Messi Retires From Argentina. He'd Already Won.
Messi is done with Argentina at 125 goals and six World Cups -- and the numbers already settled the argument before he ever wrote the letter.
world-cup
105 articles
FIFA Wants to Sell You a Piece of the World Cup
FIFA is selling a stake in the World Cup to a fund tied to the president's son-in-law's brother, weeks after bending officiating for a call from that president.
Mbappe Took the Record. Messi Plays Tonight.
Mbappe broke Messi's all-time World Cup scoring record Saturday with his 22nd goal. Now Messi gets to answer — tonight, in the Final, in New Jersey, at 39.
Tim Payne Had 4,700 Followers. Then Argentina Found Him.
Tim Payne went from 4,715 Instagram followers to 5.6 million in days—thanks to Argentine influencer El Scarso and the World Cup fans who made him their guy.
Argentina's Four-Comeback Pattern: Clutch or Structure?
Argentina won four straight knockout games from behind. That isn't luck — it's a structural late-game advantage Scaloni spent years building.
The WAG Label Can't Hold Georgina Rodriguez
Portugal is out. Georgina Rodriguez is going to the World Cup Final anyway — 76M followers, a Netflix series, her own brand. The WAG label has expired.
Messi at 39 Is Playing His Last World Cup Chapter
Messi at 39 has eight goals, four comeback wins, and one shot at MetLife on Sunday. Win or lose, we're watching the end of something that won't come again.
Fox Paid $485M for the World Cup. ESPN Showed Up Anyway.
Fox paid $485M for World Cup exclusivity. ESPN ran 42 shows about it anyway. Fox denied FOS's report. FOS stood firm. That denial tells you everything.
The World Cup Final Is Two Theories of Winning
Half of Argentina's goals at this World Cup have come after the 75th minute. Spain conceded once in seven games. Sunday's final is a philosophy fight.
The Baby in the Bathtub Is Playing in the World Cup Final
In December 2007, a 20-year-old Lionel Messi held a 5-month-old Lamine Yamal at a charity shoot. On July 19, they meet in the World Cup Final.
6 Million Signed This. Argentina Doesn't Care.
Six million people signed a petition to kick Argentina out of the World Cup. FIFA already moved on. Argentina plays England tomorrow. This is how fan outrage works.
$593 Billion. 69% Illegal. FIFA Can't Stop It.
$593 billion wagered on the 2026 World Cup. Almost 70% through illegal books FIFA can't touch. This isn't a corruption story — it's a structural failure.
The Women You'll Be Watching at the World Cup Final
Spain's in the final. England or Argentina will join them. Either way, the women at MetLife Stadium are already generating more traffic than the match.
Yamal Just Made Mbappe Look Old
Spain beat France 2-0 in the World Cup semifinal. Lamine Yamal dominated. Mbappe disappeared. This wasn't a rivalry. It was a changing of the guard.
Ester Expósito Didn't Come to Dallas
Mbappé is playing the biggest match of his World Cup. His girlfriend has 24 million followers and is in Los Angeles. That's not an accident.
England vs. Argentina Is the Most Mythologically Loaded Semifinal in History
England haven't been to a World Cup Final since 1966. No team has won back-to-back since 1962 — Messi is trying to be the first. Wednesday in Atlanta.
Argentina vs Switzerland World Cup 2026: Can Lautaro Finally Show Up?
Argentina faces Switzerland tonight at 9 PM ET and I'm not confident. Messi has 8 goals. Lautaro has 1. Switzerland doesn't give away cheap wins. Something has to give.
England Meets Haaland Tonight. God Help Them.
Norway vs England, World Cup quarterfinal, 5 PM ET tonight on FOX. Haaland has 7 goals in this tournament. England fans, I have some very bad news for you.
Spain and France Meet Again. Of Course They Do.
Spain and France meet in the World Cup semifinal July 14. Yamal turns 19 the day before. Mbappé has 8 goals. The bracket spent three weeks lying to us.
Spain Breaks Belgium. Again.
Spain beat Belgium 2-1 on a Mikel Merino late winner at the 2026 World Cup. The result is a scoreline — and the end of an era that deserved better.
France Is the Only Honest Bet Left at the 2026 World Cup
France went from +500 to +130 and the sharps were right all along. Mbappé has eight goals. The bracket makes sense now. This is why.
France Built This. We Bought Our Way to 4-1.
