While the English-language audience in the United States has not yet been released, the Spanish-language broadcast drew numbers unlike anything the sport had previously seen in the country.

The match averaged 22.6 million viewers across Telemundo and Peacock, according to figures published by Nielsen. The total marked a huge increase from the 9 million viewers who watched the final between France and Argentina at the previous World Cup.

Audience in other countries

The biggest match in soccer once again attracted massive audiences around the world. In Spain, it became the most-watched match in the country’s history, even surpassing the final in 2010, with an average audience of 15.7 million viewers according to Barlovento Comunicación.

In the United Kingdom, the final was watched by 19.2 million viewers. With England no longer in the tournament, it could not surpass the semifinal against Argentina, which drew 24 million viewers.

Italy once again proved they are still a soccer nation even after missing the last three editions, recording an average audience of 12.5 million viewers. The matchup may also have been influenced by many fans hoping Spain would win, as an Argentina victory would have tied Italy’s four titles.

Audience in Canada

It is clear the sport still has room to grow in Canada, even after the national team’s best-ever World Cup campaign. Canada won its first World Cup match and then its first knockout match against South Africa before losing to Morocco in the Round of 16. Despite that run, the final averaged 6.4 million viewers.

For this competition, the winner is going to receive 50 million dollars. This comes thanks to the improved prize money pool, which increased by 50% from the previous edition to reach a total of 655 million dollars.

Whoever loses the final is definitely going to leave upset after not being able to reach glory. For that team, the consolation prize in money is still going to be huge, with a total of 33 million dollars.

The remaining prizes

While there isn’t too much at stake in the third-place match in terms of the title, there is still a difference between finishing in those positions. The team that ends in third place gets 29 million dollars, with the fourth-place team receiving 27 million dollars.

These prizes aren’t just for the teams that reach the final stages of the competition, as every team that participated receives prize money even if they weren’t able to gain a single point.

For the teams that finish from 5th to 8th, the prize is 19 million dollars. The teams in 9th to 16th place receive 15 million dollars, those who finish from 17th to 32nd get 11 million dollars, while teams from 33rd to 48th receive 9 million dollars.

Minimum prize

The entity also establishes a 1.5-million-dollar fee to cover preparation costs for this edition for every team. As the lowest positions get 9 million dollars, the minimum amount teams will receive in the competition is 10.5 million dollars, a sum that could be huge for some small federations that were part of it.

FIFA awards gold, silver and bronze medals to recognize the teams that finish in the top three positions of the competition. The champions receive gold medals after the final, while the losing finalist and third-place winner receive silver and bronze medals respectively.

Unlike the championship rings introduced for the first time in 2026, medals have been part of the tradition for decades. Their design changes for each edition of the tournament, but they remain one of the most important individual items players receive after achieving success.

Gold medals: How many are awarded, what they’re made of, and their estimated value

The gold medals are awarded to the players, coaches and staff of the team that wins the World Cup final. FIFA does not publicly reveal the exact materials or value of the medals for the 2026 edition, but their importance comes from being awarded to the champions of the biggest tournament in soccer.

Runner-up medals: Material, appearance, whether they’re silver

The runners-up receive silver medals after losing the World Cup final. Despite their name, the exact materials used for the medals have not been publicly confirmed by FIFA for the 2026 edition.

Third-place medals: Who receives them and what they look like

The bronze medals are awarded to the team that wins the third-place match. The players and staff of that team receive the medals as recognition for their achievement in the competition.

Does fourth place get medals?

No. The team that loses the third-place match does not receive medals.

Can players keep their medals?

Yes. The players, coaches and staff members who receive World Cup medals keep them as a personal recognition of their achievement in the competition.

How much are World Cup medals worth?

The exact value of the World Cup medals has not been confirmed, albeit a gold medal from 2018 was sold for more than $70,000 by Julien’s Auctions to show that their value can go beyond the materials used. Their importance comes from their rarity and the achievement they represent, as only players and staff from teams that finish on the podium can obtain them.

FIFA does not traditionally award championship rings to World Cup winners, but that changes in 2026. For the first time in the tournament’s history, the champions will receive personalized rings in addition to the trophy and gold medals.

Inspired by the tradition of North American sports, the rings will feature the World Cup trophy on one side and custom details of the winning team on the other. FIFA will produce 2,026 rings in total, with 30 reserved for the champions and the remaining 1,996 available for fans as officially licensed collectibles.

Why is FIFA introducing World Cup winner’s rings?

FIFA is introducing World Cup winner’s rings for the first time to embrace the tradition of championship rings that has long been part of North American sports. The winners will now receive them alongside the trophy and gold medals.

What will the 2026 FIFA World Cup winner’s rings look like?

The rings will feature the FIFA World Cup trophy on one side and custom details of the winning national team on the other. Each ring will be individually fitted and customized after the final.

What are the World Cup winner’s rings made of?

The official rings are handcrafted in 18-karat gold and feature 89 diamonds and 36 sapphires.

How many FIFA World Cup winner’s rings will be produced?

A total of 2,026 individually numbered rings will be produced. Thirty are reserved for the winning team, while the remaining 1,996 will be available for fans.

Who will receive a 2026 World Cup winner’s ring?

Thirty personalized rings will be awarded to members of the winning team. Immediately after the final, the captain and head coach will receive temporary versions before the customized rings are delivered later.

Which World Cup winner’s rings will be available for purchase?

The 1,996 rings not reserved for the champions will be sold as officially licensed collectibles. Fans will receive the same winning design once the champion is decided, but with different edition numbers.

How much is a FIFA World Cup winner’s ring worth?

The value of a FIFA World Cup winner’s ring is estimated to be around $20,000. The price comes from the materials used, including 18-karat gold, diamonds and sapphires, as well as the limited nature of the collectible. The personalized rings given to the champions could have a higher value due to their connection to the winning team and players.

Only two teams have successfully defended the World Cup, both doing so many decades ago. The first was Italy, who won the title in 1934 on home soil before repeating as champions in France in 1938.

The other team to achieve the feat was Brazil, led by Pelé among other greats. They won the title in Sweden in 1958 before successfully defending it in Chile in 1962.

Failed repeats

While only those two teams managed to win consecutive World Cup titles, several defending champions came close. Uruguay entered 1954 as champions but were eliminated by Hungary in the semifinals. West Germany also fell in the semifinals in 1958 after losing to Sweden.

Brazil couldn’t defend their 1970 title in the following edition. They were eliminated in the second group stage under the tournament’s format at the time, which meant they played in the third-place match instead of a semifinal.

