The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-finals has been set following the confirmation of the tournament's quarter-final fixtures, with eight teams left battling for a place in the last four.

The quarter-final stage gets underway on Thursday, July 9, as France take on Morocco in a repeat of their memorable 2022 World Cup semi-final in Qatar. France emerged 2-0 winners on that occasion en route to the final, but Morocco will be determined to produce a different outcome this time as they continue their rise among world football's elite.

The action continues on July 10 with an all-European showdown between Spain and Belgium. Both nations have impressed with their attacking style and technical quality throughout the tournament, making the fixture one of the most anticipated clashes of the quarter-finals.

On July 11, Norway will look to extend their impressive World Cup run when they face England. The English side, combining experienced campaigners with exciting young talent, remain among the favourites to lift the trophy.

The final quarter-final will be played on July 12, with defending champions Argentina taking on Switzerland for the last available place in the semi-finals.

With only three wins separating the remaining teams from World Cup glory, every fixture carries enormous significance as the competition enters its decisive stage.

The conclusion of the quarter-finals will leave just four teams standing, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling run to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-final fixtures:

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Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel emerged as Switzerland's hero, producing a crucial save from Juan Camilo "Cucho" Hernandez during the shootout to send Murat Yakin's side into the last eight for the first time since 1954.

The penalty shootout had already seen both teams miss from the spot. Colombia defender Davinson Sanchez struck the underside of the crossbar before Switzerland centre-back Manuel Akanji blazed his effort over the bar.

Kobel then produced the decisive moment by denying Hernandez, allowing Cedric Itten and Ruben Vargas to convert the final two Swiss penalties after Granit Xhaka and Zeki Amdouni had also found the net.

The Round of 16 contest offered few clear-cut opportunities during normal time, with Colombia's Jhon Lucumi hitting the crossbar with a header while Jaminton Campaz tested Kobel from distance in extra time.

Switzerland also threatened through substitute Zeki Amdouni, whose effort forced a save from Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas.

Colombia had the best chance to avoid penalties in the closing stages of extra time, but Campaz curled his effort over the crossbar after a defensive mistake gifted him possession.

The miss proved costly as the South Americans suffered another painful World Cup penalty shootout exit, having also been eliminated from the tournament on penalties by England in the Round of 16 in 2018.

Switzerland will now take on Lionel Messi's Argentina in the quarter-finals at Kansas City Stadium on Sunday, July 12, with a place in the semi-finals at stake.

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Black Maidens head coach Joe Nana Adarkwa believes Ghana is well positioned to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup ahead of Saturday's decisive second-leg clash against Senegal.

The Black Maidens earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the first leg after coming from behind in Dakar, leaving the qualification tie evenly balanced heading into the return fixture at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Despite acknowledging the quality of the Senegalese side, Adarkwa is confident his players can make home advantage count and book Ghana's place at the global tournament.

"We had to come from behind to secure a point in a very tight game against a difficult Senegal side," Adarkwa said.

"The girls showed great character, and now our focus is on winning at home to book our place at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup."

The coach revealed that preparations have shifted towards refining his tactical approach as the team aims to produce another disciplined performance in front of the home fans.

"We will work on getting our lineup right and remain committed to our game plan. Every player understands what is at stake, and we are determined to deliver a performance that makes Ghanaians proud."

The Black Maidens have been impressive throughout the qualification campaign and will be hoping to maintain that form when they take to the field in Accra.

Victory over Senegal would secure Ghana one of Africa's qualification spots for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, extending the country's strong tradition in the competition.

Saturday's encounter is expected to attract a sizeable crowd as the Black Maidens look to complete the job on home soil and continue their journey to the world stage.

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Roy Keane has questioned the decision to disallow Egypt’s goal in their World Cup 2026 defeat to Argentina, admitting he was baffled by the referee’s call and saying he could not understand what the official had seen to rule the goal out.