France just put two players with 5+ goals in the same World Cup — a feat not seen since Brazil 2002. The US went home 4-1. The infrastructure gap explains both.
The Goalkeeper Who Crashed the World Cup
Nigeria's goalkeeper went viral, sat front row at Jean Paul Gaultier with Cardi B, and never played a World Cup minute. The most honest story of this summer.
Haaland and Messi: The World Cup Handoff Is Now
Haaland, 25, outscored Messi, Mbappe, and Ronaldo combined in debut World Cups. Messi is 39 and still leading the Golden Boot. This semifinal writes itself.
Norway vs. England Is the World Cup's Best Story
Norway vs. England in Miami Saturday has two questions: can Haaland reach 8 and tie the modern-era record, and can Kane finally win it for England? Here's the full picture.
USMNT vs Belgium: Pay-to-Play Costs Us Again
Belgium beat the USMNT 4-1 on American soil. The real reason US Soccer keeps losing at World Cups has nothing to do with coaching. It never did.
Five Clean Sheets vs. Thirteen Goals: One Record Ends Friday in Los Angeles
Spain have kept five clean sheets and Belgium have scored 13 goals. One of those records ends Friday in Los Angeles. Naveen Iyer breaks down the tactical math.
Egypt's Coach Said Argentina's Win Was Rigged
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan called Argentina's World Cup win rigged, and honestly? The VAR call was bad enough that I kind of want to hear him out.
The 2026 World Cup Golden Boot Race Is Breaking My Brain
Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland just created the most insane Golden Boot race in World Cup history — and the quarterfinals are about to destroy at least one of them.
France vs. Morocco Is the World Cup's Best Story
France has 14 goals and Morocco hasn't lost in five games. This isn't just a quarterfinal — it's the same two teams, four years later, with everything different.
Messi Missed Two Penalties. Argentina Still Won.
Messi missed two penalties at the same World Cup — no player has ever done that. Argentina still beat Egypt. Both things are true and neither cancels the other.
The President Called FIFA. Bettors Got Torched.
Trump called FIFA, the line flipped, 91% of BetMGM handle went on the US. Then Belgium won 4-1. When a president can move sportsbook odds, something broke.
Ronaldo Cried. That Was Always the Ending.
Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup ended in tears as Spain beat Portugal 1-0 in the Round of 16. The goal record never closed the case it was built to close.
Ronaldo at 41, Yamal at 18, and a Baton Nobody Asked to Hold
Ronaldo at 41 is chasing the one thing left. Yamal at 18 already has a Euro title. Today in Dallas, the sport passes from one era to the next.
Haaland Did It. Brazil Is Going Home.
Norway eliminated Brazil from the 2026 World Cup with an 86th-minute Haaland goal. The man who said he had a "very small probability" just sent the five-time champions home.
Morocco Just Dismantled Canada 3-0. Stop Calling Them Underdogs.
Morocco is unbeaten in 34 matches and just put Canada away 3-0. The media still frames every France preview as 'can they pull off a shock?' Update your priors.
England Got Booed at Their Hotel. Now Come the Azteca.
England's hotel was serenaded with drums and fireworks by Mexico fans. Tonight: the Azteca, 7,352 feet, 87,000 hostile fans, and 40 years of Maradona's ghost.
Mbappé, Messi, and the Most Loaded Number in Soccer
Kylian Mbappé has 18 World Cup goals, one behind Lionel Messi's all-time record of 19. Tonight vs. Paraguay, the most loaded number in soccer is on the line.
Canada Made History. Nobody Was Watching.
Canada has never played a World Cup knockout match. They're playing one today in Houston, and American sports media has barely noticed. That's their advantage.
America Has Run Out of Excuses Not to Watch Soccer
Two World Cup knockout matches air on FOX this Fourth of July, broadcast from Independence Hall. The 1994 World Cup planted something in America. In 2026, it finally bloomed.
The Machine Said No to Modric's Farewell
VAR didn't rob Croatia — it got the call right. That's what makes Luka Modric's World Cup exit so devastating. Nobody to blame is the worst kind of ending.
The One Tactical Problem Paraguay Can't Solve
France has 13 goals in 4 matches and Mbappe has 6. Paraguay just beat Germany with defensive brilliance. The numbers say it's not close. The tournament says trust nothing.
FIFA Won't Let the USA Appeal Balogun's Red Card
FIFA built a rule with no recourse — and Folarin Balogun's suspension is the first time anyone's noticed. He misses Belgium on July 6. There is no appeal.
