to boot the ball away as Brazil lined up a free-kick.
Bemused onlookers were unaware it was an act of political protest. The players had learned their expected wages and bonuses wouldn’t be paid – and Zaire President Mobutu then threatened them with exile if they lost by more than three goals against Brazil.
By kicking the ball away, Ilunga had hoped to waste time and get sent off. He was only booked and Zaire lost 3-0; they were allowed home but President Mobutu cut their funding.
Ever since, the 1968 and 1974 African champions have been kept on the game’s periphery by a combination of conflict, corruption, poor football governance and a lack of facilities.
Current head coach Desabre has brought in fresh talent from the vast Congolese diaspora – all but six of the World Cup squad were born in Europe – and the nation is now seeing the fruits of his endlessly patient nurturing.
How have DR Congo done at previous World Cups?
The central African nation has only played in the World Cup once before – in 1974, when the country was named Zaire. They lost all three group games without scoring, including 9-0 against Yugoslavia.
Colombia and Portugal played out a breathless 0-0 draw to a wall of sound at Miami Stadium, with both teams advancing to the last 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the top two in Group K.
The Colombians will rue their profligacy in front of goal on Saturday, but take encouragement from dominating quality European opposition for large periods as they head off to Kansas City as group winners to take on Ghana on Friday.
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Portugal, who needed to win to top the group, go north to Toronto to play Croatia on Thursday, knowing they have not quite yet found a way to blend all the talent in their squad into an effective team.
The match started to a cacophony of noise from the massed ranks of yellow-shirted South Americans, and the decibel levels went up a notch when striker Jhon Cordoba headed the ball over the bar in the first minute.
Jhon Arias caused Portugal problems every time he ran at them, and he set Cordoba free in the 17th minute, the big target man unleashing a rocket of a shot that keeper Diogo Costa did well to stop.
After a lovely flowing move five minutes later, winger Arias took the shot himself and screwed the ball towards the far corner of the net, only for Ruben Neves to arrive just in time to flick it off the line.
Colombia struggled to clear their lines cleanly sometimes, however, and it was this frailty that allowed Portugal their best chances towards the end of the first half.
Bruno Fernandes found himself free in front of goal in the 39th minute, with his shot bringing a fine point-blank save out of Camilo Vargas in the Colombia goal.
Three minutes before half-time, Joao Felix cleverly chested the ball over a defender and flashed an acrobatic volley over the bar.
Colombia pressed forward, looking for the goal their dominance deserved, and both Gustavo Puerta and playmaker James Rodriguez troubled the goalkeeper with shots before the break.
Portugal attacked more after the break, but it was Colombia who continued to carve out the best chances, with Arias setting up substitute Richard Rios for a shot that went wide.
Arias curled a shot at goal, which was well saved by Costa, and Puerta drilled another chance wide just before the hydration break.
A Rodriguez volley was deflected away from its target in the 73rd minute, just before he and Arias were substituted, but Colombia continued to tear forward at every opportunity.
Davinson Sanchez thought he had scored the winner with a far-post header a minute from time, but it was called back for a very tight offside after a VAR check.
Rafael Leao went close to winning it for Portugal in stoppage time with a shot that flashed across goal, before the referee finally called time on the entertaining match, played out in front of a crowd of 64,478 sweltering in the Miami evening heat.
Portugal’s totem Cristiano Ronaldo, booed every time he touched the ball and starved of service, had barely a sniff of a chance, his one shot on target a long-range free kick that went straight to the goalkeeper.
Wissa sends DR Congo into last-32 clash with England
In the group’s other game, Yoane Wissa scored twice as the Democratic Republic of the Congo beat Uzbekistan 3-1 and qualified for the last 32 of the World Cup for the first time in their history on Saturday.
They will meet England after registering their first-ever World Cup win.
Eldor Shomurodov’s lob over Lionel Mpasi gave Uzbekistan a perfect start in Atlanta.
But Newcastle striker Wissa levelled from the penalty spot, before Fiston Mayele’s goal sent the mainly Congolese crowd into a frenzy.
Wissa rounded off a historic night for the Africans with a fine strike in stoppage time for his third goal of the tournament.
Earlier on Saturday, Jude Bellingham dragged England through a stubborn Panama test, scoring and setting up Harry Kane in a 2-0 win that sent them into the World Cup round of 32 as Group L winners.
England were made to work for more than an hour in rainy New Jersey, before Bellingham broke the deadlock, crossing for Kane to head in his 11th World Cup goal, lifting him above Gary Lineker as England’s all-time leading scorer at the tournament.
Meanwhile, Nikola Vlasic headed in Luka Modric’s 83rd-minute corner to lift Croatia to a 2-1 victory over Ghana on Saturday and a second-place finish in World Cup Group L.
Vlasic’s perfect finish off the inside of the left post came 10 minutes after Derrick Luckassen had pulled Ghana level on his international debut, with half the time in between spent on a VAR review determining whether he was onside.
Petar Sucic scored early for Croatia, who needed only a draw to reach the last 32. Claiming the second-place spot guaranteed the 2022 third-place finishers a meeting with Portugal, the second-placed team in Group K, on Thursday in Toronto.
BBC Sport World Cup pundits Micah Richards and Wayne Rooney believe Thomas Tuchel should have included more full-back cover in the squad, following the withdrawal of Tino Livramento and injury concerns for Reece James, and now Jarrell Quansah.
AN iconic British singer is set to perform at the World Cup Final’s halftime show.
The musician, 52, has been booked to sing ahead of the game on the pitch at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, on Sunday, July 19.
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A music legend has been revealed as a performer at the Word Cup Final’s halftime showCredit: Getty ImagesRobbie Williams shall take to the stageCredit: Getty
Robbie Williams will belt out his FIFAfootball anthem Desire with Italian pop star Laura Pausini, 52.
