2026-07-11 35d6fbfc53de13468af90e1c456af8c352988c3f /feed/2026/07/11/the-quarterfinals-end-with-the-four-highest-ranked-teams-in-the-fifa-men-s-world-ranking-advancing-to-the-semifinals-th The quarterfinals end with the four highest-ranked teams in the FIFA Men's World Ranking advancing to the semifinals, the first time this has happened since the rankings were introduced in 1992. 1783914651 2026-07-11 4dd02a97e6250729dfd0bed640c085867a437ae4 21 2026 FIFA World Cup 1 /wiki/2026%20fifa%20world%20cup Argentina 37 /wiki/argentina%20national%20football%20team England 172 /wiki/england%20national%20football%20team FIFA Men's World Ranking 14 /wiki/fifa%20men's%20world%20ranking France 116 /wiki/france%20national%20football%20team Spain 71 /wiki/spain%20national%20football%20team quarterfinals 2 /wiki/2026%20fifa%20world%20cup%20knockout%20stage#quarterfinals semifinals 239 /wiki/semifinals 2026 FIFA World Cup Argentina England FIFA Men's World Ranking France Spain quarterfinals semifinals 2026 FIFA World Cup 2026-07-11 bdda53ebb80754c80dd45d32b65ba4bb0c183733 /feed/2026/07/11/in-association-football-argentine-forward-and-captain-lionel-messi-becomes-the-first-player-to-hold-the-record-for-the In association football, Argentine forward and captain Lionel Messi becomes the first player to hold the record for the most assists in FIFA World Cup history with 10 career assists. 1783857034 2026-07-11 91bc1eb9fa45ea276b5c44bd2ff90ee1528776c8 20 2026 FIFA World Cup Argentina 2 /feed/2026/07/11/in-association-football-argentine-forward-and-captain-lionel-messi-becomes-the-first-player-to-reach-10-assists-in-fifa In association football, Argentine forward and captain Lionel Messi becomes the first player to reach 10 assists in FIFA World Cup matches since records began in 1966. 2026-07-7 17b27f4b672adc57ed948912f468e2786dd9a28a /feed/2026/07/7/in-association-football-argentine-forward-and-captain-lionel-messi-set-record-for-first-player-to-score-in-nine-consecu In association football, Argentine forward and captain Lionel Messi set record for first player to score in nine consecutive World Cup matches (including the previous edition), after scoring in the team's 3–2 victory against Egypt in the round of 16. 1783460963 2026-07-7 c75c8f0512219d160d73e72a2b6d5208e914dd21 28 2026 FIFA World Cup Argentina 2 /feed/2026/07/7/in-association-football-argentine-forward-and-captain-lionel-messi-becomes-the-first-player-to-score-in-nine-consecutiv In association football, Argentine forward and captain Lionel Messi becomes the first player to score in nine consecutive World Cup matches (including the previous edition), after scoring in the team's 3–2 victory against Egypt in the round of 16. 2026-07-6 f25b2d05b2a2190ed6b71b753bba22bc331240c9 38 2026 FIFA World Cup Spain 2 /feed/2026/07/6/in-association-football-spain-records-its-sixth-consecutive-fifa-world-cup-clean-sheet-in-a-1-0-win-over-portugal-in-th In association football, Spain records its sixth consecutive FIFA World Cup clean sheet in a 1–0 win over Portugal in the round of 16, setting a tournament record, while goalkeeper Unai Simón extends his scoreless streak to 609 minutes. 2026-07-3 66a556ccdd5a37492278a7692404b048e8972d83 /feed/2026/07/3/argentine-forward-and-captain-lionel-messi-made-his-30th-fifa-world-cup-appearances-extending-the-most-in-tournament-hi Argentine forward and captain Lionel Messi made his 30th FIFA World Cup appearances, extending the most in tournament history was the 20th of his World Cup career he also score in eight consecutive FIFA World Cup matches (including matches from the previous edition) after scoring in extra-time of the team's 3–2 win against Cape Verde in their knockout 32 round match. 1783158507 2026-07-3 8758c3eb0e066950a110021e4cfbcc6fe5bd47c0 30 2026 FIFA World Cup Argentina 2 /feed/2026/07/3/argentine-forward-and-captain-lionel-messi-becomes-the-first-player-to-make-30-fifa-world-cup-appearances-score-20-worl Argentine forward and captain Lionel Messi becomes the first player to make 30 FIFA World Cup appearances, score 20 World Cup goals, and score in eight consecutive World Cup matches (including the previous edition), after scoring in the team's 3–2 victory against Cape Verde in the round of 32. 