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World Cup News
- News2026-07-29
FIFA puts a September 19 deadline on its World Cup investment plan — and offers members double the money to say yes
The fight over FIFA's plan to sell a stake in the World Cup's commercial arm has a date and a price on it now. In a letter to all 211 member associations on Wednesday, president Gianni Infantino set September 19 as the deadline to accept, and spelled out the money: approve the plan and each association is promised $20 million; reject it and members get only the $10 million they were already due. UEFA, which is leading the opposition, controls just 55 of those 211 votes.
NewsWorld CupFIFAGovernance - News2026-07-29
FIFA moves to sell a stake in the World Cup's commercial arm — and within a day, football pushed back
FIFA said on Tuesday it wants to carve its commercial and event operations into a $20 billion company and sell outside investors a minority stake of up to 20%, raising up to $4.2 billion it says would go to football development. Within a day, four of world football's biggest bodies — UEFA, CONCACAF, the Asian Football Confederation and England's FA — had all objected, and UEFA was weighing a boycott. Crucially, this is a proposal, not a done deal: it still needs a majority of FIFA's 211 member associations and the FIFA council to approve it.
NewsWorld CupFIFAGovernance - News2026-07-28
Zidane's France: the captaincy is open, and he 'hasn't spoken to Mbappé yet'
Zidane answered almost everything at his unveiling in Paris. The one thing he would not settle was whether Kylian Mbappé keeps the captaincy: 'I haven't spoken to him. The most important thing for him right now is to rest. We'll talk in September.' The job is his through 2030 — but who wears the armband, and who sits on his bench, is still undecided.
NewsFranceManagersNations League - News2026-07-26
Klopp returns to management with Germany — released from Red Bull in an unusual deal, first match Sept 24
Germany have their answer to a lost World Cup: Jürgen Klopp. The 59-year-old signed a deal through the 2030 World Cup, ending a two-year break from the touchline — but only after the German federation bought him out of Red Bull with a €1m charity donation and a promise to stage three home internationals in Leipzig. His first game is against the Netherlands on September 24. And two days before that debut is even confirmed, France will name its own new coach on July 28, with Zidane widely expected.
NewsWorld CupGermanyFrance - News2026-07-23
Modrić set to end his Croatia career in October — his last cap against champions Spain, in Split
Croatia captain Luka Modrić, 40, has decided to retire from the national team, several outlets reported on July 23. His final cap is expected on October 6, against Spain in his home country at Split — the side that had lifted the World Cup four days earlier. He is not leaving football: he has agreed a one-year extension with AC Milan. It is his international career that is ending.
NewsWorld CupCroatiaPlayers - News2026-07-22
The biggest World Cup ever: 6.8m fans, $9bn-plus revenue — and FIFA already wants 64 teams
Three days after Spain beat Argentina in New Jersey, the final tally is in. The first 48-team, 104-match, three-nation World Cup drew a record 6,810,966 fans and brought FIFA more than $9 billion — the richest sporting event ever staged. On the strength of those numbers, FIFA president Gianni Infantino is already pushing to expand the 2030 edition to 64 teams.
NewsWorld CupRecordsFIFA - News2026-07-21
FIFA opens an investigation into the brawl after the World Cup final; Paredes was not sent off during the match
The instant the final whistle blew, Lamine Yamal knelt on the pitch and prayed. Behind him, players from both teams were grappling. A day later FIFA said it had opened a disciplinary investigation into the post-match brawl. And the report that Leandro Paredes had been sent off? FIFA itself has denied it.
NewsWorld CupFinalDiscipline - News2026-07-20
Spain come home to a million in Madrid — and become the first nation to hold both World Cups at once
Rodri lifted the trophy the moment the plane touched down. On Monday, a day after beating Argentina 1-0 in the final, Spain's champions were greeted by King Felipe VI, met Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at La Moncloa, and rode an open-top bus from Moncloa to Cibeles Square, where around a million people were expected. With this title, Spain became the first country to hold the men's and women's World Cups at the same time.
NewsWorld CupSpainChampions - News2026-07-20
Spain sweep the individual awards after conceding one goal all tournament; only the Golden Boot got away, to Mbappe
Rodri took the Golden Ball, Unai Simon the Golden Glove, Pau Cubarsi the Best Young Player award. Three of the four individual prizes at the 2026 World Cup stayed with the champions Spain, who conceded a single goal in seven games. The one exception was the Golden Boot, which left with Kylian Mbappe of fourth-placed France.
NewsWorld CupFinalAwards - News2026-07-19
The World Cup's first-ever champions ring: 30 for the winners, 1,996 sold to fans
Whoever lifts the trophy at MetLife Stadium tomorrow morning will, for the first time in World Cup history, also receive a championship ring. FIFA is making 2,026 of them — but only 30 go to the winning country. The other 1,996 are for sale to fans.