The next team to come close was Argentina in 1990, when they reached the final but lost to West Germany. Brazil did the same in 1998, falling to France in the final. France then became the latest defending champions to narrowly miss out after losing the 2022 final to Argentina.

Failed three-peats

Winning three consecutive World Cup titles has proved even more difficult. Italy had to wait 12 years to defend their second title because World War II prevented the tournament from being played. When the World Cup returned in 1950, they were eliminated in the first round after finishing behind Sweden. Brazil also failed in their attempt after winning in 1958 and 1962, as they were eliminated in the first round of the 1966 World Cup.

The most important thing for France going forward is that Mbappé will be just 31 years old. With the advances in sports science and player longevity, that age should not be a problem for a player of his caliber.

Most of his attacking teammates should also return as they are younger, with the exception of Ousmane Dembélé, who is older than Mbappé. France continue to produce talented players at every position, with the biggest question perhaps being who will succeed Didier Deschamps as manager.

The exact opposite is true for some of the other players, with the main name who is unlikely to be present being N’Golo Kanté, who will be 39 years old by then and therefore unlikely to earn another call-up despite how important he has been for the team. Adrien Rabiot, Lucas Digne, Lucas Hernández and Brice Samba are also among the least likely players to return.

Current team’s age in 2030

The reason both midfielders aren’t starting is because Didier Deschamps made a technical decision to give minutes to the youngest player on the team, Warren Zaïre-Emery, who is 20 years old. The midfielder had only played against Morocco in the competition, entering as a substitute in the 80th minute.

This midfield was completed by Adrien Rabiot, who could be playing his last World Cup with France. The midfielder has been very important for the team in the competition, starting six matches and being rested against Norway. He played every full match except against Spain, where he was substituted at halftime.

The reason Stones isn’t starting is because Thomas Tuchel has made a technical decision to choose a different pairing. For this match, the preference was to select faster defenders than him like Marc Guéhi and Ezri Konsa.

This left Stones on the bench despite being one of the most experienced defenders in the squad. Even after playing just 900 minutes with Manchester City, Stones had been reliable with 550 minutes in the competition while being present in every knockout-stage match.

The reason Dembélé isn’t starting against England is because Didier Deschamps has made a technical decision to put Desiré Doué and Rayan Cherki in the starting lineup.

This means the ideal trio is not complete in the lineup for the first time in the competition. Leaving the Ballon d’Or winner out may be a decision to give him some rest after an exhausting season with his club.

The attack

Left winger was the position that has changed the most during the competition. Deschamps has rotated Doué and Barcolá depending on the opponent, which also helped keep them rested as they had to make a huge effort, with the other three attackers doing a bit less defensive work.

The bench has become very important with the introduction of more substitutions, a change that has allowed the best teams to avoid exhausting their most-used players, and this has been reflected in how Deschamps has managed the position.

For this match, what was a surprise for most was the inclusion of Cherki. The talented player was not a major factor for the team throughout the competition, even though he played in six matches with a total of just 85 minutes.

Dembélé’s performance

Dembélé’s performances went from the best to not as good as the tournament progressed. The winger had a fantastic start, scoring his first goals in a World Cup during his third appearance in the competition with five goals. His goals came against Iraq, a hat trick against Norway and one goal against Morocco.

France enter this match ranked 3rd in the FIFA World Ranking with 1,948.97 points, the same position they held in the June 11 update. They managed to keep their place after finishing first in Group I with victories over Senegal, Iraq and Norway.

The team continued to show why they are among the best by beating Sweden 3-0, Paraguay 1-0 and Morocco 2-0 before their tournament came to an end with a 2-0 loss to Spain in the semifinals.

England’s ranking

This should be another difficult match for France as England also remain among the highest-ranked teams in the world. Their opponents are currently ranked 4th in the FIFA World Ranking, the same position they held at the beginning of the tournament.

England reached this match after winning Group L with a victory over Croatia, a draw against Ghana and a win over Panama before beating DR Congo 2-1, Mexico 3-2 and Norway 2-1. Their hopes of reaching the final ended with a 2-1 loss to Argentina in the semifinals.

England have remained among the strongest national teams in the world for many years. They reached their highest-ever FIFA ranking of 3rd for the first time in 2012, while their lowest position was 27th in 1996.

France’s highest ranking

France’s place among the best teams in the world has been built by generations of elite players. They first reached No. 1 in the ranking in 2001 and have returned to the top spot on several occasions since, while their lowest position was 27th in 2010.

There aren’t many players who can say they are world champions. None has ever been more successful than Pelé, who remains the player with the most World Cup titles after lifting the trophy three times.

Brazil are the most successful team in the competition with five titles, helped by some of the greatest players in history. Pelé was part of the teams that won the World Cup in 1958, 1962 and 1970.

Players with two World Cup titles

The list of players with three World Cup titles has just one name, but many others have managed to win the competition twice. It makes sense that most of them come from Brazil and Italy, the only countries to win back-to-back World Cup titles.

A total of 20 players have won exactly two titles: Giovanni Ferrari, Guido Masetti, Giuseppe Meazza and Eraldo Monzeglio for Italy; Daniel Passarella for Argentina; and Bellini, Cafu, Castilho, Didi, Djalma Santos, Garrincha, Gilmar, Mauro, Nílton Santos, Pepe, Ronaldo, Vavá, Mário Zagallo, Zito and Zózimo for Brazil.

This group shows how dominant Brazil became from 1958 onward, as 15 of the 20 players are Brazilian. Cafu’s place on the list is particularly remarkable because his two titles came eight years apart, winning in 1994 after playing almost the entire final and again in 2002 as Brazil’s captain. Ronaldo and Passarella are the other players who won two titles in non-consecutive editions, albeit they were not important factors in one of those triumphs.

List of players with more than one title

While the team has many strengths, continuity may be the main reason Argentina are once again where they are. Helped by a squad that had already gone through a renewal process, most of the same players remain and have continued to deliver strong performances. From the team that won the title four years ago, 17 players are still part of the squad.

Gerónimo Rulli, Emiliano Martínez, Nicolás Tagliafico, Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Lisandro Martínez, Nahuel Molina, Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Exequiel Palacios, Thiago Almada, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, Julián Álvarez, Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez are the players who were selected for both squads.

The 2026 team

Goalkeepers: Juan Musso, Gerónimo Rulli, and Emiliano Martínez.

Defenders: Marcos Senesi, Nicolás Tagliafico, Gonzalo Montiel, Lisandro Martínez, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Facundo Medina, and Nahuel Molina.

Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Valentín Barco, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Nicolás González, Alexis Mac Allister, and Enzo Fernández.

