Football/Soccer 3 Days

Last updated: July 14, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

World Cup Semifinal Showdowns Loom

The 2026 World Cup semifinals are set, featuring a clash of the top four FIFA-ranked nations: Argentina, Spain, France, and England. Spain winger Lamine Yamal has called their semifinal against France "the most important match" of his career. France boss Didier Deschamps, however, deflected questions about his team's favorite status, predicting a "spectacular game" against Spain. Meanwhile, England captain Harry Kane has dismissed any notion of division within the squad, stating there is "complete togetherness" ahead of their encounter with Argentina. The tactical battle between England and Argentina is expected to be intense, with Jamie Carragher suggesting England can exploit Lionel Messi. For England, Declan Rice is fit and available to start their semifinal after recovering from a sickness bug that kept him sidelined for days leading up to the quarterfinal win over Norway. Referee Ismail Elfath from the United States will officiate England's semifinal against Argentina. The historical significance of Messi facing England for the first time adds another layer of intrigue to the highly anticipated match.

Transfer Market Buzz and Squad Movements

In the transfer market, Arsenal have agreed to a transfer fee for Leandro Trossard to join Besiktas. The Belgian forward's move to Turkey has since been confirmed by Arsenal. Manchester United have secured the signing of veteran goalkeeper Karl Darlow following his departure from Leeds. In a club-record deal, Brighton have signed defender Luka Vuskovic from Tottenham for £46 million. Brighton are also reportedly close to signing Republic of Ireland international Emily Murphy from Newcastle. Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has stated his decision to join the club over Liverpool was "about timings". Alonso also confirmed Reece James will remain Chelsea captain and expressed his desire for Enzo Fernandez to stay at the club. Manchester United have completed the signing of Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £50 million. Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez, with Barcelona's offer for the forward set to expire.

Club and Player News from Around the Globe

After a strong World Cup campaign with Argentina, Alexis Mac Allister's future at Liverpool is being closely watched. United States forward Folarin Balogun has signed with LeBron James' agency, Klutch Sports, following his standout World Cup performance. The USMNT is already to the 2030 World Cup, projecting potential roster selections. In Scotland, Celtic manager Martin O'Neill expects to lose Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels this summer. The trading standards in Edinburgh seized approximately 58,000 counterfeit Scotland and England football strips in a significant raid. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has reportedly been subject to a complaint to the International Olympic Committee regarding his dealings with Donald Trump. FIFA is also in discussions with global players' union FIFPRO about establishing protocols to avoid games being played in excessive heat during tournaments.

Other Sporting Headlines

In boxing, Conor McGregor is set to undergo surgery after sustaining a knee injury in his fight against Max Holloway, but hopes to compete again. The 2026 World Matchplay is approaching, with details about the men's and women's tournaments being released. Krzysztof Ratajski clinched the European Darts Open title, defeating Jermaine Wattimena in a close final. Danny Noppert spoke out about the social media abuse he received after his loss at the European Darts Open. In rugby league, Toulouse secured a dominant 46-0 victory over St Helens with a hat-trick from Mathieu Jussaume. Tom Kim ended a 1,001-day wait for a PGA Tour victory at the Genesis Scottish Open. Rory McIlroy has identified areas in his game to improve ahead of The Open.