News

World Cup: Grades for every eliminated team as each exits the tournament

When the World Cup ends, 47 teams will have been eliminated, and we're grading every one on how its run compared with expectations.

World Cup semifinals: What you need to know, predictions, odds

With only a week to go until the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, there are now just four teams still harboring dreams of becoming world champions.

World Cup Daily live: Spidercam debate rumbles on as four semifinalists confirmed

Enjoy all the features, news, video analysis and color from around the competition as we now know our four World Cup semifinalists.

Prince William, David Beckham lead England celebrations after World Cup quarterfinal triumph

Prince William, Sir Keir Starmer and Sir David Beckham were among those celebrating England's dramatic World Cup quarterfinal victory over Norway.

World Cup 2026: England boss Thomas Tuchel 'not happy with the performance' - but why are they winning?

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Bellingham was England's hero again on Saturday, scoring twice in the quarter-final win over Norway England fought hard to beat Norway in the World Cup quarter-final on Saturday, but manager Thomas Tuchel is clearly concerned. "We made…

Football Daily | Was Tuchel and Bellingham really a Keane v McCarthy moment?

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! Breakfast in America was a happy place for an Englishman this Sunday morning. Thanks to Jude Bellingham, (very probably) a hanging cable and a remarkable cameo from Djed Spence that brought back the ghost of Nobby Stiles,…

Declan Rice in bed for nearly three days before Norway match - Thomas Tuchel

England boss Thomas Tuchel says Declan Rice spent most of the three days before their World Cup quarter-final win against Norway in bed with sickness. Rice started the 2-1 victory against Norway but looked like he was struggling in the stifling heat of the Miami Stadium before…

World Cup 2026: England and Argentina's football rivalry

Image source, Getty Images It's a footballing rivalry that goes back generations. England v Argentina for a place in the World Cup final. Iconic. Generational. Classic. It's hard to find the words to do the occasion justice. On Wednesday in Atlanta, Lionel Messi will be playing…

Senegal sack manager Pape Thiaw in wake of World Cup exit

Senegal have sacked manager Pape Thiaw in the aftermath of the country's exit at the last-32 stage of the 2026 World Cup. The Teranga Lions, who had been managed by Thiaw since December 2024, were beaten by France and Norway in their opening two group games. They thrashed Iraq…

Cablegate: should Jude Bellingham’s first goal against Norway have been disallowed?

Midfielder got England back on level terms in fine fashion but pictures suggest illegal interference in the buildup Norway’s goalkeeper, Ørjan Håskjold Nyland, launches a goal-kick down the pitch two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the first half. The ball falls just…

Thomas Tuchel on England World Cup semifinal vs Argentina: Nowhere in world I'd rather be

Thomas Tuchel has said there is "nowhere else in the whole wide world" he would rather be than leading England into a World Cup semifinal against reigning champions Argentina.

Star-powered World Cup semifinals set. Plus: A first-time Grand Slam winner

The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Don’t feel the need to play through extreme temps today. Inside: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England win (and bicker a little) 🇦🇷 Argentina do…

How have England fared in major semifinals? Record ahead of Argentina World Cup clash

England will next take to the field against Argentina after securing a 2-1 win over Norway on Saturday to book a fourth World Cup semifinal appearance.

Senegal sack coach Pape Thiaw after World Cup last-32 exit

The 45-year-old oversaw a disappointing World Cup campaign with Senegal eliminated after extra time in the round of 32 by Belgium.

BBC Sport quiz: Who am I? Guess World Cup star footballer number 35

Welcome to our Who am I? game. The rules are simple. Each day there's a new footballer and the challenge is to guess who they are in as few attempts as possible. After each wrong guess you unlock a new clue. Guess the answer after as few clues as possible to score more points.…

Senegal sack manager Pape Thiaw after World Cup exit

Senegal have sacked manager Pape Thiaw in the wake of their exit from the World Cup in the round of 32.

Joining 150,000 Norway fans in Oslo to watch the World Cup: Flares, rowing and huge pride in defeat

Norway's incredible World Cup journey came to an end with a narrow defeat to England. The Athletic was in Oslo to watch it with their fans

FIFA to examine 64-team World Cup expansion before 2030 tournament - Gianni Infantino

The competition has been expanded to a 48-team format for the current 2026 finals, with FIFA now considering adding a further 16 nations.

Why are there hydration breaks at the 2026 World Cup, and why has FIFA been criticised?

All 104 matches at the 2026 World Cup are stopping for two hydration breaks. Why have they been stipulated by FIFA, and why have they been criticised?

Free World Cup 2026 predictor: Simulate your road to the final

Put your football knowledge to the test with ESPN's free World Cup 2026 predictor games and forecast every twist and turn of the tournament.

England's World Cup semi-final with Argentina is going to be glorious, furious chaos

Argentina against England is much more than a football match. It’s a deep-rooted rivalry that’s full of enmity and transcends the sport

Alf-Inge Haaland: Norway 'robbed' vs England at World Cup, 'well done referee'

Alf-Inge Haaland claims Norway were "robbed" in their World Cup quarterfinal but hopes England go on to win the tournament after knocking out his homeland.

Argentina's road is rocky. Lionel Messi is unmoved

Argentines have been the least impressive of final four, but their mission remains: Win the World Cup for Messi or let him win it for them.

How Thomas Tuchel's changes made England worse — and then better

The England head coach had to fix his own mistakes before England could break through against Norway

England-Argentina confirmed: Lionel Messi ready for 'special' World Cup semfinal vs 'powerhouse'

Lionel Messi has said Argentina's remarkable run of success is "not normal" after the reigning world champions beat Switzerland to reach the World Cup semifinals, where they will face England.

Scaloni on Argentina's World Cup: 'Sometimes luck can be on your side'

Scaloni on Argentina's World Cup: 'Sometimes luck can be on your side'

Jude Bellingham could be 'England's greatest ever footballer' - Gary Lineker

Former England striker Gary Lineker has said he believes Jude Bellingham could be the country's "greatest ever" footballer.

Bellingham blunts Norway as England make the semis | World Cup Daily

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning , John Brewin, Lars Sivertsen and Leander Schaerlaeckens as England beat Norway 2-1 in extra time to set up a semi-final against Argentina Continue reading...

Lionel Messi praises 'not normal' Argentina as World Cup semifinal awaits

Lionel Messi has said Argentina's remarkable run of success is "not normal" after the reigning world champions beat Switzerland to reach the World Cup semifinals, where they will face England.

Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez show it's more than just Lionel Messi for Argentina

Lionel Andres Messi and Argentina are two games from football immortality; from undisputed, unassailable G.O.A.T. status; from removing any doubt or rebuttal over who's the best to ever do it.

Messi: World Cup semifinal against England will be a 'special match'

Messi: World Cup semifinal against England will be a 'special match'

World Cup 2026:

There are very few things Lionel Messi has not done on a football pitch. But the semi-final meeting between Argentina and England at 20:00 BST on Wednesday in Atlanta, live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer , will provide the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner with an altogether new…

World Cup 2026: England battle past Norway to set up Argentina semi-final – live

⚽ All the latest as the quarter-finals conclude ⚽ Player guide | Bracketology | Golden Boot | Email us Sidebar, Whatever bears such a striking resemblance to Neil Innes’ I’m Free to be an Idiot that the former Monty Python collaborator received a songwriting credit and a share…

Breakout stars of the 2026 World Cup: Diomande, Freeman, Manzambi, more

The 2026 World Cup will be remembered for how all the superstars showed up and dominated, but we've also had a few young talents breaking though. Here are four of the best we'll remember going into the 2026-27 season.

What it's like to transfer clubs during a World Cup, and does it ever go wrong?

Plenty of players have moved clubs during a major tournament, but what is that experience like and how much does it impact negotiations?

Haaland: England are lucky to have Bellingham

Haaland: England are lucky to have Bellingham

World Cup 2026: Top four ranked teams make the semi-finals for first time

When Fifa officials changed the draw process for this World Cup they did so with complete transparency. World football's governing body said it wanted to ensure the four top-ranked countries could not meet earlier in the knockout rounds, thus potentially saving blockbuster games…

Do England or Argentina have enough to challenge in final? Re-ranking the World Cup teams with four games left

The final four are set. But does one semi-final look a lot stronger than the other?

What comes next for Christian Pulisic, the U.S. soccer star who can never live up to the hype?

Off the field, Pulisic starred with Messi, on it he is being held to a standard set by ad executives rather than his own very good abilities

The final four of FIFA dreams? Is this Jude Bellingham's World Cup? Day 31 recap

A semi-final line-up fitting the script, the wonder of Jude Bellingham and saying goodbye to Erling Haaland on day 31

Switzerland hit out at VAR after ‘mistaken identity’ check ends in Breel Embolo red card

Attacker shown second yellow card for simulation Argentina topple Swiss with two goals in extra time Fifa match officials’ novel use of the term “mistaken identity” reared its head again in sensational circumstances during Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and…

Switzerland rage after Breel Embolo red card decision: 'It was a disaster'

The striker was sent off after getting a second yellow card for simulation in the second half of Saturday's World Cup quarter-final.

World Cup 2026: Breel Embolo sent off as result of mistaken identity rule

Switzerland's Breel Embolo became the first player to be sent off as a result of a new law for mistaken identity at this summer's World Cup. Embolo, booked in the first half, was sent off after 72 minutes of his country's quarter-final defeat by Argentina following a second…

World Cup 2026: Tuchel fumes at 'lucky' and 'sloppy' England – can 'pure mentality' be enough?

