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đź‘‹ Good morning!
The World Cup ball and trophy. Photo courtesy of FIFA
đź“° Headlines:
Former Argentina captain Antonio Rattin dies at 89
Antonio Rattin, a defensive midfielder whose act of defiance while representing Argentina at the 1966 World Cup helped lead to the introduction of yellow and red cards, died Saturday at age 89.
South Africa midfielder Jayden Adams dies at the age of 25
South Africa’s Jayden Adams, who played at the 2026 World Cup, has died at age 25. His death was confirmed by Gayton McKenzie, South Africa’s minister of sport, arts and culture. A cause of death was not given.
USMNT-Belgium match tops 50 million viewers
The U.S.’s World Cup loss to Belgium in the round of 16 drew a combined audience on Fox (English) and Telemundo (Spanish) of 50.1 million viewers — making it the highest-rated soccer game in U.S. history.
âš˝ The big story: Which teams will meet the World Cup final?
With the World Cup entering its final week, the tournament has distilled from 48 hopeful nations (a number that could climb to 64 by 2030) to just four contenders, setting the stage for a blockbuster finish that could deliver one of the game’s most compelling storylines.
If results fall into place in the semifinals, the final at MetLife Stadium in New York this Sunday could feature a rematch of the unforgettable 2022 World Cup final between Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Kylian Mbappe’s France.
Over the past month, the 48-team tournament has provided its share of surprises, dramatic upsets and unforgettable moments. Forty-four teams have seen their World Cup dreams come to an end, including co-hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States, along with perennial contenders Brazil and Germany.
Now only Argentina, England, France and Spain remain, each just two victories away from lifting the sport’s biggest prize. For many, the possibility of another Messi-Mbappe showdown is the narrative that towers above the rest.
Four years ago in Qatar, Messi finally completed his extraordinary career by leading Argentina to its third World Cup title in one of the greatest finals ever played. Mbappe nearly stole the spotlight with a stunning hat trick that dragged France back into the match before Argentina prevailed in a penalty-kick shootout. The game instantly became part of World Cup folklore, showcasing two generational talents performing on the sport’s grandest stage.
A repeat would offer a fascinating sequel. Messi has embraced the role of veteran leader while continuing to dictate games with his vision, composure and uncanny ability to produce decisive moments. For Argentina, another appearance in the final would reinforce the nation’s remarkable consistency under manager Lionel Scaloni.
France, meanwhile, has again shown why it has become one of the defining attacks of the modern era. Didier Deschamps, in his final major tournament as France coach, has guided his squad deep into yet another major tournament, blending veterans with emerging stars.
Mbappe, meanwhile, remains the focal point and continues to enhance his reputation as the defining player of his generation. Already a World Cup winner and one of the tournament’s greatest scorers, the French captain possesses the pace and finishing ability to change a match in an instant. Another appearance in the final would further cement his status among the game’s all-time elite.
Of course, we should not rule out the possibility that either Spain or England (possibly both) could spoil the party and reach the final.
🔢 By the numbers:
You can get all the latest World Cup results here.
💬 What they’re saying:
“I leave with a fulfilled heart, proud of my contribution to the greatest successes of Croatian soccer in history, and I wish my successor, the national team and Croatian soccer many new successes.”
— Zlatko Dalic after stepping down as Croatia manager after a spell that included leading the team to two straight top-three finishes at World Cups.
đź“ş Upcoming games this week (all times ET):
Tuesday, July 14
— France vs. Spain (World Cup semifinals) at 3 p.m. (Fox)
Wednesday, July 15
— Argentina vs. England (World Cup semifinals) at 3 p.m. (Fox)
Saturday, July 18
— World Cup third-place game at 5 p.m. (Fox)
Sunday, July 19
— World Cup final at 3 p.m. (Fox)