Football/Soccer 3 Days

Last updated: July 4, 2026, 2:31 PM ET

World Cup Knockout Stage Heats Up Amidst Upsets and Controversies

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has entered its decisive knockout stages, with several nations navigating treacherous paths and unexpected challenges. Argentina, after a near-disastrous group stage performance that saw them almost eliminated by Cape Verde, pulled off a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory to advance. Lionel Messi acknowledged his team has "many things to correct" despite the win against Cape Verde. Meanwhile, the USMNT faces a significant hurdle as forward Folarin Balogun will miss their round of 16 match against Belgium due to a controversial red card. Sources indicate there is no route to appeal Balogun's ban, leaving coach Mauricio Pochettino to find a replacement for the suspended star.

England, after a tense group stage, opened their last-16 campaign with a viewership of 16.3 million tuning in for their dramatic win over DR Congo. However, their upcoming match against co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca presents a formidable challenge, compounded by issues ranging from lightning delays to hotel security concerns. Fans looking to attend the England-Mexico match face resale ticket prices. Manager Thomas Tuchel faces selection dilemmas, particularly at right-back, with Jamie Carragher suggesting a "bizarre decision" has created a problem for England's World Cup squad. Despite these concerns, Declan Rice is likely available to start against Mexico, and England's World Cup soundtrack, Oasis's "Wonderwall," continues to resonate with fans hoping for a deep run.

Other nations are also navigating the knockout rounds with varying degrees of success. Colombia secured their place in the last 16 with a 1-0 victory over Ghana, setting up a tie with Switzerland, a progression potentially sparked by an earlier humbling defeat to France according to coach Nestor Lorenzo. Egypt made World Cup history with their first-ever knockout stage win, defeating Australia in a penalty shootout. Mohamed Salah has been instrumental in Egypt's campaign, leading them through the dramatic win after beating Australia. Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo, kept their World Cup dream alive with a controversial 2-1 victory over Croatia, a match marked by late VAR drama and a tribute to the late Diogo Jota who died a year ago. The Portuguese will face Spain in the next round.

Brazil, a nation historically synonymous with World Cup success, faces questions about whether they have lost their magic in the modern era. Manager Carlo Ancelotti, facing skepticism, has the nation dreaming of a sixth World Cup title, though he admitted only Sir Alex Ferguson is more qualified than himself. Their round of 16 clash against Norway will feature a highly anticipated battle against Erling Haaland and Ancelotti's midfielders. Meanwhile, Paraguay, returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2010, have already stunned Germany and now face an in-form France in the knockout stages.

Club Transfers and Squad Moves

The summer transfer window continues to be active across Europe, with several significant deals reported. Fenerbahçe has completed the signing of Netherlands defender Nathan Ake from Manchester City in a deal potentially worth up to £8.5m according to reports. Chelsea has been active, signing Japan midfielder Manaka Matsukubo on a five-year contract from North Carolina Courage on Thursday, and Lionesses midfielder Georgia Stanway following her exit from Bayern Munich on Friday. Arsenal is reportedly eyeing a £130 million move for Crystal Palace forward Ismaïla Sarr according to Thursday's papers, while Manchester United is also reportedly interested in signing Sarr according to Friday's papers.

In Scotland, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has signed a new one-year contract with Celtic on Friday. Rangers manager Derek McInnes confirmed the club is working on more summer signings after already adding five players in the opening weeks of the transfer window, with reports linking them to Partizan captain Dragojević according to gossip columns. Hull City has signed goalkeeper Jack Butland from Rangers on a two-year deal following their promotion.

Rugby and Other Sports Updates

In rugby, Ireland secured a dramatic 33-31 victory over Australia in Sydney in the opening round of the Nations Championship, despite being injury-hit according to reports. South Africa's Springboks demonstrated their strength with a dominant 45-21 victory over England in their Nations Championship opener in Johannesburg, where George Furbank was ruled out due to appendicitis missing the match.

In horse racing, Constitution River further enhanced its reputation with a dominant win in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Rugby Football League's Magic Weekend saw Hull KR secure a 26-12 derby victory over Hull FC on the opening day, and York Knights handed Huddersfield Giants their 10th consecutive defeat with a 36-24 win in their opening match.

At Wimbledon, defending women's champion Iga Swiatek was knocked out in a straight-sets defeat to Alexandra Eala on Friday, while Serena Williams has withdrawn from the doubles competition due to a knee issue failing to recover in time. In Formula, Kimi Antonelli secured victory in the British Grand Prix Sprint, passing pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton to extend his championship lead on Saturday.