‘Why Harambee Stars can reach 2030 World Cup,’ ex-skipper Wanyama exp…

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 6, 2026 – Despite the quality on display at the ongoing Fifa World Cup, former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama believes Kenya are not too far off from a debut appearance at the global showpiece. xsportfeed.life

Wanyama is unwavering in his conviction that the national team will qualify for the next edition in Spain, Morocco and Portugal.

“I think it is realistic…the time to start is now. We have the facilities and everything to ensure we perform at the top level. We have talented players, all we need is to sharpen them by developing youth structures that enable them transition to the top,” he said.

Kenya is yet to have a whiff of qualifying for the World Cup; the closest they came was in 1997 when they ground out a number of impressive results in the qualifiers.

A 1-1 draw against Nigeria’s Super Eagles in Nairobi, coupled with home and away wins over Burkina Faso.,

However, a 3-0 loss to Nigeria away, and home and away defeats by Guinea put paid to their hopes — in the end falling just three points shy of qualification.

One team that is slowly becoming a regular at the World Cup is the national girls under 17 side, which are on the cusp of a second ever appearance at this level of competition.

The Junior Starlets need only avoid defeat against South Africa’s Bantwana in their return leg of the final round of qualifier in Nairobi on Sunday.

Coach Mildred Cheche’s charges boast a 2-0 advantage from the first leg in Pretoria, last Saturday, a huge result that put them 90 minutes away from glory.

Wanyama saluted the team for their exploits, noting that they are evidence that Kenya is a goldmine of footballing jewels.

“We have seen what our girls did in South Africa. They play the return leg this Sunday and they will need all the support to ensure they qualify. They are a good team and have been at the World Cup before. They show that it can be done,” the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder observed.

Wanyama is set to launch his Victor Wanyama Academy in Nairobi at the end of July, in what is a continuation of a bigger project back in Busia.

Although details are scanty, Wanyama said the academy will not only focus on honing the football talents of youngsters but also impart them with life skills such that they can pursue other related careers, such as punditry and football analysis.

Additionally, the academy will fly in international coaches to train local coaches as well as referees.

The initiative is among many that will arise out of Wanyama’s newfound partnership with betting firm 22 Bet — a two-year deal that was inked on Monday afternoon.

Portugal vs Spain prediction. The Iberian Derby arrives at the World Cup. Portugal face Spain in the Round of 16 at AT&T Stadium, Arlington on Monday, 6 July 2026 (21:00 SAST (Monday, 6 July 2026)). Ronaldo scored his first-ever World Cup knockout goal in the Croatia win; Spain demolished Austria 3-0. Nico Williams is out; Yamal leads Spain’s attack. Our prediction: Spain to win. Full analysis, team news, line-ups and all markets on SportPesa.

Match details

Field	Detail
Competition	2026 FIFA World Cup — Round of 16
Date & kick-off	Monday, 6 July 2026 at 21:00 SAST (Monday, 6 July 2026)
Venue	AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, USA (Dallas–Fort Worth area)
How they got here	Portugal: beat Croatia 2-1 (Ramos 94’) in R32. Spain: beat Austria 3-0 in R32 (no shots on target conceded).
Context	The Iberian Derby. Portugal won the 2025 UEFA Nations League Final vs Spain on penalties (2-2 AET). Spain hold historical WC head-to-head advantage.
Format	Single elimination. If level after 90 mins: 30 mins extra time, then penalty shoot-out.
Where to watch	DSTV/GOTV

The Iberian Derby: penalty kings vs La Roja’s machine

This is one of the most anticipated fixtures the World Cup has produced. The Iberian Derby — one of football’s oldest and most fiercely contested international rivalries — arrives with everything at stake. From 40 meetings, Spain hold the historical upper hand with 18 wins to Portugal’s 7, and 15 draws between them.

Portugal’s Round of 32 was nothing short of dramatic. A 2-1 victory over Croatia, sealed by Gonçalo Ramos’ 94th-minute winner, delivered one of the tournament’s most thrilling moments. Critically, Cristiano Ronaldo scored in that match — his first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout fixture. At 41, in what is almost certainly his final World Cup, Ronaldo’s historic milestone adds an extraordinary emotional dimension to this match. Roberto Martínez has a completely clean bill of health with zero injury or suspension concerns.