The singer is largely known from his time in Take ThatCredit: GettyRobbie also sang the Official FIFA Club World Cup anthem Desire prior to kick off in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025Credit: Getty
Earlier this month Noel Gallagher revealed he wasn’t too impressed with the line-up so far.
Asked on Talksport for his thoughts about performers booked he said: “I don’t like the razzmatazz of football.
“It’s been functioning perfectly for hundreds of years.
“They’re not really football people who are performing anyway, are they?”
Robbie began his music career in 1990 at the tender of of 16 years old.
The teen joined the hugely successful group Take That before dabbling in releasing solo music five years later.
England play one of the eight best third-placed teams, but the distribution of the fixtures depends on which groups provide the qualifiers.
After it was confirmed Ghana had qualified as third in group L, it meant England had only two possible opponents – third place in group K or Senegal.
If DR Congo beat Uzbekistan in their final group K match at 00:30 BST on Sunday, England will play the third-placed team in that group.
That is almost certain to be DR Congo, bar a scenario whereby Portugal lose with a goal difference swing of seven between the teams. Then England would play Portugal.
If DR Congo draw or lose then England will play Senegal.
The knockout path is now set for England through to the quarters.
After DR Congo or Senegal, they would play the winners of Mexico or Ecuador in the last 16 in Mexico City on 5 July.
The potential quarter-final would be in Miami in 11 July against Brazil, Japan, Ivory Coast or Norway.
Scotland, who have played at each of the past two European Championships, booked their spot at a World Cup for the first time since 1998 in dramatic fashion with an unforgettable victory against Denmark at Hampden Park in November.
Backed by tens of thousands of fans who had travelled to the United States, John McGinn’s deflected strike against Haiti earned the country’s first win at a World Cup for 36 years.
That would be Scotland’s only goal of the tournament.
They lost to a second-minute strike by 2022 semi-finalists Morocco in their second match, so they entered their final group game against Brazil knowing a draw would probably be enough to send them through as one of the best third-placed teams.
However, first-half defensive errors would prove their undoing.
They once again conceded early when defender Scott McKenna was robbed of possession inside his own penalty area, gifting an opener to Vinicius Jr.
The Real Madrid forward was denied a second when the video assistant referee (VAR) deemed he had fouled Jack Hendry before rolling the ball past Angus Gunn, but just before half-time Scotland again gave the ball away near their own goal and Vinicius Jr nodded in at the back post to make it 2-0.
Matheus Cunha extended Brazil’s advantage after half-time and a late rally failed to yield a reply that would have improved Scotland’s goal difference.
Although England were always expected to progress from Group Two, the manner of their performances has still been impressive.
They racked up 200 or more against Sri Lanka and Scotland, scored an equally impressive 186-7 on a tricky pitch against West Indies at Lord’s, and romped home with 2.4 overs to spare in a chase of 164 against the White Ferns as Danni Wyatt-Hodge made an unbeaten 89.
“The goal was to win the group,” Edwards said.
“To go through unbeaten is really pleasing. Our batting has been particularly powerful and a real positive for us.
“I thought we bowled really well tonight on a good pitch. You saw how good that pitch was.
“We seem to be getting better with each game which is really good going into the business end of the tournament.”
England will not find out their semi-final opponents until Group One concludes on Sunday, but India or South Africa currently appear the most likely.
They also do not know whether they will play on Tuesday at 14:30 BST or Thursday at 18:30 BST.
Tuesday’s match has been arranged to suit Indian TV and India will play in that match should they qualify.
It means England will play on Thursday if anyone but India finishes second in Group One, but be switched to Tuesday if India take second spot.
“We obviously know now with the teams we are likely to play in the semi-finals, one are world champions of the ODIs [India] and one have played in every World Cup final for the last three years [South Africa] so it is not going to be easy,” Edwards said.
“But we are going in with the most confidence we have ever done into a semi-final and with a lot of belief.”
England’s winning run at the T20 World Cup continued with a rampant nine-wicket victory over New Zealand in their final group game at The Oval.
Already assured of top spot in Group 2 and with it a place in next week’s semi-finals, England built on the momentum of their four previous wins by cruising a chase of 164 with 16 balls to spare.
Danni Wyatt-Hodge, now the tournament’s leading run-scorer, kept up her superb form by crashing 89 not out. She was supported by Sophia Dunkley, who made 49 not out in their partnership of 128.
Defending champions New Zealand are a shadow of the side that won this title in 2024 but the dominant nature of England’s win only added to the sense of momentum around this side.
After limiting New Zealand early on, they took three wickets in four balls without conceding a run in limiting the White Ferns to 163-6.
Sophie Devine hit three sixes in a 14-ball 30 on her final international appearance but otherwise England were always in control.
Their semi-final opponents will be confirmed on Sunday, with India or South Africa appearing the most likely.
That match will take place on Tuesday afternoon or Thursday evening back at The Oval, where England’s women’s side have never lost any of their 11 matches.
Win that and they will return to Lord’s for the final on Sunday for a chance to win their first World Cup title since 2017.
Fifa World Cup 2026 fans were quick to take to social media to share their reactions to tonight’s coverage.
Hayley Anderson and Hayley Anderson Screen Time TV Reporter
21:29, 27 Jun 2026
ITV’s Fifa World Cup 2026 host Laura Woods. (Image: ITV)
Football fans voiced the same complaint minutes into tonight’s World Cup match on ITV.
Ahead of this evening’s match against Panama, England was sent through to the last 32 following matches against Croatia and then Ghana earlier this week.
So England fans were on a high prior to tonight’s game, which kicks off at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey at 10pm UK time and 5pm US time.
However, just minutes into the coverage ahead of this evening’s match, viewers couldn’t stop themselves from flocking to X as two unexpected faces popped up on their screens.
Presenter Laura Woods welcomed none other than ITV legends Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly as they joined her at the channel’s stunning New York studio.
