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Argentina’s dark blue jersey has grown into something bigger than an alternate strip. For many fans, it is part of the nation’s football folklore — a shirt linked with some of Argentina’s most unforgettable World Cup moments, and perhaps, just a little bit of good luck. That famous away kit will be back in the spotlight when the defending champions face England in Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final in Atlanta. Lionel Messi and his teammates will trade their traditional sky blue and white stripes for the dark blue shirt that has carried so much meaning over the years. The memories are powerful. Argentina wore dark blue against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals in Mexico, when Diego Maradona produced both the infamous “Hand of God” goal and his dazzling solo run later remembered as the “Goal of the Century” in a 2-1 victory. Then, 12 years later, the same color returned in France, where Argentina again eliminated England on penalties in the round of 16 after a thrilling 2-2 draw...

The International Olympic Committee has received a formal complaint alleging that FIFA president Gianni Infantino repeatedly breached rules on political neutrality through his public support for U.S. President Donald Trump. The complaint, filed by FairSquare, claims Infantino may have crossed ethical lines in several incidents, including the controversial suspension of striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban. Balogun had been sent off in a July 1 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, triggering an automatic suspension that would normally keep him out of the next game. But FIFA later announced that the suspension had been paused under a rule-book provision, allowing the forward to feature for the United States against Belgium on July 6. Infantino admitted receiving a call from Trump, who publicly pushed for Balogun to play, though the FIFA chief insisted he did not interfere in the decision-making process. FairSquare argues that the Balogun episode was only one of five alleged breaches ...

Kylian Mbappe did not hide his frustration after France’s World Cup semifinal loss to Spain, delivering a blunt post-match verdict on his team’s 2-0 exit in Arlington, Texas. The France captain said Les Bleus were simply not sharp enough in key moments, pointing to a poor tactical structure and weak communication that allowed Spain to control the match and dominate possession. Spain repeatedly found an extra man in midfield, with Rodri and Fabian Ruiz given the time and space to dictate the rhythm of the game. “We were three against two in midfield and against Spain, that’s hard,” Mbappe admitted. “Fabian and Rodri had plenty of time to play. There was a lack of communication on the press. I think we should have done man-to-man press and force them to run with us.” France had entered the semifinal in excellent form, winning all of their first six matches and scoring 16 goals, but they struggled to create real danger against a well-organized Spain side. Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penal...

By Maxwell Kumoye    European champions Spain produced a composed and clinical performance to defeat France 2-0 on Tuesday, securing their place in the FIFA World Cup final. Spain took the lead in the 22nd minute when Mikel Oyarzabal calmly converted a penalty after Lucas Digne brought down the lively Lamine Yamal inside the penalty area. Following an evenly contested opening, Spain gradually took complete control of the match with their trademark possession-based football, dictating the tempo and limiting France's attacking opportunities. The advantage was doubled in the 58th minute as Pedro Porro finished brilliantly after exchanging passes with Dani Olmo, beating French goalkeeper Mike Maignan to effectively put the contest beyond France. The victory sends Spain into their second World Cup final since lifting their maiden title in 2010.  They will now chase a second world crown when they face either England or Argentina in Sunday's final at the New York/New Jersey Stad...

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has urged Lamine Yamal to forget the birthday candles and embrace the stage, insisting the teenager’s biggest World Cup moment may still be ahead of him. Yamal turned 19 on the eve of Spain’s semi-final clash with France in Dallas, and De la Fuente made it clear that the forward should feel the joy of the occasion rather than the pressure. The Spain boss, who has consistently backed a philosophy of calm and confidence, said the young star should simply enjoy himself and trust that his best moment at the tournament is still to come. “I’ve told him there is no need to worry – let him enjoy himself. I’m sure Lamine’s great World Cup day is still to come. I hope it’s tomorrow and, if not, then in the final, if we can get there,” De la Fuente said. Yamal has been easing into form after arriving at the tournament while managing a hamstring issue picked up after converting a penalty for Barcelona in late April. So far, he has scored once at the competition but is...

Lamine Yamal marked his 19th birthday on Monday with diamonds around his neck, a playful family storyline in the background and the biggest match of his young career waiting ahead. But as Spain prepared for their World Cup semi-final showdown with France, the teenage forward made it clear that his message was not about glamour, gifts or fame. Asked about former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s controversial comment that France were a great team but “did not have any French players,” Yamal gave a calm, thoughtful response. With a Moroccan father and an Equatorial Guinean mother, he said football should unite rather than divide. “Tomorrow we’ll play a brilliant match but if football serves any purpose it’s to bring people together,” Yamal told reporters in Dallas. “France and Spain are examples of integration. That’s what football is all about: integration. Not talking about what someone else has said.” For a player still young enough to be questioned about birthday presents, it wa...

  Dutch referee Rob Dieperink has died at the age of 38, two months after he was dropped from the panel of match officials for the 2026 World ‌Cup following a police case in Britain that was later dropped. No cause of death has been revealed. "We are shocked and deeply saddened by the passing of Rob Dieperink. With Rob, we lose a highly valued referee, but above all a ⁠kind and dedicated colleague," the Dutch football association said in a statement. Dieperink had been selected as part of the video assistant referee (VAR) panel at the World Cup, but was removed in May after he had been arrested the previous month by Metropolitan Police. He had been in London to officiate in the Conference League fixture between Crystal Palace and Fiorentina. The case was dropped due ‌to ⁠a lack of evidence. "It saddens me greatly that I have been wrongly accused," Dieperink said in an interview with De Telegraaf. "From the beginning, I have fully cooperated in the police invest...

  England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has faced World Cup penalty shootouts, semi-finals and some of the biggest names in football during his record-breaking career, but there is one challenge that has eluded him until now. When England take on ‌Lionel Messi and reigning champions Argentina in Wednesday's World Cup semi-final in Atlanta, Pickford will come up against the eight-times Ballon d'Or winner for the first time. For a player who broke Peter Shilton's record for most England World Cup appearances when he started his 18th match in the quarter-final against Norway, the occasion carries a sense of history. The 32-year-old Everton player was eight when England last met Argentina, during the group stage of the 2002 World Cup. "I remember being sat in school on the floor watching when the teacher wheeled in the TV, so I'll never forget that moment," Pickford told reporters on Monday. "He's scored so many goals and he's contributed to so many ⁠goa...

  More than 100,000 fans flooded the streets of the Norwegian capital Oslo on Monday to give their soccer team a heroes' welcome, turning the heartbreak of their ‌World Cup exit into a massive national celebration. A 2-1 extra-time defeat by England on Saturday brought Norway's historic run to an end in the quarter-finals, shattering the Nordics' dreams of a semi-final berth. However, it did not stop the country celebrating their heroes. Massive ⁠crowds under the Norwegian summer sun filled the grounds of the Royal Palace early on Monday afternoon, with an unofficial turnout estimated at more than 100,000 people. The Norway squad touched down to a traditional water cannon salute before commencing their homecoming parade in the capital. The line of supporters quickly packed the palace square before stretching far down the main street, Karl Johans gate, as the squad first ‌attended ⁠an audience with King Harald. The team then stepped out to greet the fans with the Royal Guard...

  France may arrive with a fearsome front four and enough attacking firepower to make defenders sleep badly, but Spain's plan for their ‌World Cup semi-final is rather more territorial: keep the ball, dictate the rhythm and make the danger flow the other way. Winger Alex Baena said Spain obviously respected one of the tournament's most potent teams, spearheaded by an attacking line of Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele and either Desire Doue or Bradley Barcola. But the Spaniard insisted they would not spend Tuesday's clash simply waiting for the storm. "The four up front are having a great tournament and we will have to keep an ⁠eye on them. But we will try to make them watch us more than we watch them," Baena told reporters on Monday. "Our strength is having the ball, having a lot of possession to attack and to make sure they attack us as little as possible. Hopefully, tomorrow it will be like that too." That line neatly captured Spain's ...