Spain’s performance against Austria was one of the tournament’s most dominant: a 3-0 win in which Austria were not permitted a single shot on target. Luis de la Fuente’s side remain the competition’s most defensively formidable team, having kept clean sheets in nine of their last ten competitive matches. The only cloud is the confirmed absence of Nico Williams — a tournament-ending adductor injury rules him out entirely. In his place, Lamine Yamal is restored to a starting position and is expected to carry Spain’s creative burden from the right. Mikel Oyarzabal, Dani Olmo and Pedri complete a midfield and forward line of exceptional quality. Rodri anchors from deep.

The recent form points to Spain. But Portugal’s victory over La Roja in the 2025 Nations League Final — holding them to a 2-2 draw and winning on penalties — proves Martínez’s side know how to handle Spain under pressure. Bruno Fernándes, Rafael Leão, Pedro Neto and Ronaldo give Portugal genuine counter-attacking threat to exploit the spaces Spain leave in transition.

Availability

Player	Status
Nico Williams (Spain)	OUT — tournament-ending adductor injury. Will not play again at this World Cup.
Lamine Yamal (Spain)	RETURNS to starting XI in Williams’ absence. Spain’s key player.

Team news and expected line-ups

Portugal: Clean bill of health. Ronaldo leads after his historic Croatia goal. Fernándes at number 10. Leão and Neto wide. Neves and Vitinha in midfield.

Spain: Yamal starts in Williams’ absence. Oyarzabal leads. Rodri anchors. Pedri and Olmo in midfield. Cubarsí and Laporte in defence.

Portugal (4-3-3)	Spain (4-3-3)
Diogo Costa (GK)	Unai Simón (GK)
João Cancelo (RB)	Pedro Porro (RB)
Rúben Dias (CB)	Pau Cubarsí (CB)
Renato Veiga (CB)	Aymeric Laporte (CB)
Nuno Mendes (LB)	Marc Cucurella (LB)
João Neves (DM)	Rodri (DM)
Vitinha (CM)	Pedri (CM)
Pedro Neto (RW)	Dani Olmo (CM)
Bruno Fernándes (AM)	Lamine Yamal (RW)
Rafael Leão (LW)	Mikel Oyarzabal (ST)
Cristiano Ronaldo (ST)	Alex Baena (LW)

Key stats

• Portugal: R32 result — beat Croatia 2-1 (Ramos 94’).
• Cristiano Ronaldo: scored vs Croatia — his first-ever World Cup knockout goal. Historic milestone.
• Portugal: clean bill of health. Zero injury/suspension concerns.
• Portugal: beat Spain on penalties in the 2025 UEFA Nations League Final (2-2 AET).
• Portugal form: W D W D W.
• Spain: R32 result — beat Austria 3-0. Austria allowed no shots on target.
• Spain: clean sheets in 9 of last 10 competitive matches.
• Nico Williams: OUT — tournament-ending adductor injury. Confirmed.
• Lamine Yamal: starts in Williams’ place. Spain’s most dangerous creative outlet.
• Spain form: W W W W W — five consecutive wins in the tournament.
• Spain: defending European champions (Euro 2024 winners).
• All-time H2H: Spain W18 D15 Portugal W7 from 40 meetings.
• Last competitive meeting: 2025 UEFA Nations League Final — Portugal won on penalties (2-2 AET).
• Last WC meeting: 2018 World Cup group stage, Sochi — 3-3 draw (Ronaldo hat-trick).

Head-to-head

Spain hold the historical advantage with 18 wins from 40 meetings, Portugal 7 wins and 15 draws. However, the most recent competitive encounter — the 2025 UEFA Nations League Final — ended with Portugal lifting the trophy via a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw. Their most memorable World Cup meeting was the 2018 group stage 3-3 draw in Sochi, featuring a Ronaldo hat-trick.

Date	Result
2025 UEFA Nations League Final	Portugal 2–2 Spain AET (Portugal won on penalties)
15 June 2018	Portugal 3–3 Spain (2018 World Cup group stage, Sochi)
All-time	Spain W18 D15 Portugal W7 from 40 meetings

Current form

Team	Last 5 (inc. WC)
Portugal	W D W D W — beat Croatia 2-1 in R32 (Ramos 94’)
Spain	W W W W W — beat Austria 3-0; 9 clean sheets in last 10 competitive

Our prediction

Spain’s defensive record — having conceded zero goals in this tournament, nine clean sheets in their last ten competitive matches — makes them the most complete side remaining. The return of Yamal provides the attacking spark that compensates for Williams’ absence, and Rodri’s presence gives them an unmatched midfield platform.

Portugal are a genuine threat on the counter. Ronaldo in a World Cup knockout — with his first-ever goal in such a fixture already on the board — is a uniquely motivated force. Leão, Neto and Fernándes offer quality in behind Spain’s high line. And Portugal’s 2025 Nations League Final win proves they have the tactical blueprint to beat this Spain side.

