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In the Asia Cup final, the Indian women's hockey team suffered a 1-4 defeat against China, despite an early lead from Navneet Kaur. China's Zixia Ou, Hong Li, Meirong Zou, and Jiaqi Zhong scored, securing China's victory and a direct spot in the 2026 World Cup. India's forward line struggled, and they must now compete in the World Cup Qualifiers.

Kylian Mbappé marked his return to World Cup qualifying with a goal as France defeated Ukraine 2-0 in Poland. This victory, alongside Iceland's 5-0 win, starts their campaign strongly. Italy also secured a 5-0 win against Estonia, while Switzerland and Greece dominated their matches. Mbappé's goal tied Thierry Henry's record, fueling his ambition to surpass it.

Uruguay, Colombia, and Paraguay have clinched their spots in the 2026 World Cup, joining Argentina, Brazil, and Ecuador. Uruguay and Colombia celebrated dominant 3-0 victories, while Paraguay secured their qualification with a draw. Argentina also triumphed over Venezuela, and Brazil defeated Chile with goals from Estevao, Lucas Paqueta, and Bruno Guimaraes.

Chelsea's coach, Enzo Maresca, has criticized FIFA for hosting the Club World Cup in the United States, citing weather-related disruptions. Saturday's match against Benfica was delayed for two hours due to lightning, ultimately lasting nearly five hours. Maresca questioned the suitability of the U.S. as a venue, pointing to extreme heat and multiple weather delays.