Football/Soccer 3 Days

Last updated: July 19, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

World Cup Final Showdown: Spain vs. Argentina

The 2026 FIFA World Cup culminates on Sunday with a highly anticipated final between Spain and Argentina. Spain, known for their possession-based attack, have reached the final on the back of an elite defense elite defense. They will face an Argentina side led by Lionel Messi, who is aiming to cement his legacy as the greatest male athlete in history. The final pits the veteran magician Messi against Spain's young sensation Lamine Yamal. Spain manager Luis de la Fuente and Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni share a unique bond from their past. Despite reaching their second World Cup final, Spain trust their team identity to deliver. Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez has admitted to playing through pain in his right hand throughout the tournament. The World Cup final is expected to be the most watched sporting event globally, with an estimated 1.5 billion viewers most watched sporting event. Last-minute tickets for the final are commanding prices between $10,000 and $60,000 range from $10,000 to $60,000. Smoke from Canadian wildfires is expected to clear from the New Jersey area just in time for the final due to approaching thunderstorms. Spain's final training session before the match was canceled due to thunderstorms.

England Secures Third Place, Reflects on Tournament

England secured third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Saturday, with Bukayo Saka being the standout performer, earning a 9/10 rating star of the show. Saka revealed he "wanted to play more" in the tournament after scoring a hat-trick in the third-place match against France. Midfielder Declan Rice declared that "this is the best England group for a very long time" following their bronze medal finish. Jude Bellingham set a new England record, becoming the first Englishman to score seven goals in a single World Cup with his late strike against France. England manager Thomas Tuchel defended his tactical decisions following their semi-final defeat to Argentina, acknowledging the loss as a "scar we carry now". Despite the disappointment, captain Harry Kane stated it's "too soon" to determine if the 2026 World Cup was his last for England. Kane also noted the team is "missing that final piece of the jigsaw" and needs to improve. US President Donald Trump questioned Harry Kane's second-half "defensive" role in the semi-final loss to Argentina. The Women's Nations Championship clash between Argentina and England saw controversy as Argentina's head coach Felipe Contepomi stormed out of his press conference, accusing England of a "lack of respect".

Transfer Market Buzz and Club News

Barcelona has set a July 31 deadline for Atlético Madrid to accept their offer for Argentinian striker Julián Álvarez set a deadline. Transfer rumors suggest that USMNT striker Folarin Balogun could be on the move this summer could be on the move. Tottenham is reportedly optimistic about signing Savinho from Manchester City, while Real Madrid is cooling their interest in Rodri. Chelsea has agreed to a record-breaking £117 million deal with Aston Villa for Morgan Rogers. Arsenal is also reportedly preparing an offer for Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa. Leeds United has signed defender Tarik Muharemovic for £34.1 million from Sassuolo. Defender Maxime Esteve has left Burnley to join RB Leipzig for a reported fee of £27.3 million. Bournemouth's Alex Jimenez has joined Fiorentina on a season-long loan. Hearts have signed goalkeeper Beau Reus as Alexander Schwolow departs. Winger becomes a key target for Celtic, with Aberdeen also seeing player movements and Motherwell agreeing to sell a winger. Striker Kelechi Iheanacho has rejected a new contract with Celtic and has joined Bursaspor, while Marcelo Saracchi has given up on a return to the Scottish champions. Chris Wilder has extended his contract as Sheffield United manager until the summer of 2028.

Other Sporting Headlines

The World Cup has been a significant boost for beer sales in the U.S., with host cities reporting a 14% increase in sales at bars, restaurants, and stadiums in the first four weeks of the tournament. Major League Soccer game between Vancouver Whitecaps and Chicago Fire was postponed due to poor air quality from wildfire smoke game... to be postponed. NWSL implemented two hydration breaks per half in a Gotham FC game due to poor air quality from smoke. New York City FC is interested in signing Christian Pulisic, but AC Milan is not considering selling the player. Pelé's jersey from the 1958 World Cup final sold at Sotheby's for $4.88 million sold at Sotheby's for $4.88 million. Luke Littler began his World Matchplay defense with an impressive average of over 109. Rory McIlroy has criticized Bryson DeChambeau's behavior at The Open, calling it "performative" and accusing him of "holding the tournament hostage". Josh Kerr broke the world record for the mile at the Diamond League event in London. The All Blacks secured a dominant 40-21 victory over Ireland in rugby's inaugural Nations Championship.