Spain’s sustained dominance, the weight of their defensive record, and the structural quality of De la Fuente’s system make them the slight analytical favourites. But this is the Iberian Derby at a World Cup — expect a tight, tense match that could yet be decided by a moment of individual brilliance or a penalty shootout.

Our prediction: Spain to win.

Odds and markets

Odds correct at 2100Hrs UTC on Monday, 6^th July 2026.

How to bet on SportPesa

1. Open the Portugal vs Spain event page on SportPesa (link above).
2. Choose your market — Single Bet (SB), Multi-Bet (MB), or Live Bet (LB) once the match starts.
3. Enter your stake and place your bet.

Frequently asked questions

What time does Portugal vs Spain kick off?

Kick-off is at 21:00 SAST (Monday, 6 July 2026) on Monday, 6 July 2026, at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, USA.

Has Ronaldo ever scored in a World Cup knockout match before?

No — until the Round of 32 win over Croatia, Cristiano Ronaldo had never scored in a World Cup knockout fixture in his entire career. His goal against Croatia in the 94th-minute win made history.

Is Nico Williams playing for Spain?

No. Nico Williams suffered a tournament-ending adductor injury and will not play again at World Cup 2026. Lamine Yamal returns to the starting XI to fill the creative void on Spain’s right.

When did Portugal last beat Spain?

Portugal beat Spain in the 2025 UEFA Nations League Final, holding them to a 2-2 draw before winning the trophy on a penalty shootout. It was a significant recent result that gives Portugal genuine confidence heading into this fixture.

What is the all-time Portugal vs Spain head-to-head record?

Spain hold the historical advantage: 18 wins to Portugal’s 7, with 15 draws from 40 total meetings. However, Portugal have shown consistently in recent years that the gap between the nations at elite level is minimal.

READ ALSO: Argentina vs Egypt prediction.

Orlando Pirates legend Joseph Makhanya has revealed that he had to repeatedly convince Mbekezeli Mbokazi to stop visiting hostels in Soweto after the defender’s rise to professional football.

Mbokazi, 20, joined Orlando Pirates‘ DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) side in 2024 before earning promotion to the senior team a year later.

Nicknamed “TLB”, the defender quickly established himself as one of the club’s brightest young talents, displaying maturity, leadership and composure beyond his years.

He helped Pirates win two trophies before securing a move to Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire in December.

Makhanya, who coached Mbokazi in the DDC, said the defender possessed an exceptional winning mentality and never accepted defeat. He believes Mbokazi’s resilience was forged by his difficult upbringing.

“He has Lucas Thwala’s vibes but again, there’s also that warrior in him whereby he doesn’t want to be defeated. [In his head] he is the ultimate warrior that no one can beat,” Makhanya told Soccer Beat.

“Sometimes the dynamics of growing up shape a player into what he’s about to become. Mbekezeli was shaped a lot by where he’s coming from, whereby he had to fight all his life, so you can see when he’s on the field of play, he’s also fighting.”

Mbokazi was always at the hostels, says Makhanya

The former Pirates midfielder also recalled having to personally fetch Mbokazi from a Soweto hostel, where the young defender would often visit friends despite his growing profile as a professional footballer.

“I’ll be at a garage in my neighbourhood near a hostel and as soon as I get there, attendants will be like, ‘Coach, I saw your player going into the hostel.’

“Now I’m finding it difficult to fetch a player at a hostel. I am scared to go to the hostel. So there had to be a lot of talking to convince him to stop visiting hostels.”

Makhanya explained that his advice was never about distancing Mbokazi from his roots, but about helping him adapt to his new life as a professional footballer.

“I said, ‘Bra, your life is changing. I know these are your brothers and I’m not looking down on them, but try to look after yourself better. We can’t be called every time you’re at a hostel and I have to come fetch you.'”

Mbokazi is currently back in South Africa after returning from the FIFA Club World Cup, where he impressed while representing Bafana Bafana. He has since been linked with top European teams such a Napoli.

It remains to be seen if he will return to Chicago Fire after the FIFA World Cup. The MLS side said they will not stand in the way should a good offer come for the talented defender.

Do you think Makhanya shaped TLB?

WASHINGTON D.C, United States, Juyly 6, 2026 – President Donald Trump has confirmed he asked Fifa to review United States striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match suspension at the World Cup.

Balogun, 25, was set to miss his side’s last-16 tie against Belgium after being shown a straight red card for a foul on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic in the previous round.

