Sports

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. After 27 days of non-stop World Cup action, it’s time to take a break. There will be no games played today, with teams enjoying a

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN Atlanta (CNN) — Switzerland needed a penalty shootout to dump Colombia out of the 2026 World Cup, advancing 4-3 on penalties after a scoreless 120 minutes. The result sees the Swiss go back to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1954, where they will play the defending champions, Argentina. The

By Kyle Feldscher, Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. Usually, we like to look forward in this newsletter, but the events of the last 48 or so hours really require us to

By Kyle Feldscher (CNN) – The impossible dream for the United States has proved to be just that as the USA crashes out of the World Cup with a 4-1 loss to Belgium. Defensive weaknesses proved to be the USA’s undoing as two first half-goals from Charles de Ketelaere and a second-half strike from Hans

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — Spain’s late goal eliminated Portugal from the 2026 World Cup and may have just put an end to the illustrious international career of Cristiano Ronaldo. Mikel Merino’s goal in the 91st minute was all the Spanish needed to advance to the quarterfinals, where they will play Belgium. The goal

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. Congratulations, everyone. We made it 24 days without this World Cup having to do much with Donald Trump. Yet this morning, despite all the amazing

CNN By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. Congratulations, everyone. We made it 24 days without this World Cup having to do much with Donald Trump. Yet this morning, despite all the

By Hannah Keyser, Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — England saw off an immense challenge from Mexico, beating one of the tournament co-hosts in their home stadium after seeing one player sent off in a game that will go down as one of the best of the 2026 World Cup. It was a game that had

By Wayne Sterling, Betsy Klein, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump’s role in FIFA’s stunning decision to allow striker Folarin Balogun to be eligible to play against Belgium on Monday in Seattle is under the microscope. A source familiar with the matter told CNN on Sunday that Trump spoke with FIFA President Gianni Infantino this

CNN By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — I think this is the most exciting day of fixtures since the 2026 World Cup began. We have tournament heavyweights, dark horses, superstar players and one of the most incredible stadiums in the world to talk about in today’s offering. Brazil, England, Norway and Mexico will all hope

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — I think this is the most exciting day of fixtures since the 2026 World Cup began. We have tournament heavyweights, dark horses, superstar players and one of the most incredible stadiums in the world to talk about in today’s offering. Brazil, England, Norway and Mexico will all hope to

By Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN (CNN) — On the first day of Round of 16 action, we saw valiant efforts, fantastic goals and a real grind-it-out battle of attrition. In the second match of the day, France eked past Paraguay, with the South Americans providing a tough test for one of the tournament favorites. In

By Patrick Sung Cuadrado, Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. Wow. Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. Wow! If you missed last night’s match between Argentina and Cape Verde, go right now and

By Kyle Feldscher, Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — On the final day of the Round of 32, the World Cup presented soccer fans with plenty of memories. Between Argentina surviving a potential stunning upset by Cape Verde – a small African island nation making its World Cup debut – to Colombia defeating Ghana, and Egypt

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. We all knew this World Cup would be good on the pitch. In truth, they always are. But this summer has been so dramatic and

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — It’s been called one of, if not the biggest VAR decision in World Cup history. Whatever you call it, it was one that left Croatia heartbroken and Portugal thanking its lucky stars. But what exactly happened in last night’s Round of 32 clash? And how did new technology within

By Reagan Yip, CNN (CNN) — As 48 nations battle for World Cup glory, another group has endured a similarly grueling path to soccer’s biggest stage: the referees. This year, 52 referees, 88 assistant referees and 30 video assistant referees (VARs) have been selected. The 170-strong contingent is the largest in World Cup history, with

By Kyle Feldscher, Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — The first game on Thursday and the last one were pretty straightforward affairs for Spain and Switzerland. But in between, Portugal and Croatia served up yet another helping of World Cup drama that will be hard to forget. Here’s everything to know about Thursday’s Round of 32

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports on July 2, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. The story has been updated to reflect Sunday’s announcement that Folarin Balogun is now set to play on Monday. My voice still