Forwards: Julián Álvarez, Lionel Messi, Thiago Almada, Giuliano Simeone, Nico Paz, José Manuel López, and Lautaro Martínez.

The 2022 team

Goalkeepers: Franco Armani, Gerónimo Rulli, and Emiliano Martínez.

Defenders: Juan Foyth, Nicolás Tagliafico, Gonzalo Montiel, Germán Pezzella, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Lisandro Martínez, Nahuel Molina, and Marcos Acuña.

Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Ángel Di María, Exequiel Palacios, Thiago Almada, Alejandro Gómez, Guido Rodríguez, Alexis Mac Allister, and Enzo Fernández.

Forwards: Julián Álvarez, Lionel Messi, Ángel Correa, Paulo Dybala, and Lautaro Martínez.

The biggest achievement for Spain has been successfully renewing the squad after the golden generation that lifted the trophy in South Africa, led by greats such as Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, Carles Puyol, Sergio Busquets, David Villa and Iker Casillas.

That team won the title in 2010, which means there are no players left from that squad. The last player from that generation to represent Spain was Jesús Navas, who remained part of the team until not long ago as he won the Euro 2024.

The 2026 team

Goalkeepers: David Raya, Joan García, and Unai Simón.

Defenders: Marc Pubill, Alejandro Grimaldo, Eric García, Pedro Porro, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsí, and Marc Cucurella.

Midfielders: Marcos Llorente, Mikel Merino, Fabián Ruiz, Gavi, Álex Baena, Rodri, Martín Zubimendi, and Pedri.

Forwards: Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Yéremy Pino, Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Víctor Muñoz, and Borja Iglesias.

The 2010 team

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas, Víctor Valdés, and Pepe Reina.

Defenders: Raúl Albiol, Gerard Piqué, Carlos Marchena, Carles Puyol, Joan Capdevila, Sergio Ramos, and Álvaro Arbeloa.

Midfielders: Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández, Cesc Fàbregas, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets, Javi Martínez, and David Silva.

Forwards: David Villa, Fernando Torres, Juan Mata, Pedro Rodríguez, Fernando Llorente, and Jesús Navas.

The World Cup will have three main hosts in 2030. After the United States, Mexico and Canada joint bid was successful for the 2026 edition, this one was more complicated because it involved countries from different confederations.

This time, the host countries will be Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Three additional countries will host one match each in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay as part of the celebration for the 100th anniversary of the competition.

Dates

With an expanded list of countries hosting matches, a challenge emerged because of the distance between continents. The three matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay are scheduled for June 8 and June 9.

The long distances for the teams playing those matches could create a disadvantage, which led to a change in the schedule with those teams playing their next match 11 days after their first match.

The opening matches in the main host countries are scheduled for June 13 and June 14 as the official start of the competition. More than a month later, the final will be played on June 21.

Venues

The stadiums that were confirmed first were the venues for the opening matches. Estadio Centenario in Uruguay, Estadio Monumental in Argentina and Estadio Osvaldo Domínguez Dibb in Paraguay are the stadiums selected by those countries.

In Spain, the venues are Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Camp Nou, Estadio Metropolitano, Estadio RCDE, Estadio La Cartuja, Estadio Nueva Romareda, Estadio La Rosaleda, Estadio San Mamés, Estadio Riazor, Estadio de Gran Canaria and Estadio Anoeta.

Portugal will host matches at Estádio da Luz, Estádio José Alvalade and Estádio do Dragão. Morocco‘s venues are Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Hassan II Stadium, Marrakesh Stadium, Tangier Grand Stadium, Fez Stadium and Adrar Stadium.

Since its creation in 1930, the World Cup has continued to grow in popularity. The difficulty of winning the tournament has also left some of the greatest players in history, such as Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Paolo Maldini, without ever experiencing the feeling of lifting the trophy.

The competition has produced unforgettable finals, such as the 3-3 draw between Argentina and France in Qatar 2022, while others were much less memorable, like the 0-0 draw between Brazil and Italy in 1994, which Brazil won on penalties.

The World Cup has had 23 finals in its history, with eight of them going to extra time. Five champions were decided during the additional 30 minutes, while the other three were determined through penalty shootouts.

List of finals

The list of winners features a remarkable group of players, even if some all-time greats such as Pelé never received the award. That had nothing to do with his performances, as the Golden Ball was only introduced in 1982. Unlike most individual awards, the players finishing second and third in the voting also receive the Silver Ball and Bronze Ball, respectively.

The award has been won by some of the greatest players in soccer history, with Lionel Messi remaining the only player to receive it twice. Even goalkeepers have their own positional honor, the Golden Glove, they are also eligible for the Golden Ball. Oliver Kahn remains the only goalkeeper to win the tournament’s MVP award after doing so in 2002.

Golden Ball winners

In its origin the trophy was named the Lev Yashin Award that determined who was the best goalkeeper of the competition. The name logically referred to the Soviet former player who remains the best ever at the position for many people.

This was changed for the 2010 edition, when the award was renamed the Golden Glove. Being relatively new compared to the history of the competition, there have only been eight winners of the prized award, with four of them also becoming champions. The winner is chosen by FIFA’s Technical Study Group.

Every Golden Glove winner

Messi posted: “Into the final! We found the strength again to put together another great performance. Thank you so much to everyone who believed in this team! Let’s go, Argentina! All together!”

At first glance, the post seemed like another typical message from the Argentina captain. However, fans quickly noticed that after beating England he had shared the exact same words he used after Argentina defeated Croatia to reach the final in Qatar.

The posts

This is not because of a lack of interest, but because of the capacity of modern stadiums. While they remain among the biggest venues in the world, improved comfort and seating standards have reduced the number of spectators that can enter compared to older stadiums.

The most attended World Cup final ever was the match in which Argentina defeated West Germany 3-2 in 1986 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico. The legendary stadium, known for hosting some of the biggest events in soccer history, had 114,600 spectators registered by Guinness World Records.

Lowest attendance in a World Cup final

In the early editions of the tournament, there may have also been less interest because the competition was still developing. The biggest exception was the Maracanã Stadium, which hosted 173,850 spectators for the decisive match between Brazil and Uruguay in 1950. However, that match was not an official final because the tournament used a final group stage format.

Most of the lowest-attended World Cup finals came during the first editions of the competition, possibly because fans had not yet fully embraced the tournament. That is no longer the case, as the World Cup has become the biggest event in international soccer.

The least attended World Cup final was in 1938, when Italy defeated Hungary 4-2. Only 45,000 spectators were present at the Stade Olympique de Colombes in France.

Attendance by year

The race has been one of the tournament’s main storylines since the opening match, with both players leading their teams deep into the competition. They are not alone in the race, as Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham remain close behind, but Messi and Mbappé currently sit at the top of the standings.

After seven matches each, Messi and Mbappé are tied with eight goals, with one game remaining for both players. Even if Mbappé can no longer win the World Cup after France’s semifinal loss to Spain, the third-place match against England gives him one final opportunity to add to his total.

Golden Boot table

Even if he had already appeared in friendlies with the first team, Messi made his official debut with Barcelona on October 16, 2004, at just 17 years old. He came on as a substitute for Deco in the 82nd minute of a 1-0 victory.

The match was played at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, which Barcelona recently used during the Camp Nou renovation and which was Espanyol’s home at the time. He was not an immediate starter, but Messi quickly established himself as one of the brightest young talents in world soccer.

Age of each player

Kane put: “I know the expectations are high and rightly so, we’ve been knocking on the door for 8 years now but again are missing that final piece of the jigsaw! That’s where we have to go away, process it and find a way to get better.”

Even if the plan didn’t help Kane in the semifinal, the forward had been a huge presence for England with six goals, including two goals to rescue them against DR Congo in the round of 32 when things weren’t going great for them.

The full message

No words are big enough right now to overcome this empty feeling in the stomach. We were close, really close to another final but it wasn’t enough. We’ve given everything over these last 7 weeks and to fall short is hard to take!

I know the expectations are high and rightly so, we’ve been knocking on the door for 8 years now but again are missing that final piece of the jigsaw! That’s where we have to go away, process it and find a way to get better. I’m so proud of the boys and what we have shown throughout this tournament – some tough games and tough environments that we have overcome.

Some memories that will stay with us players and I’m sure you fans for a long time! Going for glory doesn’t always mean you will get it. You have to fight for it, get knocked down, pick yourself up and go again and that’s what we will do, there’s no other way but to keep believing and keeping pushing.

Thank you to every single fan that travelled and showed their support in the stadiums. Thank you to every fan back home for believing in us. Thank you to the boys and staff for everything you have given. As always Win or lose, we learn and go again!

Casillas posted: “There won’t be a fourth ⭐️, Argentina! We’re going for our second!! Come on, Spain! This Sunday it’s the Finalissima… and the World Cup! Get both trophies ready, @FIFAWorldCup! You won’t be stitching the fourth ⭐️.”

The legendary goalkeeper was present at several matches alongside fellow members of the team that made history in 2010, including Xavi, Sergio Ramos and Carles Puyol.

Casillas on England’s match

Spain’s semifinal was far less dramatic, as they controlled France throughout the match. The other semifinal was very different, with England taking the lead before Argentina completed a late comeback.

What drew criticism was the approach after Anthony Gordon’s goal, as they focused almost entirely on defending their advantage by sitting deep. That was the main point highlighted by Casillas.

Casillas posted: “England scored and immediately sat back. A cowardly approach. They barely left their own box and allowed Argentina to keep coming forward. The logical outcome followed. England lost the match entirely because of their game plan. They let Argentina dictate play for the final 30 minutes.”

Casillas gives his verdict on the match

The former goalkeeper believed England’s tactical approach was the main reason Argentina were able to complete the comeback. Casillas posted: “That simply can’t happen. Final: Spain vs Argentina. It’s going to be incredible! England committed footballing suicide.”

With England leading 1-0 late in the match, Argentina played a short corner that found Messi. The forward laid the ball back to Enzo Fernández, who scored with a long-range strike to level the game.

That was not Messi’s final contribution. In the 92nd minute, he reached the byline on the right before delivering a perfect cross with his right foot for Lautaro Martínez, who headed home the winning goal.

Messi moves ahead of Mbappé

Before the semifinal, Mbappé led the tournament in goal contributions after an outstanding campaign. Albeit France were eliminated by Spain, the forward finished with eight goals and three assists.

Messi is now level with Mbappé on goals. He scored three against Algeria, twice against Austria, once against Jordan in the group stage, once against Cape Verde in the Round of 32, and once against Egypt in the Round of 16.

His two assists against England increased his total to four. Earlier in the tournament, Messi assisted Cristian Romero from a corner against Cape Verde before setting him up again against Egypt.

Fontaine’s record

Some records are there to be broken, while others seem almost untouchable. Fontaine’s record of 13 goals in a single World Cup, set with France in 1958, is one of them and will not be matched. The total number of goal contributions is a different story because Fontaine finished without recording a single assist.

Kane said: “We played a good game the large majority of it. When we went 1-0 up we seemed to try and hold on, which at this level is not enough. So, just gutted because we’ve worked so hard to be here and the lads have given every last bit of running, blood, sweat, tears. To fall short is just gutting.”

The forward was not a major factor in the semifinal even if he was were the leader of a team that missed out on reaching its second World Cup final after a 60-year wait. For Kane, it was a fantastic tournament individually, but he was unable to lift the trophy despite being so close.

Kane on England’s World Cup performance

What should not be overlooked is that England are getting closer. Kane said: “We had a lot of good moments at this tournament, a lot of good games and another semi-final. We talk about knocking on the door, we’re close, we just need to find that missing piece late in the tournament.”

In the post-match interview, the forward praised how the team worked together during the more than one month they spent together, a period in which England were expected to at least reach the later stages of the competition.

Kane said: “These tournaments take it out of you with so much effort, pressure and mentality. We’ve shown that throughout the six or seven weeks we’ve been together but we’re just missing that final piece.”

Kane on what did not work

During the match, England had a solid performance and even took the lead through Anthony Gordon early in the second half. The advantage seemed important until the team struggled to keep possession.

Kane said: “After the goal, whether it was them putting more men forward or us not being able to match them man for man, it was just wave after wave. Lads were putting blocks in but, in the end, it just wasn’t enough.”

In the first half, not much occurred, with both teams committing many fouls and focusing more on stopping their opponents than creating chances. Long passes were the way they tried, unsuccessfully, to create opportunities.

All the emotions of the match came in the second half. Even after England went ahead with Anthony Gordon’s goal, Thomas Tuchel brought on more defenders to maintain the lead, which did not work. A pass behind the defense found Fernández, who scored with a long-range shot in the 85th minute to tie the game. However, this was not the end, as Argentina kept pushing until a Lionel Messi cross found Martínez, who scored with a header in the 92nd minute to secure the victory.

Cubarsí said: “There may have been some doubts about whether our defense and goalkeeper were good enough, but I think we’ve silenced a lot of critics. We’ve only conceded one goal and we’re in the final. We’re doing an incredible job, and this is everyone’s work, both those who play and those on the bench.”

