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Spain were deserved winners of a desperately disappointing World Cup final Ferran Torres' extra-time strike finally broke the resistance of 10-man Argentina. Author | James Y Stadium | New York New Jersey Stadium The European champions created the clearer chances against the defending world champions, who spent much of the contest disrupting Spain's rhythm and were reduced to 10 players when Enzo Fernandez was sent off moments before extra time. Torres proved the match winner in the 106th minute, collecting substitute Nico Williams' headed pass before firing powerfully past Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez from close range. A final that promised so much rarely delivered. It became an attritional contest, despite the wider spectacle surrounding the occasion. Watch | Highlights from the BBC US President Donald Trump arrived in New Jersey by helicopter before kick-off, while Shakira, Madonna and Justin Bieber headlined the first World Cup half-time show, extending the in...

Spain outclass France to book place in World Cup final Spain are through to the World Cup final after producing an assured display to beat favourites France convincingly. Author | James Y Stadium | Dallas Stadium   Luis de la Fuente's side nullified a France team packed with attacking quality, controlled a contest that offered few clear-cut chances and deservedly secured their place in Sunday's final thanks to goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro. Oyarzabal gave Spain the lead from the penalty spot midway through the first half after France left-back Lucas Digne clumsily caught Lamine Yamal while attempting to clear the ball. The Spain forward calmly dispatched the penalty into the corner and, once ahead, his side tightened their grip on proceedings. Watch | Highlights from BBC Sport France were expected to respond after an underwhelming first half, but it was Spain who continued to dictate the game. Porro exchanged a neat one-two with Dani Olmo before finishing confident...

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...

Mexico cruised into the last 16 of the World Cup This was a comfortable victory over Ecuador in a weather-delayed contest. Author | James Y Stadium | Azteca Stadium Goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez handed the co-hosts a commanding lead in an exhilarating first half, before they produced a composed display after the interval to secure their first knockout stage victory since 1986. Manager Javier Aguirre's side will now remain in Mexico City for their last-16 tie. A closer analysis as Mexican dreams stay alive A thunderstorm in the Mexican capital delayed kick-off by an hour, but once the skies cleared Ecuador struggled to cope with both the fervent atmosphere and a home side who burst out of the blocks. Mexico created four chances inside the opening 10 minutes and, although John Yeboah struck the woodwork for Ecuador, they were second best throughout the opening period and unable to live with Mexico's intensity across the pitch. It was one of Mexico's most impress...

Gabriel Martinelli scored a dramatic 95th-minute winner  Brazil came from behind to beat Japan and set up a World Cup last-16 tie against Norway or Ivory Coast. Author | James Y Stadium | Houston Stadium With only seconds remaining, Brazil won the ball back on the edge of the Japan penalty area and Bruno Guimaraes slipped a pass into Martinelli, who took a touch before calmly steering his finish in off the post. Watch | Video from SportsIllustrated  It was a cruel ending for Japan, who had matched Brazil throughout the first half and defended resolutely after the interval. Carlo Ancelotti's side, however, kept pressing and were rewarded at the very end. The key moments from the match Japan looked composed before the break and took the lead when Kaishu Sano seized on Danilo's loose pass, surged past Casemiro and drilled a low finish into the bottom corner. Brazil struggled to respond before half-time but emerged with greater purpose after the restart. Casemiro climbed highest t...

Lamine Yamal scored 10 minutes into his first World Cup start This helped Spain secure their first win of the tournament with a convincing victory over Saudi Arabia. Author | James Y Stadium | Atlanta Stadium The Barcelona teenager had come off the bench in Spain's opening Group H match against Cape Verde, but could not inspire the 2010 champions to victory as they were held to a frustrating goalless draw. A closer analysis as Spain get off the mark As expected, the 18-year-old returned to Luis de la Fuente's starting line-up against Saudi Arabia and wasted little time in making an impact. Mikel Oyarzabal's low cross from the left slipped past Saudi Arabia defender Hassan Al Tambakti and was turned in at the far post by Lamine Yamal, who became only the second player aged 18 or younger after Pele in 1958 to score the opening goal in a World Cup match. Spain showed little desire to ease off and doubled their lead through Oyarzabal, who swept a low finish beyond goalkeeper Mo...

