June 2026 - Soccer Wiretap

The United States men's national team's potential path through the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout rounds came into clear focus Friday, with Belgium and Spain emerging as the most likely opponents in the round of 16 and quarterfinals respectively. A potential final matchup with Lionel Messi and Argentina also looms on the horizon.

The Americans already know their round of 32 opponent: Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1 in Santa Clara, California (8 p.m. ET, Fox).

"We're not looking past Bosnia," said U.S. captain Tim Ream Thursday. "We're not looking past the round of 32."

Belgium topped Group G with a 5-1 victory over New Zealand on Friday, making the Belgians the most likely U.S. opponent in the round of 16 at Lumen Field in Seattle on July 6. A third-place qualifier from Groups A, I or J could also emerge as an alternative. South Korea is the most probable third-place contender, followed by Senegal, Algeria or Austria.

Despite a 5-2 loss to Belgium in March, the Americans would enter that potential matchup as favorites on home soil. Belgium have looked blunt at this World Cup, particularly with winger Jeremy Doku still recovering from illness.

Spain, the defending European champions, clinched Group H with a win over Uruguay on Friday and would be the likely quarterfinal opponent for the U.S. on July 10 at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles. Colombia or Portugal could also emerge from that portion of the bracket as alternative quarterfinal opponents.

In the bottom half of the bracket, Argentina have drawn one of the tournament's most favorable paths to the final. The defending champions face Cape Verde in the round of 32 before potential matchups with Australia or Belgium. A final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19 could set up a historic showdown between the USMNT and Messi's Argentina, who have yet to be seriously tested through two group stage matches.

France, which routed its way through Group I, remains the tournament betting favorite and sits on a potential semifinal collision course with the United States at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on July 1

AC Milan have agreed a club-record fee to sign Paris Saint-Germain striker Goncalo Ramos, sources briefed on the deal told The Athletic. The transfer surpasses Milan's previous record outlay for Rafael Leao from Lille in 2019 and represents the most expensive deal in Serie A since Inter Milan signed Romelu Lukaku from Manchester United for €74 million that same year.

Ramos, 25, becomes the first signing of the Ruben Amorim era at Milan. The new head coach knows Ramos personally and identified him as his top target for the No. 9 position. The Portugal international's desire to work under Amorim was a significant factor in accelerating negotiations.

Milan beat out competition from several top European clubs to land Ramos, with owner Gerry Cardinale's relationship with PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi playing a pivotal role in securing the deal.

Ramos completed his medical while on international duty with Portugal in Florida, where he is preparing for the country's final group-stage match against Colombia in Miami on Saturday. He has appeared once at the 2026 World Cup, coming off the bench late in Portugal's opening draw with DR Congo on June 17.

The announcement coincides with Milan confirming Massimo Calvelli as their new chief executive officer as part of a broader restructuring of the club's leadership this summer.

Egypt advanced to the World Cup knockout round for the first time in program history after a 1-1 draw with Iran on Friday, securing second place in Group G.

Mahmoud Saber gave Egypt an early lead in the fifth minute, firing between the legs of goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand after strong buildup play from Mohamed Salah. Ramin Rezaeian equalized for Iran nine minutes later. Iran finished with a commanding 1.97-to-0.84 edge in expected goals despite the result.

Iran nearly secured a dramatic win in stoppage time when Shoja Khalilzadeh fired past Beiranvand in the 93rd minute, but the goal was overturned after a video review for offside. A successful goal would have clinched a knockout round berth for Iran outright.

Belgium won Group G with a 5-1 victory over New Zealand in Vancouver, leaving Egypt in second place. Egypt will face Australia in the round of 32 on July 3 in Arlington, Texas.

Iran can still reach the knockout round for the first time in the tournament's expanded 48-team format, but the team no longer controls its own fate and must wait for other results to determine its status. 

Leandro Trossard scored twice as Belgium defeated New Zealand 5-1 on Friday, securing top spot in Group G after a slow start to the tournament.

Belgium entered the match third in the group following a 1-1 draw with Egypt and a scoreless draw with Iran, but the team overwhelmed New Zealand statistically, finishing with a commanding 3.65-to-0.25 edge in xG (expected goals). Trossard broke through in the 28th minute, firing into the net during a goalmouth scramble off a corner, after an earlier effort was ruled not to have crossed the line by goal-line technology.

Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers also scored for Belgium, which had been eliminated in the group stage in Qatar four years ago. Trossard's opener marked Belgium's first non-own-goal at this tournament, while De Bruyne added a long-range strike in the 66th minute that he celebrated by forming a heart with his hands for the Vancouver crowd.

Elijah Just scored for New Zealand in the 84th minute to avoid a shutout, but the All Whites needed an outright win to have any chance of advancing and head home without a first-ever World Cup victory. Lukaku and Saelemaekers added late goals for Belgium in the final minutes.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made his 18th World Cup appearance, setting a new Belgian record, surpassing the mark previously held by Enzo Scifo. Winger Jeremy Doku started after missing the Iran match due to illness and a brief trip home for the birth of his son.

Belgium will face a third-place finisher in the round of 32 on Wednesday in Seattle. A win would set up a potential meeting with the winner of the United States-Bosnia-Herzegovina match in the round of 16.

Spain eliminated Uruguay from the World Cup with a 1-0 victory Friday, capitalizing on another goalkeeping error by Fernando Muslera to secure top spot in Group H.

Alex Baena scored the decisive goal in the 42nd minute after Muslera could not fully clear his shot from inside the area. Spain dominated the match statistically, finishing with a 0.86-to-0.20 edge in expected goals. The blunder marked the third by the 40-year-old Muslera at this tournament, prompting coach Marcelo Bielsa to substitute him at halftime.

Uruguay finishes the group stage without a win across three matches, exiting as the highest-ranked team eliminated so far at 19th in the FIFA standings. Cape Verde claimed second place in the group with a scoreless draw against Saudi Arabia earlier Friday, edging both Uruguay and Saudi Arabia by a single point and denying Uruguay a path to advance as one of the best third-place finishers.

Tension marked the closing stages, with Uruguay's Agustin Canobbio sent off in stoppage time for a tackle on Spain defender Pau Cubarsi. Several Uruguay players cried on the field after the final whistle, and fans booed the team as it departed. Uruguay also lost midfielder Manuel Ugarte to an apparent knee injury late in the first half, with the player eventually stretchered off.

Spain, the reigning European champion, opened the tournament with a stunning scoreless draw against Cape Verde before rebounding with a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia. The team has not advanced past the round of 16 since winning its only World Cup title in 2010.

Spain will face the second-place finisher from Group J, either Austria or Algeria, on Thursday in Inglewood, California.

Cape Verde secured a spot in the World Cup knockout round Friday with a third consecutive draw, a 0-0 result against Saudi Arabia that made the island nation the smallest country ever to reach the tournament's last 32.

Cape Verde, making its World Cup debut, finished second in the group behind Spain, who clinched first place with a win over Uruguay later Friday. The country, with a population just over 500,000, had already held 2010 champion Spain scoreless before fighting back for a 2-2 draw against Uruguay. Cape Verde finished with a commanding 1.52-to-0.40 edge in xG (expected goals) against Saudi Arabia.

Goalkeeper Vozinha, 40, anchored the result with a series of key saves, denying Mohamed Kanno's header in first-half stoppage time, leaping to stop a shot from Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat in the 66th minute, and making a final save against Abdullah Al-Hamdan in the 92nd minute.

Cape Verde had its own chances to win the match outright. Kevin Pina's long-range effort sailed just over the crossbar in the 50th minute, and goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais denied Laros Duarte in the 74th. Nuno da Costa's attempt in the final seconds went wide left.

"Everyone is entitled to dream and nothing is impossible," Cape Verde coach Bubista had said on the eve of the match.

Celebrations broke out among Cape Verde's players and supporters once Spain's win over Uruguay was confirmed, securing the team's place in the knockout stage. Cape Verde will face defending champion Argentina in Miami on July 3.

Lionel Messi will begin Argentina's final 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage match against Jordan on Saturday as a substitute, coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed at Friday's pre-match news conference at AT&T Stadium.

"Leo will be a substitute tomorrow, to play later," Scaloni said. "We'll announce the team tomorrow."

Argentina have already secured their place in the round of 32 as Group J winners following victories over Algeria and Austria. The 2022 world champions are set to face Group H runners-up Cape Verde next Friday in Miami.

Scaloni indicated the rotation decision was not influenced by Argentina's upcoming knockout opponent. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is expected to be among the few regular starters in a reshuffled lineup, with Nico Paz likely to start in Messi's place after making his World Cup debut as a late substitute against Algeria.

