Shaharyar Khalid

Pakistan&#39;s proposed 2026-27 budget includes increased spending on social welfare, healthcare, education and housing, reflecting the government&#39;s focus on public welfare. The budget allocates Rs838 billion to the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Rs71 billion to the Prime Minister&#39;s Housing Scheme and Rs25.1 billion for health sector projects. It also sets aside Rs22 billion for Daanish Schools, Rs26.3 billion for broader education initiatives and nearly Rs8 billion for youth skills development programmes. The government says the measures are aimed at strengthening social protection and supporting human development across the country.

Shorts

Pakistan's proposed 2026-27 budget includes increased spending on social welfare, healthcare, education and housing, reflecting the government's focus on public welfare.

Pakistan boosts safety net as budget expands social spending

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for national unity and respect for security forces while detailing government investment in provincial development and counter-terrorism operations, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported Saturday. PM Sharif addressed the National Assembly one day after the government released its fiscal year 2027 budget proposal. He warned that future generations will not forgive national negligence in supporting those who died fighting terrorism, according to APP Urdu News Service. PM Sharif stated a helicopter crash three days prior killed 22 military officers and soldiers, including two Christians. He noted the military continues daily combat operations against terrorist networks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He stated that foreign actors provide financial and technical support to terrorist groups operating in both provinces. The government has erected a security fence on the Balochistan border to protect military personnel, he said. PM Sharif tied security operations to broader resource distribution. Punjab transfers Rs11 billion ($39.5 million) annually to Balochistan from provincial revenue, demonstrating shared burden, he stated, according to APP. The prime minister stated that federal investment in Balochistan includes agricultural and infrastructure projects. Solar panel installations for farmers cost Rs70 billion ($251.6 million), with the federal government providing Rs50 billion ($179.7 million). Meanwhile, the Gwadar-Chaman dual carriageway project costs Rs300 billion ($1.078 billion). PM Sharif referenced the 2010 National Finance Commission Award, Pakistan&#39;s tenth such fiscal pact, which doubled Balochistan&#39;s share. He stated that a functioning nation requires both security and economic justice.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressing the Budget Session of the National Assembly in Islamabad on June 13, 2026. (PMO)

Security

Shehbaz Sharif states terrorism persists in two provinces of the country with foreign backing, with the government investing in border security to curb it.

Pakistan PM urges national unity, respect for military sacrifices

DHAKA: Bangladesh&#39;s cricket board called on Saturday for authorities to thoroughly investigate and take action after a Test player said he was assaulted by police. Nayeem Hasan, an off-spinner who has played 14 Tests, said he was stopped by police in the city of Chattogram and physically abused as he was going home in a tuk-tuk around midnight on Friday. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said it was &quot;deeply concerned&quot; and called for a thorough and impartial probe. Following the allegations, police confirmed that three officers were removed from duty pending further investigation. Nayeem said the incident happened as he was returning to his home in Chattogram, Bangladesh&#39;s second-largest city, from his match in the Dhaka Premier League. &quot;I got down and told them to check my bag. But one of the police officers told me, &#39;Get into the vehicle, you are an accused person,&#39;&quot; Nayeem told reporters. The 26-year-old said police officers grabbed him by the throat, forced him into a vehicle and beat him with a pipe even though he repeatedly identified himself as a Bangladesh national player. &quot;After bringing me to the station, the officer-in-charge told me, &#39;Keep your eyes down. Talk with your eyes down,&#39;&quot; he said. It was not immediately clear why the police officers took action against Nayeem. The BCB said it &quot;strongly condemns the unacceptable and inappropriate conduct displayed towards the player and views the matter with the utmost seriousness&quot;. &quot;Such treatment of a national athlete is deeply regrettable and warrants immediate attention.&quot; The BCB added that it &quot;expects a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident and urges the relevant authorities to take appropriate action against those found responsible&quot;. The Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh also condemned the incident, urging police to take strict action.

Bangladesh spinner Nayeem Hasan celebrates after claiming six wickets in the Test against Sri Lanka, Chattogram, May 16, 2022. (File photo: X/@NH33Official)

Cricket

Hasan says he was stopped by police in the city of Chattogram and physically abused as he was going home in a tuk-tuk around midnight on Friday.