She asked about their opinion on tonight’s match, as well as about their own memories of previous World Cups but not everyone was happy to see the I’m A Celebrity hosts.
In fact, many commented that they were ‘switching off’ ITV’s coverage following their appearance.
“Ant and Dec FFS, I’ll switch back on at 9.55,” someone said on X (Twitter).
A second echoed: “Ant and Dec appeared. I switched to Five Live”, with someone else adding: “Ant & Dec being ‘interviewed’ during the World Cup may be the strangest thing I’ve seen during this whole event.”
Taking to X, a fan exclaimed: “Surely they could have got better than ant and dec for the World Cup, so annoying!”
Meanwhile, someone else asked: “No football people available tonight?”, as a fellow viewer sarcastically commented: “I was just saying to myself ‘We really don’t see Ant and Dec on the tellybox enough'”.
However, one fan defended the award-winning ITV duo, arguing: “Ant and Dec are much better than Neville and carragher.”
The last time England took centre stage was against Ghana which ended 0-0 at the Gillette Stadium in Boston.
Meanwhile, even though Scotland beat Haiti 1-0 in their first match of the World Cup 2026, they have since lost to both Morocco and Brazil.
The Fifa World Cup is available to watch on ITV and ITVX.
June 27 (UPI) — Volkswagen is set to cut as many as 100,000 jobs, and end production at four of its plants, as part of a restructuring to better counter Chinese rivals in Europe.
The company is one of several German automakers that is making cuts as Chinese companies gain ground in both Germany and the rest of Europe, The Financial Times and Wall Street Journal reported.
BMW and Mercedes-Benz, as well as Stellantis and Renault, have lost market share in Europe as BYD, Chery and other Chinese brands have surpassed 10% of car sales on the continent after years of slow growth.
Volkswagen already had agreed with its employee’s unions to cut 50,000 jobs in Germany by the end of 2030 as part of making it “more efficient and leaner,” but some experts have questioned whether the increased moves will have their intended effect, the reports said.
“Every European player is losing today,” Thomas Besson, an auto market analyst at Kepler Cheuvreux, told The Times.
“This is a highly challenging situation for European carmakers,” Besson said, “because Chinese [manufacturers] are progressing [in Europe] at a much faster pace than expected, while [European manufacturers] continue to lose volumes in China and face very adverse conditions in the United States, notably due to tariffs.”
Volkswagen, which is Europe’s largest carmaker, would be dropping about 15% of its 660,000-person workforce, in addition to ending production at three Volkswagen plants and one Audi plant, CNBC reported.
The company also plans to reduce investments by about 15% — roughly $148 billion — over the next five years, while also launching new efforts at selling its products to compete with the Chinese companies.
“The entire [Volkswagen] group — including its brands and subsidiaries — must undergo profound change,” a company spokesperson told CNBC.
White House Border Czar Tom Homan speaks during the Faith and Freedom Coalition 2026 Road to Majority Policy Conference at the Washington Hilton on Friday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (L) and South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back (R) attend their meeting at the headquarters of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Yokosuka District, south of Tokyo, Japan. Photo by EUGENE HOSHIKO / EPA
June 26 (Asia Today) — South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back will meet Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi at the Defense Ministry headquarters in Seoul on Sunday morning, the ministry said Friday.
Koizumi will visit South Korea as part of reciprocal ministerial diplomacy following Ahn’s trip to Japan in January.
During the visit, the ministers are scheduled to inspect aircraft operated by the South Korean Air Force’s Black Eagles aerobatic team, hold bilateral talks and take part in a security dialogue with young people from both countries.
They will also discuss ways to strengthen defense exchanges and cooperation between South Korea and Japan.
The meeting will come about one month after Ahn and Koizumi held bilateral talks on May 30 on the sidelines of the 23rd IISS Asia Security Summit, commonly known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore.
It will be the first visit to South Korea by a Japanese defense minister specifically for bilateral talks since 2015, according to the ministry.
Koizumi is also scheduled to pay his respects at Seoul National Cemetery during the trip. He is expected to meet South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Sunday.
Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem has rejected a new cease-fire between Lebanon and Israel. File Photo by Wael Hamzeh/EPA
June 27 (UPI) — Israel and Lebanon have created a framework for a cease-fire, though Hezbollah is already rejecting it because it calls for disarming the organization.
The neighboring countries signed a cease-fire deal in Washington, D.C., Friday without Hezbollah’s input. The deal says that Israel will withdraw from Lebanon if Hezbollah is disarmed. But Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem said the group will keep fighting until Israel is forced to leave Lebanon.
It’s unclear how Lebanon plans to force Hezbollah to disarm.
“The important principle established in the agreement is that there will be no redeployment by Israel in southern Lebanon, no withdrawal, as long as the terrorist organization Hezbollah is not disarmed throughout Lebanon, and the safety of the residents of the north is guaranteed,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a video statement Saturday evening.
“This is the basic condition to which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have pledged and which we are being implemented,” he said.
Israel said it warned its military to plan for an extended stay.
“The test will be in implementing the agreement, and many more challenges are expected,” Katz said. “The Prime Minister and I have instructed the IDF to prepare for an extended stay in the security zone, and to deploy accordingly to protect IDF soldiers and remove threats from northern communities.”
Hezbollah supporters protested in Beirut after the agreement was announced.
A former U.S. diplomat told Al Jazeera that the cease-fire deal benefits Israel more and could be dangerous for Lebanon.
“In the end, I don’t think it will achieve peace. It’s a formula for an open-ended struggle. In the long run, it’s not even really good for Israel, although right now they feel like they have the upper hand,” Middle-East expert Nabeel Khoury said.
But the agreement will allow Israeli troops to return home.