Swiss soccer fans saluted their team in the early hours of Sunday after their World Cup run came to an end with a 3-1 defeat by Argentina in the quarter-finals. The Swiss had reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 1954, but fell one ‌match short of an unprecedented semi-final appearance. Their task was made all the more difficult with the absence of their leading scorer Johan Manzambi due to a knee injury, while Breel Embolo's controversial dismissal in the 72nd minute against Argentina changed the complexion of the match. Despite the disappointment, fans were proud of their team's efforts and went back home in the early morning waving their Swiss flags. "In our hearts you won, Switzerland," Switzerland fan ⁠Laura K. said in Nyon early on Sunday. "Ten against 11 with Argentina." Swiss President Guy Parmelin said on social media that Murat Yakin's side had captivated the country. "Despite today’s disappointment, what stands out for me ab...

By Trust Ittai  England moved within one victory of reaching their first FIFA Men's World Cup final since their historic 1966 triumph after Jude Bellingham produced a sensational two-goal performance to inspire a dramatic 2-1 extra-time comeback win over Norway in Miami. Thomas Tuchel's side overcame the challenging heat and humidity to book their place in the semi-finals, where they will face either Argentina or Switzerland. Once again, Bellingham proved to be England's match-winner, delivering when it mattered most. Norway struck first in the 36th minute through Andreas Schjelderup, whose dipping effort deceived goalkeeper Jordan Pickford before finding the back of the net. England responded in first-half stoppage time, with Bellingham restoring parity in trademark fashion. The Real Madrid midfielder latched onto Anthony Gordon's perfectly weighted pass before calmly finishing past goalkeeper Orjan Nyland. Tuchel made two key changes at the interval, withdrawing the i...

  By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye    Argentina's Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez struck deep into extra time to secure a dramatic 3-1 victory over 10-man Switzerland in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final, setting up a blockbuster semi-final clash with England in Atlanta on Wednesday. Lionel Messi's side kept alive their quest to become the first nation to successfully defend the FIFA World Cup since Brazil in 1962.  The hard-fought victory sparked wild celebrations among the sea of sky-blue-and-white supporters and brought Switzerland's fairy-tale campaign to an end. The Swiss had reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1954 but fell one game short of a historic first-ever semi-final appearance.  Their hopes suffered a significant setback when Breel Embolo was sent off for simulation in the 72nd minute after receiving a second yellow card. Kansas City hosted its final match of the tournament, and the pulsating encounter appeared de...

  Spain's march into the World Cup semi-finals owed much to a familiar ‌figure on Friday, with Mikel Merino once again coming off the bench to deliver in the dying moments of a crucial knockout match. The Arsenal midfielder struck an 88th-minute winner in Spain's 2-1 victory over Belgium, reacting quickest after replacement goalkeeper Senne Lammens spilled a shot to send Spain into the last four, where they will face World Cup favourites France in Dallas on Tuesday. Manchester United's Lammens had been ⁠brought on after a tearful Thibaut Courtois was forced off with a muscle injury in the second half. Merino, 30, has made a habit of appearing at precisely the right moment, having also come off the bench to score the only goal in stoppage time against Portugal in the last 16. Asked whether his sequence of dramatic interventions was down to luck, Merino insisted it was the product of preparation. "I believe in some coincidences, but I don't think this is one," h...

  Harry Kane refused to be drawn into comparisons with fellow striker Erling Haaland on Friday as the England captain prepares ‌for a World Cup quarter-final showdown with Norway that could go some way to deciding who wins the tournament's Golden Boot. Kane trails the Norwegian striker by one goal in the race, with Haaland on seven. Both are chasing leaders Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, who have scored eight goals each. When asked who the better striker is, Kane -- who won the World Cup Golden Boot in 2018 -- diplomatically sidestepped the question. "Impossible one for me to answer. First of all, I think we're completely different players almost. I know we're ⁠both senior strikers, but we play almost two different positions," Kane told reporters on Friday. "I see myself as a different player, although I score the same goals. I like to maybe touch the ball a little bit more, but I can also play as maybe the out-and-out nine." 'HE'S A BEAST' ...

  Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said on Friday he is not surprised by Lionel Messi's physical condition at 39, reiterating that he believes the captain will remain the best player in the world for as ‌long as he chooses to keep playing. Messi has been instrumental in Argentina's World Cup campaign, scoring eight goals — level with France's Kylian Mbappe — and inspiring a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt in the round of 16. Against the North Africans, the Argentine talisman — playing in a record sixth World Cup — netted once and provided an assist to Cristian Romero after ⁠his side trailed 2-0 with 11 minutes remaining. The Inter Miami forward, who turned 39 last month, arrived in the tournament with questions over his fitness after recently recovering from a muscle strain. "Leo runs more or less the same in every match," Scaloni said. "Physically, it's true that he has done preparation work with his fitness coach and it has paid off, but in terms...

  England captain Harry Kane has confirmed he once played golf with U.S. President Donald Trump, describing the experience as "surreal" and praising the president's game. Trump ‌told reporters earlier this week that he had played golf with Kane, calling the England, opens new tab striker a great player and a good golfer. Speaking on Friday on the eve of their World Cupquarter-final match against Norway, Kane confirmed the ⁠round took place in Palm Beach, Florida, about 18 months ago. "I played all right, to be honest," Kane told reporters in Miami. "He invited me to play when I was down in Palm Beach. So yeah, when the president invites you somewhere ... "It was a pretty surreal experience just to meet him and obviously play golf with him. His golf is ‌pretty ⁠good, to be honest," Kane added. "I hope I can play as well as him when I'm his age. So yeah, unique experience and I was just grateful he invited me down to play." Trump ⁠had ...

  Norway's famed "row" celebration may be one of the viral sensations of the World Cup in North America, but fans in the capital of Oslo might need their waterproofs when their side take on England in the quarter-finals on Saturday if forecast heavy ⁠rains arrive. The team's five games so far at the tournament have seen tens of thousands of fans in Norway gathering outdoors to watch, with supporters packing streets and squares to cheer on their side and celebrate together as they contest their first men's World Cup since 1998. However, a weather warning issued on Friday morning for the south-east of the country has authorities and fans alike scrambling to review their arrangements for Norway's biggest World Cup game since ‌the ⁠country's women won the 1995 final. "Saturday afternoon and early evening, locally heavy rain showers with thunder are expected," the Norwegian Meteorological Institute said in a 'yellow' weather warning. "In ...

  Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said on Thursday that Belgium would provide his side's sternest test yet ‌in the World Cup quarter-finals, with his team having reached the last eight without conceding a goal. Among the favourites to lift the trophy, Spain booked their place in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Portugal and have grown into the tournament with a balanced side that is comfortable in possession, solid in defence and boasts enough attacking quality to trouble any opponent. "Tomorrow's game will ⁠be the hardest that we've faced to this point," de la Fuente told reporters in Los Angeles Stadium, pointing out that Belgium's experienced squad includes players with proven pedigree at some of Europe's biggest clubs. "Belgium is a very powerful team. These are players who are used to winning. It's going to be a challenging match." The winners of Friday's game in Los Angeles will face France in Tuesday's semi-final in Dallas ...

  Belgium are embracing their underdog status ahead of Friday's World Cup quarter-final against Spain, with coach Rudi Garcia confident they have the attacking quality and belief to upset the European champions. Spain entered the tournament as one of the favourites and after a ‌slow start found their swagger with a 3-0 win over Austria in the round of 32. While Spain coach Luis de la Fuente struck a philosophical tone in his own pre-match media conference, quoting Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Garcia leaned instead on analytics and squad management. "We know we are playing one of the favourites. Spain are probably the best at ball possession and they have been ⁠playing in a recognisable way for 15 or 20 years," he said. "But we have a great team. We are the second-highest scorers in the World Cup and we are facing the team with the highest expected goals. We think we can do it." Belgium, with 13 goals, are the third-highest scorers behind France (16) and Argent...