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		<title>Latest Men's FIFA World Cup News &amp; Videos from FOX Sports</title>
		<link>https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/fifa-world-cup</link>
		<description>Breaking Men's FIFA World Cup news, videos, articles, and stories from FOX Sports.</description>
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			<title>Latest Men's FIFA World Cup News &amp; Videos from FOX Sports</title>
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			<link>https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/fifa-world-cup</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 05:30:11 -0400</pubDate>
		<copyright>Copyright 2026 FOX Sports</copyright>
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					<![CDATA[Who Are The Referees For France vs. Spain?]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-referee-france-spain-ivan-barton</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-referee-france-spain-ivan-barton</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Ivan Barton of El Salvador will be the head official between France vs. Spain in Dallas.]]>
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				<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 02:16:29 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[France will aim for its third straight World Cup final appearance as Les Bleus take on Spain in Tuesday's semifinal match in Dallas. France defeated Morocco in the quarterfinals while defending European champions Spain took out Belgium for its spot among the final four teams at the tournament. England and Argentina make up the other side of the bracket and will play each other Wednesday in Atlanta. France superstar Kylian Mbappé is in the mix for the Golden Boot award for the top goalscorer at the tournament, as well as the Golden Ball award for most outstanding player. Spain has seen players such as Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal carry the offensive load for La Roja as it aims to return to its first final since winning it all in 2010. Who Are The Referees For France vs. Spain? Iván Barton of El Salvador will be the head official between France vs. Spain in Dallas. Barton's experience includes officiating numerous matches in CONCACAF competitions such as the Nations League and the Gold Cup. His first World Cup tournament was in 2022 in Qatar, and he has already officiated three matches at this World Cup, with Tuesday's semifinal now his fourth assignment. Barton officiated the Paraguay vs. Türkiye group stage match, in which he sent off Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almirón to become the first player issued with a red card at the World Cup for covering his mouth. The infraction came during first-half stoppage time in the Group D match when Almirón and Mert Mulder exchanged words following a foul near midfield. Almiron covered his mouth while saying something to Mulder, who immediately appealed to referee Barton for punishment. Barton went to video review and quickly ruled that Almiron would be given a red card and ejected under a new rule put in place for this year's World Cup to combat players from potentially engaging in verbal abuse. Referee: Iván Barton (El Salvador) Assistant Referee 1: David Moran (El Salvador) Assistant Referee 2: Antonio Pupiro (El Salvador) 4th Official: Glenn Nyberg (Sweden) Reserve Assistant Referee: Mahbod Begi (Sweden)]]>
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					<![CDATA[FIFA's Four Best Teams Will Make Star-Studded World Cup Semis A Treat For Fans]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/fifas-four-best-teams-will-make-star-studded-world-cup-semis-treat-fans</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/fifas-four-best-teams-will-make-star-studded-world-cup-semis-treat-fans</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[This week's World Cup semifinals feature FIFA's four top-ranked teams for the first time in history.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 20:53:10 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[In each of the two epic quarterfinals we witnessed on Saturday — England’s extra-time win over Norway, Argentina’s extra-time victory against Switzerland — there were long stretches where the underdog seemed destined to pull off the upsets and advance to this week’s semis. Norway led the Three Lions. The Swiss equalized and had the momentum with just over 20 of the regular 90 minutes remaining. Both losers understandably felt aggrieved; the Norwegian players insisted that England’s first goal shouldn’t have counted, and had what could’ve been its own game-winner nullified after an intervention by the video assistant referee. VAR reduced Switzerland to 10 men vs. Lionel Messi and the rest of the defending World Cup champions, rendering the outcome inevitable. However it happened, here we are: with FIFA’s four top-ranked teams — No. 1 France, followed by Argentina, Spain and England — in the semifinals for the first time in tournament history. It’s a remarkable statistic when you think about it. Only eight nations have won the World Cup over 22 editions since the inaugural 1930 competition. The decisive match is almost always a meeting between past winners; just three of the 14 finalists since 2002 hadn’t previously lifted the trophy: Belgium and Croatia in 2018, and Spain eight years earlier. Yet in the semis, chaos has long reigned. Non-traditional powers have littered the World Cup's last four this century. Unlike the final, the semis are not normally a roll-call of the usual suspects. The Croats also got to the semis in Qatar in 2022. Morocco’s Cinderella run four years ago made them the first African nation and the first from the Arab world to get that far. Portugal, South Korea and Türkiye have also reached the semifinal stage this century. By contrast, all four countries still alive at this World Cup are anything but upstarts. The list includes current holders (Argentina), current runner-up (France), and the titlists from 2018 (France) and 2010 (Spain). England, which is hoping to end its 60-year World Cup drought this summer, was a semifinalist in 2018 and reached the last two European Championship finals. Each of the semifinalists features at least one legitimate global superstar. There’s living legend Messi, the GOAT, who at age 39 has scored eight goals and is tied atop the Golden Boot race with Le Bleus ace Kylian Mbappé. Three Lions duo Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have six goals apiece, with Bellingham scoring four of those in England's last two matches. Meantime, La Roja boasts teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, the player widely considered as the heir apparent to Messi and Mbappé as soccer's best, if he isn't better already. Though Yamal has had a quiet World Cup so far, the biggest game(s) yet await. The match-ups could hardly be better, either. Tuesday’s France-Spain contest (kickoff at 3 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX One) in Dallas is a rematch of the Euro 2024 semi, when Yamal’s golazo helped La Roja best its cross-border rival. England and Argentina will reignite an even more contentious rivalry on Wednesday (kickoff at 3 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX One) in Atlanta; the Albiceleste are 2-0 against England in World Cup knockout games all-time. There are more irresistible storylines. Can Messi lead Argentina to consecutive World Cup triumphs, which nobody has done since Pele’s Brazil repeated in 1962? Will Mbappé reach a third straight final, or will Yamal play for the most coveted prize in sports next Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium, just six days after celebrating his 19th birthday? Could this finally be the year it’s coming home to England for what would be the first time in most of their supporters' lifetimes? In what was already the biggest and best World Cup ever staged, it’s shaping up as a fitting last week. History is about to be written, and we all have a front-row seat.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois Weigh Belgium Futures After World Cup Exit]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/kevin-de-bruyne-thibaut-courtois-weigh-belgium-futures-after-world-cup-exit</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/kevin-de-bruyne-thibaut-courtois-weigh-belgium-futures-after-world-cup-exit</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois have cast doubt over their Belgium futures following the Red Devils' World Cup exit to Spain.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 20:06:32 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois have cast doubt over their Belgium futures following the Red Devils' World Cup exit to Spain. Both veterans admitted they need time to recover after demanding seasons, while the Real Madrid goalkeeper also revealed that talks with the Belgian FA and head coach Rudi Garcia will shape his international future. Belgium Stars Leave Futures Open After World Cup Exit Belgium's World Cup campaign ended with 2-1 defeat to Spain, leaving the futures of two of their most experienced players in doubt. De Bruyne and Courtois both stopped short of committing to the national team after the tournament. De Bruyne, who won his 124th Belgium cap, admitted the physical demands of elite football have taken their toll following a difficult period that included hamstring surgery in late 2025. Courtois, meanwhile, saw his tournament end after being substituted because of a quadriceps issue despite wanting to continue. De Bruyne Seeks Sabbatical After Physical Toll Speaking after Belgium's elimination, De Bruyne discussed the physical toll he has taken in recent seasons and said he wanted to take a 'break' from the national team. "I have two or three difficult years behind me and underwent major surgery," De Bruyne told Sporza. "I am 35 years old. I am proud to be standing here, to give everything every day, and to be able to be an example for this young team." Asked whether the defeat was his final Belgium appearance, he replied: "I don’t think so, but let me take a break for a bit now. It has been a busy year, and then we’ll see." Courtois Faces Uncertain Future After Substitution Drama Courtois, who played a key role throughout the group stage, had to end his tournament with an injury. The Real Madrid man, with 115 caps to his name, has openly discussed his future on the international stage. "It would be good to take a year-long break from the Nations League so I can find some rest," Courtois explained. "Then I can keep goal for the European Championship qualifiers and the European Championship again. It is now up to the national coach and the federation to make a choice. "I am going to discuss it with Vincent Mannaert and the national coach. If they see it differently than I do, then I will have to consider whether I can remain a Red Devil. Perhaps this was my last match as an international." Key talks will shape Belgium's future De Bruyne is expected to take time away before deciding whether to continue his international career. Courtois, meanwhile, will hold talks with Garcia and Mannaert, with the outcome likely to determine whether he remains part of Belgium's plans or brings his international career to an end.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Harry Kane Defends Thomas Tuchel Criticism: 'He’s Trying To Drag It Out Of Us']]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/harry-kane-england-manager-thomas-tuchel-criticism-2026-world-cup</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/harry-kane-england-manager-thomas-tuchel-criticism-2026-world-cup</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Harry Kane came to the defense of Thomas Tuchel after the England coach delivered a scathing assessment of the Three Lions' quarterfinal victory.