Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: June 21, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

World Cup Upsets and Rising Stars

Iran battled to a 0-0 draw against a 10-man Belgium, moving to the top of Group G. Despite playing under what coach Amir Ghalenoei described as the "worst possible conditions," Iran's goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand was instrumental, making seven saves to deny Belgium. Meanwhile, Spain finally announced their arrival at the World Cup with a dominant 4-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia. The performance was largely inspired by 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, who scored his first World Cup goal and showed why this tournament could be his. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, however, urged caution against comparing Yamal to legends like Lionel Messi.

In Group F, the Netherlands sent a warning message to their rivals with a record-breaking 5-1 demolition of Sweden, a performance that coach Ronald Koeman insisted would make their World Cup opponents take notice. Japan also produced a dominant display, securing the biggest margin of victory for an Asian nation in World Cup history with a 4-0 rout of Tunisia, with Daichi Kamada reiterating their target of winning the tournament. Germany also clinched a spot in the knockout phase for the first time since 2018, thanks to two second-half goals from substitute Deniz Undav in a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast.

Goalkeeping Heroics and Squad Dynamics

Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room etched his name in the history books by making a record-equalling 15 saves to help his nation secure their first-ever World Cup point in a 0-0 draw against Ecuador. His performance drew comparisons to the legendary Tim Howard, who previously set the save record. On the Belgian side, Jérémy Doku was sidelined due to illness for their match against Iran. Portugal's Diogo Dalot revealed that the team spent time preparing for social media backlash ahead of the World Cup, acknowledging the need to manage expectations around a player of Cristiano Ronaldo's stature. Elsewhere, William Saliba of France has been playing through pain for months but is motivated by the chance to make history with his team.

Transfer Buzz and Club Futures

The transfer rumour mill continues to churn, with reports suggesting Marcus Rashford might still join Barcelona, while Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly joining the race for Crysencio Summerville. Manchester United, however, have expressed no interest in selling Benjamin Sesko. Liverpool have reportedly rejected a verbal offer of €25 million (£21.7 from Inter Milan for midfielder Curtis Jones. Tottenham Hotspur have also reportedly had a £75 million ($100 bid for Sandro Tonali rejected by Newcastle United. In Sweden, Lucas Bergvall is exploring options away from Tottenham, with the midfielder keen on a new challenge and having formally asked to leave the club. Ajax have parted ways with coach Oscar Garcia after a turbulent season that saw the Dutch club finish fifth in the Eredivisie.

Golf and Tennis Winds Down

In golf, Wyndham Clark held off a strong challenge from World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns to secure a wire-to-wire victory at the US Open by one shot. Rory McIlroy, however, expressed frustration as his major hopes ended with a disappointing weekend display. On the tennis circuit, Francisco Cerundolo won the Queen's title after defeating Tommy Paul in the longest final in the championship's history, lasting three hours and three minutes. Jack Draper has received a significant boost ahead of Wimbledon, with his new coach Andy Murray expressing belief in his game.

Other Sporting Notes

The government is proposing new legislation to prevent major sporting events, including the World Cup, from being exclusively behind paywalls for UK viewers. In horse racing, Flat action from Brighton and Windsor was scheduled to be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing. England's cricket team suffered a significant defeat, losing by 253 runs to New Zealand at The Oval, a result that Stuart Broad believes underscores the team's need for Ben Stokes. Stokes is set to return as captain for the deciding third Test against New Zealand, with Gus Atkinson also returning to the squad. In athletics, Keely Hodgkinson was visibly upset after withdrawing from the 400m final at the UK Athletics Championships moments before the race.