NewsWorld CupFinalFIFA - News2026-07-18
The baby Messi once bathed is on the other side of the final
On the eve of the final, the person asking Lionel Messi questions was not a reporter. Tom Brady held up an old photo of a young Messi bathing a baby in a sink. That baby is Lamine Yamal, who will line up for Spain in the final the next day.
NewsWorld CupArgentinaSpain - News2026-07-18
The World Cup final's first halftime show — BTS, Madonna, and a break stretched past the 15-minute rule
FIFA has confirmed the lineup for the first halftime show at a men's World Cup final: Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira and BTS, with the whole thing curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin. The catch is the clock. The Laws of the Game cap a halftime interval at 15 minutes; on Monday morning Japan time, the break in New Jersey is expected to run closer to 25.
NewsWorld CupFinalHalftime Show - News2026-07-17
The referee from Argentina's night in Lusail will take the World Cup final
When Pierluigi Collina read out the name, Slavko Vinčić covered his face with both hands. In the video FIFA released on 17 July, the Slovenian is in tears: no referee from his country has ever taken a World Cup final. In Buenos Aires, though, the name brought back a date instead — 22 November 2022, in Lusail.
NewsWorld CupRefereeSpain - News2026-07-17
"Thank God it hurts": Deschamps' final match may come without Mbappé
French staff are still worried about Kylian Mbappé's ankle, Le Parisien indicated in a report relayed by Le10sport on 16 July. If he is rested, Marcus Thuram or Maghnes Akliouche could get minutes instead. The match in question is Didier Deschamps' last 90 minutes as France head coach: Saturday in Miami, 06:00 JST on 19 July, the third-place play-off.
NewsFranceThird-place play-offCoaches - News2026-07-16
Messi didn't score in the semifinal — and came out of it leading the Golden Boot
Lionel Messi did not score as Argentina beat England 2-1 to reach the final. Yet by full time the top of the scoring race had moved to him. His two late assists — for Enzo Fernandez's equaliser and Lautaro Martinez's stoppage-time winner — left him level with Kylian Mbappe on eight goals but ahead on assists, four to three.
NewsWorld CupGolden BootLionel Messi - News2026-07-15
Mbappe's eight goals are frozen — the Golden Boot could hinge on the match nobody wants
When Spain knocked France out on Tuesday, Kylian Mbappe's tally stopped at eight. Lionel Messi is level on eight with more games left. The 2026 Golden Boot now runs through the final weekend — and, oddly, through the third-place play-off almost everyone treats as a formality.
NewsWorld CupGolden BootKylian Mbappe - News2026-07-14
"Don't expect anything from me": Yamal has one goal at this World Cup, and three against France
"You say I'm not at my best level, so you shouldn't expect anything from me." Lamine Yamal, who turned 19 on Monday, threw the criticism back at the Spanish press on the eve of the World Cup semi-final against France. He has scored once in six games at this tournament. Against France, in the last two meetings, he has scored three.
NewsSemi-finalsSpainFrance - News2026-07-12
England's next opponent is Argentina. Tuchel said they were 'lucky'; Bellingham replied 'Whatever'
England beat Norway 2-1 in extra time and reached the semi-finals - and then their manager called the performance sloppy and lucky, and their two-goal match-winner answered: "Yeah, well. Whatever." On Wednesday in Atlanta they meet Argentina, who have needed extra time or a comeback in all three knockout rounds.
NewsSemi-finalsEnglandArgentina - News2026-07-11
Spain conceded for the first time in 650 minutes. The last man to score against them was Ao Tanaka.
Charles De Ketelaere's header just before half-time ended a World Cup shutout streak that had run for 650 minutes. To find the previous goal Spain conceded at a World Cup, you have to go back to Doha in 2022, and to Ao Tanaka. Spain still won 2-1 and will face France in the semifinal at 04:00 JST on July 15.
NewsSemifinalsSpainFrance - News2026-07-10
Haaland faces the country he calls home. 'Put all the pressure on England.'
Asked to rate Norway's chances of winning the World Cup, Erling Haaland answered flatly: 'Really low, still.' Then he grinned and told the reporters to pile every bit of pressure on England. On July 12 at 06:00 JST in Miami, the striker meets the country where he was born and plays his club football, with a semifinal on the line.
NewsQuarterfinalsNorwayEngland - News2026-07-09
Egypt demand FIFA remove their referee — as an all-Argentine crew takes charge of France v Morocco
Egypt led Argentina 2-0 with the biggest win in their history in sight before a disallowed goal and two waved-away penalties turned the tie. Now the Egyptian FA has formally asked FIFA to remove referee Francois Letexier — and this morning JST, an all-Argentine crew, the first single-nation team of the tournament, took charge of France against Morocco.