Cunha double sends Brazil top of their group as Haiti become first team eliminated from World Cup Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha scored twice as Brazil eased past Haiti, who became the first side to be eliminated from the 2026 World Cup. Author | James Y Stadium | Philadelphia Stadium Carlo Ancelotti's team responded to criticism following their opening draw with Morocco with an impressive display in Philadelphia. Although the opposition offered little resistance, Brazil moved to the top of Group C with a convincing victory. Cunha, who replaced Brentford striker Igor Thiago in the starting line-up, opened the scoring after 23 minutes in fortunate fashion when Haiti defender Hannes Delcroix cleared the ball against him and it spun into the net. The striker had been quickest to react after Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide parried Vinicius Jr's effort, forcing Delcroix into the challenge that ultimately led to the opener. Watch | Both sets of fans party together after the m...

Co-hosts Mexico became the first nation to reach the knockout stage of the World Cup They achieved this after edging past South Korea in Guadalajara. Author | James Y Stadium | Estadio Guadalajara Mexico midfielder Luis Romo was perfectly placed to tap into an empty net in the 50th minute after goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu spilled the ball following a collision with team-mate Lee Gi-hyuk. South Korea's best opportunity arrived three minutes from time when Cho Gue-sung's close-range header was saved by Raul Rangel, with the Mexico goalkeeper reacting again to deny Yang Hyun-jun from the rebound. Earlier, captain Son Heung-min had chipped Rangel only for Edson Alvarez to clear off the line, although the former Tottenham forward was eventually flagged offside. Roared on by a passionate home crowd that had voiced its frustration at half-time after a lacklustre opening period, Mexico almost doubled their lead in the 75th minute, but Raul Jimenez's effort from a tight angle was kept ...

Kylian Mbappe became France's all-time leading goalscorer with a brilliant double Les Bleus opened their World Cup campaign with victory over Senegal in New Jersey. Author | James Y Stadium | New York New Jersey Stadium Mbappe broke Senegal's resistance in the second half with a low finish before adding a stunning long-range strike deep into stoppage time. The Real Madrid forward's second goal took him to 58 for France, moving him one clear of former record holder Olivier Giroud. Bradley Barcola had earlier doubled France's advantage before Ibrahim Mbaye pulled one back for Senegal, but Mbappe's late effort extinguished any hopes of a comeback. Watch |  Clips from the crowd It had been an underwhelming display by France prior to Mbappe's opener Senegal created the clearer chances and may feel unfortunate not to have broken the deadlock after an impressive first-half display. Nicolas Jackson came closest for the Lions of Teranga when his low strike cannoned off...

Ivory Coast edged past Ecuador in Philadelphia Manchester United winger Amad Diallo scored a superb 90th-minute winner to give Ivory Coast a great start to the tournament. Author | James Y Stadium | Philadelphia Stadium It was a brilliant finish from the substitute, who guided the ball into the corner with his left foot after a powerful run from Wilfried Singo. The goal also brought an end to Ecuador's 19-match unbeaten run, which had stretched for almost two years. Making a huge impact from the bench Amad's omission from the starting line-up was a surprise as Ivory Coast returned to the World Cup for the first time in 12 years. However, he made a decisive impact from the bench, scoring the goal that gives his side a significant chance of progressing from Group E, which also features Germany and Curacao , and reaching the knockout stages for the first time in their history. Ecuador struck the woodwork three times but were unable to make the breakthrough, with John Yeboah and A...

A poor Brazil performance means Carlo Ancelotti has a lot to think about  Vinicius Jr spared them the embarrassment of an opening World Cup defeat for the first time since 1934 as his brilliant solo effort earned the five-time champions a draw against Morocco Author | James Y Stadium | New York New Jersey Stadium Brazil fell behind in the 21st minute when Ismael Saibari lofted the ball over the advancing Alisson Becker from outside the penalty area following a breakdown in communication between the Liverpool goalkeeper and his defenders, Gabriel and Marquinhos. It was the first time the African champions had scored against South American opposition at a World Cup, having previously drawn blanks against Peru in 1970 and Brazil in 1998. READ MORE |  Qatar 1 - 1 Switzerland Morocco continued to dictate proceedings and, by the half-hour mark, had registered 12 shots, the most Brazil have faced in a World Cup match since their meeting with Mexico in 2018. Watch | Pre...