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Monday will be a full slate of knockout games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with heavyweights Brazil, Germany and Netherlands all looking to take big steps to the final. The day opens in Houston when five-time champion Brazil takes on a Japan team that performed well in the group stages and which also won a matchup between the two teams in October. In the day’s second game, Germany is heavily favored over Paraguay in Boston, but it might be tricky for Die Mannschaft as the South American side has been defending well and hasn’t conceded a goal in its last two games. The final game of the day is a surprisingly strong matchup for the round of 32 when two top-10 teams in the FIFA World Rankings meet in Monterrey with the Netherlands facing African powerhouse Morocco, which made the semifinals in 2022 and has only continued to impress since then. Here is everything you need to know for Monday, June 29 at the World Cup. When: Monday, June 29, 1 p.m. ET Where: Houston TV: FOX Stream: Watch three days on FOX One Brazil and Japan square off in a round of 32 matchup at Houston Stadium on Monday in a game that features two teams who did not lose a match in the group stage. Brazil won Group C, with seven points from wins over Haiti and Scotland, along with an opening draw against Morocco. Carlo Ancelotti’s finished atop the group only by goal differential over Morocco. Despite winning the group, there are concerns that this Brazilian team is not where it needs to be to make a deep run. After the draw with Morocco, Ancelotti even went as far as apologizing that his team did not play better. The win over Haiti was not very convincing and in the win over Scotland, Brazil benefited from very poor Scottish mistakes. The best news for Brazil is that Vinícius Junior has lived up to the high expectations that were on him leading into the tournament. The Real Madrid attacker became the fifth Brazilian player to score in all three group stage games. Brazil also saw Neymar, 34, make a 15-minute appearance off the bench against Scotland to end a 981-day absence from the team. Neymar is available for the knockouts, but it remains to be seen how much Ancelotti will rely on him. Japan finished second in Group F behind the Netherlands but ahead of Sweden and Tunisia. It was not perfect, but Hajime Moriyasu’s team impressed for long stretches in each game. In the 2-2 draw with the Netherlands, Japan was able to fight for two equalizers, including one in the 88th minute from Daichi Kamada. After a blowout win over Tunisia, Japan fought for a 1-1 draw with Sweden. The toughest challenge for Japan at this World Cup has been injuries. Before the tournament, multiple starters, including Wataru Endo, were not available for selection due to injuries sustained in the spring. At this tournament, midfielder Takefusa Kubo suffered a knee injury and is questionable to return. The history between the two teams greatly favors Brazil, which has won six of its seven all-time meetings with Japan with a score differential of 21-5. Recent history, however, favors Japan with the team’s only win over Brazil coming in the last match between the two in October 2025. In that game at Tokyo’s Ajinomoto Stadium, Brazil had a 2-0 lead at halftime, but Japan made a ferocious comeback that featured two assists from Junya Ito and a winning goal from Ayase Ueda. Brazil is favored in this game as it is one of the most historically powerful national teams with a record five World Cup trophies in its collection. Meanwhile, Japan has never won a knockout game in the tournament. But this game could be closer than people expect, given the way Japan has been playing in recent years and the confidence the team has in the group stages. Player To Watch The Real Madrid attacker lived up to the lofty expectations placed on him as Brazil’s best offensive player at a World Cup. He is key to Brazil’s hopes of making a deep run and in the group stages, he was electric. When Brazil was trailing Morocco, Vinícius showed up and delivered an equalizer that was one of the best goals in the tournament’s group stage. Against Japan, a lot is riding on his shoulders. If Vinícius plays well, Japan will likely have a tough day. If the 25-year-old native of Rio de Janeiro does not, Japan might be able to pull off the upset. When: Monday, June 29, 4:30 p.m. ET Where: Boston TV: FOX Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One After failing to get out of group play in 2022 and 2018, Germany returns to the knockout stages with the hopes of making a long run in pursuit of its fifth World Cup trophy. Standing in its way will be a Paraguay team that rebounded from an ugly opening loss to the United States to fight its way to a win over Türkiye and a draw with Australia. The teams will meet at Boston Stadium in Monday’s second game of the day. Germany has not been among the world’s elite teams since winning the World Cup in 2014. The team was grouped in the last two World Cups and its last two European Championships have also been unsuccessful with a round of 16 loss in 2021 and a quarterfinal loss in 2024. The signs for this German team are mixed. Die Mannschaft carried an impressive 11-match winning streak into its final group stage game against Ecuador but suffered a surprising 2-1 loss, albeit with a heavily rotated squad. Head coach Julian Nagelsmann has his team playing with a smooth and attacking style, driven by midfielders Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, with Kai Havertz serving as the primary attacking focal point. Meanwhile, there has been nothing pretty about Paraguay’s road to this point. Its two results, a 1-0 win over Türkiye and the 0-0 draw with Australia, have been hard-fought grinds. Against Türkiye, Paraguay scored with a surprising early goal from Matias Galarza but Miguel Almiron was sent off in the first half. La Albirroja was only able to win after sitting deep and defending with 10 men. In these last two games, Gustavo Alfaro’s team has been outshot 44-14 but has not conceded a goal due to a combination of outstanding defense and luck. Against Germany, Paraguay will once again sit in a low block and look