By Will Edmonds, CNN (CNN) — In the summer of ‘96, as a 14-year-old English kid in love with soccer and in awe of the UEFA European Championship on home soil, I saved up and bought my first England jersey: the now classic, Umbro Euro ‘96 white home kit. Ever since, every World Cup and

By Kyle Feldscher SANTA CLARA, California (CNN) — It’s a historic win – the first time the USA has advanced past the first knockout game since 2002 and only the second World Cup elimination game victory in American men’s soccer history. It’s the first win for the USA over a European opponent since they last

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN Atlanta (CNN) — It seems like the 2026 World Cup is serving up new and better forms of drama every single day now that the knockout rounds have finally arrived. Wednesday has been no different. England needed two late goals from captain Harry Kane to storm back and hold off a

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. Here we go, then. The biggest match for the USA in this tournament so far. Win, and the impossible dream lives on. Lose, and a

By Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Wimbledon (CNN) — Serena Williams lost in her return to singles tennis 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3 against Maya Joint of Australia in a thrilling match in front of an at times raucous crowd on Wimbledon’s Centre Court. In what was her first singles match since losing to Ajla Tomljanović at the

By Kyle Feldscher, Hannah Keyser, CNN (CNN) — Tuesday started with drama and ended with two nations looking primed for deep runs in this World Cup as Norway, France and Mexico all booked places in the next round. The day’s matches started off with a thrilling contest between Norway and the Ivory Coast, which went

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — LeBron James will be moving on from the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason, his agent confirmed on Tuesday. ESPN’s Shams Charania was first to report that James told the Lakers that he would be leaving the team and entering free agency, quoting his agent Rich Paul. Other NBA insiders

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. Late goals, refereeing controversy, stunning upsets and two box office penalty shootouts – yesterday was everything the World Cup will always be about. Paraguay was

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — Paraguay pulled off the shock of the tournament so far, and Brazil and Morocco booked their places in the Round of 16 after knockout round wins on Monday. It was a day of drama across North America as the first full day of Round of 32 action got going

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. Welcome to the first full week of World Cup knockout matches, where dreams will be made and hearts broken all across North America and the

By Ben Church, CNN Wimbledon, London (CNN) — When Iga Świątek steps out on the pristine Wimbledon grass for the first time this year, she’ll be doing so as the reigning champion. Rewind to the 2025 tournament and a laser-focused Świątek was cruising to her first title at the All England Club, a dream eventually

By Patrick Snell, CNN (CNN) — US soccer legend Landon Donovan has good news for American fans who may just be daring to dream: He believes the USA can indeed win the World Cup. With one important caveat: A lot must fall into place first – starting with a win on Wednesday over Round of

CNN By Anabella González, Ione Molinares, Laura Sharman, CNN (CNN) — An Argentine soccer player for a Venezuelan second division team has lost his wife and two children after last week’s earthquakes, the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century. Lucas Trejo, who plays for Club Sport Marítimo La Guaira, had spent much

By Anabella González, Ione Molinares, Laura Sharman, CNN (CNN) — An Argentine soccer player for a Venezuelan second division team has lost his wife and two children after last week’s earthquakes, the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century. Lucas Trejo, who plays for Club Sport Marítimo La Guaira, had spent much of

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — A late second-half goal from Stephen Eustáquio allowed Canada to inch past South Africa in the opening game of the World Cup’s Round of 32, sending Les Rouges through to the next round. It’s the first knockout round victory in Canadian history as they became the first World Cup

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. And … breathe. More than three weeks of multiple World Cup group matches daily has come to an end. For me, this is always a

CNN By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Well, this World Cup has found its Cinderella. Tiny Cape Verde, which shocked the soccer world by drawing with Spain in its first World Cup match, is through to the knockout rounds after drawing with Saudi Arabia in Houston and Spain’s defeat of Uruguay on Friday night. It’s

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Well, this World Cup has found its Cinderella. Tiny Cape Verde, which shocked the soccer world by drawing with Spain in its first World Cup match, is through to the knockout rounds after drawing with Saudi Arabia in Houston and Spain’s defeat of Uruguay on Friday night. It’s a

