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2 months ago

Who could England and Scotland face in the last 32? How are the routes to the final shaping up? Keep tabs on the potential knockout stage line-up with our live World Cup bracket # As the World Cup group stage draws to a close, it's time to start looking ahead to the knockout rounds and potential routes to the final in July 19. Who could face who in the last 32? How are the potential routes to the final shaping up? Is there a more difficult side of the draw? There are still plenty of twists and turns to come but here's an early look at how the last 32 and how the rest of the tournament is shaping up, as things stand... World Cup last 32 schedule... Sunday June 28 Round of 32 - Match 73: Group A runners-up vs Group B runners-up, kick-off 8pm - Los Angeles, USA Monday June 29 Round of 32 - Match 76: Group C winners vs Group F runners-up, kick-off 6pm - Houston, USA Round of 32 - Match 74: Germany vs Group A/B/C/D/F third place, kick-off 9.30pm - Foxborough, USA Tuesday June 30 Round of 32 - Match 75: Group F winners vs Group C runners-up, kick-off 2am - Guadalupe, Mexico Round of 32 - Match 78: Group E runners-up vs Group I runners-up, kick-off 6pm - Arlington, USA Round of 32 - Match 77: Group I winners vs Group C/D/F/G/H third place, kick-off 10pm - New Jersey, USA Wednesday July 1 Round of 32 - Match 79: Mexico vs Group C/E/F/H/I third place, kick-off 2am - Mexico City, Mexico Round of 32 - Match 80: Group L winners vs Group E/H/I/J/K third place, kick-off 5pm - Atlanta, USA Round of 32 - Match 82: Group G winners vs Group A/E/H/I/J third place, kick-off 9pm - Seattle, USA Thursday July 2 Round of 32 - Match 81: USA vs Group B/E/F/I/J third place, kick-off 1am - Santa Clara, USA Round of 32 - Match 84: Group H winners vs Group J runners-up, kick-off 8pm - Los Angeles, USA Friday July 3 Round of 32 - Match 83: Group K runners-up vs Group L runners-up, kick-off 12am - Toronto, Canada Round of 32 - Match 85: Group B winners vs Group E/F/G/I/J third place, kick-off 4am - Vancouver, Canada Round of 32 - Match 88: Group D runners-up vs Group G runners-up, kick-off 7pm - Arlington, USA Round of 32 - Match 86: Argentina vs Group H runners-up, kick-off 11pm - Miami, USA Saturday July 4 Round of 32 - Match 87: Group K winners vs Group D/E/I/J/L third place, kick-off 2.30am - Kansas City, USA # How is England's route looking? Thomas Tuchel's side have work to do against Panama but are still on course to top Group L even after their underwhelming draw with Ghana. Were they to progress as group winners, their last-32 match will be on Wednesday July 1, with a 5pm UK time kick-off, against a third-placed team from Group E, H, I, J or K. As it stands, England will face Cape Verde in the last 32. Were England to progress from the round of 32, they would face a potential last-16 tie with either Scotland or co-hosts and confirmed Group A winners Mexico in Mexico City on Monday July 6 at 1am UK time. Brazil are potential last-eight opponents on Saturday July 11, while holders Argentina and Lionel Messi could lie in wait in the semi-finals. And then it could be a repeat of Euro 2024 and England vs Spain in the final. As things stand, England will have to do it the hard away if they are to win a first World Cup since 1966. What about Scotland? Scotland's World Cup dreams are hanging in the balance but all is not lost for Steve Clarke's side despite their defeat to Morocco. Clarke and his players now face five-time world champions Brazil at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Wednesday knowing only a win will guarantee them a place in the round of 32. As things stand, Scotland's points tally in Group C would see them qualify as one of the best third-placed teams, but there are no guarantees their current tally of three points would be enough. The Opta Supercomputer predictor currently rates their chances of progressing at just above 70 per cent. So, what could their route be if they qualify as one of those best third-place sides? First up could be a clash with Mexico in the last 32. If successful then there could be a massive rivalry game with England in the last 16. Brazil in the quarter-finals and then Argentina in the semis could be next on Scotland's path. Win those and they could face Spain in the final. # How the third-place battle stands Third-place table Pos. P W D L GD PTS 1 Sweden 2 1 0 1 0 3 2 Scotland 2 1 0 1 0 3 3 Croatia 2 1 0 1 -1 3 4 Algeria 2 1 0 1 -2 3 5 Paraguay 2 1 0 1 -2 3 6 Cabo Verde 2 0 2 0 0 2 7 Belgium 2 0 2 0 0 2 8 Czechia 2 0 1 1 -1 1 9 Congo DR 2 0 1 1 -1 1 10 Ecuador 2 0 1 1 -1 1 11 Bosnia 2 0 1 1 -3 1 12 Senegal 2 0 0 2 -3 0 # Who has already qualified for the knockout rounds? Mexico - Group A winners USA - Group D winners Germany - Group E winners France Norway Argentina - Group J winners Colombia # Which teams have been knocked out of the World Cup? Haiti Turkey Tunisia Jordan Panama # Live group tables ## Group A Pos. P W D L GD PTS 1 Mexico 2 2 0 0 3 6 2 Korea Rep 2 1 0 1 0 3 3 Czechia 2 0 1 1 -1 1 4 South Africa 2 0 1 1 -2 1 Final group matches - Thursday June 25, 2am Czech Republic vs Mexico - Mexico City Stadium, Mexico South Africa vs South Korea - Estadio Chivas, Mexico Mexico have already qualified for the round of 32, with top spot guaranteed. That is because they have a better head-to-head record against South Korea, who cannot finish ahead of them. South Korea will go through via second spot with a point against South Africa - but they will be eliminated if they lose and the Czech Republic beat Mexico. Both South Africa and the Czech Republic are on one point and both teams need a win to reach four points and likely qualify as a third-placed side at least. ### Mexico will face a third-placed team from group C, E, F, H or I in the round of 32. ### The runner-up of Group A will play the runner-up of Group B. # Group B Pos. P W D L GD PTS 1 Canada 2 1 1 0 6 4 2 Switzerland 2 1 1 0 3 4 3 Bosnia 2 0 1 1 -3 1 4 Qatar 2 0 1 1 -6 1 Final group matches - Wednesday June 24, 8pm Switzerland vs Canada - Vancouver, Canada Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Qatar - Seattle, USA It will be a straight shoot-out between Switzerland and Canada for first and second place when the two meet in their final group game. The tournament co-hosts currently top Group B on goal difference after thrashing Qatar. Top spot is crucial for Canada as their round of 32 and a potential round of 16 game would then take place in Vancouver in front of a home crowd. Jesse Marsch's side need a point against the Swiss to secure that spot. Bosnia-Herzegovina and Qatar are both on one point and will be battling to finish third and give themselves a chance of making the knockout rounds with four points. Bosnia can only finish in the top two if Canada lose, they win and then overturn a nine-goal swing in the goal difference column. In the round of 32, the Group B winner will face a third-place team from groups E, F, G, I or J. The Group B runner-up will play the runner-up of Group A. # Group C Pos. P W D L GD PTS 1 Brazil 2 1 1 0 3 