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The Standard
Audio By VocalizeJulian Alvarez scored a breathtaking goal as Argentina battled past 10-man Switzerland 3-1 after extra-time on Saturday, setting up a mouthwatering World Cup semi-final against bitter rivals England. …
Argentina sink 10-man Swiss to set up blockbuster England World Cup semi-finalThe Standard
Audio By VocalizeArgentina's players celebrate after winning the 2026 World Cup football tournament quarter-final match against Switzerland at the Kansas City Stadium on July 11, 2026. …
England, Argentina set up World Cup showdown after quarter-final winsCitizen Digital
… England will face Argentina or Switzerland on Wednesday for the chance to reach a first World Cup final in 60 years. …
Bellingham heroics edge England past Norway and into World Cup semisCitizen Digital
… US and Iranian delegations have held one round of direct talks in Switzerland since the signature of their memorandum of understanding, as well as indirect negotiations in Qatar, but there has been no sign of diplomatic progress since. …
Iran hits back at Trump after insists truce overCitizen Digital
… (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP Audio By Vocalize Lionel Messi has scored in every World Cup match so far, but after two gruelling knockout ties, will age finally catch up with the 39-year-old in the quarter-final against Switzerland? …
Can ageless Messi keep delivering for Argentina at World Cup?The Standard
… With France, Spain, Belgium, England, Norway and Switzerland still in contention, there could be an all-European semi-final line-up, like in 2018.Europe's share of the spots at a World Cup has decreased dramatically in recent decades, from boasting 14 of 24 berths in Italy in 199 …
Same old story as Europe dominates quarter-finalsThe Standard
… Tougher tests await with Switzerland in the last eight, followed by a potential semi-final showdown against England. …
Messi World Cup magic masks familiar penalty frailtyCitizen Digital
… With France, Spain, Belgium, England, Norway and Switzerland still in contention, there could be an all-European semi-final line-up, like in 2018. …
Expanded World Cup; same old story as Europe dominates quarter-finalsCitizen Digital
… ave not conceded a single goal so far, eliminated Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in the last 16 and will fancy their chances of overcoming Belgium, who dismantled the United States 4-1 in the last 16. - Houdini act - On the other side of the draw, holders Argentina face Switzerland …
France, Morocco kick off blockbuster World Cup quarter-finalsCitizen Digital
… Tougher tests await with Switzerland in the last eight, followed by a potential semi-final showdown against England. …
Messi World Cup magic masks familiar penalty frailtyFormer FIFA president Sepp Blatter has criticised FIFA's plan to create a $20 billion subsidiary to run the World Cup, saying the tournament is not a commercial asset and warning that turning FIFA into a profit-oriented structure would cause it to lose its soul.
30 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has criticised FIFA's plan to create a $20 billion subsidiary to run the World Cup, saying the tournament is not a commercial asset and warning that turning FIFA into a profit-oriented structure would cause it to lose its soul.
30 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Roberto Mancini has been named head coach of Italy's national team for a second time, tasked with revitalizing the Azzurri after missing out on the last three World Cups. FIGC president Giovanni Malago announced the appointment, also revealing that technical director Roberto Maldini has been replaced by Claudio Ranieri.
28 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has scheduled a hearing for October 8 on Senegal's appeal against the Confederation of African Football's decision to award Morocco the AFCON title. Senegal had won 1-0 in the January 18 final in Rabat, but CAF overturned the result in March and awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory after chaotic scenes at the end of normal time.
24 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Spain replaced Argentina atop FIFA's world rankings after beating the finalists 1-0 in the World Cup final in New York. France finished third in the rankings after losing the third-place play-off to England 6-4 in the United States.
21 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Spain became world champions after beating Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final in New York on Sunday, reclaiming the top FIFA ranking they had surrendered in April. France finished third, beaten 6-4 by England in the third-place play-off, with England ranked fourth.
21 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Spain replaced Argentina at the top of the FIFA rankings released Monday after defeating them 1-0 in the World Cup final. France ranks third, England fourth, Brazil fifth, and Morocco sixth.
21 July 2026 · The Standard →
Argentina and Spain will face each other in the World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday, a match that pits Argentina's attacking style and Lionel Messi against Spain's controlled, methodical approach. The match carries personal storylines, including Messi facing teenager Lamine Yamal, both connected to Barcelona's La Masia academy.
18 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Argentina advanced to the 2026 World Cup final against Spain after beating England 2-1 in the semi-final, with coach Lionel Scaloni and observers crediting the team's ability to perform well under pressure. The South American nation is pursuing a second consecutive World Cup title.
17 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Argentina's players and coaches say the team performs best when facing adversity, a trait evident in their comeback victories through the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup tournament.
17 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni praised his team's comeback mentality after they defeated England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday, advancing to the final. Scaloni noted that Argentina sensed vulnerability when England sat back after taking a 1-0 lead, and the team created multiple chances to overturn the deficit.
