Spain is the FIFA World Cup champion for the second time ever after a 1-0 extra-time victory over Lionel Messi and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday to close the largest edition of the tournament in history.

With the first 48-team World Cup now complete, there were many players who put together fabulous performances throughout the tournament. But only 11 can be picked for the World Cup Best XI.

So as the world looks back on an unbelievable tournament, here is FOX Sports analyst Alexi Lalas’ World Cup Best XI.

Unai Simón gets in goal after winning the Golden Glove.

It was a historic World Cup campaign for Simón, who kept seven clean sheets and conceded only one goal. That was the fewest goals conceded by a team on the way to winning a World Cup.

Simón was pivotal with his shot-stopping, his ability to play out from the back and his sweeper-keeper role, constantly sniffing out attacks coming in behind Spain’s back line.

Marc Cucurella came into this tournament widely recognized as one of the premier left backs in the world, and he showed that at the World Cup.

He was defensively stable in the best defense in the tournament while also being a constant presence in attack with his energy to go up and down the pitch.

Aymeric Laporte turned back the clock with a great World Cup for Spain, anchoring the back line as the experienced partner next to teenage center back Pau Cubarsí.

Laporte helped lead a defense that conceded the fewest goals ever by a World Cup-winning team. His ability to play out from the back and his defensive stability were cornerstones for Spain throughout the tournament.

–>

Cristian Romero was a vital piece of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning campaign, and he continued to be one in this tournament.

Not only was he willing to put everything on the line defensively, but he also made an impact in the attacking box as a goalscoring threat. That included his goal against Egypt to bring Argentina back into that match, as well as the header that was deflected in as an own goal to win the round of 32 match against Cape Verde.

Pedro Porro showed his true level playing for Spain at this World Cup.

After an inconsistent season at Tottenham, Porro put together a strong tournament. Spain initially started Marcos Llorente at right back, but Porro eventually earned the starting spot and became a key player throughout the tournament.

He was not only solid defensively, but also a presence in attack, scoring in the round of 32 against Austria and again in the semifinal against France.

Rodri won the Golden Ball as the best player on the best team, playing at a high level throughout the World Cup.

He showed signs of the level he had before tearing his ACL following his Ballon d’Or and European Championship-winning campaign.

Rodri’s decision-making, processing speed and defensive strength in front of Laporte and Cubarsí were massive for Spain. After this tournament, Rodri could be on his way to a second Ballon d’Or.

Jude Bellingham had a monster tournament, scoring seven goals from midfield.

The capacity he showed to arrive in the box was tremendous, and his clutch moments were on a different level. Every time England was in a hole and needed someone to pull it out, Bellingham seemed to be there showing his class and scoring vital goals.

Michael Olise is as silky as a footballer can get, and he showed his quality and creativity at this World Cup.

Despite not scoring a single goal, his tournament was fabulous because of the creativity he provided for France. Olise allowed players like Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué to flourish because of how consistently he created chances.

Olise finished with seven assists, breaking Pelé’s record for the most assists recorded at a single World Cup.

–>

Kylian Mbappé had 10 goals at this World Cup, won the Golden Boot and played a huge role in France’s run to the semifinals.

He scored in the round of 32, round of 16 and quarterfinals, and then added two more goals in the third-place match against England.

Mbappé also broke the record for most career goals scored at the World Cup, moving to 22. With what he has already done on this stage, Mbappé now has a serious case as the greatest World Cup player in history.

Erling Haaland had a World Cup campaign that people will tell stories about for years.

His seven goals were incredibly vital in taking Norway to the quarterfinals in its first World Cup campaign since 1998.

This Norway side won two knockout-stage games, with Haaland scoring the winner in both. He scored the late winner against Ivory Coast in the round of 32, then scored twice to help Norway stun Brazil in the round of 16.

–>

At 39, Lionel Messi had about as good of a campaign as an individual in any sport can have at that age.

He brought himself back into the conversation as one of the best players in the world, playing lights out with eight goals and four assists while putting Argentina on his back and taking it to the final.

Even though Argentina fell short against Spain, Messi’s tournament was another reminder of his greatness.

LIVE reaction to Spain winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup™

–>

Source

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. 

New users on Polymarket can use promo code FOX to unlock a $50 trading bonus ahead of UFC Fight Night, headlined by Dricus du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman.

Du Plessis has won 11 of his last 12 fights, but his last bout was a unanimous loss. Now, he’s looking to rebound against another former champion.