4 2 Morocco 2 1 1 0 1 4 3 Scotland 2 1 0 1 0 3 4 Haiti 2 0 0 2 -4 0 Final group matches - Wednesday June 24, 11pm Morocco vs Haiti - Atlanta, USA Scotland vs Brazil - Miami, USA It is still very much all to play for in terms of who can qualify out of Group C. That is unless you're Haiti, who became the first team to be eliminated from the World Cup two defeats from two. For the others, it's a close affair. Brazil are currently top on goal difference. Although teams are ranked by head-to-head record, Brazil's draw with Morocco in the first group game means that goal difference becomes the primary factor with Morocco. A draw will be enough for both Brazil and Morocco to automatically qualify for the round of 32. However, for Morocco to take top spot, they must better Brazil's result or overturn their two-goal deficit in goal difference. As for Scotland, only a win will secure them automatic qualification. A draw would likely be enough to secure one of the eight third-place qualification spots. A defeat could still see them go through, but offers far fewer guarantees. That scenario would come down to how much they lose by... The Group C winner will face the runner-up of Group F in the round of 32. The Group C runner-up will play the winner of Group F. # Group D Pos. P W D L GD PTS 1 USA 2 2 0 0 5 6 2 Australia 2 1 0 1 0 3 3 Paraguay 2 1 0 1 -2 3 4 Turkiye 2 0 0 2 -3 0 Final group matches - Friday June 26, 3am Turkey vs USA - Los Angeles, USA Paraguay vs Australia - Santa Clara, USA The United States became the second host nation to progress to the knockout stages of the World Cup after beating Australia 2-0 in their second group game. It also means they are guaranteed to top the group thanks to their head-to-head record over both Australia and Paraguay. Both those two teams sit on three points and face each other in the final group game. A win or a draw would be enough for either to qualify, and a point guarantees the Socceroos' spot in the knockout stages via second place, thanks to their better goal difference. USA will play the runner-up from any of groups B, E, F, I or J in the round of 32. The Group D runner-up will face the runner-up of Group G. # Group E Pos. P W D L GD PTS 1 Germany 2 2 0 0 7 6 2 Côte d'Ivoire 2 1 0 1 0 3 3 Ecuador 2 0 1 1 -1 1 4 Curaçao 2 0 1 1 -6 1 Final group matches - Thursday June 25, 9pm Curacao vs Ivory Coast - Philadelphia, USA Ecuador vs Germany - New Jersey, USA Germany secured top spot and booked their place in the knockouts after two wins from two. Ivory Coast are still well placed to qualify, following their 1-0 win against Ecuador, and avoiding defeat against Curacao will secure second. But they could also be eliminated if they lose to Curacao and Ecuador beat Germany. Ecuador need to beat Germany and hope Curacao secure an unlikely win against Ivory Coast to have any chance of second. A draw is unlikely to be enough to qualify the South American side as a third-placed team. Curacao know a win over the Ivory Coast is likely to qualify them as a third-placed team at least, and they will finish second if they win and Germany beat Ecuador. Germany will play the third place team from any of groups A, B, C, D or F in the round of 32. The runner-up in Group E will face the runner-up of Group I. # Group F Pos. P W D L GD PTS 1 Netherlands 2 1 1 0 4 4 2 Japan 2 1 1 0 4 4 3 Sweden 2 1 0 1 0 3 4 Tunisia 2 0 0 2 -8 0 Final group matches - Friday June 26, 12am Tunisia vs Netherlands - Kansas City, USA Japan vs Sweden - Arlington, USA One of the more competitive groups at this World Cup. The Netherlands sit at the top on four points and will top the group with a win over already-eliminated Tunisia. But failure to win gives Japan and Sweden the chance to go top, and those two go head-to-head in their final game. The winner definitely qualifies for the knockout stage as the second-placed team. Defeat would leave the fate of Graham Potter's side - via a third-place qualification spot - to chance. A draw in Japan vs Sweden would likely put both sides into the knockout stages, while a defeat for Japan would still probably be enough for them as a third-placed team. In the round of 32, the Group F winner will face the runner-up of Group C. The Group F runner-up will face the winner of Group C. # Group G Pos. P W D L GD PTS 1 Egypt 2 1 1 0 2 4 2 Iran 2 0 2 0 0 2 3 Belgium 2 0 2 0 0 2 4 New Zealand 2 0 1 1 -2 1 Final group matches - Saturday June 27, 4am New Zealand vs Belgium - Vancouver, Canada Egypt vs Iran - Seattle, USA Group G is all to play for. Egypt are top and will officially qualify for the round of 32 if they avoid defeat to Iran, but are pretty much there already as a best third-placed side at least. A win secures top spot for Egypt, but a draw could see them overtaken by Belgium, who would then need to beat New Zealand and overturn a two-goal swing in goal difference. Iran need to match Belgium's result to finish second, while defeat to Egypt will likely see them eliminated. A draw could see them qualify as a third-placed team, but that is not guaranteed. Belgium, meanwhile, know victory will take them through as a top-two side. Like Iran, a draw would leave their fate in the balance. Defeat will see Belgium eliminated if Iran avoid defeat - but two points is also unlikely to be enough as a third-placed team. The Group G winner will face a third-place team from any of groups A, E, H, I or J. The Group G runner-up will play the runner-up of Group D. # Group H Pos. P W D L GD PTS 1 Spain 2 1 1 0 4 4 2 Uruguay 2 0 2 0 0 2 3 Cabo Verde 2 0 2 0 0 2 4 Saudi Arabia 2 0 1 1 -4 1 Final group matches - Saturday June 27, 1am Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia - Houston, USA Uruguay vs Spain - Zapopan, Mexico Spain need to avoid defeat to Uruguay to qualify for the round of 32, with a win securing top spot. Uruguay need to match Cape Verde's result against Saudi Arabia to finish second and qualify automatically. But if there is a winner in the other game, then Uruguay would need to win against Spain to finish in the top two, while a draw would leave their third-placed hopes in the balance. Defeat to Spain would likely eliminate Marcelo Bielsa's side. Cape Verde must better Uruguay's result to finish in the top two. They can even top the group if they beat Saudi Arabia, Spain fail to beat Uruguay and they overturn La Roja's goal difference lead. They can also finish top if they win and do so by a bigger margin than a Uruguay victory over Spain. A draw is enough for the African nation to qualify if Spain beat Uruguay, but any result for Uruguay would mean a draw gives them a nervous wait in the third-placed team qualification process. Saudi Arabia know it's win or bust to reach the round of 32. They will be in the top two if they win and Uruguay fail to beat Spain. But even if Uruguay win, four points would be enough for the Saudis as a third-placed qualifier. The Group H winner will face the runner-up of Group J in the round of 32. The runner-up of Group H will play the winner of group j………… to be continued.
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LAST 32

