The Union Mines Ministry is in talks with Australia and Chile to acquire lithium blocks, while seeking five additional blocks in Argentina, Union Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy said on Friday, as India steps up efforts to secure supplies of the critical mineral.

“India has limited lithium reserves. Therefore, we acquired five blocks in Argentina and are now seeking to acquire five more [blocks there],” Reddy told reporters on the sidelines of the third edition of CII’s Global Summit on Advanced Materials, Critical Minerals & Metals.

“Similarly, we are speaking to Australia and Chile,” he said, adding the talks were both at the government-to-government level and with private entities.

The Ministry is also encouraging Indian private companies to enter overseas markets, undertake exploration and subsequently mine the resources, with the extracted minerals to be supplied to India, Mr. Reddy said.

Separately, the Minister highlighted e-waste recycling as an important source of critical minerals for India. As many as 125 entities have registered to avail incentives under the government’s ₹1,500-crore e-waste recycling package, of which 58 have been cleared, he said.

The projects are expected to recover around 96 kilotonne of critical minerals annually. The Mines Ministry has approached NITI Aayog to determine the allocation of incentives for the 58 eligible entities, Reddy added.

“About 25-30% of India’s requirements for critical minerals can be acquired via e-waste recycling,” he said, underlining the role of secondary sources in reducing the country’s dependence on overseas supplies.

On a chilly summer evening at the Wagener Stadion, Argentina’s women had their own Maracanazo moment. Netherlands does not lose often. In the last 13 years, it has lost just one game a year while lifting three successive World Cups.

On Saturday, too, Netherlands was on the verge of winning before Argentina struck late to hold it to a 1-1 draw. The Argentines went on to dethrone the Dutch in a penalty shootout.

After Cristina Cosentino saved two Netherlands penalties, Sofia Cairo made it 3-1 when she put the ball in the net and sparked celebrations in the Argentina camp.

It was doubly sweet for the South American nation as it avenged its 2022 final loss while also silencing a partisan home crowd at one of the cathedrals of the sport.

In a highly anticipated rematch, both teams struggled to impose themselves in open play as they looked overawed by the occasion. It was left to the talismanic dragflickers to have their say in penalty corners.

It needed 30 minutes for the first one to arrive. Yibbi Jansen didn’t even need a sighter and the tournament’s top-scorer sounded the boards to hoist the lead for the host.

In response, Argentina’s penalty corner set-up squandered four chances in the third quarter.

But, the South Americans continued to push on through Cairo, whose snaking runs into the circle troubled the home side’s defence and earned many penalty corners.

With seven minutes to go, Argentina opted for a variation. Agustina Gorzelany fired her dragpush into the path of a teammate, who deflected the ball to an unmarked Maria Granatto for the equaliser.

In the third-place play-off, co-host Belgium beat Australia 1-0 through a goal from Charlotte Engelbert.

The result (final): Netherlands 1 (Yibbi Jansen 30-pc) drew with Argentina 1 (Maria Granatto 53-pc). Argentina won 3-1 on penalties.

There is no ‘away’ World Cup if you are an Indian team. You will be hard-pressed to go to a corner of the globe without running into an Indian and Amstelveen is no exception. The Amsterdam suburb, one of the World Cup co-hosts, is home to more Indians than any other nationality.

For skipper Harmanpreet Singh, the game against Pakistan felt like ‘playing in India’ as he was serenaded by the large number of expats after his two goals in the 5-3 win on Wednesday.

India’s Manpreet Singh celebrates with fans after the World Cup Field Hockey pool D match between India and Pakistan in Amstelveen, Netherlands, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
AP

But admiration also adds pressure to perform as India chases its first world title in 51 years. Despite securing qualification to the second round, India has underwhelmed.

The Men in Saffron have conceded eight goals — joint-fourth worst defensive record, while exhibiting a drop in intensity and lack of control while defending leads.

All the while, India has played only one of the tournament’s top sides. India’s next opponents Netherlands and possibly Argentina will not extend that courtesy.

Against world No. 3 England, India crumbled under a relentless man-to-man press in the third quarter to surrender its advantage, before losing 4-2.

With no carryover points from that game, India will enter the next round with a mountain to climb.

In its final Pool game, Indian midfielders Hardik Singh and Vivek Sagar Prasad’s errors on the ball, played a part in two of Pakistan’s goals. Wales, too, found itself in promising positions but India came out unscathed.

Head coach Craig Fulton, who preaches ‘defending to win’ mantra, will be well aware that these repeated errors cannot be the bedrock for a sustained title challenge.

“100% defence,” stressed Harmanpreet when asked what needs improving. He also called for his side to cut out ‘silly mistakes’ while managing possession inside its own 25 metres.