Bangladesh cricket board urges probe after player alleges police assault

Malik Waqar Ahmed

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Team 4Thrives returned home Wednesday to a hero&rsquo;s welcome after winning the PUBG Mobile Global Open 2026 in Jakarta &mdash; the biggest international esports victory in Pakistan&rsquo;s history. The Infinix‑sponsored homecoming drew Islamabad&rsquo;s gaming community to celebrate the squad that topped a 32‑team field with 122 points. Team captain Shayan Asad said the win carried special meaning after a tough start. &ldquo;Winning globally is not a common thing. It&rsquo;s a very big thing,&rdquo; he said. 4Thrives overcame a difficult group stage to peak in the knockout rounds and clinch the title. Veteran player T24OP called the moment the payoff for years of grind.&nbsp; &ldquo;Working hard for six or seven years for PUBG Mobile and finally achieving it &mdash; it&rsquo;s an incredible feeling,&rdquo; he said. Noki added that confidence never wavered: &ldquo;There was no biggest challenge. We were confident we would win the PUBG Mobile championship.&rdquo; The victory arrives as Pakistan prepares to host the PUBG Mobile Global Open Season 2 in October, a sign of the country&rsquo;s expanding footprint in international esports. Organisers and fans say 4Thrives&rsquo; success could mark the start of a new chapter for Pakistani competitive gaming.

E-Sports

The victory arrives as Pakistan prepares to host the PUBG Mobile Global Open Season 2 in October, a sign of the country’s expanding footprint in international esports.

Pakistan team receives rousing welcome after PUBG tournament win in Indonesia

NEW DELHI:&nbsp;Five Indian air force personnel were killed when a military plane crashed while landing at a base in the country&#39;s remote northeast on Saturday, the military said in a statement. &quot;The Indian Air Force deeply regrets the loss of five personnel in the An-32 accident at Jorhat&quot;, a city in Assam state, the air force said in a statement. It did not say how many people were on board at the time, or whether there were any survivors. However, an air force official, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to brief the media, told AFP the co-pilot had survived. News channel NDTV broadcast images of the crash site, showing a thick black plume of smoke and the aircraft apparently broken into pieces. The air force said it &quot;extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and stands firmly with them in this hour of grief&quot;. It said earlier that the Russian-made Antonov An-32 was on a &quot;routine sortie&quot; when it crashed as it came in to land. &quot;A court of inquiry is being constituted, to ascertain the cause of the accident,&quot; the air force said. The An-32, a twin-engine turboprop, is specially designed to perform well at high altitudes and in extreme climates. The Indian air force operates about 100 of them for military supplies and civilian aid in the country&#39;s remotest mountain areas. The last major crash involving the plane occurred in 2019 in Arunachal Pradesh state, near the border with China, when 13 people were killed. News channel NDTV broadcast images of the crash site, showing a thick black plume of smoke and the aircraft apparently broken into pieces.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065673634858008613&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=7474582a4d57c764b8a5ee0cd9e1a14e9b58ebad&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 552px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>

A Russian-made Antonov An-32 (File Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

India

Five Indian Air Force personnel were killed and one survived when an An-32 military transport aircraft crashed while landing at Jorhat air base in Assam.

Five killed in India military transport plane crash

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces have killed 21 terrorists (Khwarij) during a series of intelligence-based operations conducted over the past 72 hours in North Waziristan district on Saturday, according to a statement released by Pakistan military&#39;s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday. According to the statement, security forces engaged multiple terrorists&#39; locations in and around Miran Shah, resulting in fierce exchanges of fire. The military said the terrorists belonged to Indian sponsored &quot;Fitna-al-Khwarij&quot;.&nbsp; Among those killed were four terrorist ring leaders identified as Kharji Khalid Raza alias Salar, Kharji Muftoon, Kharji Musa and Kharji Imran alias Ayan, thereby, causing a significant blow to the terrorists&rsquo; network operating in the area.&nbsp; Killed terrorist ring leaders were highly wanted for their involvement in numerous terrorist activities including killing of security forces personnel and innocent civilians.&nbsp; So far, in total, 48 terrorists have been killed in these highly skilful and precise operations, said the statement.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065683817655046313&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4092%2F&sessionId=1016b562c214d8c3a461466ae24f3105f20c9720&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Security forces also recovered weapons and ammunition from the Indian-sponsored khwarij who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities and killing of innocent civilians, the statement said. The military said clearance operations were continuing in the area to locate and eliminate any remaining terrorists.&nbsp; It added that Pakistan&#39;s counterterrorism campaign under the &quot;Azm-e-Istehkam&quot; initiative (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan would continue in an effort to combat the menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country. PM lauds security forcesPakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the security forces for eliminating 21 terrorists belonging to the Indian-backed Fitna al-Khwarij during a security operation conducted in the Miran Shah area and its surrounding localities in North Waziristan, said a statement issued by the Prime Minister&#39;s Office.&nbsp; &quot;The security forces, through a successful operation, eliminated several terrorists, including four highly wanted Khwarij ringleaders,&quot; Sharif said. &quot;Under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, our brave security forces are achieving major successes in the fight against terrorism,&quot; the prime minister added. &quot;Our war against terrorists will continue until terrorism is completely eradicated from the country,&quot; the prime minister stated.&nbsp;