Speaking on World Cup punditry duty, the former Manchester United captain said the challenge was not a foul and argued that the officials had made another hard-to-explain call at the tournament.

“For me, it's not a foul. It has never been a foul, and it will never be a foul. I honestly don't know what the referee saw,” Keane said. He added that several decisions at this World Cup have become increasingly difficult to follow, especially in matches involving Argentina.

Keane also warned that such calls can shape a game’s outcome and even change the course of a team’s tournament. In his view, if an incident like that is enough to cancel a goal, then football is heading in the wrong direction. He said he felt sympathy for Egypt because one controversial moment can decide everything at this stage of the competition.

Egypt were ultimately eliminated after a 3-2 defeat to Argentina, but the disallowed goal has kept the debate alive well after full-time.

Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan, after the game, also condemned the officials at the end of the game, accusing them of injustice against the Pharaohs and saying he would not watch the rest of the tournament again

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The Egypt captain argued that the match turned against his side at key moments and insisted the officials should have handled the game more fairly.

“We gave it our all, but when the refereeing is constantly against you, it becomes impossible to compete,” Salah said after the match. He added that he was not looking for excuses, but felt everyone watching could see what had happened on the pitch. Salah also suggested the outcome had been shaped by influences beyond the players’ control, saying it looked as if Argentina already had their favorites.

The controversy centered on a possible foul involving Salah before Argentina’s decisive third goal, as well as Egypt’s earlier complaints about decisions that went against them. The captain’s remarks captured the frustration inside the Egyptian camp after they led by two goals before being chased down in Atlanta.

Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan also condemned the officials at the end of the game, accusing them of injustice against the Pharaohs and saying he would not watch the rest of the tournament again.

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Black Maidens head coach Joe Nana Adarkwa has expressed confidence ahead of Ghana's decisive return leg against Senegal, insisting his side is fully focused on securing qualification for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

Ghana battled back from behind to earn a valuable 1-1 draw in the first leg away to Senegal, leaving the tie finely poised ahead of Saturday's showdown at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Speaking ahead of the crucial encounter, Adarkwa acknowledged the quality of the Senegalese side but believes his players have what it takes to finish the job on home soil.

"We had to come from behind to secure a point in a very tight game against a difficult Senegal side," he said.

"The girls showed great character, and now our focus is on winning at home to book our place at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup."

The technical team is leaving no stone unturned in their preparations for the winner-takes-all contest.

"We will work on getting our lineup right and remain committed to our game plan," Adarkwa said.

"Every player understands what is at stake, and we are determined to deliver a performance that makes Ghanaians proud."

The winner of Saturday's encounter will secure one of Africa's coveted places at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

Kick-off at the Accra Sports Stadium is scheduled for Saturday, with the Black Maidens needing a win to book their ticket to the global tournament.

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The 39-year-old captain was overwhelmed with emotion as he spoke to reporters following the dramatic win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which saw Argentina fight back from two goals down to snatch victory in stoppage time.

Messi, who confirmed before the tournament this would be his final World Cup, was candid about the team's mindset heading into the knockout clash.

"We didn't want and didn't deserve to go home. We could not let it end like that," he said.

"This group really deserved to keep going. We never give up at all. Never."

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner revealed the weight he carried after his penalty was saved by Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy in the 35th minute with Argentina already trailing 1-0.

"I cried because I felt that I let my teammates down because of the penalty I missed... and the way I took it," Messi admitted.

Argentina fell further behind early in the second half, trailing 2-0 and staring at a shock exit. But Messi led the fightback, assisting Cristian Romero's header in the 79th minute before scoring the equaliser himself.

Enzo Fernandez completed the comeback deep into stoppage time, sparking wild celebrations among the Argentine players and fans.

Messi's miss from the spot weighed heavily, but he found solace in the final outcome.

"But thankfully once again, God had something special for me in the end. I'm very happy," he said.

Argentina's Round of 16 victory over Egypt means they will face the winner of Switzerland vs Colombia in the quarter-finals.

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Egypt had led 2-0 in Tuesday’s match, but they could not hold on and eventually exited the tournament after a 3-2 loss.

The game sparked heavy controversy after Egypt had a goal ruled out for Mostafa Zico and later saw a possible foul on Salah ignored in the buildup to Argentina’s winner.

Lopez, speaking on beIN Sports, said the officials should have treated the incidents in the same way, especially because the decision against Zico came after a foul on Marwan Attia was spotted in the replay.

He argued that the Salah incident should also have produced a free kick, even if the ball was slightly behind the Liverpool star. In his view, the more obvious position was with the defender, which made the non-call harder to understand. Lopez also criticized the VAR process, saying it often takes too long to reach decisions in this tournament and elsewhere.

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Ghana Premier League side Berekum Chelsea have officially appointed Kwaku Danso as their new head coach ahead of the 2026/27 season, the club has announced.

The experienced tactician takes over technical duties following the departure of Samuel Boadu, who recently left the Berekum-based club to join regional rivals Aduana FC.

Danso arrives with significant local pedigree, having previously managed Bechem United in the Ghana Premier League, where he earned a Coach of the Month accolade for his tactical approach.

He makes the switch to the former league champions directly from lower-tier outfit Rainmakers FC, where he spent one year steering team development.

In an emotional farewell message, Rainmakers FC expressed gratitude for Danso's contribution during his tenure, describing his impact as memorable and positive.

"A new chapter begins. Thank you, Coach Kwaku Danso, for your dedication, leadership, and service to Rainmakers FC. We wish you all the best as you embark on this new journey with Berekum Chelsea. Once a Rainmaker, always a Rainmaker," the club wrote.

Aside from his football career, Danso is highly respected in the community as the current Headmaster of Berekum Senior High School (BESS).

Boadu departs Berekum Chelsea after leading them to a fifth-place finish in the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League, picking up 50 points along the way.

The former Hearts of Oak boss, who won the Ghana Premier League and FA Cup during his time with the Phobians, has been linked with a move to Aduana FC.

The management of Berekum Chelsea expressed confidence that Danso's deep knowledge of the domestic game and background in leadership make him the ideal candidate to rebuild the squad.

His immediate mandate will be to stabilise the team, intensify pre-season preparations, and guide the "Bibires" toward a competitive campaign in the upcoming top-flight league.

Club officials expect Danso to assume full control of first-team training immediately as the transfer window progresses.

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The 21-year-old streamer, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr, was livestreaming the match at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami when footage captured him confronting a fan wearing an Argentina jersey in the stands. The fan, speaking in Spanish, appeared to tell IShowSpeed, who is Black, to "go cry to the zoo". Other reports indicate the fan also used a racial slur and told him to "go home".

Football's world governing body said it was made aware of the incident and "immediately initiated an investigation".

"FIFA strongly condemns racism, hate and discrimination in all forms," the governing body said in a statement.

"The FIFA World Cup is a celebration of unity, diversity and respect. It brings together people, cultures and communities from around the world, and anyone who acts in a manner that undermines these values is not welcome in our game."

IShowSpeed has become one of the tournament's highest-profile online personalities, livestreaming matches throughout the competition. He currently has more than 57 million YouTube subscribers and 53 million TikTok followers.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino and former Barcelona and AC Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic have both appeared on his broadcasts during the tournament.

The alleged abuse of IShowSpeed comes days after France forward Kylian Mbappe labelled Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla as "despicable" and unworthy of her position after she made a number of racist remarks mocking his origin and education.

Amarilla, of Paraguay's Liberal Radical Party, posted her comments on X after her country's defeat by France in the Round of 16. The French Football Federation has announced plans to file criminal charges, describing Amarilla's remarks as "utterly abhorrent and unacceptable".