But Fifa made the shock decision to suspend the automatic one-match ban for 12 months, leading to widespread criticism, including from Uefa, Belgium and England boss Thomas Tuchel.

Fifa’s decision frees US forward Balogan, who has scored three goals at this summer’s tournament, to be selected for the match in Seattle, which kicks off at 17:00 local time (01:00 BST on Tuesday).

Trump said football’s world governing body “made the right decision”, adding it would have left a “big stain” on the tournament had the ban been implemented.

Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump said he had asked Fifa to review the decision because he “didn’t think it was a foul”.

He confirmed he had spoken to Fifa president Gianni Infantino but said “all” he did was ask for a review and added he did not tell the Swiss he had to suspend Balogun’s ban.

Trump added: “I think it [the suspension] would have left a big stain. I can’t tell them what to do. I don’t believe they made the decision; I believe it was the commission that made the decision. And it was the right decision.”

Trump said referee Raphael Claus’ decision to send off Balogun was “horrible” and called the Brazilian “a little bit suspect”.

In response, the Brazilian football conferdation (CBF) defended Claus’ integrity, stating: “There is nothing in his record that discredits him or gives grounds for any suspicion. He is an exemplary professional.”

In a statement on X, Infantino said that on receiving a call from Trump, he told the US President there was “an ongoing legal process involving Fifa’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies”.

Earlier on Monday, the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it was “astonished” by Fifa’s decision, while European football governing body Uefa said on Tuesday it left the integrity of football at stake.

Belgium’s appeal against the decision has been dismissed.

The Fifa appeal committee deemed Belgium are not an interested party as they were not involved in the original decision and are merely the United States’ next opponents.

“The request was rendered inadmissible on the grounds that the Belgian FA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision,” said Fifa in a statement.

This means Balogun will be free to play against Belgium because there is no party who would appeal against the decision.

When asked by BBC Sport about Trump’s comments and his view on Claus, Fifa said it had “nothing more” to add.

Infantino later stated Fifa’s judicial bodies were “independent” and rulings “must always be respected”.

He added: “I read the decisions of the Fifa Disciplinary Committee when they are issued. Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree.

“What I always do, however, is respect those decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them. Whether we personally like a decision or not is irrelevant.

“Respect for independent institutions and the rule of law is what protects the integrity of our competitions and the credibility of Fifa at all times.”

In raising its concerns, the RBFA said: “Regardless of the sporting outcome of this match, the RBFA is deeply concerned by the course of events and will continue to fight in the coming hours, days and months in defence of the fundamental principles of ethics, fair competition, and the interests of football as a whole.”

England head coach Thomas Tuchel said the ruling set a dangerous precedent.

Tuchel had defender Jarell Quansah sent off in a dramatic 3-2 win over Mexico.

“Where to draw the line is the question that I ask,” he said. “I have no answer to that.

“Do we appeal if a yellow card is not a yellow card? Do we think it is not a red card or who thinks it? Where does this start and where does this end? It’s my question. I don’t have an answer.”

Uefa said intervening to effectively cancel a suspension at a tournament “crossed a red line”.

Of the 189 other red cards at the World Cup, only once has a player escaped a suspension.

That was Brazil’s Garrincha in 1962 – before automatic bans were in place, and the failure to impose a sanction was shrouded in allegations of political interference.

Fifa cited article 27 of its disciplinary code, which gives authority to partially suspended disciplinary measures, in announcing Balogun’s one-match ban would be suspended for a probationary period of one year. However, Fifa has not provided a specific explanation for its decision in the Balogun case.

DAY ONE – Craven Week 2026 Results

Craven Week 2026 has finally arrived, with the best young schoolboy rugby talent in the country looking to showcase their skills and stake a claim for one of the two coveted SA Schools sides. Here is a recap of every match, the standout performances and the full Day One results.

Boland finish strongly to overcome Leopards

The opening game of Craven Week saw the Leopards take on Boland. As the first fixture of the tournament, both teams made a few early mistakes, showing some understandable nerves. However, it was the Leopards who opened the scoring through a burst of pace from Ayden Willemse of Rustenburg High School, who dotted down for the first try of the day. The Leopards kept Boland under pressure throughout the opening half, while two penalties from flyhalf Enos helped his side carry a 13-3 advantage into the break.

