The 2018 champions top Group I as Norway coach benches star striker; Spain edge past Uruguay in heated encounter.

Ousmane Dembele produced a stunning 32-minute hat-trick as France thrashed Norway 4-1 at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on Friday to top Group I and advance to the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage.

The reigning Ballon d'Or winner struck in the seventh, 20th and 32nd minutes, stealing the spotlight in what was billed as a showdown between Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. The Norwegian superstar, however, never made it onto the pitch.

Thelo Aasgaard pulled one back for Norway in the 21st minute, but France were unstoppable. Desire Doue added a fourth in added time to complete the rout.

Why Haaland Was Benched

Norway coach Stale Solbakken explained his decision to bench 10 first-team players, including Haaland and captain Martin Odegaard, following their 3-2 win over Senegal.

"This is simple. We did a summary after Senegal, and five or six players were very affected after 80 minutes of play. The entire defense and some midfielders were very affected," Solbakken said.

"We also know that from the Senegal game that Norway had the shortest window to play another match today. So, it was a no-brainer on my part and also from the physio and health and medical and from some players themselves," he added.

Spain Edge Past Uruguay, Cape Verde Make History

Spain secured qualification for the round of 32 after a 1-0 win over Uruguay at the Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico. Alex Baena's first-half goal — capitalising on a blunder by Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera — proved decisive.

The result knocked out the South American heavyweights. Cape Verde, meanwhile, secured a historic qualification after a goalless draw against Saudi Arabia in the other Group H match. With three points from three draws, Cape Verde will face defending champions Argentina in the knockout stage.

Williams Involved in Heated Exchange

Spain winger Nico Williams was involved in a heated argument with Uruguay players Nicolas de la Cruz and Agustin Canobbio after a rough tackle in the dying stages of the match. The 23-year-old was seen engaging in a tense exchange with de la Cruz before Canobbio intervened and pushed him away. The referee had to step in to separate the players.

After the match, Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa lashed out at journalists, appearing to yell at a reporter.

Senegal Thrash 10-Man Iraq 5-0

Senegal kept their knockout hopes alive with a dominant 5-0 win over Iraq in the other Group I clash. Habib Diarra gave Senegal the lead in the fourth minute before Iraq were reduced to 10 men in the 13th after Rebin Sulaka was shown a red card.

Ismaila Sarr struck in the 56th minute before a Pape Gueye brace (59' and 71') and Iliman Ndiaye's goal completed the rout. Senegal eventually qualified for the round of 32.

Belgium Crush New Zealand 5-1

Belgium qualified with an emphatic 5-1 win over New Zealand in Group G at BC Place in Vancouver. Leandro Trossard struck a brace, while Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers also found the net.

Drama in Iran-Egypt Draw

Iran vs Egypt finished in a 1-1 draw, with drama in added time. Shoja Khalilzadeh scored what would have been a winner for Iran, securing qualification, but the goal was ruled out. Iran now must wait to know their fate.

Cape Verde, playing their first ever FIFA World Cup match, produced one of the tournament’s early upsets by holding 2010 champions Spain to a 0-0 draw at Atlanta Stadium on Tuesday. The result owed much to veteran goalkeeper Vozinha, whose seven saves and towering presence kept Spain at bay and sent his nation into rapturous celebration.

Spain dominated possession — 74% across the match — and fired 27 shots, yet could not break down Cape Verde’s compact defence. The closest they came was Ferran Torres’s 39th‑minute effort that hit the crossbar; on the rebound Vozinha then palmed away a header from Mikel Oyarzabal. Spain’s attacking play created chances but lacked the finishing touch, while Cape Verde defended in disciplined blocks and threatened on the counter.

Vozinha, 40, emerged as the game’s unlikely hero. Social media exploded after the final whistle: the goalkeeper, who had roughly 50,000 Instagram followers before the match, reportedly gained over four million followers after his performance. Teammates and fans celebrated the draw in the dressing room and on the pitch as if it were a win.

Spain’s coach will be left frustrated by the blunt end product. Lamine Yamal, introduced in the 71st minute to inject urgency, intensified Spain’s attacks but could not find a decisive touch. Mikel Merino and Oyarzabal tested Vozinha repeatedly in the second half; a late Oyarzabal chance was somehow cleared off the line by Pico Lopes in the 88th minute. Cape Verde even had a late opportunity when Diney Borges headed towards goal in stoppage time, only for Spain’s Unai Simón to make a sharp save.

In Group H’s other match on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay shared the points in Miami after a 1-1 draw. Hassan Al‑Tambakti’s header created a rebound that Abdulelah Al‑Amri converted early on to give Saudi Arabia the lead. Uruguay fought back late, and Maxi Araujo equalised in the 80th minute after a Federico Vias header was only parried, sending the ball back into play for Araujo to finish.

The results leave Uruguay top of Group H, followed by Saudi Arabia, Spain and Cape Verde. Spain and Uruguay meet next, while Cape Verde will face Saudi Arabia — a tough run for the island nation, but one buoyed by newfound belief.

Tuesday’s slate of matches produced an unusual statistical footnote: four World Cup games ended in draws on the same day, the first time that has happened since June 15, 1958 — exactly 68 years ago, according to The Athletic.

Beyond the headlines, Cape Verde’s draw highlights how compact defending and one inspired performance from a keeper can upset possession-heavy sides. For Spain, the lack of a cutting edge will invite tactical questions and scrutiny from fans and pundits. For Cape Verde, this is football’s biggest stage delivering a national moment — one they will hope to build on.

Other notable moments from the day: Uruguay’s Fernando Muslera, at 39 years and 364 days, became the oldest player to represent Uruguay at a World Cup. Belgium were held to a 1-1 draw by Egypt, while Iran and New Zealand played out an entertaining 2-2 tie, with Elijah Just scoring a brace for New Zealand.

For a modest footballing nation like Cape Verde, the draw is seismic. Vozinha’s night will be replayed across timelines, and the island’s players will carry confidence into a group that still offers room for surprise. Spain, meanwhile, must sharpen their final third before facing Uruguay if they are to avoid further slip‑ups.

Hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius: Two Indian Crew Members Aboard Stricken Cruise Ship

Two Indian nationals are among the crew of the Dutch-flagged expedition vessel MV Hondius, which is at the centre of a hantavirus outbreak in the Atlantic Ocean that has claimed three lives and triggered international health alerts.

The ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, remains off Cape Verde with around 149 people still on board as it heads toward Spain’s Canary Islands, expected to arrive around May 10. Authorities plan extensive testing and monitoring upon arrival.

Confirmed Cases and Fatalities

Health officials have confirmed five cases of hantavirus infection so far, with three deaths reported. The victims include a Dutch couple and a German passenger. The first fatality was a 70-year-old Dutch man who died aboard the ship on April 11. His wife later succumbed in a South African hospital, while the third victim, a woman, died on May 2.

The outbreak involves the Andes strain of hantavirus, primarily associated with rodents in South America. This variant is notable because it can, in rare instances, spread from person to person, unlike most other hantaviruses.

Doctor Explains Transmission Dynamics

Dr. Karin Ellen Veldkamp, treating a patient at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands, emphasised that the virus does not transmit as easily as Covid-19. “Hantavirus does not spread easily from person to person. Its transmission is much more difficult compared to corona,” she told AFP. Patients are isolated with strict protocols, and isolation continues until symptoms resolve and tests turn negative.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has described the situation as serious but assessed the risk to the general public as low for now. However, it has issued alerts to multiple countries due to passengers who disembarked earlier, particularly at Saint Helena on April 24.

Ship’s Itinerary and Possible Origin

The MV Hondius departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on March 20 (or around April 1 according to some timelines), carrying roughly 170 passengers and 71 crew from over 20 nationalities for an Antarctic and South Atlantic expedition. It visited areas around the South Pole before crossing the Atlantic toward Europe.

Initial investigations point to possible exposure during a bird-watching trip by the first victims in parts of Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay, where specific rodents carrying the virus are found. Argentine authorities are tracing the couple’s movements. Symptoms in the index case appeared around April 6.

Indians on Board

The two Indian crew members form part of a diverse team that includes many from the Philippines and other countries. Their current health status has not been publicly disclosed, and Indian diplomatic missions are understood to be in touch with authorities for updates. The ship also has a doctor on board.

Nationalities on board have included significant numbers from the UK, US, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and Canada, among others. Dozens who left at Saint Helena have returned home, prompting contact tracing in countries including Britain, the United States, Canada, Germany, and Singapore.

Containment Measures and Outlook

Passengers and crew showing symptoms are under isolation. Some patients have been evacuated for treatment in South Africa and the Netherlands. The incubation period can extend up to six weeks, raising the possibility of additional cases emerging even after disembarkation.

Local authorities in Cape Verde and Spanish officials are preparing for the ship’s arrival. Strict disease control protocols are in place, with passengers expected to undergo thorough medical screening.

WHO officials have stressed that this is not the start of a wider pandemic, differentiating it clearly from respiratory viruses like Covid-19 due to its limited transmissibility. Still, the incident has highlighted vulnerabilities in long-duration expedition cruises through remote regions.

As the MV Hondius continues its cautious journey, families of those on board and international health agencies remain on high alert. Further updates on the two Indian crew members and overall testing results are anticipated once the vessel reaches the Canary Islands.