- Jul 22
Samú Costa set for Al Nassr move after Mallorca accept €18m offer
The Portuguese midfielder will link up with compatriots Cristiano Ronaldo and João Félix after the Saudi club outbid RB Leipzig and other European suitors.
- Jul 21
Liam Gallagher calls World Cup halftime show 'a bad trip' as Shakira's 'Dai Dai' tops global charts
Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher likened the first-ever World Cup final halftime show to 'a bad trip,' while Shakira and Burna Boy's official anthem 'Dai Dai' held No. 1 on Billboard's global charts.
- Jul 20
Spain wins 2026 World Cup 1-0 over Argentina as Trump-Sánchez handshake and halftime concert dominate the narrative
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time at MetLife Stadium, with Donald Trump and Pedro Sánchez sharing an awkward handshake and a first-ever halftime concert dividing opinion.
- Jul 20
Madonna, Shakira, Bieber and a Trump photo op: the World Cup final halftime show that broke football tradition
A 30-minute halftime spectacle featuring Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber, combined with Donald Trump's on-field photo op and a pre-match intervention in a player suspension, turned the 2026 World Cup final into a flashpoint over American influence on football.
- Jul 20
Rodri named best player as Spain dominate 2026 World Cup awards; Mbappé wins Golden Boot
Spain's captain Rodri claimed the Golden Ball after leading his team to a 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the final at East Rutherford. Kylian Mbappé secured the Golden Boot with 10 goals, becoming the all-time World Cup top scorer with 22.
- Jul 20
Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber star in World Cup's first halftime show as Spain beats Argentina
The FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium featured the tournament's first-ever halftime show, with performances by Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber.
- Jul 20
Madonna, BTS and Shakira star in first World Cup final halftime show as extended break draws fire
The first halftime show in World Cup final history featured Madonna, BTS, Shakira and Justin Bieber at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, stretching the break to over 27 minutes and drawing sharp criticism from players and purists.
- Jul 19
World Cup final halftime show stretches to 27 minutes as Madonna, Bieber, Shakira perform
FIFA's first-ever World Cup final halftime show featured Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS and Shakira, but the break lasted 27 minutes and 20 seconds, violating football's 15-minute rule and drawing criticism from former players.
- Jul 18
Jhon Durán arrives in Lisbon for Benfica loan, says club is 'the biggest in Portugal'
The Colombian striker, 22, landed at Humberto Delgado Airport on Saturday and told reporters he wants to 'score many goals' after agreeing a season-long loan from Al Nassr with a €30m purchase option.
- Jul 16
Messi's last World Cup chance meets Yamal's first as Argentina and Spain contest 2026 final
Argentina and Spain meet in New York on Sunday for the 2026 World Cup final, pitting Lionel Messi, 39, against 19-year-old Lamine Yamal, the Barcelona prodigy he once bathed as a baby for a UNICEF calendar.
- Jul 14
Norway's Alexander Sørloth and partner receive death threats after missed World Cup quarter-final chance against England
Norwegian striker Alexander Sørloth and his partner Lena Selnes have been targeted with death threats and abuse online after Norway's 2-1 World Cup quarter-final defeat to England. Selnes shared screenshots on Instagram, drawing condemnation from coach Ståle Solbakken, who urged his players to stay off social media.
- Jul 11
468 Peruvian babies named Haaland as Norway striker's World Cup heroics spark naming frenzy
The Norwegian striker's seven-goal World Cup run has inspired parents across the Andean nation, with 91 children given the full name Erling Haaland and four registered as Erling Braut Haaland.
- Jul 10
Unbeaten Spain puts 609-minute shutout on line against Belgium in World Cup quarterfinal
Spain, yet to concede a goal in the tournament, faces a Belgian side that dispatched the United States 4-1. The winner meets France in the semifinals.
- Jul 9
Jorge Jesus named Portugal head coach, signs contract through 2030 World Cup
Jorge Jesus has signed a four-year contract to become the new head coach of the Portugal national team, succeeding Roberto Martínez after the team's World Cup round-of-16 exit. The 71-year-old will be presented on Friday, the 10th anniversary of Portugal's Euro 2016 triumph.
- Jul 8
Portugal moves to appoint Jorge Jesus as new coach after World Cup elimination
FPF president Pedro Proença confirms profile for new coach is defined and expects to announce Jorge Jesus by Monday following Roberto Martínez's departure after round of 16 exit.
- Jul 7
FIFA refereeing chief rejects Egypt's claims of bias in Argentina's World Cup comeback win
FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina dismissed allegations of favouritism after Egypt's 3-2 loss to Argentina, saying match officials acted with complete independence, while Egypt demanded the referee's exclusion from the World Cup.
- Jul 7
Spain knocks out Portugal with 90th-minute Merino goal, ending Ronaldo's World Cup career; Balogun starts for USA amid FIFA controversy
A late strike by substitute Mikel Merino sent Spain into the World Cup quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Portugal in Dallas, while Cristiano Ronaldo's international tournament career likely ended. Hours later, the USA faced Belgium in Seattle with Folarin Balogun in the starting lineup after FIFA reversed his suspension following a call from President Trump.
- Jul 6
Spain beats Portugal 1-0: Merino's late goal sends La Roja to quarterfinals, ends Ronaldo's World Cup
Spain edged Portugal 1-0 in the World Cup round of 16 in Dallas, with Mikel Merino's 91st-minute goal securing a quarterfinal spot and ending Cristiano Ronaldo's tournament career.
- Jul 6
Portugal's PM faces backlash for World Cup trip to Dallas as country stays on wildfire alert
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro travelled to Dallas for Portugal's round of 16 match against Spain, missing the opening of his party's parliamentary days and drawing sharp criticism as mainland Portugal remains under a state of alert due to wildfires.
- Jul 6
Spain beat Portugal with 91st-minute goal as Ronaldo exits final World Cup
Mikel Merino struck in the 91st minute as Spain beat Portugal 1-0 in Arlington to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, ending Cristiano Ronaldo's sixth and final tournament.
