French national team coach Didier Deschamps praised Kylian Mbappé as a suitable captain for France and cautioned that facing Paraguay in the World Cup 2026 Round of 16 will not be easy.

France, the former runner-up, advanced to the final 16 after defeating Sweden 3-0 on June 30. Mbappé scored twice in the match at the 45th and 74th minutes, while Bradley Barcola added a goal at the 53rd minute. France will face Paraguay on July 4.

After the match, Deschamps praised Mbappé's performance, saying: "Kylian knows how to defend. He scores more than anyone. I told you from the start that he has a mission, even if you don't always hear me say it. Even in fitness training, he scores before anyone else."

"I've said for a long time that he understands the role of team captain. The image outsiders may have of him doesn't always reflect his true character—in fact, hardly ever."

The 57-year-old head coach also addressed the upcoming Paraguay clash: "If we maintain this level of focus and determination, we can go as far as possible. We need to do the same thing again in the coming days. Paraguay didn't reach this point by accident. You saw how well they played against Germany, and they have that South American DNA, which intensifies everything, especially in one-on-one duels. Now we'll celebrate this victory first, then focus on Paraguay."

Astrologer Mor Chang Thosapol has released his July fortune predictions, ranking the five luckiest zodiac signs as we enter the second half of the year on July 1st. According to his forecast, the top five most fortunate signs for July are: 1st place - Scorpio (November 17 - December 15), 2nd place - Cancer (July 17 - August 16), 3rd place - Dragon (January 15 - February 12), 4th place - Gemini (June 15 - July 16), and 5th place - Pisces (March 15 - April 13).

A devastating fire swept through a well-known host bar in Pattaya, claiming the life of 28-year-old Thanapol (surname withheld), a bar employee who was unable to escape the intense flames and died trapped under a table near the entrance. Police from Pattaya City Station responded at 12:16 a.m. on July 1, 2025, to reports of the fire in Nong Prueam subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province, accompanied by local administrative officials, rescue workers, and firefighters.

The host bar was engulfed in heavy flames with thick smoke billowing out. Firefighters deployed three water trucks to battle the blaze, and received assistance from a passing water truck operator who used his vehicle to help spray water. The fire was brought under control after approximately 30 minutes of effort.

Investigation revealed the fire's origin near the entrance. Inside, authorities found the body of Thanapol, 28, a bar employee who had attempted to escape but was overcome by the fire and perished beneath a table. According to witness accounts from a 63-year-old water truck operator who was nearby making a delivery, he quickly reversed his vehicle and began spraying water when he spotted the flames.

Bar staff reported receiving a phone call alerting them to the fire and rushed to the scene. An employee present during the incident stated the fire originated in the roof area and spread toward the exit. All occupants attempted to flee for their lives, but the victim could not be located—believed to have been unable to escape in time. The blaze spread to the exit area, making evacuation impossible.

Preliminary investigation by police and administrative officials determined the establishment operated without a license. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation. The fatality occurred because the fire blocked the exit route, and critically, the building had no emergency exit doors, leaving occupants unable to escape.

José Maria Neves, president of Cabo Verde, has expressed confidence that his national team can defeat Argentina in the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Cabo Verde finished second in Group H after drawing all three group-stage matches and will face defending champion Argentina in the knockout round at 4:00 AM Thai time on July 4. In recent comments to the BBC regarding the matchup with Argentina, Neves said: "I believe Cabo Verde can beat Argentina 1-0." "We are playing to win when expectations for the team are not high, and if the team has momentum, it is possible." "A small country like Cabo Verde should always try to do that to continuously create surprises for people." "We have a 100 percent chance of beating Argentina." "We came to this World Cup to determine our own fate, which is to face champion teams. So we will face Argentina and Lionel Messi with determination, intent, and the desire to achieve victory and advance to the next round."

Ecuador has filed a complaint with FIFA alleging that large groups of Mexican football fans disrupted their team's hotel prior to their 2026 World Cup match. The Ecuador Football Federation (FEF) submitted a formal complaint to the international football governing body regarding the disturbances at the team's accommodation before the match between the two nations. Ecuador faces host nation Mexico in the final 32-team round on June 30. Online videos show Mexican fans gathering to sing, set off fireworks, and use sound amplification equipment outside Ecuador's hotel during nighttime hours. Ecuador's statement declared: "Such behavior completely contradicts the principles of fair competition. We urge the responsible authorities to pay greater attention to these incidents and implement necessary measures to protect our team's welfare."

Norway's national team striker Erling Haaland has acknowledged that the Vikings face slim chances of defeating Brazil in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup. Norway advanced to the knockout stage after beating Ivory Coast 2-1 in the Round of 32 on June 30. Their Round of 16 opponent is five-time World Cup champion Brazil, who defeated Japan 2-1 in their recent match. Haaland, who has already scored four goals in this World Cup, admitted that Norway has little chance of beating Brazil but pledged the team would give their maximum effort. "We have slim odds of knocking them out. Playing Brazil in the Round of 16 is something we must face," Haaland said. "We're heading into the Round of 16 where there will be many excellent teams, and it won't be easy. It will be difficult to advance. I'm not sure if we can do it. We've prepared well and we continue to prepare excellently."