Stories
Match reports, analysis and opinion — how it all went down.
Match reportChampions of the world: Spain outclass Argentina and break Messi's heart in the final
Spain are champions of the world. Substitute Ferran Torres struck the only goal in extra time as Spain beat Argentina 1-0 to win their second World Cup and end Lionel Messi's fairytale. Spain were utterly dominant, Argentina failing to muster a single shot on target and surviving only through Emiliano Martínez's record 11 saves, before Ferran's 106th-minute winner. Enzo Fernández was sent off; Mbappé, watching from home, takes the Golden Boot.
🗓 Sun, 19 Jul · 22:00 EAT ·3 min read
Match reportSix of the best: England win a 10-goal bronze thriller as Mbappé seizes the Golden Boot
England beat France 6-4 in a breathless third-place play-off, the highest-scoring match of the tournament, to take bronze. Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick and England led 4-0 before a Kylian Mbappé brace hauled France back to 4-3; Saka's penalty and a Jude Bellingham goal settled it. Mbappé's double took him to 10 for the tournament and the outright Golden Boot lead, one day before Messi's final.
🗓 Sun, 19 Jul · 00:00 EAT ·2 min read
Match reportMessi the maestro drags Argentina to the final as England fall late again
Argentina came from behind to beat England 2-1 in Atlanta and reach the World Cup final, Lionel Messi the man of the match with assists for both goals. Anthony Gordon had given England a second-half lead against the run of play, but Enzo Fernández equalised with a long-range strike and Lautaro Martínez headed a stoppage-time winner, both created by Messi. Argentina meet Spain in the final; England face France for third.
🗓 Wed, 15 Jul · 22:00 EAT ·3 min read
Match reportYamal and Spain silence the favourites to reach a first World Cup final since 2010
Spain reached their first World Cup final since 2010, comfortably beating tournament favourites France 2-0 in Dallas. Teenager Lamine Yamal won a first-half penalty that Mikel Oyarzabal converted, and Pedro Porro doubled the lead after the break with a slick finish. Kylian Mbappé was kept quiet as France, for all their possession and shots, were outclassed. Spain await the winner of England and Argentina.
🗓 Tue, 14 Jul · 22:00 EAT ·2 min read
Match reportÁlvarez the artist: Argentina survive 10-man Switzerland to set up an England semi
Argentina reached the World Cup semi-finals with a 3-1 extra-time win over a resilient 10-man Switzerland in Kansas City. Alexis Mac Allister headed the champions ahead from a Messi corner, Dan Ndoye equalised, and Breel Embolo was sent off in a contentious VAR moment before Julián Álvarez's 25-yard extra-time screamer and a late Lautaro Martínez tap-in settled it. Argentina face England in a blockbuster last-four tie.
🗓 Sun, 12 Jul · 04:00 EAT ·3 min read
Match reportBellingham the saviour again as England edge Haaland's Norway in extra time
England reached the World Cup semi-finals with a nervy 2-1 extra-time win over Norway in Miami, Jude Bellingham scoring twice to erase Andreas Schjelderup's early opener. Bellingham levelled in first-half stoppage time and prodded home the winner three minutes into extra time after Ørjan Nyland spilled a Morgan Rogers strike. Haaland's Norway are out; a self-critical Thomas Tuchel called England "sloppy" but "lucky" to go through.
🗓 Sun, 12 Jul · 00:00 EAT ·3 min read
Match reportSuper-sub Merino does it again as Spain edge Belgium to reach the semis
Spain reached the World Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Belgium in Los Angeles, substitute Mikel Merino striking a late winner for the second knockout round running. Fabián Ruiz's opener was cancelled out by Charles De Ketelaere — the first goal Spain had conceded all tournament — before Merino pounced on a Senne Lammens spill on 88 minutes, after Thibaut Courtois went off injured. Spain face France in the semi-final.
🗓 Fri, 10 Jul · 22:00 EAT ·3 min read
Match reportNo robbery, just France: Mbappé and Dembélé end Morocco and Africa's World Cup
France beat Morocco 2-0 in Boston to reach a third consecutive World Cup semi-final and end Africa's last hope. Yassine Bounou saved a first-half Mbappé penalty but France's class told after the break, Kylian Mbappé curling in the opener before Ousmane Dembélé doubled it. For all the fuss over an all-Argentine refereeing crew, France were simply far too good. Mbappé moves level with Messi on eight.
🗓 Thu, 9 Jul · 23:00 EAT ·3 min read
Match reportKobel the hero as Switzerland outlast Colombia on penalties to reach a first quarter-final since 1954
Switzerland reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1954, beating Colombia 4-3 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes in Vancouver. Gregor Kobel saved from Cucho Hernández and Colombia hit the woodwork through Davinson Sánchez, with Manuel Akanji also missing, before Rubén Vargas buried the decisive kick. Colombia, unbeaten in normal time all tournament, go out. Switzerland face Argentina next.
🗓 Tue, 7 Jul · 23:00 EAT ·3 min read
Match reportCruel and contested: Messi's Argentina stun Egypt 3-2 in a VAR firestorm
Argentina came back from 0-2 down with three goals in the last 13 minutes to beat Egypt 3-2 and reach the quarter-finals, Enzo Fernández heading a stoppage-time winner. But the Round of 16 tie in Atlanta was engulfed by VAR controversy: a disallowed Egypt goal, an ignored late penalty appeal and a furious Egyptian camp who filed a complaint to FIFA alleging "blatant errors". Messi moved to eight goals and the Golden Boot lead.
🗓 Tue, 7 Jul · 19:00 EAT ·4 min read
Match reportAll that fuss for nothing: Belgium rout USA to dump the co-hosts out
Belgium outclassed and eliminated co-hosts USA 4-1 in Seattle to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, a Charles De Ketelaere brace leading the rout. The result rendered the week-long saga over Folarin Balogun's overturned red-card ban meaningless: cleared to play after a Trump-FIFA intervention, he could not stop the hosts being swept aside. Belgium go on to meet Spain in Los Angeles.
🗓 Tue, 7 Jul · 03:00 EAT ·3 min read
Match reportAzteca conquered: ten-man England outlast Mexico in a Round of 16 classic
England became the first team ever to beat Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, winning a wild Round of 16 tie 3-2 despite playing more than half the game with ten men. Jude Bellingham struck twice inside two first-half minutes and Harry Kane settled it from the spot, after Jarell Quansah's red card and a Raúl Jiménez leveller had Mexico roaring. England go on to meet Norway in the quarter-finals.
🗓 Mon, 6 Jul · 03:00 EAT ·3 min read