World Cup 2026 bracket and knockout fixtures - who's facing who in the last 32 and route to final

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The World Cup haa so far been the tournament of superstars like Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane; hydration breaks and the heat have been big talking points, but it has been entertaining with underdogs proving they can compete... The World Cup of the superstar Now that we've seen all 48 teams in action at the World Cup, the picture is beginning to take shape. Some look like genuine contenders, others look capable of being the dark horses and a select few appear to have about as much chance of going deep in this tournament as a cabbage winning a beauty prize. This has been a World Cup so far for moments of genius - where the superstars are coming out to play. No superstar in your ranks, you're going to struggle. Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Luis Diaz are all revelling in the spotlight. Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal have been the cautionary tale that, if your star man is not fit and firing, you will struggle. # 2026 edition on course to break more records The 2026 World Cup was already a record-breaker. More teams, more games and longer than ever before - but the on-field action is also set to go down in history. Milestones were approached, met and passed on Tuesday into Wednesday as the world's best players started scoring goals for fun. Kylian Mbappe became France's all-time record goalscorer with his superb double against Senegal and went two goals behind Miroslav Klose's tournament record of 16. But just a few hours later, Lionel Messi matched that with his hat-trick against Algeria. With at least two more games to come, both Mbappe and Messi could bump Klose down the list. The Argentina captain has also joined Cristiano Ronaldo in appearing at the most World Cups (6), beating Lothar Matthaus' previous record of five. Harry Kane matched Gary Lineker (10) as England's highest scorer at a World Cup with his double against Croatia. He already has the overall record for the Three Lions. If England go all the way to the final, Kane will close in on Peter Shilton's all-time appearance record of 125 caps. The Bayern striker matched David Beckham's 115 caps in Wednesday's opener. And aside from the most kilts at a baseball game in history, there was another Scottish record: at 31 years and 238 days, John McGinn is the oldest player to score for Scotland at the World Cup, surpassing Kenny Dalglish (31y 103d). Joe Jordan is Scotland's highest-ever scorer at a World Cup with four goals - not entirely out of reach. Charlotte Marsh # European teams struggle in the heat Many questions were asked pre-tournament about how the conditions would impact teams not used to competing in such a climate. The answer is: dramatically. The heat, humidity and hydration breaks have been a talking point. Before the tournament, only one European team had ever won the World Cup held outside of the continent. The opening round of games has shown that we may be looking at a familiar tale. In the opening 13 games involving European nations against teams from other continents, just five were victorious - Germany against Curacao, Scotland against Haiti, France against Senegal, Norway against Iraq and Austria against Jordan. Spain, Turkey, Switzerland, Belgium and Portugal were among those who were favourites in their openers and failed to pick up the win. Those that played in closed-roof stadiums that had air conditioning shouldn't have been affected as heavily, but they were. Teams have taken different approaches to try and adjust, and it may just be a case of being patient and taking time to adapt. But for the majority of European sides, the heat has been too hot to handle and they are now on the back foot. Callum Bishop # Hydration breaks shifting momentum Hydration breaks have become a fixed feature of the matchday experience, regardless of whether a stadium is open-air or under a closed roof. Every game has seen a three-minute break in each half as players gather in the technical area to take on fluids and are able to talk to their coaching staff. Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk questioned their regular use: "If it's really hot, it makes sense - but you have to look at each game separately But are hydration breaks changing the flow of games? Momentum often shifts sharply in the minutes immediately after the restart. Morocco flipped final-third dominance in both halves during their 1-1 draw with Brazil - despite Vinicius Junior equalising against the run of play in the 32nd minute. Germany were wobbling with the scores at 1-1 against minnows Curacao going into the first-half hydration break before restoring complete dominance in a 7-1 win. The impact, clearly, isn't neutral. Some sides are using the break to seize control, while others lose their grip entirely. The data below tracks how momentum has swung for every team in the 10 minutes after play resumes. Norway shifted attacking momentum in their favour and scored shortly after both hydration breaks during a 4-1 victory against Iraq. Of course, attacking momentum can shift but teams are also hitting opponents on the break swiftly after taking on fluids. Australia scored both of their goals from transitions after hydration time-outs in their 2-0 win over Turkey. Adam Smith # Pre-tournament concerns of dull group games prove unfounded The only thing making fans yawn watching the World Cup so far has been the tough kick-off times for much of the opening round of fixtures (at least in the UK and Europe), with the games themselves serving up a feast of football over the past week. An average of 3.12 goals scored per game so far is the highest of any World Cup to