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 18:36:46 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Kane Backs Tuchel's Pursuit Of Perfection Superstar English striker Harry Kane has insisted that manager Thomas Tuchel’s strong criticism of the team’s World Cup performance against Norway was driven by a desire to see their training ground excellence translate into matchdays. While the Three Lions secured a 2-1 win thanks to a Jude Bellingham brace, Tuchel was vocal about his dissatisfaction with the display, describing the team as "lucky" and citing a lack of speed and technical composure. Kane believes the manager is simply trying to maintain high standards ahead of a semifinal clash with Argentina. Speaking on the manager's approach, Kane said: "When he sees us train, and sees the closeness and what we can do, especially with the players we have, the way we attack, our one-on-ones and the skills… he just wants to see that version of us. He knows as much as anyone that it’s not as simple as that, we’re playing against good opposition and good teams. He’s trying to drag it out of us, and we know ourselves we have another level that we can reach." Three Lions Searching For Top Gear Despite England’s progress to the semifinals for the fourth time in their history — having won the title in 1966 and finishing fourth in 1990 and 2018 — there is a growing consensus within the camp that they are yet to produce a complete 90-minute performance. Kane admitted that the team has struggled for total control during their run in North America, suggesting that the best is still to come from a star-studded squad. The Bayern Munich striker said: "We haven’t seen that [best level] yet. We’ve shown it in glimpses. Against Norway it was in glimpses. We haven’t had full control that we would like, and I feel we can have. But, at this stage of the tournament, you are playing against the best teams in the world. We’ll be playing against one of the best teams in the world in the semifinal." Bellingham Creates Friction With Reaction Tuchel’s blunt criticism of the performance did not sit well with Bellingham, who dismissed it by saying, "Yeah, well, whatever," and later adding, "Maybe he doesn’t know what it’s like to play in those kind of conditions against Erling Haaland, [Martin] Odegaard, [Antonio] Nusa, [Alexander] Sorloth." The Real Madrid star pointed to Miami's difficult conditions as a major factor. Kane was quick to play down any potential rift, focusing instead on the team's resilience and Bellingham's vital contribution. Both Kane and Bellingham now have six goals each in the tournament's top scorer race, trailing only Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé (eight goals) and Erling Haaland (seven goals). Speaking on the performance, Kane stated: "The most pleasing thing is that we are in a semifinal, and we still feel like we can improve. I don’t think it is something to get really over the top about. We are showing a lot of good things – the way the boys defended as a team against Norway, the way we attacked … we still had some really good moments. And Jude stepped up for us with another couple of goals." Focus Shifts To Argentina Semifinal Tuchel’s specific complaints centered on England's inability to beat the high press and their lack of penetration in the final third. The German coach suggested his players were "overthinking" in possession, leading to missed opportunities. With a monumental semifinal against Argentina looming in Atlanta, the pressure is on to find a solution to these tactical frustrations. Looking ahead, Kane remained optimistic about England's chances of reaching another final. "This has been an extremely successful era of our national team, getting to the semifinals and finals, and we want to get over the line. That is the missing piece now. We’ve been together for six weeks and shown every bit of desire for the badge. We’re going to need an even bigger push now for the last week or so," the captain concluded.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Jürgen Klopp Agrees Principles Of Contract To Become Next Germany Head Coach]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/jurgen-klopp-agrees-principles-contract-become-next-germany-head-coach</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/jurgen-klopp-agrees-principles-contract-become-next-germany-head-coach</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Jurgen Klopp is on the verge of becoming the new head coach of the German national team after reaching an agreement in principle with the DFB.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 18:31:31 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Jurgen Klopp is on the verge of becoming the new head coach of the German national team after reaching an agreement in principle with the DFB. The former Liverpool manager has been the top target to lead Die Mannschaft following a disappointing World Cup campaign under Julian Nagelsmann. Klopp is now set for a sensational return to the touchline. Breakthrough In New York Negotiations The DFB’s pursuit of Klopp has reached a decisive turning point following high-level discussions in the United States. According to Sky Sports Germany, an agreement in principle has been reached between the governing body and the 59-year-old tactician. DFB president Bernd Neuendorf and vice-president Hans-Joachim Watzke traveled to New York to meet with Klopp to iron out the primary terms of the deal. The breakthrough comes after months of speculation surrounding the former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool boss, who has been away from the dugout since leaving Anfield at the end of the 2023-24 season. The proposed contract is expected to run up to and including the 2030 World Cup, providing the stability the German national team has craved after recent tournament disappointments. Resolving The Red Bull Hurdle While the DFB and Klopp are in total alignment, one final hurdle remains before the appointment is made official. Klopp is currently under contract as the Head of Global Soccer for the Red Bull group. According to the report, discussions are scheduled for early next week in New York with Red Bull chief Oliver Mintzlaff to finalise the details of his departure from the organisation. The DFB is reportedly exploring a unique solution to avoid a hefty compensation fee for the manager. Recent reports suggest the two parties are looking at a creative arrangement where Klopp could potentially continue as a Red Bull brand ambassador while simultaneously serving as the Germany head coach. This compromise would allow Red Bull to maintain their association with one of football's biggest figures while freeing him to lead his country. A familiar Backroom Staff Overhaul Klopp is already planning a significant overhaul of the existing coaching setup to ensure his philosophy is implemented immediately. The German FA is prepared to support Klopp in bringing in his most trusted lieutenants to replace the outgoing assistants from the previous regime. Among those expected to join the new era are Peter Krawietz and Pepijn Lijnders, the duo who served as Klopp’s right-hand men during his trophy-laden era at Liverpool. Their arrival would signal a complete shift in the tactical direction of the German national team, bringing the high-intensity style that made Klopp a legend in the Premier League to the international arena. Restoring The European Giants The DFB intends to announce the agreement as soon as the final paperwork with Red Bull is signed. The move represents a major statement of intent for a nation that has struggled to replicate the success of its 2014 World Cup triumph. By securing a long-term commitment through 2030, the federation is putting its full faith in Klopp to build a sustainable project for the future. With Rudi Voller remaining in place as sporting director, the DFB has created a bridge between the federation's leadership and the new coaching staff. This structure is designed to install a management team capable of competing for major honours. The Klopp era for Germany is now just a signature away from becoming a reality.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Bellingham The GOAT? Lineker Thinks He Could Be 'England's Greatest Footballer']]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/gary-lineker-jude-bellingham-england-2026-world-cup</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/gary-lineker-jude-bellingham-england-2026-world-cup</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Gary Lineker thinks Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham is on a path to becoming England's greatest ever player.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 18:21:37 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Bellingham Leading England's Charge Is England midfielder and 2026 World Cup star Jude Bellingham the English GOAT? Such a thought comes in the wake of another masterclass from the Real Madrid midfielder, who is now England’s joint-top 2026 World Cup scorer alongside Harry Kane with six goals. Bellingham’s impact has been undeniable, particularly in the high-pressure environment of the knockout rounds. Following his two-goal performance in the 3-2 victory over Mexico in the round of 16, he achieved a feat not seen for decades by scoring twice again in the 2-1 victory over Norway, further cementing his status as one of the world's premier talents. His ability to produce match-winning moments on the biggest stage has led many to wonder just how high the youngster's ceiling can be. Matching Maradona And Breaking Records Bellingham is the first player to score twice in consecutive knockout stage games at a single World Cup since Diego Maradona achieved the feat for Argentina in 1986. With six goals in the current edition, he has joined an elite group of England players — including Lineker himself in 1986 and Kane in 2018 and 2026 — to score at least five goals in a single tournament. Nine of Bellingham's 12 international goals have now come at major tournaments, highlighting his knack for performing when the stakes are highest. Speaking on 'The Rest is Football' on Netflix, ex-England striker Lineker was unequivocal about the midfielder's trajectory. "I would go as far as to say I think there's a chance that I think he could well be, or end up being, England's greatest ever footballer. And that is a big shout," he said. Entering The Bracket Of Charlton And Kane Lineker acknowledged that England has produced world-class talent throughout its history, but noted that Bellingham possesses a rare combination of leadership and technical ability. Since making his international debut against Ireland in 2020, the midfielder has earned 54 caps and scored 12 goals for the Three Lions, helping England reach consecutive Euro finals in 2020 and 2024. Lineker placed the Madrid star alongside the likes of 1966 hero Bobby Charlton and current captain Kane while discussing the hierarchy of English football's legends. "We've had some really great players. Some of them have not necessarily done it for their country, others have," Lineker explained. "Go back to people like Bobby Charlton, obviously, I would say would have to be up there. You would put Harry Kane in that bracket and there are other players as well, but I think at this age, to be doing what he's doing and to grabbing England by the scruff and getting them over the line, that is a superstar." Eyes On The Semifinal Showdown Bellingham’s heroics against Norway have set up a mouth-watering semifinal clash against Argentina, providing the midfielder with another opportunity to bolster his growing legend. The Birmingham City academy graduate is determined to capitalize on his stellar form to lead England to their first World Cup final since winning their sole title in 1966.]]>
