World Soccer news

• Spain's World Cup challenge built on historic defence

  07-07-2026 01:17 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  In 2010, Spain dazzled the football world with their tiki-taka on their way to World Cup glory in South Africa. Powered by the midfield brilliance of Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, and the goals of David Villa, they became one of the most iconic sides to have played in the tournament's storied history.With their strong Barcelona core and the tactical acumen of Vicente del Bosque, they secured their first-ever title with short, intricate passes and relentless movement, defeating the Netherlan
  
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• Nice of him not to play: Balogun appearance mocked online

  07-07-2026 04:04 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Nice of him not to play: Balogun appearance mocked onlineActually, he should not have been playing at all: After his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, US forward Folarin Balogun was suspended for the round-of-16 match against Belgium.But at the initiative of US President Donald Trump, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee decided to revise the ruling to a suspended ban and allow Balogun to play against the Belgians.This decision was met with great disbelief around the world and drew heavy criti
  
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• Ragged USA crash out of World Cup with last-16 defeat to Belgium

  07-07-2026 03:59 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Folarin Balogun reflects as the US make their way to defeat against Belgium.Photograph: Sarah Stier/FIFA/Getty ImagesThe United States are out of the World Cup as Belgium eliminated the co-hosts in the last 16 at Seattle Stadium on Monday night.The US were looking to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2002 but they looked nervy and unsettled from the start of the match, and quickly fell behind when Charles De Ketelaere poked home in the ninth minute.The Americans fought
  
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• Fifa backs referee called ‘suspect’ by Trump after Folarin Balogun ban wiped

  07-07-2026 03:48 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Fifa have backed the referee branded as “suspect” by Donald Trump after the US president intervened to get Folarin Balogun’s red card suspended.Balogun was shown a straight red card by referee Raphael Claus during the United States’ last-32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina for a challenge on Tarik Muharemovic in which he appeared to scrape his studs down the calf of the defender before landing on, and twisting, his ankle.However, Fifa made the surprising and highly con
  
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• World Cup: Disastrous U.S. sequence with goalie Matt Freese out of box allows Belgium to double lead in 4-1 win

  07-07-2026 03:47 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  After a rough first half against Belgium, USA remained a goal away in the second from equalizing while trailing, 2-1.But a disastrous sequence shortly out of the break allowed Belgium to double its lead to 3-1 en route to a dominant 4-1 win in Seattle. In the 57th minute, Belgium booted a deep ball from its own territory toward the U.S. goal. Three U.S. players gave chase alongside Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere with a chance to take control of the ball. But U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese stepped s
  
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• Christian Pulisic exits USMNT's World Cup loss to Belgium with potential leg injury

  07-07-2026 03:41 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Right after the United States men's national team conceded a truly terrible goal against Belgium in the World Cup Round of 16, things got worse. Star midfielder Christian Pulisic, who had gone down near the Belgium box shortly before, exited Monday's game in the 59th minute. He was replaced by Sebastian Berhalter.Shortly after subbing off, Pulisic was seen getting treatment on the U.S. bench, visibly upset. The trainers appeared to be working on his lower right leg.Christian Pulisic is visibly u
  
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• Real Madrid receive €82m bid for midfielder – offer expected to be turned down

  07-07-2026 03:35 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Real Madrid receive €82m bid for midfielder – offer expected to be turned downReal Madrid are reportedly set to focus their efforts in the coming weeks on making sales following their fast start to the transfer window. After four signings, exits are expected to follow, but there is some doubt over whether they will consider a major sale.One of the names in doubt is Aurelien Tchouameni, who has attracted the interest of Premier League giants Manchester United. The Red Devils have been
  
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• 📸 Freese-framed: US keeper gifts Belgium a howler!

