FIFA World Cup 2026 LIVE scores, Day 8: Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina results, highlights, latest news; Lionel Messi’s father health updates

Netherlands great Rafael van der Vaart has issued a grovelling apology after making a bizarre racist comment during his country’s 2-2 draw with Japan.

Van der Vaart was commentating for NOS TV after Micky van de Ven lost track of Koki Ogawa’s run for Japan’s late goal.

“They all look alike, of course, maybe he thought that,” he said of Van de Ven.

The former Spurs midfielder today offered a damage control apology

“It was never my intention to offend, hurt, or discriminate against anyone. I oppose racism in all its forms and have respect for people of every background, ethnicity, and culture,” he said.

“I understand that some people may have found my words offensive or hurtful. I sincerely regret that.

“If my comment has caused pain or upset, I would like to offer my heartfelt apologies. That was never my intention.”

Former Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann has made some bizarre comments questioning the quality of England captain Harry Kane.

Kane scored twice in England’s win over Croatia and is now the country’s equal-leading goalscorer in World Cup history (10) alongside Gary Lineker.

Hamann wants him to lift.

“He’s got two against Tunisia, three against Panama, a penalty against Colombia in the round of 16,” Hamann said on RTE Sport.

“Out of 10 goals, he’s got seven or eight in the group stage. He’s playing in his third World Cup now. He’s the captain and he’s there to score goals in the knockout games.

“The jury’s out. I want to see him do it in the last 16 against France, in the last eight against Brazil. Whether he’s capable of doing it, we don’t know. He hasn’t done it so far.”

When England players lined up to sing their national anthem before their World Cup opener against Croatia, they shared the moment with thousands of their fans at the Dallas Stadium, who sang aloud and waved flags.

But one person at the stadium who missed out on the experience was England coach Thomas Tuchel, whose view from the dugout was blocked by a throng of photographers positioned in front of him.

“I’m begging FIFA to change the position of the photographers, because I could not see my team (during) the national anthem, and I was waiting for this moment,” a frustrated Tuchel told reporters after the 4-2 win.

“It was a very, very special moment today and I was standing in front of 50 photographers half a metre away and I could not see one single player. It ruined a little bit my experience today.”

FIFA has now changed its policy and has agreed to a compromise for all affected games.

Photographers will now be grouped in a huddle closer to the halfway line - allowing an unobstructed view for the coaching staff.

Mark Schwarzer has made the massive call that Paul Okon-Engstler is already a better player than his famous father.

Paul Okon is regarded as one of the highest quality players Australia has ever produced.

The midfielder captained the Socceroos and had a successful Serie A career with Lazio and Fiorentina.

Okon is now on the Socceroos coaching staff and his son, Okon-Engstler, was one of the surprise stars of the 2-0 World Cup win over Turkiye.

“I have to say Paul Okon-Engstler Jr is an improved version of his dad,” Socceroos great Schwarzer said on Stan Sport’s World Cup Daily.

“I was fortunate enough to play with his dad, grew up around the Marconi academy there and also played in the national team with him. And Paul Okon was a hell of a player, right? But his son is an improved version of him and he was brilliant. He was absolutely superb (against Turkiye).

“I got a chance to meet him in March as well, and he’s a really good, humble kid, Paul Okon-Engstler. Really good head on his shoulders and I was delighted to see him perform so well.”

An Uber driver taking American fans of Argentina’s football team to a World Cup match was among four people injured in a series of shootings in Kansas City that also left one man dead.

A 22-year-old male suspect, described as armed and dangerous, remains at large.

The five shootings occurred on Wednesday, three of them on Interstates 70 and 670 as they cut through downtown.

All of the shootings were at least 6km away from Arrowhead Stadium, where Argentina won their first match against Algeria.

Two Argentina fans told Argentine outlet La Nacion that someone in a car came alongside and fired two shots at the Uber they were riding in, hitting the driver in the leg.

They said they first thought the sound was a car tyre popping until they saw the driver had been hit.

Lionel Messi’s father is undergoing medical treatment for an undisclosed illness and his family asked the media for “humanity” amid rumours about Jorge Messi’s health while his son competes at the World Cup.

The family did not specify the illness that the 68-year-old Jorge Messi is suffering from.

“Jorge is going through a health situation,” the Messi family said in a statement.

“He is currently under medical observation, recovering and progressing favourably within his current condition.”

The 39-year-old Messi said after Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria in the team’s opening World Cup match that he was going through a difficult personal situation.

He was very emotional after scoring the first of his three goals, which allowed him to equal Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals.

“My tears after the first goal? I’ve had some tough days. It wasn’t related to soccer. And those feelings were because of that,” Messi said.

“I thank my teammates, the coaching staff and the delegation for helping me.”

The family statement, released by Messi’s media office, came on the same day that reports of Jorge Messi’s death circulated in Argentina.

“At times like these, we ask for responsibility, prudence and humanity,” the family said.

“A person’s health and the peace of mind of their loved ones should not be the subject of speculation or irresponsible media interest.”

South Africa scored a penalty seven minutes from fulltime as they fought back to draw 1-1 with the Czech Republic at the World Cup after falling behind early in the Group A clash.

The result effectively left the two sides, who both lost their opening fixtures, likely requiring a win in their last group game to keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds.

Teboho Mokoena slotted home the late spot kick which gave South Africa a lifeline as they were staring at potential early elimination, after the Czechs had led from the sixth minute through Michal Sadilek.

“I don’t see a reason,” South Africa’s manager, Hugo Broos, replied when asked if he was relieved.

“I think that we played a very good game today, except for one moment in the beginning of the first half, where we were not concentrated, not focused.”

Both teams now have a point after losing their respective opening games last week.

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