Pakistan Army clearance operation in Mirali, North Waziristan (File Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Says, 'So far, in total, forty eight khwarij have been killed in these highly skilful and precise operations.'

Pakistan security forces kill 21 terrorists in last 72 hours: Military

Asfandyar Yahya

Every month, households decide what matters most when money runs short; food first, then bills, then everything else. Governments do the same thing, just at a much larger scale.&nbsp; This explainer breaks down what a national budget actually is, why countries cannot simply plan five years ahead, and why a budget is ultimately less about numbers and more about priorities.&nbsp;

Tell Me Why

Every month, households decide what matters most when money runs short; food first, then bills, then everything else. Governments do the same thing, just at a much larger scale. 


Tell Me Why: We have a budget

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s federal budget 2026-27 has introduced a series of new initiatives aimed at accelerating investment, promoting technological advancement, strengthening state institutions, and creating employment opportunities.&nbsp; Alongside relief measures for salaried employees and pensioners, the government has allocated billions of rupees to the projects, designed to modernize the economy and lay the foundation for long-term growth. Investment-led growth strategyA key pillar of the budget is the continued strengthening of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), which serves as a one-window platform for domestic and foreign investors.&nbsp; A sum of Rs354.4 million has been allocated for the council&#39;s operational expenses and Rs479.7 million for development projects. The SIFC is expected to facilitate major investments in mining, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and information technology, the sectors that have the potential to generate significant economic activity and employment over the coming years. Affordable housingAmong the notable new initiatives announced in budget 2026-27 is a plan to construct 150,000 affordable and climate-resilient housing units in collaboration with federal and provincial governments.&nbsp; The initiative aims to address Pakistan&#39;s housing shortage while promoting environmentally sustainable construction practices.&nbsp; The project will focus on providing low-cost housing to deserving families, incorporating climate-resilient designs that can better withstand extreme weather events such as floods and heatwaves.&nbsp; The scheme is expected to improve living conditions for thousands of households while supporting the government&#39;s broader goals of social welfare and climate adaptation. Technology and artificial intelligenceThe government plans to expand support for Pakistan&#39;s digital economy through increased funding for technology-related initiatives.&nbsp; The Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) has been allocated Rs952.5 million for operational expenditures and Rs 563.8 million for development activities. The funding will support technology parks, startup ecosystems, innovation centers, and projects linked to Artificial Intelligence, digital transformation, and IT exports.&nbsp; The finance bill 2026-27 also introduces measures aimed at documenting e-commerce activities and expanding the country&#39;s digital economy. Space, science and innovationPakistan&#39;s space sector receives a notable boost in the new budget.&nbsp; An amount of approximately Rs4.895 billion has been earmarked for development projects of the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO). The funding is supposed to support satellite development, remote sensing projects, scientific research, and advanced technological capabilities that could help strengthen Pakistan&#39;s knowledge economy. Climate resilience and environmental protectionRecognizing the challenges posed by climate change, the government proposed increased allocations for the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination to support environmental protection, disaster preparedness, and climate adaptation initiatives. Meanwhile, the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority has been allocated Rs250.2 million to regulate Pakistan&#39;s emerging medicinal and industrial cannabis sector, which policymakers view as a potential export-oriented industry. Institutional reforms and digital governanceThe budget also allocates Rs6.05 billion for the newly established Federal Constitutional Court, marking one of the most significant institutional developments in recent years. In addition, the Finance Bill introduces measures to digitize tax administration through expanded e-invoicing systems, enhanced taxpayer databases, real-time monitoring mechanisms, and stronger enforcement against tax evasion. New jobsWhile the government has not announced an official employment target for FY 2026-27, many of the budget&#39;s initiatives are expected to support job creation. Investments facilitated through the SIFC, expansion of Special Technology Zones, growth in the IT sector, mineral development projects, infrastructure schemes, and agricultural modernization programs are expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities. Large mining projects, technology parks, infrastructure investments, and PSDP-funded development schemes have historically supported substantial employment during both construction and operational phases.&nbsp; The planned construction of 150,000 affordable homes is also expected to become a significant source of employment.&nbsp; Large-scale housing projects typically create jobs across a wide range of sectors, including construction, engineering, architecture, transportation, cement, steel, bricks, electrical equipment, plumbing, and other building materials industries.&nbsp; A project of this scale could support tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs during both the construction and supply-chain phases.&nbsp; The initiative is therefore expected to contribute not only to housing provision but also to economic activity and employment growth across the country. Although no consolidated estimate has been provided in the budget documents, these initiatives could support several hundred thousand direct and indirect jobs over the medium term. Overall, budget 2026-27 reflects the government&#39;s strategy of combining investment promotion, technology-led growth, institutional reform, and economic documentation to strengthen Pakistan&#39;s economy and create opportunities for future generations.

