Sport Updates
Same-day match highlights, records, team news and results from across the sports you follow.
Emiliano Martinez Sets World Cup Final Saves Record Despite Argentina's Defeat
Emiliano Martinez put in a record-breaking display in a losing cause on Sunday. The Argentina goalkeeper made 11 saves in the World Cup final against Spain, the most ever recorded in a final, but it wasn't enough to stop his side losing 1-0 after extra time. Martinez broke the previous record of 8 saves, set in the 1994 final between Brazil and Italy, with his ninth stop late in regulation. Spain dominated possession and peppered his goal throughout, firing 11 shots on target, yet Argentina failed to register a single shot on target of their own in the match. He did it all while carrying a fractured finger on his right hand, an injury he had been managing without surgery through the tournament. His best moments came right at the end of normal time, denying a long-range effort from Nico Williams and then a stoppage-time free-kick from Lamine Yamal to force extra time. The dam finally broke in the 106th minute, when Ferran Torres struck to win it for Spain. Martinez was also the hero of Argentina's 2022 title win, saving a decisive penalty in that final against France. This time, his heroics were not enough to deliver back-to-back titles.
Pau Cubarsi Becomes First-Ever Defender to Win FIFA Young Player Award
Pau Cubarsi made history at the World Cup final whistle. The 19-year-old Spain defender won the FIFA Young Player Award, becoming the first defender to ever take home the prize. Cubarsi started every single one of Spain's eight matches at the back. He helped the team keep seven clean sheets and concede just once all tournament, the tightest defensive record by any champion in World Cup history. That reliability at the back, more than any single moment, is what won him the award. The FIFA Young Player Award goes to the best performer aged 21 or under. It has picked out future superstars before. Kylian Mbappe won it in 2018, Paul Pogba in 2014, and Thomas Muller back in 2010. Cubarsi now joins that list, along with Argentina's Enzo Fernandez, who won it in 2022. He also joins a much smaller club. Cubarsi is only the fifth teenager in World Cup history to win the tournament itself. Coming through Barcelona's academy and into the first team as a teenager, he has already made a habit of skipping steps most defenders take years to reach. For Spain, the award capped a tournament where their youngest players carried as much weight as their most experienced ones. Cubarsi's calm at the back gave the rest of the team room to attack, and FIFA's judges clearly noticed.
Lamine Yamal's Quiet World Cup Still Ends With a Winner's Medal at 19
Lamine Yamal lifted the World Cup on Sunday without ever quite dominating it the way he's dominated everything else in his young career. The Barcelona winger made his World Cup debut this summer as Spain's most hyped attacker, and leaves it as a champion at 19, even though the numbers were modest by his standards. Yamal made seven appearances at this World Cup and scored once, a strike against France in the semi-final that made him Spain's second-youngest ever World Cup scorer, behind only Pele's all-time record. He didn't register an assist all tournament, a quiet return for a player who set up four goals at Euro 2024 two years ago. He came into the tournament managing fitness. A hamstring injury before the World Cup put his opening matches in the group stage in doubt, and he was eased back gradually as Spain progressed. Despite the slow start, Spain didn't need him to carry the attack. They won all eight of their matches and conceded just one goal in the entire tournament, a defensive record that made individual scoring numbers almost secondary. This wasn't Yamal's first taste of major-tournament success. He became the youngest player ever to win a major international trophy when Spain won Euro 2024 the day after his 17th birthday. Now, still a teenager, he adds a World Cup winner's medal to that, becoming a two-time champion with Spain before he's played a single senior tournament where he was the headline scorer. For a player already being talked about as a future Ballon d'Or winner, a World Cup title at 19, even a quiet one statistically, only adds to a résumé that's moving faster than almost anyone in the game's history.
