Sports
Everything to Play For as the World Cup Group Stage Nears Its End
The World Cup group stage is approaching its conclusion, with qualification places, group winners and knockout-stage positions still on the line. While teams such as Brazil, Mexico, Morocco and Switzerland have already secured their places in the Round of 32, many others enter the final round knowing their World Cup future will be decided over the next few days. With every match live on SuperSport via DStv and GOtv,the tournament is entering its most decisive phase.
Africa’s Qualification Push Continues
Africa’s campaign has produced both success stories and disappointments. Morocco, South Africa and Ivory Coast have already secured qualification, while Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde and Algeria remain firmly in contention heading into the final round.
Cape Verde continue their remarkable campaign against Saudi Arabia on Saturday, 27 June at 1:00 am, while Egypt meet Iran later that morning at 4:00 am.
Ghana’s meeting with Croatia on Saturday, 27 June at 10:00 pm could prove decisive in Group L, while Algeria face Austria on Sunday, 28 June at 3:00 am in what is effectively a winner-takes-all battle for a place in the knockout rounds.
Not every African nation will make it through. Senegal, Tunisia and DR Congo have already been eliminated, but the continent still has an opportunity to increase its representation in the Round of 32.
Messi Leads the Golden Boot Race
Two rounds into the tournament, Lionel Messi remains the story of the World Cup. The Argentine captain has scored five goals in two matches, helping Argentina secure qualification with a game to spare and establishing himself as the early favourite for the Golden Boot.
The chasing pack, however, continues to grow. Vinícius Júnior has four goals for Brazil, while Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland have also reached four goals. Cristiano Ronaldo has entered the race after scoring a brace in Portugal’s 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan, while the final group games offer another opportunity for the tournament’s biggest stars to build momentum before the knockout rounds begin.
France and Norway Meet for Group Supremacy
While several teams are fighting for survival, France and Norway have already secured qualification. Their meeting on Friday, 26 June at 8:00 pm will determine top spot in Group I.
The fixture also brings together two of the tournament’s most dangerous attacking teams. Mbappé and Haaland both have four goals, while France and Norway have won their opening two matches. It is arguably the biggest remaining fixture of the group stage and could provide an early indication of which side is capable of making a deep run in the knockout rounds.
Portugal and Argentina Chase Momentum
Germany have already confirmed top spot in Group E despite a narrow 2-1 defeat to Ecuador, while Portugal and Colombia meet on Sunday, 28 June at 12:30 am to decide the Group K winners. Argentina conclude their group campaign against Jordan later that morning at 3:00 am, with Lionel Messi looking to extend his lead in the Golden Boot race.
Brazil have already finished top of Group C, while Spain can secure first place in Group H when they face Uruguay on Saturday, 27 June at 1:00 am.
Additional Fixtures to Watch
With Groups D, E and F now decided, attention shifts to the remaining qualification battles. Belgium face New Zealand on Saturday, 27 June at 4:00 am in a crucial Group G encounter, while Uruguay meet Spain and Cape Verde take on Saudi Arabia at 1:00 am.
Saturday evening concludes with Ghana vs Croatia and England vs Panama, both kicking off at 10:00 pm, before Sunday’s final group fixtures feature Colombia vs Portugal and DR Congo vs Uzbekistan at 12:30 am, followed by Algeria vs Austria and Jordan vs Argentina at 3:00 am.
SuperSport Remains the Home of the World Cup
As the knockout picture takes shape, fans can follow every remaining group-stage fixture live on SuperSport via DStv and GOtv. With simultaneous kick-offs now determining qualification outcomes, coverage will be available across SS World Cup Central (DStv Ch. 202, GOtv Ch. 61) and SS World Cup Extra (DStv Ch. 203, GOtv Ch. 65).
Viewers can still start each day with The Morning Cup featuring Basketmouth and Phat Joe, before catching every goal, result and qualification twist live across SuperSport’s FIFA World Cup coverage. For fans on the move, DStv Stream and GOtv Stream ensure every moment remains within reach.
European football returns with a bang as the new season kicks off. The dust has barely settled on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but European football wastes no time getting back to business. Over the next two weeks, the continent’s prominent competitions will launch in quick succession, giving fans a dense run of fixtures across the UEFA Super Cup, the FA Community Shield, La Liga, the Premier League and Serie A.
Paris Saint-Germain, fresh off back-to-back Champions League triumphs, faces Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday 12 August at 8pm which will be airing on Supersport across DStv & GOtv, with the French side chasing a second successive Super Cup crown against an Aston Villa team that has become an increasingly serious force in European competition.