  07-07-2026 03:35 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  📸 Freese-framed: US keeper gifts Belgium a howler!The World Cup hosts, the United States, handed out plenty of gifts to Belgium in the round of 16. The defense already looked pretty disastrous on Charles De Ketelaere’s first two goals.
  Belgium’s 3-1, however, was the bittersweet cherry on top for the Americans: after a simple long ball, goalkeeper Matthew Freese rushed out of his box in complete disarray, but still got to the ball first.But instead of clearing
  
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• Rate the players in USA v Belgium

  07-07-2026 03:11 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  [BBC]The World Cup last-16 tie between United States and Belgium - which you can follow here - is under way.You can rate both sets of players out of 10 below and come back 30 minutes after full-time to see the final ratings.World Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup
  
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• Cristiano Ronaldo plays down career World Cup failure: ‘Euros just as significant’

  07-07-2026 03:10 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Cristiano Ronaldo has played down his failure to win a World Cup` in his career, insisting that his Euro 2016 triumph with Portugal is “just as significant”.Ronaldo confirmed he had played his final minutes at the World Cup after Portugal’s last-16 exit to Spain on Monday, in which they succumbed to a stoppage-time Mikel Merino winner.The World Cup is the only major competition Ronaldo has not won but now, at the sixth time of trying, the 41-year-old Portuguese captain is havin
  
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• 📞 Will Trump ring Infantino? Belgian striker stuns USA twice!

  07-07-2026 02:28 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  📞 Will Trump ring Infantino? Belgian striker stuns USA twice!Rarely has a World Cup match been so heavily overshadowed beforehand by off-field controversy: the discussions surrounding the suspended red-card ban of USA striker Folarin Balogun dominated all the headlines ahead of the Round of 16 clash against Belgium.US President Donald Trump personally confirmed that he called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to inquire about the decision. “I merely asked for a review because I don&r
  
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• 📞 Trump to ring Infantino? Belgium striker stuns USA with brace!

  07-07-2026 02:28 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  📞 Trump to ring Infantino? Belgium striker stuns USA with brace!Rarely has a World Cup match been so heavily overshadowed in advance by off-field controversy: the debate surrounding the suspended red-card ban of USA striker Folarin Balogun dominated all the headlines ahead of the Round of 16 clash against Belgium.US President Donald Trump personally confirmed that he called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to inquire about the decision. “I merely asked for a review because I don&rsq
  
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• Ronaldo's World Cup career ends in tears as 'pandering' Martinez departs

  07-07-2026 02:25 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  One of football's great careers will finish without the biggest prize after Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup match for Portugal ended with a 1-0 last-16 defeat by Spain.He was in tears as his World Cup story ended in Dallas with Mikel Merino's injury-time sending their neighbours through.The 41-year-old five-time Ballon d'Or winner, five-time Champions League winner and Euro 2016 champion has scored a world-record 976 goals for his clubs and country.He has scored at a record six World Cups. B
  
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• Spain's World Cup challenge built on record-breaking historic defence

  07-07-2026 02:10 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  In 2010, Spain dazzled the football world with their tiki-taka on their way to World Cup glory in South Africa. Powered by the midfield brilliance of Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, and the goals of David Villa, they became one of the most iconic sides to have played in the tournament's storied history.With their strong Barcelona core and the tactical acumen of Vicente del Bosque, they secured their first-ever title with short, intricate passes and relentless movement, defeating the Netherlan
  
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• 😲 Incredible run ended! Belgium superstar only on the bench v USA

  07-07-2026 01:43 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  😲 Incredible run ended! Belgium superstar only on the bench v USAIn the lead-up to the World Cup round-of-16 clash between the USA and Belgium, almost everything revolved around the Folarin Balogun case. After his red-card suspension was lifted, the American striker has indeed made it into the starting lineup.As a result, it almost went unnoticed that Belgium coach Garcia opted for a rather surprising measure.The 62-year-old is initially leaving his superstar Kevin De Bruyne on the bench
  
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• CR7 OUT! Spain Eliminates Portugal 1-0, World Cup Post-Match Reaction & USMNT vs Belgium Preview

