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FIFA World Cup 2026

Croatia advances to World Cup playoff after defeating Ghana

The match ended with a score of 2:1

© Kevin C. Cox/ Getty Images

NEW YORK, June 28. /TASS/. Croatia defeated Ghana 2:1 in the third and final round of the FIFA World Cup’s group stage and advanced to the playoff.

The game was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The goals were scored by Petar Sucic (31) and Nikola Vlasic (83). Derrick Luckassen netted the ball for Ghana on the 73rd minute.

Croatia is second in Group L with six points. Ghana is third with four points. Both teams will advance to the knockout stage.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States between June 11 and July 19. The matches are staged in 16 cities across the three countries. This is the first FIFA World Cup featuring 48 teams instead of the previous 32-team format.

The top two teams in each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-place finishers, will advance to knockouts. The event’s reigning champion is Argentina.

FIFA World Cup 2026

DR Congo advances to World Cup playoffs for first time

The team beat Uzbekistan 3:1

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Lee Jae-myung said that because of its geographical position, his country risks finding itself on the frontier of any conflict between the camps

Russian Aerospace Forces struck Ukraine militants attempting to flee to recreation center

The enemy lost up to 40 fighters in Krasny Liman in 24 hours

Falling drone fragments start fire on territory of oil refinery in south Russia

No casualties were reported

Some countries reevaluating reliance on dollar over national security concerns — IMF

Meanwhile, "despite increased geopolitical risks, the latest data show that the US dollar remains dominant," Gita Gopinath noted

EuroChem to launch ammonia, urea plant in Leningrad Region in Q3

The company previously announced plans to launch ammonia production in Kingisepp in 2026

Russian premier: Russia regains status of leading player on world’s food market

The premier says spending on agriculture in the new draft budget will remain at a high level

Europe 'getting a taste' for producing UAVs for Ukrainian strikes against Russia — expert

Dmitry Kuzyakin highlighted that Ukraine itself no longer hosts significant large-scale UAV manufacturing facilities

Swedish Scania jointly with Russia’s GAZ Group to supply 120 buses to Moscow

Western child recruitment, lowering age of criminal responsibility: Bastrykin's statements

The number of teenagers who committed crimes of a terrorist nature increased almost 3 times in 2025, Chairman of the Russian Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin noted

Ukrainian strikes on Donetsk People's Republic kill two civilians over past 24 hours

Seven others, including a minor, were injured

European security concept "has gone bankrupt, collapsed spectacularly" — Russian MFA

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Putin, Lukashenko speaking one-on-one for over four hours — media

No photo or video allowed

Russia hits Ukrainian warehouse, gas station, temporary duty station

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Sergey Ivanov served as honorary president of the VTB United League

Croatia advances to World Cup playoff after defeating Ghana

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Russian forces thwart Kiev’s counterattack near Krasny Liman — military expert

Military expert Andrey Marochko stated that the situation remains stable, and no breach of the defensive line has occurred

Ten regiments of Russia’s Strategic Missile Force placed on highest alert

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Putin, Lukashenko discuss regional security in Valdai — Kremlin

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Russia destroys up to platoon of Ukrainian troops in Novoskelevatoye

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Iranian army announces strikes against US forces in Middle East

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Washington secretly rejects Zelensky's victory plan — newspaper

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Five more residents of Kursk Region taken prisoner by Ukraine in 2024 returning home

At the Belarusian border, they were met by Russian human rights ombudsperson Yana Lantratova

St Petersburg to mark 340th anniversary since birth of Czar Peter I

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Netanyahu praises agreement on Lebanon as 'blow to Iran,' vows not to withdraw troops

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Russian, Chinese warplanes conducted joint six-hour patrol

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Russian stock market closes with mixed dynamics

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Rodriguez thanks US for its help in dealing with earthquake aftermath in Venezuela

The Venezuelan leader noted that Donald Trump and Marco Rubio expressed their readiness to support efforts to address the earthquake aftermath, send rescue workers and specialized equipment

Russian specialists develop Duplet double net launcher against drones

The new net launcher has been created based on requirements from combat personnel

Russia plans to build Obsky LNG, Murmansk LNG, Arctic LNG-1, Ust-Luga project by 2050

According to Russian Energy Minister Sergey Tsivilev, it will enable Russia to achieve the LNG output targets outlined in its Energy Strategy through 2050

Ukraine’s 124 UAVs shot down over Russian regions, Black Sea in one day — Defense Ministry

During the day, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Moscow time

Air defenses shoot down two more drones heading toward Moscow — Sobyanin

According to the mayor, emergency services are working at the site

Russia succeeds in creating strike UAV industry comparable to nuclear industry — expert

Dmitry Kuzyakin underscored that the integration of drones into modern warfare marks a fundamental shift from previous conflicts