Who Is Ferran Torres? The Super-Sub Who Scored Spain's World Cup-Winning Goal
Ferran Torres came off the bench to become Spain's World Cup hero. The Barcelona forward scored the only goal of the final, a 106th-minute strike that beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time. Torres was born on February 29, 2000, in Foios, a small town near Valencia. He came through Valencia's academy before a big-money move to Manchester City, and later joined Barcelona, where he now plays. He was named Man of the Match for his winning goal in the final. His route to that moment wasn't smooth. Torres has spoken openly about a difficult stretch at Barcelona when he lost form and struggled with confidence, describing it as feeling like "a bottomless pit." He began seeing a psychologist to work through it, and credits that process with turning his career around. He came back to score 11 goals in 2023-24, then 19 the following season, form that helped him force his way back into the Spain squad. At this World Cup, Torres started the final on the bench behind Mikel Oyarzabal. Manager Luis de la Fuente brought him on in the 61st minute, with the game still goalless. Spain and Argentina remained level deep into extra time before Torres finally broke through, arriving at the far post to turn home the winner and send the Spanish bench into celebration. It was Torres's first goal of the tournament, but his third at World Cup level, adding to two he scored back in Qatar in 2022. He now has a Euro 2024 winner's medal and a World Cup winner's medal from Spain's golden run under de la Fuente.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Prize Money: Spain Bank Record $50 Million for Winning the Title
Spain's World Cup triumph came with a record payday. FIFA is handing the champions $50 million in prize money, the largest winner's cheque in the tournament's history. The total prize pool for World Cup 2026 stands at $655 million in performance-based money, part of a wider $727 million package once preparation funds are included. That's a jump of nearly 50% from the $440 million pool at Qatar 2022, driven largely by the expanded 48-team format across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Runners-up Argentina take home $33 million for reaching the final. England, who beat France in the third-place playoff, earn $29 million, with France picking up $27 million for finishing fourth. Every team eliminated at the group stage still walks away with $9 million, and even the earliest-exiting nations were guaranteed money before a ball was kicked. Finish Prize Money Champion (Spain) $50 million Runner-up (Argentina) $33 million Third place (England) $29 million Fourth place (France) $27 million Group stage exit $9 million The money is paid out to national federations rather than directly to players, though players typically receive a share negotiated separately with their federations. For Spain, the $50 million adds a financial exclamation point to a tournament in which they went unbeaten in all eight matches and conceded just once.
Mbappe Finishes as World Cup's All-Time Top Scorer With 22 Goals as Messi Falls Short in Final
Kylian Mbappe finishes the 2026 World Cup as the tournament's all-time top scorer. Lionel Messi went scoreless in Sunday's final, a 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain, which means Mbappe's tally stands unmatched once the trophy was decided. Mbappe reached the mark with a brace in France's 6-4 win over England in the third-place match, taking his tournament tally to 10 goals. Across this World Cup alone, he scored twice against Senegal, twice against Iraq, twice against Sweden, once against Paraguay, once against Morocco, and twice against England. Add that to 4 goals in 2018 and 8 in 2022, and Mbappe finishes with 22 career World Cup goals, one clear of Messi's 21. Messi had a chance to draw level or retake the record in the final itself. He came into the match on 21 career goals and needed just one more to tie Mbappe, or two to move back in front. Spain's defense, marshalled by a dominant midfield performance from Rodri, kept him quiet all game, and Messi's World Cup story ends on 21. The scoring race also settled the Golden Boot. Mbappe's 10 goals, with 4 assists, means he finishes as the tournament's top scorer outright, his second straight World Cup Golden Boot after also topping the charts in 2022. Between them, Messi and Mbappe have now defined World Cup goalscoring for the best part of a decade. Messi still holds the record for career World Cup assists and remains the only man with a hat-trick in a World Cup final. But for outright goals, the record now belongs to Mbappe, at just 27 years old and with more World Cups likely still ahead of him.
World Cup 2026 Awards: Rodri Wins Golden Ball, Mbappe Takes Golden Boot, Simon Claims Golden Glove
FIFA handed out its individual awards for World Cup 2026 right after Spain's final win over Argentina, and Spain's players swept most of them. Golden Ball (best player): Rodri. Spain's captain anchored the midfield all tournament and was the calm head behind their title run. He beat out Messi and Mbappe, who took silver and bronze respectively, to take the top individual honour. Golden Boot (top scorer): Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman finished with 10 goals and 4 assists, two clear of Messi's 8. He sealed it with a brace in France's third-place win over England, meaning Messi would have needed a hat-trick in the final to catch him. It's Mbappe's second straight Golden Boot, after also winning it in 2022. Golden Glove (best goalkeeper): Unai Simon. The Spain keeper was central to their title, conceding just one goal in the entire tournament, in their group game against Belgium, and keeping seven clean sheets in eight matches. No side has ever won the World Cup while conceding so little. Best Young Player: Pau Cubarsi. The 19-year-old Spain defender was a rock at the back throughout the knockouts and picked up the award given to the standout player born on or after January 1, 2005. He joins past winners like Mbappe and Enzo Fernandez on that list. Fair Play Award: Netherlands. The team award for the tournament's best-behaved side went to the Dutch. Spain's clean sweep of the top individual awards, save for the Golden Boot, underlines just how complete their title run was. They didn't just win the trophy, they set the individual standard almost everywhere else too.
Is This the End? Messi Stays Silent on Argentina Future After World Cup Final Loss
Lionel Messi has not said whether Sunday's World Cup final was his last game for Argentina. At 39, he's stuck to his usual line about taking things one step at a time, and gave no clear answer either way after the 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain. Reports out of the Argentina camp suggest this isn't the end just yet. Journalist Gaston Edul of TyC Sports says Messi is expected to keep playing for the national team, at least through the 2026 Copa America. That would give him one more major tournament in Argentina colours, even though a seventh World Cup in 2030 looks unlikely. Messi would turn 43 partway through that tournament. This is not the first time Messi has stood at this exact crossroads. He announced his retirement from international football back in 2016 after a Copa America final loss to Chile, only to reverse the decision two months later. He also said in 2022 that Qatar would be his last World Cup, before changing his mind and returning for this tournament at 39. Whatever happens next, Messi leaves this World Cup with his numbers intact at the top of the game. He finished as Argentina's talisman once again, with 8 goals and 2 assists in the tournament, behind only Kylian Mbappe's 10 goals in the race for the Golden Boot. Across six World Cups now, Messi has scored 21 goals and set up 8 more for Argentina, numbers no other player in the game's history can match. His club future looks more settled. Messi remains under contract with Inter Miami through the 2028 MLS season. Whether Sunday turns out to be his final World Cup appearance or not, the coming Copa America now carries some extra weight for Argentina fans hoping for one more chapter.
Argentina's Title Defense Ends: Defending Champions Fall to Spain in Final
Argentina's reign as world champions is over. The defending champions lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time in Sunday's final, missing out on the chance to become only the second team ever to win back-to-back World Cups, after Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962. It was a tough way to go out. Argentina held firm for most of the game and kept Spain to just one shot on target through 90 minutes, but a Ferran Torres strike in the 106th minute proved decisive. Things got worse late on when Enzo Fernandez was sent off for a second yellow card, leaving Argentina to see out the rest of the game a man short. The run to the final was anything but smooth. Argentina needed extra time twice in the knockouts, first to beat Cape Verde 3-2 in the Round of 32, then again to see off Switzerland 3-1 in the quarter-final. They also came from behind late to beat Egypt 3-2 in the Round of 16 and England 2-1 in the semi-final, showing the same fighting spirit that carried them to the title four years ago. Much of that fight came from Lionel Messi , who finished the tournament with 8 goals, second only to France's Kylian Mbappe on 10. Messi was involved in goals right through the campaign, from a hat-trick in the group stage against Algeria to the late strikes that turned games around against Egypt and Cape Verde. For a squad that has now won a World Cup, a Copa America, and reached back-to-back finals under coach Lionel Scaloni, this loss ends one era even as questions begin about what comes next for a team that has been the benchmark in world football for the best part of a decade.