The biggest positive has been Harmanpreet’s return to form which has boosted India’s Penalty Corner conversion. India has scored the most goals (6) from PCs with an efficiency of 50%.

Forward Abhishek Nain provided much-needed individual brilliance in field play, adding two goals against Pakistan. However, his senior forward Mandeep Singh is yet to open his account with the decision-making inside the final 23-yards found wanting.

Abhishek was frank with his assessment, too, stating, “We need to improve because if we play with this kind of connection in the next few matches, I don’t think we will be able to score.”

Yet Fulton’s protection of his players will only stretch so far, with the second round promising to be make-or-break.

Argentina superstar and inspiration behind his country’s 2022 World Cup victory, Lionel Messi, said on Wednesday (August 12, 2026) he has “serious doubts” about continuing to play football for “much longer” after the death of his father Jorge Messi.

“I don’t know what I’ll do without you, I don’t know how to go on. I just played football, and now I have serious doubts about continuing to do so for much longer,” Messi, 39, wrote in a message on social media after his father, who was also his agent, died last week aged 68.

In the message, Messi, whose contract with Major League Soccer outfit Inter Miami runs till the end of the 2028 season, reflected on the final months of his father’s life, which coincided with the 2026 World Cup.

“I kept telling you we would reach the final so you could make the trip,” said Messi, who returned to the United States on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) night following his father’s funeral on Sunday (August 9, 2026).

“We made it to the final, but you couldn’t be there. I wanted to win it to bring it to you and show you a new one. I couldn’t; my legs just gave out.”

“This time I tried to push past my physical limits, but I couldn’t. I never felt right,” Messi said in his first comments after the 1–0 loss to Spain in the final in New Jersey.

Messi highlighted his father’s pivotal role in his life and career: “You were a father, a friend, and an agent. You were always exactly who you needed to be in every moment, and you never put a foot wrong.”

Jorge Messi’s unusual absence from the World Cup in June had already attracted attention.

Messi’s family asked the media for “humanity” during the tournament amid persistent rumours over Jorge’s health.

After bursting into tears after scoring against Algeria in a group match, Messi had admitted to dealing with “a situation outside of sports”.

On Sunday (August 9, 2026), the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner bid farewell to his father during a private ceremony with close family and a few Argentina teammates in the town of Perez, adjacent to Rosario.

The cause of death was not disclosed, but local media reported that Jorge Messi had been suffering from cancer.

Mumbai

As Spain and Argentina prepare to lock horns in Sunday night’s FIFA World Cup final, two of European football’s biggest names have highlighted the tactical intrigue that could define the contest while stopping short of predicting a winner.

Former England striker Robbie Fowler and legendary Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, speaking as Zee5 experts ahead of the summit clash, agreed that Spain has set the benchmark throughout the tournament but felt Argentina possess enough quality to test the European champion if it can exploit the few spaces on offer.

“The obvious one is Spain’s going to have a little bit more of the ball,” Fowler said here on Thursday. “How we stop Messi from dominating games is you don’t let them have the ball. It’s easier said than done, but Spain are a possession-based team with a purpose. It’s not possession for the sake of it. They play forward, break presses and look to attack in transition.”

The former Liverpool stalwart felt Spain’s ability to monopolise possession also serves as its primary defensive weapon. “They’ll try to control the ball, control areas of the pitch and stop Argentina from having the ball. That’s a great defensive attribute. How do you stop teams from scoring? Don’t give them the ball,” he said.

Kahn, meanwhile, admitted he had struggled throughout the tournament to identify a weakness in the Spanish side. “I have asked myself the whole tournament: how is Spain beatable?” Kahn said. “They are playing like clockwork, without any weaknesses.”

The legendary goalkeeper suggested that Spain’s only vulnerability could arise if its attacking full-backs, Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro, push too high up the pitch alongside Rodri, leaving space for Lionel Messi & Co. to exploit on the counter.

“But the question is whether Spain will offer this space to Argentina. Spain’s players are so intelligent. They have high playing intelligence and are extremely smart on the field,” Kahn said.

“This game is a match between rational guys playing super-smart football against fully emotional, aggressive guys playing a totally different style. It is a battle between systems and tactics, but you also have outstanding players like Rodri, Yamal, Messi, Martínez and De Paul.”

Lionel Scaloni has changed little so far at this World Cup. Between Argentina’s first two matches, the coach made only one alteration to his starting lineup, preferring continuity as the defending champion moved into the knockout rounds.

But after wins over Algeria and Austria, Scaloni’s challenge now is about protecting legs and giving minutes to the rest of his squad while still carrying the momentum into the knockouts as his team takes on Jordan in its final Group J game on Sunday (June 28, 2026) morning India time.

