All articles tagged with #worldcup2026
Sports Illustrated breaks down the USMNT’s 26-man 2026 World Cup squad into Keep, Depth, and Drop as the team maps a path to 2030, keeping a core group (Brady; Dest; Richards; Adams; Tillman; Aaronson; McKennie; Balogun; Pepi; Scally; Pulisic—kept, but almost depth) while assigning others to depth (Freese, Reyna, Weah) or out of the picture (Turner, Ream, Miles Robinson, Zendejas, Roldan, Haji Wright).
Kylian Mbappe overcame a saved early penalty to star as France beat Morocco 2-0 in the World Cup 2026 quarterfinal, scoring in the 60th minute and assisting Dembele for the second, reinforcing France’s status as the team to beat and ending Morocco’s dream run.
In Boston's World Cup 2026 quarter-final, France and Morocco are level at 0-0 at halftime after Mbappé’s delayed penalty miss. The first half featured a tense, cagey tempo with Morocco pressing and few clear chances, including a crossbar elsewhere, as France dominated at times but couldn’t convert, leaving the tie finely poised heading into the second half.
Christian Pulisic suffered a bone bruise and tibia/fibula microfracture in the USMNT’s 4-1 World Cup loss to Belgium, sidelining him for several weeks with an expected August return as he gears up for AC Milan's season.
The piece argues Mauricio Pochettino’s 2026 World Cup defeat with the U.S. men’s team underscores why extending him for the 2030 cycle would be indefensible, especially after Emma Hayes’s immediate success with the USWNT. It notes the federation’s ongoing discussions about a renewal despite a home knockout loss to Belgium, calls for accountability from players and coaches, and warns that rewarding a poor performance would further damage U.S. Soccer’s credibility.
Switzerland defeated Colombia 4-3 on penalties after a goalless extra time to reach the World Cup 2026 quarter-finals for the first time since 1954, where they will face Lionel Messi’s Argentina in Kansas City.
Egypt took a 15th-minute lead through Yasser Ibrahim’s header from Marwan Attia’s corner, and Mostafa Shobeir twice denied Lionel Messi, including a first-half penalty save, as Argentina pressed but failed to find an equalizer in the World Cup 2026 Round of 16 first half.
Following a 4-1 Round of 16 loss to Belgium at the 2026 World Cup, U.S. fans and pundits blasted the USMNT’s performance, criticizing timid play and leadership gaps from stars like Christian Pulisic; Belgium’s elite status and the development gap for the U.S. were highlighted, while social media reactions mixed disappointment with calls to keep investing in the sport amid ongoing Balogun-related controversy.
The U.S. men’s national team’s World Cup run ends in the Round of 16 with a 4-1 defeat to Belgium at Lumen Field. A sloppy first half, a costly Freese error, and Balogun’s limited impact amid red-card suspension controversy capped a night that belied rising expectations, as Pulisic left with an injury and Belgium advanced to face Spain in the quarterfinals.
Erling Haaland scored twice (79 and 89 minutes) to give Norway a 2-1 win over Brazil, with Neymar’s stoppage-time penalty netting Brazil’s consolation after an earlier Brazil penalty was saved. Norway controlled large parts of the match and capitalized on Brazil’s defensive fragility, while Brazil’s late pressure couldn’t overturn the deficit.
FIFA reversed Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension, enabling him to start for the U.S. against Belgium in the World Cup last-16. Balogun serves as a dual threat—holding up the ball and drawing defenders to create space for Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Malik Tillman—while the U.S. aim to exploit Belgium’s wings and occasional backline gaps. Belgium have controlled possession but show vulnerabilities in central build-up and defense, which the Americans hope to capitalize on if they can keep Balogun central and active and maintain pressure on Belgium’s defense.
Canada’s first-ever knockout run at World Cup 2026 ended with a 3-0 loss to Morocco, but the home tournament sparked record crowds, huge TV audiences, and a financial windfall that could reshape Canadian soccer—from youth development to MLS/CPL growth—under coach Jesse Marsch’s long-term plan.
Balogun's one‑game suspension ahead of the World Cup Round of 16 against Belgium forces Pochettino to reshuffle the USMNT attack, with Ricardo Pepi as the likely replacement and Haji Wright as a contingency, while options like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna, or Tim Weah could shift into forward roles if Pepi isn't settled.
England arrive in Mexico City for the World Cup last-16 against co-host Mexico amid heavy hotel security following noise complaints, while players must cope with high altitude, potential thunderstorms, and rumors of spying; kickoff is set for 18:00 local time but could be delayed by weather, and the squad is preparing with sleep aids and noise-masking devices.
For the US vs Belgium World Cup Round of 16 in Seattle (July 6, 5 p.m. at Lumen Field), the get-in price is $2,328, the second-highest among Round of 16 games; only Mexico–England in Mexico City is pricier at $4,136, while Canada–Morocco in Houston is the cheapest at $663. Prices rose after the US victory but have fluctuated since, making Seattle’s knockout match notably expensive to attend.