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					<![CDATA[The Ohio State Of The World Cup? Each Semifinalist As A College Football Powerhouse]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-college-football-france-ohio-state-spain-georgia-england-texas-argentina-alabama</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-college-football-france-ohio-state-spain-georgia-england-texas-argentina-alabama</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Comparing the final four World Cup teams standing to some of college football's top programs? Let's do it.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 16:53:37 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Somehow, yes, it's true: for the first time in World Cup history, the four remaining teams are also the top four teams in FIFA's rankings. The tournament has been around since 1930, and even with an expanded 48-team field designed to create more unpredictability, the final four is as chalk as it gets. No. 1 France plays No. 3 Spain in Dallas on Tuesday, while No. 2 Argentina faces No. 4 England in Atlanta on Wednesday. No matter who wins, we’ll be rewarded with a dream final. That got us thinking: while there aren't perfect like-for-like comparisons in college football, there are enough similarities that these four World Cup semifinalists resemble some recent College Football Playoff teams. Here’s our best run at it: France is Ohio State: Les Bleus have two World Cup titles, winning on home soil in 1998 and then 20 years later in Russia in 2018. This marks France's eighth World Cup semifinal appearance. Four years ago, it finished as runner-up after losing to Argentina in the greatest final in tournament history, an epic match decided by a penalty shootout. France regularly produces world-class talent, and its players star for Europe's biggest clubs. Its attack is powered by a three-headed monster of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise, while an elite defense has conceded few goals throughout this summer’s tournament. The program also has had stability under manager Didier Deschamps, who has been in charge since 2012 (though 2026 will be his final World Cup with the squad). Ohio State always attracts the top recruiting classes and consistently develops top NFL talent. The Buckeyes won the national championship in 2024, and are tied for the most CFP appearances since the inaugural four-team field in 2014. And, like France, they enter nearly every season as a legitimate contender. Expectations aren't just high – they're championship or bust. Argentina is Alabama (during the Nick Saban years): Argentina is the gold standard of international soccer, much like Alabama was during the Nick Saban era. La Albiceleste has been the sport’s most dominant force over the past five years, winning the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles while sandwiching a World Cup trophy in 2022 behind Lionel Messi. The Argentines refuse to be beaten. They thrive in pressure moments – as has been particularly evident throughout the knockout rounds at this World Cup – and that’s because of the championship mentality that’s deeply ingrained in the program’s culture. That's what made Alabama a dynasty under Saban. The Crimson Tide didn't just stockpile elite talent – they expected to win every game and often did. Like Argentina, they were the measuring stick by which every other team compared themselves. The fan bases share similarities, too. They're loud, passionate and unwavering, and love to dance and sing. They’re confident, too, which is a byproduct of their team’s success. Spain is Georgia: This comparison is more about where the programs are right now than their all-time history. Spain and Georgia are some of the hottest teams in their respective sports. They’re ruthless, relentless and seemingly have an endless pipeline of talent. When a star moves on, another rises from Spain’s academy system or Georgia’s top-ranked recruiting class. Spain are the reigning European champions and have looked like the best team in the world for a while. They have Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Mikel Oyarzabal, but their defense has been dominant at this World Cup. La Roja have conceded just one goal – in their quarterfinal against Belgium – thanks to a backline anchored by center backs Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsí, with Unai Simon providing steadiness in goal. Georgia won back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022, and Spain is hoping to lift the World Cup trophy after most recently winning the 2024 Euros. The Bulldogs may be more known for their size and physicality, while La Roja overwhelms opponents with technical ability and flair, but both programs have become dominant forces that reload every year. England is Texas: Both England and Texas enter every season – or every major tournament – thinking this is their time. It’s always "it's coming home" and "we’re back." And yet, the Three Lions haven’t won a World Cup in 60 years, while the Longhorns haven’t claimed a national title since the 2005 season. There’s so much hope – and rightfully so – but also so much heartbreak and disappointment. These programs are defined by their rich history, tradition and brands. They dominate headlines whether they’re winning or not, and every loss becomes a national conversation. They have long-time, wide-spread and loyal supporters who are anxious for their team to regain their place at the top. And they have mega stars like Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane for England and Arch Manning at Texas. However, both teams have shown signs that they might be over the hump. England has reached four World Cup semifinals, including in two of the last three tournaments. Texas has made it to consecutive CFP semifinals, though it missed out last season. Both teams appear poised to change the narrative, with the Three Lions looking like they could defeat Argentina and make it to the World Cup final, and the Longhorns re-establishing themselves as annual championship contenders.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Video Footage Indicates England's Jude Bellingham Still Hampered By Shoulder Injury]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/video-footage-indicates-englands-jude-bellingham-still-hampered-shoulder-injury</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/video-footage-indicates-englands-jude-bellingham-still-hampered-shoulder-injury</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[England fans have been left sweating over the fitness of Jude Bellingham after the Real Madrid midfielder was seen clutching his shoulder during the World Cup quarter-final against Norway. Despite undergoing corrective surgery in the past, the 23-year-old appeared to be in significant discomfort during and after an outing in Miami.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 16:53:19 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[England fans have been left sweating over the fitness of Jude Bellingham after the Real Madrid midfielder was seen clutching his shoulder during the World Cup quarter-final against Norway. Despite undergoing corrective surgery in the past, the 23-year-old appeared to be in significant discomfort during and after an outing in Miami. Alarm Bells Ringing For The Three Lions In the midst of a tense World Cup quarter-final clash at the Hard Rock Stadium, a familiar sight struck fear into the hearts of England supporters. Bellingham was caught on camera repeatedly grimacing and clutching his left shoulder after a robust challenge. The medical staff were seen watching closely from the dugout as Bellingham attempted to shake off the pain. While Tuchel and his coaching staff were busy delivering tactical instructions during a scheduled 30th-minute hydration break, Bellingham was seen in deep conversation with the team physio, pointing specifically to the joint. Bellingham was again seen touching his shoulder as he was about to be interviewed after the game. Watch The Clip History Of Playing Through The Pain The England international has previously spoken about his regrets regarding the management of the joint. Before his summer operation, he admitted that he had played through the pain for a significant period to avoid missing key fixtures for both club and country. The psychological impact was also evident, with the midfielder previously stating that the fear of re-injury had prevented him from playing at his world-class best. "The shoulder injury had a lot of effect on the rest of my body. I didn't have much pain, but playing knowing that if I fall it could come out again meant I couldn't be at my best level. Last year made me understand that I couldn't take winning again for granted. Now I'm better physically and I can return to being at my level," he explained. Argentina And Messi Await In Atlanta The road to glory does not get any easier for the Three Lions, as a titan of the game stands in their way. Having secured their passage to the semi-finals, England will now travel to Atlanta to face Lionel Messi and Argentina. The medical staff will now be working around the clock to ensure Bellingham is fit to face the 39-year-old Messi. With nine of his 12 England goals coming in major tournaments, Bellingham is undeniably the "Man of all the Moments" for Tuchel.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Erling Haaland Labels England 'Lucky To Have' Jude Bellingham After World Cup Heroics]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/erling-haaland-labels-england-lucky-have-jude-bellingham-after-world-cup-heroics</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/erling-haaland-labels-england-lucky-have-jude-bellingham-after-world-cup-heroics</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Erling Haaland has warned England that they are fortunate to possess a talent like Jude Bellingham after the midfielder's heroics propelled the Three Lions into the World Cup semi-finals.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 16:29:13 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Erling Haaland has warned England that they are fortunate to possess a talent like Jude Bellingham after the midfielder's heroics propelled the Three Lions into the World Cup semi-finals. The Manchester City striker was on the receiving end of a Bellingham masterclass as Norway were eliminated from the competition in a tense quarter-final clash. High Praise From A Former Teammate In the aftermath of England's hard-fought victory over Norway, Haaland was quick to put rivalry aside to laud the performance of his close friend and former Borussia Dortmund colleague, Bellingham. The Real Madrid star was the difference-maker on the night, netting his second consecutive brace to steer Thomas Tuchel’s side through to the final four. Despite the disappointment of Norway's exit, Haaland recognised that Bellingham is currently operating at a level that few in world football can match. Speaking to the media after the final whistle, Haaland made his feelings clear about the calibre of the player England have at their disposal. "Real Madrid and England are lucky to have Jude Bellingham," the Norwegian talisman admitted. Silencing The Doubters On The Big Stage Haaland also took the opportunity to address the scrutiny that Bellingham has faced regarding his output in the final third. While some have questioned whether the midfielder contributes enough goals, his performance against Norway served as a definitive answer to those concerns. "Sometimes they criticize Jude Bellingham for not scoring enough goals, but he does not deserve that criticism," Haaland said, defending the 23-year-old. "He’s a midfielder, and yet he still scores, goes forward, dribbles. He’s world class." The Ultimate Game-Changer Bellingham’s influence on the pitch has reached a point where even the world's best players are queuing up to play alongside him. Haaland, who shared a telepathic understanding with the midfielder during their time together in the Bundesliga, hinted that every manager in the world would jump at the chance to have the Stourbridge-born star in their ranks. "Everyone wants Jude Bellingham on their team," Haaland noted, acknowledging the Madrid man's status as a transformative figure for both club and country. He didn't stop there, offering the ultimate validation by stating: "He’s one of the best players in the world." A Major Boost For Thomas Tuchel Beyond his goals, there was further cause for celebration for England as Bellingham managed to navigate the quarter-final without picking up a booking. Having entered the match just one yellow card away from a suspension, he played with a disciplined maturity that ensures his availability for the upcoming semi-final showdown. With yellow cards set to be cleared following the semi-final stage, Bellingham is now in the clear to feature in the final if England can overcome Argentina in the last four on Wednesday.]]>
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					<![CDATA[World Cup Expansion? FIFA President Gianni Infantino Says It Will Be 'Examined']]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-expansion-fifa-president-gianni-infantino-says-will-examined</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-expansion-fifa-president-gianni-infantino-says-will-examined</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[FIFA president Gianni Infantino opened the door for the World Cup to expand to 64 countries.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 15:30:46 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[First, the College Football Playoff expanded to 12 teams. Then, the NCAA Tournament expanded to 76 teams. Meanwhile, FIFA is in the midst of its newfound 48-team World Cup (the World Cup previously included 32 counties). On that note, does FIFA have its sights set on tournament expansion — again? After saying that the 48-team 2026 World Cup has been "a huge success," FIFA president Gianni Infantino opened the door to add another 16 teams to the tournament for the 2030 World Cup. "That’s definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup," Infantino said when asked about the possibility of expanding the World Cup to 64 teams in an interview with Swiss media outlet Bluewin. "When organizing a World Cup, it’s important to organize it for the whole world — not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world. Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup." Infantino believes the quality of teams is only improving, which could play into a potential expansion down the road. "You can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high — and it’s getting higher and higher, all over the world," Infantino continued. "If you don’t give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they’ll lack the incentive to keep improving." The inaugural Men's World Cup in 1930 included 13 teams, with that number moving to 16 on a permanent basis in 1954 (there were 16 teams in 1934, 15 in 1938 and 13 in 1950, with no World Cup in 1942 due to World War II or in 1946 due to the impact of the war). It later moved to 24 teams in 1982 and 32 teams in 1998, which was the number of countries in the tournament until 2026. As for the World Cup in progress, Kylian Mbappé and France will face off against Lamine Yamal and Spain in the semifinal round on Tuesday; Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and England will take on Lionel Messi and Argentina in the semifinals on Wednesday. The winner of the two semifinal round matches will square off in the 2026 World Cup Final on Sunday, July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (3 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX One).]]>