for occasional counterattacks for set-piece opportunities. Paraguay would be very satisfied to see the game go to penalties. Player To Watch Germany’s tall center forward is the key to unlocking Paraguay’s low block, as he can score in the air and in tight spaces. The Arsenal attacker was not particularly effective in the recent games against the Ivory Coast and Ecuador, although he scored two goals against Curaçao, who was also sitting deep. Look for Germany to try to get Havertz involved early and often. If Germany can muster a quick goal, Paraguay will have to come out of its shell — which is not something it wants to do. When: Monday, June 29, 9 p.m. ET Where: Monterrey TV: FOX Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One In one of the most anticipated matchups in the round of 32, Morocco and the Netherlands square off at Monterrey Stadium in Mexico on Monday night. For the Netherlands, it impressively won its Group F with seven points from wins over Sweden and Tunisia along with a draw. But it turns out to not be much of a prize, as the Dutch were rewarded with a challenging matchup against a Morocco team that made the semifinals in 2022 and now enters this game ranked seventh in the FIFA World Rankings, one ahead of the Netherlands. Ronald Koeman’s team has a strong attack that is led by winger Cody Gakpo and Brian Brobbey, who each have two goals in the tournament. The Dutch have also been very strong on set pieces, with their immensely talented central defense tandem of Virgil van Dijk and Jan Paul van Hecke each scoring a goal. If Morocco is going to pull off the win, it will need to defend well against set pieces in one-on-one positions from out wide. On the attack, the Atlas Lions will continue to rely heavily on forward Ismael Saibari, who scored in each of the three group stage games, and Real Madrid winger Brahim Díaz, who also notched two assists in the opening three games. In an expanded World Cup with a new round of 32, it is surprising to see two teams this strong in the first knockout game. The Netherlands are unbeaten in 15 World Cup matches, when not including penalties. Morocco is unbeaten in 31 matches overall. Both teams have realistic expectations of being in the Final in three weeks. Player To Watch The Sunderland center forward does not boast the resume of a center forward for a World Cup contender. But Brobbey is a great fit for this Netherlands team. He scored three goals in the group stages and has displayed a lot of great chemistry with his team’s wingers and midfielders. If he is on, he is going to have chances against Morocco, and he is one of his team’s big keys to advancing to the round of 16.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Seventy-two matches down, just 32 remaining, and something I’ve never quite seen before is happening. The 2026 World Cup is a true melting pot of fans, cultures and soccer adoration combined for an unforgettable group stage, and we’re not even close to done yet. Whether as a player for Colombia’s national team or as a broadcaster, I thought I’d seen it all. Copa América, the London Olympics, World Cups. But this tournament is special. Yes, we’ve had some phenomenal action on the pitch. Unbelievable goals, gravity-defying saves, awesome underdog victories and superstars like Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé on fire with an all-time Golden Boot race. The football gods are showering us. But with the unique format of this World Cup — 48 teams, 16 cities, three countries — what’s happening off the pitch is just as cool. I’ve been all over the U.S. covering it: Los Angeles, Dallas, New York/New Jersey, Seattle, Kansas City, my home in Miami. The energy in the stadiums is unmatched, and the vibes are amazing. No wonder so many fans are going viral. Take the USA. Los Angeles Stadium was electric for the Americans’ opening win over Paraguay. After beating Australia in Seattle, Mauricio Pochettino chanted and cheered with the crowd, comparing American fans to Argentina’s base. Everyone singing “Take Me Home, Country Roads” was like the fans were part of the team. It was incredible to see what felt like the whole country rally around the team. No doubt that’ll help grow the American game even more than we thought hosting a World Cup would. The 47 other fan bases have shined, too. Just look at Kansas and Missouri, where Argentina, the Netherlands, Algeria and England are based for the tournament. Netherlands supporters showed up big time with a massive Oranje Fanwalk in downtown Kansas City, Kansas, while La Albiceleste fans morphed Kansas City, Missouri, into the Buenos Aires of the Midwest. Japan fans led drum-driven chants at Dallas Stadium, and their iconic post-match tradition of cleaning up stadiums is the definition of class. Norway supporters are rowing everywhere, from up escalators to down New York subway aisles. Moroccan fans made up for smaller numbers with dazzling passion. Even Türkiye fans were LOUD loud when their team beat the U.S., despite no chance of advancing to the knockouts. And I can’t tell you the number of times I wished I was at a bar with all the Tartan Army as it took over Boston and Miami. I was in Miami for Scotland-Brazil, and although there were many more Brazil fans in attendance, you never would have known with the Tartan Army’s spirit. During the Scottish national anthem, an older man basked in the moment, arms outstretched. Families of Brazil and Scotland fans hugged after the anthems, as if to say, “We’re just so happy to be here.” At that match, Scottish bagpipes merged with Brazilian samba, and whatever that remix was, I need it in my life. That was so freaking cool. True cultural fusion. The blend of cultures is so heartwarming, and maybe that’s exactly what people need right now. Saturday night in Miami was particularly personal for me at the Colombia-Portugal match. Unsurprisingly, the stadium was packed with Colombia fans. Incredible. I teared up during the national anthem. Finally, finally, finally, I saw my team play in person and at a tournament that’s the perfect depiction of how beautiful a melting pot this country has, it all came together for me in a full-circle moment. When I was a player, I’d often hear about cool fan moments. Sometimes, see them on TV or in real life in the stands. But we didn’t know much about the interactions outside of games. Social media changed that. We’re more connected now, we have more avenues to share our experiences, and people can’t get enough. You could talk numbers, talk goals, make predictions and speculate over the eventual winner. But this tournament is bridging people from all walks of life together, showing the value of community and connection. All the joy and excitement comes down to the people, and that’s the beauty of our game. Scattered across North America, World Cup fans are celebrating, uniting and sharing their love for the game and national pride and traditions with each other. Just when I thought our game couldn’t get any more beautiful, it did.