“Essentially, these demands that the Lebanese armed forces do the work that the Israelis couldn’t do, or it proved too costly for the Israelis to do. They want the Lebanese army to do their bidding,” Khoury said.
“If the Lebanese army can go after Hezbollah, all over Lebanon, is what is being demanded of them, and the Israelis simply lend air support, then this is advantageous for Israel,” he added.
The cease-fire framework calls for Israel to initially withdraw from two small areas called pilot zones. But it didn’t say where those areas are. Then, the Lebanese army will gradually take over security for the areas.
“Over the three games you’re definitely looking at below-par performances,” said Willie Miller, who played at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups for Scotland.
“I keep looking back on the Denmark game [November’s 4-2 win to seal qualification] with those outstanding goals, but they didn’t get anywhere near those levels.”
The former defender described the lack of a top-class striker as “a major issue” and said he was “uncertain about the logic of a few selections”.
However, he did back Clarke by adding: “He got us there and that’s what the Scotland manager’s job is.
“He has introduced a real togetherness in the squad as well, which wasn’t always the case.”
With 81 matches under his belt, Clarke is Scotland’s longest-serving manager.
Support from the Scottish FA has been emphatic, with their coffers significantly enhanced by participation at three of the past four major finals.
“I’m sure he can go again over the next few years if he wants to,” Miller added of Clarke.
“The new contract was a positive step. I think it was the right thing to do.”
Scotland conceded soft, early goals in defeats by Morocco and Brazil, with former striker James McFadden saying: “The defending was certainly below the standard we’re used to and the errors were costly.
“I just feel the players could have shown more. We could have done better against Morocco in terms of having a go.
“But a lot of people think we should have had two penalties and a red card in that game, which is nothing to do with the manager and players.
South Korean Lee Hyung-il (65), who lost his leg after stepping on a landmine while farming at age 24, looks on landmine signs on display during an interview in the border village of Haemaru-chon near the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) in Paju, South Korea, 17 June 2026. Former South Korean soldier Kim Ki-ho has spent more than two decades working alone to remove millions of landmines left along the border since the Korean War (1950–53). Kim said he will continue the high-risk work for the rest of his life to help promote regional peace. Photo by JEON HEON-KYUN / EPA
June 26 (Asia Today) — South Korean defense experts, mine-clearance researchers and technology companies called for broader government, military and civilian cooperation to remove land mines and unexploded ordnance near the Demilitarized Zone, saying the weapons continue to threaten residents more than seven decades after the Korean War.
The Defense and Security Forum held its fourth roundtable Thursday at the Korea Mine Clearance Research Institute’s DMZ Peace Center in Haemaru Village in Paju, a restricted border area north of the Civilian Control Line.
The event, titled “Korean War DMZ Field Forum: Peace Grows When the Land Heals,” coincided with the 76th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War and South Korea’s month of remembrance for veterans.
Security specialists, field researchers, border residents and representatives of defense and information technology companies discussed mine removal, restoration of contaminated land and cooperation among government agencies, the military and private organizations.
The forum said areas contaminated by land mines, unexploded ordnance and other explosives in and near the DMZ and Civilian Control Zone are estimated to cover about 128 square kilometers, or 49 square miles.
It also cited estimates that about 2 million land mines remain buried across the Korean Peninsula’s heavily fortified border region.
The mines are not merely remnants of a past conflict, participants said. They continue to endanger people living in border communities and impede plans to preserve the DMZ as an internationally recognized area of peace and environmental conservation.
Residents in front-line communities face risks while farming, traveling and using land near suspected minefields.
Participants said previous mine-clearance accidents have also made local governments reluctant to pursue development, public infrastructure and community revitalization projects in some border regions, including areas around Cheorwon in Gangwon Province.
The discussion came after South Korea’s mine-action law took effect in February 2025.
The law establishes procedures for safely detecting and removing mines, unexploded ordnance, abandoned munitions and booby traps that are no longer considered militarily necessary.
It also allows qualified private corporations and organizations to conduct detection and removal work under government approval and safety requirements. The military previously handled most such operations.
Participants said cooperation with civilian specialists has become increasingly important as South Korea’s military faces declining troop numbers and difficulties retaining experienced mine-clearance personnel.
Baek Gun-ki, chairman of the Defense and Security Forum, said the country must remember the lessons of war while working toward a safer future.
“We must reflect on the tragic lessons of war and open the way toward a secure future for South Korea,” Baek said.
Seo Nam-yeol, president of the forum, moderated the discussion.
Kim Ki-ho, director of the Korea Mine Clearance Research Institute, presented an assessment of unconfirmed minefields and proposed directions for future clearance operations.
Forum director Kang Tae-jun outlined the South Korean Defense Ministry’s mine-action road map and discussed steps needed to expand cooperation between military and civilian organizations.
Representatives of South Korean defense and technology companies developing artificial intelligence-based detection systems and other advanced mine-clearance equipment also attended.
They discussed the technical limitations of equipment now used by the military and civilian organizations and agreed to pursue cooperation on developing and testing more advanced systems under field conditions.
Participants said mine action is evolving from a labor-intensive military task into a broader security and humanitarian undertaking that combines advanced technology, government policy and specialized civilian expertise.
Following the roundtable, participants visited a nearby area classified as an unconfirmed minefield.
The forum said the visit demonstrated that land mines are not solely a military issue but also affect public safety, land use, economic development and the daily lives of people in border communities.
“Land mines are like bullets lodged in the waist of the Korean Peninsula,” the forum said. “Only after those bullets are removed can vitality return to the peninsula and the lives of border residents fully recover.”
The group called on the central government, military, local governments and private mine-clearance organizations to develop a coordinated national response.
The forum said it plans to launch a nationwide campaign supporting mine clearance across the Korean Peninsula.
It also plans to strengthen South Korea’s mine-action capabilities and expand cooperation with international organizations and overseas specialists, including the United Nations Mine Action Service.
