Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: July 15, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

World Cup Semifinal Showdowns and Player Critiques

Spain stunned France with a dominant 2-0 victory to secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, leaving the French media to deliver a "scathing" assessment of their national team's performance. Kylian Mbappé appeared to question manager Didier Deschamps' tactics after the semifinal loss, stating France was "sloppy". Deschamps himself admitted his team was not "technically sound enough" to defeat Spain. Meanwhile, Argentina's manager, Lionel Scaloni, shut down criticism of his team's play ahead of their semifinal against England, stating they were "not as bad" as some suggested. Scaloni also indicated he would not "mix politics and football" regarding the rivalry with England. England coach Thomas Tuchel reportedly considered man-marking Lionel Messi in the semifinal, while Wayne Rooney lauded Jude Bellingham as the best player at the tournament and backed Harry Kane to "destroy Argentina". Argentina will draw inspiration from Diego Maradona for their clash with England.

Transfer Market Buzz and Club Signings

Mason Greenwood from Marseille, marking his third club in three years. Birmingham City has completed the signing of defender Millie Turner and midfielder Lisa Naalsund. Aston Villa has confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Emily Ramsey on a free transfer from Everton. Newly promoted Women's Super League club Crystal Palace has signed striker Bethany England on a free transfer. London City Lionesses have secured France forward Kadidiatou Diani from Lyon on a three-year deal for over £500,000. Liverpool club record signing Denise O'Sullivan has departed for Gotham FC just six months after joining the Reds. In Scotland, Rangers are reportedly in talks with Leicester over winger Arnaut Danjuma. Dundee United and Falkirk face challenges in the Scottish League Cup after being beaten by lower-league opponents.

USMNT and Coaching Carousel

Following the USMNT's elimination from the World Cup, goalkeeper Matt Freese expressed hurt over the backlash after their 4-1 loss to Belgium. With speculation surrounding Mauricio Pochettino's potential departure from the USMNT, a list of 11 potential coaching replacements. Elsewhere, new Chicago Fire signing Robert Lewandowski stated he couldn't imagine playing for another European club after his stint with Barcelona, explaining his move to MLS.

Player Injuries and Post-Match Analysis

Manchester United's Manuel Ugarte after suffering an injury at the World Cup. The final of the World Cup is expected to have a half-time break lasting between 20 and 25 minutes. FIFA's mandated three-minute hydration breaks have been a talking point throughout the tournament. The ICC has announced revamped structures for its men's World Cup tournaments, including new 'Super Series' and 'Super 7' rounds for next year's 50-over event.

Historical Football and Legacy

A coroner has ruled that Nobby Stiles, a 1966 World Cup winner, died with a condition caused by repeatedly heading a football. Cardiff City plans to appeal a French judge's decision to dismiss their claim for over £100m in compensation following the death. A 91-year-old Argentine journalist is covering his 18th World Cup, having attended every tournament since 1958.

Other Football News

Conor Benn is set to challenge Ryan Garcia for the WBC welterweight title in Las Vegas on September. Hibernian will face Kosovan side Malisheva in the second round of. The independent football regulator has issued a warning to Morecambe after their owners failed to respond to information requests. Italian prosecutors have asked for a sports fraud case against the head of Serie A referee assignments to be dropped.