Kamaru Usman snapped his three-fight losing streak in his last fight and is now trying to return to his once dominant run. The fight pits one of the middleweight division’s top contenders against one of the greatest welterweight champions in UFC history.

New users can use Polymarket promo code FOX to claim a $50 trading bonus and get involved before Du Plessis vs. Usman headlines UFC Fight Night.

For more information and full terms and conditions, visit our Polymarket promo code page.

How to Claim the Polymarket Promo with Code FOX

1. Click here to download the Polymarket app on iOS or Android.
2. Create a new Polymarket account using your email address.
3. Enter promo code FOX in the promo code or invite code field during registration.
4. Complete identity verification as prompted inside the app.
5. Deposit a minimum of $20 to your Polymarket account.
6. Your $50 trading bonus will be credited to your account automatically after the qualifying deposit.

Usman vs. Du Plessis Fight Night

Dricus Du Plessis	66%	66¢	37¢
Kamaru Usman	35%	35¢	66¢

More markets available on Polymarket.

How to Watch UFC Fight Night 

• Date: Saturday, July 18 | Start time: 8 p.m. ET (main card)
• Location: Paycom Center – Oklahoma City
• TV channel: Paramount+ 

Main Card (Paramount+, 8 p.m. ET)

• Dricus Du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman
• Jared Cannonier vs. Christian Leroy Duncan
• Chase Hooper vs. Mitch Ramirez
• Fatima Kline vs. Tabatha Ricci
• Tommy McMillen vs. Alberto Montes

 

Source

South Africa earned a place in the knockout rounds of the 2026 World Cup. The team competed in Group A against Mexico, Czech Republic, and South Korea, fielding a squad that advanced past the group stage for the first time in the country’s history.

During the group stage, they lost their opening match to Mexico before securing a 1-1 draw against Czechia. A 1-0 victory over South Korea confirmed South Africa’s progression to the knockout phase. Teboho Mokoena scored the equalizer against Czechia to keep the team in contention.

Ultimately, Canada scored the winning goal in the 90th minute of the Round of 32 match to eliminate South Africa. The team and its players achieved their furthest progression at a World Cup tournament.

So what’s next for the players who led South Africa to its first knockout stage appearance?

Foster was selected for the 26-man World Cup squad and made one appearance during the tournament. He plays club football in England for Burnley, the only player on South Africa’s roster that plays in one of Europe’s top-five leagues.

Maseko scored the winning goal against South Korea in the final match of the group stage to secure South Africa’s advancement to the knockout rounds. He plays club football for Cypriot side AEL Limassol.

Williams captained South Africa throughout the tournament and started all four matches in goal. He plays club football for Mamelodi Sundowns, where eight of his teammates on the national team also apply their trade.

Makhanya played all 90 minutes in all four matches for South Africa during the tournament. The 24-year-old center back has played club football in Major League Soccer for the Philadelphia Union since 2023.

Source

Japan earned a place in the knockout rounds of the 2026 World Cup. The team competed in Group F against the Netherlands, Tunisia, and Sweden, fielding a squad that advanced past the group stage.

During the group stage, they recorded a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands and a 4-0 victory over Tunisia. A 1-1 draw against Sweden confirmed Japan’s progression to the knockout phase. Kaishu Sano scored the opening goal in the Round of 32 match against Brazil to give Japan the lead.

Ultimately, Brazil scored the winning goal in the 96th minute of the Round of 32 match to eliminate Japan 2-1. The team and its players concluded their tournament appearance in the first knockout round.

So what’s next for the players who led Japan to its knockout stage appearance?

Suzuki started in goal for Japan during the tournament, including the Round of 32 match against Brazil. He plays club football in Italy for Parma.

Ito started in the defense for Japan during the World Cup and played in the elimination match against Brazil. He plays club football in Germany for Bayern Munich.

Doan started in the midfield for Japan during the group stage and the knockout round. He plays club football in Germany for SC Freiburg.

Nakamura played as a winger for Japan during the tournament and scored a goal against the Netherlands in the group stage. He plays club football in France for Stade Reims.

Ueda started as a forward for Japan during the 2026 tournament matches. He plays club football in the Netherlands for Feyenoord.

Source

The Netherlands’ World Cup journey ended sooner than they hoped, but the Oranje made sure they would not be forgotten. They stormed through Group J, collecting seven points and finishing atop the group before their tournament was cut short.

After beating Tunisia, Sweden played Japan to a draw before following up its impressive group stage performance with an early exit against Morocco. The Netherlands also suffered a tough elimination, falling to Morocco in a penalty shootout.