Paraguay Just Shocked Germany. Now Comes France.
41st-ranked Paraguay just knocked Germany out of the World Cup on penalties. France is up tomorrow. I cannot stop watching the replay and neither should you.
Does Ronaldo Still Mean Something at 41?
Ronaldo at 41 faces Croatia tonight in what is almost certainly his last World Cup match. Does his greatness still hold up when it matters most?
Norway Finally Wins a World Cup Knockout Game
Erling Haaland scored in the 86th minute to give Norway its first World Cup knockout win in 88 years. What it means for a nation that never had one.
Mexico Won. Now the Hard Part Starts.
Mexico beat Ecuador 2-0 to end a 40-year knockout drought. Aguirre hasn't reached the fifth game either. On July 5, El Tri finds out if it matters.
USMNT vs. Bosnia: The Moment of Truth
The USMNT beat Paraguay 4-1 and Australia 2-0, then Pochettino rotated and lost to Turkey 3-2. Now Bosnia in the Round of 32. Here's what the data says.
Germany Lost to Paraguay and It's Not the VAR
Germany, four-time World Cup champions, just lost to No. 34-ranked Paraguay on penalties. The VAR call was bad. It also doesn't matter. Here's why.
Messi Scores 6 World Cup Goals at 39. I've Watched the Free Kick Eleven Times.
Messi came off the bench at 39 and scored his 6th World Cup goal of 2026 — a free kick that made history. Nick DeLuca has watched it eleven times and counting.
Canada Is Playing Its First World Cup Knockout Game Today
Canada vs South Africa at SoFi Stadium is the most historically significant soccer game in Canadian history. Jess Navarro on why American media is missing it.
Brazil vs. Japan: Is Endrick the Answer?
Japan beat Brazil 3-2 in October. Ancelotti called it a collapse. Now they meet in the World Cup Round of 32 — and Endrick might finally get his moment.
Bielsa Said 'Nothing.' He Wasn't Wrong.
The data on how Bielsa's idealism cost Uruguay's most talented generation — and what Valverde's bench moment tells us about the system mismatch.
Colombia Doesn't Care About Your Ronaldo Movie
The crowd in Miami wants the storybook. Colombia's been winning real games. Tonight at Hard Rock Stadium we find out if Portugal's 2026 is a run or a movie.
France is the Scariest Team at This World Cup
Ousmane Dembele just scored the second-fastest hat trick in World Cup history and everyone's leading with Mbappe's reaction. France is the scary part.
Dembele Scored a Hat Trick in 32 Minutes. The Second-Biggest France Story Was a Pink Dress.
Ousmane Dembele scored a hat trick in 32 minutes. The second-biggest France story today is Mbappe's girlfriend dancing before kickoff. This is the WAG economy.
Lamine Yamal Is Already Carrying This World Cup
Lamine Yamal World Cup 2026: Spain's 18-year-old scored five days ago and already owns this tournament. Tonight vs Uruguay, watch before the myth hardens.
Ecuador Beat Germany and Germany Still Don't Know Why
Ecuador beat Germany 2-1 at MetLife Stadium and the post-match VAR debate is already burying the real story: Germany can't handle a format built for chaos.
The World Cup WAGs Are Running Their Own Tournament
Georgina Rodriguez and Antonela Roccuzzo turned the 2026 World Cup into a content empire of their own. That's not a criticism — that's the WAG economy at work.
Nobody Noticed South Africa Make History
South Africa beat South Korea 1-0 and made the World Cup knockouts for the first time ever. The world barely noticed. That's exactly the problem.
Scotland's Night to Make History Against Brazil
Scotland have been to eight World Cups without making the knockouts. Tonight in Miami, they play Brazil. Andrew Robertson is ready to rewrite fifty years of hurt.
The USMNT Won the Group. Nobody Was Watching.
The USMNT won Group D on home soil for the first time since 2010 while American sports media was consumed by the NBA Draft. The gap reveals something important.
Ester Expósito Is Not Mbappe's Girlfriend. She's the Story.
Ester Expósito had 24 million followers before she ever met Mbappe. At the 2026 World Cup, she's the crossover audience story sports media refuses to tell.
Fox Has the World Cup. ESPN Has the Draft.
Fox spent $485M on the World Cup. ESPN is airing the NBA Draft tonight instead. The most chaotic media story of the summer, hiding in plain sight.
