World Cup 2026
FIFA Men's World Cup — USA, Canada, Mexico.
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Cape Verde stun football world to become smallest nation ever in World Cup knockouts
Cape Verde secured a historic 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia on Friday to advance from Group A at the 2026 World Cup, becoming the smallest nation — population just over 500,000 — ever to reach the knockout stage. The Blue Sharks, making their World Cup debut, now face reigning champions Argentina in Miami on July 3.
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Cape Verde make World Cup history as smallest nation ever to reach knockout stage, face Argentina
Cape Verde became the smallest country ever to reach the World Cup knockout stage after Spain's win over Uruguay sealed second place in Group H for the Blue Sharks, who now face reigning champions Argentina in the round of 32.
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Harvard grad Matt Freese snubbed Man United to become USA's World Cup No.1
New York City FC goalkeeper Matt Freese turned down a Manchester United apprenticeship to stay in education, graduated from Harvard with an economics degree, and is now the United States' first-choice keeper at World Cup 2026, having conceded just once in two group-stage wins.
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Spain top Group H as Cape Verde make history and Scotland cling to World Cup lifeline
Spain edged Uruguay 1-0 in Guadalajara thanks to Alex Baena's 42nd-minute goal, sending the South Americans out of the World Cup. Cape Verde's 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia secured their place in the knockout rounds — the smallest nation ever to do so — while Scotland's last-16 hopes remain alive.
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Canobbio's late red card sparks touchline brawl as Spain eliminate Uruguay from World Cup
Agustin Canobbio was shown a straight red card in the closing stages of Uruguay's defeat to Spain, triggering a touchline confrontation between both benches. The result ends Uruguay's World Cup campaign and sends Cape Verde through to the knockout stages.
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Debutants Cape Verde to face reigning champions Argentina in World Cup round of 32
Cape Verde, making their World Cup debut, will meet Lionel Messi's Argentina in the round of 32 on July 3 at Miami Stadium after finishing as runners-up in Group H with three points from three matches.
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Marciniak, referee of the 2022 World Cup final, appointed for Egypt vs Iran in Seattle
Poland's Szymon Marciniak, who refereed the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France, has been appointed to take charge of the Egypt vs Iran Group A clash at Lumen Field in Seattle. Both sides can still reach the knockout stage, though only one is likely to advance.
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Bielsa substitutes Muslera at half-time as Uruguay's World Cup campaign unravels against Spain
Marcelo Bielsa hauled off 40-year-old goalkeeper Fernando Muslera at half-time of Uruguay's must-win World Cup group game against Spain after Muslera gifted Alex Baena the opening goal. Bielsa then removed Federico Valverde before the hour, deepening a crisis that had already seen players reportedly clash with their coach over training methods.
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Adham Makhadmeh to referee Belgium vs New Zealand in crucial World Cup Group G clash
Jordanian official Adham Makhadmeh will take charge of Belgium vs New Zealand at BC Place in Vancouver, a Group G fixture that could determine which side advances to the knockout rounds of the 2026 World Cup.
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Bielsa hauls off Muslera at half-time after third World Cup howler hands Spain opener
Fernando Muslera was substituted at half-time by Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa after mishandling Alex Baena's shot to gift Spain the opening goal, becoming the first goalkeeper to contribute three error-led goals in a single World Cup campaign since records began in 1966.
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Deschamps to return for France training Saturday after mother's death disrupted World Cup campaign
Assistant coach Guy Stephan confirmed Didier Deschamps will rejoin the France squad on Saturday, a day after overseeing a 4-1 win over Norway in which Ousmane Dembele scored a hat-trick from just 0.29 xG — the lowest for any hat-trick scorer in World Cup history.
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Ugarte stretchered off with knee injury as Uruguay face Spain at World Cup
Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte was taken off on a stretcher during Uruguay's World Cup clash with Spain after an accidental collision with team-mate Mathias Olivera left him in visible distress.
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Letexier confirmed as referee for Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia at World Cup 2026
Frenchman François Letexier, who refereed the Euro 2024 final between Spain and England, will take charge of the Group H clash between Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia at Houston's NRG Stadium, with both sides still harbouring hopes of progression.
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Scaloni rests Messi for Jordan clash despite golden boot race at World Cup 2026
Lionel Messi will start on the bench when Argentina face Jordan in their World Cup 2026 group stage finale, coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed. The 39-year-old leads the golden boot standings with five goals from two games and holds the all-time tournament scoring record with 18 goals.
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Scaloni rests Messi for Argentina's final group game as World Cup record stands at 18
Lionel Messi will not start Argentina's Group J finale against Jordan on Saturday, coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed. The decision comes after Messi scored five goals in two matches, breaking the all-time FIFA World Cup goals record with 18.
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Tuchel admits England's left flank is failing and demands more from Gordon and Rashford
Thomas Tuchel has publicly criticised the performances of Anthony Gordon, Marcus Rashford, and both left-backs after England were held to a goalless draw by Ghana, warning the entire left-side unit must improve ahead of their must-win Group clash with Panama.
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Ismael Elfath named referee for Uruguay vs Spain Group H decider at World Cup 2026
American official Ismael Elfath will take charge of the Uruguay vs Spain Group H decider at World Cup 2026, with the winners set to avoid Argentina in the round of 32. The Morocco-born MLS referee has already officiated the Netherlands vs Japan draw in Group F.
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Reece James ruled out of England's Panama clash with hamstring injury, leaving Tuchel short of right-back options
Reece James will miss England's Group L finale against Panama on Saturday after suffering a hamstring injury, and is a doubt for their last-32 tie. Thomas Tuchel must now choose from a limited pool of right-back alternatives, with Djed Spence the most likely candidate.
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Messi once tipped Mason Mount for world's best — now he's missing England's World Cup squad
Lionel Messi singled out Mason Mount as a future world-beater in 2020, but the Manchester United midfielder has been left out of Thomas Tuchel's 26-man England squad for the 2026 World Cup after a career derailed by injuries.
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FIFA microphone blunder lets TV viewers hear referee Taylor's VAR calls live
A technical error by FIFA during Senegal's 5-0 win over Iraq at the 2026 World Cup broadcast Premier League referee Anthony Taylor's live VAR dialogue to television viewers, exposing the full decision-making process behind a red card for Iraqi defender Rebin Sulaka.
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