World soccer cup roundup

Sunday, 12 July 2026

FIFA's top four teams make World Cup semifinals for first time (LINK) — 12 July 2026

— ESPN: It's a World Cup semifinal lineup for the ages. Four previous champions and the four top teams in the world, a first since FIFA introduced its rankings in 1992. Five of the six top scorers, one GOAT and one of the bitterest rivalries in soccer.

Switzerland hit out at VAR after 'mistaken identity' check ends in Breel Embolo red card (LINK) — 12 July 2026

— "It's completely not understandable," Switzerland's head coach, Murat Yakin, said afterward. "I know that they will protect their referee but this rule destroyed the game today. First of all, there was definitely no reason to award that yellow card," Yakin said. "I don't understand it, it was a harmless situation."It's just a disaster," the Switzerland midfielder Remo Freuler said. "I don't know what the referee is doing here. I don't understand why they call him for a situation like this because there are many fouls [like this] in the first half. Maybe he has to call them for yellow card too."

— Guardian: Guillermo Pacheco Larios, the video assistant referee, recommended a review for mistaken identity after reviewing the footage, which showed Embolo leaving his feet and beginning his fall to the ground before Paredes made contact. The offense was then changed from recklessness by Paredes to simulation on Embolo, both of which are punished with a yellow card. Embolo, though, had already received a yellow card in the first half, and thus he was ejected from the game[...], leaving the Swiss forward Breel Embolo in tears and the European side a man down for a total of 67 minutes against the defending champions.

Saturday, 11 July 2026

South Africa star Jayden Adams dies aged 25 just days after World Cup exit: Details surrounding Adams' passing remain unclear (LINK) — 11 July 2026

Friday, 10 July 2026

European lawmakers demand investigation into FIFA President over U.S. red card reversal (LINK) — 10 July 2026

With the U.S. and Mexico are out of the World Cup, ticket prices are plunging 65%, according to TickPick, a secondary ticket marketplace (LINK) — 10 July 2026

— Before the United States' loss on Monday, the cheapest ticket hovered around $3,200 on TickPick. Prices have dropped significantly since then, to $1,100 for the afternoon game in Los Angeles. As for Mexico, their loss on Sunday against England sent prices down 45%, TickPick said. Prices for the cheapest tickets were nearly $4,000 but have since declined to $2,000 for Saturday's showdown in Miami.

SportsMole: Argentina's Lionel Messi walks more than any other outfield player at the tournament and covers the least ground among the leading names at the 2026 World Cup (LINK) — 10 July 2026

— Across five matches, Messi has covered just 35.87 km — an average of 6.88 km per game, 4.41km at walking pace. No other player at the tournament comes close to that volume of low-intensity movement. That figure is well below the standard recorded by most midfielders and attackers at the elite level. In the overall tournament distance rankings, Messi sits 186th. France's Michael Olise — another creative midfielder — is second, having covered more than 64 km. Harry Kane, a centre-forward, has covered 53 km.

Thursday, 9 July 2026

Tom's Guide: I asked ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity who will win the World Cup now that it's down to 8 teams — here's the winner (hint: it's not unanimous) (LINK) — 9 July 2026

USA players must give up 60% of their prize money from the World Cup (LINK) — 9 July 2026

— USA's World Cup stars earned $16 million in prize money for reaching the last 16 but must split it equally with the women's team. As per Daily Mail, the men's and women's teams share World Cup prize money equally under terms of the collective bargaining agreement that was signed back in 2022. The deal was signed off after almost six years of campaigning and legal action by the women's team, spearheaded by Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, in an effort to secure equal pay.

— The figure will be split between the 26 men on the World Cup roster and the 26 women who are selected to play in next year's Women's World Cup, if they qualify under Emma Hayes' stewardship. Women's team earned $3.2m. Men's team earned $13.2m. Total $16.4m. Federation takes 20% - $3.28m. Remaining shared equally. Each team: $6.5m = $250K each.