Economy

The new budget unveils major initiatives focused on investment, technology, affordable housing, climate resilience, and digital governance, with billions allocated to SIFC, IT, space and infrastructure; projects expected to create thousands of jobs and drive long-term economic growth.

Budget 2026-27: Investment, technology, jobs take center stage

ISLAMABAD: India&#39;s Cockroach Janta Party will assemble for a peaceful protest demanding the resignation of the education minister Dharmendra Pradhan at Amritsar Gate on Saturday.&nbsp; In a post on X, the &quot;cockroach party&quot; called on supporters to attend the protest and send what they described as a &quot;strong message&quot; to the minister.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065626905441714195&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4092%2F&sessionId=1016b562c214d8c3a461466ae24f3105f20c9720&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>After two successful peaceful protests in Delhi and Pune, the cockroach party has planned further protest in Amritsar city.&nbsp;&nbsp;The party held its first major street protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, calling for Pradhan&#39;s resignation over major exam irregularities, including question paper leaks and technical glitches. Within weeks, the movement has amassed more than 22 million followers on Instagram, making it one of the most prominent youth-driven online campaigns in India.&nbsp;

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke (C) takes part in a protest over alleged irregularities in the country's major examinations, in New Delhi on June 6, 2026. (File photo: AFP) 

Student activists and education advocates will gather at Amritsar Gate at 4 pm today for a peaceful protest demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

India's 'Cockroach Party' to hold Amritsar protest demanding education minister's resignation

ISLAMABAD: Indian National Congress, India&rsquo;s main opposition party, has announced the first phase of a nationwide campaign against alleged examination paper leaks, recruitment irregularities, unemployment and what it described as the Modi government&#39;s failure to safeguard the interests of young people. In a statement issued on Saturday, Congress General Secretary K. C. Venugopal said the campaign would be launched under the leadership of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 897px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065639460566667543&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=88694f70cb01be24fd9760e0e89ab4a730e54ed9&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>According to the party, Rahul Gandhi will address a series of large student conventions beginning in Kota on June 17, followed by events in Allahabad on July 10, Patna on July 11 and Delhi on July 14. The gatherings are expected to bring together students, job aspirants, educators and youth organizations affected by examination controversies and employment challenges. The Congress said the campaign aims to highlight the difficulties faced by millions of young Indians due to repeated paper leak incidents, rising examination costs and concerns over transparency in recruitment and education systems.&nbsp; The party said it would mobilize students through its affiliated organizations, including the National Students&#39; Union of India (NSUI) and Youth Congress, using campus outreach, social media campaigns, public meetings and direct engagement with students across the country. As part of the movement, Congress reiterated demands previously raised by Rahul Gandhi, including decentralization of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), abolition of examination fees, stricter legal action against those involved in paper leak cases and greater accountability from government officials. The party also renewed its call for the resignation of India&#39;s education minister over the handling of examination controversies.&nbsp; The campaign comes amid heightened political debate in India over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the NEET medical entrance test. Congress leaders have repeatedly accused the government of failing to prevent paper leaks and protect students&#39; interests, while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has rejected the allegations. Congress said it would also seek a broader discussion in Parliament on issues affecting the country&#39;s youth, including employment opportunities, examination reforms and equal access to education.

