Malaysia Pulse delivers breaking news, politics, business, sports and lifestyle coverage from Malaysia and Southeast Asia — trusted, timely and independent.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended mandatory three-minute hydration breaks introduced at the World Cup, saying they address player welfare in extreme heat rather than serving commercial interests, though criticism persists from coaches.
Uzbekistan coach Fabio Cannavaro has taken personal responsibility for his team's 5-0 World Cup defeat to Portugal in Houston, telling reporters he made tactical mistakes rather than blaming his players.
Penang police arrested 12 men and confiscated nearly RM9,000 in a statewide operation targeting illegal online betting syndicates that capitalised on World Cup fever.
%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fpattern%3E%3C%2Fdefs%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph1at9yg)%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph1at9yp)%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22central%22%20fill%3D%22rgba(255%2C255%2C255%2C0.95)%22%20font-family%3D%22Georgia%2C%20'Times%20New%20Roman'%2C%20serif%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20font-size%3D%22136%22%20letter-spacing%3D%22-0.02em%22%3ERecord-Br%E2%80%A6%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
The World Cup achieved its 100-goal milestone at a record-breaking pace when the Netherlands' Cody Gakpo scored in their 5-1 victory over Sweden on Saturday, surpassing the average of previous tournaments.
Colombia aim to secure their place in the knockout stages when they face DR Congo on Tuesday, with the Africans buoyed by their shock draw against Portugal in their first World Cup appearance since 1974.
Deniz Undav struck twice as a substitute to lead Germany to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast, securing their passage to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time since winning the tournament in 2014.
French World Cup supporters have been warned to avoid touching or dressing Philadelphia's famous Rocky Balboa statue, after multiple teams whose fans decorated it reportedly suffered sporting defeats.
%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fpattern%3E%3C%2Fdefs%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph3yhlsg)%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph3yhlsp)%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22central%22%20fill%3D%22rgba(255%2C255%2C255%2C0.95)%22%20font-family%3D%22Georgia%2C%20'Times%20New%20Roman'%2C%20serif%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20font-size%3D%22194%22%20letter-spacing%3D%22-0.02em%22%3EMorocco%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi has publicly supported captain Achraf Hakimi after a French court ordered the Paris Saint-Germain defender to stand trial on rape charges, while fans booed him during Friday's 1-0 World Cup victory against Scotland.
Morocco's World Cup coach has voiced support for PSG defender Achraf Hakimi, who is navigating rape allegations stemming from a 2023 incident in the Paris region. The player has consistently denied the claims.
Morocco overpowered Scotland to secure a 1-0 victory courtesy of the tournament's quickest goal, scored by Ismael Saibari after just 71 seconds. The North Africans now lead Group C with four points from two matches.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has lauded the national football team's character and determination following the country's maiden World Cup finals match victory, visiting the squad in their dressing room.
The mother of Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has secured a U.S. visa to watch her son compete at the World Cup, after initially missing his acclaimed performance against Spain due to travel barriers.
The Ivory Coast Football Federation has barred striker Elye Wahi from traveling to Canada for this weekend's World Cup match against Germany, following his implication in a French league match-fixing investigation.
Lionel Messi has disclosed he is navigating significant personal difficulties, revealing the emotional context behind his display of tears following his maiden World Cup hat-trick in Argentina's commanding 3-0 defeat of Algeria.
%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fpattern%3E%3C%2Fdefs%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23phx38bg)%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23phx38bp)%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22central%22%20fill%3D%22rgba(255%2C255%2C255%2C0.95)%22%20font-family%3D%22Georgia%2C%20'Times%20New%20Roman'%2C%20serif%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20font-size%3D%22320%22%20letter-spacing%3D%22-0.02em%22%3EOne%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
FIFA confirms that more than one million spectators attended the opening 16 matches of the World Cup in North America, with stadiums operating at 99.34 per cent capacity, though concerns persist over ticket accessibility and crowd segregation.
Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi, who featured prominently in his nation's World Cup victory over Ecuador, was detained in France last month while authorities investigated allegations of match manipulation and betting irregularities.
Austria narrowly defeated World Cup debutants Jordan 3-1 in an uncomfortable display, prompting coach Ralf Rangnick to acknowledge the rising competitive standard of smaller nations at the expanded 48-team tournament.
Erling Haaland announced himself on the World Cup stage with two first-half goals as Norway thrashed Iraq 4-1 on Tuesday, extending his remarkable streak of scoring debuts across Europe's top competitions.
RTMKlik's World Cup streaming service experienced technical problems during the France vs Senegal match, leaving Malaysian fans who rose before dawn unable to watch the opening half.
South Korea's World Cup squad has boycotted voluntary media engagements after local reporters were caught on a hot microphone allegedly mocking captain Son Heung-min's military service, prompting the football association to demand greater responsibility from press.
Ghana's government has launched a legal challenge in Canadian federal court against Ottawa's refusal to grant a World Cup visa to Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, who faces rape allegations in Britain.
%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fpattern%3E%3C%2Fdefs%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph4a909g)%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph4a909p)%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22central%22%20fill%3D%22rgba(255%2C255%2C255%2C0.95)%22%20font-family%3D%22Georgia%2C%20'Times%20New%20Roman'%2C%20serif%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20font-size%3D%22320%22%20letter-spacing%3D%22-0.02em%22%3EIran%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Iran's World Cup manager has accused organisers of imposing unusual restrictions on his team, ordering them to depart Los Angeles immediately after their opening match rather than allowing recovery time.
Sweden's lethal attacking partnership of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres proved devastating as the Scandinavians routed Tunisia 5-1 in their World Cup opener, exposing the North African side's defensive frailties.
Australia secured a commanding 2-0 victory over Turkey in their World Cup Group D match in Vancouver, with strikes from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe propelling them into second place in the standings.
Scotland defeated Haiti 1-0 in their World Cup Group C opener, clinching their first tournament victory in 36 years. The win positions them to potentially end a historic drought of never advancing past the group stage.
Germany's 40-year-old goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has acknowledged the generational divide within the squad, recalling his Walkman days while noting younger players like Jamal Musiala speak differently.
Portugal's World Cup squad will wear commemorative wristbands bearing the names of all squad members as a tribute to deceased Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident in Spain last July.
Brazil and Morocco drew 1-1 in a Group C World Cup match, with Ismael Saibari giving Morocco an early lead before Vinicius Jr equalised. The result leaves the group wide open heading into later fixtures.
The Netherlands prepare for their World Cup campaign with Sunday's Group F opener against Japan in Dallas. Coach Ronald Koeman acknowledges internal pressure to succeed, with key players like Memphis Depay fit and available for selection.
Two individuals have been charged with receiving stolen property after England's World Cup training equipment disappeared during transit to Kansas City. Most items were recovered before the team's first session.
Ayyoub Bouaddi, 18, delivered a commanding midfield display on his competitive international debut as Morocco held five-time champions Brazil to a 1-1 draw in their World Cup Group C opener.
A security lapse has exposed the passport details of Argentina's entire squad for Tuesday's warm-up fixture against Iceland, including star player Lionel Messi.
South Korea will dispatch two ruling Democratic Party lawmakers as special envoys to Mexico this week to support the national football team and strengthen diplomatic ties with the host nation.
FIFA has cancelled a substantial batch of World Cup tickets that were accidentally distributed without charge. The football body took action to void the erroneous allocations.
Mexico City faces mounting protests one week before the World Cup kicks off on June 11, with striking teachers, relatives of missing persons, and transport workers planning demonstrations at tournament venues.
Germany's football federation is exploring a World Cup hosting bid for either 2038 or 2042, enlisting 14 stadiums with capacities exceeding 40,000.
The International Sepaktakraw Federation has referred 12 Thai players and three officials to its disciplinary committee for their involvement in a walkout during the 2026 Sepak Takraw World Cup final in Kuala Lumpur last month.
Toronto Police have seized counterfeit soccer merchandise valued at C$3.5 million from a Mississauga warehouse ahead of the World Cup, marking the largest known haul in Canadian history.
Vinicius Jr delivered a masterclass at the Maracana, scoring early and setting up another goal as Brazil dominated Panama 6-2 in a friendly tune-up for the 2026 World Cup.