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage is over, and as I said to Zlatan on air: this is the end of the chapter, not the end of the book. We’ve still got a lot of the book to read, but this was a beefy chapter — historically beefy, with a lot of soccer but also a lot of great moments off the field. But it’s at the end of this chapter and moving that things get real, real serious. The bracket is set, and now all 32 teams can start to dream about their path to the final. In the spirit of that, I’ve gone ahead and filled out my bracket. Will the U.S. advance to the round of 16? Will we get a rematch of France and Argentina in the final? Let’s dive in: The Bracket The talent in the upper left quadrant made picking a winner nearly impossible to pick the final, but we got there with France and Colombia. I’ve been talking Colombia up since before the tournament started, so I feel I have to back them. And after their result against Portugal, I feel much better about it, but it would still be incredible for that to happen. But even I can not confidently say Colombia will beat France, the most impressive team of the group stage, in a final scenario. First, Kylian Mbappé was the star. Then Ousmane Dembélé was the star. They’re deep, everyone’s scoring, they’re changing and there is just a wealth of talent to choose from. How Far Will The U.S. Go? As I said before the tournament: we should win the round of 32. You win the group, and now you’re in the round of 32 against a team you should beat, which is exactly what’s happening here. Then you get into the round of 16, where we’ve always been, and we’re going to come up against a team that is on our level or some people think is better than us. And whether that’s a Senegal or a Belgium, now you’re going to have to really step up. Then you’re in ratified air. If it ultimately ends up being Spain in that quarterfinal there … oof. That’s a hard one. That would be the moment in American soccer history if they were able to beat a team like Spain in the quarterfinals. It’s a different proposition, walking out for the round of 16 against Belgium, as opposed to walking out for a quarterfinal game against Spain. If it’s somehow Portugal, I’ll take that all day. I would feel more confident in the U.S. going through to the semifinals in that scenario than us against someone like Spain. World Cup Bracket Predictions Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final Champion: France​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

ANAHEIM, Calif. — When Perry Minasian was hired as the Angels’ general manager after the 2020 season, the team was coming off a fifth straight losing season and a sixth straight year missing the playoffs. Five-plus years later, that playoff drought is now at 11 seasons with no sign of a turnaround in 2026. With the Angels in last place in the American League West, seven games back in the division and 6.5 games back of a wild-card spot, team president Molly Jolly made a change. Minasian, who went 392-500 during his tenure, is out as the Angels’ GM. It’s not especially surprising that Minasian was fired — the Angels never had a winning record or finished better than third place during his tenure — but the timing of the news came as a surprise an hour before Friday’s opener against the A’s, with two weeks to go before the draft and barely a month to go before the trade deadline. I asked Jolly if there was any consideration to waiting until after the draft to make the move. “There was consideration given to both scenarios, before and after,” she said Saturday. “My choice was to make a decision sooner rather than later.” John Mozeliak, who spent 30 seasons in St. Louis, including 18 running the Cardinals’ baseball operations department before stepping down at the end of the 2025 season, was announced as the Angels’ baseball operations consultant and interim GM. Mozeliak, who was introduced Saturday at a 30-minute press conference, will oversee the team’s baseball operations strategy and assist in the search for a new long-term GM. Here’s more on what’s next for the Angels, Mozeliak and the team’s GM search. What’s Next For The Angels? Manager Kurt Suzuki, who was hired before this season on a one-year contract — will remain in place this year, along with the rest of the coaching staff, according to Mozelia. Suzuki was the fourth full-time skipper under Minasian over five-plus years. None of them have been able to work miracles. Under the watch of owner Arte Moreno and the direction of Minasian, the Angels never built the requisite depth or infrastructure around superstar Mike Trout to make the postseason and never committed to the full rebuild that could meaningfully steer the team toward future contention. The most glaring misstep came in late July 2023. Instead of trading Shohei Ohtani to get a haul that could reshape the farm system, the Angels dealt more prospects away in an effort to go for it. On July 26, 2023, they traded for pitchers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López. Four days later, they added outfielder Randal Grichuk and first baseman C.J. Cron. The Angels were five games back in the division and four games off a wild-card spot at the time. The moves immediately backfired. They went 8-19 in August and then waved the white flag, trying to ease their financial burden as the season spiraled by placing many of the players they acquired