World Cup - Soccer Wiretap

Gianni Infantino confirmed that FIFA will discuss expanding the men's World Cup to 64 teams once the 2026 tournament concludes. The current event, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, marked the first expansion from 32 to 48 teams.

Infantino addressed the possibility in an interview with Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport.

"This is certainly an issue that will be looked at and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup," said Infantino. "When you organize a World Cup, it's important that you organize it for the whole world. It's not just Europe and South America, but the entire world, effectively. Every nation should be able to dream of taking part in the World Cup.

"We can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high, and it's getting higher and higher everywhere in the world. If you don't give smaller countries the chance to participate in the World Cup, they also lose the incentive to keep improving."

The idea of a 64-team tournament first surfaced in March 2025, when South American confederation CONMEBOL proposed the format for the 2030 World Cup, which will mark the competition's 100th anniversary. Infantino met with CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez and several South American football officials in New York last September to discuss the proposal.

Dominguez expressed support for the idea at the time.

"We believe in a historic 2030 World Cup," said Dominguez. "We want to call for unity, creativity and believing big. Because when football is shared by everyone, the celebration is truly global."

Not all confederations have embraced the concept. Concacaf president Victor Montagliani voiced opposition to the plan in April 2025.

"I don't believe expanding the men's World Cup to 64 teams is the right move for the tournament itself and the broader football ecosystem, from national teams to club competitions, leagues and players," said Montagliani.

A 64-team format would double the number of matches played compared to the 32-team era, rising to 128 games from the 64 held between 1998 and 2022. This year's 48-team tournament features 104 matches. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has also criticized the proposal, previously calling it a bad idea.

Julian Alvarez scored in the 112th minute and Lautaro Martinez added a late third as Argentina defeated Switzerland 3-1 in extra time Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Argentina held a 2.00 to 0.53 edge in expected goals.

Alexis Mac Allister headed home a Lionel Messi corner to give Argentina an early lead in the 10th minute.

Switzerland leveled through Dan Ndoye in the 67th minute, but the equalizer lasted only minutes before a controversial VAR intervention changed the match. Leandro Paredes was initially shown a yellow card for a challenge on Breel Embolo, but video review revealed Embolo had gone to ground before contact. Under the tournament's mistaken identity protocol, the card was transferred to Embolo, who had been booked earlier, and he was sent off. It was the second time that protocol had been applied at this World Cup.

Switzerland, playing their first World Cup quarterfinal since 1954 and still without injured breakout scorer Johan Manzambi, could not hold firm with 10 men through extra time.

Messi's nine-match World Cup scoring streak ended Saturday, though he created multiple chances and finished with eight tournament goals, level with France's Kylian Mbappe atop the Golden Boot standings.

Argentina extended their World Cup unbeaten run to 12 matches despite again requiring extra time in the knockout rounds, having also needed late comebacks against Cape Verde and Egypt.

With France, Spain, England and Argentina advancing, it marks the first time the top four teams in the FIFA world rankings have all reached the semifinals of a single World Cup.

Argentina face England on Wednesday in Atlanta.

Jude Bellingham scored twice, including a third-minute extra-time winner, as England defeated Norway 2-1 Saturday in the World Cup quarterfinals in Miami Gardens. England held a 1.04 to 0.68 edge in expected goals.

Andreas Schjelderup gave Norway a 36th-minute lead, his shot deflecting off the right post and into the net. Bellingham equalized from close range before halftime, with the goal briefly complicated by a Norway goal kick appearing to strike an aerial camera cable before the ball reached England's Elliot Anderson and eventually Bellingham, who finished low to the far post. By rule, had officials noticed the cable contact, a drop ball would have determined possession.

Norway came close to taking a second-half lead when Torbjorn Heggem put a rebound past Jordan Pickford following a corner, only for VAR to disallow the effort for a Haaland foul in the box. Pickford had also denied Erling Haaland with a point-blank save in the first half.

Haaland, who entered Saturday with seven tournament goals, was held scoreless for the first time in this World Cup and substituted in the second half of extra time.

