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Merino strikes late again  Spain edged Belgium to reach World Cup semi-finals Author | Peter Grainger Stadium | Los Angeles Stadium Mikel Merino proved Spain's match winner once more as the substitute struck two minutes from time to break Belgium's resistance and send the European champions into the World Cup semi-finals. The Arsenal midfielder had already rescued Spain in the last 16 with a 91st-minute winner against Portugal and repeated the feat in Los Angeles, settling a finely balanced quarter-final with another decisive late contribution. With the contest level at 1-1 and seemingly drifting towards extra time, Belgium substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who had replaced the injured Thibaut Courtois, could only spill Pau Cubarsi's fierce 25-yard effort. Merino reacted quickest, turning the rebound into the roof of the net from close range after spending just 117 seconds on the pitch following his introduction for Dani Olmo. Watch | Highlights from BBC Sport Fabián ...

Argentina stage remarkable comeback to crush Egypt dreams and reach quarter-finals The holders survived another huge scare before breaking Egypt's hearts and booking their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup. Author | Ajay  Stadium | Atlanta Stadium The reigning world champions, who needed extra time to overcome Cape Verde in the previous round, looked destined for a shock exit as the Pharaohs raced into a 2-0 lead through Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico. Cristian Romero pulled one back with 11 minutes remaining before Lionel Messi, who had missed a first-half penalty in Atlanta, levelled five minutes later to set up a dramatic finale. Enzo Fernandez completed the turnaround two minutes into stoppage time, heading in Lautaro Martinez's cross to seal a quarter-final against Colombia or Switzerland. Watch | An emotional Messi at full-time | ITV Sport  This the place for all the best World Cup news and stories Super News Affiliate is the place for all the best Wo...

Belgium sweep aside the United States Charles De Ketelaere scored twice as Belgium eased past the United States to ensure the tournament's third and final co-host exited the World Cup. Author | Peter Grainger  Stadium | Seattle Stadium It was a subdued display from the US, who included striker Folarin Balogun in their starting line-up after President Donald Trump asked Fifa to review his suspension following the red card he received in the previous round. Fifa responded by suspending the automatic one-match ban for 12 months, but the tournament's joint-leading scorer, with three goals, was largely isolated as Belgium controlled proceedings. Belgium took the lead after just nine minutes when Nicolas Raskin's pass across the face of goal was turned in by De Ketelaere. The co-hosts drew level in the 31st minute as Malik Tillman's free-kick took a wicked deflection off Hans Vanaken and wrong-footed the goalkeeper. Watch | Highlights from ITV Sport Belgium restored their...

England secured a dramatic victory over Mexico and set up a quarter-final against Norway. They produced their most accomplished display of the World Cup amid the passion and intensity of the iconic Azteca Stadium Author | George B Stadium | Azteca Stadium On a night of gripping sporting theatre, with kick-off delayed by an hour because of severe storms, Thomas Tuchel's side even overcame Jarell Quansah's red card early in the second half to claim one of their most impressive victories of recent years. Mexico had lost only two of their previous 89 competitive matches at the Azteca, but England's composed start allowed them to seize control as the outstanding Jude Bellingham struck twice in the space of 98 seconds before half-time. England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was in inspired form, producing two outstanding saves to deny Raul Jimenez, but he was powerless to prevent Julian Quinones from reducing the deficit with a powerful finish three minutes before the interval. Watch...

World Cup favourites France were forced to work hard to secure their place in the quarter-finals Kylian Mbappe's second-half penalty enough to edge past a determined Paraguay in Philadelphia. Author | James Y Stadium | Philadelphia Stadium Paraguay restricted the two-time champions to very few clear openings until substitute Desire Doue was brought down inside the penalty area by Brighton midfielder Diego Gomez. Referee Ilgiz Tantashev pointed to the spot after a video assistant referee (VAR) review. Mbappe confidently converted the penalty, sending Orlando Gill the wrong way to book France's place in the last eight. His seventh goal of the tournament also saw him draw level with Argentina great Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. The last-16 tie began in searing heat, with temperatures climbing to 38C, yet France quickly established control of possession. Even so, Paraguay's disciplined defensive display proved difficult to breach and France's frustration bec...

Canada became the first co-host nation to exit the 2026 World Cup  It was, in the end, a convincing victory by Morocco in Houston. Author | James Y Stadium | Houston Stadium Morocco, who struggled to find their rhythm during an ill-tempered first half, went ahead five minutes after the restart through Azzedine Ounahi. Ounahi swept home Achraf Hakimi's cut-back from a cleverly worked free kick after the Canada defence failed to close him down on the edge of the area. The Girona midfielder doubled his tally with eight minutes remaining, finishing a swift counter-attack to put the result beyond doubt. An increasingly comfortable victory was completed in stoppage time when Soufiane Rahimi slid his finish beneath goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau. It was a harsh outcome for Canada They had made the brighter start in Texas and could easily have been ahead inside the opening stages. Morocco now advance and move to within one victory of matching their historic run to the semi-finals at the 2022 Wo...

Argentina needed a 111th-minute Diney Borges own goal to avoid one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. The holders edged past heroic debutants Cape Verde in the last 32. Author | Sean M Stadium | Miami Stadium The side ranked 64th in the Fifa world rankings twice fought back to level against opponents who sit second in the world. With the score 1-1 after 90 minutes, the underdogs forced their celebrated opponents into extra time. Lisandro Martínez then appeared to have won it for Argentina with an excellent finish in the 92nd minute. But Sidny Lopes Cabral produced one of the goals of the tournament 11 minutes later, cutting in from the left before curling a superb strike over goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez and into the top corner to make it 2-2. Cabral, enjoying the finest night of his career, almost completed a remarkable victory when he forced an outstanding save from Martínez four minutes from the end of extra time. Cape Verde, however, could not find a third equaliser to tak...