sportsSunday, June 21, 2026

Japan thumps Tunisia; Curaçao makes history

Day 11 of the World Cup delivered a historic first point for tiny Curaçao and a dominant 4-0 win for Japan, putting them on the brink of the knockout stage. Meanwhile, off-field stories dominated: FIFA's Infantino faced criticism over private jet use, a pundit apologized for telling a player not to leave for his child's birth, and China's absent team found a hero in a referee.

Sources

On the pitch

Two group-stage matches reshaped the standings, with one minnow making history and a powerhouse finding its stride.

#01www.nikkei.comJun 21

サッカー日本代表快勝、チュニジアに4-0 W杯1次リーグ突破へ前進

Japan crushed Tunisia 4-0, notching their biggest-ever World Cup win (four goals) and moving to four points. A draw or win against Sweden next sends them through.

4 min readRead original

#02www.rtl.nlJun 21

Curaçao pakt verrassend eerste WK-punt ooit

Curaçao, the smallest nation ever at a World Cup, held Ecuador to a 0-0 draw for their first-ever point. They're still alive in Group E.

1 min readRead original

#03www.aljazeera.comJun 21

World Cup 2026 Day 11: Spain and Iran in action, predictions and schedule

Sunday's schedule includes Spain-Saudi Arabia, Belgium-Iran, Uruguay-Cape Verde, and New Zealand-Egypt. No team can clinch or be eliminated today.

Off-field drama

Away from the action, controversy over FIFA's travel habits and a pundit's tone-deaf remark stirred debate.

#04www.theguardian.comJun 21

World Cup 2026: Infantino criticised over private jet use; Curaçao secure historic point – live

FIFA president Gianni Infantino faced criticism for using private jets to travel between matches. The Guardian's live blog also covered Curaçao's historic point and Netherlands' 5-1 win over Sweden.

#05www.mirror.co.ukJun 21

Pundit apologises after telling World Cup star he shouldn't leave for birth of his child

A French pundit apologized after telling Belgium's Jeremy Doku he shouldn't leave the World Cup for his child's birth. The incident sparked debate on work-life balance in elite sports.

#06www.washingtonpost.comJun 21

Shut out of the World Cup again, China roots for a referee

China didn't qualify, but referee Ma Ning has become a star back home, known as 'Card Master' for his strict style and now a World Cup official.

#07www.chicagotribune.comJun 21

Scotland fans have descended on Boston for the World Cup, and bars are struggling to keep up

Scotland fans flooded Boston for the World Cup, straining bar supplies so much the governor extended hours. The 'Tartan Army' is living up to its reputation.

Also today12

Bizarre ending gives Rockies’ 2-1 win over Pirates and ace Paul Skeneswww.denverpost.com
The Colorado Rockies defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 at Coors Field in front of 40,380 fans, clinching a series win. The game featured a bizarre ending involving a disputed call at third base, an inside-the-park home run, and a strong pitching duel between the Rockies and Pir
Chainlink World Cup Role Puts Oracle Settlement Back In The Spotlightwww.newsbtc.com
Chainlink has been selected as the exclusive oracle infrastructure provider for ADI Predictstreet, an official prediction market partner of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The partnership highlights Chainlink's role in settling prediction markets for major real-world events, demonstrati
Dodgers place reliever Blake Treinen on the injured list - Los Angeles Timeswww.latimes.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers placed right-handed reliever Blake Treinen on the 15-day injured list due to right elbow inflammation, announced before a game against the Baltimore Orioles. Treinen had just pitched a scoreless ninth inning and earned the win in Friday's walk-off victory.
Manchester City's Rodri contract saga highlights crypto sponsorship stakes in elite football - Europeanwww.eucup.com
Manchester City has offered a significant contract extension to Rodri, the reigning Ballon d'Or winner, aiming to keep him at the Etihad through 2029. However, negotiations are ongoing as Rodri's current deal expires in June 2027, and without an agreement, he could leave as a fre
Tarihte bugün: Dünya Kupası tarihindeki en büyük lekelerden biri...gazeteoksijen.com
1978 Dünya Kupası'nda Arjantin'in Peru'yu 6-0 yenerek finale yükseldiği maç, diktatör Jorge Videla'nın müdahaleleri ve turnuva programında yapılan tartışmalı değişikliklerle futbol tarihinin en lekeli olaylarından biri olarak hafızalara kazındı. FIFA'nın önceden belirlenmiş maç p
Bondscoach Iran: Reisbeperkingen WK worden versoepeldwww.rtl.nl
Iran's national football team, currently based in Mexico for the World Cup, has faced strict US travel restrictions requiring them to cross the border for matches. Coach Amir Ghalenoei stated that restrictions will be eased for their third group match against Egypt in Seattle, al