date, calming fears of a lack of jeopardy owing to the easier means of knock-out qualification and searing heat in parts of the Americas. A timely report published by CIES Football Observatory on Wednesday, charting more than 10,000 professional matches, found players run on average a kilometre less in 35-degree heat than in matches played in 15-degree conditions, with energy and intensity naturally taking a dip. But despite the heat reaching those figures across of a number of the games so far, the football itself has been as enthralling as ever - and done sufficient talking to distract from the unsavoury off-field issues which threatened to overshadow the early matches. Ron Walker # Teams struggling for rhythm on dry MetLife pitch The MetLife Stadium pitch is already a talking point after just two games. The surface in New Jersey, where the final will be played on July 19, has come in for criticism following group games involving France and Brazil. The 78,576-capacity stadium normally hosts NFL games involving the New York Giants and Jets on an artificial surface , but has had a temporary grass pitch installed for the tournament. However, the quality of the surface in New York has been criticised by both Adrien Rabiot and Vinicius Junior. "The pitch... I don't even know if you can call it that. It felt more like an artificial surface - quite hard and quite rigid," Rabiot said after Les Bleus' 3-1 win against Senegal on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Vinicius also questioned the pitch's dryness following Brazil's 1-1 draw with Morocco, saying: "In the second half, with the heat, the pitch dries out very quickly. The game becomes very sluggish and we can't get into our rhythm." This will certainly be one to monitor during the rest of the tournament, with the next fixture there Senegal against Norway on June 22, while England's final Group L clash against Panama on June 27 also takes place in New Jersey. Rich Morgan Don't underestimate the smaller nations This summer's expanded tournament has given four countries - Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan - a first-ever World Cup opportunity, while the lowest-ranked country - New Zealand - are taking part for the third time. Many had those five down as the whipping boys. But an abundance of spirit, heart and fearlessness means that has been far from the reality for some. Admittedly, Curacao were hit for seven by Germany, but it was 1-1 for 17 minutes after Livano Comenencia cancelled out Felix Nmecha's opener. New Zealand - managed by Englishman Darren Bazeley - twice took the lead against Iran in a thrilling 2-2 draw. Jordan gave Austria a scare, despite going on to lose 3-1. It was Cape Verde, though, who produced one of the biggest shocks in the entire history of the tournament by holding favourites Spain to a goalless draw, with 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha the hero. None of these nations will win the tournament. But this is a wonderful opportunity to show they are not just there to make up the numbers. Dan Long 'Snicko' awards Sweden goal vs Tunisia Sweden's fourth goal in Monday's 5-1 victory over Tunisia was awarded after a VAR review aided by ball-tracking technology similar to cricket's Snickometer. Substitute Mattias Svanberg scored just 18 seconds after coming on but the goal was initially ruled out for offside, with officials judging the midfielder to have been beyond the last defender when the free-kick was delivered. However, using waveform technology linked to the match ball, more commonly known as 'Snicko', officials determined that Sweden striker Alexander Isak had made a slight touch before it reached Svanberg, who was onside as a result The Adidas Trionda match ball is fitted with a microchip as part of the company's Connected Ball Technology. The system records every touch of the ball and transmits the data instantly to VAR officials, helping them make more accurate decisions. Replays shown after the review displayed a sensor waveform that spiked as the ball passed Isak's outstretched foot, confirming contact that was difficult to detect with the naked eye. The technology has previously played a role at major international tournaments, including the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the system helped determine that Bruno Fernandes, rather than Cristiano Ronaldo, scored Portugal's opening goal in a 2-0 victory over Uruguay. Although Ronaldo celebrated as if he had headed Fernandes' cross, the data showed he had not touched the ball. A similar review was also used at Euro 2024, where Belgium had a goal disallowed against Slovakia after the technology detected a touch in the build-up. David Richardson Kick-off delays have become a theme Kick-off delays are a rare occurrence on British shores but they have happened repeatedly during the tournament. It has become the norm for games to start several minutes later than scheduled. The first fixture of the tournament between Mexico and South Africa set the tone, kicking off six minutes later than planned following the opening ceremony. The theme continued with a three-minute delay ahead of France's win over Senegal on Tuesday. Some say it is down to cultural differences, with slightly delayed start times not unusual in American sports. Others might argue FIFA have underestimated the time required to carry out the various elements of their preferred pre-match pageantry. But it is another quirk of a tournament which also features hydration breaks, unusually lengthy periods of first-half stoppage time, and a general loosening of the game's traditional time constraints.
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GENERAL

World Cup 2026: What have we learned from the first round of group stage fixtures in the USA, Canada and Mexico?

