GUADALUPE, Mexico — Ismael Saibari scored the decisive goal in a penalty shootout, and Morocco sent the Netherlands to its earliest World Cup exit, eliminating the Dutch 3-2 after a 1-1 draw on Monday night.
With the shootout tied at 2-all after four rounds, Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made a strong save of Crysencio Summerville’s attempt, batting it away with his left hand. Saibari then sent the winner into the low left corner as goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen went the other direction. The midfielder tore off his shirt and screamed with joy as he was mobbed by teammates.
The Netherlands had reached at least the Round of 16 in 11 previous World Cups, including a quarterfinal appearance four years ago in Qatar, when Morocco made a breakthrough run to the semifinals. In this year’s expanded tournament, 32 teams reached the knockout stage for the first time.
Morocco moves on to face Canada in the Round of 16 on Saturday in Houston.
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In the second round of the shootout with Morocco trailing 1-0, Verbruggen appeared to have stopped an attempt by Soufiane Rahimi, but the goalkeeper couldn’t secure the ball and deflected it over the line with the back of his leg.
Cody Gakpo scored in the 72nd minute for Netherlands. After the goal, which was assisted by Summerville, the Dutch bench ran onto the field to embrace the 27-year-old Gakpo, who broke down in tears. Gakpo and his partner, Noa van der Bij, recently announced that they lost their unborn child.
Morocco’s Issa Diop tied it in the 91st minute. Chemsdine Talbi sent a looping cross into the box from about 28 yards out on the left side and connected with Diop for a clean header that Verbruggen had no chance to stop.
Neither team had a strong scoring opportunity in 30 minutes of extra time at Estadio BBVA.
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It was the second game of the tournament to conclude with a shootout. Paraguay beat Germany on penalties earlier Monday.
The teams entered with the highest combined ranking of any Round of 32 match. Morocco was sixth in the world and the Netherlands was seventh.
Golfers are naturally curious creatures. Whether you’re teeing it up with the usual suspects or getting paired with complete strangers, we all do a little scan of our playing partners on the first tee to see what clothes, shoes, bags and, of course, equipment they’re gaming.
And lately, one driver has been showing up more and more: the Titleist GTS2.
Back in March, Titleist introduced its new GTS driver lineup—GTS1, GTS2, GTS3, and GTS4—and it didn’t take long for it to make its way into the bags of Tour pros. Within days of launch, 24 PGA Tour players had already put a GTS model in play for that week’s event. And it wasn’t long before amateurs followed suit.
Since hitting the market, the GTS2 has quickly become a favorite for both Tour players and everyday golfers—even becoming Fairway Jockey’s best-selling driver in June. And once you look under the hood, it’s not hard to understand the appeal.
Distance and forgiveness working together
No matter how skilled you are, every golfer misses the center of the face from time to time. On a typical mishit, you usually pay for it in either distance or direction—sometimes both.
But with Titleist’s Split Mass Frame, off-center strikes don’t hurt nearly as much.
Built with a full thermoform body, the Split Mass Frame moves weight both back and forward in the head. The rear weight increases stability and helps the face resist twisting at impact, while the forward weight helps players maintain ball speed—even when you don’t catch it perfectly.
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The result is a driver that’s easier to launch, feels more stable at impact and flies a little farther while staying on your intended line.
Boost speed without trying
According to Titleist, the GTS2 continues their focus on smarter shaping and aerodynamic design. The pronounced raised tail helps the clubhead move through the air with less resistance, generating more speed during your swing and delivering maximum speed at impact. Put simply, it’s engineered to help the head move faster without you having to swing any harder.
Dual weighting for maximum customization
Like most modern drivers, the GTS2 features adjustable weighting that allows you—or a fitter—to dial in the center of gravity to match your swing. However, there’s one key difference compared to Titleist’s previous GT lineup: a dual-weighting system.
In addition to the rear weight, the GTS2 also allows adjustment in the front, giving you more control over your driving performance. When properly dialed in, this setup can help optimize speed and distance for your swing.
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It’s easy to see why the GTS2 has quickly earned its spot in so many bags. With Titleist’s top-of-the-line technology, this driver delivers a rare mix of distance, forgiveness and adjustability that shows up when it matters most.
The 44-year-old Williams did not ask for medical treatment during a 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 loss to 20-year-old Maya Joint of Australia in the first round on Tuesday.
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Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion who won seven of her titles at Wimbledon, did not meet with media after the match.