Following the loss, manager Ronald Koeman decided to resign. The program has yet to announce his replacement, but the early exit came as a shock to many, with expectations that this team had the talent to make a deep run into the quarterfinals or even semifinals.

So what’s next for the star players of the Netherlands after their World Cup run?

Dijk is one of the biggest leaders on the Netherlands roster and put together a relatively quiet World Cup. He recorded just one goal and one assist throughout the tournament, with his biggest impact coming during the group stage against Japan.

After the early exit, Dijk will return to the English Premier League, where he will continue his club career with Liverpool.

Gakpo put together a strong World Cup, showing up as one of the Netherlands’ most dangerous offensive threats throughout the tournament. He scored twice against Sweden on five shots before adding another goal in the team’s elimination match against Morocco.

After the early exit, he will return to the English Premier League alongside Dijk, continuing his club career with Liverpool.

Summerville was a key contributor for the Netherlands throughout the tournament, making his impact felt on offense. He scored against both Japan and Sweden and recorded an assist in the elimination match against Morocco.

Following the tournament, he will return to the EFL Championship with West Ham United after the club was relegated from the Premier League. However, he has been linked with a move back to the Premier League with several clubs eyeing the talented midfielder. 

Frenkie de Jong didn’t have the impact he would have hoped for during the World Cup, but he remains one of the Netherlands’ most complete players. He was limited for much of the tournament but still recorded a Final Act (FA) in every match, including three against Morocco.

Following the early exit, de Jong will return to Spain’s La Liga, where he will continue his club career with Barcelona.

Dumfries was a key player for the Netherlands throughout the tournament, starting every match and providing an offensive spark. He recorded four shots, including two on goal, against Tunisia while maintaining pressure on the opposing defense.

He will leave Inter Milan after signing a four-year contract with Real Madrid in Spain’s La Liga.

Source

Ivory Coast advanced to the knockout rounds for the first time ever at a Men’s FIFA World Cup after finishing second in Group E. Ivory Coast defeated Curaçao and Ecuador to earn six points and clinch that spot in the round of 32.  

However, that’s where its World Cup journey concluded as Norway prevailed past the Ivory Coast 2-1 on Erling Haaland’s late match-winning goal. 

Forward Nicolas Pépé and midfielder Franck Kessié were known as the Ivory Coast’s anchors heading into the tournament. And each was integral to the Ivory Coast’s success at the 2026 World Cup. But new stars introduced themselves, such as Yan Diomandé and Amad Diallo, both of whom could be mainstays in this Ivory Coast squad moving forward.

So what’s next for the Ivory Coast’s stars after a valiant showing at the 2026 World Cup?

Pépé scored both goals in the Ivory Coast’s 2-0 win against Curucao that officially clinched its place in the round of 32. He also provided the service on Amad Diallo’s goal in a losing effort against Norway. Pépé peaked during his time with French Ligue 1 side Lille, and during his first few seasons with Arsenal. He’s now entering his third season with Spanish La Liga club Villareal CF. 

Kessié wore the captain’s arm band for the Ivory Coast at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He scored to give Ivory Coast the lead against Germany, before the Germans came back to win the group stage match. His best season came at AC Milan in 2021. After five seasons, and a Serie A league title in 2022, Kessié spent one season with FC Barcelona before heading to the Saudi Pro League, where he’s entering his fourth season at Al-Ahli. 

Diomandé, 19, broke out at the 2026 World Cup, displaying his class with nifty dribble moves, precisely controlling the ball at breakneck speeds. Diomandé spent last season with German Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, where he scored 12 goals and recorded eight assists in 33 matches. He has reportedly signed a five-year deal with French Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain, and will join the back-to-back Champions League winners ahead of the 2026-27 season. The move affirms the performance he put forth at the 2026 World Cup. 

Diallo started two of the Ivory Coast’s four matches at the 2026 World Cup, but scored in each of the two he entered as a substitute. He’s entering his fourth season with Manchester United in the English Premier League. He started 47 matches with the Old Trafford side over the last two seasons, and should be an anchor of its midfield during the 2026-27 season. 

Source

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ game at the New York Yankees on Saturday  was postponed due to the “forecast of sustained inclement weather.”

The start time was set for 8 p.m. ET on FOX, but the game was rescheduled as part of a day-night doubleheader Sunday. The first game is slated to start at 12:35 p.m. ET on FOX, and the regularly scheduled series finale at 7:20 p.m.

Los Angeles won Friday’s series opener 2-1 on Max Muncy’s go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh off Gerrit Cole.