Bellingham's winner was his sixth goal of the tournament, drawing level with England teammate Harry Kane. Both trail Golden Boot leaders Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi, who each have eight.

England advance to face Argentina in the semifinals on Wednesday.

Argentina and England have joined France and Spain in the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Both Argentina and England needed extra time to advance in the quarterfinals over Switzerland and Norway respectively. 

France has reached the semifinals in three consecutive World Cups, while Argentina has reached three of the past four World Cups. Argentina has never previously lost a semifinal in six previous appearances. 

England has reached the semifinals in two of the past three. Spain most recently reached the semifinals in 2010 when they won the World Cup over the Netherlands. 

World Cup Semifinal/Top-4 Appearances By Country and Year

Here's the updated full list including 2026:

• Germany: 13 (1934, 1954, 1958, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1982, 1986, 1990, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)
• Brazil: 11 (1938, 1950, 1958, 1962, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2014)
• France: 8 (1958, 1982, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2018, 2022, 2026)
• Italy: 8 (1934, 1938, 1970, 1978, 1982, 1990, 1994, 2006)
• Argentina: 7 (1930, 1978, 1986, 1990, 2014, 2022, 2026)
• Netherlands: 5 (1974, 1978, 1998, 2010, 2014)
• Uruguay: 5 (1930, 1950, 1954, 1970, 2010)
• England: 4 (1966, 1990, 2018, 2026)
• Sweden: 4 (1938, 1950, 1958, 1994)
• Croatia: 3 (1998, 2018, 2022)
• Spain: 3 (1950, 2010, 2026)
• Austria: 2 (1934, 1954)
• Belgium: 2 (1986, 2018)
• Czechoslovakia: 2 (1934, 1962)
• Hungary: 2 (1938, 1954)
• Poland: 2 (1974, 1982)
• Portugal: 2 (1966, 2006)
• Yugoslavia: 2 (1930, 1962)
• Bulgaria: 1 (1994)
• Chile: 1 (1962)
• Morocco: 1 (2022)
• South Korea: 1 (2002)
• Soviet Union: 1 (1966)
• Turkey: 1 (2002)
• United States: 1 (1930)

Lionel Scaloni said Friday that Lionel Messi will continue taking Argentina's penalty kicks unless he chooses otherwise, despite recent struggles from the spot. Scaloni addressed the topic ahead of Argentina's World Cup quarterfinal against Switzerland.

"First of all, Leo will take penalties if he wants to," said Scaloni. "We have other players capable of taking them, but if he wants to take them, he'll take them."

Messi has missed both of his penalty attempts at this year's tournament and has converted just four of his last seven for Argentina dating back to the 2022 World Cup. Scaloni indicated Messi's legacy and current form have earned him the right to make that call himself.

Scaloni also addressed Messi's positional freedom, including his drift to the right flank late in Argentina's 3-2 win over Egypt.

"In truth, these days he usually plays much more centrally," said Scaloni. "But our entire team, and especially the players who move around him, play in relation to him. That's normal. It happened naturally within the flow of the game. The team realized that he was creating danger from that side, especially because he was able to find passes into the opposite side where teammates could arrive. I think that became very clear."

Messi assisted Argentina's opening goal against Egypt before scoring the equalizer himself, giving him eight goals and one assist from 15 chances created across 410 minutes this tournament. Scaloni said Messi's physical output has not changed significantly despite turning 39 in June.

"Leo runs pretty much the same amount he always has," said Scaloni. "It's not that he's running significantly more or less. The difference is that now everything he does is much more decisive. ... Maybe it surprises people who don't know him, who expected that at 39 he wouldn't still be at this level. I've said it many times: As long as he wants to keep playing, he'll be the best."

Scaloni also dismissed recent comments from Egypt coach Hossam Hassan alleging officiating favoritism toward Argentina.

"Honestly, people have been saying those kinds of things about Argentina for a very long time," said Scaloni. "Back in 1986 [when Diego Maradona won the tournament], people also said Argentina received favorable treatment."

Argentina faces Switzerland Saturday night in the tournament's final World Cup quarterfinal match.

Lionel Messi has spent 63 percent of his movement at this World Cup walking, according to FIFA tracking data. The figure far exceeds any other outfield player in the tournament.

