World Cup
Canada and Qatar Chase Historic First World Cup Victory in Vancouver
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, VANCOUVER.
Canada and Qatar will both be seeking a historic breakthrough when they meet in Vancouver on Thursday, with neither nation having previously won a match at the FIFA World Cup.
The Group B encounter brings together two teams buoyed by dramatic comebacks in their opening fixtures, which earned each country its first-ever point at football’s biggest tournament.
Tournament co-hosts Canada showed resilience in their opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium. Jesse Marsch’s side fell behind in the 21st minute but salvaged a 1-1 draw thanks to substitute Cyle Larin, who struck in the 78th minute just two minutes after coming off the bench.
Qatar also made history in their opener against Switzerland at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. Having lost all three matches during their World Cup debut as hosts in 2022, the Gulf nation appeared destined for another defeat before a dramatic twist deep into stoppage time. A 94th-minute own goal by Swiss defender Miro Muheim secured a 1-1 draw and Qatar’s first-ever World Cup point.
The match will renew acquaintances between the two nations, who previously met in a friendly in Vienna in September 2022. On that occasion, Canada emerged 2-0 winners, with goals from Cyle Larin and Jonathan David inside the opening 15 minutes.
While history favours the Canadians, both teams enter the contest with confidence following their encouraging starts to the tournament.
Canada are making their eighth World Cup appearance and will face Asian opposition for the first time in the competition. Their previous World Cup encounters have largely come against European nations, with Morocco the only African side they have faced.
Les Rouges will also draw confidence from an impressive recent run of form. They have suffered only one defeat in their last 18 matches, recording eight victories and nine draws during that period.
Much of Canada’s attacking threat will once again revolve around Jonathan David, the country’s all-time leading scorer, who is just one goal away from reaching the 40-goal milestone for the national team.
For Qatar, the match represents another opportunity to continue rewriting their World Cup history. The Maroons are facing Concacaf opposition for the first time at the tournament, having previously played against teams from South America, Africa and Europe.
Head coach Julen Lopetegui could also hand a landmark appearance to midfielder Tahsin Jamshid. At 20 years and two days old, he would become the youngest player ever to represent Qatar at the FIFA World Cup, eclipsing the record set by Ayoub Aloui earlier in the tournament.
With both nations having already secured their first World Cup points, attention now turns to an even greater prize. Victory in Vancouver would deliver a maiden World Cup win and provide a significant boost to their hopes of reaching the knockout phase of the expanded 48-team tournament.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Few strikers in international football history can match the scoring exploits of Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku.
The powerful forward has amassed an astonishing 93 goals for the Red Devils, establishing himself as his country’s all-time leading scorer and one of the most prolific marksmen the international game has ever seen.
What makes the feat even more remarkable is the breadth of opposition he has punished. Lukaku’s 93 international goals have come against 39 different countries spread across multiple continents and competitions.
European teams have borne the brunt of his firepower. No fewer than 29 European nations have conceded to the Belgian striker, while teams from Africa, Asia, North America and South America have also fallen victim to his finishing ability.
Yet amid that long list of victims, one notable football giant remains untouched: Spain.
Despite scoring against almost every type of opponent imaginable during his international career, Lukaku has never found the net against La Roja. It is a statistical anomaly for a player who has spent more than a decade terrorising defences around the world.
The record adds an intriguing subplot to Belgium’s World Cup quarter-final showdown with Spain. As Belgium seek a place in the semi-finals, Lukaku will be chasing more than just victory. He will also be aiming to remove one of the last blank spaces from his remarkable international scoring map.
BET9JA FACT FILE
- Player: Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)
- International Goals: 93
- Different Countries Scored Against: 39
- European Nations Scored Against: 29
- Belgium All-Time Leading Scorer: Yes
- Never Scored Against: Spain
- Next Opportunity: FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-final vs Spain
For a striker who has conquered almost every defence put before him, Spain represents one final riddle waiting to be solved.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón has etched his name into FIFA World Cup history after extending his remarkable run without conceding a goal to 609 minutes, the longest shutout streak ever recorded in the tournament.
The Spanish shot-stopper surpassed the previous World Cup benchmark during Spain’s march to the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, underlining his status as one of the competition’s standout performers.
Simón’s extraordinary sequence has spanned multiple matches, with opponents repeatedly failing to find a way past the Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper. His commanding displays, sharp reflexes and assured handling have provided the foundation for Spain’s impressive defensive record.
