Spain, Argentina meet in WC final; Tuchel stays
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- Thomas Tuchel confirmed he'll stay on as England manager through Euro 2028 after becoming the third straight England coach to lose a major semifinal from a winning position (Argentina 2-1).link ›
- Lionel Messi created both Argentine goals in stoppage time vs England — Enzo Fernández and a 92nd-minute Lautaro Martínez strike — booking a Sunday final vs Spain.link ›
- Mikel Oyarzabal (22nd-minute penalty) and Pedro Porro (58th minute) scored in Spain's 2-0 semifinal rout of France at AT&T Stadium, extending La Roja's unbeaten run to 37 games.link ›
- Aymeric Laporte accused Argentina of 'leaving a mark on opponents' after their 15-foul semifinal vs England, putting Sunday's refereeing crew under the microscope before the final.link ›
- Ryan Gold, the Cardinals' 13-year director of college scouting, was suspended indefinitely by the NFL for leaking non-public 2026 draft info and placing parlay bets.link ›
- Fred Warner held the No. 1 linebacker ranking with about 70% of first-place votes, while Browns rookie Carson Schwesinger debuted at No. 3 after winning Defensive Rookie of the Year (156 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 INTs).link ›
- Joao Gomes is set for a £38m move to Aston Villa (£34m plus £4m add-ons), with the club separately closing on a club-record £50m+ deal for Freiburg's Johan Manzambi.link ›
- AC Boise set USL and USL League One attendance records with 7,211 fans on debut, with co-owner and NWSL all-time assists leader Sofia Huerta calling the project 'so much deeper than' any stat line.link ›
La Roja and Argentina will meet in Sunday's World Cup final after both delivered emphatic semifinal statements: Spain blanked France 2-0 at AT&T Stadium behind Mikel Oyarzabal's 22nd-minute penalty and Pedro Porro's 58th-minute strike, while Argentina erased a 55th-minute Anthony Gordon goal with two late Messi-assisted finishes from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez — the latter in the 92nd minute. Thomas Tuchel confirmed he will stay on as England boss through Euro 2028 despite becoming the third straight England manager to lose a major semifinal from a winning position; Harry Kane admitted England 'seemed to just try and hold on' as the side held 12% possession between Gordon's opener and the final whistle. Spain, now 37 unbeaten and chasing a second star, head to the final as the deepest squad in the tournament.
The stories behind this week
Tuchel vows to stay England boss, defends tacticsEngland will enter Euro 2028 qualifying still led by Tuchel, whose contract extension predates the tournament — but a third consecutive major-tournament exit from a winning position (2018 vs Croatia, Euro 2020 vs Italy, now 2026 vs Argentina) means the FA's continued backing assumes Tuchel can fix the same late-game collapse pattern that has now cost England three different coaches.
Spain end France's 3rd-straight WC final bidSpain's win extends a rare three-match winning streak over a France side featuring Mbappé, Olise, and Dembélé, and now ties Italy's record 37-game unbeaten mark — putting La Roja two wins from a first World Cup title. For France, a third straight final appearance slips away, continuing a pattern of semifinal heartbreak under Deschamps.
Spain Outclasses France 2-0 to Reach 2026 World Cup FinalFive Spain players earned 9/10 ratings in a semifinal rout, establishing them as favorites for a second World Cup title, while France's attacking trio of Mbappé, Dembélé, and Olise combined for just 10/30 — underscoring how thoroughly Les Bleus' frontline was neutralized for the second consecutive semifinal exit.
NFL suspends Cardinals exec Gold for gambling violationsGold's suspension — stemming from both leaking inside draft information and placing parlay bets — is the latest high-profile test of the NFL's gambling policy, which the league actively reviews with its 20,000-plus personnel. For the Cardinals, losing a 13-year scouting executive days before training camp creates a late-summer disruption to their college scouting department just months before the 2026 draft cycle.
Laporte: Argentina likes to leave mark on opponentsWith Spain questioning the integrity of fair play ahead of the final, the spotlight falls on referees to manage Argentina’s aggressive style, which has drawn complaints in multiple matches. If officials don’t enforce discipline consistently, it could tilt the balance in high-stakes moments and undermine confidence in the tournament’s fairness.
Top 10 NFL Linebackers Ranked by Execs and CoachesThe rankings confirm Fred Warner as the position's gold standard despite injury, while five new entrants—including a Defensive Rookie of the Year and four players on new major contracts—signal a shifting hierarchy where production and scheme fit now outweigh longevity alone. For teams, this elevates the value of versatile, instinctive linebackers who can impact both run and pass games.
AC Boise aim to turn record-breaking support, Spanish influence into long-term soccer success in USLAC Boise's 7,211-person opener and 6,700+ pre-launch deposits show a lower-division club hitting commercial numbers while keeping ownership in the hands of Idaho natives rather than outside investors — a model whose sustainability will be tested when USL's 2028 promotion-and-relegation structure gives on-field ambition a direct divisional payoff.
Gomes Set for £38m Villa SwitchVilla are executing a midfield overhaul worth roughly £88m-plus in incoming fees (Gomes plus Manzambi), reacting to a simultaneous hit of a £35m Tielemans sale and Onana's long-term absence — a gamble that deepens the squad but commits significant resources before the window closes.
Why it matters: With Sunday's Spain-Argentina World Cup final now set, Laporte's pre-match warning about Argentina's 15-foul semifinal style makes the officiating crew the most consequential hire on the pitch.
