Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: June 26, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

FIFA World Cup Action

Ousmane Dembélé scored a first-half hat trick, with one assist coming from Kylian Mbappé, to give France a commanding 3-1 lead over Norway. Meanwhile, Erling Haaland was named on the bench for Norway's clash against France, as coach Stale Solbakken opted to rest multiple players. The World Cup also saw Ecuador stun Germany with a 2-1 comeback victory, securing their spot in the knockout stage and denting Scotland's qualification hopes. Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa declared a public holiday in the country following the national team's dramatic win. In other Group F action, Japan and Sweden played to a 1-1 draw, with both teams advancing to the knockout rounds. The Netherlands secured top spot in Group F after a convincing 3-1 victory over Tunisia. Nicolas Pepe's two goals propelled Ivory Coast to second place in Group E with a 2-0 win over Curacao.

Player Transfers and Club Moves

Manchester City have agreed a club-record deal worth up to £130 million to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson. This move is expected to have a ripple effect on the midfielder market this summer. Chelsea are reportedly closing in on Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix, while Newcastle United have added Borussia Dortmund's Felix Nmecha to their transfer shortlist. Arsenal have seen a £55 million ($73m) offer for Bruno Guimarães rejected by Newcastle United, though they are reportedly exploring further moves for the midfielder and Sandro Tonali. AC Milan have named Massimo Calvelli as CEO, aiming to "bring a winning culture" back to the club, a day after reportedly rejecting an approach for a United States attacker. Striker Paul Mullin is set to leave Wrexham by mutual agreement, concluding a five-year tenure at the club. Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana is nearing a loan move to Turkish club Trabzonspor for a second spell.

International Team Updates and Coaching News

United States men's national team coach Mauricio Pochettino and U.S. Soccer have engaged in positive discussions regarding a potential contract extension. Pochettino, however, appeared combative and frustrated during a post-game news conference following the USMNT's 3-2 loss to Türkiye, questioning "weird" inquiries after his team had "won the group." The USMNT will face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the first knockout round of the World Cup. Former Spain captain Cesar Azpilicueta believes Mikel Oyarzabal demonstrates that Spain is "more than just Lamine Yamal," praising the forward's current form. Wales manager Craig Bellamy faces strained relationships with bosses, players, and fans after a proposed move to Burnley collapsed, with FAW chief Noel Mooney expecting Bellamy to remain as Wales boss.

Other Football News

Fans visiting the US for the World Cup have expressed frustration with tipping culture, citing confusion and high costs. FIFA has reiterated that rainbow flags will be permitted at the Egypt-Iran match in Seattle, despite objections. An investigation into Argentina's soccer system has revealed widespread exploitation, even as the nation defends its World Cup title. Scottish football's challenges are being debated, with former England striker Ian Wright questioning the reasons behind the sport's perceived ills, from undervalued broadcasting deals to unfulfilled potential. Former West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand has joined National League side Hornchurch as part of their coaching staff.

Tennis and Golf Updates

Jack Draper's run at the Lexus Eastbourne Open concluded in the semi-finals with a loss to Ugo Humbert. In women's tennis, Emma Raducanu could face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the third round of Wimbledon following the draw. At the Women's PGA Championship, Ina Yoon matched a tournament record with a nine-under 63 to take a two-stroke lead. In the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Aaron Rai, and Justin Rose, along with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, made strong starts, while Wyndham Clark encountered difficulties.

Cricket and Boxing

England all-rounder Alice Capsey has urged the team to maintain their winning momentum against New Zealand at The Oval as they approach the T20 World Cup semi-finals. Ben Stokes delivered a "magical" performance in the Test against New Zealand, rescuing England from a precarious position. Oleksandr Usyk has vacated his world heavyweight titles but has not retired. Promoter Eddie Hearn expressed high confidence in Anthony Joshua's ability to defeat Tyson Fury in their upcoming fight.

Motorsport and Darts

Kimi Antonelli dominated first practice at the Austrian Grand Prix, leading a Mercedes one-two, while rivals experienced reliability issues. Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies acknowledged uncertainty regarding Max Verstappen's future with the team. Luke Littler and Luke Humphries have advanced to the US Darts Masters quarter-finals, but Josh Rock suffered an early exit.