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Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni highlighted the difficulty level of the 2026 World Cup by pointing out that even tournament favorites are struggling against lower-ranked opponents. “I think this World Cup is proving to be difficult for everyone. There isn’t one truly dominant team. France seemed strong, and they still are, but they struggled against Paraguay,” Scaloni said in a press conference on Monday ahead of the reigning World Cup champions’…

ARLINGTON, Texas — Roberto Martinez confirmed that he is leaving his job as Portugal coach after Monday’s 1-0 FIFA World Cup round-of-16 defeat to Spain, while denying that the result was “a failure.” Substitute Mikel Merino scored in the 91st minute at AT&T Stadium to see Spain progress to the quarterfinals as Cristiano Ronaldo made his last World Cup appearance. Martinez took charge of Portugal in 2023, and his contract…

Mauricio Pochettino handed Folarin Balogun a spot in the starting lineup for the United States in its round-of-16 match with Belgium in the FIFA World Cup on Monday in Seattle. Balogun had looked set to miss the game due to a suspension for a red card he received after a VAR review in the USMNT’s win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32. However, Pochettino picked Balogun in his starting…

Cristiano Ronaldo exited his final World Cup in tears as Portugal were eliminated 1-0 by Spain in the round of 16 in Arlington, Texas, on Monday. Spain’s Mikel Merino scored the only goal of the game in the first minute of second-half stoppage time to send Spain to the quarterfinals at the expense of their Iberian Peninsula rivals. Following the final whistle, a visibly emotional Ronaldo wiped tears from his…

England captain Harry Kane has made clear that his “voice is back,” after sounding worse for wear in his media duties following his side’s stunning 3-2 World Cup win over Mexico. Kane scored from the spot to make it 3-1 to the Three Lions shortly after Jarell Quansah had been sent off. Despite a Raúl Jiménez penalty to reduce the Mexican arrears, 10-man England dug deep to hold on and…

Mikel Merino scored a late goal to send Spain past Portugal in the round of 16 on Monday and into a FIFA World Cup quarterfinal for the first time since they won it all in 2010. With the game looking like it was headed to extra time Arlington, Texas, a Ferran Torres through-ball sprang Merino in the penalty area and he slotted home past Diogo Costa to give Spain the…

The Football Association are considering whether to appeal England defender Jarell Quansah‘s red card against Mexico, sources have told ESPN. Bayer Leverkusen defender Quansah was sent off in the second half of Sunday’s dramatic 3-2 win at Azteca Stadium, following a VAR review for a high tackle on Mexico defender Jesús Gallardo. England played the final 36 minutes with a man disadvantage but they hung on to record a historic…

SEATTLE — Andrew Giuliani, the head of the White House task force on the 2026 World Cup, told ESPN on Monday that he has no concerns at all over FIFA’s decision to reduce Folarin Balogun‘s suspension affecting the legacy or credibility of what the United States national team accomplishes at this tournament. In fact, Giuliani said fans outside the U.S. should be happy that an “injustice” was corrected, pointing to…

Sir Keir Starmer intervened to prevent FIFA bringing forward kick-off at the Estadio Azteca amid concerns the change could give World Cup co-hosts Mexico an unfair advantage over England. The UK Government stepped in through diplomatic channels to oppose moving the match from 1 a.m. to 7 p.m. BST because it would mean Thomas Tuchel’s team had less time to adapt to the altitude, it is understood. Starmer directed the…

Jordan Henderson is expected to be ruled out for the rest of the World Cup after suffering a suspected broken bone in celebrating England’s 3-2 win over Mexico, sources have told ESPN. The 36-year-old was an unused substitute in Sunday’s dramatic round-of-16 clash at Azteca Stadium, where Harry Kane’s 60th-minute penalty and a brace from Jude Bellingham gave ten-man England a famous victory. But as he jumped over the advertising…