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INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Coach Luis de la Fuente said he “loves” Lamine Yamal‘s “optimism and confidence” after the star boasted that Spain would be “almost unstoppable” when they hit top World Cup form. Spain play Austria at SoFi Stadium on Thursday in the round of 32, having topped their group but failed to perform at their best so far, unlike other leading candidates like France.

SEATTLE — Youri Tielemans scored from the penalty spot in stoppage time of extra time, and Belgium came back from two goals down to beat Senegal 3-2 Wednesday in the Round of 32 at the World Cup. Tielemans was fouled just before the end of the 30 minutes of extra time were finished and the referee awarded the penalty after a video review.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Christian Pulisic has been named in the United States men’s national team’s starting lineup for Wednesday’s World Cup round-of-32 clash with Bosnia-Herzegovina after recovering from a calf injury. The AC Milan attacker has not started for the U.S. since its World Cup opener against Paraguay on June 12, when he aggravated an injury to his left calf and was replaced at halftime. The ailment caused him…

TORONTO — Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo are “two great icons of world football,” Portugal midfielder Vitinha said on Wednesday, but he hopes “tomorrow [Modric] will be a little sadder than I am” following Portugal’s match FIFA World Cup round-of-32 match with Croatia. Both Modric and Ronaldo, 41 and 40 years old, respectively, are very likely playing in their final World Cups, so one is set to play their final…

England midfielder Declan Rice has said he hopes he will not have to fill the problematic right-back slot again after playing the “hardest 12 minutes” of the 2-1 win over Congo DR in the position. The Arsenal star was moved out wide late in the game as head coach Thomas Tuchel made attacking substitutions to help the team turn around a 1-0 deficit with two goals from Harry Kane in…

Harry Kane revelled in having his “hero moment” as he saved England from a humiliating World Cup exit to Congo DR. Thomas Tuchel’s side were heading for one of their worst ever results at the global tournament when they trailed to Brian Cipenga’s seventh-minute opener and struggled to get back into the game in Atlanta. But Kane once again stepped up when his country needed him the most to score…

Thomas Tuchel has described Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland as “sharks” after their goalscoring feats at the 2026 World Cup. Kane’s brace in England’s 2-1 win over Congo DR took him to five for the tournament, level with Haaland and one behind top scorers Messi and Mbappé. Messi is the current all-time World Cup top scorer with 19 — one ahead of Mbappé — while Kane…

Full-back Marc Cucurella has said he “understands” criticism of Spain‘s World Cup performances, as the team prepares to play Austria in the round of 32. European champions Spain were unbeaten as they topped Group H, qualifying for Thursday’s game in Los Angeles, but haven’t looked at their brilliant best so far at the tournament. The squad trained at Dignity Health Sports Park — home of LA Galaxy — on Wednesday,…

ATLANTA — Thomas Tuchel has said it is “impossible” for England to adapt to the altitude ahead of Sunday’sround-of-16 World Cup clash with Mexico in Mexico City. The Three Lions set up a meeting with the World Cup co-hosts after coming from behind to beat Congo DR 2-1 in Atlanta on Wednesday. Brian Cipenga’s seventh-minute strike handed Congo DR a shock early lead but Harry Kane struck twice in the…