on waivers. Manager Phil Nevin was out after the 2023 season. So was Ohtani, who went up the road to Los Angeles and immediately won two World Series. The Angels stayed irrelevant over the ensuing years, finishing in last place each of the last two seasons under manager Ron Washington and interim manager Ray Montgomery. They went from having a perennial top-10 payroll to the 15th-ranked payroll at the start of this season. They are again in last place, trending toward their 12th straight season without playoff baseball. “A lot of things we can use to sort of determine if the organization is healthy or not, but I think for me, where Molly and I are connecting on this, we understand wins and losses matter, but how do you get to a place where that becomes consistent?” Mozeliak said. It’s an ambitious endeavor, as the future does not inspire much confidence. The poor farm system Minasian inherited never got better, and his free-agent moves over the past few years fell well short of sparking change. Despite picking in the top half of the MLB Draft every year since 2019, the Angels still rank among the lowest-ranked farm systems in MLB. They currently have one player, 2025 first-round pick Tyler Bremner, who ranks among the top 100 of most prospect rankings. The Angels’ proclivity for selecting college players who can help quickly, then zooming them up to the big leagues rather than letting them develop, has not yielded many success stories. Shortstop Zach Neto, who was called up after just 44 minor-league games after being selected in the first round in 2022, is one of the few over the past few years. The trajectory of pitcher Ryan Johnson, a 2024 second-round pick, is more emblematic of the apparatus. He made the Opening Day roster before he had ever played in a minor-league game last season, then recorded an ERA over 7.00 before getting optioned. Johnson has an ERA over 8.00 in six appearances this season. There are, however, some interesting pitchers on the team who could draw trade interest. Reid Detmers, a 2020 first-round pick, is enjoying a career year and ranks sixth in the American League in strikeouts. José Soriano is right behind him, ranking seventh in strikeouts with a 3.32 ERA. Both are under team control through 2028. But would Moreno actually let a new GM sell at the deadline and start a full rebuild? As of Saturday afternoon, less than 24 hours after taking the job, Mozeliak said he had not met with Moreno and wasn’t certain about deadline strategy. “Mr. Moreno is the owner; my job is to have a healthy relationship with him,” Mozeliak said. “I think the short-term focus for me is just, what does that communication line look like and making sure he understands what our direction is, and I’m looking forward to that. “I’ve worked with lots of different owners at different levels in sports, and I understand how they go about it,” he continued. “The one thing you have to understand, and I don’t know Mr. Moreno — I have not met him [since taking the job] — but I can tell you this: He does care. He does want to win. He probably is a little bit too much of a fan than not, and that’s a hard thing because sometimes on the business side of this game you have to make decisions that sometimes aren’t fun to make. But as an owner, I can see how that gets a little blended. “But I assure you guys I wouldn’t be sitting here if I didn’t think he truly loved this team and cared about this city and wanted this to work.” What’s Next For Mozeliak? This was an interesting move for the long-time Cardinals executive, who expressed a desire to take some time away from the game after last season and recognized the need for a change in St. Louis. The Cardinals reached the postseason 10 times under Mozeliak’s guidance, winning six division titles, two National League pennants and the 2011 World Series. In recent years, however, the team failed to develop the swing-and-miss pitchers required to succeed in the current game, an oversight that current president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom is seeking to fix. After making the playoffs every year from 2019-22, the Cardinals went three straight years without a postseason appearance. Mozeliak was ready for a breather, and enjoyed getting one. “I could go to bed when I was tired,” he said. “I didn’t have to wait until the last minor-league team played. It was just a very different lifestyle, but I still did miss a lot of aspects of the game. Just walking around the clubhouse today, seeing some of my old friends and people I’ve worked with, it’s energizing.” He plans to spend the next couple months assessing his new organization from top to bottom. He preached patience. “We need a little time to sort of work through this,” Mozeliak said. “But when we come out on the other end of this tunnel, we hope to be in a very successful place.” Mozeliak’s contract goes through December, and he said he “absolutely” plans to have a new general manager in place by then. As for whether Mozeliak will have a long-term role with the club after he oversees the leadership change this year, that remains to be seen. “I’m not necessarily, when my contract ends, going to completely walk away,” Mozeliak said. “Depending on who ends up getting hired, what the team looks like, there could be a position or a role that makes sense for me to stay around. In the meantime, I just think I could be very helpful in really bridging the gap for someone like Molly, who is coming from the business side to oversee baseball operations. We mutually agreed that this could be beneficial for both parties. “I don’t want it to sound like, ‘Oh, I’m just coming in here to do a quick hit and get out.’ But on a personal level, I’m just not ready to give away my life again for 80 hours a week, 100 hours a week, to just do baseball. I did like my time away a little bit. … Every baseball exec deserves a sabbatical. For some reason, the industry doesn’t give that to them. Having said that, I don’t know what the future holds.” What’s Next For The Angels GM Search? Mozeliak said he has a “short list” of candidates that he has already started preparing, but a leadership change sounds unlikely until the trade deadline passes. “With the draft coming, trade deadline coming, candidates that we will be looking at, you can’t be asking permission now,” Mozeliak said. “But once you get past the trade deadline, I think it’s fair game. So, my intentions would be to start beginning that process post-trade deadline.” As for the draft, which is now just two weeks away, Mozeliak plans on letting scouting director Tim McIlvaine take the reins. “Even when I sat in that seat for 18 years as general manager, I never scouted amateur players,” Mozeliak said. “I felt that was their responsibility. So they’re going to have a lot of autonomy to do it. The only real impact I’m going to have is first off understanding their process. I think the Cardinals have proven we had a very good one over time, and try to mirror that if we can. Short notice, but we’ll do the best we can to replicate that.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