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# Tottenham transfer news: Spurs' Luka Vuskovic dilemma as two Brighton bids rejected after Jan Paul van Hecke deal agreed Tottenham have agreed a deal to sign Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton worth £52m; The defender worked with Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton, playing 50 games under the Italian; Van Hecke is set to join Marcos Senesi as Spurs look to revamp their defence. Tottenham have a dilemma on their hands with Luka Vuskovic after rejecting two offers from Brighton for the teenage centre-back. The 19-year-old, who established himself as one of Europe's best young defenders on loan at Hamburg, wants to be a regular starter now but is not interested in another temporary move. Brighton's latest offer was for £35m and Sky Sports News understands that they will not go back in with a fresh proposal immediately despite agreeing a deal to sell central defender Jan Paul van Hecke to Spurs for £52m on Tuesday. Vuskovic's prospects of being a first-team regular at Spurs next season appear slim now, with Van Hecke set to join and Marcos Senesi already signed this summer. If Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero stay, Vuskovic will realistically be Spurs' fifth choice. Romero's future is uncertain, just as it was last summer before he signed a new deal, but it remains to be seen if there are any clubs that would pay enough to convince Spurs to sell. There is a real feeling at Spurs that Vuskovic could become one of the best defenders in the world but that he is not quite ready to make that step to being a regular starter in the Premier League. There are parallels to the situation Arsenal had with William Saliba. The France international had three loans in Ligue 1 before being fully integrated into the first-team picture and becoming one of the Premier League's best defenders. Spurs have plans to spend big this summer and, naturally, that will lead to player sales. However, in an ideal world, they will raise funds elsewhere on players who are not part of De Zerbi's future plans. Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic says it is important that Vuskovic finds a club where he will play regularly. Spurs agree but can only offer a loan. Brighton can give the teenager what he wants but are unwilling to overpay. This situation could rumble on. Spurs agree Van Hecke deal The deal for Van Hecke is believed to be around £52m and the player has expressed his desire to play under 'father figure' Roberto De Zerbi. The centre-back only wanted to join Tottenham. De Zerbi and Van Hecke worked together at Brighton The Netherlands international defender has one year left on his contract at Brighton and played under De Zerbi between 2023 and 2024. The Seagulls would be making considerable profit on the 26-year-old, having signed him for £1.8m from NAC Breda in 2020. It is understood Brighton have negotiated a 20 per cent sell on clause in the move. The signing is part of a huge few weeks planned at Tottenham, with the club determined to back De Zerbi in the market and major changes planned.
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GENERAL

TRANSFER

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Norway - Erling Haaland scores twice on tournament debut as Stale Solbakken's side make winning start Match report from the World Cup 2026 Group I match between Iraq and Norway at Boston Stadium; Man City striker Erling Haaland scored twice on his first-ever appearance in the competition; Leo Ostigard scored the third for Stale Solbakken's side before Aymen Hussein's late own goal Erling Haaland starred on his World Cup debut, scoring twice to help Norway to a 4-1 win over Iraq in Boston. The Manchester City striker was kept quiet in the first 28 minutes - with the sum of his chances a towering header that went well over the bar - but he was soon off the mark when he tapped in a square ball from Wolves defender David Moller Wolfe. It was the 11th competitive appearance in which he had scored for Norway, dating back to November 2024, but also his 51st senior international goal in just 56 appearances. Aymen Hussein - who was held and questioned for around seven hours by authorities when he arrived in the US earlier this month - then levelled with a brilliant header 10 minutes later. It was only Iraq's second-ever World Cup goal and their first in 40 years. But just before the break, Haaland chased down Zaid Tahseen's weak pass back to goalkeeper Jalal Hassan, nipped in front and tapped home to quickly restore Norway's lead with goal number 52. The second half largely lacked the excitement of the first. At times, the tempo slowed to that of a training match. But with 14 minutes of the 90 left to play, substitute Leo Ostigard was able to run unchallenged to meet Martin Odegaard's corner and head home. And deep into stoppage time, they managed a fourth when Haaland's towering header was turned over the line by the unfortunate Hussein at the far post. The victory puts them top of Group I on goal difference following France's 3-1 win over Senegal in the earlier game. # The key most from boston 13: Iraq's Ali Al-Hamadi fires over under pressure from Torbjorn Heggem. 20: OVER! Erling Haaland leaps to meet a corner but heads well clear of the target. 29: GOAL! Haaland scores his first World Cup goal by tapping in David Moller Wolfe's cross. 31: CHANCE! Haaland opts to tee up Alexander Sorloth instead of going alone. His shot is blocked. 37: Martin Odegaard fires wide from 20 yards. 39: GOAL! Aymen Hussein levels with bullet header. 43: GOAL! Haaland takes advantage of a defensive error to score his second. 53: Hussein meets a lovely cross from Ibrahim Bayesh, but can't get the header on target. 65: Hussein Ali latches onto a cross, then lifts an effort onto the roof of the net. 76: GOAL! Leo Ostigard runs, leaps and heads home Odegaard's corner. 83: CHANCE! Haaland passes up a chance to complete his hat-trick by firing straight at Jalal Hassan. 90+7: GOAL! Hussein's own goal extends Norway's lead in the final seconds. # Analysis: Haaland takes to a new competition with ease - again The Austrian Bundesliga, the Bundesliga, the Premier League, the Champions League. Everywhere Erling Haaland has gone, in every competition he has played in, he has settled immediately. So it was perhaps no surprise one of the world's most fearsome strikers would take to the World Cup like a duck to water, too. Less than 30 minutes into his tournament debut - and Norway's first appearance since 1998 - he was off the mark with a tap-in. Before the break, he had taken advantage of a calamitous error to score another. He played a part in the fourth goal, too. And all that with just 20 touches throughout the entirety of the game in Boston. That is nothing new, but it is a reminder of the devastating impact he can have without touching the ball. The 25-year-old is among the favourites for the Golden Boot and it is easy to see why. You would not bet against him making significant progress towards the all-time record of 16 World Cup goals, either...
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GENERAL