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“Serena tweaked her right knee at the end of the first set and was therefore excused from her media obligations by the Wimbledon and WTA medical teams,” said Jill Smoller, Williams’ agent. “She left site that night unaided and is doing everything she can to be ready for her doubles match later this week.”
Serena received wild card invitations from Wimbledon organizers to play both singles and doubles with Venus.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 28: Serena Williams of United States makes her way to the training grounds before The Championships Wimbledon 2026 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 28, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
As Serena Williams prepares for her highly anticipated return to Wimbledon, the 23-time Grand Slam champion has made it clear that chasing another major title is no longer her priority.
Speaking in an interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Williams said she has made peace with her place in tennis history and is no longer focused on holding the record for the most Grand Slam singles titles.
“Those times are over for me. I had my opportunity and I’m very happy with where I am.”
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The comments come as Williams returns to the All England Club for the first time since announcing her comeback, with fans eager to see one of the greatest players in tennis history back on the grass courts where she won seven Wimbledon singles titles.
For years, much of the conversation around Williams centered on whether she could surpass Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles. She came within one title on multiple occasions but ultimately finished her career with 23 majors.
Now, Williams says she looks at things differently.
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Rather than dwelling on records she did not break, the American is content with everything she accomplished throughout her career.
Welcome to another exciting edition of Sportskeeda Wrestling’s WWE News and Rumor Roundup! Several interesting developments have taken place in the past 24 hours and the wrestling world is absolutely buzzing. We’ll be discussing several hot topics and groundbreaking stories in today’s lineup involving reports of a massive return and news on John Cena.
With the trending stories setting the internet abuzz and the rumor mill spinning at full speed, there’s no time to waste. Let’s dive straight into the hot topics!
Thanks for the submission!
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#5. Nikki Blackheart makes her WWE debut on NXT
The NXT women’s division witnessed a massive jolt this week as Nikki Blackheart made her official debut on the brand. It happened at the end of the mainevent where Kelani Jordan defeated Tatum Paxley. Just as the latter was recovering in the ring after her bout, an unidentified powerhouse blindsided Paxley from behind. It was Blackheart, who completely laid waste to the former champion.
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Her arrival caught everyone off guard and became a major talking point from this week’s NXT. Commentator Vic Joseph however did not call the newcomer by name on air, stating that everyone already knows who she is. While fans know her as independent standout Nikki Blackheart, reports indicate that unresolved trademark logistics are why the 29-year-old wasn’t named on screen.
#4. Enzo Amore and Big Cass set to return to WWE – Reports
The wrestling world is buzzing about a potential reunion that seemed absolutely impossible a few years ago. One of the most popular duos, Enzo Amore and Big Cass, are reportedly set to return to WWE. The two superstars left the Stamford-based promotion in 2018 due to personal issues. However, recent reports state that WWE is interested in bringing them back.
Enzo Amore has been a free agent lately and was recently spotted at the WWE Performance Center. Meanwhile, Big Cass, who currently works as Big Bill in AEW, has reportedly given his notice to Tony Khan’s promotion and his contract will expire in a week. WWE is interested in bringing Cass and Amore together to the company to bolster the tag team division.
#3. Austin Theory made a shocking revelation about John Cena
Austin Theory recently appeared on the IMPAULSIVE podcast, where he dropped a lot of fascinating insight into how his career is viewed backstage. The biggest takeaway from the interview is John Cena’s gesture. While The Cenation Leader was ruthlessly tearing Theory apart on screen to build the WrestleMania 39 match, Cena was doing the exact opposite behind the curtain.
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Austin Theory revealed that John Cena went to Vince McMahon and advocated for him to be turned into a babyface. The 17-time World Champion believed that Theory looks like an organic face and his bad guy character doesn’t quite fit in. Cena therefore asked the former United States Champion to be his true self without having to pretend to be a heel.
#2. Ken Patera broke his neck during a gym session
Former Olympian weightlifter and wrestling icon Ken Patera recently encountered an unfortunate incident. During a recent workout session in a gym, the WWE legend suddenly fell, which resulted in him suffering a broken C1 vertebra in his neck. The unfortunate news came to light after Steve Stasiak of Book Pro Wrestlers shared it.
The accident marks a heartbreaking setback for the former Intercontinental Champion. Ken Patera had spent the last two and a half years undergoing and growing rehabilitation process to recover from major back surgery. The wrestling icon defied all the odds and had made remarkable progress, dropping significant weight and dedicating himself to a strict fitness regimen.
