The Round of 16 begins on Saturday, the Fourth of July here in the United States, with Canada taking on Morocco in Houston. Later in the day Saturday tournament favorites Kylian Mbappé and company will look to get by a Paraguay side that is coming off a stunning upset of Germany in a match in Philadelphia.
Sunday has a pair of intriguing matches, with Brazil taking on Erling Haaland and Norway before Mexico plays host to England in Mexico City. And then on Monday the United States joins the fray, going up against Belgium in Seattle.
Here are the teams that are moving on to the Quarterfinals, out of the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Morocco became the first team to book a spot in the Quarterfinals, with a 3-0 victory over Canada on Saturday.
Azzedine Ounahi recorded a brace in the second half to give Morocco a 2-0 lead, and Soufiane Rahimi added a third goal in stoppage time for good measure to solidify Morocco’s position in the Quarterfinals. They will wait on the winner of Saturday evening’s match between France and Paraguay.
France will face Morocco in the Quarterfinals, following a 1-0 victory over Paraguay.
Paraguay did their best to frustrate — and even stifle — Kylian Mbappé and company. But substitute Desire Doue won a penalty in the 69th minute, which was then converted by Mbappé to take France to a 1-0 lead.
Frustration boiled over after the final whistle, however:
But Les Bleus are moving on, and Paraguay are headed home.
Erling Haaland’s brace propelled Norway to a 2-1 win over Brazil. For Brazil, it is their earliest exit from the World Cup since 1990. As for Norway, this is the first time the Scandinavian side has reached the Quarterfinals, having been knocked out of the Round of 16 twice before, first in 1938 and most recently in 1998.
“Maybe this will write history in Norway,” Haaland said after the win. “Everyone just need to enjoy themselves. This is just an insane day. It’s one of the most insane days in Norwegian history. Just enjoy it, embrace it and enjoy the moment.”
They will meet England or Mexico for a spot in the Semifinals.
![LeBron James’ Free Agency Decision Comes Down to More Than Basketball | Deadspin.com LeBron James remained a free agent on the Fourth of July, surely realizing that no document should upstage the Declaration of Independence with a quarter-millennium extravaganza swirling.Of course, a national holiday didn’t stop Kevin Durant from bolting the Thunder for the Warriors on July 4, 2016, but that’s a different story – much like LBJ’s final foray into free agency.James’ agent, Rich Paul, made it clear that his client seeks “happiness” above all in a 24th NBA season. His legacy cemented, his championships secured, LBJ wants to ride toward the sunset with a smile.Yes, that noble journey recently adopted a game-show motif, but we’re told James’ heart is in the right place.Paul handicapped numerous possible LeBron landing spots while appearing on a hands-on episode of his “Game Over” podcast with Max Kellerman that was released Friday.A whiteboard here, a pointer there, speculation everywhere.Ostensibly, the entire Association would have interest in James, who declined the player option on his final season with the Los Angeles Lakers. The league’s all-time leading scorer might not get to the basket with the same tenacity or show the stamina that has defined him for much of his career, but he still is a force at 41.Paul said that James’ options abound largely because the New York Knicks won the Larry O’Brien trophy last month, ending a championship drought that preceded America’s bicentennial.LBJ assuredly would be taking his talents to New York Harbor were another franchise entering the 2026-27 season as reigning champs.“It’s difficult, because the last thing you want to do is mess up something like that,” Paul said. “The Knicks have a good thing going. If the Knicks hadn’t won, this wouldn’t even [be a question]. There would be no board. He’d be going to the Knicks.”It would be quite the challenge for James to keep a smile, though if he couldn’t help the Knicks to a repeat, Paul explained.“LeBron’s always judged different,” Paul said. “That’s a very fragile thing, and he’s been a part of championship teams.”Yup, with Miami, Cleveland and the Lakers. As Paul explored the possibility of a return to the first two of those locales, he suggested that familiarity with front offices is a mark for both sides.It may boil down to personnel, however, and Paul noted that one “negative” concerning the Cavaliers is the absence of Darius Garland. The agent told listeners that James “loves Garland like he loves” Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey.Naturally, there’s a lot for Paul to like about touting the chances of two of his clients playing together. But as the almighty whiteboard indicated, Philly does boast a deep core that includes newly-acquired Jaylen Brown alongside Joel Embiid, V.J. Edgecombe and Maxey.The board also listed four core members of the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cavaliers and Heat.“LeBron” was written at its center.