Portugal Keeps Starting Ronaldo. Someone Has to Say It.
Zero goals in 10 straight major tournament matches. Forty-one years old. Martinez won't bench Ronaldo at 41. This isn't loyalty. It's institutional paralysis.
Georgina Rodriguez, the World Cup's Other Story
Georgina Rodriguez skipped Portugal's World Cup opener to shoot for Harper's Bazaar. That tells you everything about her brand in 2026.
The Golden Boot Race Is the Best Story at the 2026 World Cup
Haaland has 4 World Cup goals in 2 games. Messi has 5. The 2026 Golden Boot race is at a historic pace — and Haaland meets Mbappe on Friday.
A French TV Host Is Mad Doku Wants to See His Baby
France Pierron said Jeremy Doku serves no purpose at his child's birth. The Belgian FA disagreed. So does basic human decency.
Mbappe's 100 Caps Rewrites the Whole Conversation
Kylian Mbappe earns his 100th France cap today at 27, with 58 goals and a better rate than Messi at the same age. The 'next Messi' frame is officially over.
Ronaldo's Fans Are Harassing Portugal for His Drought
Ronaldo fans harassing Portugal teammates at the 2026 World Cup went after Bruno Fernandes' wife. He's 0-for-10 in major tournaments. None of that matters to them.
Vozinha Just Broke the Internet
Vozinha Cape Verde goalkeeper went from 56K to 14M Instagram followers after shutting out Spain at the 2026 World Cup. The 40-year-old 'granny' is everything.
The World Cup Chaos Pick Bettors Are Missing
Spain nearly got shut out by a 40-year-old nicknamed Grandma. The board is still anchoring to reputation. Here's where the real World Cup 2026 betting value is.
The USMNT's World Cup Bracket Path Is Suspiciously Clean
The USMNT clinched Group D with two wins and a bracket path that avoids Brazil, Germany, and Spain for two rounds. It never looks this clean.
USMNT Owns Group D and the Bracket Is a Gift
USMNT clinches first place in Group D at the 2026 World Cup with 6 points. The USA knockout bracket path avoids Brazil and Germany for two rounds.
Eloy Room's 15 Saves Just Broke a 60-Year Record
Eloy Room made 15 saves against Ecuador to give Curacao their first-ever World Cup point. The most by any keeper in regulation since 1966.
Saudi Arabia Is Not a Fluke. Not Anymore.
Saudi Arabia beat Spain 1-0 at the 2026 World Cup. Two World Cups, two European giants stunned. This stops being a fluke and starts being something real.
The 2026 World Cup WAG Power Rankings You Didn't Ask For
Antonela got 4.4M likes poolside while Messi tied Klose. Georgina has a cathedral wedding. The 2026 World Cup WAG power rankings you didn't know you needed.
Germany's World Cup Dominance Has a Fingerprint
Germany is scoring 5 goals per game at World Cup 2026. The data shows this isn't 2014 efficiency — it's something faster and harder to stop.
Ronaldo Nazario Just Ended the GOAT Debate
Messi tied the all-time World Cup goals record with a hat trick at 38. Then the original Ronaldo said it's time to accept Messi is the greatest ever.
The Messi-Ronaldo Quarterfinal Is Real and the World Is Not Ready
Messi hat-trick tied Klose's all-time record on his 200th cap. Portugal is still alive. The Messi-Ronaldo World Cup quarterfinal 2026 debate is no longer a what-if.
Jameis Winston Wore a Japan Jersey and Cleaned Up Trash at the World Cup. This Is Who He Is.
Winston wore a custom Japan jersey with his name on it and picked up trash with Japanese fans after their 2-2 draw with Netherlands. The 2026 World Cup has its MVP.
Jonathan David Broke Canada Soccer Forever
Jonathan David's hat trick powered Canada to their first World Cup win, 6-0 over Qatar. The most dangerous striker at this tournament just announced himself.
Vozinha Just Won the 48-Team World Cup Argument
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, 40, shut out Spain at the World Cup. He plays in Portugal's second division and went from 50K to 8 million Instagram followers overnight.
Messi Tied the Record. The Framework Is Broken.
Messi's World Cup hat trick at 38 doesn't just tie Klose's record — it exposes every aging model that said he'd be fading by now. The framework was always wrong.
Portugal Drew 1-1. Ronaldo Watched.