  07-07-2026 01:34 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Subscribe to The CooligansApple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeThe Iberian Derby did not disappoint as Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros bring you an immediate live reaction to Spain's dramatic 1-0 victory over Portugal in the World Cup Round of 16. La Roja's impenetrable defense locked down yet another opponent, extending their incredible clean-sheet streak and booking a spot in the quarterfinals. The hosts heavily criticize Portugal manager Roberto Martinez for his lack of tactical bravery,
  
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• 📹 CR7 keeps future under wraps and likens biggest title to the Copa

  07-07-2026 01:23 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  📹 CR7 keeps future under wraps and likens biggest title to the CopaThis Monday (6), Portugal lost to Spain 1-0 and bowed out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the round of 16.The result also brought Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup story to an end after six editions.After the match, the iconic No. 7 confirmed that he will not be present at the 2030 World Cup, where Portugal will be one of the hosts alongside Spain and Morocco, but he was vague about whether he will continue with the Portu
  
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• 🚨 Official, Cristiano confirms: it was my last World Cup

  07-07-2026 01:06 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  🚨 Official, Cristiano confirms: it was my last World CupCristiano Ronaldo finally put an end to the speculation about his future with the Portugal national team after their Round of 16 elimination against Spain. 
  "El Bicho" spoke to the press in the mixed zone and dropped the bombshell there: "It was my last World Cup," news that had already gone viral before the Round of 16 clash against Croatia, when his sister, Katia Aveiro, had revealed it. "Sad to go out of the World Cup l
  
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• Roberto Martinez confirms decision to leave Portugal after tepid World Cup exit to Spain

  07-07-2026 01:02 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Roberto Martinez has said “it does not make sense” for him to continue as Portugal coach after their limp exit to Spain in the last 16 of World Cup 2026.Substitute Mikel Merino settled a tame all-Iberian clash in Dallas by scoring the game’s only goal in the first minute of added time as Martinez’s side failed to threaten a Spain defence that is yet to concede in the tournament.Martinez’s contract was set to expire at the end of the tournament, though he said in a p
  
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• Why European backlash over Trump intervention won't worry Infantino

  07-07-2026 00:45 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Gianni Infantino has been Fifa president for 10 years.Next year, he is up for re-election.From the Fifa Peace Prize, to the vastly inflated ticket prices at the World Cup, to the Club World Cup, Infantino's tenure has been increasingly controversial.But could the unprecedented decision to cancel Folarin Balogun's red-card suspension for the United States' World Cup last-16 tie against Belgium be the tipping point?In a tournament they have co-hosted, Balogun has been the star man for the US, with
  
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• Cristiano Ronaldo’s latest World Cup failure leaves one predictable regret

  07-07-2026 00:29 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  So this was how it ended for Cristiano Ronaldo. Not with the ultimate glory but a certain predictability. Portugal’s World Cup was curtailed in a manner that was all too foreseeable: with Ronaldo failing to score, with younger men being removed as he stayed on the pitch, with the sense their most famous player had been put before the team, perhaps for one last time.His sixth World Cup will be his last, he had said. In a career as long as his, history can repeat itself. Portugal went out 1-
  
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• 🎥 World Cup highlights: that's it for CR7! Spain stun Portugal late

  07-07-2026 00:23 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  🎥 World Cup highlights: that's it for CR7! Spain stun Portugal lateCristiano Ronaldo played the last World Cup match of his career today. However, it ended quite bitterly in the round of 16 at the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Mikel Merino delivered the late knockout blow to CR7 and his teammates.You can watch the highlights here in the video.Spain, meanwhile, will face the winner of the match between the USA and Belgium in the quarterfinals, which kicks off today
  
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• 🚨 Right after the World Cup exit! Portugal boss announces exit

  07-07-2026 00:08 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  🚨 Right after the World Cup exit! Portugal boss announces exitCristiano Ronaldo is not the only Portuguese who has played his last match for the national team. His coach, Roberto Martínez, is also stepping down. He announced this at the press conference after the defeat against Spain (0–1)."My era is over; now it is important to make a fresh start, and it is legitimate for the president to choose his own coach. I am grateful for all the support I received," said the Spaniard
  
