Coach Marcelo Bielsa looked desolate after Uruguay’s World Cup campaign ended in disappointment Friday, saying he was fully responsible for the team’s elimination and blaming himself for leaving nothing good for Uruguayan soccer during his stint with the national team. Uruguay lost 1-0 to Spain, leaving the tournament without any victories. It was coming off … Read more
Group play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is nearing its end, and there weren’t many surprises as we head toward the knockout stage. But does that mean the favorites entering the tournament should remain the favorites ahead of the knockout stage? That’s what “First Things First’s” Nick Wright believes. As we’re nearly complete with … Read more
The day was supposed to be defined by Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé going head-to-head at the World Cup, and Lamine Yamal facing his biggest test of the tournament yet. It ended with Haaland riding the bench, Mbappé and Yamal failing to score and Ousmane Dembélé stealing the show. Here is everything you might have … Read more
For a few moments, it looked like Iran had found the goal that would send it through. In the 93rd minute deep in stoppage time against Egypt, Shoja Khalilzadeh struck the ball into an empty net after a wild sequence inside the box. Iran celebrated like it had just scored the late winner that would … Read more
For about 20 seconds in Seattle, Iran had won their World Cup. Shoja Khalilzadeh bundled in a stoppage-time winner, the bench was halfway onto the pitch, and Team Melli were through. Then VAR drew its lines, and the celebration got erased by the width of a sleeve. Final score: Egypt 1, Iran 1. Mahmoud Saber … Read more
Spain came to Guadalajara needing a point and left with first place, the comfort of a No. 1 seed, and very little else to brag about. They had 68% of the ball and exactly one shot on target all night. That shot was a tame Álex Baena effort that Fernando Muslera somehow shoveled over his … Read more
Norway striker Erling Haaland and nine of the team’s other regular starters needed rest more than a first-place finish in their World Cup group. “It’s a no-brainer,” coach Ståle Solbakken said Friday after a 4-1 loss to France left the Norwegians in second place in the group. “The fans around Norway and also in the … Read more
Cape Verde completed an improbable run through the group stage with a third straight World Cup draw to become the smallest country to earn a spot in the knockout round following a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia on Friday night. The small island nation off the western coast of Africa, which is making its debut … Read more
Lionel Messi and Argentina now know who they will face in the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32. Argentina clinched the top spot in Group J with two wins in its first two matches. While it has yet to play its final group stage match, its opponent has now been set following Friday’s round … Read more
Declan Rice’s £105 million ($139m) switch to Arsenal is considered to have helped him step up his game. Rice is considered to sit inside that talent pool as a Premier League title winner, World Cup hopeful, Ballon d’Or contender and future captain of the England national team. West Ham To Arsenal: Declan Rice Has Transformed … Read more