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The match initially appeared to be a comfortable victory for England, who raced into a commanding lead during a dominant first half.

Midfielder Declan Rice opened the scoring in the third minute with a powerful strike from outside the box before defender Ezri Konsa doubled the advantage with a header from a Rice corner in the 18th minute. Bukayo Saka then scored twice in the closing stages of the first half, giving England a stunning 4-0 lead before the break.

France, despite naming several key players including Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, and goalkeeper Mike Maignan, struggled to cope with England’s relentless attacking play.

Coach Didier Deschamps had admitted before the match that his side had found it difficult to motivate themselves following their semifinal exit.

The second half, however, produced a remarkable comeback attempt from France. Mbappé scored just three minutes after the restart before Bradley Barcola reduced the deficit further to make it 4-2.

Mbappé struck again in the 66th minute to bring France within one goal, taking his tournament tally to nine goals and strengthening his lead in the race for the Golden Boot.

His second goal also marked his 22nd World Cup goal, moving him ahead of Lionel Messi on the competition’s all-time scoring list.

England regained control when Bukayo Saka converted a penalty after Djed Spence was fouled in the penalty area by Malo Gusto, completing his hat-trick and restoring a two-goal advantage at 5-3.

Saka became only the fourth England player to score a hat-trick in a men’s FIFA World Cup match.

France refused to give up, with substitute Ousmane Dembélé scoring in stoppage time to make it 5-4 and set up a tense finish.

However, Jude Bellingham sealed England’s victory two minutes later with the final goal of the match, ending France’s comeback hopes and confirming England’s bronze-medal finish.

The match produced 10 goals, making it the highest-scoring World Cup match since 1982. England’s victory also marked the country’s best World Cup finish in six decades, despite falling short of reaching the final after their semifinal defeat to Argentina.

Speaking after the match, Saka said England had enjoyed an outstanding tournament despite missing out on the title.

“Ultimately, losing to Argentina was difficult for all of us. It’s the same for the fans, but we have to keep our heads up, move forward, and focus on what comes next.”

Saka also dismissed criticism directed at England manager Thomas Tuchel, saying criticism is a normal part of football and should be used as motivation.

The result capped an entertaining end to England’s World Cup campaign, while France were left to settle for fourth place after an extraordinary contest that showcased attacking football from both sides.

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Manú enjoyed a professional career that spanned nearly two decades and took him across several European leagues as well as China.

A pacey right winger, he began his senior career with Alverca, where he made 42 appearances and scored three goals before earning a move to Portuguese giants Benfica in 2004.

Although first-team opportunities at Benfica were limited, he represented the club in domestic and European competitions before spending loan spells with Modena, Carpenedolo, Estrela da Amadora, and AEK Athens.

His most productive spell came at Estrela da Amadora, where he scored seven goals in 31 league appearances.

He later played for Marítimo (52 appearances, four goals), Legia Warsaw (33 appearances, three goals), Beijing Guoan, Ermis Aradippou, Vitória de Setúbal, Cartaxo, and Vilafranquense, finishing his professional career with 259 appearances and 27 goals across all his clubs. During his time in Poland, Manú helped Legia Warsaw win the Polish Cup, adding one of the major honours of his career.

Born in Setúbal, Portugal, on 28 August 1982, Manú was admired for his speed, versatility, and work ethic on the wing. He developed through the youth systems of Vitória Setúbal, O Sindicato, and Alverca before establishing himself in professional football.

His career took him to Portugal, Italy, Greece, Poland, China, and Cyprus, making him one of the Portuguese players to experience football across multiple continents.

Tributes have poured in from former clubs, teammates, and supporters following news of his death, with many remembering him for his professionalism and commitment throughout his career.

While details surrounding the accident remain limited, his passing has been widely mourned across the Portuguese football community.

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South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, confirmed Adams’ death on Saturday, describing the news as a devastating loss for the nation. The minister did not disclose the cause of death.

“It is with profound shock and a heavy heart that I have learnt of the passing of Jayden Adams. South African football has lost one of its brightest young talents,” McKenzie said in a statement.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) also paid tribute, writing on social media: “Football has lost one of its own.”

Western Cape police said an investigation is underway after the body of a 25-year-old man was discovered at a residence in Schotschekloof, a suburb of central Cape Town, on Saturday morning.

Authorities have not officially confirmed the cause of death.

Adams featured in all three of South Africa’s group-stage matches at the World Cup, helping Bafana Bafana reach the Round of 32 for the first time in the tournament’s history, although he did not play in the knockout defeat to Canada.

He was also a member of the South African squad that secured third place at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.

Born in Cape Town, Adams rose through the youth ranks of Stellenbosch FC, becoming the club’s first academy graduate to sign a professional contract in 2020.

He made 139 appearances for the club, helping them lift the Carling Knockout title in 2023 before joining Mamelodi Sundowns in January 2025.

During his time with Sundowns, he won the South African Premiership and the CAF Champions League, cementing his reputation as one of the country’s most promising midfielders.

His death comes less than a month after the loss of his grandmother, a personal tragedy he endured while representing South Africa at the World Cup.

The South African Football Association had previously praised his determination after he continued to play despite the family bereavement.

Tributes have continued to pour in from teammates, clubs, supporters, and football officials, who remembered Adams not only for his talent on the pitch but also for his professionalism and dedication to the national team.

