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≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡
Spain needed to make a statement after its 0-0 match with Cape Verde and it hammered Saudi Arabia. Belgium wanted to do the same against Iran, but had trouble all day, including a red card and had to settle for a 0-0 draw.
● Group G: Belgium 0, Iran 0 ● Both teams tied in their first matches and so both needed a win at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The Belgians had control of possession, but no goals in the first 20 minutes.
Iran appeared to score a shock goal off a free kick in the 24th, when the ball was kicked straight ahead to striker Mehdi Taremi, who turned and whipped the ball into the Belgian goal, but it was wiped away for encroachment on the free kick and offsides. At the hydration break, Belgium had 74% of possession and was 7-2 on shots.
The Belgians just could not break down the Iranian defense and the half ended 0-0, with the Red Devils at 81% possession and 11-2 on shots. But not close to a goal.
Belgium almost scored in the 59th, with Iranian keeper Alireza Beiranvand holding on to the ball after what looked like a sure goal on a point-blank shot from defender Maxim de Cuyper.
In the 67th, Belgian defender Nathan Ngoy lost the ball near midfield and it was pounced on by Taremi, who headed toward the Belgian goal alone. Ngoy tackled him aggressively and was called for a red card, bringing them down to 10 men for the remainder. The hydro break came a moment later, with Belgium at 78% possession and 17-5 on shots. But that was going to change.
Iran was on offense in the “fourth quarter,” but the Belgians did get a couple of strong looks. In fact, in stoppage time, Belgium had the ball in Iranian territory almost the entire time and it ended 0-0.
Neither team was eliminated with the tie; Belgium finished with 70% possession and a 23-7 shots edge. Iran, playing with 11, was outshot, 6-2 after the Ngoy red card.
● Group G: New Zealand vs. Egypt ● In Vancouver at 6 p.m. Pacific time. Update coming.
● Group H: Spain 4, Saudi Arabia 0 ● After its scoreless draw opener against Cape Verde, Spain needed to get well in Atlanta, and did, quickly.
The scoring drought finally ended in the 10th minute, as striker Mikel Oyarzabal sent a line-drive cross from the left side of the field to the far side of the Saudi goal that was met by teen sensation Lamine Yamal for a 1-0 lead.
In complete control of possession, Spain kept coming and off a corner in the 21st, midfielder Dani Olmo sent a cross from the right side to the far side of the Saudi goal, where after a failed Saudi clearance, the ball came down to midfielder Aymeric Laporte. He headed to Oyarzabal, who brought it down, then slammed it into the goal for a 2-0 lead.
The rout was on in the 24th, as defender Pedro Porro’s cross from right to left was received by midfielder Marc Cucurella, volleyed to Olmo, who headed it to the far (right) side of the goal to Oyarzabal, who volleyed it in with the left foot for a spectacular show of skill by the Spanish. 3-0.
When the hydration break was called in the 25th, the stat charts showed Spain with 72% possession and 12-0 on shots. Wow.
The rest of the half showed Spain less sharp and an occasional foray by the Saudis. Possession was at 72% and shots at 17-2.
More for Spain in the 49th, as a corner came to Cucurella at the far side of the Saudi goal and he crushed a shot that was saved by keeper Mohammed Al-Owais, but ricocheted off of defender Hassan Al-Tambakti into the net for an own goal for 4-0. At the hydro break, Spain had 71% of the ball and 21-2 on shots.
A Ferran Torres goal for Spain at 90+2 was called offsides and it ended 4-0 with 67% possession for Spain and 22-3 on shots. A complete rout.
● Group H: Uruguay 2, Cape Verde 2 ● Steamy conditions at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, with 89 F temps and 67% humidity at the start of the game, and it turned into a hot game at the end of the first half.
While Uruguay was on offense for most of the half, a foul created a free kick in the 21st, and midfielder Kevin Pina took advantage. Striking the ball from above the box, he hit a hard, one-bounce shot that flew into the goal for a shocking 1-0 lead for Cape Verde, its first goal in World Cup history.
The hydro break soon after showed Uruguay with 66% possession and 4-1 on shots, but down by a goal. It looked for a long time like that goal would stand up for the half, but Uruguay found the magic late.
A cross from midfielder Miguel Ugarte found midfielder Rodrigo Betancour for a header in the box that was deflected by defender Sidny Lopes Cabral and his the post, but the ball came back onto in front and midfielder Maxi Araujo was in the right place to head it in for the 1-1 tie in the 44th.
The half was coming to a close when Uruguay stunned everyone with another Ugarte cross to the left side of the field and into the 6-yard box, headed by Araujo toward the mouth of the goal and midfielder Agustin Cannobio was there to tap it in: 2-1 at 45+6! The half ended soon after, with Uruguay somehow in the lead, and with 65% possession and an 11-2 shots edge.
The second half had Uruguay in control, but a careless cross by defender Mathias Olivera off a throw-in was intercepted by Cape Verde substitute forward Helio Varela. He gained control with his left leg, dribbled in and then slammed home his first international goal with his right foot, for a 2-2 tie in the 61st.
The hydro break showed Uruguay with 68% possession, but a modest 12-6 shots edge, with just one shot in the “third period.” Uruguay was more aggressive with chance after chance starting in the 84th and past 90 minutes. Cape Verde got going late and pressured in the final three minutes of stoppage time, but it ended 2-2.
Uruguay had 68% possession and was 17-12 on shots, but it felt like another Cape Verde “win.”
≡ PANORAMA ≡
Coming up on Monday, still in the second round of the group stage:
● Group J: Argentina vs. Austria in Arlington, Texas (1 p.m. Eastern)
● Group I: France vs. Iraq in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (5 p.m. Eastern)
● Group I: Norway vs. Senegal in East Rutherford, New Jersey (8 p.m. Eastern)
● Group J: Jordan vs. Algeria in Santa Clara, California (11 p.m. Eastern)
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With the red card shown to Belgian defender Ngoy, the 2026 tournament is up to eight ejections so far. Only four were issued during the entire 2018 and 2022 tournaments. Nine were issued in 2014, 16 in 2010 and the all-time record of 28 in 2006.
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A Los Angeles City staff memorandum noted some details of Federal funding for the World Cup in the Southern California area, with matches being played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, but fan festival events in Los Angeles.
Set for approval on Tuesday (23rd), the details include:
● “The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded $57,934,146.00 to the Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee, LLC on March 18, 2026. Funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the FIFA World Cup Grant Program (FWCGP) requires no matching funds and has a performance period from July 4, 2025, through August 31, 2026.”
● “From this total, the Host Committee allocated a $3,370,994.09 subgrant to the City under the LAWCSSGP [World Cup Safety and Security Program]. This overall grant program funding covers planning, equipment, training, and personnel costs to secure SoFi Stadium, located in Inglewood, and its surroundings, while enhancing public safety and health capabilities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”
● “Given that the local World Cup games are held outside of the City, the City’s subgrant funding allocation primarily supports the security of the FIFA Fan Festival held within the City at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum from June 11 through 14, 2026.”
The Los Angeles subgrant money primarily goes to the Los Angeles Police Department ($2,311,238) with smaller amounts to the Fire Department ($749,517), the Department of Transportation ($288,126) and the Emergency Management Department ($22,114).
Although the funding agreement is to be approved in Tuesday, the Coliseum fan festival was over on the 14th. The Los Angeles funding was part of a Federal grant of $625 million to support the security aspects of the 2026 World Cup.
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