L’Équipe’s player ratings are out, with an average 3.7 for France v Spain. Still arguably generous?

Strong scenes in Oslo for Norway's World Cup return 📸 Trond R Teigen

Brendon McCullum is out

More iconic Norwegian commentary v England

How David Beckham conquered America. By @barneyronay.bsky.social

Wrote about a storyline I have very much enjoyed this World Cup: visiting fans having fun at baseball games. Scots in Boston + Miami, Norwegians in New York, Australians in Texas, the English finding a folk hero in the Atlanta Braves’ outfield. A delightful sports crossover!

‘What do Lord Nelson, Lord Beaverbrook, Sir Winston Churchill, Sir Anthony Eden, Clement Attlee, Henry Cooper and Lady Diana have in common? On 9 September 1981 they were all beaten by Norway.’ By @larssivertsen.bsky.social

An inquest into the death of Maddy Cusack has been adjourned again to an unspecified date, nearly three years after she died, aged 27. Latest from @tomjgarry.bsky.social

Warping the World Cup

One in the eye for Merlín, Neymar's tattoos and a dark final chapter for Danny Murphy. Plus added proxy Fifa president. Latest World Cup cartoon from @davidsquires.bsky.social

Roger Federer loving it on Centre, busy Royal Box or not 📸 Ben Whitley

US president Donald Trump has done the whole of American soccer a disservice by involving himself in the Balogun red card saga. It's an unsusprising overreach that confirms the negative perceptions many already have about the USA. Me, on @us.theguardian.com: www.theguardian.com/football/202...

'This was the most extraordinary, agonising night of football as an experience of the mind, body, bones, guts, blood and back of the neck. England overcame not only the Mexican national football team, but an event, an iconography, a set of ghosts.' By @barneyronay.bsky.social

Been waiting for the World Cup wildcard. Consider it deployed

Spain’s Luis de la Fuente answers readers’ questions. On advice for Lamine Yamal, the hardest thing about being a coach and tortilla española: with or without onion? From @sidlowe.bsky.social

Aramco's sponsorship deal with Fifa has featured prominently at World Cup matches in Houston. But 100 miles away in another Texan city, residents say the firm’s refinery is exposing them to poisonous gases and long-term health problems. Special report by @nickames82.bsky.social

'How to tell the story of this game? Imagine being pounded around the head for 120 minutes, first slowly, then much more quickly, with moments of brilliance, narrative shifts, epic subplots and violent tonal contrasts. Well, it was a bit like that.' From @barneyronay.bsky.social in Miami

Eight hours to potentially drown sorrows in the pub, you say?

The end for Bazball, 'a nihilistic cult that for all its spectacular successes meant nothing and stood for nothing'. By @jonathanliew.bsky.social

To me, that's cinema www.instagram.com/reel/DaHmqoz...

Telemundo's (excellent) World Cup coverage rolls on …

Screen epics: the World Cup 2026 viewing parties around the globe

Scotland fans x Ocean Drive 📸 Maria Alejandra Cardona

The latest World Cup rundown from @davidsquires.bsky.social (Emi Martínez phone backgrounder 🫡)

40 years ago today. There's so much in this picture, often spot something else among the details 📸 Jean-Yves Ruszniewski

This is very nice, behind the scenes at the official World Cup player and manager portrait photographs

Liked this shot a lot during Spain v Saudi Arabia 📸 Colin Hubbard

'Alexi Lalas’s ubiquitousness every World Cup is American TV’s answer to the Iran war: no one wants it, everyone hates it, and as it drags on, it inevitably becomes a face-saving exercise in damage limitation'

Very late, but still swooning at this Le Mans beauty last week 📸 Andrea Lorenzina

Alexi Lalas appraising 'arrogance' of France. Cue

Reuters catch up with Vozinha's family in Mindelo on São Vicente, Cape Verde. Ana ⁠Candida Evora: 'I said that no ball would enter his goal, and that is exactly ⁠what happened. I am very proud to be Vozinha’s mother, and I hope he continues to save every ball that comes his way'

Vozinha: 'I have worked my whole life for this moment. I’m 40. I started playing football professionally when I was 25, in 2012. I thought about leaving but I continued because of this dream. This is for everyone … I will continue to work for Cape Verde and for the people'

'Wow, just wow.' @sidlowe.bsky.social watches history for Cape Verde on their World Cup debut against … Spain

YEP

Very good game. Very good photo (📸 Hannah McKay)

The scenes outside Madison Square Garden 📸 Charly Triballeau

Kieran McKenna steps down as Ipswich manager. Latest from @nickames82.bsky.social

‘History matters. It keeps the present from being a mystery.‘ Chuck D on New York and the Knicks

How a pornographer managed to rise as high in modern football as David Sullivan did. By @jacobsteinberg1.bsky.social

Well, this is very cool work @anabnos.com 🙌

Big interview with Romário: ‘I consider myself one of the five greatest players of all time … I’d give myself an 11 out of 10’

Bracketology! Thanks to the far smarter people in the building who helped make this to cater for all your World Cup prediction needs

Thanks Gianni. Here's the full guide to all 1,248 players at the 2026 World Cup

'I’m not saying I have the ability now to beat Tadej, Seixas and Vingegaard. But in the right situation, I can see it happening. With the right situation, I can win a Grand Tour.' Tom Pidcock talks ambitions, Pogacar … and Liz Truss with @seaningle.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/j...

Inordinately furious at the Manchester Super Giants slop

Get your World Cup 2026 stadium guide (Estadio Monterrey and then the rest, naturally), courtesy of @anabnos.com and @ellabrockway.bsky.social

‘Hi all. Following our end-of-season review and planning for 2026-27, we wanted to let you know that we won’t be renewing contracts for the players included in this message.’ Exclusive from @tomjgarry.bsky.social

Lovely shot and spot of the Arsenal parade, atop London Metropolitan University, from @tomjenkinspix.bsky.social

Rare, exclusive in-person interview with Rinat Akhmetov - Shakhtar owner and Ukraine’s richest man - at his home in Kyiv. On Donbas in the 90s, the defenders of Azovstal, his relationship with Zelenskyy, why Infantino must visit Ukraine and much more: www.theguardian.com/football/202...

PSG glory, celebrations and chaos, but Marquinhos with Gabriel 📸 Richard Heathcote