Football/Soccer 3 Days

Last updated: June 26, 2026, 11:33 PM ET

World Cup Knockout Stages Take Shape Amidst Surprises and Established Powers

The World Cup knockout rounds are beginning to take shape, with several nations securing their passage while others face early exits. Cape Verde continued their fairy tale run at their first-ever World Cup, clinching a spot in the round of 32 by finishing second in Group H after a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia. This achievement marks Cape Verde as the smallest nation to reach the World Cup knockouts. Meanwhile, England confirmed their place in the knockout stages before their final group fixture against Panama, with their progression secured by other results.

The tournament has also seen significant disappointments. Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay are out of the World Cup following a 1-0 defeat to Spain, a result that capped another error-strewn performance from the South American side. Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was pulled at halftime after a significant blunder that gifted Spain the lead in their decisive group match. Elsewhere, Senegal boosted their chances of advancing as one of the top eight third-placed teams by thrashing Iraq 5-0.

Strategic Decisions and Team News

Coaches are navigating complex decisions as the group stage concludes. Norway's coach, Stale Solbakken, deemed it a "no-brainer" to rest ten first-team players, including star striker Erling Haaland, for their match against France. This decision was based on medical tests indicating fatigue among several players as Haaland was left out. France, conversely, showcased their depth with a dominant 4-1 victory over Norway, highlighted by a first-half hat-trick from Ousmane Dembélé, a feat not seen from a French player since 1994. Didier Deschamps is also set to rejoin the French squad after attending his mother's funeral, having missed the Norway match following his personal loss.

For England, manager Thomas Tuchel is managing player fitness carefully. While Bukayo Saka is pain-free and ready to start against Panama, defender Reece James will miss the match due to injury. Declan Rice has also returned to training, but his fitness remains a doubt for the Panama game. Argentina's Lionel Messi will reportedly start on the bench for their final group match against Jordan, according to coach Lionel Scaloni.

Club Football Transfer Rumors and Preparations

Beyond the international stage, club football continues to buzz with transfer activity and preparations. Arsenal are exploring moves for Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, having already seen a £55 million ($73m) offer for Guimaraes rejected by Newcastle sources confirmed. Tottenham Hotspur are also reportedly interested in West Ham's Mateus Fernandes, with a £80m valuation placed on the midfielder, and have had a bid rejected for Tonali according to reports.

In other transfer news, Manchester City have reached an agreement with Nottingham Forest to sign midfielder Elliot Anderson for a reported $172 million, a deal that is expected to influence the midfielder market. AC Milan has appointed Massimo Calvelli as CEO as they aim to foster a winning culture, a day after reportedly rejecting an approach from New York City FC for their U.S. attacker sources revealed. On the coaching front, Mauricio Pochettino has held positive talks with U.S. Soccer regarding a contract extension, while Craig Bellamy will remain with Wales as his proposed move to Burnley has fallen through, leaving him with burned bridges.

Other Sporting News

In other sporting developments, Sri Lanka kept their Women's T20 World Cup semi-final hopes alive with a dramatic last-over victory against Scotland. The Super League leaders Leeds Rhinos delivered a statement win against defending champions Hull KR, strengthening their position at the top of the table. Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler narrowly missed out on another sub-60 round at the Travelers Championship, while Oleksandr Usyk has vacated his world titles but has not retired.