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• 🚨 FIFA hits back at criticism: Balogun's red card wasn't revoked

  07-07-2026 00:02 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  🚨 FIFA hits back at criticism: Balogun's red card wasn't revokedAfter the controversy following Folarin Balogun’s presence in USA-Belgium, despite the red card he received against Bosnia and Herzegovina, FIFA released a lengthy statement to clarify the reasons behind the Disciplinary Committee’s decision.The U.S. striker had been sent off in the 64th minute of the July 1 match for "serious foul play" after a VAR review. At the end of the game, he also returned to the field to
  
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• Fifa Disciplinary Committee takes swipe at Uefa over criticism of Folarin Balogun ban decision

  07-07-2026 00:00 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Fifa has dismissed criticism from Uefa after being accused of “crossing a red line” in its handling of Folarin Balogun’s red card and suspending the one-game ban to enable the USA striker to play in the World Cup last 16 tie against Belgium.The decision by FIFA Disciplinary Committee to alter the punishment for the USA forward after committing “serious foul play” to earn a red card against Bosnia in the last 32 has been widely criticised. And US President Donald Tru
  
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• FIFA deny Balogun red was rescinded, only ban delayed

  06-07-2026 23:56 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  FIFA deny Balogun red was rescinded, only ban delayedThe FIFA Disciplinary Committee has published its official explanation regarding the Balogun case. The body clarifies that it did not overturn the player's sending-off, but rather confirmed the one-match suspension resulting from the red card issued on July 1.
  The sanction, however, was suspended for one year by FIFA under Article 27 of the Disciplinary Code. Balogun will only serve the one-match ban if he commits a similar serious offence aga
  
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• Substitute Merino scores late winner as Spain knock out Portugal

  06-07-2026 23:50 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  FIFA World CupPortugal 0 - 1 Spain FTMikel Merino came off the bench to score an injury-time winner for Spain as they knocked Portugal - and Cristiano Ronaldo - out of the World Cup in a heavyweight last-16 tie in Dallas. Spain had failed to create clear-cut openings in a poor second half before Ferran Torres played in the Arsenal midfielder, who slotted low past goalkeeper Diogo Costa in the 91st minute.The 1-0 result was a repeat of their meeting at the same stage in 2010 and sets up a quarter
  
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• Cristiano Ronaldo sets unwanted record, targeted on social media 📱

  06-07-2026 23:50 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Cristiano Ronaldo sets unwanted record, targeted on social media 📱Portugal’s elimination from the FIFA World Cup marked Cristiano Ronaldo’s final act at World Cups.And, of course, the reaction on social media “focused” on CR7.The No. 7 extended his record as the forward with the most matches in the tournament’s history without scoring (19).And he also joined another unfortunate list: he is among the players with the most losses in the tournament (8). On
  
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• FIFA fines USMNT's Folarin Balogun $40,000 in addition to postponing red card suspension by 1 year

  06-07-2026 23:46 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  The saga around Folarin Balogun’s red card continued on Monday afternoon. Hours before the United States’ Round of 16 matchup against Belgium, FIFA released a lengthy statement from the disciplinary committee, announcing that Balogun has been fined $40,000 in connection to the red card.The statement confirmed that the one-match suspension for Balogun’s red card, which the striker picked up the card against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32, has been delayed by one year.
  
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• FIFA disciplinary committee fines USMNT's Folarin Balogun $40,000, defends postponing red card suspension by 1 year

  06-07-2026 23:46 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  The saga around Folarin Balogun's red card continued on Monday afternoon. Hours before the United States' Round of 16 matchup against Belgium (8 p.m. ET, Fox), FIFA released a lengthy statement from the disciplinary committee, announcing that Balogun has been fined $40,000 in connection to the red card.The statement confirmed that the one-match suspension for Balogun's red card, which the striker picked up the card against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32, has been delayed by one year.
  
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