Wednesday, 8 July 2026

World Cup 2026: 37 million people watched USMNT-Belgium on 6 July, making it the most-watched soccer match in U.S. history (LINK) — 8 July 2026

Ranking the 2026 World Cup quarterfinal teams remaining 1-8, from best (France) to worst (Switzerland) (LINK) — 8 July 2026

World Cup drives Google Search to a record queries per second: "Google Search broke all prior usage records and saw its highest usage in history right after Argentina scored their winning goal in yesterday's match" (LINK) — 8 July 2026

FBI have launched official investigation into Argentina FA for possible money laundering linked to AFA's figurehead Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia, who was charged with tax evasion following a complaint filed by Argentine President Javier Milei's government (LINK) — 8 July 2026

English Referees Oliver and Taylor banned from officiating 2 World Cup nations: their own country — and Argentina, largely relating to the 1982 Falklands War between the United Kingdom and Argentina (LINK) — 8 July 2026

Tuesday, 7 July 2026

Egypt Manager after World Cup exit vs Argentina: "This match was clearly rigged. They want Argentina and Messi to stay in the World Cup for marketing" (LINK) — 7 July 2026

— "We were better than Argentina. We had a clear penalty that the referee didn't award, and Ziko's goal at the start of the second half was disallowed, even though it was perfectly legitimate."

Lionel Messi's Argentina have saved FIFA millions after controversial win over Egypt (LINK) — 7 July 2026

— It was reported that when Argentina were 2-0 down, tickets for the quarter-finals had dropped from the $1,900 mark earlier in the day to just under $1000, before shooting straight back up to $2000 when the full-time whistle had blown and Messi was 100% certain to be appearing in the next stage of the tournament.

Lionel Messi makes World Cup history during Argentina vs Egypt: first player to ever miss two consecutive penalties (excluding shootouts) in World Cup history (LINK) — 7 July 2026

World Cup referee hands out five yellow cards in span of eight minutes during frantic 'pure chaos' meltdown in Argentina vs Egypt extra time (LINK) — 7 July 2026

— Who was carded and for what?

• Goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir is booked for screaming directly into the official's face.
• Simultaneously, substitute Hamdy Fathy is slapped with a yellow card for physical dissent as players chest-bump the officiating crew.
• Marwan Attia is booked as the referee desperately tries to clear a path to the center circle.
• Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan shown a yellow card for arguing with the referee as a furious sideline confrontation breaks out.
• Haissem Hassan is given a yellow card as the game finally stutters to its final whistle.

Portugal's manager quits after Ronaldo call as World Cup career ends in tears: crowd of 70,649 watched at the air-conditioned home of the Dallas Cowboys (LINK) — 7 July 2026

— Substitute Mikel Merino scored a late winner to put Spain in the quarter-finals and end Ronaldo's World Cup career on Tuesday morning. The European champions will face the United States - the only one of the co-hosts remaining - or Belgium on Friday in Los Angeles.

—FoxNews: Manager Martínez copped criticism for his reluctance to bring off Ronaldo, who played the whole 90 minutes without throwing any punches. "There's only one man to blame for this, the gutless manager," former England forward Chris Sutton said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

US Soccer officials barred by FIFA from Belgium World Cup match over apparent protocol violations: report: Sam Zapatka and Frank Pannell were barred after staff entered restricted areas in the Bosnia-Herzegovina game (LINK) — 7 July 2026

UN Human Rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan on racist remarks against Kylian Mbappé: The racist and dehumanising remarks against French footballer Kylian Mbappé by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla are despicable and, regrettably, not isolated. Reports of racist incidents during the FIFA World Cup 2026 reflect a wider phenomenon across football and sports more broadly. (LINK) — 6 July 2026

• Public officials have a heightened responsibility to stand against racism, discrimination and hate speech in their discourse.
• States and sports organisations must actively work to prevent acts of racism and any other form of discrimination. They should also ensure that there are independent and effective accountability mechanisms in place.
• Social media companies also have a responsibility to prevent and address racial discrimination and xenophobic abuse on their platforms, in accordance with international human rights standards.

Kylian Mbappe hits out at Paraguayan senator over racist insults: 'Gives the worst possible image of her country' — (LINK)

FIFA announces new punishment for Folarin Balogun and the USMNT hours before Belgium World Cup clash: FIFA announced on Monday afternoon that Balogun and the USMNT had been fined $40,000 for the red card incident (LINK) — 7 July 2026

— "After the match, he entered the field of play to celebrate with his teammates despite his expulsion… On 5 July 2026, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee found Balogun guilty of both infringements, imposed a one-match suspension (suspended on probation for one year) and a USD 40,000 fine, and notified the parties of the decision… The US Soccer Federation was declared jointly liable for payment of the fine pursuant to Article 6.5 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code."

Monday, 6 July 2026

10-man England advance to quarter-finals with fiery victory over Mexico (LINK) — 6 July 2026

GOAL: Scandalous Folarin Balogun decision hammers home just how much 2026 World Cup has been tarnished by Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino (LINK) — 6 July 2026

— "You'd almost certainly forgotten that Cristiano Ronaldo should have been banned for his country's opening two games (the suspension of the final two games of Ronaldo's mandatory three-match ban for getting sent off in a World Cup qualifier last November). Everyone remembers now, though, because the current iteration of FIFA never ceases to provide us with regular reminders of its hypocrisy, double standards and total lack of integrity.