This was the only part of the team that was criticized before the tournament, with Unai Simón leading the defense of Pedro Porro, Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte and Marc Cucurella, who have all been fantastic and have only conceded against Belgium.

Cubarsí on being a young player

Being a player who represents Barcelona requires a lot of talent. However, it is not just about that because the mental aspect of the sport is crucial. Especially for a player in his position, experience plays a great role.

All of this may not apply to the center back because he does not look like a 19-year-old player with the composure he displays in every match, something Cubarsí also commented on regarding his teammate.

Cubarsí said: “Maybe I am too young for everything I am experiencing, like Lamine (Yamal), but I want to tell people who perhaps have not taken that step yet and are 19 years old to wait that their opportunity will come. Soccer is something you have to enjoy, and if there is sacrifice, everything will turn out well. I encourage them to keep fighting for their dreams.”

Cubarsí thanked his family after the match

The calmness with which the team played against France was part of the victory that put them in the final. For Cubarsí, much of the credit should go to his family for helping him from the beginning.

Cubarsí said: “It’s a dream come true, and I’m very proud, both for myself and for my family, who have been with me every step of the way. Being in a World Cup final is something unique, and I owe all of this to them because they’ve helped me from the very beginning to get here.”

Vieira said: “There were big expectations for France to win the World Cup. We are all really disappointed by the result, but mostly by the performance. We needed our top players to perform today and they didn’t do it. It wasn’t one or two, it was all of them collectively. It was really bad.”

The former midfielder played a key role in helping France win the World Cup for the first time in their history on home soil in 1998. While his comments were harsh, they also reflected his experience in the competition.

Vieira on Michael Olise

Even though Vieira was critical of France’s performance, he also acknowledged that Spain were the better team. Vieira said: “I said before that Spain needed to be at their best to beat France, and they did it.”

Spain’s defensive display was one of the biggest reasons they reached the final, as they managed to neutralize France’s dangerous attack, with Michael Olise unable to make his usual impact.

Vieira said: “Olise was the main man. We needed him to get on the ball, but they stopped him playing. He didn’t get on the ball. Spain won the game in every aspect. France didn’t turn up at all.”

Vieira had faith in his team

The defeat was disappointing for France because many believed the team was on course to reach the final. Vieira himself had said on ITV before the match that he expected France to get there.

Vieira said: “I don’t see anybody really stopping the French team going to the final. I think France are not going to have any kind of issues playing against them because I think that France is a better team today than they were four years ago. But I don’t think Spain are a better team today than they were four years ago.”

The forward joined the list of current Ballon d’Or winners who failed to win the World Cup. Even after France’s strong performances throughout the tournament, they were unable to play at their best in the semifinal defeat.

With his World Cup dream ending earlier than expected, Dembélé has scored five goals in seven matches, including a hat trick against Norway. He will have one more opportunity to improve that tally in the third-place match.

The first half had few goal-scoring chances, but Spain took the lead through a penalty after Lamine Yamal was brought down by Lucas Digne while trying to reach the ball. Oyarzabal stepped up and fired a powerful shot to the left side of Mike Maignan, who went the right way but could not stop it.

Spain’s superior ball control became even more evident in the second half, with France unable to react. After a great combination between Porro and Dani Olmo, Porro went one-on-one against the goalkeeper and finished with precision to secure the victory.

Solbakken said: “It was not a tough decision because he was finished and maybe I should’ve taken him out 10 minutes before. He obviously had a tremendous World Cup.” The manager also revealed that Haaland was dealing with a “dead leg.”

This loss may not have been unexpected with all the quality England put on the field, but it certainly hurts more because Norway had been ahead. Even with the quarterfinal elimination, the team achieved the best World Cup run in its history.

This match is scheduled for Wednesday, July 15. What comes after this match is the biggest prize in international soccer, as the winner will advance to the final with the chance to lift the trophy.

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET at Atlanta Stadium, where another packed crowd is expected for a semifinal between two teams dreaming of reaching the last match of the competition.

Their previous matches

The paths taken by these teams to reach the semifinals have been impressive. England finished first in Group L with a victory over Croatia, a draw against Ghana and a win over Panama, while Argentina won Group J with victories over Algeria, Austria and Jordan.

England advanced to the semifinals after defeating DR Congo 2-1 in the Round of 32 before beating Mexico 3-2 despite playing most of the second half with 10 men, and then overcoming Norway 2-1 after extra time in the quarterfinals.

Argentina reached this stage after beating Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time before coming back from 2-0 down to defeat Egypt 3-2 and beating Switzerland 3-1 in extra time.

Their furthest World Cup run

England won the World Cup in 1966 as their best run, while Argentina are three-time World Cup champions and have also finished as runners-up three times.

Argentina enter this match ranked 3rd in the FIFA World Ranking with 1,925.15 points. They are two spots lower than the June 11 update, with only France and Spain ahead of them after advancing to this round by winning Group J with victories over Algeria, Austria and Jordan.

The team has continued to prove why they are among the best by beating Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time in the Round of 32 before coming back from 2-0 down to defeat Egypt 3-2 in the quarterfinals.

Switzerland’s ranking

This should be a difficult match for Argentina as Switzerland also arrive after improving their position. Their rivals are currently ranked 14th in the FIFA World Ranking with 1,710.88 points, five spots higher than the June 11 update.

Their campaign began with a first-place finish in Group B after drawing with Qatar and beating Bosnia and Herzegovina and Canada. Switzerland then defeated Algeria 2-0 before drawing 0-0 with Colombia and advancing on penalties in the quarterfinals.

Switzerland have remained among the world’s most competitive teams for several years with consistently strong rankings. They reached their highest-ever FIFA ranking of 3rd in 1993, while their lowest came in 1998 when they dropped to 83rd.

Argentina’s highest ranking

Argentina’s place among the best teams in the world has been built by generations of great players. They reached the top of the FIFA World Ranking for the first time in 2007 and have returned to 1st on several occasions since, while their lowest position was 24th in 1996.

In the first half, there were not many chances, with Norway taking the lead through a fantastic goal from Andreas Schjelderup. However, it was not enough to go into halftime ahead, as Bellingham equalized in stoppage time.

Not much happened in the second half except for a Norway goal that was disallowed after a VAR review because of a foul by Erling Haaland before the corner kick was taken. With neither team able to find another goal, the match went to extra time. Just when it started, a weak shot from Morgan Rogers forced Ørjan Nyland into a poor rebound, allowing Bellingham to score what ended up being the winning goal.

Courtois said: “I felt a lot of pain in my quadriceps. But I had no problem staying in goal, only taking long kicks. In the end, the manager decided to take me off. That’s no problem because the team comes above everything.”

It was a 2-1 loss made even more painful by how it ended. Courtois was attended by the medical staff before being replaced by Senne Lammens in the 71st minute. The issue was that Lammens left a rebound for Mikel Merino to score near the end after a weak shot from Pau Cubarsí.

Courtois wants a long break

There’s no denying that Courtois has made history with Belgium, not just by representing his country at club level with Real Madrid but also by being the national team’s goalkeeper for many years.

That period did not come without problems, as he had already been exiled from the team from mid-2023 to 2025 after a disagreement with former manager Domenico Tedesco about the captaincy. Now, he admitted he wants to take a long break from international duty before returning.

Courtois said: “I’d like to take a break from the Nations League, which isn’t that important, and return for the Euro qualifying campaign. It’s a decision that has to be made together with the federation. If they agree with that plan. Otherwise, today would have been my last match.”

Courtois on Real Madrid

Clubs are already making moves to be ready when the competition ends, with Real Madrid among the most active after also hiring José Mourinho as their new manager. Courtois said: “Real Madrid have signed good players and a top manager. Now it’s up to us to respond.”

What’s most curious about these players is their head-to-head record in knockout matches, as Yamal leads Mbappé 5-0. Fueled by a dominant year with Barcelona, in which they beat Real Madrid four times across all competitions, the left-footed star also won their international knockout meetings against France.

Dallas may be the city where these players are going to face each other, but the entire soccer world is waiting to see who comes out victorious as the reward is nothing short of a place in the World Cup final.

The five matches

Playing for two of the biggest clubs in the world, there is no doubt they are going to face each other for many years and build a rivalry that promises to be one for the ages. Representing two of the strongest national teams in the world only makes it even more exciting.

Representing Spain, Yamal has won the two knockout matches he has played against France. The first was a 2-1 victory in the UEFA Euro 2024 semifinal, while the second came in the 2025 UEFA Nations League semifinal, when Spain won 5-4.

At the club level, they have faced each other in three domestic knockout competitions. In 2025, Barcelona beat Real Madrid 5-2 in the Supercopa de España final and 3-2 in the Copa del Rey final. Earlier this year, Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3-2 again in the 2026 Supercopa de España final to keep Yamal’s perfect record against Mbappé in knockout matches intact.

Their goals

Match 1: UEFA Euro 2024 semifinal — Spain 2-1 France (Yamal scored)

Match 2: 2025 Supercopa de España final — Barcelona 5-2 Real Madrid (Yamal and Mbappé scored once)

Match 3: 2025 Copa del Rey final — Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid (Mbappé scored)

Match 4: 2025 UEFA Nations League semifinal — Spain 5-4 France (Yamal scored twice and Mbappé once)

Match 5: 2026 Supercopa de España final — Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid (neither scored)

Vinícius wrote: “The feeling of frustration is incredible. We had a group strong enough to achieve more, and we were not able to do it. I apologize, and I will fight for our dream of returning to the top of the world.”

It was not the ending Brazilian fans expected from the team. Vinícius responded mainly at the beginning of the competition, scoring four goals in three matches to help Brazil win their group. However, his best version was not present in the most important matches, which ended with an early elimination.

The full message

Almost four years later and once again thinking about what to write after a World Cup disappointment.

I saw so many people of all ages supporting me and embracing our dream, so it would be unfair to remain silent. But I needed a few days to reflect.

Wearing the national team jersey is the greatest pride of my life, and being eliminated from a World Cup in the Round of 16 is a feeling that is difficult to explain.

I know how much I prepared, how much I focused, and how much I wanted this for you and for my family.

The feeling of frustration is incredible. We had a group strong enough to achieve more, and we were not able to do it. I apologize, and I will fight for our dream of returning to the top of the world.

This match is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14. What comes after this match is the biggest prize in international soccer, as the winner will advance to the final with the chance to lift the trophy.

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET at Dallas Stadium, where the 80,000-seat venue is ready for another spectacular atmosphere. It will host its ninth match of the tournament after Spain’s victory over Portugal was the most recent match.

Their previous matches

The paths taken by these teams to reach the semifinals have not been very different. They were able to win their groups as France finished first by winning all three of their matches against Senegal, Iraq and Norway, while Spain drew with Cape Verde before beating Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.

France reached the semifinals after cruising past Sweden 3-0 in the Round of 32, edging Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16 and then defeating Morocco 2-0 in the quarterfinals.

Spain are in the semifinals after beating Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32, then struggling to beat Portugal 1-0 with a late goal by Mikel Merino before repeating that late drama with a 2-1 victory against Belgium.

Their furthest World Cup run

France are two-time World Cup champions, having lifted the trophy in 1998 and 2018, while also finishing as runners-up in 2006 and 2022, while Spain won their only title in 2010.

Spain enter this match ranked 3rd in the FIFA World Ranking with 1,912.34 points. They are one spot lower than the June 11 update after advancing to this round by winning Group H with a draw against Cape Verde and victories over Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.

The team improved as the tournament progressed, first beating Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32 before earning a huge 1-0 victory over Portugal with a late goal from Mikel Merino in the quarterfinals.

Belgium’s ranking

It will not be an easy match for Spain because Belgium also arrive with one of the best rankings in the world. Belgium are currently ranked 8th in the FIFA World Ranking with 1,778.36 points, one spot higher than the June 11 update.

Their campaign began with a first-place finish in Group G with five points after drawing with Egypt and Iran before beating New Zealand. Belgium then produced a dramatic comeback from 2-0 down to defeat Senegal 3-2 after extra time before a convincing 4-1 victory over the USMNT in the quarterfinals.

Belgium continue to establish themselves among the strongest national teams in Europe, reaching their highest-ever FIFA ranking of 1st for the first time in 2015, while their lowest position was 71st in 2007.

Spain’s highest ranking

Spain’s place among the world’s best teams has been built over decades of success. They reached the top of the FIFA World Ranking for the first time in 2008 and have returned to 1st on several occasions since, while their lowest position was 25th in 1998.

The reason Williams isn’t starting against Belgium is because he is still recovering from a groin injury and is not yet 100% fit. Spain’s coaching staff decided not to risk the winger, who could be used later if the team needs him.

It wasn’t a surprise that Williams isn’t in the lineup because he missed the matches against Austria and Portugal. The winger picked up the injury during the final group-stage match against Uruguay after a tackle by Nicolás de la Cruz.

The replacement

Williams suffered the injury during Spain’s 1-0 victory over Uruguay, a result that secured first place in the group. Even though he was able to leave the field on his own, the discomfort has prevented him from being fully available since then.

