Football Articles | Mail Online

• FIFA appoints Slavko Vincic to referee World Cup final... six years after he was arrested at a sex party where cocaine and guns were found17 July 2026, 1:24 am
  Lionel Messi is chasing a second successive World Cup triumph after leading Argentina to the final - despite allegations of favoritism from officials during the tournament.
  
• Harry Kane breaks his silence after England exit as Three Lions captain bemoans 'missing final piece of the jigsaw' and urges team to 'go again'17 July 2026, 1:17 am
  England captain Harry Kane has taken to social media to share his disappointment at his team's World Cup exit at the hands of Argentina, admitting the 2-1 defeat in Atlanta was 'hard to take'. 
  
• Inside Man United's unusual pre-season: Why they've abandoned a 'showpiece' tour and the USA is off limits, the Helsinki curtain-raiser involving Wes Brown and five-star luxury Irish hotel17 July 2026, 1:00 am
  Last summer, United rounded off their pre-season tour of the US against Everton in the futuristic Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta where Argentina ended England's World Cup dream.
  
• Furious NFL legend JJ Watt slams MLS team for disrespecting his wife in brutal social media post17 July 2026, 12:19 am
  The former defensive end, 37, and former soccer star, 34, attended Real Salt Lake's friendly against English side Burnley ahead of the MLS season returning after the World Cup break.
  
• MLS team responds to JJ Watt after NFL great accused them of disrespecting his wife in blistering social media outburst17 July 2026, 12:13 am
  The couple - a former defensive end and soccer star, respectively - attended Real Salt Lake's friendly against English side Burnley at America First Field on Wednesday.
  
• Michael Olise 'obsessed' with joining Real Madrid as Bayern Munich star 'gathers information' from his France team-mates during World Cup16 July 2026, 11:42 pm
  In what would be a sensational transfer, L'Equipe reported Olise, 24, has told his French team-mates at the World Cup that he wants to sign for the Spanish giants.
  
• MLS clash postponed just hours before kickoff with soccer legend Robert Lewandowski forced to wait to make his American debut16 July 2026, 11:29 pm
  The match that was supposed to mark the return of MLS after the World Cup pause - and the debut for Fire signing Robert Lewandowski - will now be played on October 6, per the club.
  
• World Cup team of the semi-finals: The Spanish 19-year-old who showed maturity beyond his years, Argentina's 'most influential player'... and the one Englishman who made the cut!16 July 2026, 11:12 pm
  NICKY MULHOLLAND: The World Cup semi-finals delivered two dramatic encounters as Spain, France, Argentina, and England fought for a place in the final. 
  
• Motherwell consider legal action after SFA hammer midfielder Elliot Watt with four-match ban for VAR criticism16 July 2026, 10:22 pm
  Motherwell are considering taking legal action against the SFA after the club and their midfielder Elliot Watt were hit with hefty sanctions relating to last season's VAR controversy against Celtic.
  
• Captain Tim Ream reveals key lesson USA must learn in sobering verdict on World Cup heartbreak as he admits it is still 'tough' to process16 July 2026, 10:17 pm
  While the rest of the world is gearing up for the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina - US captain Tim Ream delivered a sobering post-mortem of the USMNT's tournament and its bitter end.
  
• Thomas Tuchel has got to find a way to get the best out of his top technical talent ahead of Euro 2028. No other country in the world would leave Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold at home, writes IAN LADYMAN16 July 2026, 9:32 pm
  IAN LADYMAN IN ATLANTA: Can Tuchel's England end their long barren run without a trophy on home soil? Daily Mail Sport examines the big questions facing the national game.
  
• Enzo Fernandez brutally mocks England with cheeky social media post after Argentina inflicted World Cup semi-final heartbreak on Three Lions16 July 2026, 8:26 pm
  Fernandez has risked further upsetting England fans after appearing to troll the Three Lions following Argentina's victory in the semi-finals of the World Cup.
  
• Argentina stars face nervous wait over potential ban for holding up 'Malvinas' banner after win over England as FIFA reveal they will 'decide further steps'16 July 2026, 8:13 pm
  MIKE KEEGAN IN ATLANTA: A number of Argentina's jubilant squad, including two that ply their trade in England, lifted the sign following their 2-1 victory.
  
• Under-fire Thomas Tuchel criticises the DNA of England's players after World Cup exit - as Three Lions boss claims 'no structure in the world could have helped us' against Argentina16 July 2026, 8:00 pm
  CRAIG HOPE IN ATLANTA: Tuchel, who has vowed to stay on for the Euros, has been heavily criticised for his substitutions and tactical changes during the semi-final defeat in Atlanta.
  
• The inside story of how England's World Cup unravelled: Self-inflicted wounds, Thomas Tuchel's 'what the f***' outbursts, exhaustion pre-Argentina, sulking stars and players' anger at defensive tactics16 July 2026, 7:23 pm
  There was a power outage at England's team hotel three days before the Argentina game. In hindsight, it became an unfortunate metaphor.