Unbeaten Through Eight Games: How Spain Won the World Cup 2026
Spain went through the whole World Cup without losing a single game, and it showed from their very first match to their last. They opened with a goalless draw against Cape Verde, then put their attacking game on show with a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia and a 1-0 win over Uruguay to win Group H. The knockouts followed the same pattern: efficient, controlled, and hard to break down. Spain beat Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32, then edged Portugal 1-0 in a tense Round of 16 clash. Belgium pushed them the closest in the quarter-final, but Spain still came through 2-1. In the semi-final, they beat France 2-0 to book their spot in the final, not conceding a single goal in that match either. Sunday's final against Argentina followed the same script. Spain barely let Argentina threaten all game, and it took extra time before Ferran Torres broke the deadlock in the 106th minute for a 1-0 win. Argentina finished the match with ten men after Enzo Fernandez was sent off late on. Across the tournament, Spain's defense was one of the standout stories. They didn't lose a match at any stage, going unbeaten in eight games from the group stage right through to the final. That run also folded into their bigger unbeaten streak across all competitions, which now stands at 38 games without a loss, a new all-time record for a men's national team, going past Italy's old mark. Young players carried a lot of this team's attacking spark all tournament, with Lamine Yamal a constant threat from wide areas, while more experienced hands like Mikel Oyarzabal chipped in with key goals at big moments, including two in the group stage win over Saudi Arabia. It all added up to Spain's second World Cup title, following their maiden win back in 2010.
Spain Beat Argentina 1-0 After Extra Time to Win World Cup 2026
Spain are World Cup champions once again. They beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final at MetLife Stadium, ending the defending champions' bid for back-to-back titles. The game stayed goalless through 90 tense minutes. Argentina defended deep and made life hard for Spain, who dominated the ball but couldn't find a breakthrough in normal time. The deadlock finally broke in the 106th minute, when substitute Ferran Torres struck to send the Spanish bench into wild celebration. It proved to be the only goal of the game. Argentina's night got worse in the closing stages. Enzo Fernandez was shown a second yellow card in the 90th minute and sent off, leaving Argentina to play the rest of extra time with ten men. It capped a card-heavy night for the South Americans, who picked up six yellow cards in total through Lisandro Martinez (41'), Leandro Paredes (52'), Fernandez (82' and again at 90'), Cristian Romero (90') and Alexis Mac Allister (111'), on top of the red card. The stats show just how one-sided this final was. Spain had 68% possession and fired 20 shots at goal, 11 of them on target. Argentina managed only 3 shots all game and failed to hit the target even once. Spain also completed 803 passes at 90% accuracy, well clear of Argentina's 445 passes at 78%. This is Spain's second World Cup title, adding to their 2010 win. It also extends their unbeaten run to 38 matches, a new all-time record for a men's national team, moving past Italy's old mark. For Argentina, the loss ends their reign as champions and denies them a shot at joining Brazil as the only side to win back-to-back World Cups. Spain's golden generation, built around young stars like Lamine Yamal, now have a World Cup title to show for their dominant run through the tournament.
Bukayo Saka's Hat-Trick Seals England's Best World Cup Finish Since 1966
Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick as England beat France 6-4 in the World Cup third-place match in Miami. It's only the second senior hat-trick of his career, and his first ever at a World Cup. His first came back in June 2023, for England against North Macedonia in a Euro 2024 qualifier at Old Trafford. That night he scored three times in a 13-minute spell in a 7-0 win, becoming the youngest England player to score a hat-trick since Theo Walcott in 2008. This time the goals came in different fashion. Saka struck in the 37th minute, then again right on half-time in first-half stoppage time, before completing his treble from the penalty spot in the 87th minute to put England back in front at 4-3. Jude Bellingham added a fourth soon after, and although Ousmane Dembele pulled one back for France in stoppage time, it wasn't enough to stop England finishing the tournament in third place, their best World Cup finish since they won the trophy in 1966. Saka has been one of England's most reliable performers for years now. He joined Arsenal's academy at just seven years old and has gone on to become the club's talisman, helping them win the Premier League for the first time in over two decades this season. For England, he made his senior debut back in October 2020 and has become a regular starter under Thomas Tuchel, playing a role in England's run to this World Cup semi-final before the defeat to Argentina. A hat-trick in a match that decided nothing but pride is still a rare feat. Very few players manage even one senior hat-trick in their career, and Saka has now done it twice, with this one coming on the biggest stage of all.
