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England at least managed to put a bit of shine on their World Cup campaign. The highly-entertaining, 6-4 win over France in Saturday's bronze-medal match didn't change the fact that they collapsed in the semi-final against Argentina three days earlier, but it did at least save a little bit of face.

The World Cup final is finally upon us, and Sunday's showdown between Spain and Argentina in New Jersey promises to be an absolutely enthralling encounter between the two best teams in the tournament - with the emphasis very much on 'teams'.

Lamine Yamal has always looked up to Lionel Messi. The Barcelona legend was - and remains - his one and only idol. "I never had another," Yamal admitted to Tuttosport. "I once took a photo with him. I was unknown." He wasn't just unknown, though; he was still only a baby, just a few weeks old when he and his mother partook in a 2007 photoshoot organised by SPORT for a charity calendar.

And so the wait goes on. England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina on Wednesday means their quest for a first international trophy since 1966 will stretch into a seventh decade. The hope is that drought will come to an end in two years' time when the Three Lions co-host the 2028 European Championship, but will England ever again reach a World Cup final, never mind lift the most famous trophy in the sport?

Argentina’s comeback against England demonstrated the belief surrounding Lionel Messi. Now Spain stand between the holders and a historic second straight World Cup title.

It was a surprise, in truth, that it took reporters so long to ask Harry Kane about his future. The England striker stood there in the mixed zone, after a devastating 2-1 loss to Argentina, faced with the damning end to a remarkable season. And not until the third question did someone ask the England captain what might be next for him.

When Lionel Messi was pushed onto his weaker foot by Nico O'Reilly and Djed Spence on the right side of the box in the 92nd minute of stoppage time, England fans held their breath in unison. The Three Lions had four of their tallest players hovering around the six-yard area, and the Argentina captain needed a perfect delivery to reach Lautaro Martinez at the back post (his only realistic target) - but as we all know, Messi can conjure up perfection at any moment.

MLS returned Thursday, with Commissioner Don Garber, league executives and players discussing the momentum generated by the 2026 World Cup, Christian Pulisic’s future and what comes next.

The two World Cup semifinals told remarkably different stories, but the resulting final looks like a tantalizing matchup between two excellent teams.

Atlanta did not need the World Cup to manufacture a soccer culture. Eight matches and more than half a million fan-festival visitors only confirmed what the city had spent nearly 60 years building.

Thomas Tuchel is about to learn the true meaning of an England tournament post-mortem - something the country does best. The inquest is well underway, with widespread calls for the manager's head in the wake of Wednesday's bitterly disappointing World Cup semi-final exit at the hands of the holders Argentina, as a defensive shift backfired and Tuchel's side slumped to defeat in stoppage time, despite leading in the 85th minute.

Excitement is growing as we approach the final of the 2026 World Cup and, throughout the showpiece tournament in North America, GOAL, in association with eToro, is tracking the value of some of the world's most sought-after talents. Will their price rise or plummet? Follow our unique player value tracker to find out...

It was all going so, so well for around 80 minutes. England went toe-to-toe with Argentina, and had a just-about-deserved 1-0 lead over the defending champions. A first World Cup final in 1966 was in sight for the Three Lions. And then, due in large part to the decisions of manager Thomas Tuchel, it was snatched away.

MLS returns from its World Cup break with Lionel Messi facing an uncertain timeline, Robert Lewandowski and Antoine Griezmann arriving, and Nashville SC setting the pace.

Thomas Tuchel threw away England's best chance of reaching their first World Cup final since 1966 as the Three Lions allowed Argentina to come from behind to triumph 2-1 in Atlanta on Wednesday. Tuchel's team selection initially looked set to pay off, as surprise selection Morgan Rogers crossed for Anthony Gordon to break the deadlock 10 minutes into the second half.

Every time Lionel Messi got near the ball, the crowd in Atlanta held its breath. It wouldn't take much to feel the room shift during the first hour or so of Argentina's clash with England, just a brief moment where the Argentinian icon drifted into enough space to maybe, perhaps, do something. As the game wore on, those moments became more tense. Down a goal late, the moments where the air left the crowd were less about anticipating magic and more about a potential reality setting in.

Lionel Messi is a famously quiet character, but his playoff intensity got the best out of some of his former MLS teammates