In the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match at CenturyLink Stadium in Seattle on the morning of July 7, 2026, host nation United States faced Belgium. Belgium executed their game plan flawlessly with an excellent start, taking a 1-0 lead in the 9th minute when Charles De Ketelaere capitalized on an open goal opportunity. The United States mounted a comeback and equalized 1-1 in the 31st minute through Malik Tillman, but just two minutes later De Ketelaere struck again to restore Belgium's 2-1 advantage. In the second half, while the Americans pressed forward, Belgium focused on defensive solidity and counter-attacking play. In the 57th minute, American goalkeeper Matt Freese ventured out of his box and was dispossessed, allowing Hans Vanaken to collect the loose ball and easily slot it home, extending Belgium's lead to 3-1. Trailing significantly, the United States was forced to attack aggressively but could not penetrate Belgium's defense. Instead, Belgium's counter-attacks proved far more dangerous. In the 90+3rd minute, Romelu Lukaku added a fourth goal to seal a comprehensive 4-1 victory, sending Belgium through to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup. Belgium will face Spain in their next match on July 10, 2026, at 2:00 AM (early morning July 11, 2026). With America's elimination, no host nation remains in contention for the 2026 World Cup from the quarterfinals onward.

BANGKOK: Former deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, known as “Big Joke”, appeared at the Supreme Court alongside his lawyer to face corruption allegations related to the gold-bribe scandal yesterday (July 6).

Producer Prajak Chai praised Farida Hai Thongkham for entering the recording studio while six months pregnant to record her debut track "A Bad Wife Wanting to Be a Good Mother." Chai addressed skeptics who doubted her vocal abilities, saying he was relieved when she nailed the key, lyrics, and melody during recording sessions. "She stood and sang for an hour straight with barely any breaks," Chai posted, adding that Farida's motivation—to create something for her unborn child—moved him deeply. When asked why she was pushing herself so hard while pregnant, Farida simply answered, "I'm doing it for my baby." The song's lyrics resonated with listeners, reflecting her own life journey. Farida continues juggling music performances and online sales while preparing for a major concert alongside other established artists. On social media, she recently updated fans that she is now six months along and shared her excitement about the concert appearance.

Doctor Suphruck Vicharanyan, known as Dr. Oak and owner of the "Dr. Oak DoctorSixpack" social media page, has explained why parasitic liver fluke infections are so common in northeastern Thailand.

While many have heard that "the northeast has lots of liver flukes," this is true, but the cause isn't related to the region's geography or ethnicity. Rather, it stems from eating raw or undercooked freshwater fish combined with the parasite's life cycle in local waterways.

Why is the Northeast Most Affected?

Many traditional dishes—such as koi pla (fish cakes), larb pla ding (raw fish salad), pla som (fermented fish), pla jom, and pickled or marinated fish that haven't been heat-treated—may contain liver fluke larvae. When consumed, the larvae travel to the bile duct and can live in the body for 20-30 years.

How Prevalent Is This in Thailand?

National surveys over the years show that in 1981, about 14% of Thais were infected with liver flukes, but in the northeast the rate reached 34.6%—roughly one in three people in some areas. Although infection rates have declined due to ongoing campaigns, the northeast remains the most affected region, with some surveys still finding 13-16% infection rates through stool samples, and some communities showing even higher prevalence. A 2019 national health ministry survey found 2.2% of all Thais infected, with most cases concentrated in the northeastern region.

The Most Frightening Aspect: It's Not Just Having the Parasite

Many believe taking deworming medication is sufficient, but liver flukes can inhabit the bile duct for 20-30 years. Repeated infections from regularly eating raw fish cause chronic bile duct inflammation, which is a critical factor triggering cell mutations that develop into cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). The World Health Organization classifies liver flukes as a Group 1 human carcinogen.

Early stages often show no symptoms, but over many years, complications can include chronic bile duct inflammation, bile duct stones, hepatitis, bile duct infections, liver dysfunction, and most dangerously, bile duct cancer. Thailand, especially the northeast, has one of the world's highest rates of cholangiocarcinoma, clearly linked to chronic liver fluke infection.

Prevention Is Possible

- Always eat freshwater fish thoroughly cooked - Avoid fish cakes, raw fish salad, and unheated fermented fish - If you've regularly eaten raw fish, seek medical checkups as recommended - Don't think taking deworming medication regularly is enough—repeated infections still increase cancer risk

Liver fluke may not cause illness today but silently damages the liver and bile duct over decades. Avoiding raw fish just once may reduce future disease risk significantly.

About Salmon: FAQ

Raw salmon is generally "not" a source of Thai liver flukes. However, raw salmon does carry risks from other parasites and pathogens. Liver flukes are found in freshwater fish such as tilapia.

Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes remains confident that Portugal will capture the FIFA World Cup trophy in the future following their Round of 16 exit from this World Cup.

Portugal, one of the tournament favorites, was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup at the Round of 16 stage after losing 0-1 to Spain on July 6th.

After the match, Bruno shared his feelings, saying: "I know Portugal has never won the World Cup, and we always had high expectations. But I am absolutely convinced that this team has the potential to win the World Cup."

"It's unfortunate that it won't happen now. It's impossible this time. But we must not lose faith in ourselves. We need to look ahead with a different mindset. I believe we must hold even more strongly to our identity."