Fico condemns West's transfer of advanced military technology to Ukraine

Slovak Prime Minister cautioned about the potential consequences of these supplies, emphasizing the threat they pose if used against Russia

Trump again accuses Iran of violating ceasefire, declines to say whether US would respond

The US leader noted that Iranian forces allegedly attacked a ship sailing through the Strait of Hormuz with drones on Thursday

Trump threatens to destroy Iran if it decides to resume military actions

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IN BRIEF: 'Discrimination against Russians', 'apple of shame' in VK removal from App Store

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Plane with Russian soldiers released from Ukrainian captivity lands in Moscow Region

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Five residents of Kursk Region, two from other regions have returned home from Ukraine

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The team defeated Panama 2:0

Series of explosions heard near Iran’s Sirik, Qeshm

Several projectiles hit a telecom tower on Sirik and landed in the village of Masen on Qeshm

Bank of Russia purchases yuan worth $68 mln with settlements on June 25

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West stoking conflicts across Eurasia turning it into geopolitical arena — Russian MFA

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Bus with five civilians held by Ukraine arrives in Kursk

The captives were greeted by their relatives, doctors and officials and taken to a local shelter

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Moscow will not ignore ban on use of Russian symbols at competitions — Foreign Ministry

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Malaysia as a BRICS partner country is aware of Trump’s threats to impose tariffs for participants of the alliance should they abandon the dollar in mutual trade settlements, Malaysian Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said

Liberation of Novoskelevatoye enables Russia to secure foothold on western bank of Gaichur

The captured line creates conditions for the further advance of Battlegroup East’s troops in the Dnepropetrovsk region

Russia to choose technological platform for payment system June 25

First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said the security deposit for Visa and MasterCard would be reduced but not abolished altogether

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Tehran will respond to each violation, Mohsen Rezaei said

Western attempts strangle Russia financially, economically fail — diplomat

Russian Foreign Ministry’s Ambassador-at-Large Alexander Trofimov stressed that Russia has withstood the sanctions-driven economic blitzkrieg thanks to the consistent efforts of the government, society, and the business community

Russian military to raise US drone from seabed if required for security reasons — Kremlin

It is noted that the drone went into an uncontrolled flight as a result of an abrupt maneuver, lost its altitude and crashed into the water

US servicemen confirm strikes on Iran

US aircraft struck Iranian missile and drone depots, as well as coastal radar facilities

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Sandro Teti expressed regret that the security proposals that Russia put forward in 2021 were disregarded by the West

Russia, its partners drawing closer under Western pressure — Russian MFA

Russian Foreign Ministry’s Ambassador-at-Large Alexander Trofimov expressed confidence that the emergence of new centers of influence in a multipolar world is an objective process

Building security architecture in Eurasia will be long process — Russian MFA

Some time ago we recognized the need to adapt the system of interaction to the new realities of a multipolar world, Russian Foreign Ministry’s Ambassador-at-Large Alexander Trofimov said

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Moscow not raising issue of lifting sanctions but does not accept them as norm — MFA

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Aerospace Forces receive new Su-35S fighters

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Russian Armed Forces hit IRIS-T air defense system launcher, Ukrainian ammunition depot

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Ban on displaying Russian flag, anthem at competitions in Romania outrageous — MFA

Neither the event organizers nor the authorities dared to contradict this provincial figure, who apparently decided to boost his 'authority' in this way", Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized

EU sanctions hurt Europe more than Belarus and Russia — Szijjarto

The Hungarian Foreign Minister said that even among his ministerial colleagues in Europe there is a clear opinion that the sanctions are not working as planned

Russian air defenses intercept two Ukrainian drones over Smolensk, Moscow regions

"The Kiev regime’s attempt to use fixed-wing drones to carry out terrorist attacks on targets in Russia was foiled at about 11:00 p.m. Moscow time (8:00 p.m. GMT) on November 10," the statement reads

Gazprom’s gas processing facility in Ust-Luga 80% complete — chief executive

It will have a capacity of 45 bln cubic meters of gas per year, Alexey Miller said

NATO militarizing Arctic seeking to enter there with all its instruments — Russian MFA

European Union countries are deliberately destabilizing the situation in Central, Southern, Northeastern, and Southeastern Eurasia, Alexander Trofimov noted

Earthquake in Venezuela could affect more than 6.7 million people — UN

In Caracas alone, the capital city, an estimated 2 million residents may be impacted

FIFA World Cup goalscoring record set

A total of 177 goals have been scored at the current World Cup

Kursk Region residents remaining in Ukraine may return to Russia soon — ombudsman

Russia’s Commissioner for Human Rights Yana Lantratova did not specify the number of people