England Beat France 6-4 in Wild Third-Place Thriller at World Cup 2026
England beat France 6-4 in Miami to finish third at the FIFA World Cup 2026. It was the highest-scoring match of the whole tournament, and the third-place game rarely gets talked about this much. Declan Rice put England ahead inside three minutes. Ezri Konsa made it 2-0 in the 18th minute. France looked shaky early, but they hit back fast. Kylian Mbappe pulled one back in the 48th minute. Bradley Barcola added another six minutes later. Mbappe then grabbed his second in the 66th minute to level the score at 3-3. England did not panic. Bukayo Saka put them back in front in the 87th minute from the penalty spot. That completed his hat-trick, after strikes in the 37th and 45+1st minutes. Jude Bellingham then made it 5-3 deep into stoppage time. France weren't done either. Ousmane Dembele scored in the 90+6th minute to keep the game alive, but Bellingham's earlier goal had already tipped it England's way, and the match finished 6-4. Saka's hat-trick was the standout individual moment of the match. It's a rare thing for any player to manage in a World Cup game, let alone one that doesn't decide the trophy, and it capped a strong tournament for the young forward. Both teams came into this game as disappointed sides. France had lost 2-0 to Spain in the semi-final. England had led for most of their semi-final before Argentina scored twice late to win 2-1. Neither side got the final they wanted, but this match gave fans a proper send-off from the tournament. The stats tell their own story. England had 55% of the ball and 10 shots on target to France's 9. France actually matched England for total shots at 18 apiece, and won more corners, 4 to 3. But it was England's clinical finishing, especially from Saka and Bellingham late on, that won them third place. The World Cup now moves to its final act. Spain play Argentina in the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with the trophy on the line.
Minerva Academy's U-12 Boys Retain Gothia Cup Title With Win Over Brazil
Minerva Academy's Under-12 boys are Gothia Cup champions again. The Chandigarh-based side beat Brazil's RS Sports Yellow 2-1 in the World Youth Cup final on July 18, defending the title they won last year. Thangsanglen Kipgen put Minerva ahead first, before the Brazilian side hit back with an equaliser. Mekhamkhraw Nongrem then struck a free-kick winner to seal the match. Kipgen was named the final's best player. Kipgen was the standout performer of the whole campaign, not just the final. He once scored six goals in a single group-stage match. Minerva ran up huge scorelines throughout the tournament, including a 13-1 win and a 12-0 win, on their way to the final. The win caps off a huge few weeks for the academy. Minerva had already won the Helsinki Cup in Finland earlier this month, their first-ever title there. Winning both tournaments back to back gives them what's being called a European double. Gothia Cup is the world's biggest youth football tournament, drawing well over a thousand teams from across the globe every year. Minerva first won it in 2023, beating a Brazilian side in that final too, and have now added a second title on top of it. The result adds to a strong recent run for the academy, which also picked up the Sub Junior League title back home in 2024 and has produced players who've gone on to trials with clubs abroad.
Argentina Under FIFA Review Over Malvinas Banner After Reaching World Cup Final
Argentina's place in Sunday's World Cup final is secure, but their semi-final celebrations are now under FIFA scrutiny. The federation has opened a disciplinary review into a banner displayed by Argentina players after their 2-1 win over England. The banner read "Las Malvinas son Argentinas," a reference to the disputed Falkland Islands. The display came moments after Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez struck late to complete Argentina's comeback over England in Atlanta. FIFA has strict rules against political messaging inside the stadium and during official celebrations. A ruling is expected before Argentina take the field against Spain on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, where the two sides meet for the first time ever in a World Cup final. Argentina are chasing back-to-back titles, something only Brazil have managed before. The team will be hoping the probe is resolved quickly so the build-up to the final stays focused on the football.