From hat tricks to even more hat tricks, the superstars we’ve come to expect every day brilliance delivered in the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage, and then some.But this tournament is also where new stars are born, and that was especially true in the first-ever group stage with 48 teams all competing for a spot in the knockout stage.To commemorate a historic — and a just outright fun — group stage, here are my First and Second All-Group Stage starting lineups: JUMP TO: First-Team Group Stage XI | Second-Team Group Stage XI GOALKEEPER Three games, three clean sheets — Spain marched out of its Group without conceding a single goal, and the star keeper barely had to break a sweat doing it. DEFENDERS Led Japan’s back line for the full 90 minutes against the Netherlands and Tunisia and doubled as the build-up engine, leading the Samurai Blue in line-breaking passes on the way to the knockouts. He anchored the defense of Germany’s nine-goal flying start before an ankle injury ended his tournament—a half of group stage dominance too good to leave out. The calm, ball-playing head at the heart of the defense that won Switzerland’s group as he helped stymie Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina following a steady opening draw with Qatar. The right-back and Atlas Lions captain scored a goal and helped set one up in the 4-2 comeback over Haiti in a pivotal performance, and coming down the flank all tournament as Morocco banked seven points. MIDFIELDERS The midfield maestro pulled the strings for Group C winners Brazil and saved his best for last, laying on two assists in the 3-0 win of Scotland. Senegal’s brightest spark with three goals, including the tap-in that sealed the day in a must-win 5-0 performance over Iraq. England’s most creative player—ten chances created in the Three Lions’ first two games—the metronome of Group L winners England before earning a breather against Panama. FORWARDS With back-to-back braces against Senegal and Iraq — four goals so far — the Real Madrid man spearheaded France’s perfect nine-point sweep of its group. Messi scored every single one of Argentina’s goals in the opening two matches—a hat-trick against Algeria and a brace against Austria. Oh, and he became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history. The PSG star reminded everyone he’s the reigning Ballon d’Or winner with a stunning video game-esque first-half hat-trick against Norway, one of the fastest in World Cup history, totaling four goals in the group. GOALKEEPER The 40-year-old Instagram sensation stole the show with a Man-of-the-Match wall in the goalless stand against Spain, keeping Cape Verde’s debut fairytale alive across three draws and into the last 32. DEFENDERS The breakout fullback of the group stage — his towering header sealed a 2-0 win over Australia, the first World Cup goal by a U.S. defender in over a decade, as the Americans topped Group D. Steady at center-back and a threat from set pieces, heading home in the win over Tunisia as the Dutch cruised to the top of Group F. Nineteen years old and completely unbothered — the kid anchored a Spain back line that didn’t concede a single goal across the entire group stage. A right-back who scored like a winger, netting in back-to-back wins over Uzbekistan and DR Congo as Colombia stormed through the Group K unbeaten. MIDFIELDERS The 20-year-old announced himself with a super-sub brace against Bosnia and Herzegovina, then a goal and an assist on his first start to beat Canada — three goals and Switzerland’s top scorer, all from a kid who began the tournament on the bench. Scored in all three games — opener against Brazil, winner against Scotland, and an equalizer against Haiti — becoming the first player on an African squad to find the net in every group match. One of the tournament’s top ball winners, he ran the show in Ecuador’s stunning 2-1 upset of Germany, stealing the ball to tee up the equalizer before delivering the pass for the winner that sent his country through. FORWARDS Scored in every game — four goals, including a brace against Scotland — the relentless engine that carried Brazil to the top of Group C. The towering striker arrived on the World Cup stage with back-to-back braces against Iraq and Senegal — four goals — before being wrapped in cotton wool for the France game. The super sub had five goal involvements (three goals, two assists) off the bench, repeatedly rescued Germany when the starters couldn’t.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The United States men’s national team now knows its path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and it’s not going to be easy — far from it. Although the U.S. won Group D by winning two group-stage matches for the first time since 1930, it is expected to play just one team ranked lower than it in the FIFA Men’s World Rankings through the knockout stage due to some surprises on the final days of group play. Additionally, the United States is already a long-shot to win the World Cup even after its strong start to the tournament with +3500 odds, the ninth-best odds in the tournament. Still, the Americans’ performance in the group stage has dared their fans — and themselves — to dream. Here’s everything you need to know about the United States’ path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final: This simulation of the United States’ path to the World Cup final assumes two things: This creates the hardest — and maybe most realistic — path for the U.S. to make the final. Date: July 1Location: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium Date: July 6Location: Seattle Stadium Date: July 10Location: Los Angeles Stadium Date: July 15Location: Dallas Stadium Date: July 19Location: New York New Jersey Stadium​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup reaching the knockout rounds, fans will soon see 90-minute draws turn into extra time and penalty shootouts. At each of the last three World Cups, there were at least four matches decided by penalty shootouts, but in 2026, with 32 teams advancing to the knockout rounds instead of 16, that number could increase. So what is the approach for goalkeepers defending against penalty-takers in these shootouts? And what is the approach for those who take penalty kicks? We asked former U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper Brad Guzan and former Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel how they approached stopping penalty kicks. And on the flipside, we asked former U.S. men’s national team star forward Clint Dempsey what goes into making a penalty kick in a high-pressure moment. Here’s how they break down penalty kicks in a step-by-step process. Preparation Well before any penalty kicks are taken, several hours of preparation are put into stopping or converting them. However, Guzan admitted that he always felt “the pressure was on the penalty-taker.” Still, Guzan, who was on America’s roster at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups and spent nine seasons with MLS club Atlanta United after a nine-year career in England, always felt supremely prepared for penalty shootouts. Before the start of a penalty shootout, he’d meet with the goalkeeper’s coach, study his opponents and put himself in a position to succeed. “You’ve done your research, you’ve done your homework leading up to the game,” Guzan said. “You’ve got a list, a piece of paper with their names and their tendencies. That gives you that little reminder, and then, go for it.” Defending a penalty shootout is similar to being an infielder or outfielder in baseball and reading your positioning card before each batter steps onto the plate. A hitter can beat a shift, similar to how a penalty-taker can stray from their normal strategy, but following the history, the film, the research best prepares a goalkeeper. “At that point, you trust in your gut, you trust in what you’ve seen. And if you go the right way, you hope that you’ve put yourself in a position to make a save,” Guzan said. Trusting the preparation is key, Guzan explained, emphasizing that once a goalkeeper chooses a side to dive to, they have to commit. Mind Games When it actually comes time for penalty kicks, there’s another advantage that goalkeepers have, according to Guzan: playing mind games. Guzan said he wouldn’t trash-talk penalty kickers, but he would certainly ice them. “I was a delay guy. Talking to the referee, getting a sip of water. I’m touching the post over there, I’m touching the post over here.” That strategy, however, is much harder to implement at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where there are rules to ensure the game flows smoothly, where officials have awarded corner kicks when goalkeepers take too long to take a goal kick, and issued cards for wasting time. So, that’s why some other goalkeepers take their preparation and mind games to an extra level. Former Denmark and Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel shared that the teams he was a part of would seek the help of a mentalist to try and get an extra advantage in penalty kick situations. “For me, it was always about control,” Schmeichel said. “We actually used a mentalist, a guy that guesses things that you’re thinking, but they’re putting it in your head. So, we actually asked one of those to see what we can actually do to influence a taker, and it would be things like overemphasizing certain words. “In a VAR situation, when the referee is out checking, I had a chance to talk to the taker. I’d overemphasize words like over or right or left, or try to do different things that they kind of taught us to look for. Can I get some kind of influence?” Another challenge for goalkeepers is the introduction of late-game substitutes, or a penalty shootout going longer than five attempts. That can lead to penalty-takers who have few attempts on their record, and therefore, no concrete tendencies. In the end, Guzan said, it’s important to “trust in what you’ve already done,” and “commit and go.” The Run-Up Now, the ref has blown the whistle and it’s time for the taker to step up to the ball for the kick. When Dempsey would take his first steps toward the ball, there was one move he would make that he thought gave the penalty kick taker an advantage. “To me, you stutter step to see if the keeper is going to go early,” Dempsey said. “If the keeper doesn’t go early, then you have to be precise. And you know in your mind where you like to go in those scenarios. There are times when you see the keeper bite, and then you’re able to change it up. I think different strokes for different folks.” With penalty takers like Dempsey admitting that they tried to get the goalkeeper to move early, Guzan admitted that stopping penalty shots was “all about timing.” “The timing to explode and the timing to go with whatever side you decide, left or right,” Guzan said. “You want to go with everything you have. When you stutter, that timing becomes really difficult to make sure you don’t go early.” The Attempt Ultimately, the vast majority of penalty kicks are determined by how the ball comes off the taker’s foot. Will the taker aim for the far posts? Will he or she aim for the middle of the net? Do you put some umph on the shot to power it past the goalkeeper or do you bounce it in? Dempsey said that the best takers have to weigh everything and be able to make penalty kicks in form or fashion. “You have to mix up how you do your penalty kicks. You have to be willing to chip down the middle and not do the stutter