Football/Soccer 3 Days

Last updated: July 19, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

World Cup Final Showdown Set

The FIFA World Cup final is set to feature Lionel Messi's Argentina against Lamine Yamal's Spain, with ticket prices ranging from $10,000 to $60,000 for the championship match. Spain's final training session was cancelled due to thunderstorms has been cancelled, while Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez admitted he has been playing through pain in his right hand throughout the tournament. Lionel Messi has been lauded as the best male athlete in history, and he stated that "nothing was handed to us" in response to critics has a message. Spain manager Luis de la Fuente and Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni share a unique bond from their time together in the classroom. The final is expected to draw an estimated 1.5 billion viewers globally will be the most watched.

England Secures Third Place

England has secured third place at the World Cup, defeating France in the bronze medal match. Bukayo Saka was the standout performer, earning a 9/10 rating and scoring a hat-trick in the victory was the star. Midfielder Declan Rice declared that "this is the best England group for a very long time" says this is. Jude Bellingham set an England World Cup record by scoring his seventh goal of the tournament against France. Despite the positive finish, around 7,000 tickets remained available for the third-place playoff are still listed. England's head coach Thomas Tuchel defended his tactical decisions following their semi-final loss, while Gary Neville suggested that England has faced similar issues for years and he never expected them to win the tournament.

Player Milestones and Transfer Buzz

Kylian Mbappé has equaled Lionel Messi's all-time World Cup goal record, scoring his 21st and 22nd career goals in the tournament has leapfrogged. Mbappé now leads the Golden Boot race with 10 goals, two clear of Lionel Messi heading into the final now leads. United States striker Folarin Balogun is reportedly a transfer target this summer. Tottenham is hopeful of signing Savinho from Manchester City are hopeful. Chelsea has agreed to a record £117 million deal for Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers have agreed, and other transfer rumors suggest Aston Villa is also targeting Jackson and Summerville following the Rogers move are targeting. Leeds United has signed defender Tarik Muharemovic for £34.1 million.

Club Football News and Pre-Season Action

In the NWSL, Gotham FC head coach Juan Carlos Amorós will depart for five weeks of paternity leave. Gotham FC played with extra hydration breaks due to poor air quality from smoke. Manchester United lost their opening pre-season friendly 1-0 to Wrexham, with Andrey Santos making his debut for the club. Premier League side Nottingham Forest has seen Oliver Glasner become their fifth manager in less than a year has become. Celtic is reportedly struggling to compete in the transfer window against English Championship clubs are struggling.

Other Sports and Tournament Notes

Luke Littler began his World Matchplay darts defense with an impressive average of over 109 fired in an average. Northamptonshire secured their first Vitality Blast title in a decade with a 14-run victory over Hampshire. The Blaze won the Women's T20 Blast title with a dominant 10-wicket win over Durham, thanks to a 118-run partnership lead the Blaze. Josh Kerr broke the world record for the mile at the Diamond League in London. Rory McIlroy has criticized Bryson DeChambeau's behavior at The Open, calling it "performative" has issued a scathing attack. Max Verstappen was fastest in the first practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix, ahead of Lewis Hamilton was surprisingly fastest. Rugby's Nations Championship saw the All Blacks emphatically beat Ireland 40-21.