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					<![CDATA[France vs. Spain: Major Tournament Matchups Through The Years]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/france-vs-spain-major-tournament-matchups-through-years</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/france-vs-spain-major-tournament-matchups-through-years</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Spain and France meet again in a World Cup semifinal after six major tournament clashes dating back to the Euro 1984 final.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 13:20:18 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[France and Spain: two international powerhouses with rich histories and bright futures. But how have the two countries matched up against each other in major tournaments throughout the years? Let's look back at the most notable meetings between France and Spain ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal match at Dallas Stadium on Tuesday: 2024 Euros Semifinal: Spain 2, France 1 Spain's Goalscorers: Lamine Yamal, Dani OlmoFrance's Goalscorers: Randal Kolo Muani The most recent meeting between France and Spain was in 2024, again in a semifinal, but in the European Championship. A majority of the players from both squads are involved again this time. Sixteen members of Spain’s current World Cup squad were in the Euro 2024 squad that won the tournament, while 15 France players from Euro 2024 are also in this World Cup squad. Spain came into that Euro 2024 semifinal flying, having a marvelous tournament up to that point. La Roja went perfect in the group stage, winning all three matches, then beat Georgia comfortably in the round of 16 before knocking out host nation Germany in the quarterfinals. France, meanwhile, had a relatively poor start to the tournament. Les Bleus failed to win their group, managing five points in the group stage, before lackluster knockout wins over Belgium and Portugal. France beat Belgium, 1-0, in the round of 16, then defeated Portugal on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the quarterfinals. Spain came in with the momentum, but an early goal from Kolo Muani stirred the pot. Then a moment of magic from Lamine Yamal, a long-distance pearler, and a goal from Dani Olmo off a Jules Koundé deflection gave Spain a 2-1 lead going into halftime. Spain managed to hang on, winning the semifinal before going on to win the entire tournament by beating England in the final. 2012 Euros Quarterfinal: Spain 2, France 0 Spain's Goalscorers: Xabi Alonso 2 France came into this tournament managed by Laurent Blanc, trying to clean up the scraps of a humiliating 2010 World Cup campaign in which it finished bottom of its group with just one point in a group that included Uruguay, Mexico and South Africa. France started Euro 2012 better compared to 2010 by getting out of the group, but it failed to win the group after suffering an upset defeat to Sweden on match day three. That meant France had to go up against a Spanish dynasty that was coming off winning Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup. Spain was firmly in the middle of being one of the greatest national teams of all time, if not the greatest national team of all time. An early goal from Xabi Alonso and a late insurance penalty from him in stoppage time allowed Spain to cruise into the semifinals. Spain went on to win Euro 2012. 2006 World Cup Round of 16: France 3, Spain 1 France's Goalscorers: Franck Ribéry, Patrick Vieira, Zinedine ZidaneSpain's Goalscorers: David Villa This was a dramatic round of 16 matchup in 2006 because France failed to win its group, finishing below Switzerland, which led to Les Bleus facing a Spain side that had won its group in dominant fashion. But Spain’s reward was having to face a France team in the last 16 that still had Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Lilian Thuram, Franck Ribéry and many more. Those talented players got the better of a Spain team that started strong and took the initial lead through a David Villa penalty. But an equalizer from Ribéry shortly before halftime, a late goal from Vieira on a set piece and a stoppage-time insurance goal from Zidane allowed France to get past Spain. It was a tough break for a Spanish team that won its group but was rewarded with a France team that ended up going all the way to the World Cup final. 2000 Euros Quarterfinal: France 2, Spain 1 France's Goalscorers: Zinedine Zidane, Youri DjorkaeffSpain's Goalscorers: Gaizka Mendieta This Euro 2000 quarterfinal saw all three goals come in the first half. Zidane broke the deadlock for France with a free kick, before Mendieta equalized from the penalty spot. But Spain not being able to go into the dressing room at 1-1 was a blow, as Djorkaeff scored the go-ahead goal right before halftime. A young Raúl, only 23 at the time, had the opportunity to send the game into extra time from the penalty spot late on, but the pressure got to him as he blazed his penalty over the crossbar. France went on to the semifinals and eventually won Euro 2000. 1996 Euros Group Stage: France 1, Spain 1 France's Goalscorers: Youri DjorkaeffSpain's Goalscorers: José Luis Caminero This was Spain and France’s second group-stage match of Euro 1996, played at Elland Road in Leeds, home of Leeds United. It ended in a 1-1 draw behind goals from Djorkaeff and José Luis Caminero and proved to be a pivotal point for both teams in their push to move on to the quarterfinals. It was a tight battle between France, Spain and Bulgaria for the top two spots. France topped the group with seven points, Spain finished second with five, and Bulgaria narrowly missed out with four. 1984 Euros Final: France 2, Spain 0 France's Goalscorers: Michel Platini, Bruno Bellone France’s first major international tournament victory came in 1984, when it beat Spain, 2-0, behind Michel Platini, whose Euro 1984 campaign is widely recognized as one of the greatest individual international tournament performances ever. Platini scored nine goals in five matches, including one in the final, as he captained France to the trophy. Bruno Bellone also got on the scoresheet. Played at the Parc des Princes, France won as host nation in a tense, cagey affair. The opener came in the 57th minute after a mistake from Spain goalkeeper Luis Arconada on a Platini free kick, before Bellone added an insurance goal in the 90th minute with a chip. That gave France its first major international tournament title. This was Spain’s last appearance in a major international tournament final before Euro 2008, 24 years later.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Switzerland Manager On Breel Embolo Yellow Card Call: 'Completely Unacceptable']]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/switzerland-manager-breel-embolo-red-card-argentina-world-cup-controversy</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/switzerland-manager-breel-embolo-red-card-argentina-world-cup-controversy</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Switzerland manager Murat Yakin was incensed at the VAR decision to give Breel Embolo a second yellow card in its World Cup loss to Argentina.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 13:00:04 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Switzerland forward Breel Embolo was sent off in the second half of its World Cup quarterfinal loss to Argentina on Saturday night, a controversial decision following a video review. Dan Ndoye had just tied the game at 1-all in the 67th minute when Argentina's Leandro Paredes was shown a yellow card following a tackle on Embolo. But video showed that the Swiss player was falling before Paredes made contact with him, so Embolo was given a yellow card under the "mistaken identity" protocol that's being used at the World Cup. Embolo had also received a yellow card earlier in the match, so he was sent off and the Swiss were left to play with 10 men the rest of the way. Switzerland managed to get the game to extra time and was trying to escape to a shootout. But then Julián Alvarez scored from long range in the 112th minute, and Lautaro Martínez added another goal a few minutes later, lifting Argentina to a 3-1 victory. "We were punished because of a rule that, in my opinion, is completely unacceptable," Swiss coach Murat Yakin said. "It's very painful that we were eliminated that way. I don't think we deserve that today, and in my opinion, my boys are the real heroes. They put all their heart and their passion into their performance. I am very proud. They are very proud." Yakin wasn't done with his criticism of Portuguese referee João Pinheiro, though. "The referee made the wrong decision," Yakin said. "It was, in my opinion, a harmless foul, if it even was a foul. I know they will protect their referee, but this rule destroyed our game today, and it's very painful, and to be eliminated in that way hurts a lot." Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni acknowledged that "luck was on our side because one of their players was sent off." It was the second time a yellow card was overturned using the "mistaken identity" protocol at the World Cup. The relatively obscure rule allows the video assistant referee to intervene when an incorrect player is shown a yellow or red card. "I think the red card changed our game," Swiss captain Granit Xhaka said. "This decision was difficult to accept now after the game because the dressing room was very quiet, disappointed." Earlier this week, the Egyptian Football Association said it "cannot remain silent" after what it believed was biased officiating in its 3-2 loss to Argentina in the round of 16. Egypt coach Hossam Hassan and several players had criticized the officiating after the defending champion scored three unanswered goals to pull off one of the biggest comebacks in World Cup history. "Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials," FIFA’s chief of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, said in response Wednesday. "When this happens, it may provoke reactions that lead to threats against them and their families. This is not right." Yakin stopped short of saying Argentina was being favored by World Cup referees. But he also did not hold back about an incident that he believes changed the complexion of Saturday night's match. "We were punished by a referee's mistake," he said. "I didn't know this rule before. It was a very harmless situation, and then a yellow card was awarded. The VAR interfered. It was a very meaningful moment for us, and it was decisive in the outcome of the match." Reporting by The Associated Press.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Are Bellingham And Tuchel On The Same Page? FOX Analysts Downplay Comments]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/bellingham-tuchel-same-page-fox-analysts-downplay-comments</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/bellingham-tuchel-same-page-fox-analysts-downplay-comments</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Thomas Tuchel and Jude Bellingham had differing views of England's win over Norway, but it shouldn't be a long-term issue.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 12:41:25 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[England's win over Norway didn't come without post-match controversy for the Three Lions. Star midfielder Jude Bellingham scored twice to give England a 2-1 win in extra time that sent them to the World Cup semifinals for the fourth time ever. After the match, during an on-field interview, head coach Thomas Tuchel pointed out that his team could have been much better. "We made life very, very difficult for ourselves today," Tuchel said in a post-match interview on FOX Sports. "The result is fantastic. We’re in the last four. It’s amazing, but not happy with the performance ... in every sense." Bellingham, who scored both of England's goals to bring his tally for the tournament up to six, seemed to disagree with his coach's critique after England prevailed in the heat and humidity of South Florida, with temperatures reaching 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 Celsius) at the start of warmups. "Well, whatever," Bellingham said, shaking his head. "It's difficult out there. It's a tough shift. My thoughts and appreciation goes to the players out there who put in a great shift." "Maybe he doesn't know what it's like to play in those conditions," Bellingham said, mentioning the top talent of Norway, incuding Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard, Antonio Nusa, and Alexander Sørloth. "I think it would probably catch you a little off-guard," former World Cup defender Walk Zimmerman told us for the comments and Bellingham's response. "That’s the kind of thing that would fly, I think, at the club level when you’re playing game in, game out. For a knockout tournament, I think the most important thing is that you can say we didn’t play well, then you immediately acknowledge, ‘We won, we’re moving on. We’re going to enjoy this today and look at what we can do better.’" Former U.S. men's national team coach and FOX Sports analyst Bob Bradley downplayed the impact of Tuchel's comments, which struck a chord with Bellingham. "I don't think it's anything," Bradley said, calling the comments "postgame emotions." "Tuchel, like a lot of us, is never satisfied and always demanding," Bradley told us. "Bellingham represents the players and the effort against a good team." Thierry Henry also seemed confused by the line of questioning from the interviewer in FOX's postgame. "I didn't understand the questions," Henry said. "The guy is telling you it was all effort and mentality – and you're asking about mentality. He was talkinga bout the technical aspect of the game. […] He wasn't happy with the speed, he wasn't happy about it. That's why he changed stuff right away. You don't even need to ask that question. If he's changing stuff, it's because he's not happy with what's on the field." Tuchel clarified in his news conference that he was "proud and happy" with how his squad has overcome adversity, but added, "I'm also a football coach and I also have demands. ... I think we can play faster. I think we can play more clinically." Bellingham added, "The game is split into loads of different facets. Some of it is technical, tactical. For me, the biggest one is psychological and how you can manage setbacks, how you can manage adversity. This team showed yet again that they can do it, and that’s a really valuable skill and trait to have." Former U.S. national team midfielder and FOX Sports analyst Sacha Kljestan believes the comments won't affect England as it approaches a semifinal matchup with reigning champion Argentina. "I don’t think it's a very big deal," Kljestan told us. "He was clearly exhausted after putting in a huge effort. Maybe after watching the game back, he will see that England was a little sloppy on the day.  He has a right to say what he said, and I don’t think it should be a big thing." "Ultimately, I think it’s a non-story, honestly," Zimmerman added. "That’s going to be totally fine in the locker room. Neither of them are going to be thinking twice about it." Alexi Lalas appreciated Tuchel's approach as well, noting that it's more about perception than any sort of "bristling" between media and coach on the most recent episode of State Of The Union. "Tuchel's response was as German as I've seen him in this moment, and I think it was by design," Lalas said. "I think Thomas Tuchel recognizes that in order for this England team to get over this hump and do things we haven't seen before, he has to treat not just the team but the extended team, the fanbase, in a different way. Because in that moment you'd expect Thomas Tuchel or most coaches to extoll the virtues of what they just say, ‘hey it’s a hard fought game.' […] He's zigging while everyone else is zagging. I'm here for it." On Bellingham's comments, Lalas had more to say. "I also love the fact that Jude Bellingham in this moment recognized that, ‘well that’s my coach saying this, but we are going to celebrate this and sing while you're winning.'" "This team is endearing," Lalas added. Next up for England is a semifinal round matchup against Argentina on Wednesday, July 15 in Atlanta (3 p.m. ET on FOX and streaming on FOX One). It's the latest in a long history between Argentina and England, one built on ghosts, thorns and legends. "Thomas Tuchel can rain all day long on the parade," Lalas continued. "And I think it's done strategically, and I think it's smart, but I also like the fact that there was pushback from his players that this was not easy." The Associated Press contributed to this report.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Neymar The Gambler? Brazil Star Enters World Series Of Poker After World Cup Exit]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/neymar-poker-tournament-video-brazil-world-cup-exit</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/neymar-poker-tournament-video-brazil-world-cup-exit</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Neymar competed in the 2026 World Series of Poker, which comes one week after Brazil's round-of-16 exit at the 2026 World Cup.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 12:37:53 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[It appears that Neymar knows when to hold them and knows when to fold them. The Brazilian soccer star took part in the 2026 World Series of Poker tournament in Las Vegas, which includes a $10,000 main event, with video circulating of his presence at the event on Saturday night. Neymar actually competed in the 2025 edition of the event, as well, reaching the final table. With that said, Neymar didn't have that Raymond Babbitt or Alan Garner in him this year, as he didn't advance past Day 1 of the tournament. Neymar's participation in the yearly poker showdown comes in the wake of Brazil's World Cup round-of-16 loss to Erling Haaland and Norway on July 5. Brazil won Group C with a 2-1-0 record by playing Morocco to a 1-1 draw and defeating Haiti (3-0) and Scotland (3-0). They later defeated Japan in the round of 32 (2-1) before being eliminated by Norway in the round of 16 (2-1). Neymar was subbed into action for Brazil in the 68th minute against Norway and would later score the country's last goal of the tournament on a penalty kick in stoppage time. He only appeared in two games for Brazil in the World Cup, having entered the tournament with a right calf injury. Neymar came off the bench in both of the contests he played in. The 2026 World Cup marked the fourth and final World Cup that the La Liga and Ligue 1 legend will play for Brazil (2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026); Neymar announced his retirement from international play on July 5. Neymar, who has a combined 457 goals and 262 assists as a professional, tallied nine goals in 15 career World Cup matches and 80 goals in 129 games overall for Brazil. Outside international play, the 34-year-old Neymar has spent the last two seasons with Santos in Brazil's Serie A.]]>
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					<![CDATA[England-Argentina Is A Rivalry Rooted In Ghosts, Thorns And Legends]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/argentina-england-world-cup-rivalry-messi-kane-maradona</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/argentina-england-world-cup-rivalry-messi-kane-maradona</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[England against Argentina stands above any other rivalry for its history, past legends and newly discovered saviors.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 12:33:22 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Rivalries in football often exist for singular reasons. It's not that they're simplistic, but rather, we understand why they are there. Like Liverpool's rivalry with Everton or the Superclásico between Boca Juniors and River Plate, local derbies are disputed and contested based on a turf war that has placed them close together but in reality, ever so apart. They are neighbors who detest each other and nothing will ever change that. It's different on the international stage, where impactful cultural and political moments in history create rivalries so fierce that it lives carries through generations. Take the Clásico del Pacífico between Chile and Peru, which stemmed from a war in the 1800s, as an example. As my father taught me at a very early age, Peruvians say the word "Chalaca" instead of "Chilena" to describe a bicycle kick, as Perú refuses to believe that a Spanish-born Chilean invented the acrobatic move, and credit it to Afro-Peruvians from a time that was never recorded. But I digress. My point is that rivalries in the beautiful game usually have a connecting tissue that lives on in the mindset of every supporter, where history and geography paint a picture of a fierce battle on the pitch. Nonetheless, there is one rivalry that is so deep it stands above others. It's both delicate and purposeful, as it derives from war, social and cultural animosity from two continents and ways of life, but at the same time — but that also has given us some of the most memorable, dramatic moments in World Cup football. It is a rivalry made of thorns, rooted in years of rancor where stars also look to rise out of ferocious moments of action. This is Argentina and England. A match like no other. After Argentina’s victory over Switzerland and England’s win over Norway, both will meet on Wednesday in Atlanta for what should be a majestic semifinal where the past meets present. The fact that, amazingly, this will also be Lionel Messi’s first ever encounter against the Three Lions is probably a secondary headline. This, after all, is a match of ghosts, originated in 1962 but one that grew in animosity as the years went by and four years later, in 1966, that’s when the fire was founded. It was the last and only time England won the World Cup. The hosts came out victorious against Argentina in the quarterfinal, but it was a match of complete physicality where Argentina’s captain Antonio Rattín (sadly passed away this month at the age of 89) was sent off in the first half for two offenses in the space of three minutes. This match was so fierce that England manager Alf Ramsey decided to call the opponents "animals" and did not want his players to swap shirts at the end of the match. It was also a fixture that essentially introduced the yellow and red cards, knowing too well something had to be done to tone down the heat. Good luck with that. At the 1986 World Cup in México came the arrival of the legendary Diego Maradona, but most notably, this was now a quarterfinal between both sides that followed the Falklands War — something so deeply impactful to both sides, but for Argentina — this was the fall of a military government, which prompted a new democracy in 1983. A relationship made out of war, something more impactful and catastrophic than anything we could ever imagine now played the role of protagonist. As a result, the match in 1986 brought with it the eternal memory of the Hand of God, where in the 51st minute, still scoreless, the 5-foot-5 Maradona beat out England’s stopper Peter Shilton and used his hand to punch the ball out of Shilton’s reach and into the net. Despite aggressive complaints from England, the goal stood, which proceeded for Maradona to score a second goal four minutes later, which is one of the greatest works of art you will ever see on the pitch. Maradona and Argentina would end up winning the World Cup and the star would later in life acknowledge that it was an intentional handball but most importantly, it wasn’t just a goal he celebrated — but a piece of symbolic revenge over the fallen soldiers from the Falklands. This would only make him an even bigger icon and hero to Argentinians, and a despised rival in England. After this moment of history at the World Cup, it’s fair to say that something remained imprinted with both nations. This was now a rivalry that goes beyond football. It was a matter of life and death. Perhaps it means different things to each other, but the cauldron of fire continued to grow and that’s when — 12 years later — David Beckham entered the narrative. In 1998, at the World Cup in France, the golden boy of England and the Three Lions faced Argentina in the round of 16. I remember this match so vividly. I was at boarding school and my friends and I escaped to a local pub and watched it, hiding behind the pack of adults screaming at the television as Beckham kicked-out at Diego Simeone after a clash and was consequently sent off in the 48th minute. It was a moment of madness, beautifully performed by Simeone, crushing the hearts of England fans who had already seen an 18-year-old Michael Owen score one of the greatest goals in English football history. But that was before the red card. We can only remember the post-mortem and how it vilified Beckham and placed a dent in the evolution of England as it lost on penalties. For Argentina? Once again, it was revenge. Redemption. Historical atonement. But four years later in Japan, in the group stage at the 2002 World Cup, Beckham would get his sense of salvation after a scored penalty, which consequently came as a result of a foul by Mauricio Pochettino on the aforementioned Owen. Beckham sealed the spot kick and the Three Lions would secure the victory. A win in the round of 16 against Denmark would follow, before eventually losing to Ronaldinho’s audacious free-kick and Brazil’s magical team in the quarterfinal stage. And so here we are. 24 years later. The rivalry returns at the grandest of stages, and, despite the fact that many young people don’t even have a memory of this conflict, it is fair to say they will know by Wednesday. Argentina fans — and the team — have resuscitated their call to arms in a song as La Cuarta Estrella ("The Fourth Star") has become synonymous with this team. The song states: Por Malvinas, por El Diego ("For the Falkland Islands, for Diego"),Por la última de Leo ("For Leo’s last one"),Argentina quiero verte bicampeón ("Argentina, I want to see you back-to-back champion"). There might be an argument to be made about the fact that this rivalry means more for Argentina than England. For the losses and the pain, the makeup thread of the country and what history has done — or rather undone — to them. And there’s the team itself, who carries emotion on its sleeve and kills it itself for victory. But I think this England side is also equally charged. Full of fire and venom. It is a team that has already faced incredible hostility and extreme conditions. From defeating Mexico at the Azteca to enduring hot and humid conditions in Miami against Erling Haaland's Norway. So they understand the challenge. They know the assignment and the stakes of the moment. Most importantly, they are aware of Argentina that despite showing a few vulnerabilities during this World Cup, is still the defending champion for a reason. Lionel Scaloni is attempting to quiet down the fixture and historical connotations of the rivalry, but he knows too well that this won’t happen. Then there’s Messi himself, who is ready to face England at international level for the first time ever. The greatest player the game has ever seen, carrying his country on his shoulders, with Diego Maradona, Rattín and other gone heroes watching from above. As he keeps delivering in this last dance, now comes the biggest, most emotionally charged battle of all: a match against England. It does not escape me to remember that he is also facing his Inter Miami boss as David Beckham will be watching from the stands. Prior to the match, I am sure they will wish each other well and remember the similarities both nations share. It’s the same commonalities mutually loved by Argentina and England. From Oasis to The Beatles, the warmth of loyalty in football itself and the appreciation for beauty and battle in the game. The shared respect is as potent as the historical enmities that have brought us here in the first place. But know this. On Wednesday, in Atlanta, when both stare at each other on the pitch, and prepare to fight for every ball, every tackle and every effort towards victory, Argentina and England will remind us why football is so much more valuable than highlights on social media, or glamorous shots of celebrities attending a fixture at the luxury of a suite. England against Argentina is about love and hate, fallen heroes and newly discovered saviors. It is about the present but also the past, both eternally connected to the memories of pain and sacrifice. This is a fixture where you appreciate what you have, thanks to the guardians who brought you to this moment. But this is also a match of fierce competition, with the hope that you carry the identity of your nation at the tip of your heart, running through your veins and never forgetting that this rivalry can only exist because you have each other.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 World Cup Young Player of the Tournament Odds: Lamine Yamal Favored]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-young-player-tournament-odds-lamine-yamal-favored</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-young-player-tournament-odds-lamine-yamal-favored</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Can anyone — or anything — stop Lamine Yamal from winning Young Player of the Tournament at the World Cup? See the odds.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 12:02:44 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Ask anyone who is favored to win Young Player of the Tournament for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, and presumably, you would struggle to hear a name other than Lamine Yamal. The Spanish sensation, at only 18, is already viewed as one of the game's greatest players — and he hasn't even come close to his prime. With that, let's check out the odds for who will win Young Player of the Tournament as of July 12. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Young Player of the Tournament odds Lamine Yamal: +130 (bet $10 to win $23 total)Desire Doue: +280 (bet $10 to win $38 total)Pau Cubarsí: +380 (bet $10 to win $48 total)Nico O'Reilly: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total) Here's what to know about this oddsboard: The Race: Lamine Yamal has been the favorite since before the tournament began and has not moved from the top of the oddsboard. Statistically, Yamal has only one goal and no assists in this World Cup, but his presence on the field has clearly opened up things for Spain on numerous occasions en route to its semifinal berth. Doue has a goal and an assist in three starts for France.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 World Cup Golden Ball: Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi In Tight Race]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-golden-ball-odds</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-golden-ball-odds</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The Golden Ball race is taking shape, and two of France's superstars are chasing the GOAT.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 11:53:46 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Alongside the national pride, it's the players that make each World Cup special. Let's check out the odds for the Golden Ball (tournament's best player), as well as what to know about the early favorites, as of July 12. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. FIFA Player of the Tournament Winner 2026 Kylian Mbappé, France: +150 (bet $10 to win $25 total) What to know: Mbappé finished second to Messi for the Golden Ball in 2022, but did win the Golden Boot in Qatar, after scoring eight goals in the tournament. So far this World Cup, he has eight goals in six games, including a brace in France's win over Sweden in the Round of 32, a converted penalty kick in the Round of 16 against Paraguay and another goal in the quarterfinals against Morocco. Lionel Messi, Argentina: +200 (bet $10 to win $30 total) What to know: In the history of the World Cup, the Golden Ball has been awarded 11 times and Messi is the only player who has won it twice: 2014 (Brazil) and 2022 (Qatar). Messi has scored in every match so far this tournament except in Argentina's quarterfinal win over Switzerland, but he did have an assist in that one. Jude Bellingham, England: +440 (bet $10 to win $54 total) What to know: Bellingham has popped up out of nowhere, due to his brace against Mexico in the Round of 16, and then a second brace against Norway in the quarterfinals. Harry Kane, England: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total) What to know: England's superstar has six goals in six matches so far this tournament, including three crucial goals in two knockout stage matches so far. Michael Olise, France: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total) What to know: He is starring alongside Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé for France in this edition of the World Cup, and he has five assists in six games, including two in France's win over Sweden in the Round of 32.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 World Cup Golden Boot Odds: Mbappé Favored; Bellingham In The Mix]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/soccer-2026-world-cup-odds-golden-boot</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/soccer-2026-world-cup-odds-golden-boot</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The superstars have shined at the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far. Check out the latest Golden Boot odds.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 11:48:32 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Two things have undoubtedly been true this summer: The superstars are shining, and the Golden Boot odds seem to be changing every minute. Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé continue to trade spectacular performances in a generational battle for the Golden Boot, with each superstar seemingly one-upping the other in every match. However, it was Jude Bellingham who stole the show on Saturday. With his second brace in as many games, Bellingham became the third English player ever to score six goals at a single World Cup. Bellingham is the first player to score two or more goals in consecutive World Cup knockout stage games at the same tournament since Diego Maradona in 1986. With that, Bellingham's odds to win the Golden Boot award have skyrocketed from +10000 to +1300 in just a few hours. Meanwhile, with his goal in France's quarterfinal win over Morocco, Mbappé has scored his 20th career World Cup goal, the second-most of any player in tournament history in just his 20th match. He now has 12 knockout stage goals at the World Cup, extending his record for the most of any player ever. Mbappé is also the first player ever to score eight goals in two separate World Cups. Let's dive into the updated Golden Boot odds at FanDuel Sportsbook as of July 12. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Golden Boot Winner 2026 Kylian Mbappé: -140 (bet $10 to win $17.14 total)Lionel Messi: +145 (bet $10 to win $24.50 total)Harry Kane: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)Jude Bellingham: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total) Here's what to know about this oddsboard: The Tally: So far this summer, Messi and Mbappé lead the tournament with eight goals apiece, Haaland has seven, Harry Kane and Bellingham have tallied six, and Ousmane Dembélé and Mikel Oyarzabal are tied with four. History Made: With his hat trick against Algeria, Messi tied Miroslav Klose for the most goals in men's World Cup history with 16, while also setting the record as the oldest player (38) to record a hat trick, passing Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi is now up to 21 career World Cup goals, extending another record, this one for the most goals by any man or woman in World Cup history. He has now scored eight of Argentina's 16 goals this tournament, and became the first player since the 1960s to score in six straight knockout stage games. However, in Argentina's quarterfinal win over Switzerland, Messi did not score, ending his streak of nine straight World Cup games with a goal. Meanwhile, Mbappé, with his dominant offensive performance so far this tournament, now has 20 career World Cup goals, passing Klose as the second-most in men’s World Cup history. We are more than likely to see this record go back and forth as long as both France and Argentina stay alive in the tournament.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 World Cup Odds: France, England Favored For Finals Showdown]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-odds-make-the-final</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-odds-make-the-final</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Check out the latest odds to reach the World Cup final.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 11:45:01 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[On July 19, after 103 matches have been played, only two teams will remain standing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Those two nations, each chasing soccer immortality, will meet at New York New Jersey Stadium in what is expected to be one of the biggest sporting events ever held in the United States. With 100 games down, the semifinals are set. France will face Spain on Tuesday in Dallas while England will square off against Argentina on Wednesday in Atlanta. With that, let's take a look at the latest odds to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at FanDuel Sportsbook as of July 12. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. To Reach World Cup Final France: -148 (bet $10 to win $16.76 total)England: -132 (bet $10 to win $17.58 total)Argentina: +108 (bet $10 to win $20.80 total)Spain: +120 (bet $10 to win $22 total)]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 World Cup Semifinal Odds: France, England Favored In Final Four Tilts]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-odds-which-nations-favored-reach-semifinals</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-odds-which-nations-favored-reach-semifinals</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals are now set. Check out the latest odds for the two matchups.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 11:38:55 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[How lucky are we? The semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup are set and for the first time in World Cup history, all four of FIFA’s top four-ranked teams entering the tournament have reached the semis. France became the first nation to clinch a spot in the semifinals after its commanding 2-0 win over Morocco. Behind Kylian Mbappé's eighth goal of the tournament and Ousmane Dembélé's fifth, Les Bleus has reached its third consecutive semis appearance. On Friday, with its 2-1 win over Belgium, Spain clinched its second semifinal appearance ever at the World Cup, last making it back in 2010 when it won the title. France and Spain will face off in a heavyweight showdown in Dallas on Tuesday. Then on Saturday, England and Argentina sealed the final two spots in the semis and will now face off in Atlanta on Wednesday. Let's take a full look at the latest semifinals odds at FanDuel Sportsbook as of July 12. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Let's check out the odds for the semifinal matchup already in place: TUESDAY, JULY 14 Spain vs. France To Advance: FRA -148, ESP +120Moneyline: FRA +135, Draw +220, ESP +220 What to know: Do heavyweight bouts get heavier than this? France is outscoring opponents 16-2 overall during this tournament, while Spain is outscoring its rivals 11-1. The French are favored to win the World Cup, and Spain is second on that oddsboard. France's Kylian Mbappé is favored to win both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball, and Michael Olise is leading the tournament in assists. Meanwhile, Spain's Unai Simon is favored to win the Golden Glove and Lamine Yamal is favored to win Young Player of the Tournament. In other words, these teams are as star-studded as it gets. Buckle up. WEDNESDAY, JULY 15 England vs. Argentina To Advance: ENG -130, ARG +106Moneyline: ENG +160, Draw +190, ARG +210 What to know: England has reached the World Cup semifinal for the fourth time, and for the second time in the last three World Cups. After another comeback win over Norway, Three Lions has matched its record for the most victories in a single World Cup tournament (five), which was set during the 1966 championship run. England joined France in this tournament as the only teams with two players to score five or more goals each (Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham). Meanwhile, Argentina has now made the semifinals in back-to-back World Cups. However, the journey to get here has not been easy. In the Round of 32, La Albiceleste had to fend off a ferocious Cape Verde squad in extra time. In the Round of 16, Argentina trailed by two goals with just over 10 minutes to go against Egypt before pulling off one of the most improbable comebacks in tournament history. And then on Saturday night, Switzerland leveled the score with a 67th minute equalizer before Breel Embolo was sent off with his second yellow card just minutes later. After tense moments throughout the end of regulation and extra time, Argentina once again found a way to pull through.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 World Cup Title Odds: Argentina, England Surge After Quarterfinal Wins]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-2026-champion-odds</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-2026-champion-odds</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Here are the latest odds to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Argentina's quarterfinal win over Switzerland.]]>
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				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 11:31:29 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Argentina and England clinched the final two semifinal spots on Saturday. La Albiceleste dramatic extra-time win over Switzerland marked its 12th straight World Cup win, and Argentina has now made consecutive semifinals for the second time in its nation's history. It first happened in 1986 and 1990. After its comeback win over Norway, England also clinched a spot in the semifinals. Three Lions has now reached a fourth World Cup semifinal, including two semifinals in the last three World Cups for the first time. The two nations both surged up the oddsboard after their quarterfinal wins, and are now set to meet in the semis on Wednesday. Meanwhile, after its dominant 2-0 win over Morocco on Thursday, France also clinched a spot in the semifinals. With the victory, Les Bleus became the third nation ever to make three consecutive World Cup semifinals. France has now reached its eighth World Cup semis in its nation's history. France and Spain will meet on Tuesday for a star-studded semifinal for the ages. Let's dive into the full updated odds via FanDuel Sportsbook as of July 12. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. 2026 World Cup Winner Odds France: +140 (bet $10 to win $24 total)England: +310 (bet $10 to win $41 total)Spain: +330 (bet $10 to win $43 total)Argentina: +400 (bet $10 to win $50 total) Here's what to know about this oddsboard: The Favorite: France beat Sweden 3-0 in the Round of 32, topped Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16, and then defeated Morocco 2-0 in the quarterfinals. France is outscoring opponents 16-2 so far this tournament, and all three of its superstars — Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise — have already made their marks. France (Mbappé with eight, Dembélé with five) is the first team since 2002 Brazil to have two players score five goals in a single World Cup. Spain vs. France Showdown: Ever since 2026 FIFA World Cup odds were released back in 2022, only two teams have been the favorite: Spain and France. Now, it's the matchup we've all been waiting for under the bright lights in Dallas, with a trip to the World Cup final on the line. The two historic nations last met in the European Championship, with Spain winning 2-1. Because the top two teams on the oddsboard have to play each other in the semifinals, the winner of this massive showdown will be the overwhelming favorite in the World Cup final.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Senegal Fires Men's Football Coach Pape Thiaw After World Cup Exit]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/senegal-fires-coach-pape-thiaw-2026-world-cup</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/senegal-fires-coach-pape-thiaw-2026-world-cup</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Senegal has fired its men’s football head coach, Pape Thiaw, according to a statement issued by the national federation.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 11:12:25 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Senegal fired its men’s football coach Pape Thiaw, according to a statement issued by the national federation on Sunday. The Senegalese Football Federation added that Thiaw's technical staff were also dismissed. The decision followed Senegal’s elimination in the round of 32 at the ongoing World Cup. "After an evaluation of the performance of the national team and its prospects, the Executive Committee believes that a change is necessary in the interest of Senegalese football," the federation said. Thiaw, 45, was appointed in 2024 and led the West African nation to a disputed continental title in Morocco earlier this year before the victory was overturned by the Confederation of African Football. Senegal has approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport about appealing the decision. Senegal was eliminated from the World Cup by Belgium despite leading 2-0 with roughly five minutes of regulation time remaining. The team also came close to elimination in the group stage after losses to France and Norway. Reporting by The Associated Press.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Are There Any World Cup Games Today? Semifinal Schedule France vs Spain, England vs Argentina]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/any-world-cup-games-today-semifinal-schedule-france-vs-spain-england-vs-argentina</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/any-world-cup-games-today-semifinal-schedule-france-vs-spain-england-vs-argentina</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[No World Cup matches today. See the full semifinals schedule for France, Argentina and more, airing on FOX starting Tuesday.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 08:01:44 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Day 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a rest day, with no matches on the schedule. The field of four is set after England outlasted Norway in extra time and Argentina edged Switzerland to close out the quarterfinals. The semifinals begin Tuesday, when Kylian Mbappé and France meet Spain in Dallas, before Lionel Messi and Argentina face England on Wednesday in Atlanta. Both matches air on FOX, with every game streaming live and on demand on FOX One. World Cup Schedule for Sunday, July 12 There are no World Cup matches today. The tournament is on a scheduled rest day between the quarterfinals and the semifinals, which begin Tuesday. Here is the full semifinal schedule: France vs. Spain France won Group I while outscoring opponents 10-2, then beat Sweden 3-0 in the round of 32, edged Paraguay 1-0 in the round of 16 and downed Morocco 2-0 in the quarterfinals. Mbappe's eight goals are tied with Messi for the Golden Boot Race lead and Michael Olise's five assists pace all players. Spain has been the tournament's stingiest team, winning Group H behind three clean sheets before shutting out Austria 3-0 and Portugal 1-0 in the knockout rounds and holding off Belgium 2-1 in the quarterfinals. England vs. Argentina England won Group L unbeaten, then beat DR Congo 2-1 in the round of 32, outlasted Mexico 3-2 in the round of 16 and needed extra time to beat Norway 2-1 in the quarterfinals on Jude Bellingham's brace. Captain Harry Kane and Bellingham each have six goals, among the tournament's best. Argentina swept Group J, survived Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time, rallied past Egypt 3-2 in the round of 16 and beat Switzerland 3-1 in extra time in the quarterfinals, with Messi setting the World Cup's all-time assists record along the way. Who Plays Today in the World Cup? No teams are in action today. The next teams to play are the four semifinalists: World Cup Scores Yesterday How to Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup All World Cup matches air on FOX and FS1, with every game streaming live and on demand on FOX One.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Bellingham Powers England: 4 Takeaways From Three Lions' Win vs. Norway, Haaland]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-england-norway-jude-bellingham-haaland</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-england-norway-jude-bellingham-haaland</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[What we learned and can look forward to after England's win over Norway in Saturday's World Cup quarterfinal in Miami.