Messi has been the tournament's dominant individual performer, scoring five goals across his two appearances to set the all-time men's World Cup scoring record at 18. He netted a hat trick against Algeria before adding two more against Austria and currently leads the Golden Boot race. The Inter Miami forward had been managing a minor left hamstring injury in the lead-up to the tournament.

"Jordan is a good opponent, and we're not taking anything for granted," Scaloni said. "We'll try to tweak some aspects of the last match, but with the same intention of controlling the ball and dominating the opponent."

Ousmane Dembele scored a first-half hat trick Friday, helping France defeat Norway 4-1 in a Group I match that had already secured both teams' spots in the knockout round.

Dembele's three goals came in the seventh, 20th and 32nd minutes, marking the first first-half hat trick at the World Cup since Russia's Oleg Salenko in 1994. Norway, who rested 10 regular starters including Erling Haaland, finished with a 1.70-to-1.50 edge in expected goals despite the result.

Kylian Mbappe set up Dembele's first goal with a pass that the forward blasted across goalkeeper Egil Selvik. Dembele's second came after finding space between three defenders, and his third arrived less than nine minutes after Norway's Thelo Aasgaard had briefly cut the deficit with a goal just 14 seconds into the second half. Desire Doue added France's fourth in second-half injury time.

Dembele, the reigning Ballon d'Or winner, increased his tournament tally to four goals and his international total to eight before exiting in the 65th minute for Bradley Barcola. Mbappe now has 16 goals and four assists across 17 career World Cup matches, having scored twice each against Senegal and Iraq earlier in the tournament.

France goalkeeper Mike Maignan denied a penalty kick from Jorgen Strand Larsen in the 49th minute after Theo Hernandez was whistled for a foul in the box, preserving France's three-goal cushion at the time.

France, the 2018 champions and 2022 runners-up, finished atop Group I, while Norway advanced in second place.

Senegal claimed third place in FIFA World Cup Group I with a 5-0 victory over 10-man Iraq on Friday, the largest margin of victory ever recorded by an African nation at a World Cup. Senegal also had a 3.01 to 0.14 edge in xG (expected goals). The result gives Senegal a strong chance of advancing as one of the top third-placed teams.

Substitute Pape Gueye scored twice with powerful long-range strikes after entering the match in the second half, while Iliman Ndiaye added a solo effort and Ismaila Sarr converted a tap-in. Habib Diarra had opened the scoring for Senegal.

Iraq were reduced to 10 men in the 13th minute when Rebin Sulaka was dismissed for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity on Sadio Mane. Despite the numerical advantage, Senegal labored to impose themselves for nearly an hour before a triple substitution by coach Pape Thiaw transformed the match.

The decisive late flurry lifted Senegal's goal difference to plus-two, placing them fifth in the third-place standings. The Athletic's World Cup predictor gave them a 96 percent chance of advancing at full time. Several teams, including Croatia, Algeria, Cape Verde, Belgium and DR Congo, can still leapfrog them with results yet to be played.

Senegal entered the tournament as a dark horse but dropped points against France and Norway, making a commanding victory over Iraq essential for their survival.

Real Madrid will receive $68 million (€60 million) from Serie A club Como following a renegotiation of terms surrounding midfielder Nico Paz, who remains a Como player under the revised agreement. The deal replaces the original structure from Paz's €6 million move to the Italian club in August 2024.

The original transfer included a 50 percent sell-on clause and several buy-back options for Madrid, most notably a €9 million clause that would have allowed them to repurchase the 21-year-old this summer. Under the new terms, that clause is removed along with the sell-on percentage. Como will pay Madrid €60 million in exchange for retaining Paz for at least one more season.

Madrid will receive a new buy-back option set at €80 million, active only in the summer of 2027 and available exclusively to the Spanish club. Sources involved in the negotiations said the agreement has been reached but paperwork is not yet finalized.

Madrid sources described the arrangement as a restructuring that benefits all parties. Paz had been open to returning to the Bernabeu, where he spent eight years primarily at academy level, but grew uncertain about playing time in a squad that already features Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler and newly arrived Bernardo Silva, who joined on a free transfer from Manchester City this summer.

Paz scored 13 goals and provided eight assists for Como last season, earning recognition as Serie A's top midfielder. Como are set to compete in the Champions League for the first time in their history next season.

Madrid sources acknowledged the new €80 million buy-back figure is below Paz's current market value. The incoming funds could support further recruitment, with midfield reinforcement, a center-back and potentially a striker among Madrid's priorities under new head coach Jose Mourinho.