Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: July 15, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

World Cup Semifinals Set for Epic Showdowns

Spain are heading into the World Cup final after a dominant 2-0 victory over France, who manager Didier Deschamps admitted "were not good enough to beat Spain". Kylian Mbappé, however, seemed to question Deschamps' tactical approach following the semifinal exit. The French media delivered a "scathing" assessment of the national team's performance. Meanwhile, England faces Argentina in a highly anticipated semifinal, described as "the Three Lions' biggest. Captain Harry Kane stressed England cannot be drawn into the emotional baggage surrounding the fixture, though teammate Alexis Mac Allister believes his Premier League experience may be helpful against England. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni stated his team is "not as bad" as some critics suggest, and the squad will draw inspiration. American referee Ismail Elfath will officiate the England-Argentina clash.

Player Movements and Transfer Buzz

In the transfer market, Coventry City are close to a deal worth over £17 million for Eintracht Frankfurt defender Aurele Amenda. Promoted Birmingham City have signed Manchester United defender Millie Turner, while Crystal Palace have secured Bethany England on a free transfer. Bournemouth are in talks to sign Benfica defender Antonio Silva and have also announced the signing of striker Alvaro Rodriguez for up to £25.7 million. Arsenal remains interested in Atletico Madrid, with reports suggesting a potential swap deal involving Viktor Gyokeres. USMNT striker Folarin Balogun has signed with LeBron James' agency, Klutch Sports, following a strong, and Juventus are reportedly considering a move for him. Midfielder Harry Winks has left Leicester City for Italian. Rangers are in talks with Leicester over. London City Lionesses have signed France forward Kadidiatou Diani from Lyon for over £500,000. Everton have signed forward Noemie Mouchon from Leicester City on a free transfer.

Club and League News

Morecambe has become the first club to face action from the independent football regulator for failing to respond to information requests. In the Scottish League Cup, Montrose and Ayr secured unexpected victories against Dundee United and Falkirk, respectively. Wrexham are preparing for friendlies against Premier League opponents as they aim to improve. New Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso has mapped out the club's pre-season plans. Aston Villa have been warned over concerning their new sponsorship deal with Visit Rwanda. Celtic captain Callum McGregor feels he can with Martin O'Neill amidst speculation about his future.

Other Football Notes

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has reportedly been reported to the International Olympic Committee over his dealings with President Donald Trump. Hydration breaks, a talking point at the World Cup, may become a permanent fixture. The match ball has been changed for the World Cup semifinals after 100 games. A significant haul of approximately 58,000 fake Scotland and England football strips were seized in Edinburgh. Police are investigating the death of South Africa World Cup. Former Premier League winger Jordon Ibe has admitted to assaulting his former partner.

Beyond the Pitch

In other sporting news, Shubman Gill's 80 off 75 balls propelled India to a six-wicket victory over England in the ODI series opener. At The Open, Rory McIlroy has backed Tommy Fleetwood to handle the pressure of playing in his hometown, while both McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler are dismissing concerns about legacy ahead of the tournament. Plans are under review to change Sunday's final-round tee times at The Open should England reach the World Cup final. England's rugby players will avoid wearing national shirts in Argentina ahead of their Nations Championship Test. Maltese Cross secured a victory in the Grand.