Portugal drew DR Congo 1-1 at World Cup 2026. João Neves scored. Yoane Wissa equalized. Ronaldo didn't score. The last-dance narrative is already broken.
Georgina Rodríguez Isn't a WAG. She's the Story.
'Georgina Rodríguez earns $716K per Instagram post and has 73M followers. At the 2026 World Cup, she doesn''t orbit Ronaldo''s narrative — she''s writing her own.'
Haaland Scores Twice, Calls Messi a Madman
Haaland scored twice on Norway's first World Cup appearance since 1998, then watched Messi drop a hat trick and had exactly four words to say about it.
The Women the World Cup Decided to Watch
Two women who didn't kick a ball are trending higher than most of the scorers. Cortez on Tolami Benson, Ashlyn Castro, and the machine that makes WAGs famous.
Zlatan Kicked IShowSpeed Off Live TV. Obviously.
Zlatan grabbed the mic and walked IShowSpeed off live FOX Sports TV at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Two main characters, one set. Guess who won.
Spain Can't Break Cape Verde. This Is the 48-Team World Cup.
Spain had 10 shots in the first half and still couldn't beat a 40-year-old goalkeeper making his World Cup debut. This isn't a fluke — it's the 48-team format working exactly as advertised.
IShowSpeed's World Cup Night Was Absolutely Unhinged
IShowSpeed choked a Brazilian icon, raced Travis Scott, sat next to the NYC mayor, and got R9 to suggest a blood test. At the same World Cup game.
Messi vs. Ronaldo 2026 World Cup: Argentina and Portugal Are on a Collision Course
Argentina and Portugal are on opposite sides of a World Cup bracket that could deliver the most anticipated match in 15 years. The math is there. So is the dread.
The WAGs Are Running the World Cup Narrative
Georgina Rodriguez has 72M+ followers and a Netflix show. Antonela Roccuzzo is a brand. The WAG economy just landed on US soil — and it hits different.
Folarin Balogun Introduced Himself to America.
Folarin Balogun scored twice for the USMNT in a 4-1 win over Paraguay. Here's who he is, why he chose the USA, and what it means for American soccer.
Canada Finally Got a World Cup Point
Canada earned its first-ever World Cup point in 2026 on a Cyle Larin equalizer vs Bosnia. What the milestone means — and what Group B looks like now.
American Sportsbooks Aren't Ready for This
The $2.8B-$4.3B World Cup 2026 US betting handle projection is about to stress-test sportsbook infrastructure built for football Sundays, not a 39-day global tournament.
Ester Expósito Didn't Do Anything Wrong
The Ester Exposito Mbappe petition backlash reveals how mobs perform nationalism through a woman's body and call it fandom.
Pulisic and the 32-Year Wait: USMNT vs Paraguay Is Here
USMNT vs Paraguay World Cup 2026 preview: Christian Pulisic ended his 8-game drought, SoFi Stadium is sold out, and 330 million Americans need more than one goal to believe.
The Azteca Finally Gets Its World Cup
Shakira and Burna Boy performed "Dai Dai" at the Azteca as the 2026 World Cup kicked off. The ceremony was the story — and the Azteca was ready.
World Cup 2026 Opens Tomorrow and Nobody Is Fully Ready for What's About to Happen
The 2026 FIFA World Cup opens at the Azteca tomorrow, USA plays Friday at SoFi, and Shakira is performing. Here is everything you need before it starts.
Georgina and Antonela Are the Real World Cup Stars
Georgina Rodriguez has 73M followers and a Netflix series. Antonela has stood beside Messi for his entire career. The World Cup starts tomorrow.
48 Teams. 104 Games. FIFA Wins. You Watch.
FIFA expanded the World Cup to 48 teams and called it inclusion. I call it 104 games, a bloated group stage, and a commercial product dressed up as a tournament.
The $4.3 Billion Bet That Soccer Finally Made It
The $4.3B betting handle for World Cup 2026 signals soccer's arrival in American mainstream culture—where legal betting infrastructure, global legitimacy, and North American hosting converge.
Pochettino Sent an Email. That's Who He Is.
Pochettino told players they were cut from the World Cup roster by email. Ty Baskin on why the method tells you everything about the manager.
Gio Reyna Is Going to the World Cup. Diego Luna Isn't.
Gio Reyna made the USMNT World Cup roster. Diego Luna didn't. Jess Navarro on what the selection says about Pochettino's priorities.