Football/Soccer 8 Hours

Last updated: July 16, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

World Cup Semifinals Recap and Fallout

Argentina's Lionel Messi pushed back against critics, stating "Nothing was handed to us" after their 2-1 World Cup semifinal victory over England. England captain Harry Kane indicated it's too soon to decide if the 2026 World Cup will be his last after their semifinal exit. Jude Bellingham played down an animated discussion with Messi during the semifinal, though he was later seen slapping the back of Argentina's Valentín Barco's head post-match. Thomas Tuchel, England's coach, blamed English football's "DNA" for the World Cup exit, and his tactical approach has come under scrutiny after the semifinal capitulation. The British government has urged FIFA to investigate Argentina's players for posing with a banner claiming sovereignty over the Falklands after their win. Meanwhile, USMNT captain Tim Ream expressed "shock" at his team's poor showing in their World Cup exit.

Transfer Rumors and Club Business

New York City FC are interested in signing Christian Pulisic but acknowledge AC Milan is unwilling to sell the American star. Celtic's CEO stated the club is struggling to compete in the transfer market against English Championship clubs and agents. Inter Milan are reportedly pursuing deals for Djed Spence and Cristian Romero, while Liverpool lead the race for Kaishu Sano and Arsenal are showing interest in Ezri Konsa. Nottingham Forest is preparing a £45 million offer for Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall. Crystal Palace have signed Lexi Lloyd-Smith, last season's WSL2 top scorer, on a three-year deal. Coventry City has completed the signing of Eintracht Frankfurt defender Aurele Amenda for over £17 million.

Player News and Injury Updates

Arsenal will assess William Saliba's back injury upon his return from World Cup duty, with surgery being an option. Manuel Ugarte has undergone knee surgery after sustaining an injury at the World Cup. Spain's Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro trained separately from their teammates but are expected to be fit for their upcoming World Cup fixture.

Miscellaneous Soccer News

The jersey Pelé wore during Brazil's 1958 World Cup final victory sold for $4.88 million at Sotheby's. Officials in New York and New Jersey issued an air quality health alert due to wildfire smoke days before the World Cup final. Citi Field experienced a sellout crowd for the Gotham FC win in the Queens Classic, signaling potential franchise growth.

Coaching Carousel and Managerial Speculation

ESPN has identified 11 potential replacements for Mauricio Pochettino should he depart the USMNT. There is speculation surrounding Thomas Tuchel's future with England, though he has stated his commitment to continuing as boss. Oliver Glasner has been appointed Nottingham Forest's fifth manager in under a year, tasked with bringing stability to the club.