The Socceroos will face Egypt in the round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup, after Belgium‘s 5-1 win over New Zealand and the Pharaohs’ dramatic 1-1 draw with Iran saw them fall to second-place in Group G on goal difference. Securing second-place in Group D and a place in the knockout stages after their 0-0 draw with Paraguay the day prior, the Socceroos sat down on Friday not knowing…
Marcelo Bielsa was blunt when discussing his legacy with Uruguay following their group stage exit from the 2026 World Cup, conceding that he has “left nothing” after failing to secure a single victory in the tournament. “What I gave Uruguayan football is nothing, because any contribution a coach makes to a national team over three years is futile without positive outcomes,” Bielsa said following Friday’s 1-0 loss to Spain, which…
GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has confirmed that the team’s qualification for the World Cup knockout stage — topping Group H after a 1-0 win over Uruguay — came at a cost, with injury concerns over wingers Nico Williams and Yéremy Pino. Williams and Pino were both introduced as second-half substitutes in the match in Guadalajara, Mexico, after Álex Baena had put Spain ahead before the…
England have clinched a spot in the knockout rounds of the 2026 World Cup ahead of their final match of the group stage against Panama on Saturday. Results in the final games of Group H on Friday meant that England’s four points is guaranteed to be enough to at least advance as one of the eight best third-placed teams. – James to miss England-Panama; Rice, Anderson fit – Panama players…
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The Socceroos will play the remainder of their FIFA World Cup campaign with 24 players, after attacker Mathew Leckie and defender Jacob Italiano were ruled out of the tournament through injury. Both absent from the 0-0 draw with Paraguay on Thursday that secured Australia second-place in Group D and a place in the knockout stages, Leckie and Italiano departed camp on Friday, with the former returning…
Cape Verde‘s memorable journey at their first ever World Cup is not over yet. The island nation off the western coast of Africa became the smallest nation by population to ever make the knockout stage of a men’s World Cup after a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia in their group-stage finale on Friday. The tournament debutants pulled off one of the World Cup’s biggest surprises by playing pre-tournament favorites Spain…
Uruguay pulled goalkeeper Fernando Muslera at halftime of their FIFA World Cup group-stage final after his blunder in the first half gifted Spain the lead at Estadio Akron on Friday. Muslera went down and to his right to stop Álex Baena‘s shot in the 42nd minute, but despite getting both hands on the ball only managed to swat it into his own net. At halftime, Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa elected…
ARLINGTON, Texas — Lionel Messi will start Argentina‘s final group stage match against Jordan on Saturday from the substitutes’ bench, coach Lionel Scaloni said. “Leo will be a substitute tomorrow, to play later. We’ll announce the team tomorrow,” Scaloni said during Friday’s news conference ahead of the game at AT&T Stadium. – How can teams qualify for knockout rounds? – FIFA World Cup match schedule – Hunger, neglect, sexual abuse:…
Austria and Algeria have both insisted they will be going for a victory when the two teams face off on Saturday, despite other results potentially being more beneficial to their knockout round draw. By the time Austria and Algeria begin their Group J finale, both will know how the knockout bracket looks, and what the consequences will be for finishing second or third behind group winners Argentina. – Why Algeria…
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Didier Deschamps will fly back to Boston on Saturday and be reunited with the France squad after missing the 4-1 win against Norway on Friday to attend the funeral of his mother. “I have big thoughts for Didier. We are happy that he comes back,” said France assistant Guy Stephan, who oversaw the win with Deschamps away. “He will be with us tomorrow at training. Our duo…