World Cup 2026: Iraq 1-4

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• Algeria - Lionel Messi scores stunning hat-trick to draw level in all-time World Cup scoring charts Match report as Lionel Messi registered his first World Cup hat-trick while moving level in the tournaments all-time scoring charts with Germany's Miroslav Klose; it meant defending champions Argentina got off to a dominant defence of their title, overpowering Algeria in a 3-0 win The eyes of the world were mesmerised by the untouchable Lionel Messi as he wrote himself into history by scoring a stunning hat-trick to give Argentina the perfect start to their World Cup title defence, beating Algeria 3-0 in Kansas. The game was an exhibition of Messi's talent on his favourite stage of all. Sharp and unerring, he was a level above every other player on the park. Perhaps, even, a class above any other to grace a World Cup finals. His treble ensured he drew level in the all-time scoring charts with Germany's Miroslav Klose on 16 tournament goals, also becoming the the oldest player to score multiple times in a World Cup match, surpassing Roger Milla's record. The 38-year-old was ably supported by Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and club team-mate Rodrigo De Paul, but the night firmly belonged to him as he scored a trio of epic goals in a display that will be talked about for decades. His 61st career hat-trick. The first was engineered by De Paul, delivering a cutting through ball to Messi in the pocket, and he shaped a lovely strike beyond Luca Zidane - son of France legend Zinedine Zidane. Having been fortunate to avoid a red card for a challenge on Aissa Mandi, Messi's second arrived early in the second half, turning home a parried effort from Mac Allister, before the third from the edge of the area, a low, bending strike, gave him his crowning moment. He was subbed off to a standing ovation shortly after from a heavily pro-Argentina crowd. But even those of an Algerian persuasion will no doubt have been delighted to witness the great magician at work. A glimpse of history up close and personal. The goals came 20 years to the day that the No 10 made his World Cup debut for Argentina in a match against Serbia and Montenegro - he scored in that one, too. "At a loss for words about Leo. What can I say?" Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni reflected. "He's incredible." The key moments from Kansas City... The fixture will be remembered for Messi's incredible hat-trick to guide his side to victory, but there was one controversial moment intertwined amongst his masterclass. 17: GOAL! Messi took De Paul's cutting pass on the half turn and bent a sumptuous strike into the top corner. 32: RED CARD? Messi avoids red card after raking his studs down the calf of Algeria's Mandi. 60: GOAL! The No 10 pounced on a parried effort from Mac Allister, steering home with his weaker right foot. 76: GOAL! Messi's hat-trick is complete, arriving on the edge of the box to curl expertly inside the post. Should Messi have been sent off? Hat-trick hero Lionel Messi guided Argentina to a 3-0 win against Algeria, but should he have been sent off in the first half? After firing in the opener, Messi battled for possession and raked his studs down the calf of Algeria defender Aissa Mandi. Referee Szymon Marciniak blew for a foul but did not caution Messi, while VAR also did not appear to check the incident. IFAB rules state a player should be sent off for a tackle that "endagers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force". It also states that any player who lunges at an opponent with "excessive force or endangers their safety" is guilty of serious foul play. Messi went on to complete his hat-trick in the second half with two more goals in 16 minutes. So, it's time to have your say! Should Messi have seen red in the first half before his historic hat-trick? Let us know! Messi: World Cup hat-trick the 'cherry on top' Argentina captain Lionel Messi: "It makes me very happy to have lived through everything that came my way. What I'm living though now is the cherry on top. "I'm very happy and grateful for this wonderful group. I enjoy it so much." He added: "When I'm in good shape, I give it my all." Sky Sports' Laura Hunter: A team performance to ignite a nation's hopes of back-to-back glory. An individual display to revere for many years to come. 38 years young, Lionel Messi's influence at a World Cup finals has never been more keenly felt. Beyond his goals, which were all deftly taken, he took the most shots (six) and registered the joint-most touches in the opposition box (four) - both metrics he would be expected to top. But his work rate was equally noticeable, akin to the industry of a player half his age. Only De Paul and Fernandez made more tackles for Argentina. He won three duels in the middle of the park. He offered seven passes into the final third for team-mates. This global superstar has surely outdone even his own elite standards in game one of a tournament where his fitness was in doubt. His 200th international cap was no more than a celebration of the greatest footballer of all time. Remarkably, Messi has never won a World Cup Golden Boot before. This, his last last dance on the world stage, is surely the time to correct that.
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HAT-TRICK