Messi adds another 25 percent of match time simply standing still. He jogs just 8.6 percent of the time, well below the tournament average of 23 percent, and rarely breaks into a sprint.

Despite the limited movement, Messi ranks third in the tournament for touches in the attacking third and has created the third-most big chances with 15. He shares the Golden Boot lead with Kylian Mbappe at eight goals apiece.

FIFA's heatmap data shows Messi's walking concentrates in the inside-right pocket between the center circle and penalty area. He has received the ball 97 times between the opposition's midfield and defensive lines through the quarterfinals, the sixth-highest total in the competition.

Former France defender Raphael Varane, who faced Messi 21 times including the 2022 World Cup final, described the difficulty of marking him in these zones.

"You really have to communicate a lot with teammates to know who should do what," said Varane. "Messi's speciality was walking in areas where you don't know who should defend (him). Is it the midfielder? Is it the full-back? Is it the (central) defender?"

Former Arsenal defender William Gallas offered a similar assessment of the tactical bind Messi creates.

"Even if he was walking, what you wouldn't want as a defender is for him to receive the ball, so you would think about getting close to him," said Gallas. "But if you get close to him, he has already won that battle because if he doesn't get the ball, you've allowed space behind you to be created and that's exactly what he wants."

When Messi does accelerate, 71 percent of his runs in possession end in the final third and 21 percent in the box. Former Australia assistant coach Rene Meulensteen said Messi reserves his energy for those moments.

"He spent 80 percent of his time just wandering in our match and comes to life in the final third where he knows he can do something that matters," said Meulensteen.

South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams has died at age 25, the South African Football Players Union confirmed Saturday. Adams recently featured in Bafana Bafana's historic run to the World Cup round of 32.

The cause of death has not been confirmed. Both the South African Football Players Union and the Ministry of Sport, Arts & Culture announced his passing.

"The South African Football Players Union (SAFPU) is devastated by the untimely passing of Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana midfielder Jayden Adams," the union said in a statement. "Jayden had only recently represented South Africa at the FIFA World Cup, carrying the hopes of the nation with pride, courage and distinction. His passing is an immeasurable loss to his family, teammates, clubs, the football fraternity and the country at large.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the Adams family, Mamelodi Sundowns, Stellenbosch FC, Bafana Bafana and all those whose lives he touched. South African football has lost a gifted player, a proud servant of the game and a young life that still had so much to offer. May his soul rest in eternal peace."

Adams started South Africa's group-stage matches against Mexico and Czechia, the latter coming just a day after the death of his grandmother, Marianna Adams. He also came off the bench in a 1-0 win over South Korea on June 24 that sent South Africa to the knockout rounds for the first time in program history. 

South Africa's Minister of Sports, Arts & Culture, Gayton McKenzie, reflected on a personal exchange with Adams following his grandmother's death.

"When I reached out to Jayden to offer my condolences and encouragement, I shall carry forever the humble, appreciative response he gave me," said McKenzie. "That he chose to wear the national jersey and give his all for his country in that moment speaks to a depth of character and professionalism well beyond his years, and it reflects the calibre of young man South Africa has lost."

Adams was an unused substitute when South Africa was eliminated by Canada on June 28. He had won the CAF Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns in May, dedicating his winners' medal to former Stellenbosch FC teammate Oshwin Andries, who died in 2023.

Adams came through Stellenbosch's youth ranks before joining Sundowns in January 2025. The club also lost another young player, Jeandre Gaffoor, earlier this year.

Lamine Yamal declared Spain has nothing to fear ahead of Tuesday's World Cup semifinal against France in Arlington, Texas. The winger spoke to reporters following Spain's 2-1 quarterfinal win over Belgium on Friday.

Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute to send Spain past Belgium and set up the semifinal matchup. France advanced Thursday with a 2-0 win over Morocco.

The meeting will mark the third match between Spain and France in three years. Spain won both previous games, defeating France in the 2024 European Championship semifinals and the 2025 UEFA Nations League.

"If France should fear anyone, it's us," said Yamal. "We have knocked them out [before]. We have beat them two times. Honestly, I think we're the two best teams at the World Cup, so we'll see what happens, but we do not have any fear."

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente echoed Yamal's confidence ahead of the matchup.

"The expectations are very, very high for the next game," said de la Fuente. "We're concentrated on this next game and very well aware of the potential of our opponent at the next game. But also we are very clear that we are able to beat France.

"We have the quality and it's a semifinal again. We've had a semifinal against them. We were successful. The game will be very demanding. It'll be energetic. We'll need to have the best version of ourselves."

Spain has needed late goals to advance through the knockout rounds, with Merino scoring the decisive winners against both Portugal and Belgium. Yamal said opponents sitting deep against Spain has masked the team's quality.

"It may seem as if we're not playing great, but every team we play sits back against us," said Yamal. "No one has gone toe-to-toe with us, but in the end we got the win again today. That is the most important thing.

"We are really happy to be in the semifinal. We've been here for a long time now and we want to stay until the final."

This will be Spain's second World Cup semifinal appearance and first since winning the tournament in 2010. France is aiming to reach its third consecutive World Cup final. Yamal, who turns 19 on Monday, has scored one goal in six appearances at this tournament.

Mikel Merino scored an 88th-minute winner for the second time in three matches as Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 Friday in the World Cup quarterfinals in Los Angeles, per ESPN. Spain held a 1.96 to 0.34 edge in xG (expected goals).

Fabian Ruiz put Spain ahead in the 30th minute after Thibaut Courtois parried a Dani Olmo shot, with the ball deflecting off Timothy Castagne and into the net. Charles De Ketelaere leveled for Belgium 11 minutes later, powering a header from Castagne's cross past Unai Simon. The goal ended Spain's World Cup shutout streak at 650 minutes, dating to the 2022 group stage.

Belgium's afternoon unraveled in the final 20 minutes. Courtois was forced off in the 71st minute with an apparent thigh injury, visibly emotional as he departed. Replacement Senne Lammens could only parry Pau Cubarsi's long-range drive, and Merino reacted fastest to lift the loose ball into the net.

Belgium had also lost Youri Tielemans to injury before kickoff, with Hans Vanaken stepping in as a late replacement.

Merino reflected on his remarkable run of decisive contributions.

"It seems like a coincidence but, if you go in prepared, it can happen again," said Merino. "I'm thrilled. I doubt it will happen again, but we'll see.

"Two matches to win a World Cup is a dream come true. Hopefully we can achieve it."

Luis de la Fuente embraced the semifinal challenge ahead.

"It's an honor to coach a team so committed and eager to improve," said de la Fuente. "It's fair to think we can beat France. We're going to work hard for it. A great team is going to face another great team."

Spain meet France in the semifinals in Dallas. France are -144 favorites to advance with an implied probability of 59 percent, according to the latest World Cup odds.

Kylian Mbappe scored and assisted after missing a first-half penalty as France defeated Morocco 2-0 Thursday in the World Cup quarterfinals. France held a commanding 3.69 to 0.14 edge in xG (expected goals) and a 21-4 advantage in total shots.

Mbappe opened the scoring in the 60th minute before teeing up Ousmane Dembele six minutes later. Dembele's finish was his fifth goal of the tournament, coming after Mbappe drew defenders wide to create the opening.

The 60th-minute strike was Mbappe's 20th career World Cup goal in 20 appearances, pulling him within one of Lionel Messi's all-time record of 21 goals across 31 matches.

Mbappe had drawn a 25th-minute penalty when Noussair Mazraoui chopped him down in the box, but after a lengthy video review delay, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou guessed correctly and turned the attempt aside.

Morocco's best first-half chance came just before the break when Achraf Hakimi's free kick from outside the box drifted past the right post. The Atlas Lions registered just one shot on target throughout the match.

The result repeated France's 2-0 semifinal victory over Morocco at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the Atlas Lions became the first African nation to reach that stage.

France remain on course to become just the third nation to appear in three consecutive World Cup finals. Les Bleus face Spain or Belgium in the semifinals Tuesday in Dallas.