#1. Alexa Bliss shared a heartfelt note for her late Grammy
Alexa Bliss has been going through a pretty tough time as she recently lost her beloved grandmother. She took to social media to inform fans of this news as Bliss posted several pictures of her Grammy on her Instagram stories. Losing a beloved family member is heartbreaking for anyone. But the passing of her grandmother is deeply emotional for her also because of the profound impact her Grammy had on her life and career.
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During past interviews, Alexa Bliss revealed that her grandmother was the reason why she became a pro wrestler in the first place. While her mother was heavily against her watching wrestling during childhood, Alexa’s grandmother let her watch tapes of old matches and even took her to live WWE shows. Without her grandmother fostering that secret passion, Bliss would have never become a WWE Superstar.
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Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill produced one of the most memorable performances of the 2026 FIFA World Cup when he helped his country knock out four-time champions Germany in a dramatic penalty shootout.
The 26-year-old goalkeeper saved two penalties as Paraguay secured only their second-ever knockout victory at a FIFA World Cup, continuing a remarkable journey that has inspired football fans around the world.
Just a few years ago, Gill’s life was very different. Today, he is one of the stars of the World Cup. But in 2022, he was struggling to support his young family after his wife, Melissa Avalos, and their newborn son faced serious health problems.
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Gill began his football career with Paraguayan clubs Club 13 de Junio and CS San Lorenzo. He was part of Paraguay’s squad for the South American Under-20 Championship in 2019 and made his senior debut for San Lorenzo in September 2020.
However, opportunities were limited. By 2022, he had played only two senior matches when his wife became pregnant with their first child.
The family faced a difficult period when Melissa was hospitalised due to complications during pregnancy. Their son, Lautaro, was born prematurely after emergency medical treatment, and both mother and child spent time receiving intensive care.
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According to Melissa, the family returned home before Christmas but had very little money. To support his family and pay medical bills, Gill sold many of his personal belongings, including football kits, trainers and even his Paraguay Under-20 national team jersey.
“Our son fought for his life, and Orlando was always there,” Melissa wrote in a social media post last year. “He gave everything and sold everything to support us.”
Despite the challenges, Gill never gave up on his dream of becoming a professional footballer.
In late 2023, Argentine club San Lorenzo offered him a chance by signing him on loan. Initially playing for the reserve team, Gill worked hard and eventually earned a place in the first team during the 2025 season.
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His impressive performances caught the attention of Paraguay national team coach Gustavo Alfaro, who invited him to join the national squad. After making his international debut against Peru last September, Gill quickly became Paraguay’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Although Paraguay began their World Cup campaign with a heavy defeat to co-hosts the United States, Gill responded brilliantly. Since then, he has conceded only one goal in three matches and has made several important saves.
His finest moment came against Germany in the Round of 16. After the match ended level following extra time, Gill produced two outstanding saves during the penalty shootout to send Paraguay into the quarter-finals and earn the FIFA Player of the Match award.
However, even in victory, Gill’s thoughts were with his family. After receiving his award, he dedicated it to his nephew, Alexander, who is currently receiving treatment in hospital back home.
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“Alexander, this trophy is for you,” Gill said emotionally after the match. “I hope you get better soon. Your godfather is supporting you from a distance.”
From selling his treasured football shirts to support his family to becoming Paraguay’s World Cup hero, Orlando Gill’s journey is a powerful reminder that determination, sacrifice and faith can turn even the most difficult moments into unforgettable success
Jun 30, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) gestures towards the crowd after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the Athletics as he earns his 1000th career win as a manager at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Marshall-Imagn Images
Tommy Edman had four hits, including a homer, and drove in four while manager Dave Roberts recorded his 1,000th career regular-season victory as the Los Angeles Dodgers routed the Athletics 9-3 on Tuesday in West Sacramento, Calif.
Roberts, who is in his 11th season, became the fourth manager in Dodgers history to reach the 1,000-victory mark. Roberts’ 1,606 career games (1,000-606) are the fewest needed to reach 1,000 wins, 35 fewer games than the previous fastest mark, held by Cap Anson (1875-98).
Miguel Rojas also went deep and drove in two runs and Mookie Betts had three hits as the Dodgers won for the seventh time in their past eight games. Los Angeles had 14 hits for a total of 31 over two nights while dominating the A’s both times.
Justin Wrobleski (10-2) struck out a career-high 11 while throwing seven innings of three-run ball for Los Angeles. Colby Thomas went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer for the A’s. Jeffrey Springs (3-8) gave up six runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Mariners 8, Angels 3
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Bryan Woo set the single-season record for most consecutive scoreless innings at T-Mobile Park as Seattle defeated visiting Los Angeles.
