This was the World Cup of firsts. The first tournament to feature 48 teams saw 1,248 players descend upon Canada, Mexico and the United States this summer. The expanded field means there will be a total of 104 matches played at the conclusion of the tournament, resulting in 9,360 minutes of soccer played in regulation … Read more
In 2007, a 20-year-old Lionel Messi posed for a Barcelona charity calendar, gently bathing a baby in a plastic tub. The baby’s family had won a UNICEF raffle. Nobody thought about the photo again for 17 years. The baby was Lamine Yamal. You could write fiction for a decade and never come up with that. … Read more
Argentina and Spain are set to meet in Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final, where Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal will square off in a star-studded matchup that bridges soccer’s past, present and future. FOX Sports soccer analysts Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimović reacted to Argentina’s comeback win over England on Wednesday. For Henry, Sunday’s final … Read more
ATLANTA STADIUM — Watching Argentina’s coach speak the day before his team produced one of the most epic semifinal comebacks in World Cup history, it was impossible not to think that Lionel Scaloni was trying to soften the potential blow for the soccer-crazy nation’s almost 47 million citizens. The Albiceleste has been so successful under … Read more
The final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is now set as Spain and Argentina will meet on Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium in the world’s most important game. It is a clash between two elite national teams who both put on remarkable performances in their respective semifinal wins. It pits the reigning … Read more
Kylian Mbappe saw it for himself on the field: France simply didn’t play well enough to reach a third consecutive World Cup final. The France striker will have to settle for a third-place match and the continuing chase for another Golden Boot award in a tight race with Argentina superstar Lionel Messi. Mbappé, one of … Read more
After recovering from a major ACL injury nearly two years ago, Spain midfielder Rodri has been able to make a huge impact as La Roja look to win its first World Cup since 2010. Havng endured a similar injury during his career, FOX Sports soccer analyst Zlatan Ibrahimović lauded the remarkable comeback Rodri has made … Read more
DALLAS STADIUM — Long after the final whistle — as the lawnmowers came out to maintain the grass and broadcast crews were in the middle of their standups — Spain fans remained. They were dancing and singing and chanting. “Ole! Ole! Ole!” rang throughout the stadium where their team had just delivered a commanding performance, … Read more
Spain secured its spot in the FIFA World Cup final with a convincing 2-0 victory over France in Dallas, and FOX Sports analyst Landon Donovan came away highly impressed with the performance of Lamine Yamal. Speaking after the match, the former United States men’s national team star observed the defensive fears Yamal caused for the … Read more
If Lamine Yamal wins the World Cup on Sunday, he legally wouldn’t be allowed to partake in any celebratory champagne with Spain teammates. At the age of 19, Yamal will be playing in a World Cup final after helping La Roja defeat France in Tuesday’s semifinal. How does his age compare to previous legends who … Read more