“Every day things change,” Paul told ESPN. “This is the first time that LeBron James is making a decision pressure-free. He’s won already. He’s made good on his promise – he won in L.A. This is strictly for his happiness. What does happiness entail? It’s a number of things. It’s a bucket of happiness. It’s basketball, it’s living, it’s camaraderie, it’s competition. It’s everything.”It’s ongoing, too, and figures to stay that way with training camps still more than two months away.Would the hype be anything less for an all-time signature player? #LeBron #James #Free #Agency #Decision #Basketball #Deadspin.com](https://i3.wp.com/images.deadspin.com/tr:w-1200,h-675,fo-auto/1783265562471?ssl=1 "LeBron James’ Free Agency Decision Comes Down to More Than Basketball | Deadspin.com LeBron James remained a free agent on the Fourth of July, surely realizing that no document should upstage the Declaration of Independence with a quarter-millennium extravaganza swirling.Of course, a national holiday didn’t stop Kevin Durant from bolting the Thunder for the Warriors on July 4, 2016, but that’s a different story – much like LBJ’s final foray into free agency.James’ agent, Rich Paul, made it clear that his client seeks “happiness” above all in a 24th NBA season. His legacy cemented, his championships secured, LBJ wants to ride toward the sunset with a smile.Yes, that noble journey recently adopted a game-show motif, but we’re told James’ heart is in the right place.Paul handicapped numerous possible LeBron landing spots while appearing on a hands-on episode of his “Game Over” podcast with Max Kellerman that was released Friday.A whiteboard here, a pointer there, speculation everywhere.Ostensibly, the entire Association would have interest in James, who declined the player option on his final season with the Los Angeles Lakers. The league’s all-time leading scorer might not get to the basket with the same tenacity or show the stamina that has defined him for much of his career, but he still is a force at 41.Paul said that James’ options abound largely because the New York Knicks won the Larry O’Brien trophy last month, ending a championship drought that preceded America’s bicentennial.LBJ assuredly would be taking his talents to New York Harbor were another franchise entering the 2026-27 season as reigning champs.“It’s difficult, because the last thing you want to do is mess up something like that,” Paul said. “The Knicks have a good thing going. If the Knicks hadn’t won, this wouldn’t even [be a question]. There would be no board. He’d be going to the Knicks.”It would be quite the challenge for James to keep a smile, though if he couldn’t help the Knicks to a repeat, Paul explained.“LeBron’s always judged different,” Paul said. “That’s a very fragile thing, and he’s been a part of championship teams.”Yup, with Miami, Cleveland and the Lakers. As Paul explored the possibility of a return to the first two of those locales, he suggested that familiarity with front offices is a mark for both sides.It may boil down to personnel, however, and Paul noted that one “negative” concerning the Cavaliers is the absence of Darius Garland. The agent told listeners that James “loves Garland like he loves” Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey.Naturally, there’s a lot for Paul to like about touting the chances of two of his clients playing together. But as the almighty whiteboard indicated, Philly does boast a deep core that includes newly-acquired Jaylen Brown alongside Joel Embiid, V.J. Edgecombe and Maxey.The board also listed four core members of the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cavaliers and Heat.“LeBron” was written at its center.“Every day things change,” Paul told ESPN. “This is the first time that LeBron James is making a decision pressure-free. He’s won already. He’s made good on his promise – he won in L.A. This is strictly for his happiness. What does happiness entail? It’s a number of things. It’s a bucket of happiness. It’s basketball, it’s living, it’s camaraderie, it’s competition. It’s everything.”It’s ongoing, too, and figures to stay that way with training camps still more than two months away.Would the hype be anything less for an all-time signature player? #LeBron #James #Free #Agency #Decision #Basketball #Deadspin.com")
![World Cup 2026: Why US star Folarin Balogun can play vs. Belgium As the United States salted away a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, thoughts turned to Folarin Balogun, and his status for Monday night’s match against Belgium in the Round of 16. Balogun had received a controversial red card in the second half of that match, and faced an automatic one-match suspension as a result. As had been pointed out here at SB Nation and elsewhere, Balogun and the United States are unable to appeal the red card.But that does not mean he cannot play on Monday night.According to several sources, and first reported by The Athletic, FIFA’s disciplinary committee is implementing Article 27 of the governing body’s disciplinary code, which allows for the suspension of discipline — such as Balogun’s potential one-match ban against Belgium — pending the involved player’s conduct moving forward.Under Article 27, “the judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.”Article 27 goes on to state that “[i]f the person benefiting from a suspended sanction commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked by the judicial body and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”This is not the first time that FIFA has implemented Article 27 during this World Cup. Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo was set to serve a three-match ban after an incident in his team’s penultimate World Cup qualifier, when he was sent off for throwing an elbow at Republic of Ireland defender Dan O’Shea in an incident away from the ball. In that incident Ronaldo was initially shown a yellow card, but that was upgraded to a full red card after video review.FIFA increased the penalty from a one-match ban to a three-match ban, which he would have served at the start of this World Cup. But the disciplinary committee, under Article 27, suspended the second two matches “under a one-year probation period,” meaning Ronaldo will avoid missing any further fixtures provided he does not commit “another infringement of a similar nature.”That is now the situation facing Balogun.Balogun is the USMNT’s leading goal scorer heading into the Round of 16, having scored a brace against Paraguay in the team’s opening match, and a third goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. #World #Cup #star #Folarin #Balogun #play #Belgium](https://i2.wp.com/platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/gettyimages-2284257562.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C14.746104077519%2C100%2C70.507791844962&w=1200&ssl=1 "World Cup 2026: Why US star Folarin Balogun can play vs. Belgium As the United States salted away a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, thoughts turned to Folarin Balogun, and his status for Monday night’s match against Belgium in the Round of 16. Balogun had received a controversial red card in the second half of that match, and faced an automatic one-match suspension as a result. As had been pointed out here at SB Nation and elsewhere, Balogun and the United States are unable to appeal the red card.But that does not mean he cannot play on Monday night.According to several sources, and first reported by The Athletic, FIFA’s disciplinary committee is implementing Article 27 of the governing body’s disciplinary code, which allows for the suspension of discipline — such as Balogun’s potential one-match ban against Belgium — pending the involved player’s conduct moving forward.Under Article 27, “the judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.”Article 27 goes on to state that “[i]f the person benefiting from a suspended sanction commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked by the judicial body and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”This is not the first time that FIFA has implemented Article 27 during this World Cup. Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo was set to serve a three-match ban after an incident in his team’s penultimate World Cup qualifier, when he was sent off for throwing an elbow at Republic of Ireland defender Dan O’Shea in an incident away from the ball. In that incident Ronaldo was initially shown a yellow card, but that was upgraded to a full red card after video review.FIFA increased the penalty from a one-match ban to a three-match ban, which he would have served at the start of this World Cup. But the disciplinary committee, under Article 27, suspended the second two matches “under a one-year probation period,” meaning Ronaldo will avoid missing any further fixtures provided he does not commit “another infringement of a similar nature.”That is now the situation facing Balogun.Balogun is the USMNT’s leading goal scorer heading into the Round of 16, having scored a brace against Paraguay in the team’s opening match, and a third goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. #World #Cup #star #Folarin #Balogun #play #Belgium")
![US teenager Tate Taylor shocks Olympic champion, surpasses Usain Bolt on all-time U20 list The 2026 Prefontaine Classic may not have produced any world records like in years past, but this year’s big track and field meet in Eugene, Oregon was a major milestone for a couple of American athletes, including a teenager who produced one of the shock races of the season.At just 18 years old, San Antonio’s Tate Taylor took down a 200-meter field headlined by reigning Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo and 2025 World Championship bronze medalist Bryan Levell. Taylor’s winning time of 19.75 was run into a fairly considerable headwind, which makes his accomplishment even more impressive.Tate Taylor surpasses Usain Bolt on all-time U20 listTaylor not only significantly lowered his own US high school national record (19.94 seconds, which he set last month in Texas), he moved up to third on the all-time U20 list above some fella named Usain Bolt, whose best time in this event as a youth was 19.93 seconds at age 17. Only Australian sensation Gout Gout (whose injury withdrawal opened up a spot for Taylor) and the currently suspended Erriyon Knighton have ever run that fast that young.It was a result so stunning that it even surprised Taylor himself.“I didn’t even know I passed Bolt’s [mark], so that’s pretty cool,” Taylor said to SB Nation after the race. “To beat the Olympic champ—I was literally telling my coach right before this, ‘They cannot possibly come out here and expect me to win.’ I said it just like that. I was like, ‘I’m not winning this race.’ But if somebody is going to win, they have to go crazy just to beat me, and sure enough God made a way, so I guess my doubted myself on that.“It means a lot, because I look up to Tebogo and I’m excited to see how the rest of his career plans out. Just knowing that I took that [Bolt time] down was a surreal feeling, I’m still kind of taking it all in.”Taylor, who committed to running for Texas Tech next year, will skip the USA Outdoor Championships in New York later this month, but intends to participate in August’s World U20 Championships in Eugene. Add him to the list of American sprinters to watch ahead of the LA Olympics in 2028, especially as his compatriot Noah Lyles seeks to finally win Olympic 200m gold.Nikki Hiltz breaks Faith Kipyegon’s 5-year win streak in 1500 meters/MileKenyan middle-distance legend Faith Kipyegon has been virtually unbeatable in the 1500 meters and mile, where she holds the world record in both disciplines. The winning doesn’t last forever, and Nikki Hiltz took advantage of an unusually bunched up, tactical race in the mile. Kipyegon, who had only competed twice this year (in the 5000 meters and a 10000-meter road race), did not have her signature breakaway from the pack in the closing stages.In a furious dash to the finish line, Hiltz edged ahead of Kipyegon and Kenya’s Dorcus Ewoi to send over 12,000 fans at Hayward Field into wild celebrations. It’s the first time Kipyegon has lost in a 1500 or a mile in five years.