Midfielder Sipesile Ndlovu shared his impressions of life under the new head coach Fernando Da Cruz after the team's European preseason tour in Alicante, Spain.
The 29-year-old midfielder believes that the club is showing progress under the new coach Fernando Da Cruz ahead of the Betway Premiership 2026/27 season. Speaking from the team's camp in Alicante, Ndlovu noted that the squad has adapted well to Da Cruz's ideas and is improving with every training session.
He stated: 'It was a wonderful camp. We are very happy to be here to prepare for the new season. We look better and sharper in every training session. We have a new coach with a new philosophy, and we are adapting well to his ideas.' Ndlovu emphasized that the team is motivated and ambitious, but they are working, not on vacation.
For Ndlovu, the opportunity to complete a full preseason with Chiefs was particularly valuable, as he joined the club shortly before the start of last season without being able to prepare fully. The midfielder participated in Chiefs' friendly matches in Spain against teams such as Rangers, Al Khouled, and the La Liga Spanish club Elche. These games allowed them to assess the team's development against different styles of opponents.
Ndlovu believes these trials were useful preparation before a season in which Chiefs will participate in both domestic competitions and the CAF Confederation Cup. He noted that matches against different types of teams, such as the more physical Rangers and the more tactical Al Khouled, are similar to what the team will face in the league and the CAF Confederation Cup.
After concluding the European tour with a match against Elche, the team returned home, where they will continue preparations in the Toyota Cup against Scotland FC on July 26. Ndlovu believes this match will give the team another chance to deepen their understanding of Da Cruz's requirements. He added that the main goal in the Toyota Cup is to see how committed the team is to the new coach's philosophy, as well as to refine combinations and overall understanding of the playing style.
Amid high expectations at Naturena stadium, Ndlovu urged fans to remain patient while the revamped Chiefs continues to develop. He is convinced that the team is building something special, and fan support plays a huge role in this process.
Tension arose between Argentine player Leandro Paredes and Spaniard Gavi after the final whistle of the World Cup. Critics condemned Argentina for unsportsmanlike conduct and harsh tactical approaches during the 1-0 loss to Spain, reinforcing the country's reputation as the tournament's 'villain.'
Nevertheless, Argentines themselves claim they are simply passionate and are misunderstood. Leo Simone, a 55-year-old lawyer from the outskirts of Buenos Aires, noted that they should admit they are not always popular due to a tendency towards arrogance and condescension toward most people.
His wife agreed with this, preferring to remain anonymous. Although Lionel Messi is loved worldwide, anti-Argentine sentiment has grown amid accusations that Argentina benefits from referee favoritism, receiving advantageous decisions such as penalties and cards against opponents.
The final was marked by numerous fouls and on-field fights, as well as the Argentine team turning away when Spain accepted the World Cup. The New York Times characterized this as an 'irritating, capricious, and off-putting performance.' Former German player Thomas Hitzlsperger stated on X that the team was 'disgusting athletes,' while British broadcaster Piers Morgan claimed they were 'essentially just hitting as many Spanish players as possible.'
Near Ezeiza airport, where thousands of fans welcomed the players' return to Buenos Aires on Monday evening, 35-year-old construction worker Maximiliano Eredia said: 'We have always been criticized, we are used to it. But we always give everything we have.'
Many Argentines online view the criticism as a badge of honor. Journalist Pedro Rozemblat wrote on his Instagram that 'there is something about Argentine disrespect that they cannot tolerate. Our rebellion irritates them, makes them furious... they call us arrogant, cheaters, dirty. And we love it; it fills us with pride.'
Sports journalist Ezequiel Fernandez Mures told AFP that some of the criticism was justified: 'Sometimes we think we are the center of the universe, that God and our own belly button are Argentine.'
He added that local football codes of provocation, mockery, and boasting are not always understood by the global audience, and that 'we cannot expect the world to understand us, our way of life, our feelings, and our way of self-expression.' Nevertheless, he noted that the team turning away from Spain upon receiving the cup 'was wrong.'
Lawyer Simone rejects the idea that physical play makes Argentina an aggressive team. He emphasized that 'Argentina is a team that fights hard, like almost all South American football, but Spain also resorted to tactical fouls.' He concluded: 'It's football: if you don't like getting hit, play volleyball.'
