Spain Held Amid Controversy, England Stunned by Japan
Reigning European champions Spain were held to a scoreless draw by Egypt in a World Cup warm-up match on Tuesday, but the action on the pitch was overshadowed by a series of xenophobic incidents from the home crowd on the outskirts of Barcelona.
Playing in the region for the first time in four years, the Spanish national team failed to break down a resilient Egyptian side, even after the visitors were reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Hamdi Fathy. However, the night was marred by the behavior of the sell-out crowd. Local fans sparked outrage by booing the Egyptian national anthem and repeatedly chanting xenophobic slogans, including “whoever doesn’t jump is a Muslim.”
Wembley Shock: Mitoma Stuns England
In London, England suffered a surprising setback on their road to the 2026 World Cup, falling 1-0 to Japan at Wembley Stadium. Brighton forward Kaoru Mitoma scored the decisive goal, securing Japan’s first-ever victory over the “Three Lions” in four attempts. The defeat snapped England’s unbeaten streak that had stretched back to June 2025.
England finds themselves in Group L for the upcoming tournament alongside Japan, Panama, and Ghana. The Ghanaian national team enters the final preparation phase in turmoil, having fired head coach Otto Addo just hours before the latest round of friendlies.
Italy Out Again in World Cup Shake-up
The road to 2026 has already claimed a giant of the game. Italy, the four-time world champions, will miss their third consecutive World Cup after being eliminated on penalties by Bosnia-Herzegovina in the European play-offs. Bosnia joins co-hosts Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland in Group B.
Elsewhere, the Netherlands managed a 1-1 draw against Ecuador despite playing with ten men for nearly 80 minutes. In Group C, recently crowned African champions Morocco continued their strong form with a 2-1 win over Paraguay in Lens, France.
Political Tensions and Debutants
In a match played behind closed doors in Antalya, Turkey, Iran thrashed Costa Rica 5-0. FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended the silent fixture, which took place amidst heightened geopolitical tensions between Iran, the United States, and Israel. Iran is slated for Group G alongside Egypt, Belgium, and New Zealand.
The 2026 World Cup, hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, will be the largest in history. Featuring 48 teams for the first time, the tournament kicks off on June 11 and concludes with the final on July 19. While giants like Brazil and Argentina prepare for the expanded format, several newcomers, including Cape Verde and Jordan, are set to make their historic debuts on the world stage.
Image: Pexels – Eslam Mohammed Abdelmaksoud