step,” Dempsey said, adding, “If you’re going to be the most complete penalty taker, you have to have an array of ways in which you take it.” And on the keeper’s end, Guzan continued to emphasize the importance of timing, believing that the slightest difference in reaction time could determine if the ball goes in or is saved. “The timing then has to be so precise,” Guzan said. “Even then, if the ball is far enough in the corner, it becomes really difficult to save, knowing that you’ve got to be at full extension to get even the slightest fingertip to get it on the post or around the post.” The Result Hours of preparation and studying are behind every penalty kick. Moments of intense thinking precede each try, too. All of those little things helped Dempsey make 16 penalty kicks on 21 attempts in his club and international career (excluding penalty kick shootouts). For Guzan, he saved 17 of the 71 penalty kicks he faced in his club and international career (also excluding penalty kick shootouts). But all of that time and thinking might not matter in the end, at least on the goalkeeper’s side. “We had faced a penalty against Peru in the World Cup 2018. I kept overemphasizing the word over, ‘Don’t hit this over,’ all these kinds of things, emphasizing the word over,” said Schmeichel, who saved 26 of 99 penalty shots he faced over his career (excluding penalty kick shootouts). “Whether it made a difference, I don’t know.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Croatia was able to secure a second place finish in Group L after defeating Ghana 2-1 at Philadelphia Stadium on Saturday afternoon. It was a hard-earned victory for Croatia, which began the game slowly until it found a long-range goal from Petar Sučić. After Ghana mounted a comeback to equalize, Croatia pulled ahead for good with a late set-piece goal. Here are my thoughts on it all: 1. Sučić’s Goal Set The Tone In the early stages of this game, there was very little offense for either team. That changed in the 31st minute when Mateo Kovacić found Petar Sučić in the middle of the field. The Inter Milan midfielder seemed surprised with how much space he had and opted to hit a powerful low shot inside the left post past Ghana goalkeeper Benjamin Asare. For Sučić, it was just his second goal for the national team, but he continues to be an important player for head coach Zlatko Dalić after deciding to switch his national team affiliation from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Croatia in 2024. It was the first goal that Ghana conceded in this World Cup but the tone of the game changed. Prior to that, everything was defensive. The only other real chance for Croatia had been when Nikola Vlašić hit the post following a mistake. Following the goal, Croatia began to look more comfortable in possession. Its passes were more attack oriented through the remainder of the half. 2. Ghana Had An Impressive Second-Half Response After Sučić’s goal, Ghana was forced to chase a goal for the first time this tournament. Head coach Carlos Queiroz was only hired just before the tournament and his most important priority was to patch up the team’s leaky defense. Forced to attack, Queiroz made a series of changes at halftime, likely to seek to support the team’s attackers, including Manchester City winger Antoine Semenyo, who is the team’s best offensive player. Those changes worked and at the start of the second half, Ghana began to generate more balls played deeper in Croatia’s half. In the 73rd, Ghana finally found its equalizer on a free kick from Ernest Nuamah that found central defender Derrick Luckassen. It took a long VAR review to confirm the goal, but ultimately it was given when it was judged any player Ghana had in an offside position on the free kick was not interfering with the play. 3. A Flashback Performance By Modrić In a tournament where players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are defying age, Luka Modrić also put in a performance that was reminiscent of when he was arguably the best midfielder in the world. After Ghana scored, all the momentum was in favor of the Black Stars. The game was now even and Ghana had most of the possession and scoring chances in the second half. Then Croatia quickly responded. Mario Pasalić, 31, fired a rocket of a shot in the 82nd that forced a great save from Asare. On the ensuing corner kick, 40-year-old Modrić, in his 201st cap, sent a perfect ball onto the head of Nikola Vlasic, who beat Asare. In doing so, Modrić became the oldest player on record to ever record an assist at the World Cup. Modrić continued to play extremely well. On the defensive side, Modric was at his best where he broke up a series of plays and covered a ton of ground. There were many questions about whether Modrić would have the engine to run the team’s midfield in this tournament, but this was a great performance from him. Modrić was not alone, however, as long-time veterans Ivan Perišić and Mateo Kovacić were very important late in the game when Croatia needed to find another level. It was not a pretty win, but it was a win that required experience and a lot of hard work defensively. Croatia was up for the challenge. 4. Both Teams Will Face Stern Tests In Round of 32 Ghana knew before the opening whistle that it had qualified for the knockout stages. Croatia knew it needed a result. When England moved ahead of Panama in the second half, these teams knew it was a race for second place in the group. For Croatia, it will next play the runner-up of Group K and that will very likely be either Colombia or Portugal. For Croatia, this will again where it will need to rely heavily on Modrić. Even at 40, he will be a huge asset to the team in difficult knockout games. For Ghana, it will next play the winner of Group K. Ghana will be the heavy underdog in that game and will have to raise its level above what it showed against England in a scoreless draw.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