Woo opened with six scoreless frames to reach 32 overall before reliever Eduard Bazardo allowed a pair of inherited runners to score in the seventh. Woo (7-6), who won his fifth straight home start, was charged with two runs on four hits in 6 1/3 innings. The right-hander walked one and struck out five.
The Mariners managed just three hits off Angels starter Jose Soriano (8-5) through the first five innings before opening the sixth with three straight singles against him to break a scoreless tie and spark a five-run inning.
Phillies 8, Pirates 0
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Cristopher Sanchez worked seven strong innings while guiding Philadelphia to a win over visiting Pittsburgh.
Sanchez (10-3) allowed just three hits and two walks, striking out nine as he became the first starting pitcher to reach 10 wins this season. Justin Crawford had three hits and three RBIs for the Phillies, while Trea Turner added a homer, a double and three RBIs on his 33rd birthday.
Esmerlyn Valdez’s four-game homer streak came to an end, although the Pirates rookie still went 2-for-3 with a walk. Bubba Chandler (3-8) yielded five runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Tigers 9, Yankees 3
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Riley Greene belted a pair of homers in consecutive at-bats off Cam Schlittler, Tarik Skubal pitched six innings and visiting Detroit cruised past New York.
The Tigers slugged five home runs against the Yankees for the first time since Aug. 30, 2018, as Kerry Carpenter, Spencer Torkelson and James Outman also went deep. Skubal (4-4) allowed two runs (one earned) and one hit while fanning nine.
Ben Rice homered, but the Yankees lost their season-high sixth straight game. Schlittler (8-5) was tagged for a career-worst six runs on seven hits in four-plus innings. He served up four homers, also a career high.
Cubs 9, Padres 7
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Dansby Swanson led a long-ball barrage with two home runs, and host Chicago held on for a win over San Diego.
Alex Bregman hit a three-run shot and Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong had solo homers for the Cubs, who won their fourth straight. Matthew Boyd (3-1) allowed three runs over five-plus innings. Ryan Rolison recorded the last out to earn his first career save.
Fernando Tatis Jr. hit two home runs and Manny Machado and Gavin Sheets also homered for the Padres, who have lost four in a row. JP Sears (1-1) gave up seven runs (six earned) in 4 2/3 innings.
White Sox 9, Orioles 3
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Colson Montgomery and Junior Perez homered during a seven-run third inning as visiting Chicago beat Baltimore, taking the first two games of the three-game series.
Jacob Gonzalez had three hits and drove in three runs and Andrew Benintendi provided three hits as the White Sox won for the sixth time in eight games. They will win a series against Baltimore for the first time since July 2021 regardless of the result in the Wednesday afternoon series finale.
Chicago’s Erick Fedde (3-6) went five innings and yielded three runs on five hits. Gunnar Henderson had two hits and scored two runs for the Orioles, whose losing streak grew to four games. They have lost six of their past seven games.
Rangers 4, Guardians 2
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Cleveland left fielder Cooper Ingle threw the ball into the stands, incorrectly thinking it was the third out of the seventh inning, to bring home Ezequiel Duran as the go-ahead run, leading Texas past the host Guardians.
Duran led off the seventh with a single against Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee and moved to second on a groundout by Evan Carter. Alejandro Osuna followed with a routine fly to Ingle, who caught it and promptly threw it over the screen into the crowd down the left field line.
Jacob deGrom (7-5) earned his fourth victory in his past five decisions for the Rangers, striking out nine over seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Bibee (2-9) also worked seven strong innings but received the loss when Ingle committed what was scored as a two-base error and an unearned run.
Nationals 8, Red Sox 1
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Cade Cavalli allowed one hit and struck out a career-high 13 batters in seven innings as visiting Washington defeated Boston.
The only run Boston scored against Cavalli (5-4) was unearned. He didn’t issue a walk in his 100-pitch outing. The Red Sox managed just four hits as their five-game winning streak ended.
CJ Abrams homered as the Nationals won for the third time in four games and leveled the three-game series at one victory apiece. James Wood finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs.
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Diamondbacks 8, Giants 2
Arizona ran its season-long winning streak against San Francisco to eight games, riding home runs from Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Ketel Marte to a victory in Phoenix.
Recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A and making his first big-league start since April 11, Brandon Pfaadt (1-1) gave up one run on three hits in 5 1/3 innings. Gurriel, Marte, Gabriel Moreno and Max Kepler had two hits apiece for the Diamondbacks.
Luis Arraez singled, tripled and homered for the Giants, and Rafael Devers also went deep. