FIFA World Cup 2026 - players.bio

Spain wins the World Cup by beating Argentina 1-0 on Ferran Torres’ goal in extra time

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.: Ferran Torres’ first goal of this year’s World Cup was the goal of his life, and it put Spain back atop the soccer world. Denying Lionel Messi a second straight title in what he has indicated would be his final World Cup match, Torres came off the bench and scored in the 106th minute and Spain — in a match it simply dominated — ended Argentina’s reign with a 1-0 win on Sunday. Torres pounced on a bouncing ball in the box and used his left foot to bury a shot just under the crossbar and into the back of the net. “It was a goal scored by 47 million people,” Torres said, referring to Spain’s population. Maybe not by them — but certainly for them. It was Spain’s second title, this trophy getting added to the one claimed in 2010. And there’s no question about the center of the soccer universe now, not after this display. Spain allowed only one goal in eight matches at the tournament, setting a World Cup record for fewest goals allowed by a champion.

Football is more than just a game

BRUSSELS: I have never been a footballer. Yet during nearly 20 years at the UN, I witnessed something that profoundly changed the way I see the game: Football is far more than a sport.

Netanyahu declares support for Argentina ahead of final

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced support for Argentina ahead of the World Cup final after receiving an official Argentina football shirt from Argentina's ambassador to Israel, Rabbi Shimon Axel Wahnish.

Spain’s Yamal aims to join elite club of teenage World Cup winners

EAST RUTHERFORD, United States: Lionel Messi will become the oldest outfield player to appear in a World Cup final on Sunday as Spain’s Lamine Yamal seeks to join an elite group of teenage winners. The match at the MetLife Stadium will be the first meeting between Argentina’s Messi and the player who has succeeded him as Barcelona’s new homegrown idol. The only player to appear in a final at an older age than Messi is Dino Zoff, the Italy goalkeeper who was 40 in 1982. Yamal, in sharp contrast, only turned 19 last Monday, the day before Spain beat France 2-0 in their semifinal. Everything has happened at warp speed for Yamal, who made his Barcelona debut at the tender age of 15. His first cap for Spain came when he was 16, and he had only just celebrated his 17th birthday when he helped La Roja beat England in the Euro 2024 final — he was named the best young player at that tournament. Yamal was the runner-up to Ousmane Dembele in last year’s Ballon d’Or and now has the opportunity to join the select group of players to have won the World Cup as a teenager. “He is a global icon at the age of 19 and has the chance to do something historic, although we will be doing everything to stop him,” said Messi on Friday. Yamal was injured coming into the World Cup and there were even doubts over whether he would participate at all after he missed the end of the season with Barcelona. “I was afraid it might be serious and, above all, that even if it wasn’t serious, I could suffer a setback and end up missing the World Cup,” Yamal admitted.

England edge France 6-4 in chaotic World Cup bronze match

MIAMI: England beat France 6-4 in a chaotic World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday as Kylian Mbappe became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history. Both teams had higher aspirations at the 2026 tournament but suffered painful semifinal exits — France were outplayed by Spain while England suffered a late collapse against Argentina. Both coaches made multiple changes for the match in the oppressive heat of Miami, with a host of stars on the bench at the start. England boss Thomas Tuchel left out Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham from his starting line-up while Deschamps, stepping down after 14 years at the helm, omitted Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele. Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice put England ahead with a goal from distance in the third minute and Ezri Konsa headed home to make it 2-0. Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise were a threat as France searched for a way back into the game but they found England’s second-choice goalkeeper Dean Henderson in top form. The game threatened to become embarrassing for France when Bukayo Saka made it 3-0 after a swift break. And it was 4-0 in first-half stoppage time when Saka scored his second goal of the game, celebrated with a fist pump by Tuchel. France coach Didier Deschamps told French TV channel M6 that the first-half display had been “catastrophic,” urging his men to show pride. He made four changes, bringing on Dembele, Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Digne and Barcola and was rewarded almost instantly when Mbappe scored his ninth goal of the tournament to move clear of Lionel Messi at the top of the Golden Boot standings. The game had now totally changed complexion and Barcola pulled another goal back, with Deschamps clenching his fist on the bench. Mbappe then netted his

Kylian Mbappé passes Lionel Messi for career World Cup scoring record with 22 goals

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida: Kylian Mbappé moved past Lionel Messi for the career World Cup scoring record on Saturday, scoring twice for France in the third-place match against England to reach 22 goals. Mbappé has 10 goals in this World Cup, two more than Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, which is awarded to the tournament’s top scorer. France trailed England 4-0 when Mbappé flicked a shot past goalkeeper Dean Henderson in the 48th minute. Then he beat Henderson again with a left-footed strike from about 14 yards in the 66th minute to pass Messi’s career mark of 21 goals. France pulled within 4-3 on Mbappé’s second goal.

Spain seek to win second title after their maiden victory in 2010

EAST RUTHERFORD: Spain and Argentina prepared to do battle in Sunday’s World Cup final in New Jersey as organizers said they were keeping a close eye on smoke from wildfires in Canada.

Thunderstorms will clear wildfire smoke from Northeast ahead of World Cup final, meteorologists say

NEW JERSEY: Smoke from the Canadian wildfires that has engulfed the Northeast in haze is expected to mostly clear from the New Jersey area just in time for the World Cup final on Sunday, thanks to thunderstorms passing through the area, meteorologists say. Warnings of unhealthy air quality remained in effect Saturday across a wide swath of the United States. At MetLife Stadium, where the final is taking place, it rained heavily and thunder boomed. State police urged people to leave the stadium seating bowl and field and take shelter.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 Sport News

Spain wins the World Cup by beating Argentina 1-0 on Ferran Torres’ goal in extra time

Football is more than just a game

Netanyahu declares support for Argentina ahead of final

Spain’s Yamal aims to join elite club of teenage World Cup winners

England edge France 6-4 in chaotic World Cup bronze match

Kylian Mbappé passes Lionel Messi for career World Cup scoring record with 22 goals

Spain seek to win second title after their maiden victory in 2010

Thunderstorms will clear wildfire smoke from Northeast ahead of World Cup final, meteorologists say