The clean-sheet streak has been built through victories over Austria and Portugal in the knockout rounds, as well as a flawless group-stage campaign in which Spain’s defence proved virtually impenetrable.
While forwards often dominate the headlines at major tournaments, Simón’s achievement highlights the crucial role of goalkeepers in World Cup success. The Spaniard has not only protected his team’s goal but has also rewritten a piece of football history that has stood through decades of World Cup competition.
With Spain preparing for a heavyweight quarter-final clash against Belgium, Simón will have the opportunity to extend the record even further. Every additional minute without conceding will push the mark deeper into uncharted territory.
Unai Simón’s World Cup Record at a Glance
- Player: Unai Simón (Spain)
- Position: Goalkeeper
- Current shutout streak: 609 minutes
- Achievement: Longest period without conceding a goal in FIFA World Cup history
- Tournament: FIFA World Cup 2026
- Status: Record active and still growing
As Spain continue their quest for a second World Cup title, Simón’s historic run has become one of the defining individual stories of the 2026 tournament.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Spain will take a formidable historical advantage into their FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final clash with Belgium as two of international football’s most consistent teams put lengthy unbeaten runs on the line.
La Roja have dominated recent meetings between the two European heavyweights, going unbeaten in their last 11 encounters against Belgium. The Spaniards have won nine of those matches and drawn two, including victories in each of the last five meetings.
Four of those five successive wins came during FIFA World Cup qualifying campaigns, underlining Spain’s ability to rise to the occasion whenever the Belgians stand in their way.
While history strongly favours Spain, current form suggests Friday’s showdown could be one of the most compelling contests of the tournament.
Spain arrive in the quarter-finals carrying an extraordinary 35-match unbeaten run in regular time. Their sequence of 26 victories and nine draws stretches back more than two years to a 1-0 friendly defeat by Colombia in London on March 22, 2024.
That remarkable consistency has helped establish Spain as one of the favourites for the title and has been built on a blend of defensive solidity, technical superiority and clinical finishing.
Belgium, however, have been equally difficult to beat.
The Red Devils are unbeaten in their last 18 matches, recording 12 wins and six draws since suffering a 3-1 defeat to Ukraine in the UEFA Nations League in March last year.
Led by the experienced Romelu Lukaku and a squad combining seasoned campaigners with emerging talent, Belgium have steadily rebuilt momentum and confidence after a difficult period, arriving at the World Cup quarter-finals as genuine contenders.
The statistics set up a fascinating battle between a Spain side that has repeatedly found answers against Belgium and a Belgian team that has rediscovered its resilience and winning habit.
For Spain, victory would extend both their dominance over Belgium and their remarkable unbeaten sequence. For Belgium, it represents an opportunity to break a frustrating head-to-head trend and end one of international football’s longest-running unbeaten records.
Something will have to give when the two unbeaten runs collide, with a coveted place in the World Cup semi-finals awaiting the winner.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
BET9JA FACT FILE: Spain Remains the Missing Piece in Lukaku’s Scoring Puzzle
BET9JA FACT FILE: Simón Sets New World Cup Shutout Record
History Favours Spain as Unbeaten Giants Collide with Belgium in World Cup Quarter-final
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
NIGERIAN FOOTBALL CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SANUSI CHARGES NIGERIAN COACHES TO BE UPRIGHT, DILIGENT
- World Cup1 week ago
What a Load of Rubbish! How Senegal Threw Away a World Cup Dream
- World Cup4 days ago
Bizarre! FIFA makes U-turn to clear Balogun for US v Belgium World Cup clash following call from Trump
- World Cup1 week ago
Celebrating a Decade of World Cup Coverage: A Tribute to Kunle Solaja
- World Cup3 days ago
The Handwritten Note That Changed My Life: Remembering MKO Abiola, The Patron Saint of Nigerian Sports
- World Cup6 days ago
Pharaohs End World Cup Knockout Hoodoo, Beat Australia on Penalties to Reach Last 16
- World Cup1 week ago
Cry for Africa, My Beloved Continent: How four decades of World Cup heartbreak continue to haunt African football
- World Cup1 week ago
Mbappe Double Fires France into Last 16 as Sweden Swept Aside
- World Cup4 days ago
Article 27: The Little-Known FIFA Rule Behind Balogun’s World Cup Reprieve