Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: June 27, 2026, 2:31 PM ET

World Cup Knockout Stages Take Shape Amidst Upsets and Emerging Nations

As the group stages of the World Cup draw to a close, several nations have punched their tickets to the knockout rounds, while others face uncertain futures. England qualified for the knockout stages before their final group game against Panama, a testament to their consistent performance. Belgium also secured their spot as group winners after a commanding 5-1 thrashing of New Zealand, with Leandro Trossard scoring twice. Meanwhile, Cape Verde has written history by becoming the smallest nation to reach the knockout rounds of the World Cup, achieving this feat after a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia that also saw Saudi Arabia eliminated. Spain, despite a listless performance against Uruguay, managed a narrow 1-0 victory to top Group H, though the win came at a cost with winger Yeremy Pino suffering a suspected broken collarbone that may rule him out for the remainder of the tournament. Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay, conversely, are out after their defeat to Spain, ending their World Cup campaign on a disappointing note. Iran, though narrowly missing out on second place in Group G due to a last-gasp goal being overturned, still holds hope for progression after a dramatic draw. Coach Amir Ghalenoei lamented the team's bad luck and unfair treatment during the tournament.

European Giants Navigate Group Stages, Squads Under Scrutiny

European powerhouses are navigating the final stages of the group phase with varying degrees of success and scrutiny. France, already assured of advancement, completed a perfect Group I campaign with a dominant 4-1 victory over Norway's reserves, featuring a first-half hat-trick from Ousmane Dembélé, his first since 1994. Didier Deschamps is set to rejoin the French squad after attending his mother's funeral. Elsewhere, Scotland's World Cup hopes have faded, prompting questions about whether Steve Clarke got the best out of his squad. Argentina's Lionel Messi will start their final group match on the bench, as confirmed by manager Lionel Scaloni. Norway's decision to rest Erling Haaland and 10 other first-team players against France was deemed a "no-brainer" by coach Stale Solbakken due to fatigue, though the heavy defeat raised questions about the strategy. Thomas Tuchel has defended his full-back selections for England, confirming that Reece James will miss the Panama match due to injury, but Bukayo Saka is pain-free and ready to start.

Transfer Rumors and Club Business Amidst International Competition

While the World Cup captures global attention, club football continues with transfer speculation and ongoing business. Manchester City has reportedly signed 19-year-old forward Mathys Detourbet from fellow City Football Group club Troyes. Chelsea is reportedly interested in signing Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka, and are also closing in on Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix. Manchester United is awaiting news on Manuel Ugarte's injury after he was stretchered off during Uruguay's World Cup defeat. Arsenal is preparing a second approach for midfielder Bruno Guimarães. In Scotland, Celtic is not prepared to meet Hibernian's asking price for midfielder Jair Tavares.

Other Sporting Headlines: Tennis, Horse Racing, and More

Beyond the World Cup, other sporting events have seen significant action. In tennis, Emma Raducanu cut short a Wimbledon practice session, fueling further injury concerns, while Naomi Osaka retired from the Bad Homburg final due to a foot issue, also casting a shadow over her Wimbledon preparations. Horse racing saw Estrange secure its first Group One success in the Tattersalls Pretty Polly Stakes, and Align The Stars claim victory in the Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate Newcastle. In boxing, Oleksandr Usyk has relinquished his world heavyweight championships to "decide for himself" the final chapter of his career.