Rahul Gandhi, Indian Leader of the Opposition. (Screenshot: X/ @RahulGandhi)

India's opposition Congress party has launched a nationwide campaign led by Rahul Gandhi against paper leaks, exam irregularities and unemployment. The campaign will include student conventions across major cities and seeks accountability over examination scandals and youth-related issues.

India's opposition launches nationwide campaign over paper leaks, unemployment

LOS ANGELES: The United States launched their home World Cup in emphatic fashion Friday, thrashing Paraguay 4-1 with a perfectly scripted opening performance to delight a star-studded home crowd in Los Angeles. Folarin Balogun scored twice while relentless US pressure led to an early Paraguay own goal from Damian Bobadilla before substitute Gio Reyna added a late fourth to cap a dream start for Mauricio Pochettino&#39;s side at the SoFi Stadium in Group D. The US entered the tournament amid a swirl of uncertainty after a series of defeats and unconvincing performances in pre-World Cup friendlies. But any doubts about their ability to progress past the first round were obliterated in a dazzling first-half display which saw them roar into a 3-0 lead to all but seal victory in the opening 45 minutes. &quot;Just a great start from the guys,&quot; US star Christian Pulisic said afterwards. &quot;The guys came out with so much energy, just a great performance and a deserved win. &quot;It&#39;s just the start of a long journey. We&#39;ve got a lot more to do. It&#39;s really, really great start and we should be proud but we&#39;ve got to keep pushing and be ready for the next game.&quot; Pop star Katy Perry got the party started with a rousing performance just before kick-off while Hollywood royalty including Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio and Halle Berry were amongst a 70,492 crowd. The US men rose to the occasion with a performance of flair and precision that will ignite dreams of a deep run in the tournament by the co-hosts, with group games against Australia and Turkey to come. Wave after wave of US pressure led to Bobadilla&#39;s opening goal after just seven minutes before Balogun -- who grew up in London and represented England youth teams before pledging allegiance to the United States bagged his brace. The only blemish on the US performance was the conceding of a Paraguay goal from Brazil-born Mauricio in the 73rd minute after hesitancy in the hosts&#39; defence. Canada grab first pointIn Friday&#39;s other game, co-hosts Canada earned the first World Cup point in its history when Cyle Larin grabbed a second-half equaliser in Toronto to make it 1-1 after Bosnia-Herzegovina had taken the lead with a close-range header from Jovo Lukic. &quot;It was special for me. I was ready to come and help the team. I thought the goals would come. I score when Canada needs me, and always have done,&quot; Larin said. Canadian film stars Ryan Reynolds and Mike Myers were in the packed crowd to watch the first-ever World Cup match on Canadian soil. But former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau skipped the game in favour of the USA opener in Los Angeles -- where his girlfriend Katy Perry was performing. Partey blocked by Canada&nbsp;Off the pitch, Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, who is facing trial in Britain on rape charges, has been denied a visa to enter Canada. FIFA said Partey &quot;will be unable to travel from Ghana&#39;s team base camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government.&quot; The 32-year-old will be eligible to play in Ghana&#39;s subsequent Group L games against England and Croatia, both taking place in the United States. Trump&#39;s immigration policies have created problems for nationals from certain countries. Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States despite having a valid visa. And US authorities have refused visas to some members of the Iran team&#39;s support staff as well as Senegalese and Ivory Coast fans. Friday&#39;s games in Los Angeles and Toronto were the precursor to a packed slate of World Cup fixtures on Saturday, with eight teams in action. Five-time world champions Brazil will launch their bid for a sixth title with a testing game against Morocco in East Rutherford in Group C while Scotland make their long-awaited return to World Cup football against Haiti. Australia will take on Turkey in Vancouver while Qatar play Switzerland in Santa Clara, California. The World Cup, expanded to 48 teams, will culminate in the final in New Jersey on July 19.

US midfielder #07 Giovanni Reyna celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's fourth goal during the 2026 World Cup Group D football match between USA and Paraguay at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 12, 2026. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon

Football

The United States opened their home World Cup campaign in dominant style with a 4–1 victory over Paraguay, while co-host Canada earned their first-ever World Cup point in a 1–1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina.