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  • Spain Are World Champions: Argentina Beaten 1-0 in Extra Time

    Spain Are World Champions: Argentina Beaten 1-0 in Extra Time

    East Rutherford, New Jersey, July 19, 2026 – Spain have won their second World Cup title, sixteen years after their 2010 triumph. At MetLife Stadium, La Roja edged defending champions Argentina 1-0, with the final decided in extra time through a Ferran Torres goal in the 106th minute.


    The Match
    The regulation 90 minutes ended goalless, with Luis de la Fuente’s Spain dominating possession and territory but unable to break down a well-organized Argentina defense. The turning point came in extra time: in the 90th+3 minute, Argentina were reduced to ten men after Enzo Fernandez picked up a second yellow card, and Spain made their numerical advantage count with Torres’s decisive strike in the 106th minute.
    For Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina, the dream of back-to-back titles ends here, following their 2022 triumph in Qatar. A repeat win would have made them the first nation to defend the World Cup since Brazil in 1962.


    The Standouts
    Pau Cubarsi was named Best Young Player of the tournament, delivering a crucial defensive clearance late in extra time. The Golden Glove award, won by Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez in 2022, went elsewhere this time.
    In Saturday’s third-place match in Miami, England beat France 6-4 in a thriller, powered by a hat-trick from Bukayo Saka.


    The Verdict
    With this win, Spain confirm their status as reigning European and World champions, echoing the golden generation’s historic double from 2010–2012. For Argentina, it caps an outstanding run that fell just short in the final act of a tournament that also saw Lionel Messi close in on the all-time World Cup scoring record.
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  • Three Lions Edge Past Mexico: Late Strike Seals Quarterfinal Spot

    Three Lions Edge Past Mexico: Late Strike Seals Quarterfinal Spot

    A high-stakes, thrilling encounter determined one of the most anticipated matchups of the 2026 World Cup Round of 16. Following ninety minutes of intense football, England edged past Mexico with a hard-fought 2-1 victory, securing their ticket to the quarterfinals and ending El Tri’s campaign.

    The breakthrough came in the first half courtesy of a perfectly timed run from the English midfield. However, Mexico responded like a true heavyweight, fighting back with passion and technical brilliance to score a well-deserved equalizer that sent the stadium into a frenzy. Just as extra time appeared inevitable, a dramatic late strike in the final minutes sealed the 2-1 win, keeping the World Cup dream alive for the Three Lions.

  • Erling Haaland Stuns Brazil with Late Brace as Norway Reach First-Ever World Cup Quarterfinal

    Erling Haaland Stuns Brazil with Late Brace as Norway Reach First-Ever World Cup Quarterfinal

    Norway pulled off one of the biggest shocks of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, beating five-time champions Brazil 2-1 in the Round of 16 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

    The match was goalless and short on clear chances for long periods, with Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland the standout performer of the first half. He saved a tame penalty from Bruno Guimarães after a stuttered run-up, then produced a stunning stop to deny a potential Kristoffer Ajer own goal moments later, keeping the score level at the break.

    The deadlock was finally broken in the 79th minute when Erling Haaland rose above Arsenal defender Gabriel to head home a cross beyond Alisson. The Manchester City striker doubled his tally in the 90th minute with a low, precise strike from outside the box that found the far corner, sending the Norwegian bench into wild celebrations. Substitute Neymar, playing just his second match of the tournament, pulled one back with a stoppage-time penalty, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation.

    The result marks a historic first World Cup quarterfinal for Norway, who reached the knockout stages for only the third time ever after 1938 and 1998 — the latter also featuring a win over Brazil. Remarkably, Norway remain the only nation never to have lost to Brazil, now having beaten them three times and drawn twice across their history.

    For Haaland, the brace brings his tournament tally to seven goals, level with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe at the top of the Golden Boot race. Norway will now face England in the quarterfinals.

  • Morocco Thrash Canada 3-0 to Reach the Quarterfinals: First African Nation to Do It Twice in a Row

    Morocco Thrash Canada 3-0 to Reach the Quarterfinals: First African Nation to Do It Twice in a Row

    A Ounahi brace and a late Rahimi strike send the Atlas Lions through, as the first of the three host nations bows out. Morocco now await the winner of France vs. Paraguay.

    HOUSTON — Morocco continue to write history for African football at the World Cup. In the match that opened the Round of 16, the Atlas Lions thrashed Canada 3-0, sending the first of the tournament’s three host nations home and reaching the quarterfinals for the second consecutive edition — a feat no African nation had ever achieved before.

    A tight first half, then the second-half explosion

    At Houston Stadium, in front of a packed crowd celebrating the Fourth of July, Jesse Marsch’s Canada came out with intent: Jonathan David and Oluwaseyi both tested the Moroccan defense early on, only to find a sharp Bounou standing in their way. The first half ended goalless, with Canada running hard and staying organized without consistently threatening, while Morocco looked short of their usual sharpness.

    Everything changed after the break. In the 50th minute came the breakthrough: from a set-piece move orchestrated by captain Hakimi, Azzedine Ounahi controlled and finished with a precise strike that beat Crépeau. From there, Morocco grew in confidence and began to punish Canada on the counterattack.

    Ounahi’s show, then Rahimi seals it

    The second goal also came from Ounahi’s boot: in the 82nd minute, off a lightning-quick counter started by Brahim Diaz, the former Marseille midfielder found himself one-on-one with the Canadian goalkeeper and made no mistake, completing his brace. Canada tried to respond through David and Buchanan but lacked precision. Morocco came close to a third when Rahimi struck the crossbar in the 85th minute, before finally getting their goal in second-half stoppage time: a clinical counterattack finished off by the striker, who had come on at the start of the second half for an injured Saibari.

    A record-breaking qualification

    With this win, Morocco reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the second straight edition, becoming the first African nation in history to do so more than once. It’s further proof of a side that eliminated the Netherlands on penalties in the Round of 32 after a 1-1 draw in regulation, and one of the most solid teams of the tournament, conceding just 8.3 shots per game on average.

    For Canada, the run ends here — though it’s still a historic achievement for the co-hosts, who had reached the Round of 16 for the first time in their history after beating South Africa in the previous round thanks to Eustaquio’s 92nd-minute winner.

    Next up: the winner of France vs. Paraguay

    Morocco now await the result of France vs. Paraguay, played later the same evening in Philadelphia, to learn their quarterfinal opponent on July 9. A ruthless and mature side, Morocco converted three of their five shots on target into goals.

    Canada (4-4-2): Crepeau; Johnston, Bombito, De Fougerolles, Laryea; Buchanan, Sigur, Eustaquio, Ahmed (Promise David); J. David, Oluwaseyi. Coach: Marsch.

    Morocco (4-2-3-1): Bounou; Hakimi, Diop, Halhal, Mazraoui; Bouaddi, El Aynaoui; Brahim Diaz, Ounahi, El Khannouss; Saibari (Rahimi). Coach: Ouahbi.

  • Egypt Make History: Salah and Co. Eliminate Australia on Penalties (5-3)

    Egypt Make History: Salah and Co. Eliminate Australia on Penalties (5-3)

    The Pharaohs reach the Round of 16 for the first time since 1934. Salah’s cheeky Panenka-style penalty and misses from Souttar and Herrington prove decisive.

    DALLAS — It took 120 minutes and a penalty shootout, but Egypt wrote a new page in their history. On spot kicks, the Pharaohs beat Australia 5-3 to reach the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, where they will face the winner of Argentina vs. Cape Verde. It’s a milestone Egypt hadn’t reached since 1934.

    Ashour breaks the deadlock, Hany turns it into his own net

    In Arlington, the match sparked into life after a quarter of an hour: in the 13th minute, a free kick from the left allowed Hafez to whip in a cross that found the head of Emam Ashour, who steered it home to put Egypt ahead. Tony Popovic’s Socceroos responded but struggled to find a way through, despite hitting the crossbar early on through Volpato.

    The equalizer did come, though through misfortune for the Africans. In the 55th minute, from another Australian free kick, Mohamed Hany inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net — the second own goal of the tournament for the Egyptian defender, following a similar incident against Belgium.

    No goals in extra time, penalties decide it

    Egypt’s late push wasn’t enough to avoid extra time: in the 94th minute, Beach produced a stunning save to deny a Rabia header, while early in extra time Salah wasted a golden chance set up by Marmoush, blazing over the bar from a promising position. The scoreline held, and the match went to penalties.

    Before the shootout, Australian coach Popovic made the bold call to bring on substitute goalkeeper Ryan in place of a in-form Beach. The gamble didn’t pay off: the first to miss was Andrew Souttar, who blazed over the bar. Salah, by contrast, was ice-cool from the spot, chipping a delicate Panenka down the middle to beat the goalkeeper. Young Nestory Herrington’s effort also went begging, cannoning off the crossbar. Abdelmaguid then stepped up to send Ryan the wrong way and complete the 5-3 shootout win, sparking wild celebrations among the Pharaohs.

    A historic qualification

    This marks only the second time Egypt has reached a World Cup knockout round, following their 4-2 defeat to Hungary all the way back in 1934. It caps a group stage in which Hossam Hassan’s side recorded their longest unbeaten run in the competition’s history (three matches) and picked up their first-ever World Cup group-stage win.

    For Australia, the tournament ends in heartbreak after a toothless finish in front of goal — the Socceroos failed to score in their final two group matches and now exit the Round of 32 despite a gutsy display against one of the tournament’s form teams.

