Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: June 29, 2026, 2:34 PM ET

World Cup Knockout Stages Begin with Major Upsets and Surprises

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially entered its knockout phase, and the initial matches have already delivered drama and unexpected outcomes. Co-hosts Canada became the first team to secure a place in the last 16 after a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Stephen Eustaquio sealed a 1-0 victory over South Africa Canada secure last-16. The United States, having impressed in the group stage, are feeling a distinct shift in atmosphere as they prepare for the win-or-go-home matches, with forward Folarin Balogun stating the team is finding "another gear" US finding another gear. Meanwhile, the Netherlands' World Cup aspirations hinge on the leadership of Virgil van Dijk, identified as the main man for his national team Van Dijk key to dreams.

Managerial Merry-Go-Round and Transfer Speculation Dominate Headlines

Manchester City have officially appointed Enzo Maresca as their new manager, succeeding Pep Guardiola Man City appoint Maresca. The move has seen Maresca agree to pay compensation to his former club Chelsea, who issued a statement criticizing his "unexpected exit" Maresca pays compensation. Gary Neville described Maresca's task of replacing Guardiola at City as the "ultimate test," emphasizing the club's expectation of nothing less than victory Ultimate test Maresca. Elsewhere, Barcelona's pursuit of Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has been dismissed, with the England captain reportedly focused on the World Cup and likely to sign a new deal with the German club Kane deal likely. However, Barcelona's interest in Kane persists Barcelona eye Kane. In another significant transfer development, Yan Diomande, a target for Liverpool, appears to be favoring a move to Paris Saint-Germain Diomande prefers PSG, with PSG reportedly in talks with RB Leipzig PSG in talks. Sam Kerr has completed a return to Gotham FC in the NWSL after her departure from Chelsea Kerr completes Gotham move.

Player Injuries and National Team Struggles Cast Shadows

The World Cup knockout stages are not without their concerns over player fitness. Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte has vowed to return stronger after suffering a serious left knee ligament injury that has left him at "rock bottom" Ugarte at rock bottom. Spain winger Nico Williams described suffering an injury against Uruguay as "one of the worst days of my life," casting doubt on his continued participation in the tournament Williams' worst day. On the national team front, Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup marks the first time the expanded tournament will feature no African representation, despite a record 10 African nations participating Nigeria failed to qualify. South Korean football is in crisis following their World Cup exit, with the coach resigning amid heavy criticism from the country's president South Korea coach quits.

Nations Reflect on World Cup Performances and Future Directions

As the World Cup group stage concludes, teams are being evaluated on their performances. ESPN has graded every team eliminated from the tournament, assessing their runs against expectations Grades for eliminated teams. The new 48-team format has