“The idea is to give most players a chance to play. I think they deserve it and, whenever the match allows it, we will do so,” Scaloni said.

The main question, inevitably, concerns Lionel Messi. The Argentina captain, who turned 39 on Wednesday, has scored all five of his team’s goals in the tournament so far.

Having recently recovered from a muscle strain, Messi could be rested, with Como’s Nico Paz among those in line to step up. Julian Alvarez could also be given a start alongside Lautaro Martinez in attack.

Giuliano Simeone is another who may come into the side on the right, while Thiago Almada could retain his place on the left. In midfield, Leandro Paredes and Exequiel Palacios are options to give Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister a breather.

There could be changes in defence as well. Cristian Romero suffered a knee injury against Austria and, although he has played down concerns, Argentina is unlikely to take unnecessary risks.

Nicolas Otamendi could replace him, while Marcos Senesi may come in to give Lisandro Martinez a rest. The full backs may remain unchanged to offer stability, with Emiliano Martinez expected to continue in goal.

Jordan, meanwhile, has little choice but to suffer without the ball. Jamal Sellami’s side is expected to sit deep in a back three, stay compact and try to frustrate Argentina for as long as it can. Its best route forward will be through quick counters, with Mousa Al-Tamari the obvious outlet.

Trading blows with Argentina, even a rotated Argentina, is not an option.

The world champion will dominate possession regardless of Scaloni’s starting XI. But it remains to be seen how quickly its reshuffled attack can find a way through Jordan’s low block.

Thousands of supporters from the Jordanian diaspora are expected in Dallas, turning an otherwise routine group-stage fixture into another vibrant evening of colour and noise. Sharing a pitch with the reigning world champion and arguably football’s greatest player will be a landmark moment for a nation making its first appearance in a World Cup.

For Argentina, however, sentiments can wait. The knockout rounds begin soon, where every mistake becomes irreversible. Saturday offers one final opportunity to sharpen combinations, protect players and perhaps allow Messi to add another record before the tournament truly starts.

The World Cup has a habit of redefining football’s hierarchy. New stars emerge, established powers fall and careers are forever defined by a handful of moments.

As the tournament heads to North America for the first time since 1994, the game is at a crossroads. Argentina is attempting to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup. Kylian Mbappe is looking to cement his place at the top of the game, while Spain’s young stars seek to fulfil their promise. And there remain questions over what a 48-team competition will look like in practice.

Some of those will be answered over the next 39 days as football’s biggest tournament unfolds in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Across 104 matches in 16 host cities, teams will navigate vast distances, multiple time zones and varying conditions, testing not only their quality but also endurance.

Argentina enters the showpiece with much of the squad that conquered the world in Qatar and with Lionel Messi still leading the way.

Now 38 and playing for Inter Miami, Messi knows North American conditions better than most rivals and will hope familiarity can fuel one final run at the world stage.

Argentina begins as one of the favourites, but there will be no shortage of challengers. Spain arrives as the reigning European champion, powered by the creativity of Pedri and Lamine Yamal. Under Luis de la Fuente, it has evolved beyond the possession-heavy style that defined its golden generation, combining technical excellence with greater intensity and directness.

France, world champion in 2018 and finalist in 2022, has spent much of the last decade setting the benchmark in international football.

Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Aurelien Tchouameni headline a side capable of dominating games with or without possession and adapting to the varied demands of tournament football.

England, led by Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, will again carry the weight of expectations, while Brazil seeks its first World Cup title since 2002. Germany appears rejuvenated after years of inconsistency, with Portugal hoping Cristiano Ronaldo can inspire one final memorable run.

The tournament’s biggest change is structural. Expansion to 48 teams has altered the landscape of international football.

Asia now has eight direct qualification places and Africa nine, opening the door for nations that previously stood little chance of reaching the World Cup.

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Curacao and Jordan will make their debuts, while several emerging football countries believe that they can do more than simply participate. Whether the expanded format strengthens the competition or merely stretches it remains to be seen.

Off the field, at a time when the world feels increasingly fenced off, the game has already encountered some of the complications that come with staging a global event. Iran will be based in Mexico and commute to its matches in the United States amid continuing tensions between Tehran and Washington and the wider regional conflict involving Israel.

There has also been controversy surrounding Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was denied entry into the USA despite reportedly holding a valid visa and diplomatic passport. Artan, the 2025 African Referee of the Year, was set to become the first Somali official to take part at a World Cup.

But for all the attention on politics, travel and expansion, the tournament will ultimately be judged by the football it produces. In a world that often feels increasingly fractured, the World Cup remains one of the few occasions capable of making the globe move to a common rhythm.

And for over a month, football, hopefully, will once again prove to be bigger than the machinery that powers it today.