Football/Soccer 3 Days

Last updated: June 17, 2026, 5:41 PM ET

World Cup Shockwaves

The 2026 World Cup delivered its first major upset when Cape Verde held Spain scoreless in a 0-0 draw that sent shockwaves through Group B, with goalkeeper Vozinha making crucial saves to preserve the historic result. Meanwhile, DR Congo stunned Portugal with a 1-1 draw in Houston, as Cristiano Ronaldo struggled in his sixth World Cup appearance and Austin Mac Phee's set-piece expertise couldn't prevent the African side from earning a point against the pre-tournament favorites.

Messi Makes History

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick against Algeria to become the first player in history to feature in six men's World Cups while tying Miroslav Klose's record with his 16th tournament goal. The 38-year-old's performance moved Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni to tears and established him as the standout performer on a day when both Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland also excelled in their respective openers.

Transfer Market Moves

Real Madrid completed the signing of Marc Cucurella from Chelsea on a six-year deal, raising questions about whether Enzo Fernandez will follow, while Tottenham secured Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton for £52m as they navigate a defensive dilemma involving Luka Vuskovic. Manchester City are weighing a €90m move for Rúben Dias as they continue their pursuit of Elliot Anderson, and AC Milan appointed Ruben Amorim as head coach on a three-year contract.

England's Preparations

Jude Bellingham is set to start in England's number 10 role against Croatia in their World Cup opener, though Thomas Tuchel faces selection dilemmas over positions including Bellingham or Morgan Rogers and Bukayo Saka or Noni Madueke. Christian Pulisic continued training separately from the main group as he recovers from a calf injury, while Tino Livramento was ruled out with a similar issue and replaced by Trevoh Chalobah.

Managerial Carousel

Derek McInnes was appointed Rangers manager on a three-year deal after Danny Rohl left for Red Bull Salzburg, with the Scottish Premiership fixtures set for release Thursday at noon BST. Fulham identified two leading candidates to replace Marco Silva, while Crystal Palace named Pierre Sage as their new coach following Oliver Glasner's departure.

Injury Concerns

Neymar trained alone at Brazil's World Cup camp for the first time since arriving in the United States, working to recover from a right calf injury that has sidelined him for a month. England captain Maro Itoje is likely to miss all three summer fixtures according to coach Steve Borthwick, while Nat Sciver-Brunt was ruled out of England's next two T20 World Cup matches with a calf injury.

Asian Representation

Brian Gutiérrez has become a key figure for Mexico despite being raised on Chicago's South Side, while Zidane Iqbal will make history as the first player of Pakistani heritage at a men's World Cup when he represents Iraq. Japan's Daichi Kamada scored an 88th-minute equalizer to salvage a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands, as Giants quarterback Jameis Winston helped clean up the stands after their match.

European Dreams and Nightmares

Heart of Midlothian learned their Champions League qualifying opponents in Sturm Graz, while Hibernian and Motherwell discovered their Conference League matchups. However, Hull face a points deduction threat in the Premier League unless they sell players before month's end, and Falkirk received a club-record fee from West Brom for striker Barney Stewart.

Spot-Fixing Scandal

Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi was arrested for alleged spot-fixing just weeks before the World Cup began, casting a shadow over his participation at the tournament. The development comes as Thomas Partey missed Ghana's opener after his visa appeal was rejected following revelations he misled Canadian officials about a previous arrest.

Women's Game Developments

Sam Kerr agreed to rejoin Gotham FC in the NWSL, returning to the club where she previously starred, while Bay FC acquired Kennedy Fuller from Angel City for $520,000 as they strengthen their midfield options. Tottenham signed Scotland international Kirsty Hanson from Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee.

Scottish Horizons

Lyndon Dykes carries Scotland's attacking hopes despite not being a prolific scorer, with Steve Clarke's squad adapting to 30C temperatures ahead of matches against Morocco and Brazil. Celebrations erupted in Praia after Cape Verde held Spain, and the Tartan Army took over Fenway Park as Scotland supporters made their presence felt in Boston.

Technical Issues

France midfielder Adrien Rabiot raised concerns about the Met Life Stadium pitch quality, describing it as "more like an artificial surface," while Austria ended a 36-year World Cup win drought