The 2026 FIFA World Cup is deep into the knock-out stages — and HuffPost is live-blogging every twist and turn as the final looms at New York/New Jersey Stadium on July 19.
Even before a ball was kicked, the 23rd edition of the tournament was engulfed in controversy: from Iran’s tough journey to the competition amid Donald Trump’s war, to the president’s close relationship with FIFA’s Peace Prize-awarding President Gianni Infantino. That’s not to mention Trump’s travel bans keeping some fans and officials out and the fury over soaring ticket prices.
Once the soccer actually began, much of the concern was eased — at least for a short while.
The sport’s biggest stars came out to play, and the Cape Verde’s Cinderella story captured the imagination. Off the field, Norway’s “Viking row” went viral and Boston was a sea of tartan as Scotland’s fans took over.
But the introduction of hydration breaks, seen as a vehicle for TV advertising, prompted booing from fans and questions about the fundamentals of the game being undermined. And Trump’s intervention in an effort to get a red card reversed for U.S. forward Folarin Balogun, which was fruitless, as the Americans were soundly defeated by Belgium, will likely leave a stain on this World Cup.
Check out the full games schedule on the FIFA website.
Follow along with our coverage below:
Injury Update On France World Cup Superstar Mbappe
The nation of France can relax. Kylian Mbappe is fine.
After Mbappe scored his eighth goal of this World Cup and the 20th of his tournament career Thursday, he departed early from France's 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Morocco but insisted that he will be ready for next week's semifinal.
"I have a minor ankle injury, but I'm completely fine," Mbappe said shortly after the final whistle sealed France's third consecutive semifinal appearance. "(Jean-Philippe) Mateta was in a better position to play the remaining minutes of the match and was fitter at that moment. That's all that happened."
Mbappe left in the 77th minute under his own power, waving with two arms to the crowd in a familiar manner. Only 17 minutes earlier, the 27-year-old superstar scored to keep pace with Argentina's Lionel Messi once again.
The duo is tied for the tournament lead, and the 39-year-old Messi -- for now -- has a one-goal advantage for the career World Cup scoring record.
Ousmane Dembele followed six minutes after Mbappe to double the lead. The reigning Ballon d'Or holder had been scoreless in his first 12 career World Cup appearances, but now has five goals in his last five.
Les Bleus will next play on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas, against the winner of Friday's quarterfinal between Spain and Belgium.
A nation will be on the edge of their seats, likely believing that France can become the third to reach three consecutive World Cup finals.
"I want them to continue watching the games, giving us the strength," Mbappe said of French fans. "Even though they're not in the stadium, we feel their energy. And we will try to gather the masses for the next matches."
Morocco were shut out for the first time this tournament and eliminated by France for a second consecutive World Cup, having also lost 2-0 in the 2022 semifinals. They're the last African team to exit after nine of 10 qualifiers reached the knockout phase, but only two advanced past the round of 32.
Playing without injured forward Ismael Saibari, the Atlas Lions were second-best for most of the afternoon, only forcing France goalkeeper Mike Maignan into a save from Azzedine Ounahi's effort from distance in the 83rd minute.
"Of course we need to take stock of the situation if we want to progress; it's essential," Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi said. "We cannot just say that we're happy and proud of what we've done. We need to move forward, and in order to do so, we have to be objective and to do some self-criticism."
Mbappe's 60th-minute strike from the left side of the penalty arc ended what had been an exasperating hour after seeing his poorly struck first-half penalty saved by Yassine Bounou.
But when he found himself as the recipient of a deflected ball at the top of the 18, he showed no timidity, curling a perfect right-footed effort around defender Issa Diop and narrowly inside Bounou's left post.
Dembele tacked on six minutes later on a counterattack as Morocco had no choice but to try and send numbers forward.
This time it was Mbappe making a run to the left to clear space. Instead, Dembele unleashed his own right-footed shot from about 20 yards out, and while Bounou got a hand to it, he could not keep it from nestling in the bottom right corner.
"We are exactly where we wanted to be," France manager Didier Deschamps said. "We will recover well and see who our opponent will be. I imagine there's a lot of excitement and passion in France. Here, we are in our own bubble, and I am even more so. That's what we're here for, and the players have a duty to do everything they can to go as far as possible. We've cleared a major hurdle."
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Spain Scores Late Winner Against Belgium, Advances To World Cup Semifinals
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute on a rebound yielded by backup Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens, and Spain advanced to the World Cup semifinals with a 2-1 victory on Friday.
Merino was the late hero for the second straight match for Spain, which will face tournament favorite France in the semifinals on Tuesday in the Dallas area.
Merino came on in the 86th minute and scored on his second touch of the match, charging into the box and pouncing after Lammens spilled a rebound of Pau Cubarsí’s long shot.
Heavy Rain Threatens Oslo World Cup Parties As Norway Take On England
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 some places, more than 20 mm may fall in an hour."
"There is a risk of stormwater in densely populated areas, and water penetrating basements. Risk of local flooding, changes in stream and river courses, landslides and flash floods where the heaviest rain showers hit."
Saturday's rain will put the country's weather maxim of "there's no bad weather, only bad clothes" to the test, but the one silver lining for arrangers of outdoor viewings is that the rain is expected to stop at around 8:00 p.m. (1800 GMT), with the game in Miami kicking off at 11 p.m.