— The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) admitted that it was "astonished" by Balogun's ban being lifted. The FIFA Disciplinary Code "clearly provides that a red card (sending-off) automatically results in a suspension for the team's next match, as has been the case for all previous red cards issued during this FIFA World Cup. Furthermore, and irrespective of the above, the decision is in direct contradiction with the provisions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations, as set out in Article 10.5: 'If a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card (second caution), they will automatically be suspended from their team's subsequent match. In addition, further sanctions may be imposed.'"

From more than a billion Coca-Cola bottles with collectible Panini stickers to Budweiser cans and personalized footballs, World Cup 2026 has become a showcase for digital printing, and much of it is powered by Israel's HP Indigo in Ness Ziona (LINK) — 6 July 2026

— With 7,500 digital printing presses around the world, the company holds about 66% of the digital printing market. In flexible packaging, the colorful crinkly bags everyone knows, it holds about 92% of the market, meaning that nine out of every 10 such packaging products worldwide are printed on its machines. In label printing, it has crossed the mark of 3,000 digital presses sold.

Mexico have just cost Adidas millions after World Cup exit: has been the national team's kit supplier for the last 20 years (LINK) — 6 July 2026

— Mexico are committed to Adidas until 2034 in a deal which is estimated to be worth in the region of $30m annually After Javier Aguirre's side reached the knockouts, Adidas revealed that the Mexico kit was the best-selling that they had made for this summer's World Cup as well as the best-selling in the national team's history. By last week, they had sold over three million units and nearly burned through their entire stock of home shirts. Had Mexico beaten England, sales would have been further turbocharged. But now that Mexico are out, Adidas will move into a much slower gear.

Sunday, 5 July 2026

Haaland's heroic double stuns Brazil and sends Norway into World Cup quarter-finals (LINK) — 5 July 2026

England end Mexico's World Cup with best win on foreign soil in their history (LINK) — 5 July 2026

— A capacity crowd of 80,824 was made to wait as kickoff was delayed by an hour because of lightning storms.

— Kane became the first player on record since 1966 to score and concede a penalty in the same World Cup match.

— This was only Mexico's third home defeat in 90 matches, and England did it playing with 10 men for 36 minutes.

10-man England advance to quarter-finals with fiery victory over Mexico (LINK)

Trump asked FIFA to review U.S. player's suspension before reversal: It was the first time since 1962 that FIFA has nullified a suspension for a red card received during the World Cup. (LINK) — 5 July 2026

World Cup fans spent anywhere from $2,500 to $150,000 to see matches (LINK) — 5 July 2026

Why this year's World Cup is so pricey: POLITICO talked to Boston University economist and soccer super-fan Florian Ederer about fluctuating ticket prices and whether governments should do anything about them — (LINK)

Saturday, 4 July 2026

FIFA World Cup: Round of 16 match schedule and which teams qualified (LINK) — 4 July 2026

18 World Cup players at risk of suspension as rule change laid bare: must be wary of being overly aggressive in pursuit of the last eight as a single yellow card will see them banned (LINK) — 4 July 2026

World Cup 2026 power rankings: France the team to beat (LINK) — 4 July 2026

Messi breaks another World Cup record: the 39-year-old has now scored at least one goal in eight consecutive World Cup matches (LINK) — 4 July 2026

2026 World Cup breaks own-goal record with 14, surpassing 2018 tournament (LINK) — 4 July 2026

Argentina controversy cleared up as referee 'ignores' strict FIFA rule in Cape Verde World Cup win (LINK) — 4 July 2026

— Referees' chief Pierluigi Collina brought in a raft of new laws: it was decided that any player who receives medical treatment for an injury would be required to leave the pitch for one minute and could not return until the time was up. However, this was not the case in one moment during Argentina vs Cape Verde. Defender Nicolas Tagliafico required treatment on a bloody nose from a collision with Emiliano Martinez and also had to change his shirt. According to IFAB's Laws of the Game, "a player bleeding from a wound must immediately leave the pitch to receive treatment and will only be permitted to return once the referee is fully satisfied that the bleeding has stopped and all traces of blood are completely removed from their uniform or equipment". Because the issue is bleeding, the one-minute rule is not valid and so the decision to wait for Tagliafico was technically correct.