World Cup 2026: Argentina 3-

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2 months ago

Very rarely in life do we get an opportunity to say goodbye in real time. The end often comes before we know it's the case. But, as he enters his sixth and final World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo may well be saying goodbye to the footballing world. Five Champions Leagues. Five Ballons d'Or. Domestic success in four different countries. He has two Nations League titles and a European Championship as well. All that eludes him is the famous gold trophy. If he doesn't win it, the World Cup probably won't be his curtain call. His obsession with greatness means that he probably won't let go of the 1000 goals landmark that he is currently 27 away from. Imagine if he does do it, though. Could there be a better ending? Regardless, the most-capped international player will likely never feature on a global stage like this again. In that sense, this is a last dance for an all-time great. it is to be the end, Ronaldo will leave behind an intriguing legacy at the world's biggest tournament. A legacy in which he could have several milestones to his name, yet is still rather unfulfilled. What records are there still to be won? After this summer, only Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will have played at six World Cups. However, should he find the net at least once, he will do what he wasn't able to at the Euros two years ago and become the first player to score at six different World Cups. As for appearances in total, Messi currently leads the way with 26. Ronaldo is four behind on 22. It is impossible to think that Messi doesn't feature for Argentina. But on the slim chance the defending champions get knocked out in the group stages, he could only climb to 29 appearances. Ronaldo can surpass that tally if Portugal go all the way and he appears in every game. He could also surpass the Argentine in the rankings for the oldest goalscorer in a World Cup final. Messi is second behind Sweden's Nils Liedholm who was 35 years and 264 days old when he netted in the 1958 final. Ronaldo will be 41 years, 5 months and 14 days old come July 19, meaning he would smash the pre-existing record. That is also true to the oldest player in a World Cup final, with the current record standing at 40 years and 133 days courtesy of Dino Zoff. The final record he may have his eye on is the oldest goalscorer in the competition's history across all games, an accolade that currently resides with former team-mate Pepe. Does this World Cup define Ronaldo's international legacy? Let's say that Ronaldo claims all the aforementioned records. That will mean he has six records to his name. That's no mean feat. But to do that he has to reach the final. If he doesn't he can only claim three of them. Still impressive, but perhaps not enough to overshadow his relatively disappointing track record in this competition. Ronaldo has never made it past the semi-final. The only time he got to the final four was his first World Cup in 2006. Two decades ago. As for his record of scoring in five consecutive World Cups, when you take into account he has only scored eight and failed to score more than once in four of his tournaments, there is this sense of wanting more from the face of a generation. That's not all his own fault. Portugal's squads in 2010 and 2014 weren't particularly strong and were never likely to be pushing to reach the latter stages of the competition. But that's where you need your superstar to produce moments. What Ronaldo moments have there truly been at World Cups? Only two spring to mind. His unquestionably fabulous hat-trick against Spain in 2018. Other than that, all he really has is that infamous wink after Wayne Rooney was sent off in the 2006 quarter-final. Compare that to Messi for example. Not only has he gotten his hands on the trophy, he nearly single-handedly dragged Argentina to glory eight years earlier in 2014. It's hard to criticise Ronaldo in any aspect. Especially when it comes to international football. Nobody has more caps. Nobody has more goals. He was inspirational on and off the pitch in 2016. Yet, in World Cups, it has never happened for him. This is his final time to change that narrative, or it will linger with him forever. Could Ronaldo be more of a hindrance to Portugal's chances? Regardless of his World Cup track record, Roberto Martinez had to include Ronaldo in his squad. Not doing so would've caused greater headaches. However, if there is an insistence on him still being the be-all and end-all of this group of players, it could become problematic. His chase and subsequent failure to score in the last Euros was the main talking point of the team's tournament. The reality is, with stars like Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha and Joao Neves arguably coming off their best seasons to date, the need to rely on Ronaldo is less than ever before. As Portuguese football expert Kevin Fernandes told Sky Sports: "Ronaldo will always be the star, but footballing-wise, is an asset for Portugal and not the main protagonist. For the benefit of his country, one of the most clinical finishers of all time should be concentrating on providing the final touch as an elite poacher, while not looking to disrupt the flow of Portuguese attacks with an incessant need for the ball. "As strange as it sounds to say, Ronaldo should be seen precisely as an asset - not as untouchable, given his limitations in the press and the characteristics of team-mates to provide further dynamism in Portugal's attack." Is that the role Ronaldo will want this summer? No - that's not in his DNA. Truthfully, no one will care if it leads to glory. If he can score for a sixth consecutive tournament and then be pictured holding the trophy at the end of the it, no one will remember that he played an inferior role. All they will remember is that in his final act, Cristiano Ronaldo brought Portugal their first World Cup and, if this is the case, said farewell to the beautiful game with no stone unturned.
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GENERAL

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to compete in his sixth and final World Cup; Portugal kick off their campaign on Wednesday against DR Congo; Sky Sports' Callum Bishop analyses what records Ronaldo could still walk away with and question what the Portugal great's legacy at the tournament is