The second half began with an early Boland try after their left winger read the play perfectly to snatch an intercept. From there, Boland shifted through the gears. Tries from Lotriet and Jacobs turned the contest on its head, giving Boland a commanding 29-13 lead. The Leopards refused to fade away, responding with five minutes remaining through a hard-fought try as they searched for a late comeback. Their ill-discipline, however, proved costly, allowing Boland to add another penalty before Jacobs completed his hat-trick to wrap up an impressive 39-20 victory in the opening match of Craven Week.

Free State power past spirited Limpopo Blue Bulls

The second encounter of Craven Week featured a Free State side packed with Grey College players against the Limpopo Blue Bulls. What followed was a schoolboy rugby spectacle, with the two sides combining for more than 100 points. Free State eventually ran in 10 tries to secure a dominant 66-41 victory.

After a shock start that saw Free State trail 14-0 after 20 minutes, Eddie Mabena finally got his side on the scoreboard and settled the nerves. From there, the floodgates opened as Free State piled on 28 points in the final 15 minutes of the first half.

It took just three minutes after the restart for Free State to strike again as Andrew Wessels powered over for another try. The Limpopo Blue Bulls continued to battle, but every score was matched by another Free State response as the game developed into an entertaining end-to-end contest. In the end, the Bulls simply couldn’t contain the relentless Free State attack, going down 66-41.

Sharks Schools impress against SWD

The third game of Craven Week was one many had been anticipating, as Sharks Schools and SWD met for the first time in several years. It was SWD who landed the opening blow after poor discipline from the Sharks as the opening scrum gifted them an easy penalty to touch. From the resulting lineout, Bernard Barednhorst crossed for the opening try.

The Sharks thought they had responded immediately, but the TMO ruled out the effort, leaving them trailing 5-0. They continued to challenge the defensive line and were eventually rewarded when Kuzonyei finished out wide to edge the Sharks into a 7-5 lead. SWD threatened to answer after camping inside the Sharks’ 22 through a 14-phase attack, but they were unable to crack the defence and eventually handed the Sharks an easy exit. The remainder of the half saw Sharks Schools combine innovation with physicality as they searched for gaps in a resilient SWD defence.

Early in the second half, disaster struck for the Sharks when flanker Zion Smith took a heavy blow to the head while going into an upright tackle, bringing an early end to his afternoon. Moments later, SWD’s No. 19 was shown a yellow card for a high tackle, and the Sharks capitalised immediately. They kicked deep into the opposition half before driving over from the maul, with Bruiner dotting down for his first try.

SWD failed to learn their lesson and were soon reduced to 13 men after a second yellow card, once again conceding a penalty. Sharks Schools punished them again, making full use of the extra space to extend their lead beyond 10 points.

The Sharks were then given a taste of their own medicine when they received a yellow card for taking a player out in the air, allowing Adrian Smith to cross and keep SWD within touching distance. Even in the closing stages, SWD continued searching for one more score, and it came through Hendriks, whose late try added some respectability to the scoreboard at 29-19.

There was still time for one final play. Sharks Schools looked set to see the game out, but Sonkonokono had other ideas. Reading the pass perfectly, he raced away to cross the whitewash and put the finishing touch on an outstanding performance, sealing a 36-19 victory for Sharks Schools.

Western Province finish strongly against Eastern Province

The final game of Craven Week saw neighbouring provinces battle it out for local bragging rights as Western Province took on Eastern Province. Eastern Province made the perfect start, crashing over in just the third minute. Although Western Province were convinced they had held the ball up, the TMO confirmed the try had been grounded.

It didn’t take long for Western Province to respond, manufacturing a try of their own with Van Biljon adding the extras. The next 10 minutes were packed with physical schoolboy rugby as Province controlled possession. Once they worked their way into the Eastern Province 22, they shifted the ball wide to Dirk Farmer, who crossed to hand Province the lead. Another accurate conversion stretched the advantage to seven points. However, poor discipline from Province allowed Eastern Province a late penalty, leaving them trailing by just a single point at the break (14-13).

The second half began with Eastern Province reclaiming the lead through a try from Doyle, moving six points clear. Their advantage proved short-lived as Western Province moved the ball from touchline to touchline before Caleb Bell dived over to pull his side back within a point. From there, Province’s forwards gradually asserted themselves, driving Eastern Province backwards and creating more room for their backs to exploit. That dominance sparked a flurry of tries as Western Province built a comfortable 15-point cushion.

Eastern Province threatened to mount a late comeback, but with just one unconverted try in the second half, it summed up their afternoon—they were there, but never quite close enough. The final try of Day One came through Behardien, capping off an outstanding performance from both himself and his side as Western Province secured an impressive 45-25 victory.

To watch the first days highlights, visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SCHOOLOFSPORTS

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