For Evelio Rubio, a 47-year-old neurologist from Venezuela who lived in Argentina for ten years, it is impossible to understand from the outside how 'football is experienced here.' He noted that for a Venezuelan whose national team rarely wins titles, experiencing this passion from within 'is spectacular.'
Furthermore, Argentine fans and some players have faced accusations of racism, such as over a song the team sang in the past mocking black players of the French national team as not being true Frenchmen. There is also a long history of club fans throwing bananas onto the field or making monkey gestures at Brazilian fans or Black players.
During this World Cup, FIFA condemned racism in a statement after an Argentine fan live-streamed advising the Black American influencer IShowSpeed to 'cry in the zoo.' American actor Samuel L. Jackson caused controversy by urging Black people not to support Argentina, calling it one of the 'most racist countries in the world.'
Sociologist Ivan Shuliyaker from the National University of San Martin stated that people should not apply racism related to football to the entire Argentine culture and history. He acknowledged that such racism exists and cannot be denied, but noted that 'in many cases these labels come from colonizing countries that have not yet fully solved the problem of racism.'
Following their victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the celebration of the Spanish players attracted worldwide attention. Among the celebratory moments that surprised football fans was the fact that some Spanish players cut pieces of the goal net and kept them as souvenirs.
In the final, which took place at the MetLife Stadium on Sunday night, Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time. The main part of the match, lasting 90 minutes, was goalless, but in the 106th minute, substitute Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal, securing Spain's second World Cup title.
The Spanish players adopted one of the most famous traditions from basketball, not football. They cut the goal net and kept it as a memento of their greatest sporting victory, which they can cherish for life. Since this type of celebration is rare in football, this moment caused a wide resonance on social media and within the sports community.
The tradition of cutting nets after a victory dates back to the state of Indiana in the USA. In the early 20th century, teams that won the basketball championship there kept parts of the nets as a symbol of their triumph. This practice gained widespread popularity globally in 1947 when North Carolina State coach Everett Case cut a piece of a basketball net while standing on the shoulders of players to mark his team's victory in the Southern Conference tournament.
Before joining North Carolina State in 1946, Everett Case had been a high school basketball coach in Indiana for 23 years, winning four state championships. After that, the tradition became one of the most prestigious symbols of victory in US college and professional basketball. Unlike in football, where players usually keep medals, match balls, or jerseys after winning a trophy, the Spanish athletes gave their celebration a special twist by adopting this historic basketball tradition, making pieces of the goal net the most valuable reminder of the historic victory at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be remembered not only for its bright moments on the field but also for a number of controversial situations that attracted global attention. The tournament demonstrated that football goes beyond just a game, touching upon issues ranging from ticket price disputes to political interference.
Egypt's defeat, which occurred after a late comeback, was overshadowed by the disallowed goal and the rejection of a penalty appeal following VAR analysis. This caused dissatisfaction from the Egyptian Football Association, which stated that several refereeing decisions affecting the match outcome were inconsistent and unfair. The association demanded the exclusion of the referee team from the remainder of the tournament.
Head coach Hossam Hassan also criticized the referees' performance, asserting that Egypt had been unfairly overlooked, and suggested that some decisions helped keep Argentina and Lionel Messi in the competition.
Another major issue arose during the World Cup after US President Donald Trump publicly intervened in a referee's decision concerning the American team. Trump stated that he had approached FIFA President Gianni Infantino requesting a review of the red card shown to US forward Folarin Balogun, calling the decision 'terrible.' He insisted that he had only requested a review and not pressured FIFA, later praising the governing body's decision to overturn the suspension.
His involvement drew criticism from football figures who believed that political leaders should not interfere in sporting decisions. Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp was among the critics, stating, 'This is our sport, not theirs,' and warning that any political involvement in FIFA's disciplinary process would undermine the integrity of the game.
FIFA took steps to remove unauthorized advertising from the stadiums by temporarily renaming all 15 host stadiums in North America that had commercial names. At the Levi's stadium in Santa Clara, which was renamed 'San Francisco Bay Area Stadium' for the tournament, large white coverings were placed over the Levi's logos both inside and outside.
