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This Morning's World Cup
- Morning2026-07-29
No fixtures again — FIFA's funding plan now has a 19 September deadline, and Japan's story stays in the transfer market
Eleven days after the final there were no matches overnight; the movement is off the pitch. FIFA president Gianni Infantino wrote to all 211 member associations on 29 July, JST, setting 19 September as the deadline to accept the World Cup commercial-stake plan. On Japan's side the coaching succession is settled, so the only story that keeps moving is Europe's transfer market — where Daizen Maeda and Hidemasa Morita are done deals and Kaishu Sano is still in talks.
Morning - Morning2026-07-28
'A dream come true': Zidane confirmed as France coach, first game away to Türkiye in September
No fixtures overnight; the news was on the touchline. The French Football Federation confirmed on 28 July, JST, that Zinedine Zidane is Deschamps' successor on a four-year deal to 2030. He starts in September, with his first match away to Türkiye on the 25th. On Japan's side the coaching succession is settled, and the only moving story is the transfer market, where Kaishu Sano is still in talks.
Morning - Morning2026-07-27
France names its new coach tonight, JST; Sano's move is still in talks
No fixtures overnight, so today's headline is on the calendar side. The French Football Federation reveals Deschamps' successor at a press conference at 18:00 JST this evening, streamed live on its YouTube channel. Zinedine Zidane is the overwhelming favourite, but nobody has been named officially yet. Japan's confirmed transfers are done; the next names are still only in talks.
Morning - Morning2026-07-26
France names its new coach tomorrow; Japan's transfers are still in talks
No fixtures overnight, so the calendar is what moves this week. The French Football Federation will present Didier Deschamps' successor at a press conference tomorrow, and Zinedine Zidane is the overwhelming favourite. On Japan's side the confirmed moves are done, and the next names are still only in talks.
Morning - Morning2026-07-25
Maeda's move to Ipswich is confirmed; Sano still at the negotiating stage
No fixtures overnight; Japan's news has shifted to the transfer market. One firm piece of news landed while we slept — Daizen Maeda's permanent move to Ipswich is done. Kaishu Sano, also linked away, is still only in talks, and separating the confirmed from the rumoured is this morning's point.
Morning - Morning2026-07-24
Moriyasu holds his appointment press conference — Miyamoto explains the half-year term: 'to win the Asian Cup'
No fixtures overnight; the day for Japan turned on Thursday afternoon's appointment press conference. Hajime Moriyasu said he was 'satisfied' with the half-year deal and welled up as he spoke, while president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto explained why the term was cut so short.
Morning - Morning2026-07-24
Today at 2pm, Moriyasu holds his appointment press conference — stay confirmed, Oiwa to follow
The Japan Football Association formally announced Hajime Moriyasu's continuation on the 23rd — a record third straight cycle in charge. His term runs only to the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia next January–February. At 2pm today, Moriyasu, president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto and technical director Masakuni Yamamoto face the media together.
Morning - Morning2026-07-22
Moriyasu's stay set for approval today — win or not, Oiwa takes over in March
The JFA board is expected to approve Hajime Moriyasu staying on today. But the deal is a half-year one that runs only to next winter's Asian Cup, and even a title there won't extend it — from March the team passes to Go Oiwa.
Morning - Morning2026-07-21
That red card wasn't real: FIFA deletes Paredes' dismissal
While Japan slept, the story of Leandro Paredes' post-final dismissal turned around. FIFA told the BBC that the red card logged after the brawl was an administrative glitch on the official match feed and was later deleted, so there is no automatic suspension.
Morning - Morning2026-07-20
While you slept, Spain paraded through Madrid
Overnight in Japan, the new world champions came home. Spain met King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Sanchez, then rode an open-top bus through central Madrid to Cibeles Square, greeted by huge crowds.
Morning - Morning2026-07-19
Spain are champions: Torres' extra-time goal beats Argentina 1-0
Just a minute into extra time, Ferran Torres broke a goalless final. Spain beat Argentina 1-0 at MetLife Stadium to lift the World Cup for the first time since 2010, denying the holders back-to-back titles.
Morning - Morning2026-07-18
The final is Spain v Argentina at 4 a.m. tomorrow, with Japan's Moriyasu on the broadcast
Two games are left. France v England for third place kicked off at 6 a.m. JST in Miami and is still being played as you read this. Then the tournament's last match, the final between Spain and Argentina, kicks off at 4 a.m. JST tomorrow, Monday the 20th. DAZN's free stream of that match will feature Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu, live from the venue.
