Bellingham Leading England’s Charge

Is England midfielder and 2026 World Cup star Jude Bellingham the English GOAT?

Such a thought comes in the wake of another masterclass from the Real Madrid midfielder, who is now England’s joint-top 2026 World Cup scorer alongside Harry Kane with six goals.

Bellingham’s impact has been undeniable, particularly in the high-pressure environment of the knockout rounds. Following his two-goal performance in the 3-2 victory over Mexico in the round of 16, he achieved a feat not seen for decades by scoring twice again in the 2-1 victory over Norway, further cementing his status as one of the world’s premier talents. His ability to produce match-winning moments on the biggest stage has led many to wonder just how high the youngster’s ceiling can be.

Matching Maradona And Breaking Records

Bellingham is the first player to score twice in consecutive knockout stage games at a single World Cup since Diego Maradona achieved the feat for Argentina in 1986. With six goals in the current edition, he has joined an elite group of England players — including Lineker himself in 1986 and Kane in 2018 and 2026 — to score at least five goals in a single tournament.

Nine of Bellingham’s 12 international goals have now come at major tournaments, highlighting his knack for performing when the stakes are highest. Speaking on ‘The Rest is Football’ on Netflix, ex-England striker Lineker was unequivocal about the midfielder’s trajectory. “I would go as far as to say I think there’s a chance that I think he could well be, or end up being, England’s greatest ever footballer. And that is a big shout,” he said.

Entering The Bracket Of Charlton And Kane

Lineker acknowledged that England has produced world-class talent throughout its history, but noted that Bellingham possesses a rare combination of leadership and technical ability. Since making his international debut against Ireland in 2020, the midfielder has earned 54 caps and scored 12 goals for the Three Lions, helping England reach consecutive Euro finals in 2020 and 2024. Lineker placed the Madrid star alongside the likes of 1966 hero Bobby Charlton and current captain Kane while discussing the hierarchy of English football’s legends.

“We’ve had some really great players. Some of them have not necessarily done it for their country, others have,” Lineker explained. “Go back to people like Bobby Charlton, obviously, I would say would have to be up there. You would put Harry Kane in that bracket and there are other players as well, but I think at this age, to be doing what he’s doing and to grabbing England by the scruff and getting them over the line, that is a superstar.”

Eyes On The Semifinal Showdown

Bellingham’s heroics against Norway have set up a mouth-watering semifinal clash against Argentina, providing the midfielder with another opportunity to bolster his growing legend. The Birmingham City academy graduate is determined to capitalize on his stellar form to lead England to their first World Cup final since winning their sole title in 1966.

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Jurgen Klopp is on the verge of becoming the new head coach of the German national team after reaching an agreement in principle with the DFB. The former Liverpool manager has been the top target to lead Die Mannschaft following a disappointing World Cup campaign under Julian Nagelsmann. Klopp is now set for a sensational return to the touchline.

Breakthrough In New York Negotiations

The DFB’s pursuit of Klopp has reached a decisive turning point following high-level discussions in the United States. According to Sky Sports Germany, an agreement in principle has been reached between the governing body and the 59-year-old tactician. DFB president Bernd Neuendorf and vice-president Hans-Joachim Watzke traveled to New York to meet with Klopp to iron out the primary terms of the deal.

The breakthrough comes after months of speculation surrounding the former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool boss, who has been away from the dugout since leaving Anfield at the end of the 2023-24 season. The proposed contract is expected to run up to and including the 2030 World Cup, providing the stability the German national team has craved after recent tournament disappointments.

Resolving The Red Bull Hurdle

While the DFB and Klopp are in total alignment, one final hurdle remains before the appointment is made official. Klopp is currently under contract as the Head of Global Soccer for the Red Bull group. According to the report, discussions are scheduled for early next week in New York with Red Bull chief Oliver Mintzlaff to finalise the details of his departure from the organisation.

The DFB is reportedly exploring a unique solution to avoid a hefty compensation fee for the manager. Recent reports suggest the two parties are looking at a creative arrangement where Klopp could potentially continue as a Red Bull brand ambassador while simultaneously serving as the Germany head coach. This compromise would allow Red Bull to maintain their association with one of football’s biggest figures while freeing him to lead his country.

A familiar Backroom Staff Overhaul

Klopp is already planning a significant overhaul of the existing coaching setup to ensure his philosophy is implemented immediately. The German FA is prepared to support Klopp in bringing in his most trusted lieutenants to replace the outgoing assistants from the previous regime.

Among those expected to join the new era are Peter Krawietz and Pepijn Lijnders, the duo who served as Klopp’s right-hand men during his trophy-laden era at Liverpool. Their arrival would signal a complete shift in the tactical direction of the German national team, bringing the high-intensity style that made Klopp a legend in the Premier League to the international arena.

Restoring The European Giants

The DFB intends to announce the agreement as soon as the final paperwork with Red Bull is signed. The move represents a major statement of intent for a nation that has struggled to replicate the success of its 2014 World Cup triumph. By securing a long-term commitment through 2030, the federation is putting its full faith in Klopp to build a sustainable project for the future.

With Rudi Voller remaining in place as sporting director, the DFB has created a bridge between the federation’s leadership and the new coaching staff. This structure is designed to install a management team capable of competing for major honours. The Klopp era for Germany is now just a signature away from becoming a reality.

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Kane Backs Tuchel’s Pursuit Of Perfection

Superstar English striker Harry Kane has insisted that manager Thomas Tuchel’s strong criticism of the team’s World Cup performance against Norway was driven by a desire to see their training ground excellence translate into matchdays. While the Three Lions secured a 2-1 win thanks to a Jude Bellingham brace, Tuchel was vocal about his dissatisfaction with the display, describing the team as “lucky” and citing a lack of speed and technical composure.

Kane believes the manager is simply trying to maintain high standards ahead of a semifinal clash with Argentina. Speaking on the manager’s approach, Kane said: “When he sees us train, and sees the closeness and what we can do, especially with the players we have, the way we attack, our one-on-ones and the skills… he just wants to see that version of us. He knows as much as anyone that it’s not as simple as that, we’re playing against good opposition and good teams. He’s trying to drag it out of us, and we know ourselves we have another level that we can reach.”

Three Lions Searching For Top Gear

Despite England’s progress to the semifinals for the fourth time in their history — having won the title in 1966 and finishing fourth in 1990 and 2018 — there is a growing consensus within the camp that they are yet to produce a complete 90-minute performance. Kane admitted that the team has struggled for total control during their run in North America, suggesting that the best is still to come from a star-studded squad.

The Bayern Munich striker said: “We haven’t seen that [best level] yet. We’ve shown it in glimpses. Against Norway it was in glimpses. We haven’t had full control that we would like, and I feel we can have. But, at this stage of the tournament, you are playing against the best teams in the world. We’ll be playing against one of the best teams in the world in the semifinal.”

Bellingham Creates Friction With Reaction

Tuchel’s blunt criticism of the performance did not sit well with Bellingham, who dismissed it by saying, “Yeah, well, whatever,” and later adding, “Maybe he doesn’t know what it’s like to play in those kind of conditions against Erling Haaland, [Martin] Odegaard, [Antonio] Nusa, [Alexander] Sorloth.” The Real Madrid star pointed to Miami’s difficult conditions as a major factor.

Kane was quick to play down any potential rift, focusing instead on the team’s resilience and Bellingham’s vital contribution. Both Kane and Bellingham now have six goals each in the tournament’s top scorer race, trailing only Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé (eight goals) and Erling Haaland (seven goals). Speaking on the performance, Kane stated: “The most pleasing thing is that we are in a semifinal, and we still feel like we can improve. I don’t think it is something to get really over the top about. We are showing a lot of good things – the way the boys defended as a team against Norway, the way we attacked … we still had some really good moments. And Jude stepped up for us with another couple of goals.”

Focus Shifts To Argentina Semifinal

Tuchel’s specific complaints centered on England’s inability to beat the high press and their lack of penetration in the final third. The German coach suggested his players were “overthinking” in possession, leading to missed opportunities. With a monumental semifinal against Argentina looming in Atlanta, the pressure is on to find a solution to these tactical frustrations.

Looking ahead, Kane remained optimistic about England’s chances of reaching another final. “This has been an extremely successful era of our national team, getting to the semifinals and finals, and we want to get over the line. That is the missing piece now. We’ve been together for six weeks and shown every bit of desire for the badge. We’re going to need an even bigger push now for the last week or so,” the captain concluded.

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To celebrate the Midsummer Classic, we’ve built the All-Star team of the century, the ultimate 26-man roster based on first-half performance.

We scoured the stats at every position to find the most impressive All-Star résumés since 2000. Some of the players who made our squad are household names you won’t be surprised to see, but there are a few surprises along the way. (One of these players was the best at his position this century but didn’t even make the roster for that year’s Midsummer Classic!)

Here’s our 26-man roster, starting with a big name from last season behind the plate.

All-Star Starting Nine

By last season’s end, “Big Dumper” had set home run records for catchers and switch-hitters. His 60 dingers rank third all time on the American League single-season list, behind Aaron Judge (62 in 2022) and Roger Maris (61 in 1961).

By the 2025 All-Star break, these were already all clear possibilities for Raleigh. He was slugging .634, with 38 home runs, 16 doubles, 10 steals, 82 RBI and 62 walks. On top of all that, he was catching every day and doing a fine job of it, too.

Pujols was a safe guess for the Cardinals. The real question: which season?

It’s tough to beat his 2009 campaign, when Pujols slashed an unreal .332/.456/.723 with 102 hits, 55 extra-base hits — including 32 homers — and enough plate appearances left over for 71 walks in 90 games.

Pujols had plenty of first halves with the Cardinals that ranged from great to amazing, but none epitomized what he was capable of at his best better than his transcendent showing in 2009.

Albert Pujols competed in the 2009 Home Run Derby with the All-Star Game set at his home ballpark, Busch Stadium. (David E. Klutho /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

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Roberts was an underrated second baseman both before and after his 2005 breakout, maybe in part because he never quite reached those lofty heights again. His age-27 season — which featured his first of two career All-Star appearances — was fantastic, though, and difficult to replicate.

In the first half of 2005, Roberts slashed .345/.416/.591 with 42 extra-base hits while going 18-for-23 on steal attempts and playing fantastic defense. By season’s end, his glove alone was worth two wins above replacement, and his bat nearly six. His second half looked more like the Roberts the Orioles got for the rest of his career — still great, but nothing more than that. 

You’d think Cabrera’s Triple Crown 2012 season would be the pick here for the Tigers, but his first half of 2013 was even better. In fact, his entire 2013 was better. 

Cabrera won his second straight American League MVP after slashing .348/.442/.636 with a 190 OPS+ — the 15th-best OPS+ of the century, and 11th-best for players not named Barry Bonds. 

Cabrera’s first half did most of the heavy lifting. He slashed .365/.458/.674 with 30 of his 44 home runs that year with 51 extra-base hits in his first 93 games. Cabrera won his third straight batting title, capping a four-year run during which he batted .337.

Miguel Cabrera was an absolute hitting machine for the Tigers for much of his career, and never more so than in 2013. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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Rodriguez won his first Most Valuable Player award in 2003, but his 2002 season was one hell of a warm-up. A-Rod would lead the majors with 57 homers, 142 RBIs and 389 total bases — and he did all that while playing Gold Glove defense at shortstop. 

In the first half alone, A-Rod slashed .305/.401/.607 with 27 home runs, 100 hits and 199 of those total bases, earning him his sixth All-Star nod. And it doesn’t matter for our purposes, but he was even better in the second half, with 30 homers and a .642 slugging percentage in 75 games.

Bonds hit an MLB-record 73 home runs in 2001, and it’s impossible to do that without a monster first half of the season. He was a monster before the All-Star break that year, hitting 39 of those 73 homers in his first 81 games while slashing .305/.487/.826.

Yes, you read that right: Bonds had a slugging percentage over 81 games of .826. 

He had 18 doubles to go with the 39 dingers, as well as going 7-for-8 on stolen-base attempts, racking up 79 hits despite pitchers avoiding him — Bonds already had 88 walks by the break — and driving in 73 runs even though opponents pitched around him even more with runners on base.

Barry Bonds participated in the 2001 Home Run Derby in Seattle as part of All-Star Game festivities. (Michael Macor/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

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Judge has been on an all-time tear since 2022. At no point in his career was this more evident than in 2025, when Judge won the “Slash-Stat Triple Crown,” leading the majors in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. 