Organizers said South Korea could use its growing defense technology expertise to contribute to international humanitarian mine-clearance operations as well as domestic efforts.
A preliminary discussion featuring Kim and Seo was released online before the event. Video of the roundtable and field visit is expected to be published through the YouTube channel Cheongunmanma.
Damage is seen on the facade of Citic Tower Zun in Beijing, China, Saturday. Witnesses say a small plane crashed into Beijing’s tallest tower on Friday. Photo by Jessica Lee/EPA
June 27 (UPI) — The local authorities acknowledged the plane crash that hit Beijing’s tallest building Friday, saying the pilot died and 13 people were injured.
A short statement on WeChat from the local Chaoyang District government said only the pilot was on the plane and was killed in the crash. The statement said 13 people in the building and on the ground were injured. They didn’t identify the pilot or a motive.
The statement said, a “single-engine double-seat light sports aircraft collided with a high-rise building in flight.” It said the incident is being investigated. It didn’t name the building and only called it a skyscraper near the East Third Ring Road.
All references to the crash, video and images were scrubbed from social media in China. The state media, whose headquarters is across the street from the 109-story Citic Tower, hasn’t reported anything about the crash.
It’s not known if the crash was intentional.
Beijing airspace is tightly controlled, and even drones are mostly banned within the city. It’s not clear how the pilot got around the tight controls.
FL360Aero.com, an aviation news site, posted images and video on X from the scene, showing a plane’s tail lying on the sidewalk. The post estimated that it hit around the 65th floor of the building.
Flightradar24 posted on X flight data that appeared to show a deviated flight path for the plane after it took off from Shifosi airport in Beijing’s eastern Pinggu district.
White House Border Czar Tom Homan speaks during the Faith and Freedom Coalition 2026 Road to Majority Policy Conference at the Washington Hilton on Friday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
By The Associated Press and Al Jazeera staff and The Associated Press
Published On 27 Jun 202627 Jun 2026
Tiny Cape Verde have become the history makers of World Cup 2026 by defying all odds to become the smallest country to earn a spot in the knockout stages of the competition.
Their improbable run through the group stage, with a third straight World Cup draw, was completed with a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia on Friday night to advance in the tournament.
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Keeping goal for Cape Verde throughout has been Vozinha, 40, who has embodied the grit of his nation.
“We are small, but we have big hearts and we are fighters,” said the goalkeeper, who last season played for Chaves in Portugal’s second tier.
The island nation off the western coast of Africa, which is making its debut on football’s grandest stage, already held 2010 champion Spain to a 0-0 draw – a shock in itself to begin their campaign.
They then came from behind to get a 2-2 result against Uruguay – the winners of the inaugural World Cup in 1930.
“The team was very eager to show this to the whole world,” Cape Verde coach Bubista said while draped in his country’s flag after the Saudi Arabia game.
“We are proud of having arrived at this stage. We have shown that we are a small country, but that we fight for the things that we want to achieve.”
Cape Verde’s three points put the team in second place behind Spain, which beat Uruguay on Friday night and won the group.
Cape Verde will play reigning World Cup champion Argentina in Miami on July 3.
Drawing all three group matches doesn’t guarantee advancement at major football tournaments, but several teams have done it in the past. Those include: Wales in 1958, Ireland and the Netherlands in 1990, and Chile in 1998. New Zealand, however, also got three draws at the 2010 World Cup and were eliminated.
On the eve of the match, Bubista mused, “Everyone is entitled to dream and nothing is impossible.”
The Blue Sharks proved him right, overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds as this country of just 530,000 reached the round of 32.
A woman, her face painted with a flag of the archipelago, held a sign that read: “Small Islands, Big Dreams,” a dream that these underdogs have made reality as they continue their charmed run on the world stage.
They did it with another strong game from Vozinha, whose tournament success has helped him amass more than 16 million Instagram followers.
He had a save in first-half stoppage time, grabbing a header from Mohamed Kanno to keep Saudi Arabia scoreless. Another save came in the 66th minute when he leaped to deflect a shot from Mohammed Abu al-Shamat.
A third came in the 92nd minute when he stopped a shot by Abdullah al-Hamdan.
Cape Verde players and staff celebrate after the Saudi Arabia match [Phil Noble/Reuters]
“There is a lot of quality in our national team,” Vozinha said. “Maybe for many of you, you think the Cape Verdean player is not good enough. But we came here to show that we have a lot of quality and we are here to compete and our players can play everywhere in the big competition, in the big leagues.”
A group of shirtless men in the crowd each painted one letter of his name on their chests as they cheered Cape Verde.
But Vozinha had a much bigger fan among the crowd of 68,278 as his mother Ana Candida Evora watched from a luxury suite, waving a tiny Cape Verde flag. It was her second match of the tournament after missing Vozinha’s epic seven-save performance against Spain because of visa issues.
Cape Verde had a chance to score in the 50th minute, but Kevin Pina’s shot from distance was just above the crossbar. Another chance came in the 74th minute when Laros Duarte’s shot from the middle of the box was stopped by goalkeeper Mohammed al-Owais.
A last chance to score came in the final seconds when Nuno da Costa sent a shot from the middle of the box wide left.
But it didn’t matter because a couple of minutes after the final whistle, Spain completed its victory over Uruguay and set off a joyous celebration among Cape Verde’s players and fans, many of whom cried as they rejoiced.
Having led his squad to new heights, Bubista was asked if he could have imagined such a run entering the tournament.
“I’ve always said that sooner or later Cape Verde would be on such a stage,” he said. “Of course, it’s hard to have such a forecast, but I always knew.”
Saudi Arabia were eliminated after finishing with two points in the group stage.
“We were very poor in terms of creating things, controlling the game and creating actions,” coach Georgios Donis said. “And one cannot win a game this way. It would be very difficult.”