Morning - Morning2026-07-17
"Kylian is at 100%": Mbappe goes after the Golden Boot at 6 a.m. tomorrow
"Kylian is doing well. He is at 100 per cent." That was Didier Deschamps on the eve of the third-place match, settling the question of Mbappe's ankle. There were no matches again on Friday, so nothing moved on the pitch. The next kick-off is at 6 a.m. JST tomorrow, Sunday the 19th: France v England in Miami. If Mbappe scores once, he goes ahead of Messi at the top of the scoring chart.
Morning - Morning2026-07-16
The World Cup ends across Sunday and Monday mornings: the final is Spain v Argentina
There were no matches again on Friday, and nothing changed on the pitch. With the semi-finals done, the final is Spain v Argentina and the third-place match is France v England. The next kick-off is Sunday: the third-place game at 6 a.m. JST on the 19th, and the final at 4 a.m. JST on Monday the 20th. Those two matches close out the tournament.
Morning - Morning2026-07-14
France v Spain at 4 a.m. tomorrow: the first semi-finals made up of FIFA's top four
Two days have passed without a match. The World Cup restarts at 4 a.m. JST tomorrow, when France meet Spain at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The four teams left are France, Argentina, Spain and England — the first time since FIFA's ranking began in 1992 that the world's top four have all reached the semi-finals.
Morning - Morning2026-07-11
Haaland at 6 a.m., Messi at 10 — the last two semi-final places are decided today
Nothing finished overnight. Norway v England kicked off at 6 a.m. JST in Miami and will be settled around 8; Argentina v Switzerland follows at 10 a.m. in Kansas City. Those two matches fill the last two places in the semi-finals, where France v Spain is already set.
Morning - Morning2026-07-10
Spain edge Belgium 2-1 on Merino's late strike — a semi-final with France awaits
The second quarter-final is done. Spain beat Belgium 2-1 in the early hours of JST: Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring, Belgium levelled through Charles De Ketelaere, and with the game tied at 1-1 in the 88th minute, back-up keeper Senne Lammens spilled a routine shot for Mikel Merino to bundle in the winner. Spain reach the semi-finals and will meet France, who beat Morocco 2-0 the day before.
Morning - Morning2026-07-09
France beat Morocco 2-0 — Mbappé and Dembélé send Les Bleus to a third straight semi-final
The quarter-finals are under way. In the opener near Boston, France beat Morocco 2-0: Mbappé missed an early penalty, then scored after the break, and Dembélé added the second. France reach a third straight semi-final and will face the winner of Spain v Belgium, which kicks off at 4 a.m. JST tomorrow.
Morning - Morning2026-07-09
Round of 16 done — Brazil and Ronaldo gone, and the quarter-finals open tomorrow morning with Morocco v France
The Round of 16 is over. Brazil, the side that knocked Japan out, lost to Haaland's Norway, and 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal fell to Spain. There are no matches today; the quarter-finals begin at 5 a.m. JST tomorrow, 10 July, with Morocco v France near Boston.
Morning - Morning2026-07-06
France join Morocco in the last eight — the quarter-final is set at Morocco v France, and this morning Brazil are in the Round of 16
France beat Paraguay 1-0 to reach the quarter-finals, joining Morocco, and the two winners will meet on 9 July in a rematch of the 2022 semi-final. Meanwhile, from 5 a.m. JST this morning Brazil — the side that knocked Japan out — are playing their Round of 16.
Morning - Morning2026-07-04
Hosts Canada out, Morocco first into the quarter-finals; this morning it's France v Paraguay
The last 16 has begun. Overnight into this morning JST, co-hosts Canada lost 0-3 to Morocco in Houston and went out of their home World Cup. Morocco are the first side into the quarter-finals.
Morning - Morning2026-07-04
Debutants Cape Verde fall short of the last 16 as Argentina win 3-2
The World Cup's Round of 32 is reaching its climax. Overnight into this morning JST, Argentina beat first-timers Cape Verde 3-2 in Miami to reach the last 16. The island nation of around 500,000, at their first World Cup, saw a remarkable run end one step short of the last 16.
Morning - Morning2026-07-01
Mexico reach the last 16 for the first time in 40 years; waiting at the Azteca, England after a comeback
The World Cup's Round of 32 is nearing its end. Overnight into this morning JST, co-hosts Mexico broke a 40-year knockout drought and England came from behind, and both reached the last 16. The two now meet at the Azteca in Mexico City on 6 July.
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