Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: July 12, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

World Cup Semifinalists Set; England Advances

England secured dramatic over Norway to reach the World Cup semifinals, with Jude Bellingham scoring twice. Despite manager Thomas Tuchel's assessment of his team's performance as "lucky," Bellingham defended his teammates, highlighting the team's belief forged through comeback wins. Erling Haaland's World Cup journey concluded with Norway's quarterfinal exit after a 2-1 loss to England, though his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, expressed hope for England to win the tournament despite feeling Norway was "robbed". The semifinal matchups are set, with England facing Argentina and Lionel Messi, who is preparing for his first match against England. This marks the first time in FIFA's rankings history that the top four ranked teams—Argentina, Spain, France, and England—have all reached the World Cup semifinals simultaneously.

Transfer Rumors and Club News

Arsenal is reportedly interested in signing Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez, with Manchester United also being linked to the forward. Chelsea is considering Bologna winger Jonathan Rowe as part of their pursuit of attacking reinforcements. Meanwhile, Liverpool's club record signing, Denise O'Sullivan, is expected to depart the club this summer, just six months after her arrival. Rangers midfielder is attracting interest from Italian and German clubs, while Celtic is reportedly considering a move for a Manchester United goalkeeper.

Other Soccer News and Developments

Cristo Fernández, an actor known for "Ted Lasso," for El Paso in their match against New Mexico United. FIFA and global players' union FIFPRO are in discussions regarding protocols to prevent matches from being played in excessive heat, a concern highlighted during the World Cup as reported by ESPN Soccer. FIFA president Gianni Infantino is considering expanding the men's World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 tournament, stating that football "needs to be for the whole world". A new study has found evidence that professional footballers are more susceptible to depression and anxiety, with some former elite players reporting reduced brain volume and difficulties with cognitive skills as detailed by BBC Sport Football.

Golf and Darts Updates

Krzysztof Ratajski claimed the European Darts Open title in Leverkusen, defeating Jermaine Wattimena 8-6 in a close final as reported by Sky Sports. Danny Noppert has spoken out about receiving social media abuse following his loss at the European Darts Open. In golf, Tom Kim ended a 1,001-day wait for his fourth PGA Tour title, winning the Genesis Scottish Open by two shots, while Robert Mac Intyre narrowly missed out on a home victory. Rory McIlroy acknowledged areas in his game needing improvement before The Open, despite finding "positive signs" in his performance at the Genesis Scottish Open.

Other Sports News

Toulouse secured a dominant 46-0 victory over St Helens in the Betfred Super League, with Mathieu Jussaume scoring a hat-trick as reported by Sky Sports Champions League. Thesecretadversary captured top honors in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville, following up on his Royal Ascot win. Haeran Ryu defended her major title at the Amundi Evian Championship, winning her second consecutive major in a play-off against Brooke Henderson. The England and Wales Cricket Board faces a significant decision in finding a replacement for Brendon McCullum as England Test head coach, with Nasser Hussain backing Andy Flower for the role.