There aren’t many players in Spain’s squad with Williams’ profile on the left wing, especially because of the pace he brings, which led Luis de la Fuente to choose a player with more control on the ball but less speed.

The manager’s decision was Alex Baena, who started every match except the opener against Cape Verde, when Gavi played on the left wing. Baena scored against Uruguay and also recorded an assist in the victory over Austria.

Williams’ recovery

Spain have taken a cautious approach with Williams’ recovery, as the winger has not yet fully recovered from the groin injury he suffered against Uruguay. While he has continued working with the team, the coaching staff decided he was not ready to start.

Collina said: “A foul is a foul, regardless of whether it seems obvious. If the referee did not see it on the field, the VAR can intervene. There is no defined limit regarding the distance from the goal, nor the amount of time that has passed between the incident and the goal.”

This explanation from the chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee referred to the disallowed goal scored by Mostafa Zico after VAR called Letexier to review the play in which Lisandro Martínez was stepped on by Marwan Attia near Egypt’s corner flag.

Collina on the final goal

Even after Zico had a goal disallowed, he scored again a few minutes later on a fantastic counterattack to put Egypt 2-0 ahead. Then the comeback began with a Cristian Romero header before Lionel Messi equalized.

The winning goal also generated controversy from Egypt’s perspective, as Mohamed Salah fell inside the penalty area when Julián Álvarez won the ball back from him in the move that ended with Enzo Fernández scoring the winner.

Collina said: “Stepping on an opponent’s foot is a foul, whereas a defender who plays the ball first and then makes normal contact with the opponent does not commit a foul. The referee and the VAR considered it to be normal contact.”

Collina on possible influence from Infantino

There was plenty of frustration from Egypt after the elimination. Hossam Hassan was the main figure fueling the protests with his gestures toward the referee. It was not just the manager who delayed the match for a few minutes, as several members of the coaching staff were also yelling at Letexier. Collina responded to the claims that the competition had been influenced by Infantino.

Collina said: “No one can claim that FIFA’s refereeing can be influenced by anyone, not even the FIFA president. He has always shown his full support, trusting us to work with complete independence. Referees make honest decisions and, just like players and coaches, they always strive to do their very best.”

Their matches were vastly different, not just because they were played in different rounds. Argentina needed to suffer to come back from 0-2 against Egypt and score three goals in 14 minutes, while France eliminated Morocco with a convincing 2-0 victory.

What those matches had in common was the performance of their main players, as Messi and Mbappé pushed their teams forward by scoring one goal, adding an assist and also missing a penalty kick during the match.

Their goals weren’t surprising

In almost every single match France and Argentina have played in the competition, Mbappé and Messi have scored a goal. Their performances have been so impressive that they are leading the race to be the top scorers with eight goals each.

The context was similar because neither of their recent goals came in a decided match in favor of their teams. One helped France open the scoring against Morocco in a goalless match, while the other rescued Argentina by bringing them level against Egypt.

Scoring is not the only way these talented players help their teams, and they showed that again with assists. Mbappé assisted Ousmane Dembélé to seal the victory that sent France into the semifinals, while Messi began Argentina’s comeback with an assist for a Cristian Romero header to make it 2-1.

The missed penalties

The most surprising coincidence was that both players missed a penalty kick, even though it had no consequence for the final results.

Messi missed his second penalty of the tournament while Argentina were trailing Egypt 1-0 in the first half. After previously missing from the spot against Austria, he kicked weakly to the goalkeeper’s left, where the shot was easily saved.

Mbappé also missed from the spot during the first half against Morocco, when the match was still 0-0. The French forward rarely misses penalties but found an experienced opponent in Yassine Bono, who stopped his shot by diving to his left.

Gavi said: “I hope to be important at the World Cup. I dream of scoring the winning goal. I have always dreamed of scoring an overhead kick in the final. They are dreams, and hopefully they come true. I would like Argentina because of Lionel Messi, but as long as we reach the final, it doesn’t matter who it is.”

It will not be easy for Spain to reach the last match of the competition, as they first need to beat Belgium, a team that has improved throughout the tournament, before a possible semifinal against France.

Gavi does not underestimate Belgium

While Spain may have more chances on paper, Belgium are coming from their best performance of the competition. After struggling to come back against Senegal, they beat the USMNT 4-1 in a convincing performance.

Even if they did not look like a team capable of going far at the beginning, Belgium still have many players of great quality who can be competitive, something the midfielder mentioned when discussing their next rivals.

Gavi said: “I don’t like talking about that. Belgium have great players, just like Portugal. We have to do our job very well. If we do that, things will surely go well. The important thing is beating Belgium.”

Gavi on his lack of participation

The competition has not gone as Gavi expected individually, as he has not participated in three matches. Even though he was in the lineup against Cape Verde, the draw made Luis de la Fuente change his plans. This left the midfielder out of the team, with him playing just six minutes against Austria.

Gavi said: “I came here to win the World Cup. The manager knows me better than anyone. We all want to play more, but what really matters is winning the World Cup. He knows he can count on me for whatever he needs.”

This semifinal is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, with kickoff set for 3 p.m. ET. The winner will move within one victory of lifting the trophy.

The match will be played at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. With a capacity of 80,000 spectators, it will host its final match of the competition after Spain beat Portugal there a few days earlier.

France’s campaign

France have enjoyed a perfect tournament so far after winning every match. They opened Group I with a 3-1 victory over Senegal, followed it with a 3-0 win against Iraq and completed the group stage with a 4-1 victory over Norway.

Their dominance continued in the knockout stage, where they beat Sweden 3-0 in the Round of 32 before edging Paraguay 1-0 in the round of 16 to reach the quarterfinals in which they beat Morocco in a clear way with goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé.

The next rival

If France beat the winner of the match between Spain and Belgium, they will advance to the final, where the opponent can be England, Norway, Argentina or Switzerland, depending on who emerges from the other side of the bracket.

The reason Barcola isn’t starting against Morocco is because Didier Deschamps has chosen Désiré Doué instead. This has been the only spot in doubt during the competition for the manager, as Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise are certain starters.

Even though the talented Paris Saint-Germain winger has been the winger for France, his teammate Doué has rotated with him and has often replaced him during matches.

The replacement

While the attack has been France’s main strength, they didn’t display their best performance against Paraguay. It was precisely Barcola who struggled to make an impact before being substituted.

That substitution proved to be crucial in France’s 1-0 victory over Paraguay because Doué entered the field with much better pace on a day when he looked very difficult to stop whenever he had the ball on the left flank.

