Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: July 19, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

World Cup Final Set to Deliver Thrilling Showdown

The FIFA World Cup final is poised to be a captivating contest between Spain and Argentina, with Spain's manager Luis de la Fuente and Argentina's boss Lionel Scaloni sharing a history that dates back to their time in the classroom. Spain, seeking their second World Cup title, have arrived at this stage through a suffocating elite defense, a stark contrast to their reputation as purveyors of the beautiful game elite defense. On the other side, Lionel Messi, widely considered the greatest male athlete of all time, will aim to lead Argentina to glory. Tickets for this highly anticipated match range from $10,000 to $60,000 tickets range. The final is expected to draw an estimated 1.5 billion viewers worldwide billion viewers, with remote watch parties planned from the world's most isolated locations isolated locations. Meanwhile, concerns over air quality have led to hydration breaks in the NWSL, and thunderstorms are expected to clear smoke ahead of the World Cup final in New Jersey.

England Secures Third Place, Stars Shine

England have secured a third-place finish at the World Cup, defeating France in a hard-fought match. Bukayo Saka was a standout performer, earning a 9/10 rating and scoring a hat-trick in the bronze medal match. Midfielder Declan Rice declared this England squad "the best England group for a very long time". Jude Bellingham also etched his name in the record books, becoming the first Englishman to score seven goals at a single World Cup with a late strike against France. Kylian Mbappé has now equaled Lionel Messi's all-time World Cup goal record, scoring his 21st and 22nd career goals in the tournament. Mbappé also leads the Golden Boot race with 10 goals, two clear of Messi heading into the final.

Club Soccer News and Transfer Rumors

In club news, Gotham FC head coach Juan Carlos Amorós has departed for a five-week paternity leave. Chelsea have reportedly agreed to a record £117m deal for Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, while Tottenham are hopeful of signing Savinho from Manchester City hopeful of signing. Manchester United saw Andrey Santos debut in a pre-season friendly loss to Wrexham. Motherwell has sold midfielder Elliot Watt to Turkish club Samsunspor for an undisclosed fee sells midfielder. New Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola faces significant decisions in his first week on the job.

Other Sports News and Notes

In other sporting news, Luke Littler began his World Matchplay defense with a dominant performance. Northamptonshire claimed their first Vitality Blast title in a decade with a thrilling win over Hampshire. Rory McIlroy criticized Bryson DeChambeau's behavior at The Open, calling it "performative" and "holding The Open hostage" slams DeChambeau. Johanna Walsh delivered an effortless victory in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks facile winner. Josh Kerr shattered the world record for the mile at the Diamond League event in London.