Instead of ignoring this unusual move, Levi's turned it into a viral marketing campaign. The company changed its Instagram profile avatar to a masked version of its logo and spread the campaign to stores worldwide, placing similar white coverings on store signs in cities such as Paris, London, Brazil, Mexico, and Hong Kong. FIFA's decision aimed to protect its official sponsors, who pay hundreds of millions of dollars for exclusive partnerships and the right to associate their brands with the tournament.
Iran's campaign at the World Cup ended in disappointment as the team narrowly failed to reach the playoffs. The national team's journey attracted attention even before the matches, as Iran became the first team to play a World Cup match in the United States while the two countries remain in a state of conflict, according to Reuters.
Visa restrictions and diplomatic tension forced Iran to travel from its base in Mexico for all three group stage matches in the US, with players facing strict entry and exit rules. Captain Mehdi Taremi called the situation a logistical 'disaster,' while coach Amir Ghalenoei stated that the team felt 'depressed.'
Preparations for the 2026 World Cup were marred by debates over ticket costs, as fans criticized what they called record expenses. Initial FIFA prices, revealed by The Athletic in October, were the highest in World Cup history, with every ticket category costing more than comparable seats in previous tournaments.
An analysis of World Cup ticket prices by The New York Times showed that fans might have needed to spend between $19,256 and $10,000 to attend over 10 matches, and a three-match package could cost around $5,619. FIFA defended the pricing, arguing that it reflected the North American sports market and would help raise funds for football development worldwide. Nevertheless, many fans protested, calling the prices 'astounding' and 'unacceptable,' while Football Supporters Europe characterized them as a 'monumental betrayal' of the tournament's traditions. Despite the negative reaction, FIFA continued to increase ticket prices; seats for the Spain-Argentina final at the New York New Jersey stadium exceeded $10,000, making it one of the most expensive sporting events held in the United States, according to Reuters.
In December 2025, FIFA introduced mandatory three-minute hydration breaks in each half of the 2026 World Cup to protect players from the intense heat during the North American summer. Although these breaks were implemented as a player safety measure, they quickly became one of the tournament's most discussed changes, as they were filled with advertising, causing murmurs among fans who felt that football was transforming into an American format.
Previously, referees could call hydration or cooling breaks during matches in high temperatures, but the decision rested with officials, and such pauses usually lasted about 90 seconds, significantly shorter than the mandatory three-minute breaks introduced for the World Cup.
The tournament also served as a platform for broader cultural and political discussions. One of the biggest topics arose when fans were allowed to bring rainbow flags during the Egypt versus Iran match designated as the 'Pride Match' in Seattle on June 27, despite objections from both countries. The match took place during Pride month, and the local Seattle organizing committee dubbed it the 'Pride Match' even before the teams were determined in December.
Egypt and Iran expressed concern: the Egyptian Football Association stated that the event contradicted its values. The Iranian Football Federation also emphasized that no ceremonies or promotional events 'related to this movement' should take place inside the stadium, according to media reports. FIFA defended its position, stating that the World Cup is an 'inclusive event welcoming people of all walks of life' and permitted rainbow flags inside the stadium.
French captain Kylian Mbappé criticized a Pan-American senator for racist remarks directed at him after Paraguay's exit from the tournament, calling the comments 'disgusting.' Mbappé scored the decisive penalty when France beat Paraguay 1-0 in a tense match in Philadelphia to advance to the quarterfinals. After the loss, Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla published a series of racist comments on X targeting Mbappé, insulting his origin and nationality, and criticizing him in a post that caused widespread resonance. She went further, stating that Paraguayan players should have hit him after the match. Mbappé responded by condemning her remarks and defending both himself and the Paraguayan players, stating that her comments did not represent the country or the team's efforts in the tournament. The French Football Federation (FFF) announced its intention to file a lawsuit, calling the remarks 'absolutely disgusting and unacceptable.'
Spain's 1-0 victory over Argentina in the World Cup final ended with unpleasant scenes, as the celebrations were overshadowed by a fierce confrontation between players from both teams. The center of the incident involved Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes and Spanish defender Eric Garcia; tensions escalated near the center circle after the final whistle. Videos circulated online showed Paredes grabbing Garcia by the neck before the confrontation turned into a fight involving players, substitutes, and coaching staff. FIFA appointed a prosecutor for discipline and ethics to investigate the post-match clash, with no deadline set for the completion of the review.