FIFA to Award Championship Rings for the First Time in World Cup History, Ahead of Spain vs Argentina Final
FIFA will hand out championship rings to the winning squad after Sunday's World Cup final. It's a first for the tournament in its 96-year history. The move borrows a tradition long associated with American sports leagues like the NFL and NBA, where winning teams receive custom rings as a lasting keepsake of the title. FIFA has not yet detailed the ring's design, but it marks a symbolic addition to the usual trophy and medal presentation on final day. The announcement lands right before one of the most anticipated finals in years. Spain and Argentina meet on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the first-ever World Cup final between the two nations. Argentina are defending champions chasing back-to-back titles, while Spain are unbeaten in 37 straight games and hunting their second World Cup crown. Whichever side lifts the trophy on Sunday, their players will now walk away with a piece of history beyond the medal around their neck.
Messi Retakes Golden Boot Lead With Two Assists as Argentina Eye Historic Back-to-Back Title, Spain Chase Record Unbeaten Run
Lionel Messi moved back to the top of the Golden Boot race after setting up both Argentina goals in their semi-final win over England. Messi and France's Kylian Mbappe are level on eight goals each for the tournament, but assists are used as the first tiebreaker for the Golden Boot. Messi's two assists against England took his tally to four for the tournament, one more than Mbappe's three, putting him ahead heading into the final. Argentina now have a chance to make history of their own in the final. Only Brazil, in 1958 and 1962, have won back-to-back World Cups. A win over Spain on Sunday would put Argentina in that same company. Spain arrive at the final on a 37-match unbeaten run, matching Italy's all-time record for the longest unbeaten streak by a national team. Their last defeat came in a friendly against Colombia in March 2024. A win in the final would see Spain move past Italy and set a new all-time record.
France vs England World Cup Third-Place Preview: Mbappe and Kane Lead Two Fallen Contenders
France and England play for third place at the FIFA World Cup 2026 on July 18 at Miami Stadium, after both were knocked out in the semi-finals. France lost 2-0 to Spain, while England lost 2-1 to Argentina after leading for most of the match. Both sides came into the tournament as genuine title contenders, which makes this an unusual third-place match. Before their semi-final loss, France had won all six games at this World Cup, scoring 16 goals and conceding just 2. England went five wins and a draw before falling to Argentina. Kylian Mbappe is the tournament's top scorer with eight goals, level with Messi. He'll lead a France side that has struggled to find its usual rhythm in midfield since the semi-final defeat. For England, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have each scored six goals this tournament, with a brace apiece along the way. Kane was left frustrated after the Argentina loss, saying England sat too deep after taking the lead. The third-place match has been part of the World Cup since 1934. Neither side will be lifting the trophy this year, but both will be looking to end their campaign on a high, just a day before the final is played in New York.
Spain vs Argentina World Cup Final Preview: Messi and Yamal Meet for the First Time, With the Trophy on the Line
Spain and Argentina meet in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium. It is the first time the two nations have ever met in a World Cup final. In fact, Spain and Argentina have met just once before at a World Cup, all the way back in 1966. Away from the World Cup, their most recent clash came in a 2018 friendly, which Spain won 6-1. Lionel Scaloni was on Argentina's coaching staff that day. Neither current head coach had even been born the last time these two sides met at a World Cup. Argentina arrive as defending champions, chasing a second straight title. Their route to the final has been anything but smooth. They needed extra time to beat Cape Verde and Switzerland, and came from behind late to beat Egypt and now England. Lionel Messi leads the tournament with eight goals and 12 career World Cup assists, both all-time records, and has now scored 21 World Cup goals in total, also a record. Spain have been the tournament's most controlled side. After a goalless draw with Cape Verde in the group stage, they have won six straight, including a 2-0 win over France in the semi-final. Lamine Yamal , still only 19, has been central to their run and will now face Messi on the biggest stage of all. There is a personal story behind that meeting too. As a baby, Yamal appeared in a photo with Messi at a charity event, a picture that went viral after his father shared it years later. Spain are looking for their second World Cup title, having won it in 2010. Argentina want a third overall, and a second in a row under Scaloni.