Dzhankoi checkpoint suspended after Ukraine’s attack on Chongar Bridge

The Armyansk and Perekop checkpoints are operating routinely

Poseidon underwater vehicle’s capacity exceeds that of Sarmat missile — Putin

The head of state stressed that military personnel needed to know everything about the advanced weapons the country was developing

Houthis attack Tel Aviv with ‘hypersonic ballistic missile’ — spokesman

"The operation successfully achieved its goals," the Houthi-owned Al Masirah TV channel quoted the spokesman as saying

Russia destroys two Ukrainian MiG-29 aircraft at Voznesensk airfield in Nikolayev region

Russian Armed Forces used Geran-4 Seeker UAVs

Visa-free tourist travel between Russia and China can start any day — minister

"We have exchanged a list of tour operators, all formalities have been completed," Maxim Reshetnikov added

IRGC delivers retaliatory strike on key US infrastructure in Kuwait, Bahrain

The IRGC also warned that Tehran’s future response to potential US aggression will be even more decisive

Rubio’s 'disingenuous' statements, seeking clarity from US: Lavrov’s statements

According to the Russian top diplomat, it is necessary to "clarify" the situation regarding the US role in settling the Ukraine conflict

FACTBOX: What we know about arrest of terrorist network administrator in Dagestan

The FSB noted that the detainee’s involvement in organizing at least 15 terrorist crimes across ten Russian regions has been confirmed

Tu-22M3 long-range bombers carry out bombing raid on simulated enemy

The long-range aviation pilots staged an air strike against a conditional enemy "with the aim of disrupting the control system and destroying critical facilities", the Defense Ministry reported

At least 13 people killed, over 50 injured in US-Israeli attacks on Iran’s Kermanshah

The attacks targeted residential quarters in the city of Kermanshah and a neighborhood in the province’s eastern part

Ukrainian drone downed while approaching Moscow — mayor

Sergey Sobyanin says first responders are working at the crash site

11-year old rescued in Venezuela after 70 hours under rubble

The child was pulled from the rubble by Colombian rescuers

Gazprom and CNPC discuss Soyuz Vostok pipeline, agree on repair of Power of Siberia

The meeting participants also reviewed the results of their joint activities for 2022 and discussed the plans regarding key areas of cooperation for 2023

Putin extends ban on Russian oil exports under price cap through end-2027

The presidential decree prohibits supplies of Russian oil and petroleum products to foreign legal entities and individuals if contracts for such supplies directly or indirectly provide for the use of a price cap mechanism

Second attempt to launch Angara rocket may be made July 9 - daily

The first test launch of the light class rocket Angara-1.2PP was originally expected to take place on June 27

Number of people injured in Ukrainian strike on memorial complex near Taganrog up to 12

Ten of whom were hospitalized, governor Yury Slyusar said

Sber recognized as strongest banking brand globally, most valuable in Russia in 2022

According to Brand Finance’s latest report, in spite of the current situation, the Russian bank showed high financial results, improved its products and services, and retained customer trust

The 28 teams that have advanced to World Cup knockout stage determined

Mexico, South Africa, Switzerland, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Morocco, the US, Australia, Paraguay, Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, the Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Belgium, Egypt, Spain, Cape Verde, France, Norway, Senegal, Argentina, Colombia, Portugal, England, and Ghana secured spots in the playoffs

Russia destroys up to platoon of Ukrainian troops in Novoskelevatoye

Assault units of the 36th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 29th army of Battlegroup East have liberated Novoskelevatoye

Venezuela earthquake death toll exceeds 1,400

Previously, 589 people were reported dead as a result of the earthquakes

Eurasia’s new security architecture to serve as ‘safety net’ against conflicts

This architecture would cement, and is already cementing, a "shared understanding and entails resolving existing contradictions by eliminating their root causes based on the principle of regional responsibility", Russian Foreign Ministry’s Ambassador-at-Large Alexander Trofimov said

CENTCOM says it struck ten military targets in Iran

The US Central Command also published a video of the strikes

US attacks targets in Iran in response to attack on a tanker — Axios journalist

According to Barak Ravid, the strikes are being carried out in the area of the Strait of Hormuz

Putin, Lukashenko continued their conversation at Valdai today — Kremlin

Belarusian leader arrived in Russia on a working visit the day before

CENTCOM confirms new strikes on military sites in Iran

According to the statement, the strikes came in response to Iran’s attack on a commercial vessel

Russian troops liberate settlement of Novoskelevatoye in Dnepropetrovsk region — top brass

Troops from Battlegroup West in Krasny Liman seized five strongpoints and captured 57 buildings over the past 24 hours, according to the reported

US may relocate military bases from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia — newspaper

The US military command is also working to develop options for broader deployment of military facilities across the Middle East