England World Cup Star Addresses Hilariously Viral ‘F**k You’ From Rival Coach
England's Anthony Gordon has brushed off the viral moment that now-former Mexico coach Javier Aguirre appeared to curse him out during England's dramatic World Cup win, describing it as "just a bit of fun" and even a "compliment."
Television cameras caught Aguirre getting Gordon's attention by calling out his name before saying, "fuck you" and bursting into laughter.
"With all the heat and tension around the game, it was a bit of fun," Gordon said, per the Press Association. "I'd just run the full-back down the line so it was a bit of a compliment from him. That's how I took it anyway."
'Made Us Proud': Egypt Gives Heroes' Welcome Home To World Cup Team
Waving flags, singing patriotic songs and carrying banners proclaiming "Egypt's men made us proud", thousands of supporters welcomed Egypt's national football team home on Friday after the Pharaohs produced the finest World Cup campaign in the country's history.
Crowds gathered outside Alamein International Airport on Egypt's Mediterranean coast to greet the players and coaching staff after their return from North America, where Egypt won at the World Cup for the first time in four attempts and reached the last 16. Fans also held pictures of captain Mohamed Salah bearing the words "Thank you".
The celebrations continued as the squad boarded an open-top bus and paraded through New Alamein, waving to cheering supporters lining the streets. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is due to receive the team and its technical and administrative staff on Saturday.
Among the crowds were supporters carrying large posters of coach Hossam Hassan draped in a Palestinian flag, reflecting appreciation for his support of the Palestinian cause during the tournament. Egypt's all-time leading scorer carried a Palestinian flag on the pitch on several occasions and voiced support for Palestinian rights during press conferences.
The homecoming came despite a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat by Lionel Messi's Argentina in the last 16. Egypt led 2-0 until the closing stages before conceding three goals in the final 11 minutes, but still returned home with pride after its best-ever World Cup run, having beaten New Zealand in the group stage and Australia on penalties in the round of 32.
Before the team's return, the Egyptian Football Association renewed the contracts of Hossam Hassan and his twin brother Ibrahim Hassan. The federation did not disclose the length of the deal, though local media reported it would run until 2030. Hassan, 59, has revitalised the national side since taking charge in 2024, leading Egypt to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals, ending an eight-year World Cup absence and compiling a record of 20 wins, nine draws and six defeats.
World Cup's Embrace Of Technology Backfires On FIFA
If FIFA President Gianni Infantino imagined his embrace of technology might finally put an end to disputes over refereeing decisions, the World Cup would have disabused him of the notion.
The use of technology has been at the heart of every major controversy at the tournament, including the saga around the red card for Folarin Balogun that drew in U.S. President Donald Trump.
Criticism of technology has ranged from charges of over-reach and inconsistency of application, to full-blown conspiracy theories that VAR was being used to determine the outcome of matches in favour of certain teams or players.
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan gave voice to all three on Tuesday after his team had a goal scratched off by VAR because of a foul at the other end of the pitch, and a penalty shout that went unchecked, before losing 3-2 to Argentina in the last 16.
“What’s happening isn’t fair,” he said.
Read more on Reuters:
World Cup Weather Watch: Spain vs. Belgium
Here's what fans can expect in Los Angeles for the 2026 FIFA World Cup game between Spain and Belgium on Friday, including temperatures, the Fan Comfort Index (FCI) level and any weather concerns.
See more World Cup weather news on The Weather Channel.
Police Officer Hospitalized In London Amid Violence Following France-Morocco World Cup Clash
A police officer was hospitalized with a head injury and multiple arrests were made in London on Thursday night after violence erupted following France’s 2-0 quarterfinal defeat of Morocco in the World Cup.
Read more at The Guardian:
Teen Dies In Tragic Accident During France World Cup Celebrations
A 17-year-old girl died in northern France on Thursday night after she reportedly fell from a truck and was then struck by the vehicle during celebrations of the French men’s national soccer team’s 2-0 quarterfinal World Cup win over Morocco, reported local media.
Megan Rapinoe Explains Why U.S. Women’s Team Was Better Prepared For Trump Drama
Former U.S. women’s national team star Megan Rapinoe explained on Thursday how the “circus” surrounding the men’s World Cup team after Donald Trump’s intervention with FIFA may have contributed to its crushing 4-1 Round of 16 defeat to Belgium.
Belgium Coach Fires Warning To Spain Ahead Of World Cup Showdown
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 Argentina (14).
Veteran forward Romelu Lukaku, whose workload has been managed during the tournament, said Belgium would need the perfect game to progress.
"If you get this far, you don't play just to go home," the 33-year-old said.
"Spain are an excellent team. They look for the third man, they have speed on the sides and they provide depth. But we are well prepared and we have assets that can make life difficult for them."
Lukaku said his role had been agreed after a long conversation with Garcia in April and that his focus was not on individual accolades.
"It's about the team," he said. "I try to help on the pitch and off the pitch. At this stage of my career, you have to play with your head as well."
Belgium are also prepared for a potentially hostile crowd at Los Angeles Stadium after they eliminated the United States 4-1 in Seattle on Monday.
Garcia said it would take more than an unfriendly atmosphere to unsettle his players.
"We just beat the U.S. in a stadium where everyone was against us," he said.
"It's not the crowd that scores the goals. We will focus on what we can do. We have enough on our plate with Spain, who are a wonderful footballing team.
"Even if we are the underdogs, we will do everything we can to give them a run for their money."
Source: HuffPost