The forcecast of inclement weather in the New York-New Jersey area isn’t expected to impact the World Cup final, which will take place 12 miles west of Yankee Stadium at New York-New Jersey Stadium. The forecast for Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey is a high of 81 degrees and a low of 66 degrees, with just a 5% chance of rain, per the FOX weather app. 

Kickoff between Argentina and Spain is set for just after 3:00 p.m. ET. 

]–>

Source

Lionel Messi is no longer the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer. Kylian Mbappé, with his 22nd career FIFA World Cup goal, broke the all-time record for goals at the tournament after Messi broke the record on June 22 against Austria.

Mbappé’s record-tying goal came in France’s bronze final match against England on Saturday at Miami Stadium. Mbappé found the back of the net in the 48thminute, with France trailing England 4-1.

Mbappé scored again in the 66th minute to break Messi’s record and trim England’s lead to 4-3.

Mbappé, 27, has now scored 22 goals in 22 World Cup matches for France. By comparison, Messi scored his 21st goal in his 31st World Cup appearance for Argentina at the age of 39 years old.

In addition to tying Messi’s record, Mbappé moved past Messi in the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot race with his 10th goal of the tournament. He is the first player to score at least eight goals in back-to-back World Cups; Messi scored seven in 2022 and has eight in 2026.

Mbappé also broke the record for most non-penalty goals at the World Cup with 19. He previously shared the record with Messi, who has scored 17.

Messi will have the chance to reclaim his records, and the top spot in the Golden Boot race, in Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at New York New Jersey Stadium.

Source

Argentina defeated England, 2-1, after a late comeback victory in the semifinals, scoring two goals from the 85th minute onward through Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez to snatch a World Cup final spot right out of England’s hands.

During the match, there was a moment where Jude Bellingham and Lionel Messi were in conversation, and it looked like a back-and-forth between the two stars. Bellingham smirked as he walked away, and Messi hit Bellingham with a shrug and a nod. Then the clip quickly made the rounds on the internet.

But Bellingham, speaking to reporters afterward, clarified there was nothing malicious going on and downplayed the interaction between the two.

“We were discussing a foul, actually,” Bellingham explained. “It was nothing bad. I’m sure everyone will do their thing and make it a big deal. But it was nothing big really.”

During the intense post-match moment when both England and Argentina players were in each other’s faces, Bellingham also slapped Argentina midfielder Valentín Barco in the back of the head.

Bellingham also showed admiration for Messi, who is now set to play in his third World Cup final and become just the second player ever to play in three different World Cup finals.

“It was a privilege to play against him; it was nothing like that against him,” Bellingham said. “I’m obviously on the losing side, which hurts a lot. But a privilege to line up against one of the best.”

Argentina will take on Spain on Sunday, July 19, at New York New Jersey Stadium as it looks to win its fourth World Cup title. A victory would move Argentina into a tie with Germany and Italy for the second-most World Cup titles in history.

Spain vs Argentina World Cup Final: The bet you CANNOT miss

–>

Source

Now that Kylian Mbappé’s World Cup is over — it ended with a 6-4 loss to England in Saturday’s third-place match with him taking the lead for the World Cup’s top scorer — he finally gets a break after a long club season with Real Madrid and a deep tournament campaign with France.

Mbappé now heads back to Real Madrid, where José Mourinho has returned as manager and will be tasked with turning things around for a club coming off a disappointing campaign.

Real Madrid’s next game against Deportivo La Coruña will come in a friendly on Wednesday, August 12. But Madrid’s competitive debut in La Liga is set for Saturday, August 22, when it faces Espanyol at RCDE Stadium.

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

–>

It is unclear how quickly Mbappé will be available for Madrid after France’s World Cup run ended. That gives him a little more than a month before Real Madrid’s La Liga opener, though his exact return will likely depend on rest, recovery and Mourinho’s preseason plan.

France’s next games will come during the September international window, when Les Bleus open their UEFA Nations League campaign in League A Group A1.

France will take on Türkiye on Sept. 25 before facing Belgium on Sept. 28.

Those matches are also expected to begin a new era for France, with Zinedine Zidane widely expected to take charge after Didier Deschamps’ final match as manager at the World Cup.

Zidane, one of the greatest players in French football history, helped lead France to the 1998 World Cup as a player before later building a brilliant managerial résumé at Real Madrid, where he won three straight Champions League titles.

For Mbappé, that means the next few months will bring two fresh starts: a new season at Real Madrid under Mourinho, and a new international chapter with France under Zidane.

Mbappé’s World Cup was ‘FANTASTIC’ despite coming up short, What happened to France? | FTF

–>

Source