Officials at the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) check Internet systems at the KISA situation room in Seoul, South Korea. Photo by YONHAP / EPA
June 26 (Asia Today) — More than 4 in 10 South Korean employees who participated in a government cybersecurity exercise opened simulated phishing emails, but companies that had conducted repeated training recorded significantly better results, officials said Friday.
The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Internet & Security Agency announced the findings at a review meeting at the Post Tower in central Seoul.
A total of 630 companies and 255,460 employees participated in the government’s cybersecurity crisis response exercise for the first half of 2026.
The government conducts the exercise twice a year to improve security awareness and strengthen companies’ ability to respond to cyberattacks.
The latest exercise was held from May 11 through May 22 and covered four areas: phishing emails, distributed denial-of-service attacks, penetration testing and vulnerability detection and response.
The phishing exercise targeted employees at 569 companies.
Participants received simulated malicious emails designed to resemble messages from familiar institutions or routine workplace correspondence.
The government monitored whether participants opened the emails and clicked attached files that would have triggered malware infections in a real attack.
The results showed that 41.6% of participants opened the simulated phishing emails. About 12.7% clicked an attachment and reached the simulated malware infection stage.
Large companies, which had the highest rate of conducting their own cybersecurity exercises, recorded the lowest figures.
Employees at large companies had an email open rate of 35.4% and a simulated infection rate of 9.8%, highlighting the value of repeated training, officials said.
The distributed denial-of-service exercise tested web servers and development servers at 147 companies by sending simulated attack traffic.
Officials measured how quickly each company detected and responded to the traffic.
Companies that had previously participated in the exercise took an average of 20 minutes to detect and respond to the attack.
First-time participants took an average of 64 minutes, more than three times as long.
The vulnerability assessment covered 241 companies.
Investigators found 28 types of security vulnerabilities at 32 companies. Twelve of those companies had six types of vulnerabilities that required immediate corrective action.
The ministry and the agency provided the affected companies with their assessment results and instructions for addressing the weaknesses.
Lim Jeong-gyu, director general for information security network policy at the ministry, said the emergence of advanced artificial intelligence was making cyber threats facing companies increasingly serious.
“Building technical defense systems is important, but having all employees directly experience and respond to a simulated crisis can prove invaluable at a critical moment,” Lim said.
He encouraged companies to participate regularly in cybersecurity exercises rather than treating them as one-time events.
The 2026 World Cup will have 13 different kickoff times. You can use the Al Jazeera Sport widget to find out exactly when your team is playing in your local time.
Who: Colombia vs Portugal What: FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K match Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami When: Saturday, 7:30pm local time (23:30 GMT) How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 20:30 GMT ahead of our live text commentary stream.
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One of the biggest group games of the 2026 World Cup takes place in Miami on Saturday when Colombia face Portugal in a battle of Group K’s top two.
Colombia, powered by Luis Diaz and Daniel Munoz, have already booked their ticket to the round of 32 as the current table-toppers, while Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal, who are second, are also assured of a knockout berth.
Those standings could change after Saturday’s fixture at Hard Rock Stadium, where a capacity crowd is expected after tickets reportedly sold for thousands of dollars.
Al Jazeera tells you everything you need to know about Colombia vs Portugal:
Portugal expect ‘away’ atmosphere in Miami
Spearheaded by the larger-than-life presence of superstar Ronaldo, Portugal are a huge and popular draw globally – but for this match, Colombia will hold the spectator edge at Hard Rock Stadium.
With hundreds of thousands of Colombian Americans living in the Miami metropolitan area, the Colombian team has a partisan crowd behind them. In the lead-up, Portugal coach Roberto Martinez remarked that his side would be playing “away from home” while acknowledging the enormous hype around the final matchday for both teams.
Colombia vs Portugal is the most in-demand fixture of all 72 group-stage games, according to The Athletic, with five million ticket requests made in the first 24 hours of the Random Selection Draw in December.
“It means I had to buy tickets for my family in November,” Martinez quipped when asked about the fan dedication. “That’s what it means, because I knew it was going to be difficult to get tickets.”
“I think it’s fascinating. The passion of the game in a difficult moment in the world. Football still brings unity, it brings passion, it brings inspiration for the kids … So I hope football wins and inspiration of anyone that watches the game.”
While Colombia have reached the knockout stages with six points from two games, Portugal sit second on four points and are all but through. Finishing second could give them a tougher path in the knockout stage, with England or Croatia potential opponents.
Portugal train ahead of their game against Colombia, where they’ll be aiming to earn the top spot [Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images via AFP]
Colombia coach warns team against Ronaldo, Vitinha
Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo said his team will need “special tactical discipline” against Portugal, whom he considers one of the favourites to win the tournament. The Colombians need to avoid defeat to advance as group winners, but Lorenzo was taking nothing for granted against the No 5 side in the FIFA world rankings.
“We’ll try to maintain our style and our footballing identity,” he said.
“But without a doubt, we have to pay attention to the other characteristics and strengths [that Portugal] has. It’s a very well-coached team. They have a coach and players who are at the elite level of world football … and that shows in their game.”
Lorenzo also said Colombia will be wary of the threat posed by Ronaldo, who scored twice in the last match, and Vitinha, the defensive midfielder known for his ball control, work rate and playmaking abilities.
“Both Vitinha and Ronaldo are decisive players. One in the organisation of the game and the quality of his playmaking, and the other in finishing,” he added. “So we absolutely cannot leave them alone or neglect them. Hopefully, the team collective will be well-oiled.”
Colombia are set to feature in the World Cup knockouts for the first time since 2018, having failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Wing-back Daniel Munoz has been a standout player in the Colombia squad, with two goals in two games [Ulises Ruiz/AFP]
Colombia vs Portugal prediction
Opta’s supercomputer has calculated a 48.9 percent probability of Portugal winning this fixture, while Colombia is assessed a 26 percent chance of victory. There is a 25.1 percent probability of the game ending in a draw.