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 02:53:40 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[MIAMI STADIUM — England is headed to the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals for the second time in eight years. On a sweltering Saturday in South Florida, where the temperature before kickoff at 5 p.m. local time hovered higher than 90 degrees, the Three Lions came back from a 1-0 deficit to eliminate upstart Norway and its superhero of a striker, Manchester City goal-machine Erling Haaland. Two goals by English star Jude Bellingham — the second in the third minute of extra time — saw the Three Lions advance after Andreas Schjelderup opened the scoring against the run of play in the first half. Bellingham canceled out Schjelderup’s strike with a spectacular equalizer just before the intermission, then added the winner when Norwegian keeper Ørjan Nyland failed to corral the rebound from Morgan Rogers’ powerful shot. "World-class," England coach Thomas Tuchel said of Bellingham's big night. "A world-class performance from a world-class player in big, big moments – crucial moments." Here are my four takeaways from England's victory over Norway: 1. Jude Bellingham Was The Difference For England Halfway through the additional 30 minutes played in Miami, a quick look at the stats told the story. Both sides had 10 shots. Both had directed half of them on-target. Both teams had a goal called back earlier in the game — the Three Lions because they were offside, Norway after the video assistant flagged a foul committed by Haaland just before what looked like a potential game-winner. (VAR also denied England a penalty attempt after Bellingham’s second that could’ve ended the contest there and then.) Still, in a game billed as a battle between Haaland and Harry Kane — probably the best two pure scorers on the planet — Bellingham stole the show for the second England match running. "It's nice to have an impact and to help my team," he said. After scoring twice in last weekend’s thrilling 3-2 win over co-hosts Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca — known as Mexico City Stadium during the World Cup — Bellingham again came alive when his country needed him most. His first goal was a team play that he finished with a flash of individual brilliance, his second a clinic in anticipation and timing and execution. In a match where the margins were razor-thin, he is the reason England is off to Atlanta for the World Cup semifinal, while Norway is going home. "His mentality is what puts him on that level," keeper Jordan Pickford said. 2. Still, Hats Off To Erling Haaland And Norway Never before had Norway made a World Cup quarterfinal. It hadn’t even qualified for the biggest event in sports this century before finally making it back this summer. Even then — and even with Haaland spearheading the attack and Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard running the show behind them — nobody expected much from the Drillos. Norway was ranked 32nd by FIFA in January. It was 31st when this World Cup kicked off exactly a month ago. Yet on the field and off, the Norwegians were one of the best stories of this World Cup. Videos of their fans taking over Times Square and executing their choreographed "Viking Row" on escalators and New York City subways endeared them to locals there, and in Boston, in Dallas and here in Miami. Norway beat Senegal and Ivory Coast and then eliminated five-time champions Brazil. And none of it was a fluke. It may have lost to England on Saturday, but it won the hearts of neutrals all over America and in countries in every corner of the globe. These Vikings and their incredible supporters can and will row back across the Atlantic with their heads held high. Even in defeat, on a quiet night that ended when he was subbed out in extra time, Haaland left his mark. "Everyone," Pickford said, "Knows how good a player Earling is." 3. Argentina Awaits For Kane &amp; Co. Tuchel’s squad had  wait a few hours to find out which opponent it'll meet in Atlanta on Wednesday, with the Three Lions slated to face the winner of Saturday’s nightcap in Kansas City between Messi’s Albiceleste and Switzerland. Of course, it's the defending champs. Despite being an ocean apart, Argentina and England have a long and storied rivalry on the global stage. Diego Maradona’s famous "Goal of the Century" slalom and infamous "Hand of God" strike in 1986 came in the same quarterfinal game vs. England. Argentina also knocked the Three Lions out in the quarters in 1998 following a red card by David Beckham. Four years later, Beckham — the current Inter Miami co-owner who was in the house on Saturday — scored a penalty that helped beat Argentina en route to La Albiceleste’s shocking group stage exit. Tensions between the sides haven’t been limited to soccer, either, as the two countries fought a 74-day war in 1982 over the control of the Falkland Islands off Argentina’s coast. Now, for the first time, they'll play each other with a trip to the World Cup final at stake. 4. Is This Finally England’s Year? It’s been 60 years this month since the country that invented the sport won its only World Cup. It’s also the only final they’ve ever appeared in. The Three Lions have also never won a European Championship, although they were the losing finalists in 2021 (to Italy) and Spain (2024) at the last two Euros. Now, under German manager Tuchel, they’ll play for the right to get back to the biggest title match there is. It’s only England’s fourth trip to the semis ever. The last two didn’t go well; Croatia knocked the Three Lions out in 2018. Back in 1990, they lost to eventual champ West Germany on penalties. Despite the English Premier League establishing itself as soccer’s top domestic circuit, that’s as close as the country’s national team has come in the last six decades. On Wednesday in Atlanta, we’ll see they can get one step closer to reaching the mountaintop – and to bringing  football home. "Now it's just about recovering," Tuchel said. "The next three days are crucial, of course, to be ready. But this victory will help a lot."]]>
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					<![CDATA[Jude Bellingham Perplexed By Coach Thomas Tuchel's Comments On England's Performance]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/jude-bellingham-perplexed-england-coach-thomas-tuchels-immediate-postgame-interview</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/jude-bellingham-perplexed-england-coach-thomas-tuchels-immediate-postgame-interview</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Miscommunication? Not on the same page? Either way the Three Lions roared on and off the pitch on Saturday.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 02:53:24 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The Three Lions roared on and off the pitch in England's 2-1 win over Norway in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinal match on Saturday. In an immediate post-game interview after the match, England coach Thomas Tuchel was asked about his team's mentality and performance. Tuchel repeatedly defended the team's mentality, but after a game he felt his team was lucky to escape, he insisted on England players improving their performance and execution if they want to advance. "It's a pure mentality thing, there was no mentality problem. You could bottle it up and sell it," Tuchel said. "It’s the quality of our games. It’s nothing to do with mentality, it’s about quality, we need to play better." "The commitment is there," Tuchel added, "but it made life very difficult for us in the way we played, how we played, sloppy, a lot of technical mistakes, not fast enough. We were lucky today." Jude Bellingham — who starred yet again for England with a brace and climbed closer in the Golden Boot race — was asked about his coach's comments, and there seemed to be a bit more lost in translation with Tuchel's comments being relayed to Bellingham. England's star midfielder, who was clearly gassed after giving it his all in a hot and humid match in Miami, reacted in kind. "Maybe he doesn't know what it's like to play in those conditions," Bellingham said, before turning the attention to his teammates and what he thought was in fact a strong performance. "It's not an easy team to play against," Bellingham countered. "I think we've tried to create a positive environment, and we should continue that going into the final four. I can't speak highly enough of the lads. You're not going to win every game popping the ball and making a thousand passes. Sometimes you have to win dirty." The England coach clarified his comments in his traditional post-game availability. "I'm proud, and I'm happy," Tuchel said. "But I'm also a football coach, and I also have demands." Tuchel has been hard on Bellingham in the past, even going so far as dropping from the team at one point and not guaranteeing him a spot on the World Cup roster. Whatever the motivations, Bellingham has responded with some of the best play of his career during this tournament. The Real Madrid wunderkind has been inspired on both sides of the field, scoring brilliantly, and doing the dirty work on the defensive end. Spats happen between coaches and players, and the media has been as hard on Bellingham as his coach has, with comments on his demeanor, attitude or otherwise. Bellingham has continued to shine, and has the Three Lions two wins away from doing something no England team has done in 60 years. Whether a miscommunication, a motivational tactic or something else entirely, Tuchel and Bellingham likely will have to address their differing opinions regarding Saturday's match before taking on defending World Cup champion Argentina. And they'll need all the help they can get to stop Messi and company.]]>
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					<![CDATA[England Coach Thomas Tuchel Happy With Result, Not Performance, vs. Norway]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/england-coach-thomas-tuchel-happy-result-not-performance-vs-norway</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/england-coach-thomas-tuchel-happy-result-not-performance-vs-norway</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[England coach Thomas Tuchel expected more out of his team in their 2-1 win over Norway on Saturday.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 01:45:48 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[It wasn't as decisive as England would have liked, but the Three Lions clinched a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals with a scrappy 2-1 win over Norway in extra time on Saturday at Miami Stadium. England coach Thomas Tuchel was satisfied with the result — why wouldn't he be? He's the first coach to lead England to a World Cup semifinals since 2018, and just fourth all-time. But Tuchel isn't satisfied with the way his team played against Norway, even if he got the result he wanted. "I didn’t talk about suffering. No, I never talked about suffering," Tuchel said after the match. "The result is fantastic, we’re in the last four, but, not a performance." Tuchel made it clear that effort wasn't the issue for his England squad. Rather, it was the team's organization on the pitch. "In every sense. The commitment is there, but it made life very difficult for us in the way we played, how we played, sloppy, a lot of technical mistakes, not fast enough," Tuchel said. "We were lucky today." Star Jude Bellingham seemed a bit taken aback at his coach's comments. "Maybe he doesn't know what it's like to play in those conditions," Bellingham said. "It's not an easy team to play against," he added. "I think we've tried to create a positive environment, and we should continue that going into the final four. I can't speak highly enough of the lads. You're not going to win every game popping the ball and making a thousand passes. Sometimes you have to win dirty." The issues in the past with England have been the perception that the players don't want it bad enough. Tuchel doesn't see that within his team, and not even in the performance against Norway. "It's a pure mentality thing, there was no mentality problem. You could bottle it up and sell it," Tuchel said. "It’s the quality of our games. It’s nothing to do with mentality, it’s about quality, we need to play better." When asked about Bellingham specifically, who scored both of England's goals against Norway, Tuchel praised the midfielder's heroics. "Enough said. He does it every single match. World Class," Tuchel said. England now move onto the semifinals to face the winner of Argentina vs. Switzerland on Wednesday at Atlanta Stadium.]]>
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