“The last 100 meters, you’re so aware that it’s Faith,” Hiltz told SB Nation, “but you kind of just have to be like, ‘This is just a body next to me, I’m just trying to get to the finish line. I think she’s human, you know. But it doesn’t take away anything she’s done for our sport or our event—we all look to her.“I think I said it before, but yesterday in the press conference she was kind of giving vibes of like, ‘I’m not going to lead.‘ It was cool to see her do something different; she’s won it a bunch of different ways. I always wanted to see if I could outkick her and today was just an opportunity and I felt really good, so I went for it.”The 31-year-old Hiltz has medaled twice in the less heralded World Indoor Championships, including this year in Poland, but they will be pushing for a global outdoor medal in the 2027 World Championships in Beijing and 2028 Olympics. They wanted to improve their existing American record of 4:16.35, so they’ll only have to settle for beating the middle-distance GOAT as a consolation.Bowerman Mile drought continues for American menOn the 4th of July, it would’ve felt poetic for an American man to win the event-closing Bowerman Mile to end a 20-year drought, but it was not meant to be. Australia’s Cam Myers, who first made headlines in 2023 by becoming (at the time) the youngest sub-4-minute miler at just 16 years old, seized the lead in the penultimate lap and never ceded control. The now 20-year-old Myers set a new Australian record in the mile, surpassing Ollie Hoare, whom he told SB Nation on Friday was one of the athletes he looked up to.Myers, who’s now top-10 all-time in the mile, is a week removed from running 3:28.00 in the 1500 meters at the Diamond League in Paris, putting him 12th on the all-time list in that event.American Yared Nuguse finished second for the second year in a row, while Ethan Strand came in third to make it a 2-3 for the USA, but that elusive Bill Bowerman Mile win will have to wait until at least 2027.Photo finish separates Melissa Jefferson-Wooden from Sha’Carri Richardson in 100 metersYou know a race is competitive when the top three finishes are separated by 0.02 seconds. In the women’s 100-meter final, reigning 100- and 200-meter world champion and Olympic 100-meter silver medalist Melissa Jefferson-Wooden eked past 2023 world 100-meter champion Sha’Carri Richardson. British Virgin Islands’ Adaejah Hodge, who raced collegiately at Georgia and won the NCAA 100m and 200m titles last month in historically quick times last month, was third in 10.80.Jefferson-Wooden has still not lost a 100-meter race since her bronze medal in Paris. Richardson has had some high profile ups and downs throughout her career, both on and off the track, but the former LSU star and Olympic 100-meter silver medalist has been in good form in 2026.Meet organizers had South Carolina women’s basketball head coach and WNBA legend Dawn Staley and consensus greatest women’s sprinter of all-time, Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, introduced as special guests of honor prior to the start of the women’s 100m final.In the men’s 100 meters, Auburn’s Kanyinsola Ajayi ran a national record 9.84 seconds for his native Nigeria, blowing away the rest of the competition. Last year’s world champion, Oblique Seville, was the runner-up at 9.89, while 2019 world champion Christian Coleman rounded out the top three at 9.95.The Americans swept the sprint hurdles, with Paris Olympic champion Masai Russell tying the meet record of 12.24 seconds in the women’s 100, while Jamal Britt, who told reporters he was struggling financially and working for FedEx before signing a Nike contract this year, continues his outstanding 2026 by taking down world record holder and NCAA champion Ja’Kobe Tharp. Britt ran 12.86 seconds, a new personal best, whereas Tharp’s professional debut post-Auburn was a still quick 12.91.In the field, Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna defeated a men’s discus field that included former Green Bay Packers tryout and Olympic champion Roje Stona, Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri conquered the men’s shot put, while Americans Tara Davis-Woodhall (long jump) and Chase Jackson (shot put) continued their winning ways in their respective events, capping off a thrilling weekend of global athletics in TrackTown, USA.The full results from two days of competition can be seen here. #teenager #Tate #Taylor #shocks #Olympic #champion #surpasses #Usain #Bolt #alltime #U20 #list](https://i0.wp.com/platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/imagn-29328758.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C10.737065679298%2C100%2C78.525868641405&w=1200&ssl=1 "US teenager Tate Taylor shocks Olympic champion, surpasses Usain Bolt on all-time U20 list The 2026 Prefontaine Classic may not have produced any world records like in years past, but this year’s big track and field meet in Eugene, Oregon was a major milestone for a couple of American athletes, including a teenager who produced one of the shock races of the season.At just 18 years old, San Antonio’s Tate Taylor took down a 200-meter field headlined by reigning Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo and 2025 World Championship bronze medalist Bryan Levell. Taylor’s winning time of 19.75 was run into a fairly considerable headwind, which makes his accomplishment even more impressive.Tate Taylor surpasses Usain Bolt on all-time U20 listTaylor not only significantly lowered his own US high school national record (19.94 seconds, which he set last month in Texas), he moved up to third on the all-time U20 list above some fella named Usain Bolt, whose best time in this event as a youth was 19.93 seconds at age 17. Only Australian sensation Gout Gout (whose injury withdrawal opened up a spot for Taylor) and the currently suspended Erriyon Knighton have ever run that fast that young.It was a result so stunning that it even surprised Taylor himself.“I didn’t even know I passed Bolt’s [mark], so that’s pretty cool,” Taylor said to SB Nation after the race. “To beat the Olympic champ—I was literally telling my coach right before this, ‘They cannot possibly come out here and expect me to win.’ I said it just like that. I was like, ‘I’m not winning this race.’ But if somebody is going to win, they have to go crazy just to beat me, and sure enough God made a way, so I guess my doubted myself on that.“It means a lot, because I look up to Tebogo and I’m excited to see how the rest of his career plans out. Just knowing that I took that [Bolt time] down was a surreal feeling, I’m still kind of taking it all in.”Taylor, who committed to running for Texas Tech next year, will skip the USA Outdoor Championships in New York later this month, but intends to participate in August’s World U20 Championships in Eugene. Add him to the list of American sprinters to watch ahead of the LA Olympics in 2028, especially as his compatriot Noah Lyles seeks to finally win Olympic 200m gold.Nikki Hiltz breaks Faith Kipyegon’s 5-year win streak in 1500 meters/MileKenyan middle-distance legend Faith Kipyegon has been virtually unbeatable in the 1500 meters and mile, where she holds the world record in both disciplines. The winning doesn’t last forever, and Nikki Hiltz took advantage of an unusually bunched up, tactical race in the mile. Kipyegon, who had only competed twice this year (in the 5000 meters and a 10000-meter road race), did not have her signature breakaway from the pack in the closing stages.In a furious dash to the finish line, Hiltz edged ahead of Kipyegon and Kenya’s Dorcus Ewoi to send over 12,000 fans at Hayward Field into wild celebrations. It’s the first time Kipyegon has lost in a 1500 or a mile in five years.“The last 100 meters, you’re so aware that it’s Faith,” Hiltz told SB Nation, “but you kind of just have to be like, ‘This is just a body next to me, I’m just trying to get to the finish line. I think she’s human, you know. But it doesn’t take away anything she’s done for our sport or our event—we all look to her.“I think I said it before, but yesterday in the press conference she was kind of giving vibes of like, ‘I’m not going to lead.‘ It was cool to see her do something different; she’s won it a bunch of different ways. I always wanted to see if I could outkick her and today was just an opportunity and I felt really good, so I went for it.”The 31-year-old Hiltz has medaled twice in the less heralded World Indoor Championships, including this year in Poland, but they will be pushing for a global outdoor medal in the 2027 World Championships in Beijing and 2028 Olympics. They wanted to improve their existing American record of 4:16.35, so they’ll only have to settle for beating the middle-distance GOAT as a consolation.Bowerman Mile drought continues for American menOn the 4th of July, it would’ve felt poetic for an American man to win the event-closing Bowerman Mile to end a 20-year drought, but it was not meant to be. Australia’s Cam Myers, who first made headlines in 2023 by becoming (at the time) the youngest sub-4-minute miler at just 16 years old, seized the lead in the penultimate lap and never ceded control. The now 20-year-old Myers set a new Australian record in the mile, surpassing Ollie Hoare, whom he told SB Nation on Friday was one of the athletes he looked up to.Myers, who’s now top-10 all-time in the mile, is a week removed from running 3:28.00 in the 1500 meters at the Diamond League in Paris, putting him 12th on the all-time list in that event.American Yared Nuguse finished second for the second year in a row, while Ethan Strand came in third to make it a 2-3 for the USA, but that elusive Bill Bowerman Mile win will have to wait until at least 2027.Photo finish separates Melissa Jefferson-Wooden from Sha’Carri Richardson in 100 metersYou know a race is competitive when the top three finishes are separated by 0.02 seconds. In the women’s 100-meter final, reigning 100- and 200-meter world champion and Olympic 100-meter silver medalist Melissa Jefferson-Wooden eked past 2023 world 100-meter champion Sha’Carri Richardson. British Virgin Islands’ Adaejah Hodge, who raced collegiately at Georgia and won the NCAA 100m and 200m titles last month in historically quick times last month, was third in 10.80.Jefferson-Wooden has still not lost a 100-meter race since her bronze medal in Paris. Richardson has had some high profile ups and downs throughout her career, both on and off the track, but the former LSU star and Olympic 100-meter silver medalist has been in good form in 2026.Meet organizers had South Carolina women’s basketball head coach and WNBA legend Dawn Staley and consensus greatest women’s sprinter of all-time, Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, introduced as special guests of honor prior to the start of the women’s 100m final.In the men’s 100 meters, Auburn’s Kanyinsola Ajayi ran a national record 9.84 seconds for his native Nigeria, blowing away the rest of the competition. Last year’s world champion, Oblique Seville, was the runner-up at 9.89, while 2019 world champion Christian Coleman rounded out the top three at 9.95.The Americans swept the sprint hurdles, with Paris Olympic champion Masai Russell tying the meet record of 12.24 seconds in the women’s 100, while Jamal Britt, who told reporters he was struggling financially and working for FedEx before signing a Nike contract this year, continues his outstanding 2026 by taking down world record holder and NCAA champion Ja’Kobe Tharp. Britt ran 12.86 seconds, a new personal best, whereas Tharp’s professional debut post-Auburn was a still quick 12.91.In the field, Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna defeated a men’s discus field that included former Green Bay Packers tryout and Olympic champion Roje Stona, Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri conquered the men’s shot put, while Americans Tara Davis-Woodhall (long jump) and Chase Jackson (shot put) continued their winning ways in their respective events, capping off a thrilling weekend of global athletics in TrackTown, USA.The full results from two days of competition can be seen here. #teenager #Tate #Taylor #shocks #Olympic #champion #surpasses #Usain #Bolt #alltime #U20 #list")
![Playing disruptor: Mystery of Paraguay’s World Cup defeat to France without getting booked The Bermuda Triangle, the Loch Ness Monster, and the MH370 plane that disappeared without a trace. These are some of mankind’s greatest mysteries.On Saturday, the FIFA World Cup 2026 made a worthy contribution to this list — the mystery of how Paraguay ended its Round of 16 defeat to France without being shown a yellow card.The South American side tried everything it could to get booked. There were arms swung at French faces, elbows thrust into French throats and studs stamped on French shins and boots.Paraguay’s efforts weren’t limited to physical outbursts. There were also blatant play-acting seeking fouls and constant verbal efforts to rile up the French players. The icing on the cake came from defender Gustavo Velázquez, who attempted to not-so-discreetly scuff up the penalty spot to put off Kylian Mbappe right before the forward fired in the match-winning goal.Despite all this, the on-field referee Ilgiz Tantashev refused to caution the Paraguayans, holding onto his cards like prized possessions.Consumed by its intent to play the disruptor, Paraguay displayed no willingness to hold onto the ball. Sitting deep in its territory with a 5-4-1 low block, the side’s forays into the opposition half were largely limited to hopeful long balls and isolated dribbles from forward Julia Enciso.Paraguay’s possession was clocked at just 24.1%, while its pass completion rate was an abysmal 54.1% – the second-lowest by a team in a World Cup game since 1966. Not surprisingly, the side managed just five shots, with only one on target.What Paraguay succeeded in doing was dragging the game down to a scrapfest and frustrating France. With no space to operate in and around the attacking third, the two-time World Champion was forced to fire in speculative crosses and attempt shots from distance.It didn’t take too long for the French exasperation to spill out. Mbappe was seen engaging in multiple duels – verbal and non-verbal – with Paraguayan players. The usually unflappable Michael Olise was baited into a scuffle, which ended with the French attacker being shown a yellow card. It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.But France – which had earlier taken the tournament by storm with its expansive, eye-catching football – showed its willingness to get its hands dirty.France responded to Paraguay’s challenge with its own tough tackles, with Bradley Barcola and Manu Koné getting booked for two of them. There were multiple multi-player tussles between the two sides which unsettled the game’s rhythm. In the end, France held onto a slender win, as it booked a quarterfinal clash against Morocco.“We know how to play ugly football,” said Mbappe in a post-match interview.“They [Paraguay] thought we’d show up in tuxedos, but we were ready. Even at that game, we were better than them,” he added.Mbappe’s emotions were on ample display at the full-time whistle. The talismanic forward walked right past a handshake offer from Paraguayan keeper Orlando Gill to celebrate joyously, whipping up the fervour among the French supporters in the stadium.To his credit, Mbappe refused to belittle Paraguay’s approach.“That’s their style of football – there’s no right or wrong way to play the game. They tried to beat us that way, but we won,” said Mbappe.Paraguay stuck to its own method, the same one which had garnered it a shock win over Germany in the Round of 32. Ultimately, the Paraguayan way failed as France demonstrated its willingness to get its hands dirty.Published on Jul 05, 2026 #Playing #disruptor #Mystery #Paraguays #World #Cup #defeat #France #booked](https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/n4ca41/article71185393.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-07-04T232704Z_1774925327_UP1EM741SM66J_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-WORLDCUP-PRY-FRA.JPG "Playing disruptor: Mystery of Paraguay’s World Cup defeat to France without getting booked The Bermuda Triangle, the Loch Ness Monster, and the MH370 plane that disappeared without a trace. These are some of mankind’s greatest mysteries.On Saturday, the FIFA World Cup 2026 made a worthy contribution to this list — the mystery of how Paraguay ended its Round of 16 defeat to France without being shown a yellow card.The South American side tried everything it could to get booked. There were arms swung at French faces, elbows thrust into French throats and studs stamped on French shins and boots.Paraguay’s efforts weren’t limited to physical outbursts. There were also blatant play-acting seeking fouls and constant verbal efforts to rile up the French players. The icing on the cake came from defender Gustavo Velázquez, who attempted to not-so-discreetly scuff up the penalty spot to put off Kylian Mbappe right before the forward fired in the match-winning goal.Despite all this, the on-field referee Ilgiz Tantashev refused to caution the Paraguayans, holding onto his cards like prized possessions.Consumed by its intent to play the disruptor, Paraguay displayed no willingness to hold onto the ball. Sitting deep in its territory with a 5-4-1 low block, the side’s forays into the opposition half were largely limited to hopeful long balls and isolated dribbles from forward Julia Enciso.Paraguay’s possession was clocked at just 24.1%, while its pass completion rate was an abysmal 54.1% – the second-lowest by a team in a World Cup game since 1966. Not surprisingly, the side managed just five shots, with only one on target.What Paraguay succeeded in doing was dragging the game down to a scrapfest and frustrating France. With no space to operate in and around the attacking third, the two-time World Champion was forced to fire in speculative crosses and attempt shots from distance.It didn’t take too long for the French exasperation to spill out. Mbappe was seen engaging in multiple duels – verbal and non-verbal – with Paraguayan players. The usually unflappable Michael Olise was baited into a scuffle, which ended with the French attacker being shown a yellow card. It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.But France – which had earlier taken the tournament by storm with its expansive, eye-catching football – showed its willingness to get its hands dirty.France responded to Paraguay’s challenge with its own tough tackles, with Bradley Barcola and Manu Koné getting booked for two of them. There were multiple multi-player tussles between the two sides which unsettled the game’s rhythm. In the end, France held onto a slender win, as it booked a quarterfinal clash against Morocco.“We know how to play ugly football,” said Mbappe in a post-match interview.“They [Paraguay] thought we’d show up in tuxedos, but we were ready. Even at that game, we were better than them,” he added.Mbappe’s emotions were on ample display at the full-time whistle. The talismanic forward walked right past a handshake offer from Paraguayan keeper Orlando Gill to celebrate joyously, whipping up the fervour among the French supporters in the stadium.To his credit, Mbappe refused to belittle Paraguay’s approach.“That’s their style of football – there’s no right or wrong way to play the game. They tried to beat us that way, but we won,” said Mbappe.Paraguay stuck to its own method, the same one which had garnered it a shock win over Germany in the Round of 32. Ultimately, the Paraguayan way failed as France demonstrated its willingness to get its hands dirty.Published on Jul 05, 2026 #Playing #disruptor #Mystery #Paraguays #World #Cup #defeat #France #booked")
![Playing disruptor: Mystery of Paraguay’s World Cup defeat to France without getting booked The Bermuda Triangle, the Loch Ness Monster, and the MH370 plane that disappeared without a trace. These are some of mankind’s greatest mysteries.On Saturday, the FIFA World Cup 2026 made a worthy contribution to this list — the mystery of how Paraguay ended its Round of 16 defeat to France without being shown a yellow card.The South American side tried everything it could to get booked. There were arms swung at French faces, elbows thrust into French throats and studs stamped on French shins and boots.Paraguay’s efforts weren’t limited to physical outbursts. There were also blatant play-acting seeking fouls and constant verbal efforts to rile up the French players. The icing on the cake came from defender Gustavo Velázquez, who attempted to not-so-discreetly scuff up the penalty spot to put off Kylian Mbappe right before the forward fired in the match-winning goal.Despite all this, the on-field referee Ilgiz Tantashev refused to caution the Paraguayans, holding onto his cards like prized possessions.Consumed by its intent to play the disruptor, Paraguay displayed no willingness to hold onto the ball. Sitting deep in its territory with a 5-4-1 low block, the side’s forays into the opposition half were largely limited to hopeful long balls and isolated dribbles from forward Julia Enciso.Paraguay’s possession was clocked at just 24.1%, while its pass completion rate was an abysmal 54.1% – the second-lowest by a team in a World Cup game since 1966. Not surprisingly, the side managed just five shots, with only one on target.What Paraguay succeeded in doing was dragging the game down to a scrapfest and frustrating France. With no space to operate in and around the attacking third, the two-time World Champion was forced to fire in speculative crosses and attempt shots from distance.It didn’t take too long for the French exasperation to spill out. Mbappe was seen engaging in multiple duels – verbal and non-verbal – with Paraguayan players. The usually unflappable Michael Olise was baited into a scuffle, which ended with the French attacker being shown a yellow card. It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.But France – which had earlier taken the tournament by storm with its expansive, eye-catching football – showed its willingness to get its hands dirty.France responded to Paraguay’s challenge with its own tough tackles, with Bradley Barcola and Manu Koné getting booked for two of them. There were multiple multi-player tussles between the two sides which unsettled the game’s rhythm. In the end, France held onto a slender win, as it booked a quarterfinal clash against Morocco.