Friday, 3 July 2026

FIFA release rare statement after controversial VAR call knocks Croatia out of World Cup: "IMU sensors housed within the Trionda ball are capable of determining any slight contact, displayed to viewers in the broadcast as a 'heartbeat graphic', and allowing officials an unprecedented level of data to make fast, accurate decisions." (LINK) — 3 July 2026

— The 'Snicko' technology, best known for its widespread use in cricket, inside the Trionda ball was able to prove that Matanovic got a slight touch on the ball before it fell to Pasalic.

Wednesday, 1 July 2026

World Cup 2026 kits: Every home and away shirt ranked and rated (LINK) — 1 July 2026

Did The Simpsons in 1997 really predict the final of the 2026 World Cup? (LINK) — 1 July 2026

— Frequently cited successful predictions include foretelling the Donald Trump presidency, the censorship of Michaelangelo's David, Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox, and the 2015 FIFA corruption scandal. There were even viral posts this year suggesting that the show had warned viewers about Epstein island as far back as 2000.

— In the Season 9 episode, "The Cartridge Family", a TV ad promotes a soccer match to determine "which nation is the greatest on Earth". The game sees Mexico facing off against Portugal.

The Conversation: Cape Verde's World Cup success reflects a nation that has repeatedly defied the odds (LINK) — 1 July 2026

TalkSport: FIFA's confusing World Cup U-turn leaves fans fuming during Mexico-Ecuador clash (LINK) — 1 July 2026

— Back in December of last year, FIFA made the announcement that all 104 games of the World Cup would have three-minute breaks midway through each half. Some have argued that it has been a ploy to make money. This is because it allows broadcasters to air additional commercials, which, in turn, offers the opportunity to boost their revenues. Fans inside the stadiums — especially the domed ones that have air conditioning — have made their feelings known about the mandatory hydration breaks, booing when the referee blows their whistle for the stoppage.

— On Tuesday night, though, in the game between co-hosts Mexico and Ecuador at the Estadio Azteca, which featured home fans singing a homophobic chant, the hydration breaks caused yet more controversy. Having pushed back kickoff to 8pm local time because of thunderstorms and lightning, FIFA also announced in a statement on its official website live blog that hydration breaks would not occur. However, they ultimately reversed their decision in a sharp U-turn, with FIFA issuing an updated statement on X (formerly Twitter), leaving out the original mention of the hydration breaks being omitted on this occasion. Once play got underway, the hydration breaks were taken as has been the norm during the tournament, despite the temperature being just 14C degrees, and rain having been falling all day.

— Julián Quiñones became just the second Mexico player to score in three games at a single World Cup, and El Tri's win broke their long-standing 'curse' by winning their first knockout stage game in 40 years.

"They were robbed", "This is cheating man" — Fans react as Belgium beat Senegal 3-2 in dramatic fashion at FIFA World Cup after 2-0 lead (LINK) — 1 July 2026

— in added time, Belgium were awarded a penalty. Referee Said Martinez determined that Tielemans' ankle was clipped by Lamine Camara before he got the ball. Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans, who plays for Aston Villa, broke an all-time FIFA World Cup record with his winning goal from the penalty spot: the 125th minute.

World Cup fans fume after double controversy on penalties as England legend Wayne Rooney calls out star for divisive act: "I think Harry Kane trips himself a bit and jumps into the goalkeeper" (LINK) — 1 July 2026

Mother Jones: Even FIFA and Trump can't ruin this World Cup: Cape Verde's dream run, the Algeria-Kansas connection, and Ivory Coast's Yan Diomande have captured hearts (LINK) — 1 July 2026

IOM on the World Soccer Cup: Bosnia and Herzegovina's national football team a symbol of belonging (LINK) — 1 July 2026

— Majda Baliċ, Media Specialist with IOM Bosnia and Herzegovina: A total of 17 of the 26 national team players were born outside the country, yet continue to share a strong connection with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reflecting that sense of connection, national team head coach Sergej Barbarez has rallied players and fans around a simple message: "Dream big. Dream BiH." National Team Director Emir Spahic expressed a similar sentiment, describing the search for talented players abroad as reconnecting with the country's own people rather than recruiting from elsewhere. "We are not taking anyone away from another country. We are simply bringing our children home."

LA Times: Thank you, World Cup, for providing the connection and inspiration Americans so desperately need (LINK) — 1 July 2026

Miami Herald: 'Perfect' England fan sends fans into frenzy with swimsuit photo (LINK) — 1 July 2026