Messi Sets Up Both Goals as Argentina Complete Comeback Against England to Reach Back-to-Back World Cup Finals
Argentina came from behind to beat England 2-1 in Atlanta and reach the World Cup final for the second tournament in a row. England led for most of the game through Anthony Gordon's 55th-minute goal. Two late Argentina strikes turned the semi-final on its head. Lionel Messi was the architect of both Argentina goals. He set up Enzo Fernandez for the equaliser in the 85th minute. He then teed up Lautaro Martinez for the winner in second-half stoppage time. England had led since the 55th minute and looked to be closing out the game before the late collapse. England captain Harry Kane did not hide his disappointment after the match. He said the team played well for most of the game. But they sat too deep once they went ahead, and that wasn't enough at this level. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was emotional in his post-match reaction. He said he was proud of a squad that never knows when it is beaten. He called reaching back-to-back finals a historic achievement for the team. The match also had a disciplinary edge. England's Elliot Anderson was booked in the 37th minute. Argentina picked up three late bookings of their own: Lisandro Martinez (42'), Cristian Romero (51'), and Rodrigo De Paul in stoppage time. Argentina dominated possession with 64% of the ball and had 14 shots to England's 6. They will now face Spain in the final. England play France for third place.
Oyarzabal Ties Scoring Record, Porro's Second Goal Sends Spain Past France Into World Cup Final
Spain beat France 2-0 in Dallas to reach the World Cup final. The match also had some big personal milestones. Mikel Oyarzabal scored a penalty in the 22nd minute after Yamal was fouled in the box. It was his fifth goal of the tournament. That ties him with David Villa (2010) and Emilio Butragueño (1986) for the most goals by a Spanish player at a single World Cup. Only Villa (13), Alvaro Morata (10), and Fernando Torres (9) have scored more goals for Spain across major tournaments overall. Pedro Porro made it 2-0 in the 58th minute with a neat one-two with Dani Olmo. It was his second goal of this World Cup. He also scored against Austria in the Round of 32. That makes him only the second Spanish defender to score twice at a single World Cup. Fernando Hierro is the other, doing it in both 1998 and 2002. Dani Olmo's assist was also special. He now shares the record for most Spain assists at major tournaments with Cesc Fabregas, both on eight. Olmo has scored or assisted in every one of his three major tournament semi-finals for Spain. Spain's defense had a big night too. This was their sixth clean sheet of the tournament. No team has ever kept six clean sheets at a single World Cup before. For France, Kylian Mbappe made history just by playing. It was his 21st World Cup game for France, the most by any French player. But it wasn't a good night for him on the pitch. He picked up a yellow card in the 86th minute, and in the first half he was caught offside twice while touching the ball inside Spain's box just once. France almost fell further behind when Lamine Yamal curled the ball in from a tight angle. But the goal was ruled out for offside. Spain are now in their second World Cup final ever. Their only other one came in 2010, when they won it. They've also gone 37 games without losing. That ties Italy's all-time record for the longest unbeaten run in men's international football. Spain will play the winner of England vs Argentina, who meet on July 16, in the final.
England vs Argentina Semi-Final Preview: History Locked at 3-3 in One of Football's Fiercest Rivalries
England and Argentina meet in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final on July 16, reviving one of football's most storied rivalries on the game's biggest stage. The two nations have crossed paths at the World Cup four times before, and the history is even, with three wins apiece . England won the first meeting in 1962, then edged a bad-tempered 1966 quarter-final 1-0, a game remembered for Argentina captain Antonio Rattin being sent off. Argentina hit back in the 1986 quarter-final, winning 2-1 in a match forever defined by Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" handball and his stunning solo goal moments later, both scored in the same eight-minute spell. The two sides met again at the 1998 last-16 stage, a 2-2 thriller featuring Michael Owen's wonder goal and David Beckham's red card, with Argentina eventually winning on penalties. England had the last word at the 2002 World Cup, winning 1-0 in the group stage through a Beckham penalty that was widely seen as his redemption after 1998. Beyond World Cup meetings, England hold the wider edge in official fixtures between the sides, with six wins to Argentina's two and five draws across their full history. Their most recent meeting came in a 2005 friendly, which England won. Both teams arrive at this semi-final via extra time in the quarter-finals. England beat Norway 2-1, with Jude Bellingham scoring twice, including a 93rd-minute winner, after Norway had led through Antonio Schjelderup. Argentina came from behind to beat a 10-man Switzerland 3-1, with Breel Embolo's second-half sending off proving decisive as Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez struck in extra time. With an even World Cup head-to-head and both sides in red-hot knockout form, this rematch of two of football's most iconic World Cup collisions could produce another classic.
