Football/Soccer 8 Hours

Last updated: June 26, 2026, 11:33 PM ET

World Cup Knockout Stages Taking Shape

Cape Verde secured a historic place in the World Cup knockout rounds, becoming the smallest nation to achieve this feat on their debut. Their 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia clinched second place in Group H, advancing them to the round of. Meanwhile, England confirmed their progression to the knockout stage before their final group match, a result that also contributed to Uruguay's elimination. Despite a late push, Uruguay suffered a 1-0 defeat to Spain, a loss sealed by a first-half goalkeeping blunder from Fernando Muslera that gifted Spain the lead after a howler.

Strategic Decisions and Player Availability

Coaches are navigating complex decisions regarding player availability for crucial matches. Norway's manager, Stale Solbakken, deemed resting 10 first-team players, including Erling Haaland, against France a "no-brainer" due to observed fatigue affecting multiple squad members. This strategy, however, resulted in a heavy 4-1 loss to a French side that saw Ousmane Dembélé net a first-half hat-trick in just 25 minutes. France's coach, Didier Deschamps, is set to rejoin the squad after attending his mother's funeral, having missed the victory over Norway on Friday. In other team news, England manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed Bukayo Saka is fit to start against Panama, though full-back Reece James remains sidelined with an injury.

Mid-Table Maneuvers and Transfer Rumors

In domestic football, Leeds strengthened their grip on the Betfred Super League summit with a decisive victory over Hull KR. Elsewhere, transfer speculation continues to swirl, with reports suggesting Real Madrid may allow midfielders to depart to facilitate new signings. Chelsea are reportedly closing in on Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix, while Newcastle United are also monitoring Borussia Dortmund's Felix Nmecha. Former West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand has taken his first coaching role at National League side Hornchurch alongside Robert Lee.

Other Sporting News

In cricket, Sri Lanka kept their T20 World Cup semi-final hopes alive with a last-over win against Scotland, while all-rounder Alice Capsey urged England to maintain their winning momentum ahead of their T20 World Cup semi-final clash with New Zealand at The Oval. On the PGA Tour, Scottie Scheffler narrowly missed out on another sub-60 round at the Travelers Championship after failing to convert an 18th-hole birdie putt on Friday. The United States men's national team are in positive contract extension talks with coach Mauricio Pochettino, according to sources close to the matter.