2026-06-27 17f2e44d0c467504894beb460c057f4e67bff052 47 2026 FIFA World Cup Argentina 2 /feed/2026/06/27/in-association-football-argentine-forward-and-captain-lionel-messi-becomes-the-first-male-player-to-score-in-seven-cons In association football, Argentine forward and captain Lionel Messi becomes the first male player to score in seven consecutive FIFA World Cup matches (including matches from the previous edition) after scoring in the team's 3–1 win against Jordan in their final group-stage match. 2026-06-22 a80b3ed995256962903c2b996c21481c9e7345f9 36 2026 FIFA World Cup Argentina 2 /feed/2026/06/22/in-association-football-argentine-forward-and-captain-lionel-messi-overtakes-germany-s-miroslav-klose-as-the-fifa-world In association football, Argentine forward and captain Lionel Messi overtakes Germany's Miroslav Klose as the FIFA World Cup's all-time top-goalscorer with 18 goals after scoring a brace in a 2–0 win over Austria in the group stage. 2026-06-16 fd0e5e9e16c2c4d04154522e37b221bca29774bc 28 2026 FIFA World Cup Argentina 2 /feed/2026/06/16/in-association-football-argentine-forward-and-captain-lionel-messi-becomes-the-first-male-player-to-appear-in-six-fifa In association football, Argentine forward and captain Lionel Messi becomes the first male player to appear in six FIFA World Cups and joins Germany's Miroslav Klose as the tournament's all-time leading scorer with 16 goals after scoring a hat-trick in Argentina's 3–0 win against Algeria in their opening match. 2026-06-15 f22a1bd8fded68a4b15ae9e0c6a210b398fff836 /feed/2026/06/15/in-association-football-debutants-cape-verde-earns-their-first-ever-world-cup-point-after-drawing-0-0-with-spain In association football, debutants Cape Verde earns their first-ever World Cup point after drawing 0–0 with Spain. 1781574216 2026-06-15 d5f35b1faf5f1e404a3f0708b2b1638bda6f0751 /feed/2026/06/15/in-association-football-cape-verde-earns-their-first-ever-fifa-world-cup-point-after-drawing-0-0-with-spain In association football, Cape Verde earns their first ever FIFA World Cup point after drawing 0-0 with Spain. 1781559823 2026-06-15 2880638af2dfdf568045aac3542de71aae3223d2 29 2026 FIFA World Cup Spain 2 /feed/2026/06/15/in-association-football-debutants-cape-verde-earn-their-first-ever-world-cup-point-after-drawing-0-0-with-spain In association football, debutants Cape Verde earn their first-ever World Cup point after drawing 0–0 with Spain. 2026-05-19 bc547b030e256262342fae32f8d9cb2542fabc77 /feed/2026/05/19/world-cup-host-united-states-will-allow-the-dr-congo-football-team-to-participate-in-the-upcoming-games-in-the-country-d World Cup host United States will allow the DR Congo football team to participate in the upcoming games in the country despite ebola concerns. 1779298611 2026-05-19 448f529c96b0216378cc69192312a2070a39744f /feed/2026/05/19/hosts-united-states-will-allow-the-dr-congo-soccer-team-to-participate-in-the-upcoming-world-cup-despite-ebola-concerns Hosts United States will allow the DR Congo soccer team to participate in the upcoming World Cup despite ebola concerns. 1779291411 2026-05-19 bfbb1b94387350f4f858bbba40d1936cb466cc48 47 2026 FIFA World Cup 1 /feed/2026/05/19/world-cup-co-host-united-states-allows-the-dr-congo-football-team-to-participate-in-the-upcoming-games-in-the-country-de World Cup co-host United States allows the DR Congo football team to participate in the upcoming games in the country despite ebola concerns. 2026-03-11 2a0bfd007a1e6a8dd378067e43fff6fa30e35e55 33 2026 FIFA World Cup 1 /feed/2026/03/11/iranian-sports-minister-ahmad-donyamali-states-that-iran-will-not-participate-in-the-2026-fifa-world-cup-to-be-hosted-by Iranian sports minister Ahmad Donyamali states that Iran will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, citing security concerns amid the Iran war. /feed/2026/07/11/the-quarterfinals-end-with-the-four-highest-ranked-teams-in-the-fifa-men-s-world-ranking-argentina-spain-france-and BBC Sport 11 39cd5f85b3ba265ad9674b0dbb707c9f478807eb 7 https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c2ey9l3yl4vo 2026 Fox Sports 11 c69afc936859435fb98b4c962f28cbeb6309d6ec 7 https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-bracket-semifinals-finals-matchups 2026 The quarterfinals end with the four highest-ranked teams in the FIFA Men's World Ranking (Argentina, Spain, France, and England) advancing to the semifinals, the first time this has happened since the rankings were introduced in 1992.