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. Soccer can be harsh, can’t it? One second you’re celebrating two group wins and dreaming of the USA – maybe? possibly? – going far at

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. The World Cup is really shifting into gear now, and the final group stage matches have already produced some dramatic moments. Yesterday saw South Africa

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN Inglewood, California (CNN) — Turkey stunned the USA with a goal in the final seconds, handing the Americans a 3-2 defeat in their final game before the knockout rounds of the World Cup. After waltzing past Paraguay and seeing off Australia in Seattle, the match against Turkey marked the first real

By Emile Nuh, CNN (CNN) — The Democratic Republic of Congo’s opening World Cup match against Portugal was a historic occasion. Not only was the nation making just its second-ever appearance at the tournament – and first since 1974 when it was still known as Zaire – but Yoane Wissa’s towering header on the stroke

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN Irvine, California (CNN) — USA soccer star Christian Pulisic hopes to play against Turkey on Thursday in his team’s final World Cup group stage match, declaring himself healthy enough to play after a calf injury sidelined him. “I’m feeling good, yeah,” he told reporters Wednesday at the US’ training base. “I’ve

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — He might have been a few days late, but Cristiano Ronaldo has now joined the World Cup party. The striker reminded us all of his talents with two goals that stole yesterday’s headlines. That game was followed by the total snoozefest involving England and Ghana, which I’ve just about

By Julia Vargas Jones, CNN (CNN) — In Scotland’s return to the World Cup after 28 years, it faces an adversary also in need of a comeback: Brazil. The five-time champion may have charmed the world over the decades, but now finds itself in a bit of a dry spell, thirsty for a sixth victory.

By Harmeet Kaur, CNN (CNN) — Through two rounds of the World Cup’s group stage, the tiny nation of Cape Verde has displayed the jubilant air of a winner. In its first-ever World Cup appearance, the team — hailing from an archipelago off the western coast of Africa with around 530,000 inhabitants — has left

By Priscilla Alvarez, Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — The US government is softening its stance on the Iranian national team entering the United States before its third World Cup match, allowing the team to come into the country two days before its Friday game against Egypt. “For the Iranian team’s third match in Seattle on

By Kyle Tatelbaum, CNN (CNN) — The PGA Tour is preparing for its most significant structural overhaul in decades, unveiling a new competitive model built around promotion, relegation, and a sharper divide between the sport’s top performers and those fighting to reach them. Approved by the Tour’s policy boards, the system will debut in 2028

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. We had storms, we had weather delays, and we had Lionel Messi making history; yesterday might have been the most dramatic day of action at

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. Mondays don’t seem so bad when it’s World Cup time, and we’re in for another treat as we start a new week of the tournament.

By Dana O’Neil, CNN (CNN) — Dusty May, who coached Michigan’s men’s basketball team to a national title in April, is leaving the school to become the next head coach of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, according to a source close to the program. May leaves Ann Arbor after two seasons with a 64-13 record, a

By Jack Bantock, CNN (CNN) — Shortly before the World Cup trophy is placed into the hands of one team’s triumphant captain at MetLife Stadium on July 19, a gleaming Golden Boot award will be presented to the tournament’s top scorer. Only, based on the evidence so far, it should really be pink. The US,

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This is story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. You’re still thinking about the USA potentially winning the World Cup, aren’t you? Well, that’s going to have to wait a while longer because

By Don Riddell, CNN (CNN) — Father’s Day came early for Norway at the FIFA World Cup. On Tuesday in Boston, the Røde, Hvite, Blå fielded three players whose dads all played together for the national team in 1994, when the tournament was last played in the United States. It completes an extraordinary narrative arc

By Kyle Feldscher, Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. The soccer world wakes up to a burning question this morning, one that hasn’t been asked in a very long time: Is the

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. It was a brilliant day for two of this year’s co-hosts with Canada recording its first ever World Cup win and Mexico becoming the first

By David Close, Kyle Feldscher, CNN Seattle (CNN) — The United States is through to the knockout rounds of the 2026 World Cup after a 2-0 win over Australia in a game that got increasingly tense in the second half despite a comfortable American lead. Following up on their brilliant 4-1 win over Paraguay a

CNN By Don Riddell, CNN (CNN) — You’d never guess it from her thick London accent, but Emma Hayes has spent a sizeable portion of her professional coaching career in the United States and the third time, she says, is the charm. Hayes believes that soccer “will become the number one sport in this country.”