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Artan, who had been selected as one of Africa’s representatives for the tournament, said no financial compensation could replace the opportunity to officiate at football’s biggest event. According to reports, he believes representing both Somalia and the African continent on the World Cup stage was a once-in-a-lifetime honor that cannot be measured in monetary terms.

“I don’t want compensation. I wanted to referee at the World Cup,” Artan reportedly said, emphasizing that the loss was about fulfilling a lifelong professional ambition rather than receiving financial reimbursement.

FIFA had earlier announced that Artan would receive his full tournament remuneration despite being unable to participate after U.S. authorities denied him entry into the country. The governing body reportedly offered additional compensation in recognition of the circumstances that prevented him from taking part in the competition.

The incident has sparked widespread discussion within the football community, with many players, officials, and supporters arguing that while financial compensation may acknowledge the situation, it cannot replace the prestige, experience, and career milestone associated with officiating at a FIFA World Cup. For many referees, selection for the tournament represents the highest achievement in international football after years of dedication and rigorous evaluation.

Artan is widely regarded as one of Somalia’s most accomplished football referees. Over the years, he has officiated numerous high-profile CAF and FIFA competitions, earning international recognition for his performances and becoming one of the few Somali match officials to reach the highest levels of world football.

His absence from the 2026 World Cup has therefore been viewed as a significant loss not only for him personally but also for Somali football and African refereeing.

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Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, Ontario opposition leader Marit Stiles, and British Columbia Premier David Eby expressed disappointment over the decision and called for Omar Artan to be allowed to officiate matches scheduled to take place in Canada during the tournament.

Former UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn also joined growing international calls supporting the Somali referee, with supporters arguing that sports should not be overshadowed by political or immigration disputes.

“A FIFA-certified referee being denied entry to the United States purely because he is Somali. The World Cup is meant to bring people together. This is racism, plain and simple,” Corbyn said in a statement shared widely on social media.

Support for Omar Artan has spread widely across social media and international news platforms, with many describing the incident as damaging to the spirit of global sportsmanship and international unity promoted through football.

Many football fans and public figures have argued that international sporting competitions should remain inclusive and free from barriers that prevent qualified officials and athletes from participating.

Meanwhile, Omar Artan has arrived in Mogadishu today, where members of Somalia’s sporting community and football supporters welcomed the referee, who is widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading football officials.

The controversy surrounding his denied entry has sparked widespread debate internationally and drawn attention to the broader impact of immigration restrictions on global sporting events.

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In a written statement issued by Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, the government said it launched extensive diplomatic engagements after learning that the referee had encountered problems related to his admission into the United States.

“After it became known that referee Omar Artan faced challenges related to entry into the United States (Entry Denied), the Ministry, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidency, carried out broad diplomatic efforts and negotiations with the U.S. government and FIFA to find an urgent solution to the matter. Unfortunately, despite those significant efforts, it was not possible to reach a resolution,” the statement said.

The Somali government expressed deep regret over the circumstances that prevented Omar Artan from participating in the FIFA World Cup tournament set to open in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The incident has sparked disappointment among Somali sports officials and football supporters, many of whom viewed Omar Artan’s participation as a historic milestone for Somali refereeing on the international stage.

Omar Artan had recently been selected among the African referees expected to officiate at the tournament after earning recognition as one of the continent’s top football officials.

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In a statement, the committee praised Omar Artan for his achievements in African and international football, describing him as one of Somalia’s most respected sports officials and a symbol of the country’s growing presence on the global sporting stage accusing that the decision was discriminative against Omar Artan and stating “Our officials deserve to represent our flag without discrimination”.

The committee said the decision preventing the referee from entering the United States was disappointing for Somali sports supporters, particularly given his recent recognition and selection for major international competitions.

Officials from the Somalia Olympic Committee called for fairness and equal treatment for athletes and sports officials representing their countries at international events, stressing that sports should remain a platform that promotes unity and cooperation among nations.

Omar Artan had recently been selected among the referees expected to officiate at this year’s FIFA World Cup tournament in the United States. However, U.S. authorities reportedly denied him entry following additional immigration and security screening procedures upon his arrival.

The incident has sparked widespread reaction among Somali sports fans, with many expressing solidarity with the referee and describing his exclusion as a setback for Somali football representation on the international stage.

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According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Omar underwent additional screening upon arriving in Miami from Istanbul, Turkey.

A CBP spokesperson said the inspection was part of standard procedures used to verify travelers’ information and determine eligibility for entry into the United States. Officials later concluded that the Somali referee was not eligible to enter the country due to security-related concerns, leading to his denial of entry.

U.S. authorities did not provide further details regarding the specific reasons behind the decision. However, Somalia is among the countries affected by travel restrictions and heightened immigration scrutiny introduced under the administration of President Donald Trump, resulting in stricter screening measures for travelers from those nations.

Omar Abdulkadir Aden was named Africa’s Best Male Referee in 2025 and had been selected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to officiate matches at this year’s World Cup tournament.

FIFA stated that it has no authority over immigration procedures or visa decisions made by host countries. A spokesperson for the organization noted that the host government holds the final authority regarding visa approvals and permission for individuals to enter the country.

The incident comes amid broader concerns over entry restrictions affecting citizens from several countries, including Iran, as the Trump administration continues to tighten immigration and border security policies.

The development has sparked disappointment among Somali football supporters and sports observers, many of whom viewed Omar’s appointment as a historic achievement for Somali football on the international stage.

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