Overall, Colombia are favourites to finish on top of Group G, with a 53.32 percent probability, according to Opta.
Colombia vs Portugal: Kickoff time, TV channel
Colombia: DSPORTS, RCN TELEVISION SA, CARACOL, DGO (6:30pm Colombia Standard Time)
Portugal: RTP 1, RTP Play, LiveModeTV, SPORT.TV5 (00:30am on Sunday, Western European Summer Time)
United Kingdom: BBC iPlayer, BBC One, Red Button 1 (00:30 am on Sunday, British Summer Time)
To check the TV listings for your country, head to FIFA’s TV listing schedule here.
What’s the scenario in Group K?
Colombia (six points) and Portugal (four points) are assured of a round of 32 berth each as the top two teams. The Democratic Republic of the Congo are third with one point, and Uzbekistan bottom with zero.
The top two teams from each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will proceed to the round of 32.
DR Congo have to beat Uzbekistan to stand a chance of advancing via the third-place team route.
Can Portugal finish on top of Group K?
Yes, Portugal can topple Colombia from first place in Group K if they beat the South Americans. Currently, they have a two-point difference.
If Portugal draw with Colombia or lose to them, Ronaldo’s side will remain second.
What’s the benefit of winning a group?
Group winners start their knockout campaign against a third-placed team from another group.
In this case, the Group G winner will face a third-placed team from Group D, E, I, J or L in the round of 32 in Kansas City on July 3.
Form guide
(Last five games, latest first)
Colombia: W-W-W-W-L
Portugal: W-D-W-W-W
Both teams have a solid record over the last five matches, with Portugal edging Colombia with an unbeaten streak over that period.
Portugal thrashed Uzbekistan 5-0 and were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in the first game of the World Cup. They defeated Nigeria and Chile in pre-World Cup friendlies and beat the USA in a March friendly.
Colombia defeated DR Congo 1-0 and Uzbekistan 3-1 at the tournament. Before that, they beat Jordan and Costa Rica in June friendlies but lost to France in a March exhibition fixture.
Portugal have scored six goals across two matches at the tournament, including a double from Cristiano Ronaldo [Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP]
Colombia vs Portugal: Team news
No injuries have been reported by either Colombia or Portugal.
1 of 2 | Former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan in Tokyo on June 26, 2026. Photo by Asia Today
June 26 (Asia Today) — Former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Friday that North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile programs have made the pursuit of nuclear disarmament increasingly difficult, but Japan must not abandon its goal of a world without nuclear weapons.
Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan in Tokyo, Kishida said East Asia is facing its most severe security environment since the end of World War II.
“Japan must strengthen its defense capabilities and further reinforce the Japan-U.S. alliance,” Kishida said. “At the same time, we must not give up the ideal of pursuing a world without nuclear weapons.”
Kishida, a lawmaker whose constituency is in Hiroshima, made nuclear disarmament a major diplomatic priority during his tenure as prime minister.
He cited Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, instability in the Middle East and North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs as evidence that the international security situation surrounding nuclear weapons is “undeniably severe.”
Kishida said stronger national security and nuclear disarmament should not be viewed as mutually exclusive goals.
“Reality and ideals are not incompatible,” he said. “The issue is not choosing one or the other, but determining how to bring reality closer to the ideal.”
Kishida recalled becoming the first Japanese prime minister to attend a review conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 2022.
At the conference, he presented the Hiroshima Action Plan, a series of practical steps intended to advance nuclear disarmament while acknowledging the international security environment.
The plan calls for maintaining the record of non-use of nuclear weapons, increasing transparency surrounding nuclear forces, continuing reductions in global nuclear stockpiles, strengthening nuclear nonproliferation and promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
“We must narrow the gap between reality and the ideal one step at a time,” Kishida said.
Ukraine warning for East Asia
Kishida linked the war in Ukraine to security concerns in East Asia.
He recalled his unannounced visit to Kyiv in March 2023, when he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and expressed Japan’s solidarity with Ukraine.
Kishida said he delivered the message that “Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow.”
Russia’s invasion demonstrated that security in Europe and the Atlantic cannot be separated from security in the Indo-Pacific, he said.
East Asia faces overlapping concerns including North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, China’s growing military power and tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
Kishida said Japan’s vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific seeks to improve regional connectivity, promote prosperity, reject coercion and intimidation and uphold freedom and the rule of law.
Kishida stresses U.S. alliance and international rules
Addressing U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump, Kishida said “America First” should be regarded as a structural trend rather than a temporary development.
He said countries such as Japan, which have limited natural resources and relatively constrained domestic markets, depend on international law, multilateralism, free trade and the rule of law.
Kishida emphasized the importance of maintaining the Japan-U.S. alliance while preserving an international system governed by widely accepted rules.
Dialogue with China remains necessary
Kishida also called for continued dialogue with China despite security concerns and political tensions between Tokyo and Beijing.
China is Japan’s largest trading partner, while Japan remains one of China’s major economic partners, he said.
“That is precisely why dialogue is important,” Kishida said.
He recalled meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping twice during international gatherings while serving as prime minister. Kishida also held talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang during meetings connected to Southeast Asian nations and a trilateral summit involving Japan, China and South Korea.
“It is regrettable that fewer people are now willing to engage in dialogue between Japan and China,” Kishida said.
He called for communication not only between governments but also through business, people-to-people exchanges, sports and culture.
Stable relations between Japan and China would serve both countries’ national interests and contribute to regional peace and stability, he said.
Seattle, United States – There were goals. There were jubilations and heartbreak. There were raucous crowds, confrontations and comradery. There were protests, politics and Palestinian flags. There was a missed penalty. There was joy. There was disappointment.
