Hot football news afternoon 12/6: World Cup 2026 'heats up'

The World Cup 2026 continues to escalate with controversy surrounding Son Heung-min, positive updates for Argentina, worries about Alphonso Davies, and significant events featuring Patrik Lê Giang and Real Madrid.

Vietnamese-origin goalkeeper brings extremely joyful news

Vietnamese-origin goalkeeper Lê Giang Patrik has just delivered news that excites Vietnamese football fans as he revealed that FIFA has officially approved him to play for the Vietnam national team. Sharing after CAHN's 4-2 victory over Nam Định in the 2025/26 National Cup semi-final, the 1992-born goalkeeper stated this is "one of the happiest and most joyful news of my life." All procedures are now complete, and he is ready to contribute to the national team.

Patrik's happiness is further fulfilled as CAHN secured a spot in the final against Ninh Bình. After years of waiting since returning to his father's homeland to play, the goalkeeper, who previously played for Slovakia's youth teams, is now on the verge of realizing his dream of guarding the goal for the Vietnam national team in the near future.

Canada receives unwelcome news ahead of World Cup 2026 opener

Just before the World Cup 2026 opening match against Bosnia & Herzegovina, the Canadian team received disappointing news that captain Alphonso Davies is almost certainly absent due to injury. Although the latest MRI results show that the Bayern Munich star is recovering very positively and is nearly fully healed, coach Jesse Marsch still does not want to risk using his most important player in the opening match.

This news quickly sparked debate on social media, with many fans regretfully stating that Canada was unlucky just as the World Cup began. Nevertheless, the coaching staff still hopes Davies will return soon in subsequent matches, helping the co-host nation realize its goal of surprising the world at the biggest football festival.

Son Heung-min surprises in South Korea's opening match

Despite helping South Korea defeat the Czech Republic 2-1 in their World Cup 2026 opener, coach Hong Myung-bo became the center of controversy over the decision to substitute Son Heung-min in the 67th minute when the score was 1-1. The Korean captain was still playing energetically, constantly disrupting the opponent's defense and was expected to create a decisive moment. The image of Son quietly leaving the field surprised many fans, even raising questions about the coaching staff's decision.

According to multiple sources, this was a pre-planned move to preserve the stamina of the 33-year-old star under harsh weather conditions. However, removing the most important player from the pitch while the match was still undecided has sparked intense debate among Korean fans.

Seoul erupts for South Korea

South Korea's 2-1 comeback victory over the Czech Republic in World Cup 2026 not only earned three valuable points but also created a festive atmosphere at Gwanghwamun Square. Thousands of Korean fans experienced mixed emotions as the team fell behind in the 59th minute, before Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu shone to complete an impressive turnaround.

Right after the final whistle, Seoul's central square exploded in a sea of red with shouts of "Daehanminguk" echoing everywhere. The victory over the Czech Republic not only gave coach Hong Myung-bo's team an advantage in the race for advancement but also ignited great hope among fans for a memorable World Cup for Korean football.

Argentina receives extremely good news

Just before World Cup 2026, Argentina received a huge boost as their top goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has officially recovered from injury and is ready to return. According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Argentina's hero from World Cup 2022 has completed medical tests and has been cleared by the medical team to train with the squad.

Earlier, Martinez's fitness condition had worried fans as his availability for the early matches was in doubt. The return of the 33-year-old goalkeeper allows Argentina to field almost their strongest lineup ahead of the match against Algeria on June 17. Given his performance in the world championship journey four years ago, Martinez is expected to continue being a crucial anchor for "La Albiceleste" in defending their title.

Real Madrid drops "zero-cost bomb"

Real Madrid is reportedly very close to signing Bernardo Silva on a free transfer, creating one of the most surprising deals of summer 2026. According to revelations from Fabrizio Romano, the Portuguese midfielder has agreed to join the Bernabeu club after leaving Manchester City upon the expiration of his contract. Notably, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and Juventus were all previously considered strong candidates for the 31-year-old star's signature.

After nine years of winning 20 titles with Man City, Bernardo Silva is expected to become a key piece in Real Madrid's rebuilding plan. The deal has drawn even more attention as coach Jose Mourinho is believed to have played a major role in convincing his compatriot to move to the Spanish royal club.