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The 24-year-old went down clutching his right knee in the 19th minute after trying to get to the ball before Christian Pulisic. He was treated on the pitch before limping off and was later seen on crutches wearing a knee brace.

Belgium team doctor Brahim Hacene confirmed the worst fears in a statement released by the Belgian football federation.

"Unfortunately, the medical examinations have confirmed that Amadou has suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament," Hacene said. "This is devastating news, both for him personally and for the team."

"We immediately consulted with Amadou and with Aston Villa to agree on the best approach to his recovery. Over the coming days, we will jointly determine the next steps in his medical treatment and rehabilitation."

Onana is expected to be sidelined for seven to eight months. An ACL injury typically requires between six and nine months of recovery time.

The injury rules him out of the remainder of the World Cup, where Belgium are preparing for a quarter-final clash against Spain in Los Angeles on Friday. It also means he will miss the start of Aston Villa's Premier League and Champions League campaign.

Despite the injury, Onana will remain with the Belgium squad for their quarter-final against Spain as they push for a semi-final berth.

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The UN Human Rights Office has condemned the racist and dehumanising remarks made by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla against France forward Kylian Mbappe, describing them as "despicable" and regrettably "not isolated".

In a statement released on Tuesday, UN Human Rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said the comments reflected a broader pattern of racism in football and sport.

"The racist and dehumanising remarks against French footballer Kylian Mbappe by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla are despicable and, regrettably, not isolated," Al-Kheetan said.

The UN rights office urged governments and sports organisations to actively prevent acts of racism and discrimination, and to ensure "independent and effective accountability mechanisms" are in place.

Al-Kheetan emphasised that public officials have "a heightened responsibility" to stand against racism, discrimination and hate speech in their public discourse.

"Social media companies also have a responsibility to prevent and address racial discrimination and xenophobic abuse on their platforms, in accordance with international human rights standards," he added.

Amarilla, a member of Paraguay's Liberal Radical Party, posted a torrent of racist abuse on X after France's 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the World Cup Round of 16 on Saturday.

She described Mbappe as a "colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to pass himself off as French" and called him a "brute" who had never learnt to write. In another post, she wrote: "Instead of breast milk, he sucked on coconuts, and the most educated creatures he ever listened to were chimpanzees."

She also suggested Paraguay's players should have slapped him after the match.

The France captain responded with a strongly worded statement on X, calling Amarilla "a despicable woman and unworthy of your position".

"Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country," Mbappe wrote.

"I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world," he added.

France, with Mbappe leading the line, will face Morocco in the World Cup quarter-finals in Boston on Thursday. The 27-year-old is currently joint top-scorer in the tournament with seven goals, level with Argentina's Lionel Messi and Norway's Erling Haaland.

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Hearts of Oak legend Ishmael Addo believes the Ghana Premier League has not produced a striker as clinical as he was during his heyday, insisting he has yet to see a forward in the local game who matches his finishing ability.

Addo, who won the Ghana Premier League top scorer award for three consecutive seasons from 1999 to 2001, made the comments in a recent interview.

The former Hearts hitman was unequivocal about his standing in Ghanaian football history.

“I don't think so, I have yet to see a striker in the Ghana Premier League who is as clinical as I was,” Addo tolf Mohammed Shaban in an interview.

He went on to express his hope for the league's revival and his willingness to encourage emerging talent.

“We all want the league to bounce back to be competitive and full of talents. So if there are young talents coming up who are brilliant, we will encourage them. Why not?”

Addo's confidence is backed by remarkable statistics. He scored 64 goals in 71 appearances during his first spell at Hearts of Oak. According to available data, he netted 103 goals in 123 games across five years at the club.

Addo earned the nickname **“baby-faced assassin”** for his ability to demoralise opposition defences with his pace and finishing. He was capped nine times by Ghana, scoring once.

Samuel Attah Kumi of Bibiani Gold Stars finished as the top scorer of the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League season with 18 goals – four fewer than Addo's record 22-goal haul from 2001.

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