Paraguayan senator, Spanish ex-PM spark racist commentary row over France
Paraguayan senator and Spanish ex-PM make racist and nationalist statements about France's World Cup team.
Event / Sports
2026 FIFA World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup football tournament, featuring matches, results, and related developments from the competition.
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2026-08-17 to 2026-11-14 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 5 Jul, 22:53 UTC
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What happened
Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón conceded only 1 goal in 7 matches
Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón has conceded only one goal across seven matches in the 2026 World Cup tournament, demonstrating exceptional defensive performance.
Spain and Argentina have only one prior World Cup meeting in 1966
Spain and Argentina have met 14 times, but only one meeting was in a World Cup: in 1966 during group play, when Argentina defeated Spain 2-1. The other 13 meetings were friendly exhibitions.
World Cup closing ceremony at 1:30 p.m. with Post Malone headlining
The 2026 World Cup closing ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands, 90 minutes before kickoff. Post Malone headlines with performances by Tom Cruise, IShowSpeed, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and Jennifer Hudson singing the national anthem.
Spain won its only World Cup title in 2010
Spain's only World Cup championship came in 2010, won through their famous "tiki-taka" style. A second title in 2026 would tie Spain with France and Uruguay for fifth all-time.
Spain defeated Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Austria, Portugal, Belgium, and France
Spain progressed through the tournament with victories: a scoreless draw against Cape Verde in group play, then wins over Saudi Arabia (4-0), Uruguay (1-0), Austria (3-0), Portugal (1-0), Belgium (2-1), and France (2-0) in knockout stages.
Spain defeated France 2-0 in World Cup semifinal
Spain shutout France in the World Cup semifinal, winning 2-0. Mikel Oyarzabal scored in the 22nd minute, and Pedro Porro added another goal in the second half.
Spain and Argentina advance to 2026 FIFA World Cup final
Spain and Argentina qualified as finalists for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after their respective semifinal victories. Argentina is the defending World Cup champion from 2022, while Spain is the reigning European Championship holder from 2024.
Argentina won World Cup titles in 1978, 1986, and 2022
Argentina has won three World Cup championships (1978, 1986, 2022) and reached seven finals total, with runner-up finishes in 1930, 1990, and 2014.
Inaugural World Cup halftime show features BTS, Justin Bieber, Madonna, and Shakira
The first-ever World Cup halftime show will feature BTS, Justin Bieber, Madonna, and Shakira as co-headliners, curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin. Additional performers include Burna Boy and conductor Gustavo Dudamel.
Lionel Messi has scored 8 goals and 4 assists in 2026 World Cup
Lionel Messi, the 39-year-old Argentine captain, has recorded 8 goals and 4 assists through the 2026 World Cup tournament and is competing for the Golden Boot award, though he trails Kylian Mbappé in the race.
Argentina defeated Algeria, Austria, Jordan, Cape Verde, Switzerland, Egypt, and England
Argentina progressed with victories over Algeria (3-0), Austria (2-0), Jordan (3-1), Cape Verde (after extra time), Switzerland (in stoppage time), Egypt (after dramatic comeback), and England (2-1) in the semifinal.
Argentina defeated England 2-1 in World Cup semifinal
Argentina beat England 2-1 in the World Cup semifinal with goals from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez, both assisted by Lionel Messi, with the winning goal coming in stoppage time.
2026 FIFA World Cup final scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium
The World Cup final between Spain and Argentina is scheduled for July 19, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal leads Spanish scorers with 5 goals
Forward Mikel Oyarzabal is the leading scorer for Spain in the 2026 World Cup with 5 goals, followed by substitute Mikel Merino with 2 goals.
Lamine Yamal, 19, wins penalty for Spain in semifinal against France
Spanish winger Lamine Yamal, age 19, demonstrated crucial performance in the semifinal against France, winning a penalty through his craftiness in the box despite not scoring goals in the tournament.
2026 World Cup expected to set attendance and viewership records
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is expected to set a record for attendance and become the most-watched tournament ever.
Mbappé scores 22 goals at 2026 World Cup
Kylian Mbappé scored 22 goals during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including a double against England in the third-place match. Mbappé is competing with Lionel Messi for the distinction of top scorer in World Cup history.
Slovene referee Slavko Vincic officiates World Cup final
Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic, 46 years old, was designated by FIFA to officiate the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. Vincic becomes the first Slovenian to direct a World Cup final match.
Spain faces Argentina in 2026 FIFA World Cup final
Spain and Argentina are competing in the FIFA World Cup final on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, at 21:00 Paris time. Spain seeks its second World Cup title after winning in 2010, while Argentina aims to retain the trophy and secure a second title for Lionel Messi within four years.
France loses to England in World Cup third-place match
France finished fourth in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after losing to England 4-6 on July 18, 2026, in Miami, USA. This was the final match under coach Didier Deschamps, who ended his fourteen-year tenure with the French national team.
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2 alternative perspectives
World Cup visa denials escalate with referee deportation, supporter exclusions
Multiple World Cup participants faced visa denials and deportations, including a Somali referee and hundreds of supporters from African nations.
Spain defeats France 2-0 to reach World Cup final
Spain beats France 2-0 in semifinal to reach World Cup final.
Trump receives FIFA Peace Prize as political influence reshapes tournament
Trump received FIFA Peace Prize and successfully intervened to overturn player suspension.
FIFA records 89,000 abusive social media comments during group stage
FIFA documented 89,000 abusive social media comments during group stage play.
Spain advances to World Cup final with dominant 2-0 semifinal victory over France
Spain beats France 2-0 in World Cup semifinal to reach the final for the first time since 2010.
Political figures ignite World Cup controversy with divisive statements
Politicians from Paraguay and Spain made inflammatory statements about France's World Cup team, fueling tournament controversy.
World Cup visa denials and deportations target athletes from multiple nations
Athletes, officials, and supporters from multiple nations denied entry or deported during 2026 World Cup.
Wildfire smoke triggers health crisis across northeastern U.S. cities
Wildfire smoke from Canada causes air quality emergencies across northeastern U.S. cities.
Argentina and Spain set for World Cup final on July 19
Argentina and Spain will contest the 2026 World Cup final on July 19 in New Jersey.
USA's Round of 16 exit amid Trump-FIFA controversy
USMNT eliminated in Round of 16; Trump intervened with FIFA over suspension controversy.
Trump, Sánchez to attend World Cup final; Milei absent from Argentina clash
Trump and Spanish PM Sánchez attending World Cup final; Argentine President Milei skipping championship match.