Egypt’s 1-1 draw with Iran in Seattle at the FIFA World Cup on Friday had it all. Iran is still in contention to qualify as one of the eight best third-place finishers, depending on Saturday’s results.
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Wild celebrations among the Egyptian fans erupted outside the stadium after the match, as the country proceeded past the World Cup group stages for the first time.
“The feeling is outstanding,” Daniel Salib, who was draped with an Egyptian flag, told Al Jazeera.
“After this game, and the game we played against New Zealand, and how we played against Belgium, we absolutely deserve it. So, I couldn’t be more proud of this country and this team.”
Egypt survived a late Iranian onslaught that saw Team Melli, as the Iran team is known, hit the woodwork and have a goal chalked off by VAR for offside.
Iran also had a penalty saved in the first half, but the entire match was action-packed, going blow-for-blow.
Iran supporter Saeed Nassef said he was disappointed with Friday’s result but hopeful that Iran would still make it through to the round of 32, all depending on the results of Sunday night’s games.
“The Iranian team did a beautiful job. They faced a lot of hardship, but we’re really happy how they played,” Nassef told Al Jazeera.
Protests
Protesters against the Iranian government had gathered outside the stadium, waving US and Israeli flags and holding up photos of Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi.
Nassef, who carried the official Iranian flag, which features the name of God, was one of several fans who told Al Jazeera they faced harassment from opposition activists.
“We’re here to support the team. We’re here to support sports… It’s not cool for people to come here and say bad things because we are here to support the players. We want some happiness,” he said.
After the match, Al Jazeera witnessed a confrontation between antigovernment activists and a supporter carrying an Iranian flag.
The protesters hurled insults at the fan, calling him a “terrorist” and saying he should leave the country. They also engaged in expletive-laden Islamophobic chants.
The fan, who identified himself by his first name only as Milad, approached a man leading the chants on a megaphone and criticising Team Melli fans. He stood inches away from the protester before police officers intervened to pull them apart.
“My issue is not political. My issue is: Players, they play for the country, they play for the people. I support the people. That’s it,” Milad said.
“Good or bad, it doesn’t matter. Our people went and they tried to create joy for other people, and that’s all that matters,” he added.
But the commotion did little to overshadow the nearby festivities where Egyptians had gathered, singing and dancing at their country’s historic moment.
Protesters against the Iranian government outside the Seattle Stadium, June 26 [Ali Harb/Al Jazeera]
Electric atmosphere
Inside the stadium, the atmosphere was electric throughout the match – not an empty seat, not a quiet moment.
When the first half concluded, several sets of Iranian and Egyptian fans started taking pictures together.
The players also showed support for each other. After the final whistle, several Egyptian players consoled their Iranian counterparts, who were visibly upset with the result.
Throughout the 90 minutes, spectators appeared to be alternating in their chants between “Iran, Iran” and “Misr, Misr”, Arabic for Egypt, rather than chanting over each other.
There were a few pre-Islamic revolution Iranian flags in the crowd – featuring a regal lion and sun – but they were far outnumbered by the country’s official flag.
Some people waved LGBTQ+ pride flags and rainbow paraphernalia, due to the game being designated the World Cup’s “Pride Match”. But there did not appear to be any problems in the stadium, despite the hype around the issue.
The Egypt supporters boasted their ancient heritage with pharaohs’ headdresses and outfits.
“We’re so proud to be Egyptian and so proud of our national team,” said Karim Elshabini, who was sporting a gold and black pharaoh’s headpiece and a red Egypt football top.
“It feels amazing. Everybody’s vibing really well. People are really cool. The Egyptian fans, the Iranian fans, we’re all having a really good time.”
There were numerous Palestinian flags at the match, including a couple that were prominently displayed behind the goals.
Egypt fan Bilal Ali, who brought a Palestinian flag to the stadium, told Al Jazeera he would like to keep politics out of football, but with Israeli atrocities continuing in Gaza and elsewhere, he could not remain silent.
“I feel guilty sometimes when I get to [see] the game and our people in Palestine just get bombed and killed,” Ali added.
Several Egyptian and Iranian fans shouted “Free Palestine” as they walked past Ali with his flag.
Iranian fan Hameed with his children outside the Seattle Stadium, June 26 [Ali Harb/Al Jazeera]
‘Minab 168’
There was more than football at the game.
Hameed, an Iranian fan who wished to be identified by his first name only, wore a shirt that said Minab 168.
The message is meant to honour the victims of the school in southern Iran that was bombed on the first day of the US-Israel war on the country.
“I just want to remind the world that the plight of these kids who were bombed, either intentionally or not intentionally, should not be forgotten,” Hameed told Al Jazeera.
“This is why we should not have wars.”
He added that there must be a credible investigation into the incident.
“Politics aside, humanity needs to survive, and the only way to do it, whether the kids are being blown up in Palestine, in Lebanon, in Iran, in Sudan, in Congo, we’ve got to protect them,” Hameed said.
Political statements, flags and protests aside, at the final whistle, the moment belonged to Egypt with a historic sporting achievement.
“Seeing your country after all these years of cheering them, all the highs and lows, finally putting in all the high, good effort and getting good results is a surreal feeling,” said Rafael Youssef, who had the colours of the Egyptian flag painted on his cheek.
“I’m very happy for them, very happy to be here with them.”
During their first two games, Panama have taken a dynamic approach depending on the phase of play the game is in.
From opposition goal-kicks, Panama have stepped up to press aggressively in a 4-4-2 shape.
If the opponents have quality on the ball and find themselves in possession higher up the pitch, Panama’s high press falls into a mid-block, and they move from a 4-4-2 into a 5-3-2. Their focus is on making it hard for teams to play through them.
As Croatia, in particular, grew into the game, Panama took an even more defensive approach.
Their 5-3-2 became a 5-4-1, a shape they adopted with a deeper defensive line for large parts of the game.