England came to New Jersey needing only a point to win Group L. It made five changes, and spent an hour playing like a team that had already mentally checked into its knockout-stage hotel. Panama sat deep in a low block with everyone behind the ball. England passed it sideways. For 62 minutes, the scoreboard sat frozen at 0-0, and the performance barely registered a pulse. Then Jude Bellingham decided he’d seen enough. Two goals in five minutes, a clean sheet, top spot locked. Job done. Style points politely declined. Here are my takeaways from England’s 2-0 win over Panama: 1. England Win Group L. Now the Bracket Bares Its Teeth. England finished first in Group L with seven points: a 4-2 win over Croatia, a flat 0-0 with Ghana and this 2-0 win over Panama. Croatia grabbed second. Ghana slipped to third, locked firmly into place as a third-place qualifier. The reward for topping the group is a Round of 32 match in Atlanta on July 1 against a third-placed team out of Group E, H, I, J or K. Winning that match makes the road ahead progressively more challenging: co-hosts Mexico potentially waiting in the Round of 16, Brazil in the quarters, Argentina in the semis. England was expected to win the group. Now it’s time to fix the issues fans saw in their last two group stage performances. 2. The Low Block Is Still England’s Kryptonite We’ve seen this one before. Against Ghana, England huffed and puffed and drew a blank against a packed defense. Against Panama’s 5-4-1, it was the same script for an hour: 68% of the ball, endless sideways passing, nobody making the run that actually scares a back five. The first half was flat and low on energy — the kind of half that makes it hard to convince new fans of the sport to tune in for a second. Here’s the truth: England has far too much quality to look this lifeless. The talent eventually decided the game, as it always threatens to. But England’s future opponents will know very well how to neutralize Thomas Tuchel’s system. The German manager has a recurring problem to solve. When teams sit deep, England slows down instead of speeding up. Quality rescued them today. It may not be the case next week. 3. Tuchel Rotated Hard. Bellingham and Kane Made It Work. Five changes from the starting XI vs. Ghana. On came Jarell Quansah for his tournament debut, playing out of position at fullback, along with Morgan Rogers, Nico O’Reilly, Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford. Out went Reece James (hamstring), Anthony Gordon, Djed Spence, Noni Madueke and — gasp— Declan Rice, England’s most creative player through two games. With the top spot nearly secure, Tuchel managed legs and yellow cards. Fair enough. The standouts were the obvious ones. Bellingham scored and assisted, becoming the youngest England player on record to do both in a World Cup match. Harry Kane headed home his 11th career World Cup goal to pass Gary Lineker as England’s all-time leading scorer at the tournament. Saka’s corner made the first. Rashford’s long ball sprung the second. Going forward, expect Rice straight back in and the first-choice XI restored. Today was rotation. The knockouts won’t be. 4. So Long, Panama. You Made Them Earn It. Panama goes home with zero points, three losses, and last place in the group. On paper, brutal. In practice, they did the job they came to do, and they did it for an hour longer than anyone expected. England got a taste of a scrappy, no-nonsense CONCACAF foe. Stacked against a side worth a king’s ransom, Orlando Mosquera and his teammates sat deep, stayed compact, and turned a glamour fixture into a slog. The 5-4-1 held until the 62nd minute. Against this much talent, that’s a genuine achievement. This was only the second meeting between these nations; the first was England’s 6-1 romp back in 2018. Tonight, Panama lost by two and made England fight for every blade of grass. No point on the board, no fairytale, but no humiliation either. They came to inconvenience a giant, and for 62 minutes, they did exactly that. Buen viaje, Panama.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

There are a record-breaking 10 African countries participating at this World Cup, and nine of those 10 clinched a spot in the knockout stage. A remarkable achievement for a continent that had only five teams at the 2022 World Cup. African Countries That Have Qualified For The Round Of 32: MoroccoEgyptSouth AfricaIvory CoastCape Verde SenegalGhanaDR CongoAlgeria African Countries That Did Not Advance To The Round Of 32: Tunisia Prior to the start of the 2026 World Cup, only six African countries had ever qualified for the knockout stage in World Cup history, with 11 total African teams reaching that point. Morocco: 1986, 2022 (semifinals)Nigeria: 1994, 1998, 2014Senegal: 2002 (quarterfinals), 2022Cameroon: 1990 (quarterfinals)Ghana: 2006, 2010 (quarterfinals)Algeria: 2014 That makes this campaign even more incredible. More African countries could qualify for the knockout stage of this tournament than had ever done so across the entire history of the World Cup. It shows the growth and development of African football and how African players are increasingly able to compete at the highest level against the best teams in the world. In this campaign, African teams have taken points off Brazil, England, Portugal, Spain, Uruguay and Belgium — all squads with history and pedigree that have struggled to cope with the quality of African teams. It also shows the trajectory of where Africa can go in the future. South Africa hosted the event in 2010. Morocco will join European neighbors Spain and Portugal in 2030 in co-hosting duties, and the investment and development within African football federations is continuing to grow. We have seen African teams make runs to the quarterfinals. We saw the deepest African run ever at the last World Cup, with Morocco reaching the semifinals. So, how long will it be until we see an African team lift the World Cup trophy? FOX Sports analyst Peter Crouch believes that moment may be coming sooner than many think, saying, “It’s a matter of time before an African team wins a World Cup.” And his observation has real validity when you look at the progression of African football. African teams are going further in the World Cup, competing with the best teams in the world, and now breaking records for knockout-stage qualification. That time might be coming sooner rather than later.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports