Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: July 10, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

World Cup Quarterfinals Heat Up

Mikel Merino continued his unlikely heroics, coming off the bench in the 86th minute to score the winner and send Spain into the World Cup semifinals. Despite the presence of young talent Lamine Yamal, Spain relied on the midfielder to secure their spot, with teammate Yamal stating that France should "fear us" in their upcoming semifinal clash against the powerhouse. Belgium's World Cup journey ended due to a costly error from Senne Lammens, potentially marking the end of their "golden generation" of players. Meanwhile, France, led by Kylian Mbappé, cruised past Morocco and are looking like strong contenders to win the tournament for a third time. Mbappé, however, downplayed concerns over an ankle knock sustained during the match, saying he is "all good" after the game.

England Faces Norway Test, Injury Concerns Emerge

England received a triple boost ahead of their quarterfinal match against Norway with the return of Declan Rice, Marc Guehi, and Reece James from injury to the squad. However, Guehi has since emerged as a serious doubt for the game with a hamstring strain, potentially impacting England's defense against Norway. Norway's manager, Stale Solbakken, believes England are the favorites to advance to the semifinals in their tie. Erling Haaland, Norway's star striker, has stated that his team's World Cup chances remain "really low" and that the pressure is on England. England's defense will need to find a way to contain Haaland, who has become Norway's talisman in the tournament. Jordan Pickford, England's goalkeeper for the past eight years, is on the verge of breaking an England World Cup record, though he still seems to lack the full trust of the supporters.

Transfer Buzz and Club Moves

Arsenal has confirmed the signing of Ona Batlle from Barcelona on a three-year deal. Manchester City has also been active, agreeing to a deal for teenage starlet Jeremy Monga from Leicester City, potentially beating Arsenal to his signature. They have also signed Niamh Charles from Chelsea on a three-year contract. Elsewhere, West Ham has signed England forward Ebony Salmon on a two-year deal following her exit from Aston Villa to the club. In other news, Manchester United's pursuit of Atalanta midfielder Ederson for £35 million is reportedly in doubt. Mason Greenwood, currently under contract with Marseille until 2029, is considering offers from Fenerbahce and Atlético Madrid, sources have told ESPN. Barcelona is also reportedly close to a deal for Borussia Dortmund's Karim Adeyemi, having made an offer for the forward for their attack.

Other Football News

Burnley has appointed Nicky Hayen as their new head coach on a three-year deal. Aberdeen has sold Topi Keskinen to Odense for an undisclosed fee, described as "a very good offer" by manager Stephen Robinson. New Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi has revealed his stance on managing Scotland, stating he is "open to all the good countries, yes". In a unique story, a new species of sea slug has been named after Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha to commemorate his performance against Spain at the World Cup in the tournament. The Football Association will review an incident at England's Kansas City media center after a man entered carrying a wrench at the event.