Football/Soccer 3 Days

Last updated: July 15, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

World Cup Semifinals Set for Epic Showdown

Spain has booked their spot in the 2026 World Cup final with a dominant 2-0 victory over France. The French squad, despite their talent, appeared to unravel defensively, leading head coach Didier Deschamps to admit his team "wasn't good enough to beat Spain". Kylian Mbappé, seemingly critical of tactics, questioned the approach after the semifinal exit seeming to question. Meanwhile, England faces Argentina in a highly anticipated semifinal, billed as the Three Lions' biggest match since 1966 explaining why. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni stated he would not be mixing football and politics ahead of the clash saying he is, while England coach Thomas Tuchel has considered man-marking Lionel Messi considering man-marking. FIFA has announced Ismail Elfath as the referee for the England vs. Argentina match.

Player Performances and Transfer Buzz

Jude Bellingham has been lauded as the best player at the World Cup thus far by former England striker Wayne Rooney calling Bellingham. USMNT goalkeeper Matt Freese expressed his hurt over the team's World Cup elimination after a 4-1 loss to Belgium in the round of 16. Folarin Balogun has signed with LeBron James' agency, Klutch Sports, following a breakout World Cup campaign signing with Klutch. In transfer news, Coventry City is reportedly close to a deal worth over £17 million for Eintracht Frankfurt defender Aurele Amenda closing in on. Manchester United defender Millie Turner has joined promoted Birmingham City for an undisclosed fee. Crystal Palace has signed striker Bethany England on a free transfer. Bournemouth is in talks to sign Benfica defender Antonio Silva entering talks. Arsenal remains interested in Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez staying interested, while Juventus is reportedly considering a move for USMNT striker Folarin Balogun considering a move. Harry Winks has departed Leicester City for Italian side Cagliari leaving Leicester. Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur are all showing interest in Benfica winger Andreas Schjelderup showing interest. Rangers are in discussions with Leicester over winger Ryan Mavididi in talks. Leeds United has agreed to a £34.1 million fee for defender Tarik Muharemovic from Sassuolo agreeing a fee. Fenerbahçe is nearing a four-year deal for Mason Greenwood after Atlético Madrid dropped their pursuit nearing a deal. Chelsea has agreed to a deal worth approximately £850,000 for Manchester United striker Melvine Malard agreeing a deal. Brighton has completed a club-record signing of Luka Vuskovic from Spurs completing signing.

Club News and Managerial Movements

Morecambe has become the first club to face action from the independent football regulator after their owners failed to respond to information requests facing action. New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed Reece James will remain captain and expressed his desire to keep Enzo Fernandez at the club. Alonso also stated that his arrival at Chelsea, rather than Liverpool, was a matter of timing saying it was. Manchester United is still seeking another midfielder, with Youri Tielemans nearing a medical. Celtic captain Callum McGregor believes he can help build something special with Martin O'Neill's team, despite speculation about his future. Manager Stephen Robinson admitted he had previously tried to sign Lewis Smith for other clubs before Aberdeen secured his transfer from Livingston admitting he had.

Other Football Notes

The half-time interval in the World Cup final is expected to last between 20 and 25 minutes lasting between. FIFA's mandated three-minute hydration breaks have been a notable feature of the 2026 World Cup. A complaint has been submitted to the International Olympic Committee alleging FIFA president Gianni Infantino has breached rules on political neutrality in his dealings with President Donald Trump submitting a complaint. The match ball for the World Cup semifinals has been changed after 100 games. The USWNT will host world No. 1 Spain twice in October for friendly matches hosting Spain. New England Revolution have extended the loan of USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner from Lyon through the end of 2026 extending the loan.