    Next up: the winner of Argentina vs. Cape Verde

    With the win, Egypt book their place in the Round of 16, where they’ll face the winner of Argentina vs. Cape Verde on Tuesday, July 7 (6:00 PM local time, in Atlanta). Salah and his teammates head into the next round in fine attacking form, having already scored five goals in just three matches this tournament.

    Australia (5-4-1): Beach; Behich, Circati, Souttar, Herrington, Bos (46′ Trewin); Volpato, Irvine, O’Neill, Metcalfe; Irankunda. Coach: Popovic.

    Egypt (4-2-3-1): Shobeir; Hany, Ibrahim, Rabia, Hafez; Fathi, Ateya; Ashour, Salah, Marmoush; Zico. Coach: Hossam Hassan.

  • “Madness in Miami: Argentina Survive Extra Time to Beat Cape Verde 3-2”

    “Madness in Miami: Argentina Survive Extra Time to Beat Cape Verde 3-2”

    Madness in Miami: Argentina Survive Extra Time to Beat Cape Verde 3-2

    Messi produces a moment of magic, but Cape Verde’s fairytale run almost survives to the 110th minute. Romero seals it as Argentina move on to face Egypt.

    MIAMI — What was supposed to be a formality turned into the wildest match of the Round of 32. Defending world champions Argentina needed all 120 minutes to see off Cape Verde 3-2, with the African underdogs coming agonizingly close to the upset of the tournament in front of a rocking Hard Rock Stadium.

    A goal from another planet

    In the 29th minute, Lionel Messi lit up the game with a moment that will be replayed for years: picking up a pinpoint long ball from Lisandro Martinez, Argentina’s captain cushioned the ball on the outside of his left foot, redirected it onto his instep, and fired it into the net before defenders could react. It was his seventh goal of this World Cup and the 124th of his international career.

    It looked like the goal that would settle the tie. Cape Verde, the true surprise package of these Round of 32 fixtures, had other ideas.

    Vozinha stands tall, Duarte levels it

    Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha turned in a heroic performance, repeatedly denying Messi and his teammates. In the 59th minute, the equalizer arrived: Deroy Duarte struck a low, precise shot from the edge of the box that beat Emiliano Martinez. Regulation time ended 1-1, with Argentina unable to find a second goal despite firing 22 shots to Cape Verde’s 16.

    Extra time drama

    Extra time appeared to swing back in Argentina’s favor when, in the 92nd minute, Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez enjoyed the night of his life, controlling a Messi corner with a clinical left-footed finish that flew into the top corner. Argentina led 2-1.

    Cape Verde refused to fold. In the 103rd minute, Sidny Lopes Cabral — a Trabzonspor full-back who was playing in Germany’s fifth division just three years ago — beat Mac Allister down the flank and curled a stunning right-footed effort into the top corner, one of the goals of the tournament. He sprinted to the stands to celebrate with his girlfriend as the stadium erupted in disbelief.

    Romero delivers, but the drama isn’t over

    The second period of extra time opened with Argentina pushing forward again. In the 110th minute, another Messi corner found the head of Cristian Romero, with a deflection off a Cape Verde defender wrong-footing Vozinha for the decisive 3-2.

    It still wasn’t over. Cape Verde came close to another equalizer through Cabral from distance, and goalkeeper “El Dibu” Martinez was called into action once more in stoppage time. When the final whistle blew, Argentina could finally celebrate.

    Scaloni: “Madness, but that’s football”

    A visibly drained Lionel Scaloni summed up the toughest match of his World Cup so far afterward, praising a Cape Verde side that leaves the tournament unbeaten in regulation time and departs to applause from both sets of fans.

    Next up: Egypt’s Salah

    Argentina advance to the Round of 16, where they will face Mohamed Salah’s Egypt on Tuesday, July 7 (6:00 PM local time, in Atlanta). Having been pushed to the absolute limit physically and mentally against Cape Verde, Scaloni’s side will need to find their sharpness again to continue their title defense.

    Argentina (4-3-1-2): E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Medina (Tagliafico); De Paul (Paredes), Mac Allister, Fernandez; Almada (Nico Gonzalez); Messi, Lautaro Martinez (J. Alvarez). Coach: Scaloni.

    Cape Verde (4-1-4-1): Vozinha; Moreira, Pico, Diney, L. Cabral; Pina (Semedo); Cabral (Varela), D. Duarte (Benchimol), L. Duarte (Monteiro), Da Costa (Livramento); R. Mendes (Semedo). Coach: Bubista.