Algeria have recalled midfielder Nabil Bentaleb to their World Cup squad, alongside key attackers Houssem Aouar and Amine Gouiri. Goalkeeper Oussama Benbot also returns after initially retiring from international football.
The International Sepaktakraw Federation will investigate the controversial incident from the Malaysia-Thailand World Cup team regu final through formal procedures, with both nations backing the review process.
%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fpattern%3E%3C%2Fdefs%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph2boo0g)%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph2boo0p)%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22central%22%20fill%3D%22rgba(255%2C255%2C255%2C0.95)%22%20font-family%3D%22Georgia%2C%20'Times%20New%20Roman'%2C%20serif%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20font-size%3D%22272%22%20letter-spacing%3D%22-0.02em%22%3EKorea%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu has announced plans to resign following the World Cup in North America, acknowledging persistent criticism over his leadership and governance issues.
New Zealand defender Tim Payne's Instagram followers surged from 4,715 to 660,000 in days after Argentine influencer Valen Scarsini dubbed him the World Cup's least known player and encouraged followers to engage with his account.
Neymar skipped Brazil's first World Cup training session for medical testing due to a right calf issue. The 34-year-old has not played for Santos since May 17 but remains expected to feature in the tournament.
New York and New Jersey have opened investigations into FIFA's World Cup ticket sales, focusing on claims of deceptive seat location information and dynamic pricing.
Arsenal's strong campaign has exposed soccer's mounting workload problem, with FIFPRO warning that fixture congestion is driving up injuries ahead of the World Cup in North America.
Haitian migrants and other minorities are reconsidering World Cup attendance as stricter US immigration enforcement raises safety concerns. Haiti's return to the tournament sparks pride tempered by fear.
The Malaysian Sepaktakraw Federation has escalated a formal complaint to the International Sepaktakraw Federation over the actions of three senior Thai officials during the World Cup final, after Thailand withdrew from the match in protest.
Football fans across Kuala Lumpur and Selangor have plenty of options to experience World Cup fever, from 24-hour curry houses to sports bars and food courts equipped with multiple screens.
Malaysia's sepak takraw regu team clinched the 2026 World Cup title following Thailand's withdrawal from the final at Stadium Titiwangsa, ending the rivals' three-tournament winning streak. Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid praised the squad's effort.
Malaysia claimed the 2026 World Cup sepak takraw team regu title when Thailand abandoned the final at Stadium Titiwangsa last night following a contentious umpiring review. Captain Amirul Zazwan Amir said he would have preferred to finish the match.
Malaysia's sepak takraw team won the 2026 World Cup final on home soil after Thailand withdrew in protest against a refereeing decision, but national coach Ahmad Jais admitted discomfort with the manner of victory.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has praised Malaysia's national sepak takraw regu team for capturing the 2026 World Cup title at Stadium Titiwangsa, ending Thailand's three-tournament dominance.
Malaysia won the 2026 Sepak Takraw World Cup team regu title when Thailand abandoned the final at Stadium Titiwangsa after disputing a refereeing decision on a boundary line call in a decisive match.
Malaysia secured a spot in the Sepak Takraw World Cup final by defeating Indonesia 2-0 in the team regu semi-final at Stadium Titiwangsa. The national side will face defending champions Thailand in tonight's final at 8 pm.
%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fpattern%3E%3C%2Fdefs%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph5gif1g)%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph5gif1p)%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22central%22%20fill%3D%22rgba(255%2C255%2C255%2C0.95)%22%20font-family%3D%22Georgia%2C%20'Times%20New%20Roman'%2C%20serif%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20font-size%3D%22170%22%20letter-spacing%3D%22-0.02em%22%3EMohammad%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Malaysia's star sepak takraw player Mohammad Syahir has been ruled out of tonight's World Cup final against Thailand due to injury sustained in the quarter-finals. Head coach Ahmad Jais Baharun says the player needs 1-3 months to recover.
Norway has unveiled its 26-man World Cup squad headlined by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard. Uncapped Hamburg SV goalkeeper Sander Tangvik secured the final spot after an intense selection process that required approval from King Harald.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has lauded Malaysia's sepak takraw squad for capturing the inaugural quadrant title at the 2026 Sepak Takraw World Cup, defeating India 2-0 in the final.