By Mauricio Torres, CNN en Español (CNN) — Jorge Messi, father of Argentine football star Lionel Messi, “is going through a health situation,” his family said in a statement released Thursday. “At this time, he is under medical supervision, recovering and progressing favorably within the condition he presents,” the family stated, without providing details about

By Don Riddell, CNN (CNN) — You’d never guess it from her thick London accent, but Emma Hayes has spent a sizeable portion of her professional coaching career in the United States and the third time, she says, is the charm. Hayes believes that soccer “will become the number one sport in this country.” When

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. And just like that, we’re already a week into this summer’s World Cup. We’ve now had seven days of action, 24 group games and 75

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This is story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. Take a bow Lionel Messi. A hat-trick from the greatest player in history is just what this World Cup needed and capped off a

By Jennifer Hansler, Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — The mother of Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha will be able to watch her son play in the World Cup this weekend after intervention from the US State Department and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Jeffries said in a statement Wednesday that Vozinha’s mother will secure a visa

By Priscilla Alvarez, Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — The Iranian men’s soccer team’s quick departure from Los Angeles following its opening World Cup match was always the plan, according to the US government, despite complaints from the team. Iran’s coach and players made it clear they were upset with having to fly back to their

CNN By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This is story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. It’s a big day in North America It’s the day after the night before and, if you listen carefully, you can probably still

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This is story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. It’s a big day in North America It’s the day after the night before and, if you listen carefully, you can probably still hear

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Espen Undheim smiles as he recalls the early training sessions where he first met Erling Haaland. The superstar striker wasn’t anywhere near the physical specimen he is today, but his former coach remembers seeing flashes of potential in the “skinny” kid, who had such a burning passion for the

By Kyle Feldscher, Don Riddell, CNN Atlanta (CNN) — Cape Verde has just shocked the soccer world. In their first-ever World Cup match, the tiny island nation earned a hard-fought draw against Spain, the European champions who are one of the favorites to win the World Cup next month. After 90 grueling minutes of defending

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This is story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. It was raining goals on Sunday with Germany and Sweden both impressing with big wins. Today, though, soccer takes somewhat of a backseat with

By Ben Church, Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN (CNN) — At just 19, soccer superstar Lamine Yamal has won more than most players ever do in their entire careers. He’s already a three-time La Liga winner for Barcelona, a European champion with Spain and now, he’s one game away from adding a World Cup to his

By Kathleen Magramo, Fred He, CNN (CNN) — World Cup team send-offs are usually a grand event. Rigorously selected players dressed in dapper suits, waving at fans before they board a plane to represent their countries at one of the biggest sporting events held every four years. But not for China this year. The country’s

By Hannah Keyser, CNN Brooklyn (CNN) — Early in the Eastern Conference Finals, as the New York Knicks pulled off miraculous comebacks and marched to unprecedented blowouts, I noticed that the official watch parties outside Madison Square Garden had become meta funhouse mirrors of phone screens. Semi-professional streamers encouraged antics for cameras suspended on gimbals,

CNN By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This is story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. The first games of the World Cup always seem to have a little shock in them. On Saturday, Switzerland, Brazil and Turkey found

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Note: This is story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here. The first games of the World Cup always seem to have a little shock in them. On Saturday, Switzerland, Brazil and Turkey found that

By Don Riddell, CNN (CNN) — Nobody can predict how the 48 teams will do at the FIFA World Cup this summer, but if you wanted to gamble on Japan being the tidiest team, you’d surely clean up at the bookies. Thanks to a societal expectation of all Japanese people, you’d never know they were

By Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Moorpark, California (CNN) — The crest is red, white and green – the colors of the Iranian flag. Nader Adeli, the 65-year-old captain of Arya Football Club, holds up the jersey and laughs: “We are Iranian! We are Aryan, alright?” All 11 Arya FC players on the field are Iranian