“We know how to play ugly football,” said Mbappe in a post-match interview.“They [Paraguay] thought we’d show up in tuxedos, but we were ready. Even at that game, we were better than them,” he added.Mbappe’s emotions were on ample display at the full-time whistle. The talismanic forward walked right past a handshake offer from Paraguayan keeper Orlando Gill to celebrate joyously, whipping up the fervour among the French supporters in the stadium.To his credit, Mbappe refused to belittle Paraguay’s approach.“That’s their style of football – there’s no right or wrong way to play the game. They tried to beat us that way, but we won,” said Mbappe.Paraguay stuck to its own method, the same one which had garnered it a shock win over Germany in the Round of 32. Ultimately, the Paraguayan way failed as France demonstrated its willingness to get its hands dirty.Published on Jul 05, 2026 #Playing #disruptor #Mystery #Paraguays #World #Cup #defeat #France #booked](https://i2.wp.com/ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/n4ca41/article71185393.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-07-04T232704Z_1774925327_UP1EM741SM66J_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-WORLDCUP-PRY-FRA.JPG?ssl=1 "Playing disruptor: Mystery of Paraguay’s World Cup defeat to France without getting booked The Bermuda Triangle, the Loch Ness Monster, and the MH370 plane that disappeared without a trace. These are some of mankind’s greatest mysteries.On Saturday, the FIFA World Cup 2026 made a worthy contribution to this list — the mystery of how Paraguay ended its Round of 16 defeat to France without being shown a yellow card.The South American side tried everything it could to get booked. There were arms swung at French faces, elbows thrust into French throats and studs stamped on French shins and boots.Paraguay’s efforts weren’t limited to physical outbursts. There were also blatant play-acting seeking fouls and constant verbal efforts to rile up the French players. The icing on the cake came from defender Gustavo Velázquez, who attempted to not-so-discreetly scuff up the penalty spot to put off Kylian Mbappe right before the forward fired in the match-winning goal.Despite all this, the on-field referee Ilgiz Tantashev refused to caution the Paraguayans, holding onto his cards like prized possessions.Consumed by its intent to play the disruptor, Paraguay displayed no willingness to hold onto the ball. Sitting deep in its territory with a 5-4-1 low block, the side’s forays into the opposition half were largely limited to hopeful long balls and isolated dribbles from forward Julia Enciso.Paraguay’s possession was clocked at just 24.1%, while its pass completion rate was an abysmal 54.1% – the second-lowest by a team in a World Cup game since 1966. Not surprisingly, the side managed just five shots, with only one on target.What Paraguay succeeded in doing was dragging the game down to a scrapfest and frustrating France. With no space to operate in and around the attacking third, the two-time World Champion was forced to fire in speculative crosses and attempt shots from distance.It didn’t take too long for the French exasperation to spill out. Mbappe was seen engaging in multiple duels – verbal and non-verbal – with Paraguayan players. The usually unflappable Michael Olise was baited into a scuffle, which ended with the French attacker being shown a yellow card. It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.But France – which had earlier taken the tournament by storm with its expansive, eye-catching football – showed its willingness to get its hands dirty.France responded to Paraguay’s challenge with its own tough tackles, with Bradley Barcola and Manu Koné getting booked for two of them. There were multiple multi-player tussles between the two sides which unsettled the game’s rhythm. In the end, France held onto a slender win, as it booked a quarterfinal clash against Morocco.“We know how to play ugly football,” said Mbappe in a post-match interview.“They [Paraguay] thought we’d show up in tuxedos, but we were ready. Even at that game, we were better than them,” he added.Mbappe’s emotions were on ample display at the full-time whistle. The talismanic forward walked right past a handshake offer from Paraguayan keeper Orlando Gill to celebrate joyously, whipping up the fervour among the French supporters in the stadium.To his credit, Mbappe refused to belittle Paraguay’s approach.“That’s their style of football – there’s no right or wrong way to play the game. They tried to beat us that way, but we won,” said Mbappe.Paraguay stuck to its own method, the same one which had garnered it a shock win over Germany in the Round of 32. Ultimately, the Paraguayan way failed as France demonstrated its willingness to get its hands dirty.Published on Jul 05, 2026 #Playing #disruptor #Mystery #Paraguays #World #Cup #defeat #France #booked")