NewsKnockoutEgyptArgentina - News2026-07-09
Switzerland break their World Cup shootout curse, reach the last eight for the first time since 1954 — Messi's Argentina next
Gregor Kobel saved from Cucho Hernandez, Davinson Sanchez smashed his kick against the bar, and Switzerland won a shootout 4-3 to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 1954. With Japan already out, the last eight holds a quiet side barely discussed back home — and their next opponent is defending champion Argentina.
NewsKnockoutSwitzerlandQuarterfinal - News2026-07-09
World Cup last eight are set: France v Morocco, a 2022 rematch, opens the quarterfinals
Forty teams have gone home and eight remain. The 2026 World Cup reaches the quarterfinals, and it opens on Friday at 5am Japan time in Foxborough, near Boston, with France against Morocco — the side France knocked out of the 2022 semifinal four years ago.
NewsKnockoutFranceMorocco - News2026-07-06
Ronaldo's last World Cup ends in tears — Spain's late goal knocks Portugal out
When the whistle went in Arlington, Cristiano Ronaldo was in tears — and being consoled by 18-year-old Lamine Yamal. Mikel Merino's 91st-minute goal sent Spain past Portugal 1-0 and into the quarterfinals, ending the 41-year-old's sixth and final World Cup.
NewsKnockoutPortugalSpain - News2026-07-06
Ten-man England win an Azteca classic — Bellingham's brace beats Mexico 3-2, Norway await in the last eight
Jude Bellingham scored twice inside the first half and England beat Mexico 3-2 to reach the World Cup quarterfinals — holding on for the last 40 minutes with ten men after a red card. The co-hosts went out at a packed Estadio Azteca, and England's next opponent is Norway, the side that knocked out Brazil.
NewsKnockoutEnglandMexico - News2026-07-06
Brazil, the team that beat Japan, are out — Haaland's Norway win 2-1 to reach the last eight
Erling Haaland scored in the 79th and 90th minutes as Norway beat Brazil 2-1 to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time. The five-time champions who ended Japan's run on June 30 are now gone one round later.
NewsKnockoutBrazilNorway - News2026-07-05
France edge Paraguay 1-0 to set up a quarterfinal with Morocco - a rematch of the 2022 semifinal
France beat Paraguay 1-0 in Philadelphia on a Kylian Mbappe penalty in the 70th minute, awarded after a VAR review on a chaotic, foul-heavy night. It sends them to the quarterfinals against Morocco - the same pairing as the 2022 semifinal in Qatar, which France won 2-0. The rematch is set for Thursday, July 9 in Boston.
NewsKnockout stageFranceMorocco - News2026-07-04
Co-host Canada out of its home World Cup; Morocco win 3-0 to reach the quarterfinals first
Canada pushed the game in the first half and had nothing to show for it. Then Azzedine Ounahi scored twice after the break and Soufiane Rahimi added a third in stoppage time, and Morocco beat the co-hosts 3-0 in Houston to become the first team into the 2026 quarterfinals.
NewsKnockout stageMoroccoCanada - News2026-07-04
Egypt reach the last 16 for the first time, beating Australia on penalties; Messi awaits
Still level at 1-1 after 120 minutes, Egypt turned to spot kicks. Mohamed Salah chipped his down the middle as the goalkeeper dived away, Australia missed twice, and Egypt won 4-2 to claim the first World Cup knockout victory in the country's history. Next in the last 16: Lionel Messi's Argentina.
NewsKnockout stageEgyptAustralia - News2026-07-03
Portugal edge Croatia 2-1 on a 94th-minute goal; Spain awaits in the last 16
At the final whistle in Toronto, Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo held each other for a long moment. One is going home; the other plays on. Goncalo Ramos headed Portugal in front in the 94th minute to beat Croatia 2-1, ending Modric's World Cup at 40 and sending Portugal to a Round of 16 meeting with Spain.
NewsKnockout stagePortugalCroatia - News2026-07-02
Canada reach the last 16 for the first time on a 92nd-minute goal, and all three hosts are through
Stephen Eustaquio scored in the 92nd minute to beat South Africa 1-0, sending Canada into a World Cup Round of 16 for the first time in its history. With that, all three co-hosts — Canada, the United States and Mexico — are in the last 16.
NewsKnockout stageHost nationsCanada - News2026-07-01
Kane's late double rescues England; the last-16 tie is Mexico at the Azteca
England trailed DR Congo from the seventh minute in Atlanta. Then Harry Kane scored twice in the last 15 minutes to win it 2-1, and the round-of-16 opponent came into focus: Mexico, at the Estadio Azteca.
NewsKnockout stageBracketEngland - News2026-07-01
Germany lose their first World Cup shootout, and the Netherlands who drew Japan go out too
On June 30 Japan time, Japan were not the only side to leave. Within the same day, Germany lost a World Cup penalty shootout for the first time ever, beaten by Paraguay, and the Netherlands — the team Japan drew 2-2 in the group — went out to Morocco on spot-kicks. The round of 32 has thinned the field of favourites.
NewsKnockout stageUpsetGermany
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