Daily FIFA World Cup soccer match updates and news for Black Press Media publications.
All three host nations of the 2026 World Cup have been eliminated in the round of 16. Canada was eliminated July 4, Mexico on July 5th and the United States on July 6.
The United States were outplayed by Belgium and was defeated 4-1 on Monday (July 6) in Seattle, WA.
Portugal was also eliminated after losing to Spain 1-0 earlier on Monday. Portuguese soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed after the match that this was his last World Cup.
“I’m fine, sad to leave the World Cup this way. But, as I said yesterday in the press conference, I gave my best and I leave with a clear conscience,” he told SportTV after the game. “That’s the life of a football player. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose and we need to keep going. The truth is that it was my last World Cup, and now I will have time with my family so as not to make decisions in the heat of the moment.
The final two Round of 16 matches take place today (July 7), with Argentina taking on Egypt at 9 a.m. in Atlanta, followed by Switzerland taking on Colombia at 1 p.m. at BC Place in Vancouver.
In response to FIFA allowing USA’s Folarin Balogun to play on Monday against Belgium, FIFA president Gianni Infantino issued a statement on X that “FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected.”
He confirmed he did get a call from U.S. President Donald Trump about the suspension.
“During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold,” he said.
DID YOU KNOW?
“Lionel Messi has scored in a record eight successive fixtures at the FIFA World Cup. France’s Just Fontaine (1958) and Brazil’s Jairzinho (1970) are his closest competitors in that department, having scored in six consecutive matches at the finals,” according to FIFA data.
ROUND OF 16 SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, July 7:
Argentina vs. Egypt in Atlanta, 9 a.m.
Switzerland vs. Colombia in Vancouver, 1 p.m.
No matches Wednesday, July 8
QUARTER-FINALS
Thursday, July 9:
Morocco vs. winner of FRA vs PAR at 1 p.m. in Boston
Friday, July 10:
Spain vs. Belgium at 12 p.m. in Los Angeles
Saturday, July 11
Norway vs. England at 5 p.m. in Miami
Winner of ARG vs EGY match vs. winner of SUI vs. COL match at 8 p.m. in Kansas City
===========
READ MORE:
17K hotdogs consumed: Vancouver by the numbers as FIFA World Cup hits halfway mark
World Cup numbers: 39-day FIFA soccer tournament started June 11 in Mexico.
2026 FIFA World Cup: An in-depth look at Canada’s midfielders and forwards.
2026 FIFA World Cup: An in-depth look into Canada’s goalkeepers and defence.
TROZZO: What a doctor on Canada’s bench in ’86 bench taught me about the World Cup.
PHOTOS: B.C.’s Science World fully transforms into FIFA World Cup match ball.
Vancouver’s 1st World Cup match led to TransLink’s busiest Saturday since Olympics.