Tunisia maintains its hope despite the defeat against Belgium

Constant triumph for the Elephants

Ivory Coast defeated Curacao 2-0 in a match at the 2026 World Cup. The African team took advantage of the key moments of the match to add three points that bring them closer to the next phase.

Nicolas Pépé opened the scoring in the 7th minute with an offensive burst that put the Elephants in front from the start. During the first half, Amad Diallo generated the most dangerous plays. Curacao managed to advance lines near the break, but could not equalize the score.

In the complement, Ivory Coast maintained control. In the 64th minute, Pépé scored his double with a left-footed shot inside the area, leaving the Caribbean defense without options. Curacao tried to react, but lacked the clarity to disturb the rival goal.

With this victory, Ivory Coast reached 6 points in Group E and is in second place. If the position is maintained, the team would face Norway in the round of 32. The performance of Pépé and Diallo has been key in the advancement of the African team.

Carlo Ancelotti took a while to become popular in Brazil. He arrived at a beaten squad and the lackluster draw against Morocco did not help. But two consecutive 3-0 victories – against Haiti and Scotland – restored confidence to the Canarinha, which is already in the knockout phase with title aspirations.

Ancelotti’s connection with the country

“He is the best coach of all time,” says fan Luca Scapinelli before the victory against Scotland. “Five Champions Leagues, he has won all the major European leagues. He can contribute a lot. We have not had a coach this great in a long time.”

That record explains why Brazil, without a world title since 2002, hired the Italian just over a year ago. In his presentation, Ancelotti stated that he always felt “a special connection” with the country and that he understands “a lot of expectation that Brazil will be champion again.”

Now that connection is manifest. Against Scotland, the public cheered his name. “I like that he really got into Brazilian culture,” says Caio Monteiro, a fan from Belo Horizonte. “He wanted to learn the anthem, he wanted to learn Portuguese, and he did it in just a few months.”

Some fans were wary of a foreign coach, but that dissipated. “If you look at our league in Brazil, all the best teams have foreign coaches,” remembers Humberto Silva, from São Paulo. “This is how it has to be now.”

Vinícius Júnior, the key factor

The common denominator of Brazilian success in the tournament has been Vinícius Júnior. The Real Madrid star, who previously had difficulties with the national team, has scored in every World Cup match – including two against Scotland – for a total of four goals.

Ancelotti led Vinícius in Madrid from 2021 to 2025 and transformed him into a world figure. They won two Champions Leagues, two Spanish Leagues and a Copa del Rey. “It’s satisfying because I had no doubt about how I could get to this World Cup,” Ancelotti said. “For him, it is an honor to play for the national team. He is one of the best in the world, obviously.”

After his goal against Haiti, Vinícius pointed out that the coach has helped him score more by changing his position. “I need to listen to him more. Surely when we get to the locker room, we will say that he knows a lot about football,” he joked.

Brazil regained confidence and the figure of Ancelotti, at 67 years old, seems to consolidate himself as the leader that the five-time champion needed.

Merlin Duck: from the streets to world recognition

A duck that was walking among the celebrations of the first game of the 2026 World Cup dressed in the Mexican National Team shirt went viral. His name: Merlin. His feat: conquering social networks and obtaining official recognition from FIFA.

Merlin’s routine changed completely. He went from walking the streets of the Centro neighborhood with his family, dedicated to commerce, to appearing on television shows, registering his personal brand with the IMPI and being invited to the Mexico vs. Czechia on June 24.

Comedian Alexis “Ojitos de Huevo” shared a video meeting Merlin that caused a stir among his followers. The presence of the feathered bird became a national symbol before the world.

The duck’s official social networks were launched with the support of Arturo Islas, wildlife defender. In his message he highlighted:

“Many ducks bought on impulse or won at fairs end up abandoned in lakes, where they are rejected and even killed by other ducks.”

Another of his recent feats was witnessing a training session for Atlante, a Liga MX team that received him with a custom-made shirt with his name.