  • Switzerland Cruise Past Algeria 2-0 to Reach World Cup 2026 Round of 16

    Switzerland Cruise Past Algeria 2-0 to Reach World Cup 2026 Round of 16

    Switzerland beat Algeria 2-0 in a dominant Round of 32 performance at BC Place in Vancouver, controlling the match from start to finish at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

    Switzerland took the lead as early as the 10th minute through Breel Embolo, who tapped in a precise assist from Johan Manzambi after the winger drove into the box from the left and squared the ball across goal. The Swiss doubled their advantage right at the start of the second half, in the 46th minute, when Dan Ndoye pounced on a loose ball from the Algerian defence and fired a clinical finish into the corner.

    Algeria tried to respond through Chaibi and Aouar but lacked the precision in front of goal to get back into the match. With a two-goal cushion, Switzerland comfortably controlled possession and the tempo of the game until the final whistle, conceding very little.

    Among the standout performers were Manzambi, who provided the assist and was a constant threat down the flank, Denis Zakaria, dominant both defensively and in build-up play, and Embolo, once again decisive in front of goal.

    The win — Switzerland’s third in a row at the tournament — sends them through to the Round of 16, where they will face the winner of Argentina vs Cape Verde on July 7, also in Vancouver.

  • Portugal Come From Behind to Beat Croatia 2-1, Set Up Round of 16 Clash with Spain

    Portugal Come From Behind to Beat Croatia 2-1, Set Up Round of 16 Clash with Spain

    Portugal came from behind to beat Croatia 2-1 in a dramatic Round of 32 clash at Toronto Stadium at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

    Croatia took the lead in the 52nd minute through a close-range finish from Ivan Perisic, who has now scored at every World Cup since 2014. Portugal equalized in the 67th minute through a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, awarded after a foul by Vlasic on Renato Veiga — CR7’s first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout match, making him the oldest scorer in the competition’s knockout stage history.

    The winning goal came deep into stoppage time, in the 94th minute, when Goncalo Ramos — Milan’s new signing — rose above the Croatian defence to head home a cross from Rafael Leao. The drama didn’t end there: in the 104th minute, a Gvardiol goal that would have made it 2-2 was ruled out by VAR for offside, after a touch by Matanovic in the build-up was spotted on review.

    The night carried emotional weight beyond the result: Ronaldo led his teammates to salute the Portuguese fans wearing Diogo Jota’s number 21 shirt, in tribute to the late teammate. For Luka Modric, it may have marked the end of his World Cup career.

    Portugal will now face Spain in the Round of 16.

  • Spain Cruise Past Austria 3-0 to Reach World Cup 2026 Round of 16

    Spain Cruise Past Austria 3-0 to Reach World Cup 2026 Round of 16

    Spain confirmed their status as one of the tournament favourites with a commanding 3-0 win over Austria at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Thursday night, booking their place in the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026.Mikel Oyarzabal was the star of the show, scoring twice, while Pedro Porro added a third with a well-placed header in the second half. Luis de la Fuente’s side, unbeaten in 35 consecutive matches, extended their remarkable defensive record — they still haven’t conceded a goal in this tournament.Spain broke the deadlock in the first half through Oyarzabal, after Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager had already denied several Spanish chances, including a Baena free-kick that struck the crossbar. In the second half, Porro doubled the lead with a header from a Baena cross, before Oyarzabal completed his brace with a composed finish assisted by Cucurella.Ralf Rangnick’s Austria, who had narrowly avoided elimination after a dramatic 3-3 draw with Algeria, struggled to create clear chances against a well-organized Spanish defence, despite some promising moments from Arnautovic and Kalajdzic off the bench.Spain will now face the winner of Portugal vs Croatia in the round of 16, with the match scheduled for July 6 in Dallas.

  • OFFICIAL: Ismael Saibari joins Bayern Munich

    OFFICIAL: Ismael Saibari joins Bayern Munich

    The summer transfer window has kicked off with a statement signing: Bayern Munich have officially confirmed the arrival of Ismael Saibari, the Moroccan attacking midfielder, from PSV Eindhoven.

    The deal

    Saibari, who has been a standout performer for Morocco at the ongoing World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, will join Bayern once the tournament concludes. The transfer fee is reported at around €55 million, with the 25-year-old signing a contract until 30 June 2031 and taking the number 34 shirt.

    Head coach Vincent Kompany gains a versatile playmaker who is expected to operate just behind Harry Kane, as Bayern aim to compete for every major trophy next season, including the Champions League.

    Saibari’s rise

    Born in Terrassa, Spain, Saibari came through Anderlecht’s youth academy before moving to Genk’s U19 side. He joined PSV Eindhoven in 2020 and quickly broke into the first team, going on to become one of the most exciting attacking midfielders on show at this World Cup.

    Bayern board member Max Eberl described the signing as the product of long-term planning, praising Saibari as one of the most exciting forwards at the tournament.

    What it means for Bayern

    The move officially opens Bayern Munich’s summer business, adding further quality to an already formidable attacking unit. All eyes now turn to whether this is the first of several big-name additions for Kompany’s side this summer.

    Written by the MondialFoot360 editorial team