England’s traditional curtain-raiser follows four days later. The FA Community Shield, staged in Cardiff on Sunday 16 August at 3pm, pits Premier League champions Arsenal against FA Cup holders Manchester City, the latter beginning life under new manager Enzo Maresca, while Arsenal look to reinforce their status as the team to beat.
Spain gets moving over the same weekend, with La Liga’s opening round running from Saturday 15 to Monday 17 August. Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have all been given extended rest following Spain’s World Cup win, leaving the door open for the chasing pack to set an early pace before Matchday 2 arrives from 20 to 24 August.
The Premier League then starts the following weekend, running from Friday 21 to Monday 24 August. Champions Arsenal open their title defence at home to promoted Coventry, before a full round of fixtures featuring Manchester United, Tottenham, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea, among others, round out the opening weekend. Serie A joins the calendar on the same weekend, from 22 to 24 August, with holders Inter Milan starting their title defence against Monza and Napoli, Juventus, Milan and Roma all in early action.
With five major competitions launching inside a fortnight, the new European season promises an unrelenting start. All the action will be available live on SuperSport, across DStv and GOtv.
A blockbuster week of sporting action awaits DStv and GOtv subscribers, with the decisive stages of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), UEFA Super Cup, FA Community Shield and Trophée des Champions among the major attractions.
Football takes centre stage as WAFCON reaches its business end in Morocco, with the semi-finals scheduled for Wednesday.
Defending champions Nigeria will not be involved after the Super Falcons were eliminated by Cameroon in the quarter-finals, losing 1-0. Their exit means a new champion will be crowned when the tournament concludes on Sunday.
The first semi-final will see Algeria face Malawi on Wednesday before hosts Morocco take on Cameroon at 21:00 WAT, later in the day. Both matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport. The third-place play-off is scheduled for Saturday, with the final taking place in Rabat on Sunday at 20:00 WAT.
European silverware will also be at stake on Wednesday when Paris Saint-Germain face Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup at Stadion Salzburg in Austria. The fixture pits Champions League winners PSG against Europa League winners Aston Villa and will be shown live on SuperSport 20:00 WAT.
The action continues on Sunday with the FA Community Shield, as Arsenal take on Manchester 15:00 WAT. The traditional curtain-raiser for the English season will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
French football will also have early-season silverware at stake when Lens host PSG in the Trophee des Champions on Sunday at Stade Bollaert-Delelis. The match kicks off at 20:00 WAT and will be live on SuperSport.
The new La Liga season gets underway on Saturday, with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and the other leading Spanish clubs beginning their campaigns.
Beyond football, cricket fans will have plenty to enjoy as The Hundred reaches its climax on Sunday, with the women’s final followed by the men’s final. Both matches will be available on SuperSport Cricket.
Combat sports will also take the spotlight with UFC 330 from Philadelphia on Saturday, adding another major attraction to SuperSport’s weekend line-up.
By Adedapo Adesanya
European, North and Central American, and Asian football governing bodies have begun preliminary discussions on organising rival international tournaments to those run by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).
According to Bloomberg, the talks involve the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
The proposed rival competitions represent the latest challenge to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, following his failed plan to spin off the organisation’s commercial operations in a deal involving JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Such tournaments could threaten FIFA’s lucrative international competition circuit, including the World Cup, which generated more than $9 billion during the 2026 edition, a record for the tournament.
UEFA, whose members are home to some of the richest domestic leagues in the world, has led efforts to pressure Mr Infantino to leave office. Despite shelving the plan to further commercialise FIFA’s operations, the European body is still considering a boycott of the World Cup and other FIFA competitions if Infantino remains president.
The first major tournament that could be affected by any boycott is the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, although several youth competitions are scheduled to take place in the coming months.
According to one of the people familiar with the discussions, the proposed alternative competitions could provide players with opportunities to participate in international tournaments if a disruption to FIFA competitions occurs.
The three confederations also demanded an independent review of Infantino’s World Cup proposal in an open letter issued on Monday.
They argued that, as president of Switzerland-based FIFA, Mr Infantino has a responsibility to act in the best interests of the organisation.
“When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned,” UEFA, Concacaf and the AFC said in the letter.
The three confederations called for a fully independent review into the stake sale proposal.
“Football’s strength has always been its unity,” the statement concluded. “We call for that unity to be honoured now, for leadership that serves football, not seeks to command it.”
FIFA comprises more than 200 national associations organised under six regional confederations. Besides UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC, the other confederations are the Confederation of African Football (CAF), South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).
The next FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March, with Mr Infantino planning to seek a third four-year term, which would be the final term permitted under the organisation’s rules.
