Football/Soccer 3 Days

Last updated: June 28, 2026, 8:34 AM ET

World Cup Knockout Stages Set Amidst Group Stage Drama

The group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup concluded with several dramatic finishes, setting the stage for the knockout rounds. Colombia secured top spot in Group K after a 0-0 draw with Portugal, who finished second. Argentina found success without Lionel Messi in one fixture but still saw their captain make an impact off the bench in another. Meanwhile, Iran faced despair after late results saw their hopes of progression snatched away, a situation described as potentially unluckiest side in World Cup history. The tournament has also seen an investigation into Argentina's soccer system, suggesting it is rife with exploitation.

European Powerhouses and Underdogs Advance

Several traditional European powerhouses navigated the group stage, though not without challenges. France secured a dominant win against Norway, with Ousmane Dembélé scoring a hat-trick, a feat not seen since 1994. Belgium finally kick-started their campaign with a victory, topping their group after a slow start. In contrast, Scotland's World Cup story at the group stage, with the exit bringing a sense of relief after failing to advance in major tournaments. The performance of smaller nations, such as Cape Verde's progress, has been lauded as inspiring for everyone, though Argentina remains wary of their challenge in the round of.

North American Teams and Individual Performances

Co-hosts Canada will face South Africa in the opening match of the round of, with Alphonso Davies ready to play. The U.S. Men's National Team is described as having a squad "full of leaders" ready for the knockouts, though they learned lessons from a loss to Türkiye. Christian Pulisic's tournament experience mirrored the team's, starting strong but finishing weakly, with the focus now on what comes next. The bracket for the knockout rounds is set, leading to speculation about how far the USMNT and who the favorites are.

Notable Player Milestones and Injuries

The group stage also saw individual player milestones and significant injuries. Cristiano Ronaldo played every minute of Portugal's group stage campaign, though a draw with Colombia means a potential quarterfinal clash with Lionel Messi is now off the table until possibly the final due to that draw. Harry Kane became England's with his 12th goal, now chasing other international greats. However, Spain's Nico Williams suffered an injury against Uruguay that jeopardized his participation, calling it "one of the worst days of my life." Mohamed Salah is also a doubt for Egypt's last-32 tie with a hamstring injury ahead of their match.

VAR and Tournament Format Under Scrutiny

The implementation of VAR has come under scrutiny, with questions raised about whether it has become lottery World Cup. Decisions, such as a "toenail" offside for Colombia, are being examined to understand the VAR protocol and laws of the game in detail. The tournament's format has also faced criticism, with a 0-0 draw between two teams who could progress with a tie highlighting a flaw in the format. Despite these issues, the group stage provided plenty of drama, even in matches that were initially perceived as having less jeopardy ending with a draw.

Transfer Rumors and Club Business

Beyond the World Cup, transfer rumors continue to circulate. Manchester United is close to a new loan deal for André Onana. Arsenal is reportedly poised to make an offer for Newcastle's Bruno Guimarães after exploratory talks. In other club news, AC Milan has named Massimo Calvelli as CEO in an effort to "bring a winning culture" back to the club following a transfer approach. Chelsea is reportedly interested in signing Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka for a transfer.

Other Sporting News

In other sports news, George Russell took pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix, with Lewis Hamilton hoping strategy can help Ferrari secure back-to-back victories, though he admits challenging Mercedes will be a "tall order" in Austria. Naomi Osaka's Wimbledon preparations hit a setback with a foot injury forcing her retirement from a final in Germany. Jarod Ennis delivered a dominant performance to unify the WBA and WBO junior middleweight titles with a seventh-round knockout in New York.