Last season, Judge slashed 331/.457/.688 with 53 homers — his fourth campaign with at least 50 dingers — and won his third American League MVP. Before the All-Star break, Judge slashed an even wilder .355/.462/.733 with 35 of those blasts, beating out other Yankees performances of the century … mostly from himself.

Part of what made the idea of the Red Sox trading Betts rather than extending him so absurd was his MVP-winning 2018 season.

That year, which ended with the Red Sox winning the World Series, saw the 25-year-old Betts lead the majors in wins above replacement (10.7), batting average (.346) and slugging (.640). He also played all-world defense in right field and posted a 30/30 season five years before MLB changed the rules to make thievery easier for baserunners.

In the first half of 2018, Betts slashed .359/.448/.691 with 108 hits, 51 of them for extra bases.

Mookie Betts’ 2018 season was one for the ages, and it included a trip to Washington, D.C., for the All-Star Game. (Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

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Pronk! Travis Hafner never made an All-Star team, but this isn’t a list of the best All-Stars of the 21st century, and he absolutely should have been an All-Star in 2006 anyway. 

Cleveland’s DH slashed an absurd .322/.461/.650 with 25 homers and 43 extra-base hits in 83 pre-break games, punctuated by a June in which he got on base 46 times for a .485 on-base percentage. Plus, he did all of this despite the fact that, at the time, Progressive Park played as a pitcher-friendly ballpark. 

Hafner finished the season leading the AL in slugging and OPS, he led the majors in OPS+ and finished eighth in the AL MVP race.

All-Star Reserves

Rodríguez was the 1999 AL MVP, and he continued that level of performance into the new millennium.

Though a broken thumb limited him to just 11 games in the second half of the 2000 season, his performance in the 80 games he played before the All-Star break was pure magic. 

Pudge slashed .366/.393/.708 with 25 homers and 55 extra-base hits — remember, too, that catchers didn’t play every day like this as a regular thing back in 2000. That was just something Rodríguez did in the middle of his career, before injuries became more commonplace for him.

In addition to his offense, Iván Rodríguez won 13 Gold Gloves as a cornerstone catcher. (Photo by John Williamson/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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Starting in 1995, Jones made the NL All-Star team in five of six seasons, and he won an MVP in the other. It would be seven years until his next All-Star nod, but boy, did Jones make that one count, slashing .376/.472/.614 in the first half while hitting 18 homers. 

Due to injury, he wound up playing just 128 games in the 2008 season, but that first half helped carry him to his first and only batting title. His .364 average led all of MLB.

Lee played in the majors for 15 years and hit .281 with 331 homers, 432 doubles, 104 steals, 1,078 RBI, 1,081 runs, 874 walks and 1,959 hits. For context, just 29 players in the history of the game have reached 300 homers, 400 doubles, 100 steals, 1,000 RBI, 1,000 runs, 850 walks and 1,900 hits. And yet, you’d be forgiven for thinking Lee was more of a one-hit wonder, considering just how staggering his 2005 season was with the Cubs.

Lee led the NL in hits with 199 and topped the majors in doubles (50), batting average (.335), slugging percentage (.662) and OPS+ (174). In the first half alone, Lee slashed .378/.452/.733 with 27 dingers and 27 doubles.

Football loves its ultra-huge and ultra-fast players, while in basketball there’s an obvious advantage to height and length. In baseball? All of the above helps, sure, but you can also be 5-foot-6 and under 170 pounds and still be a star, so long as you have the hand-eye coordination to make up for it. 

Altuve is one of the players who best exemplifies this separation between MLB and other major sports. In 2016, he led the league in hits (216) and won the batting title (.338). 

In the first half, Altuve slashed .341/.413/.542 with 14 home runs, 40 extra-base hits and went 23-for-26 on stolen base attempts.

Jose Altuve was an All-Star in 2016 at Petco Park in San Diego. (Rob Leiter/MLB via Getty Images)

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When all is said and done, Ramírez might end up being one of the best players to never win a Most Valuable Player Award. 

In 2018, en route to his second All-Star selection, Ramírez slashed a ridiculous .302/.401/.629 with 29 home runs while going 20-for-23 on stolen base attempts. His power would drop in the second half, but part of that was because pitchers would pitch around him. Ramírez ended up drawing 106 walks in 2018 after picking up 49 in his 63 second-half games.

Tejada rose to prominence with the “Moneyball”-era Athletics, but it was in Baltimore where he produced most of his high-powered offensive seasons. That includes 2005, when he slashed .304/.349/.515 with 26 homers and an MLB-best 50 doubles. 

Tejada earned an All-Star nomination thanks to a monster first half, when the veteran shortstop hit .329 with 30 of those 50 two-baggers and 53 extra-base hits overall. This was also the last season when Tejada was unquestionably a plus defensive shortstop, and he comfortably produced a win above replacement with his glove alone.

Miguel Tejada won the Ted Williams Award as the MVP of the 2005 All-Star Game. (Rich Pilling/MLB via Getty Images)

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In 2022, Acuña stole 29 bases with 15 home runs in 119 games. In the first half of 2023, he stole 41 bases with 21 home runs. Acuña took advantage of the new rules for pickoff attempts and stolen bases right out of the gate. At the same time, further removed from ACL reconstruction, his power had leveled up, too. 

The National League MVP led all of baseball with 73 stolen bases, 214 hits and a .416 on-base percentage. Oh, and he hit 41 homers, too, making him a 40/40 player as well as the first (and still only) 40/70 one.

Bautista broke out with the Blue Jays in late 2009 after five years of replacement-level play with the Pirates. The following year, he bashed an MLB-leading 54 home runs, led the majors in total bases and finished fourth in the AL MVP vote. His 2011 season featured fewer long balls, but was better overall: .302/.447/.608 as the MLB leader in slugging, OPS and OPS+. 

Ohtani might have earned a spot if he were only counted as a designated hitter. In the first half of 2023, his last season with the Angels, Ohtani slashed .302/.387/.663 with 32 home runs, 15 doubles, six triples and 11 steals in 89 games. 

Ohtani isn’t just counted as a DH, however, and with good reason: In 17 starts and 100 ⅓ first-half innings, he posted a 3.32 ERA with 132 strikeouts while limiting opponents to a .189/.293/.342 line. He hit 18 more home runs than he allowed over the same time frame, and induced more double plays than he hit into.

All-Star Pitchers

Randy Johnson’s first half with the 2000 Diamondbacks looks more like a season unto itself. The Big Unit threw 144 ⅔ innings with 198 strikeouts in 19 starts. He posted a 1.80 ERA, while averaging under one baserunner per inning. Opponents slashed just .193/.252/.320 against him, hitting the occasional homer but usually with the bases empty. 

Johnson won his second of four straight NL Cy Young Awards, a stretch during which he produced a 2.48 ERA with 1,417 strikeouts. The fewest number of batters he struck out in any one of those seasons was 334, in 2002.

Randy Johnson got his 3,000th career strikeout during the 2000 season. (Rhona Wise/AFP via Getty Images)

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“King” wasn’t just a nickname for Hernández — he was about as good as a pitcher could be at his peak. And while he won his first and only Cy Young in 2010, it was the first half of 2014 that earned him a spot in this space. 

The Mariners’ ace limited opponents to a .201/.240/.280 line over his first 20 starts, while producing a 2.12 ERA over 144 ⅓ innings, powered by striking out 6.2 times as many batters as he walked. 

Hernández’s second half was nearly as good — he finished with a 2.14 ERA over 34 starts and 236 innings — which earned him a second-place finish for the AL Cy Young behind Corey Kluber.

Verlander was named to the American League 2026 All-Star team as a Commissioner’s Legend Pick, but in 2011 he was hitting high gear building that legend. Verlander won the first of his three career Cy Young Awards — as well as the AL MVP award — thanks to leading the majors in innings (251), strikeouts (250), and ERA+ (172) and pacing the AL in WAR while allowing less than a baserunner per inning. 

Before the 2011 All-Star Game, Verlander was absurd: a 2.15 ERA over 151 frames, while limiting opponents to a .188/.235/.298 line.

There were four Tigers who were All-Stars in 2011: Jose Valverde (left), Verlander (left center), Jhonny Peralta (right center) and Miguel Cabrera. (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

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The 6-foot-7 Wainwright was a towering force in the Cardinals’ rotation for years, and 2014 was arguably his top season as a starter.

In the first half, he held opponents to a .201/.248/.282 slash line, resulting in a minuscule 1.83 ERA over 19 starts and 138 innings. In fact, that first half was so incredible that even though Wainwright’s ERA ballooned to (a still quality) 3.24 ERA over his final 13 starts, his full-season figure still came in at a career-best 2.38.

The 2000 season was right in the middle of a stretch that featured the highest offensive output in the history of MLB. That did not phase or hinder Martínez even a little bit.

The Red Sox ace led the majors with a career-best 1.74 ERA across 217 innings and 29 starts. He had an astonishing 291 ERA+, a stat that measures success (or failure) relative to the league average, represented as 100. Martínez’s 291 mark is the best ever for a qualified pitcher, and it all started before the All-Star Game, when he posted a 1.44 ERA over 106 innings while striking out 140 batters.

Martínez would go on to lead the majors with a career-high WAR (11.7), win his second-straight Cy Young and third in four seasons, and lead the majors in ERA two more times before his peak ended.

During the greatest era of offense in MLB history, Pedro Martínez set a record for the best ERA+ ever. (Boston Herald/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)

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The Red Sox converted Jonathan Papelbon from starter to reliever during the 2005 season, and that decision looked brilliant in 2006.

Papelbon was named Boston’s closer, and, in 46 first-half innings, he held opposing batters to a paltry .155/.200/.224 line — that’s an OPS of .424 — and an ERA of 0.59. Papelbon allowed three runs total in the first half, two on solo homers, while averaging 0.7 baserunners per inning.

Smoltz is primarily in the Baseball Hall of Fame for his fantastic career as a starting pitcher, but he had a tremendous run in the Braves’ bullpen in the early aughts as well. He was never better than in 2003, when Smoltz threw 64 ⅓ innings in relief with 45 saves while producing a 1.12 ERA. 

Before the All-Star break, Smoltz held opponents to a .198/.118/.267 slash line while striking out 7.7 times as many batters as he walked, earning him a 0.95 ERA. 

His ERA climbed to a still-stellar 1.59 in the second half, during which he had 19 strikeouts against a single walk in in 18 appearances.

John Smoltz excelled in his career as both a starter and as a reliever. He was a shut-down closer for the Braves in 2003. (SPX/Ron Vesely Photography via Getty Images)

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Bautista was a revelation as a rookie on the Orioles in 2022, picking up 15 saves while striking out 12.1 batters per nine with a 2.19 ERA. But that was merely the opening act.

In 2023, Baltimore’s closer held opponents to a mere .138/.242/.207 slash line in the first half — that’s four extra-base hits in 145 at-bats — and posted a 1.07 ERA. He walked 19 batters, sure, but he also struck out 84 in 42 innings. That’s twice as many whiffs as frames — and also 51% of all batters he faced.

How to Watch the 2026 MLB All-Star Game

The 2026 MLB All-Star Game is Tuesday, July 14, with first pitch at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, live from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Watch the MLB All-Star Game on FOX One for live and on-demand streaming.

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Forty teams are out. Just eight left standing. We have reached the quarterfinal round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and these eight teams are still in contention to win it all. Now, it is not easy to predict how things will play out in the later rounds of the World Cup, and we are surely due from some big surprises.

Here is my ranking of the eight teams remaining with a look at why they could win the title and why they might not.

8.

(Photo by BRUNO FAHY / BELGA MAG / Belga / AFP via Getty Images)

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Why: Under head coach Rudi Garcia, Belgium is a team that is gaining steam as the tournament progresses after a slow start. The team starts a relatively older starting lineup that has used its wisdom to its advantage. Against the U.S., Belgium was hardly bothered by the opponent’s home-field advantage, the USA’s equalizer in the first half or the controversy with Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension being reversed. Belgium is a comfortable and smart team right now that is very effective at attacking from out wide and picking up runners in the box.

Why Not: At some point, age might start to work against the Red Devils. On top of that, playing Spain in the quarterfinals requires competing in the midfield against Pedri and Rodri. As well as Charles De Ketelaere played against the United States, he is likely not the caliber of forward that could be a difference maker in the later rounds of the World Cup.

7.

(Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua via Getty Images)

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Why: As we saw in the shootout win over Colombia in the round of 16, Switzerland is one of the most defensively disciplined teams remaining in the tournament. Spain has conceded no goals but also dominates possession. Switzerland does not possess the ball nearly as often, but its defense typically always has answers. Murat Yakin is one of the best coaches remaining in this tournament and has built up a team that is smart, compact, defends well and picks the right moments to attack. Switzerland is clearly a team on the rise.

Why Not: Defending against Argentina is another level from what the Swiss have done thus far. But perhaps an even bigger concern is the injury to Johan Manzambi, who has been one of the tournament’s top breakout performers. The 20-year-old versatile attacker did not play against Colombia due to a knee injury he picked up in the team’s final training session. Not having him against Argentina is a huge blow.

6.

(Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)

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Why: Four years ago in Qatar, Morocco advanced to the semifinals of the World Cup. Since then, the team has only continued to improve and grow. Both its senior team and youth national teams indicate this team will be good for years to come. Morocco has an elite right side of the field with winger Brahim Díaz playing well and Achraf Hakimi being arguably the best right back in the world. Central midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi is also one of the best teenagers in the world. Morocco should be heavily motivated against France, as the two nations have strong historical ties with six Morocco players being born and raised in France.

Why Not: Morocco has a significant injury problem with Ismael Saibari likely out for its game against France. Saibari scored in each of its group stage games and was key to the team’s offense. In a game where Morocco needs all hands on deck, the Atlas Lions will be missing its top forward. Morocco is a great team, but it is still behind France. But now facing Les Bleus shorthanded, Morocco has a huge uphill climb.

5.

(Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)

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Why: Norway has arguably the best center forward of his generation in Erling Haaland, who has seven goals in four appearances at this World Cup. He is carrying Norway to its best ever tournament run. But the team’s main supporting cast, in Martin Ødegaard and Antonio Nusa, has also been stellar.

Why Not: The biggest concern for this team is its depth. Haaland has at least one goal in every game he has played, and Ødegaard has been key to controlling the midfield. But if either of them has a bad game, are the team’s other options good enough to pick up the slack? Probably not.

4.

(Photo by MB Media/Getty Images)

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Why: Harry Kane is living up to expectations at this tournament with six goals. He can carry England to wins at times when it is not playing well (such as the 2-1 win over DR Congo). The best news for England was in the round of 16 win over Mexico when Jude Bellingham was the best he has looked all tournament, by far. The same could be said for Anthony Gordon. If that is the case, England is building up an offense that has multiple strong points of attack.

Why not: The team’s defense has been too leaky at times. In the last round, Mexico scored two goals, and England’s goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford, had to bail out his teammates several times. Against DR Congo, England was lucky to have only conceded one. England was also poor defensively against Croatia. When better teams come along, it is a major question whether England’s defense can hold up.

3.

(Photo by Perry McIntyre/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

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Why: Argentina knows how to win and fights extremely hard when up against the wall. The win over Egypt shows just how well it handles adversity. The team also has the greatest player of all time in Lionel Messi who can win games by himself.

Why not: There is an age factor. La Albiceleste have kept most of its same players from the 2022 team that won the World Cup. It was hard for Argentina to win in 2022, and the 2026 team is likely not as good. Messi is four years older at 39. Plus, the team is still very reliant on him. The first two knockout rounds were especially taxing on this team, as it took 120 minutes to beat Cape Verde, and the 3-2 win over Egypt required a huge push at the end to mount a comeback. How much is going to be left in the tank?

2.

(Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

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Why: Through five games, it has been impossible to break down Spain’s defense, which has conceded zero goals. Luis de la Fuente’s team is getting solid production out of center forward Mikel Oyarzabal with four goals, but a total of five players have scored for Spain in this tournament (not counting an own goal). That gives Spain a balanced attack with a number of ways to win games. Combined with its tournament-best defense and arguably the best central midfield tandem in Rodri and Pedri, Spain has a lot going for it.

Why Not: With a 0-0 draw and two 1-0 wins over Uruguay and Portugal, Spain has walked a fine line at times. Oyarzabal is an excellent forward, but is he able to carry this team in a way Kane, Mbappé and Haaland can? Until Yamal gets going in the way he has for Barcelona, Oyarzabal needs to be that guy.

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(Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)

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Why: From top to bottom, France had the most talented team in this tournament. What is even better for the French is that its top-three players are all in fantastic form. Kylian Mbappé has seven goals at this tournament. Michael Olise has arguably been the best playmaker at the World Cup. Finally, Ousmane Dembélé, who entered this tournament without a World Cup goal, scored. Now the reigning Ballon d’Or winner has four goals and two assists to open a second point of attack. Then surrounding this team are world-class players at every position.

Why not: It will take a Herculean effort to knock off France in any of the three remaining rounds. But it is possible. The toughest job for head coach Didier Deschamps is managing the massive egos within the squad. As French 1998 World Cup winner Frank Lebouef recently said: “I would say that the best enemy of France is France itself. Again, if you don’t find the chemistry, if you have ego issues between the players, they’re not going to win anything. And when we are the favorites, it’s never good with France.”

EVERY Goal From Round of 16 2026 FIFA World Cup™

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The round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup brought some epic moments and exciting soccer. We started to see some upsets and close calls, as we now head into the quarterfinals at the tournament.

So, with only eight teams remaining, who are the best nations still playing at the tournament? The FOX Sports World Cup NOW crew of Melissa Ortiz, Maurice Edu, Brad Guzan, and Sacha Kljestan took a look at the field to reveal their power rankings of the eight remaining teams left in the quarterfinals.

No. 8 Switzerland

“I think Switzerland, that just put us to sleep, can be No. 8,” Kljestan said.

Edu agreed with the evaluation, noting that Belgium should move up after Switzerland needed penalty kicks to beat Colombia to advance. As a result, Belgium got to move up a spot.

Still, Switzerland is now 3-2-0 at this tournament. 

No. 7 Belgium

Belgium, which was originally ranked eighth, moved up one spot following a 4-1 rout over co-hosts United States in the round of 16. Belgium has displayed the ability to score in bunches, but it looked vulnerable early against Senegal in the round of 32, having to mount a comeback for the ages to advance. That also came after Belgium went 1-2-0 in the group stage, but it has now won three straight matches.

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No. 6 Norway

Norway occupied the No. 6 position with unanimous consent from the World Cup NOW crew, with Edu even leading a quick Viking row with his crewmates. Norway advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in its federation’s history after Erling Haaland scored twice in its round of 16 win over Brazil on Sunday. Norway has also won all four games Haaland has played in this tournament as he battles for the Golden Boot. 

No. 5 Morocco

For the No. 5 spot, the crew agreed on Morocco to finalize the bottom half of the power ranking. Ortiz added that Morocco should not be taken lightly, something the rest of the crew agreed with.

Morocco advanced to the quarterfinals after its 3-0 win over Canada on Saturday. But its most impressive match might have been against the Netherlands in the round of 32. After battling to a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands, Morocco advanced in penalty kicks as it’ll now take on France in the quarterfinals on Thursday. 

Canada vs Morocco Highlights 2026 FIFA World Cup™ | Round of 16

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No. 4 England

The debate shifted as the panel examined the top four teams, starting with a close comparison between England at No. 4 and the third-ranked team on this list.

“Our decision between number three and number four was tough, because I think England has also shown championship quality, and so I think there’s a small separation between the one and two teams and the three and four teams,” Kljestan said.

Edu pointed to England’s recent performance with its 3-2 win over Mexico to show how close the margin was between the two sides.

“The biggest to me, between Argentina and England, because I was at that game in Mexico City, England were impressive to be able to do what hadn’t been done since 2013 in a competitive match at the Azteca, which is to win, there was impressive,” Edu said. “Their stars showed up, Jude Bellingham gets a brace, Harry Kane gets a goal, and assists in that one as well.”

No. 3 Argentina

Despite England’s heroic performance, the crew gave Argentina the edge at No. 3 due to its tournament history and tournament management.

“What separates Argentina? Obviously, it’s Messi, but it’s that they’ve done it already,” Edu said. 

“They come in here as a defending champion, so they know that winning pedigree, they know what it takes, and when you’re talking about their last couple games against Cape Verde, and then today against Egypt, yeah, they were nerve-wrenching. 

“If you’re a Messi fan, if you’re an Argentine fan, you’re sitting there sweating, you’re nervous, but there’s a certain character that this group possesses, the manager as well, because they’ve crossed that line already at the last World Cup.”

Argentina has won all five matches it’s played at this World Cup. However, its last two victories were dramatic. It needed extr

GREATEST COMEBACK EVER? 🇦🇷 INSTANT REACTION to Argentina’s 3-2 win over Egypt ️

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a time to take down Cape Verde in the round of 32 before having to comeback from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Egypt in the round of 16 on Tuesday. 

“You guys, they’ve, they’ve made the fans suffer, they’ve made football fans suffer, but they’ve always come through,” Ortiz said.

Guzan added that it has “been the Messi show,” and indicated that the rest of the roster must contribute more as the tournament progresses.

“They’re going to need some help from others,” Guzan said. “There’s other guys on that team, they’re going to have to step up.”

No. 2 Spain

Spain secured the No. 2 spot in the power rankings, largely due to its defensive efficiency throughout the competition.

“I think Spain has been incredible,” Edu said. “There’s still more, there’s still more to be seen from this team, but they’ve been incredibly efficient. The fact that they’re in a quarterfinal without having conceded a goal, that’s where [I say] this is impressive.”

As Spain hasn’t conceded a goal yet in this tournament, it’s outscored its opponents 9-0 in this tournament. 

No. 1 France

France took the No. 1 spot on the board, maintaining its status as tournament favorites.

“And they’ve lived up to the expectations that everybody’s put on them,” Kljestan said. “They were the odds-on favorite. They were the team that all of us, I believe, at this little round table has picked to win the tournament, and they’ve been the best attacking team. So, they’re No. 1 — best attacking team, number two, best defending team in this tournament.”

Just like Argentina, France has won all five matches it has played in this tournament as well. It had to grind out a 1-0 win over Paraguay in the round of 16, but France has outscored its opponents 14-2 in this tournament. 

With the rankings set, the analysts discussed whether any of the lower-ranked teams could challenge the top four for the title. Kljestan expressed skepticism about the lower tier’s chances of sustaining success through the remaining rounds.

“I personally don’t think that any of the teams outside the top four can win this World Cup,” Kljestan said. “You have to win three more games from this point on, and I don’t see any of those teams knocking off any of the top four teams, let alone knocking them off once and then having to do two more.”

Guzan agreed, emphasizing the difficulty of putting together multiple consecutive wins against elite opponents.

“That’s what I was just gonna say, I think there’s potential for doing it once, doing it two and three times,” Guzan said. “I think it becomes really, really challenging when you’re going up against these top four teams in the quality that they possess.”

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The career of one of the greatest players to ever step on the pitch, Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo, is likely nearing its end — and FOX Sports’ Kasper Schmeichel, who was a goalkeeper for Denmark, thinks it will be hard for the 41-year-old to come to grips with that reality.

“I know exactly what he’s feeling right now,” Schmeichel said about Ronaldo after Portugal was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup by Spain on Monday. “It means everything to play for your country. Look at his body language. It hits you, and it hits you harder than you’re ever going to expect.

“Even at his age, I don’t care how many goals you scored or how many trophies you’ve got, that’s not his mentality. His mentality is the next one. Wants to win, wants to keep going, wants to prove that he still is the best.”

Ronaldo and Portugal advanced through Group K of the 2026 World Cup after going 1-2-0 in group play. Then, following a win over Croatia in the round of 32, they were eliminated by Lamine Yamal and Spain in the round of 16. Following Portugal’s defeat, Ronaldo said this was his “last” World Cup but that he’s still mulling his future in the sport elsewhere.

The 2026 World Cup marked the sixth such tournament Ronaldo played in for Portugal, with the club being unable to claim a tournament triumph in any of those six years (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026). Ronaldo scored three goals across Portugal’s five matches this tournament, highlighted by a brace against Uzbekistan in the group stage. 

The superstar striker has 11 career World Cup goals and stands first all time with 976 career goals across a combined 1,326 games.

“I think, at the moment, Cristiano is realizing that he’s not going to play in the World Cup again. Those stadiums, you’re not going to be able to play in them again. That’s a really, really tough thing, and that’s something I haven’t come to terms with yet,” Schmeichel said. “It’s an ongoing process. But I think he’s the type of guy that he’ll want to keep going. He’ll want to keep playing, and he doesn’t need to, but he does it because he loves it. He loves the game. He’s physically still able to play.

“Having it not taken away from you, but there are four years until another World Cup, so the chances are he’s not going to be there, and that will be really, really difficult to take.”

Ronaldo has spent the last four years at Al-Nassr FC in the Saudi Pro League, averaging 29.3 goals per season over the last three years and helping them win the league title in the 2025-26 season.

Of course, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner and eight-time Domestic League champion has two stints at Manchester United (Premier League) and stints with Real Madrid (La Liga), Juventus (Serie A) and Sporting CP (Primeira Liga) under his belt. 

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It’s official: Justin Bieber is set to perform at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19. 

“The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can,” Bieber said in a statement to FIFA. “I’m grateful to be part of this Halftime Show, and even more grateful knowing it’s already helping expand access to education for children around the world.”

Ahead of his World Cup final performance, Bieber was in attendance at Los Angeles Stadium for USA’s opening ceremony before their group stage game against Paraguay. 

(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

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The show marks the first time in tournament history that the title game will host a halftime performance, which already includes performers like BTS, Madonna and Shakira. Additionally, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay are set to perform.

Bieber is coming off a memorable career milestone when he headlined Coachella and claimed the informal title of “Bieberchella” from fans. Prior to Coachella, Bieber also performed at the 2026 Grammy’s. 

The quarterfinals stage is set and kicks off on Thursday, starting with France vs. Morocco at Miami Stadium at Boston Stadium at 4 p.m. ET.

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Remember the coronation that never quite happened?

A few years ago, Kylian Mbappé was the consensus heir. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo would eventually ride off, and the kid from Bondy — a World Cup winner as a teenager, the first teenager to score in a final since Pelé — would inherit the throne. In 2022, he nearly took it by force: a Golden Boot, a hat trick in the final, one of the great individual World Cups ever played. Argentina lifted the trophy anyway, and the narrative moved on without him.

Four years later, it’s time to move it back.

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

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Mbappé, at 27, is the best player in the world right now, and the 2026 World Cup is making his case game by game. Seven goals in five matches — braces against Senegal and Iraq, another against Sweden, the winner from the spot in a street fight with Paraguay. He became France’s all-time leading scorer along the way, passed Ronaldo and Miroslav Klose on the World Cup scoring charts, and now sits on 19 tournament goals, one behind Messi’s all-time record.

Nobody in history has scored more World Cup knockout goals. Nobody has scored more World Cup winners. He leads a France team that looks like the most complete side in the tournament — and he hasn’t even needed to be great every night for Les Bleus to win all five.

Kylian Mbappé Scores Brace vs Sweden 🇫🇷 His Third in 2026 FIFA World Cup™

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Yes, Messi is having a magical farewell, and Erling Haaland is dragging Norway into places Norway has never been. But Messi is 39, playing his last dance. Ronaldo just exited his final World Cup in the round of 16. And Haaland, for all his ruthlessness, is a specialist — the greatest penalty-box predator alive, and proudly nothing else.

Mbappé is the full package. World-class pace that still breaks defensive lines in a dead sprint. The technical ability to beat a man off either side. He can live on the left touchline or through the middle. And he is a clinical finisher through and through. Strikers usually get one or two of those gifts. He got the whole package.

So why did some stop saying it? Blame the noise in Madrid. Real Madrid’s season was a soap opera—no trophies, a manager under siege, and Mbappé cast as one of the villains, jeered inside his own stadium in May. Lost in the drama: he won the Pichichi again. His numbers never dipped, but the love did.

(Photo by Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images)

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Now he’s found it, and it shows. Watch him this summer — laughing through hydration breaks, sprinting to embrace Didier Deschamps after scoring against Sweden days after the coach buried his mother, playing with the joy of a man who spent a year being told he was the problem and is now, indisputably, the solution. The smile is back. So is the terror he inspires.

Thursday brings Morocco in Boston, a rematch of the 2022 semifinal, and perhaps Messi waiting at the end — the ghost of Lusail, four years later, in New York. You could not script it better.

And here’s the kicker: for all he’s done, Mbappé has never won a Ballon d’Or. Win this World Cup as the star of the show — the record within reach, the Golden Boot in play, the best team in the field — and that conversation ends in about four seconds.

In 2022, he did everything except lift the trophy. In 2026, he might do everything, period. The throne’s been sitting empty long enough.

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Dave Roberts knows the drill. 

As he gets set to lead the National League All-Star team for the fifth time since 2018, the Dodgers manager understands how the next week will look leading into the game and when he needs to start preparing his lineup and pitching decisions. 

So, he’s in no rush. 

“I probably really start thinking about the starting pitcher the Thursday or Friday before the All-Star Game,” Roberts told me on Tuesday, one week ahead of the game in Philadelphia. “It’s who’s going to be available. From that bucket, who deserves it? And then the hometown pitcher, starter, has got to have some weight. Then, try to bake it all in to see what’s the right decision.”

Cristopher Sánchez would be a logical hometown choice to start, even after the Phillies starter saw his ERA jump from 2.00 to 2.62 with a clunker this week in Kansas City. Atlanta Braves veteran Chris Sale and Cincinnati Reds breakout Chase Burns are also among the top NL arms available to Roberts. 

The best pitcher in the National League this year, however, will not be an option. 

Milwaukee Brewers star Jacob Misiorowski, who leads all qualified MLB starters in ERA (1.64) and strikeouts (167) among a litany of categories, was ruled out of the All-Star Game since he’s scheduled to start Sunday. Fellow National League All-Star pitchers Paul Skenes, who is slated to start against Misiorowski on Sunday, and Max Meyer were also ruled out for the same reason. Replacing that trio of pitchers is Philadelphia starter Jesús Luzardo, Pittsburgh starter Braxton Ashcraft and St. Louis reliever Riley O’Brien. 

There are sure to be more changes ahead in the coming days, which is why Roberts is taking his time before solidifying his choices. He said he gets the roster updates at the same time as everyone else, and he doesn’t get a say in the choices, so he knows there’s no rush. 