France vs Spain Semi-Final Preview: A Century-Old Rivalry, But Only Their Second World Cup Meeting
France and Spain meet in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final on July 15, a heavyweight European clash that is, remarkably, only the second time these two nations have ever faced each other at a World Cup. Their solitary previous meeting at the tournament came in the round of 16 back in 2006, when France ran out 3-1 winners thanks to goals from Franck Ribery, Patrick Vieira and Zinedine Zidane, after David Villa had put Spain ahead. Spain have never beaten France at a World Cup, which makes this semi-final new territory for both sides in terms of World Cup history between them, even though they have plenty of history elsewhere. Away from World Cups, this is one of European football's fiercest rivalries, and Spain hold the overall bragging rights . Across 38 meetings in all competitions, Spain have won 18 to France's 13, with 7 draws. Spain have also won the two most recent competitive meetings between the sides, including a 2-1 win over France in the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final, where a teenage Lamine Yamal announced himself on the big stage with a spectacular, record-breaking equaliser. Spain's edge extends across the bigger tournaments too, with wins over France at Euro 1984, Euro 2000, Euro 2012, Euro 2020, Euro 2024 and in the Nations League all forming part of a rivalry that has swung firmly in La Roja's favour in the competitive era. France did go decades without losing a competitive fixture to Spain, a streak that only ended when Spain won 2-0 in the Euro 2012 quarter-final. Both sides arrive in excellent form. France have been the tournament's most defensively solid side, not conceding a single goal across their last three matches, while Spain have shown they can grind out knockout football, beating Portugal 1-0 in the round of 16 before Mikel Merino struck an 88th-minute winner to see off Belgium in the quarter-final. With history tilted toward Spain and both teams playing knockout football on merit, this looks set to be one of the ties of the round.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Semi-Final Lineup Set as France, Spain, England and Argentina Battle for a Final Spot
The FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final picture is complete, with four heavyweight footballing nations left standing after a dramatic quarter-final round. France face Spain on July 15, before England take on Argentina on July 16, in what promises to be a mouth-watering final four. Notably, this is the first time the world's top four FIFA-ranked teams have all reached the World Cup semi-finals, with Argentina, Spain, France and England occupying the top four spots in the latest rankings. France vs Spain pits two of Europe's most in-form sides against each other. France have been ruthlessly efficient on their way here, beating Sweden 3-0 in the round of 32, edging out Paraguay 1-0 in the last 16, and dispatching Morocco 2-0 in the quarter-finals without conceding a single goal in any of those three games. Spain have matched that control in their own way, seeing off Austria 3-0, then needing just one goal to beat Portugal in the round of 16, before grinding past a stubborn Belgium 2-1 in the last eight. England vs Argentina is the standout tie of the round, and both teams have taken the hard road to get here. England needed extra time in the quarter-finals to see off Norway 2-1, with Jude Bellingham scoring twice, including a dramatic 93rd-minute winner, after Norway had led through Antonio Schjelderup. Argentina also required extra time in their quarter-final, coming from behind to beat 10-man Switzerland 3-1 after Breel Embolo's second-half red card. Both sides have leaned on knockout-stage resilience throughout the tournament, England needed a 3-2 win over Mexico in the round of 16, while Argentina survived a 3-2 last-16 win over Egypt and a 3-2 extra-time win over Cape Verde in the round of 32. The standout individual story of the tournament remains Lionel Messi , who has been directly involved in goals throughout Argentina's campaign, from a hat-trick against Algeria in the group stage, to further goals against Austria, Jordan, Cape Verde and Egypt in the knockout rounds, taking his tournament tally to eight. He'll now face an England side built around the in-form Bellingham, fresh off his quarter-final brace. With both semi-finals promising goals, drama and knockout football at its highest level, fans have a blockbuster week ahead before a place in the World Cup final is decided.