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Bernardo Silva has signed for Real Madrid; the midfielder's contract at Manchester City expired this summer; Silva has signed a two-year deal at the LaLiga club; the 31-year-old joins Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella in signing following the appointment of Jose Mourinho Bernardo Silva won six Premier League titles and one Champions League during his nine seasons with Man City Real Madrid have signed former Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva on a free transfer. The 31-year-old's contract at City expired at the end of last season, which brought to a close his trophy-laden nine-year stay at the club. Silva has signed a two-year deal at Real, who have already added Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella in a £51.8m and extended the contract of centre-back Antonio Rudiger following the return of head coach Jose Mourinho. Barcelona and Atletico Madrid also made offers to Silva, but he opted to accept Real Madrid's. Silva scored 76 goals in 460 appearances for City after joining from Monaco in 2017. He played a key part in winning six Premier League titles and one Champions League among 16 major trophies during his time at the club. Silva captained City in his final season and played in all 38 of their Premier League matches as they finished second, winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. He is set to feature for Portugal at the World Cup in their opening Group K match against DR Congo on Wednesday evening. Real Madrid have made a busy start to the summer with deals for free agent Ibrahima Konate and Denzel Dumfries set to be announced after landing Cucurella on a six-year deal. The fee for the defender is £47.5m plus £4.3m in add-ons, with the potential to rise to £51.8m in total. Chelsea signed Cucurella from Brighton four years ago for £63m. The 27-year-old made 163 appearances for the club, winning the Conference League and Club World Cup. Multiple clubs were interested in signing him but the former Barcelona full-back wanted to join Real Madrid. He had been linked with a return to Barca, as well as Atletico Madrid and Manchester City. Cucurella's move to Real Madrid is totally separate from any possible move for midfielder Enzo Fernandez to the same club. Fernandez said in an interview back in April that he would welcome living in Madrid. #premierleague BREAKING Bernardo Silva has signed for Real Madrid; the midfielder's contract at Manchester City expired this summer; Silva has signed a two-year deal at the LaLiga club; the 31-year-old joins Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella in signing following the appointment of Jose Mourinho Bernardo Silva won six Premier League titles and one Champions League during his nine seasons with Man City Real Madrid have signed former Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva on a free transfer. The 31-year-old's contract at City expired at the end of last season, which brought to a close his trophy-laden nine-year stay at the club. Silva has signed a two-year deal at Real, who have already added Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella in a £51.8m and extended the contract of centre-back Antonio Rudiger following the return of head coach Jose Mourinho. Barcelona and Atletico Madrid also made offers to Silva, but he opted to accept Real Madrid's. Silva scored 76 goals in 460 appearances for City after joining from Monaco in 2017. He played a key part in winning six Premier League titles and one Champions League among 16 major trophies during his time at the club. Silva captained City in his final season and played in all 38 of their Premier League matches as they finished second, winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. He is set to feature for Portugal at the World Cup in their opening Group K match against DR Congo on Wednesday evening. Real Madrid have made a busy start to the summer with deals for free agent Ibrahima Konate and Denzel Dumfries set to be announced after landing Cucurella on a six-year deal. The fee for the defender is £47.5m plus £4.3m in add-ons, with the potential to rise to £51.8m in total. Chelsea signed Cucurella from Brighton four years ago for £63m. The 27-year-old made 163 appearances for the club, winning the Conference League and Club World Cup. Multiple clubs were interested in signing him but the former Barcelona full-back wanted to join Real Madrid. He had been linked with a return to Barca, as well as Atletico Madrid and Manchester City. Cucurella's move to Real Madrid is totally separate from any possible move for midfielder Enzo Fernandez to the same club. Fernandez said in an interview back in April that he would welcome living in Madrid.
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EVERYTHING CONFIRMED

BREAKING

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# Let's be honest, many fans only care about a select few players at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Tuesday's slate of games includes squads from Groups I and J, which featured several of those stars. It's safe to say they didn't disappoint. Below, we take a closer look at that and more in our takeaways from the games. Argentina forward Lionel Messi isn't running on fumes Messi, who turns 39 on June 24, may be playing in his last World Cup. If his record sixth dance at the tournament is his last, he's giving it a chance to be the best one. Messi, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner as the best soccer player in the world, earned his first hat trick at the World Cup in a 3-0 Group J win over Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. He's now tied with former German star Miroslav Klose for the most goals (16) in World Cup history. The accomplishment drew praise from Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and other sports stars on social media. Entering the tournament, several questions surrounded Messi's health. Many wondered if a left hamstring injury he battled throughout his club season with MLS outfit Inter Miami would hamper him. It doesn't appear to be doing so. That's good news for Argentina, which is aiming to repeat as World Cup champions. Messi being the driving force in these efforts would be the potential swansong for his career. Tuesday's performance could be the beginning of that. Mbappe, 27, remains a polarizing figure, but Tuesday's performance reminded fans he's one of the best players in the tournament, perhaps even the best. Outside of Kylian Mbappe's heroics, France's World Cup opener was underwhelming Mbappe's virtuoso performance overshadowed France's sloppy first half. Per ESPN, Les Bleus' expected goal rate after the first half was abysmal at 0.02. Fox analyst/former American star Landon Donovan chided the side for its lack of effort in the first half. "France, arrogant, a little casual, just sort of going through motions," Donovan said before halftime during the broadcast (h/t Awful Announcing Brendon Kleen). Perhaps France thought it was just a much better team. FIFA ranks the squad No. 2 in the world. However, it can't keep underestimating its competition for the rest of the tournament. If it does, it could have another lackadaisical start. And if Mbappe doesn't save the team, that could spell trouble. Let's treat Norway more seriously Norway hasn't played in the World Cup since 1998. The side made it worth the long wait for Scandinavian fans on Tuesday. Led by striker Erling Haaland, who scored two goals, Norway dismantled Iraq 4-1 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Sure, beating a team ranked No. 60 by FIFA will impress few. That said, Tuesday shows when Norway plays at its best, it's one of the toughest outs in the tournament, making it a dark horse. Plus, Haaland stars for the country. While he may not be as high-profile as Messi or Mbappe, he's clearly of a similar skill level. Players on or close to that tier can take a team a long way in the World Cup.
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GENERAL

World Cup 2026 Tuesday takeaways: Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland shine bright on star-studded day.

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