Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: July 18, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

World Cup Final Showdown and Third-Place Thriller

The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is set to feature a captivating matchup between Lionel Messi's Argentina and Lamine Yamal's Spain. Messi, widely considered the greatest male athlete of all time, will be aiming to cement his legacy against the young pretender Yamal. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappé has and is now leading the Golden Boot race with 10 goals, two clear of Messi. In the third-place play-off, England secured a remarkable 6-4 victory over France, with Bukayo Saka netting a hat-trick in a 10-goal thriller. England's Jude Bellingham also in a thrilling encounter.

Tournament Insights and Fan Experience

This World Cup has introduced interactive elements, with 747 player gestures captured in short videos during the group stage. The final is expected to be the most-watched sporting event globally, with an estimated 1.5 billion viewers tuning in, including in some of the world's most remote locations. For those just catching up, highlights include Messi's heroics and underdog upsets. The air quality in the New Jersey area, where the final will be held, is expected to improve thanks to thunderstorms clearing the smoke from Canadian wildfires. Last-minute tickets for the final are astronomically priced, ranging from $10,000 to $60,000. Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez has in his hand throughout the tournament. Spain's final training session before the World Cup final was cancelled due to thunderstorms. There has been a significant increase in harmful social media posts during this World Cup, with 14 times more such content compared to 2022. The World Cup has also been a boon for beer sales in the U.S., with host cities reporting a 14% increase.

Club Football and Transfer Buzz

In club news, Northamptonshire in a decade after a thrilling 14-run victory over Hampshire. At the Premier League level, Glasner's Forest in pre-season. In Scotland, ten-man Kilmarnock to secure a win in the League Cup. Celtic are reportedly targeting new faces, with winger becoming a key target. Motherwell has sold midfielder Elliot Watt to Turkish club Samsunspor. In a significant transfer, Chelsea has for Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers. Tottenham is hopeful of signing Savinho from Manchester City. Manchester United saw Andrey Santos debut in their opening pre-season clash against Wrexham, which they lost 1-0. New Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola faces several big decisions in his first week on the job.

Other Sporting Action

In darts, Luke Littler with an impressive average of over. Golf's 154th Open is underway, with Sam Burns holding a two-shot lead heading into the final round. Ryan Fox matched major history by joining an exclusive club with a '62 round'. Rory McIlroy has criticized Bryson DeChambeau for his 'performative' behaviour during The Open. In athletics, Josh Kerr broke the world record for the mile at the Diamond League event in London. Horse racing saw Johanna Walsh. Rugby union saw a ruthless All Blacks display as they. In boxing, a potential fight between Anthony Joshua and Moses Itauma in Nigeria is being promoted as a "blockbuster fight".