It was such an important impact that Doué was the player who changed the match when he dribbled into the penalty area from the left before being brought down for a penalty. After the referee reviewed the play on the monitor, the penalty was confirmed and Mbappé converted it.

Doué’s minutes

That position has been the one Deschamps has rotated the most during the competition. Doué will make his third start after previously starting the victories over Senegal and Norway, scoring one goal. He then came off the bench in the other three matches against Iraq, Sweden and Paraguay.

Even if the greatest players have not always shined at the World Cup, the list of Golden Boot winners features many names that rank among the best in the history of the sport, even if some never won the tournament.

The list also includes some surprising winners who produced the best month of their careers when it mattered most, such as James Rodriguez in 2014 and Salvatore Schillaci in 1990.

Odegaard said: “Obviously we know the quality they have. I know them really well. Outstanding players, world-class players, playing for probably one of the best national teams in the world at the moment, so it’s going to be a big test for us.”

While Brazil did not show its best version in this tournament, eliminating a powerhouse like that was a huge achievement. A saved penalty in the first half kept Norway in the match before Erling Haaland scored twice in the 2-1 victory after a late goal.

Odegaard hails Declan Rice

With Odegaard playing in England, it’s natural for him to face players who are his teammates or opponents throughout the season. This match features several players with Arsenal connections, including Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze.

Even if all of them are important players for England, Odegaard focused more on the midfielder as he shares the midfield and the captaincy role with Rice at Arsenal. The Norway captain had plenty of praise for Rice, describing him as one of the most complete midfielders in the game.

Odegaard said: “Rice’s someone who always gives everything for the team, always fighting for every single ball, bringing his energy to the pitch, to the team, driving the team forward. He can do so many things on the pitch. He can defend, he can attack, he can be physical, he can be good on the ball. He’s a very complete player, so it’s going to be a good test for all of us.”

Odegaard on Norway’s confidence

Norway may not be the favorite in this matchup with all the talent England has, but nothing can stop them from believing in themselves after eliminating Brazil.

Odegaard said: “We have to have the belief in ourselves. We’ve shown the whole world that we’re a good team. In football, anything is possible. Even though we’re the underdogs again, let’s see what happens and let’s prepare well.”

Courtois said: “In recent days, we have been disrespected here in the United States. It was being said that they could beat us easily, but I think today we showed that we are a good team. We played a great match.”

Coming into the match, there were doubts after Belgium had to come back from a 2-0 deficit against Senegal in the final minutes, but that didn’t happen against the USMNT, as a convincing 4-1 victory showed who was the better team.

Courtois on the plan against the USMNT

For the goalkeeper, the most recent match between Belgium and the USMNT was important: “We wanted to pin the United States back from the start and tried to create chances. Then they started to doubt themselves. Perhaps the 5-2 defeat against us in the friendly was affecting them.”

The main topic of the week was probably the unprecedented rescinding of Folarin Balogun’s red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which allowed the forward to play even though he had originally been sent off. That prompted a response from Courtois, who admitted he found the situation surprising.

Courtois said: “I read about it and it amused me. I understand that they want to generate excitement around the United States, but today I had more confidence in our victory than against Senegal, which has a better team than the United States.”

Courtois on Spain

After beating the USMNT, Belgium earned a place in the quarterfinals against Spain. Courtois said: “The quarterfinal against Spain, my second country, will be special. My young son will have to support Belgium, otherwise I won’t let him come back home! I am very happy to be able to play against them.”

Guimaraes wrote: “Soccer, which has given me everything I have, is now the reason I’m feeling the greatest pain of my 28 years of life. Missing the penalty and being eliminated in the Round of 16 is tough. It hurts deeply, but it’s another obstacle for me to overcome. I’ve been through so much that only I truly know.”

While the goals did not arrive until late in the second half, Brazil had a golden opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty in the 14th minute. Surprisingly, it was Guimaraes who stepped up, but his weak shot to Orjan Nyland’s left was comfortably saved.

The full message

“I’ve written and deleted this so many times that I’ve lost count. I’ve always been here through the victories, so it’s only fair that I show up and don’t shy away from speaking to you after a defeat.

Soccer, which has given me everything I have, is now the reason I’m feeling the greatest pain of my 28 years of life. Missing the penalty and being eliminated in the Round of 16 is tough. It hurts deeply, but it’s another obstacle for me to overcome. I’ve been through so much that only I truly know.

I’m certain that, no matter how bad I feel right now, this too shall pass. The craziest part of it all was getting home after the saddest day of my life, and the first thing my children said when I woke up was, ‘Dad, let’s go play soccer.’ That’s when I realized that, whether the days are good or bad, soccer will always be my greatest love.

I take full responsibility, as I always have, and this time is no different. I’m deeply saddened by the way it ended, but I’m certain that God knows everything. I gave You glory in victory, and I’ll give You glory in defeat. Thank You for this opportunity, Jesus.

The dream isn’t over. It remains alive in my heart and in the hearts of thousands who love our country. Now it’s time to reflect, recover my strength with my family, and come back even stronger.”

Deschamps said: “You can ask yourselves questions, but I won’t pay any attention to them. I hope the referee is just as good as Mr. Letexier and his assistants were in the match. My opponent is Morocco, not the referee. On the contrary, he’s there to enforce the rules of the game as fairly as possible.”

When everything pointed toward Argentina’s elimination after falling behind 2-0 against Egypt, Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez scored in a 14-minute span to complete a 3-2 comeback. However, much of the discussion after the match centered on referee Letexier.

Deschamps on Morocco

That wasn’t the only thing Deschamps said before the semifinal: “In every match there are situations that can go one way or the other. The complaints depend on which side you’re on. In some situations, a foul could have been called. This isn’t about revenge, what has already happened can’t be changed. We hope there are as few mistakes as possible from both sides.”

While that may be the main topic of discussion, France still has an important semifinal against a tough Morocco side, which Deschamps said is very different from Paraguay.

Deschamps said: “As for the match, Morocco are not the same team as Paraguay. We played against Morocco four years ago, and they reached the Africa Cup of Nations final. They have very good players. They’re a team that likes to keep possession and attack. They have great quality.”

Michael Olise’s yellow card

The controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun’s rescinded red card gave France hope of appealing Michael Olise’s yellow card, which he received against Paraguay during an altercation. Even if there were no clear grounds for it to be overturned, the Balogun decision raised the possibility.

The French Football Federation submitted an appeal because another yellow card would rule Olise out of the final if France defeats Morocco. Deschamps confirmed that FIFA rejected the request: “The situation with the yellow card hasn’t changed. We received a notification from FIFA this morning.”