After reaching the stage as hosts in 1966, and then in Italy and Russia in 1990 and 2018, England have another World Cup semi-final to prepare for. When French referee Clement Turpin signalled the end of an incident-filled quarter-final win in Miami, Thomas Tuchel's exhausted…

World Cup 2026: Did ball hit spidercam before England goal? Snicko says not - Norway unsure

Fifa later said there was "no evidence" the ball had touched a wire. Fifa Media posted on X , external : "Before England's goal in minute 45+2 against Norway, the sensor in the connected ball showed no peak in the 'heartbeat of the ball' when in the air, and therefore no…

Erling Haaland beaten but unbowed after 40 days that changed his life, and put Norway on the map

Norway's talismanic striker could not prevent his side exiting the tournament but he leaves some golden memories

England's mentality monsters find a new level of resilience, forged in the Miami furnace

When it looked like the game was following a familiar script for England, Thomas Tuchel's side dug deep and found a way to change the story

The most effective attacking run at this World Cup and why it works so well

Inside-channel runs - those made in between a full-back and centre-back - have been revealed as a particularly potent attacking threat

What next for Balogun, Vozinha and the World Cup’s other cult heroes and breakout stars?

We look at what the future holds for nine of the stars of this summer's tournament

World Cup 2026: Fifa official refuses to answer ban questions from BBC

The head of Fifa's disciplinary committee has refused to answer BBC questions about the decision-making process which led to England's Jarell Quansah being banned for two World Cup games. Defender Quansah was sent off in England's 3-2 win over Mexico following a high challenge…

Maradona's half-smoked cigar and Toni Kroos' socks: Inside the lair of a soccer memorabilia collector

A Mexican collector's 20,000-strong assemblage of matchworn shirts, boots, trophies and more defies belief

Julián Álvarez’s extra-time stunner sinks 10-man Switzerland to send Argentina into semi-finals

Did anyone think they would do it the easy way? If Argentina are to win this World Cup they will only get there via rollercoaster. A seemingly straightforward night’s work against Switzerland became their tournament in microcosm, threatening to squander it all before finding…

Lionel Messi and Argentina march into World Cup semi-finals but what about 'mistaken identity' red card?

Analysing the major talking points from the last quarter-final in Kansas City

World Cup semi-finals bracket predictions: Picking the winners and key players for final four

All you need to know about the World Cup semi-finals

World Cup 2026: Pick your England XI for the semi-final

World Cup top scorer: How will Messi, Mbappe, Kane Golden Boot race be decided?

Argentina's Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe top the list of World Cup goalscorers.

Jude Bellingham excels in parallel World Cup but cannot win trophy alone | Barney Ronay

Up against Norway’s heart and skill and Florida’s heat, talisman got England through – but there is much to fix Jude against the sun. For much of this game there was a feeling of three separate entities struggling to assert their will in the heavy air of Miami Gardens. First,…

Jude Bellingham defends England performance after Thomas Tuchel criticism: 'Maybe he doesn't know what it's like'

Tuchel had called England's performance in the 2-1 World Cup quarter-final win over Norway "sloppy" in an on-pitch interview.

England wobble but Djed Spence and John Stones make case for the defence

Tuchel’s half-time changes and Pickford’s skittishness lifted Norway, but backline finally rose to occasion England were back in Azteca mode in the end. Big Dan Burn was on to thump those headers away. Reece James and the magnificent Djed Spence were covering the flanks, Elliot…

World Cup 2026: England fans in Miami react to Norway win

World Cup 2026: Rate the players in Norway v England

World Cup 2026: BBC to show England's semi-final

England's World Cup semi-final against Argentina or Switzerland will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The Three Lions progressed by beating Norway 2-1 in the quarter-finals in Miami on Saturday. Their last-four tie will be played at the Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday,…

World Cup 2026: How Norway built their golden generation

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, With their efforts at the World Cup, Norway look like a nation pulling in the same direction Norway - a country with a population almost the same size as Scotland - have become a football powerhouse at the World Cup and it's not just…

Jude Bellingham unimpressed after Tuchel criticises ‘lucky’ England’s performance

Head coach says team were ‘sloppy’ and ‘not fast enough’ Two-goal Bellingham responds: ‘Yeah, well, whatever’ Jude Bellingham hit back at criticism of England’s performance from Thomas Tuchel after his two goals against Norway booked a place in the World Cup semi-finals for the…

Thomas Tuchel reaction: Unhappy with England vs Norway, but loves 'pure mentality — bottle it up and sell it'

"We made life very, very difficult for ourselves today," Tuchel said on FOX after the game. "The result is fantastic, we're in the last four it's amazing, but we're not happy with the performance."

Bellingham’s extra-time winner sinks Norway and sends England into World Cup semi-finals

Thomas Tuchel’s message was that it was time for England to thrive at the business end of the World Cup; the most exciting part. His players had to release the handbrake and go for it. They must not have any regrets against a Norway team that most of England expected them to…

World Cup 2026: England edge Norway in quarter-final – in pictures

All the best images from Miami Stadium as England come from behind to beat Norway and reach the World Cup semi-finals Continue reading...

After storming the Azteca in World Cup classic, England gear up to face Norway in Miami shark tank

England's next stop in their World Cup quest has taken them to Miami, but will Harry Kane vs. Erling Haaland live up the billing?