Soon, Roberts and his coaching staff will be fielding calls from other NL managers and pitching coaches to discuss the workloads of the players on the NL All-Star roster. Those conversations haven’t happened yet, but they’re likely to take place over the weekend. Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior and Major League Baseball also help facilitate those discussions. 

“There’s a lot of bait-and-switching going on,” Roberts told me. “Pitchers want the All-Star nod, but when they get it and get their bonus, they don’t want to pitch. That’s something we’re very mindful of. Then it puts more stress and potential in harm’s way of other guys that are going to pitch. So, that’s something we’re still trying to get a handle on.” 

Roberts invited Phillies manager Don Mattingly and Cardinals manager Oli Marmol to be honorary coaches on his All-Star coaching staff this year. 

The Phillies have turned their season around since Don Mattingly took over as interim manager in late April. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

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Mattingly managed the Dodgers from 2011-15, right before Roberts took over, and was in the opposing dugout in last year’s World Series as the Toronto Blue Jays’ bench coach. Roberts thought it made sense to have the hometown manager joining him for the game, but his decision to include Mattingly went beyond that.

“I’ve never spent time with Donnie,” Roberts said. “For me to be able to have an opportunity to spend time with him I thought was great. And Oli, I just think he’s been an organizational guy as a player, as a manager, and we developed a bond, a friendship, and it’s an opportunity for me to spend some time with him.”

Roberts said he has gotten to know Marmol much better over the last five years. Marmol has been the Cardinals’ manager since 2022 and has been with the organization for the past 20 years, starting as a minor-league player before working his way up as a manager through the system. He remained on board as the Cardinals’ skipper this year after Chaim Bloom took over as president of baseball operations, signing a two-year contract extension in March despite coming off three seasons without a playoff appearance. The 2026 Cardinals, one of the surprise stories of the first half, are contending for a playoff spot. 

“We have conversations when we play each other, and he wanted to pick my brain about some things, and I wanted to pick his brain,” Roberts told me. “I think, for me, all the scrutiny that he was going through, I loved the way that he responded and how he remained steadfast managing the ballclub with all the uncertainty, the noise, outside of it. I respected that.”

While Mattingly is a National League manager now — after a 9-19 start, the Phillies have gone 42-22 since Mattingly took over as interim manager — he’ll have plenty of connections in the opposing dugout at the All-Star Game after spending three seasons on Toronto’s coaching staff. Blue Jays skipper John Schneider, of course, will be managing the American League team. 

Roberts’ advice for the first-timer? 

“Enjoy every bit of it,” Roberts said. “The manager’s speech to the players is something that is always memorable. Sometimes you feel maybe a little pressure, but it’s exciting. Try to get everybody in there. And be mindful of the pitching. You never want to run out of pitching.”

Things haven’t gone so well for John Schneider and the Blue Jays this season, so managing the AL All-Star team should be a great respite. (Photo by Chris Coduto/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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That’s something Roberts remembered well from his first experience as an All-Star manager in 2018, when the game at Nationals Park went to extra innings. 

“It’s a balancing act,” Roberts said. “But at the end of the day, it’s an exhibition, and it’s a lot of fun.”

Ohtani Unlikely To Pitch, But Likely To Hit, In All-Star Game

Shohei Ohtani is still lined up to make his scheduled pitching start Friday, a week after feeling tightness in his right biceps on a swing. 

Ohtani said his removal from the game late last Friday — the Dodgers pinch-hit for him in the seventh inning — was precautionary and that he had dealt with a similar issue earlier this season and was able to play through it. Ohtani was held out of the lineup Saturday but returned on Sunday and then homered in each of his first two games against the Rockies on Monday and Tuesday this week, joining the 300-homer club in the process. 

Immediately after Ohtani’s biceps issue arose, Roberts said the idea of skipping Ohtani’s last pitching start of the first half should be on the table. Now, though, that’s not the plan. 

“As he goes through the next couple days, if he doesn’t feel great, we’ll pivot, and we’re prepared to pivot,” Roberts said. “But as we sit here, I don’t see that changing.”

Roberts reiterated Tuesday that he doesn’t expect Ohtani to pitch in the All-Star Game or to compete in the Home Run Derby, but he does see him taking “an at-bat or two” in the game. 

“He understands the responsibility he has,” Roberts said. “So, I do think that there’s a middle for what’s best for him, what potentially could be downside, but also what’s best for the game.”

Could The Dodgers Get Another Starting Pitcher In?

Justin Wrobleski was among the biggest All-Star snubs when the initial rosters were announced last weekend, and that remained the case after his latest start Tuesday. Wrobleski lowered his ERA to 2.69 on the year while striking out nine Rockies and holding them to one run in his third straight start of seven innings. 

The Dodgers’ sixth starter is 10-2 with a 2.69 ERA that ranks eighth among qualified NL starters. 

“Obviously it’s disappointing,” Wrobleski said of the snub. “You want to be an All-Star. It’s something that, regardless of the year, whenever, it’s always a big deal. It’s something I wanted to do. It’s frustrating to not get that nod. But like I said before, it’s just more reason to try and keep getting better. Hopefully, I can gain the respect of players and everybody else and maybe be in there next year.”

He might not have to wait that long. 

Changes are still being made, and if Yoshinobu Yamamoto — who is starting Saturday for the Dodgers — is unable to pitch in the All-Star Game three days later, Wrobleski would make for a logical replacement. 

Justin Wrobleski is having a breakout season for the Dodgers, and it could lead to an All-Star nod as a replacement. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

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Wrobleski said he would still love to get the call and would also like to know where he’s going to be spending his All-Star break. His manager has already lobbied for him to make the team, and because Wrobleski made his last start of the first half on Tuesday, he would be available to pitch in the All-Star Game if he got the nod. 

“We run a six-man rotation, and I just don’t want him to get dinged for not making a couple more starts that he potentially could have had,” Roberts said. “It’s about winning, the ERA is stellar, innings per outing, and so I just think that he’s performed enough to earn that opportunity.”

“That means a lot, obviously,” Wrobleski said of Roberts’ support. “He has given me this opportunity to kind of be a starter in the major leagues when maybe some other teams would’ve given up on me.”

How to Watch the 2026 MLB All-Star Game

The 2026 MLB All-Star Game is Tuesday, July 14, with first pitch at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, live from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Watch the MLB All-Star Game on FOX One for live and on-demand streaming.

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