Football/Soccer 3 Days

Last updated: July 18, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

World Cup Final Looms as Spain Faces Argentina, England Reflects on Defeat

Spain's final training session before their World Cup final clash with Argentina was cancelled due to thunderstorms in New Jersey. The upcoming final pits Lionel Messi against Lamine Yamal, a matchup that has captured imaginations. Spain manager Luis de la Fuente and Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni share a pre-existing connection, having known each other well. Spain's journey to the final, their second ever, is seen as the culmination of years of development years building to this. They will face an Argentina side described by defender Aymeric Laporte as a team that "likes to leave a mark on their opponents". The World Cup final is anticipated to be the most watched sporting event globally, with an estimated 1.5 billion viewers expected most watched sporting event. The final is also being seen as pivotal in the Ballon d'Or race, with the outcome potentially deciding the 2026 winner. Meanwhile, England is left to analyze their semi-final exit, with captain Harry Kane stating the team is "missing that final piece of the jigsaw". England manager Thomas Tuchel has defended his tactical decisions, though he faces criticism for his approach. US President Donald Trump also weighed in, questioning Harry Kane's second-half "defensive" role in the semi-final loss. The dramatic 2-1 comeback win by Argentina over England to reach the final has been met with widespread positive reaction. The third-place play-off between France and England is also a significant match, with England facing three top-tier opponents in succession. England's semi-final defeat to Argentina was watched by 24 million viewers on the BBC.

Club Football and Transfer Buzz as Pre-Season Begins

Manchester United kicked off their pre-season campaign with a 1-0 loss to Wrexham in Helsinki. Andrey Santos made his debut for Manchester United in the friendly. Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson is relishing the "test" of facing the Premier League giants. In other transfer news, Arsenal is reportedly accelerating their pursuit of Morgan Rogers, with the Aston Villa winger being their top forward target this summer. Inter Milan is also active, working on deals for Djed Spence and Cristian Romero, while Liverpool leads the race for Kaishu Sano working on deals. Leeds United has signed defender Tarik Muharemovic for £34.1m from Serie A side Sassuolo. Crystal Palace has signed Lexi Lloyd-Smith, last season's WSL2 top scorer, on a three-year deal. Birmingham City has made defensive signings, bringing in Canada international Marie Levasseur and French defender Jade Rastocle. Nottingham Forest is reportedly preparing a £45m offer for Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall. Coventry City has signed Eintracht Frankfurt defender Aurele Amenda in a deal worth over £17m. Aston Villa's record signing Johan Manzambi, acquired for over £50m, is expected to spearhead a new era for the club. Former Spain international Joan Capdevila has appealed to US President Donald Trump for help after being denied a travel permit to enter the United States for the World Cup final.

Other Sports News: Darts, Golf, Rugby, and Athletics

The World Matchplay Darts 2026 is approaching, with Luke Humphries expressing a desire to face Luke Littler in the final. In golf, Rory McIlroy has criticized Bryson DeChambeau's behavior at The Open, calling it "performative" and stating he was "holding the tournament hostage". Ryan Fox made history at The 154th Open by joining an exclusive club with a '62 round'. Rory McIlroy is employing an aggressive strategy to climb the leaderboard at The Open. In rugby, the All Blacks secured a dominant 40-21 victory over Ireland at Eden Park in the Nations Championship. Ireland made nine changes for their clash against the All Blacks. The Nations Championship also saw the Springboks thrash Wales with seven tries. Jamie George has stated he will lead the England rugby team off the pitch if racial abuse resurfaces during their match against the Pumas in Argentina. In athletics, Josh Kerr broke the world record for the mile at the Diamond League event in London. Keely Hodgkinson attempted to break the oldest world record in athletics but fell short.

Racing and Boxing Updates

In horse racing, Johanna Walsh delivered an effortless performance to win the Juddmonte Irish Oaks. There is a busy day of flat racing scheduled, including the Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury. In boxing, promoter Dr Ezekiel Adamu believes a fight between Anthony Joshua and Moses Itauma in Nigeria would generate more global interest than Muhammad Ali’s 'Rumble in the Jungle'.

League Cup and Domestic Football Notes

Ten-man Kilmarnock secured a late victory against Elgin City in the Premier Sports Cup group stage. St Johnstone and holders St Mirren were also among the winners in the League Cup round-up. In the Vitality Blast Final, Hampshire took an early wicket against Northants. Motherwell's Elliot Watt has been handed a four-match suspension for comments made after a penalty controversy against Celtic. Former Scotland Under-21 head coach Scot Gemmill is departing his role after 13 years. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon, has retired after a 25-year career. Chris Wilder, in his third spell as Sheffield United manager, has extended his contract until the summer of 2028.