16 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Argentina's Lautaro Martinez scored the winning goal in the 2026 World Cup semifinal against England, with the reigning champions winning 2-1 after Martinez came off the bench in the 81st minute. Martinez said he had "dreamt" of scoring the goal, which came in the second minute of injury time after Lionel Messi set up Enzo Fernandez to equalize.
16 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said he was not concerned about fatigue or his team's performances as they prepare to face England in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday, with the holders seeking to reach consecutive finals.
15 July 2026 · The Standard →
England and Argentina will meet in a 2026 World Cup semi-final at Atlanta Stadium on July 15, 2026, renewing their old rivalry as England bids to reach their first final in six decades while Messi's Argentina seeks to win back-to-back World Cups.
14 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Lionel Messi, 39, will play England for the first time in Wednesday's World Cup semi-final, seeking to lead Argentina to the final. Messi earned his 200th cap for Argentina in the group stage and began his international career as an 18-year-old in 2005.
14 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
England and Argentina will meet in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday in Atlanta after defeating Norway and Switzerland in the quarter-finals. Messi and Argentina seek to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1962, while England pursue their first major trophy in 60 years.
12 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Julian Alvarez scored Argentina's decisive second goal in the 112th minute as Argentina beat 10-man Switzerland 3-1 in extra-time in the World Cup quarter-final. Alvarez said "you have to know how to suffer" after Argentina came through another gruelling test.
12 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni said the team's upcoming World Cup semi-final against England is "just a football game" after Argentina defeated Switzerland 3-1 in the quarter-finals. Alexis Mac Allister scored early, Dan Ndoye equalized, and goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez sealed the win in Kansas City.
12 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
England manager Thomas Tuchel said his team were "lucky" to advance past Norway 2-1 after extra-time to reach the World Cup semi-finals, with Jude Bellingham's two goals overturning Andreas Schjelderup's opener. Tuchel praised Bellingham as "world-class" but expressed dissatisfaction with England's overall performance, saying they "made life very, very difficult" for themselves.
12 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
England beat Norway 2-1 in extra time with two goals from Jude Bellingham, and defending champions Argentina defeated Switzerland 3-1, setting up a semi-final matchup between the two nations.
12 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Jude Bellingham scored twice, including in extra-time, to help England overcome Norway 2-1 in their first World Cup quarter-final and reach the semi-finals. England will face Argentina or Switzerland on Wednesday for a chance to reach their first World Cup final in 60 years.
12 July 2026 · The Standard →
Argentina defeated Switzerland 3-1 after extra-time in a World Cup quarter-final on Saturday, with Lionel Messi setting up an early opener and Julian Alvarez scoring a decisive goal in the 112th minute. The victory sets up a semi-final against England and keeps Argentina unbeaten in their past 12 World Cup matches.
12 July 2026 · The Standard →
England defeated Norway 2-1 in extra time with two goals from Jude Bellingham, while defending champions Argentina beat Switzerland 3-1 at the quarter-finals. The rivals will meet in the semi-finals in Atlanta on Wednesday.
12 July 2026 · The Standard →
Jude Bellingham scored twice, including an extra-time winner, as England defeated Norway 2-1 after extra-time in the World Cup quarter-final on Saturday, advancing to the semi-finals. Norway had taken the lead through Andreas Schjelderup before Bellingham equalised just before half-time, with a Norway goal later disallowed after a VAR review.
12 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Iran insisted it had "kept its word" on a ceasefire with the United States after President Trump declared the truce over but agreed to further negotiations. Trump threatened to "completely decimate" Iran if it attempted to assassinate him, marking a new low in relations between the two countries following an exchange of fire this week.
11 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Lionel Messi has scored in every World Cup match so far as defending champion Argentina advances to the quarter-final against Switzerland, with the team winning all five of their games despite gruelling knockout matches against Cape Verde and Egypt.
10 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Six of eight quarter-finalists are European nations—France, Spain, Belgium, England, Norway, and Switzerland—alongside Argentina and Morocco. Despite the 48-team format increasing non-European representation, Europe's dominance at the business end reflects the continent's concentration of wealth and top talent in major leagues.
10 July 2026 · The Standard →
Lionel Messi has missed two penalties at the World Cup, including one against Egypt in the last 16, becoming the only player to miss more than one in a single tournament. His overall penalty conversion rate of 77 percent matches the global average, a notable weakness for a player of his caliber.
10 July 2026 · The Standard →
Despite the World Cup expanding to 48 teams to give underrepresented continents more opportunity, the quarter-final line-up remains dominated by Europe, with France, Spain, Belgium, England, Norway, and Switzerland joined only by Argentina and Morocco.
9 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
France take on Morocco on Thursday in a World Cup quarter-final at Gillette Stadium outside Boston, a rematch of their 2022 semi-final. The expanded 48-team tournament has narrowed to eight teams competing for the title in the July 19 final in East Rutherford.
9 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Lionel Messi, 39, has missed two penalties at the 2026 World Cup on US soil—one saved by Egypt's Mostafa Shobeir in the last 16 and one wide against Austria in group play—making him the only player to miss more than one penalty in any World Cup, though his overall play continues to lead Argentina's title quest.
8 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →