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TL;DR
Spain claimed the 2026 World Cup title for the second time in their history, beating Argentina in the final with Torres scoring the decisive goal, leaving a tearful Messi to reflect on defeat. Mbappé finished the tournament as Golden Boot winner with 10 goals, also equalling Messi's all-time World Cup goals record of 22. England secured third place in a remarkable 6-4 win over France, with Saka scoring a hat-trick to lead his side to the bronze medal. Away from the tournament, Chelsea have agreed a record £117m deal to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa.
Spain are world champions, winning the 2026 World Cup for the second time in their history. The victory was discussed at length by a panel of football journalists, with the consensus that Spain thoroughly deserved the title. Spain's second World Cup triumph cements their place among the game's greatest international sides and caps a remarkable era for Spanish football.
GRDThe Guardian Football +2 moreAggregated from 3 sources. Read our summary first.
Kylian Mbappe claimed the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot after finishing as the tournament's top scorer with 10 goals — the first player to win the award twice. He finished two clear of Lionel Messi, who ended the tournament on eight goals. Mbappe becomes the first player in history to win the World Cup Golden Boot twice, cementing his place among the all-time greats of the game.
SKYSky Sports Football +1 moreAggregated from 2 sources. Read our summary first.
Ferran Torres scored an extra-time winner as Spain defeated reigning world champions Argentina in a bad-tempered final to claim their second men's World Cup title. Torres was the decisive figure in what proved a fiercely contested match between two of the game's heavyweights. Spain's victory ends Argentina's reign as world champions and delivers Spain their second World Cup title.
ESPNESPN FC +2 moreAggregated from 3 sources. Read our summary first.
Spain defeated Argentina in the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, leaving Lionel Messi in tears. A visibly emotional Messi acknowledged Spain were the better team on the day, as his attempt to conjure a match-winning moment fell short on the sport's biggest stage. Argentina's defeat ends Messi's final realistic chance to add a second World Cup winners' medal to his collection.
Harry Kane has publicly backed Thomas Tuchel to succeed as England head coach, speaking out in support of the manager amid criticism following England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina. The England captain also expressed his ambition to be part of the squad for the 2030 World Cup.
England finished third at the 2026 World Cup, with all 24 squad members who appeared at the tournament now rated. Jordan Pickford, who made more World Cup finals appearances than any other Englishman, earned a 7, credited with crucial saves including one from Nicolás González in the semi-final. England's third-place finish at a World Cup is a significant achievement for the national team.
The Guardian Football +1 moreAggregated from 2 sources. Read our summary first.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni says he needs time to reflect on his future, admitting he is unsure whether something as significant can be repeated. He plans to speak with the federation president but has not committed beyond seeing out his current contract.
Robbie Williams, Tom Cruise and Jennifer Hudson are among the stars set to appear at the World Cup closing ceremony. The entertainment continues at half-time with performances from Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira and BTS.
Thomas Tuchel faced a tense post-match press conference after England were beaten by Argentina in the World Cup semi-final. The England head coach defended his tactical decisions and acknowledged the pain of the defeat, describing it as a 'scar we carry now'. England are eliminated from the World Cup at the semi-final stage, ending their campaign one step short of the final.
BBC Sport Football +7 moreAggregated from 8 sources. Read our summary first.
Bukayo Saka put in a standout performance as England secured third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Saka earned a 9/10 player rating for his display in the third-place match, making him the clear standout performer on the day. England finishing third at a World Cup is a significant result for the nation, marking one of their best tournament finishes in the modern era.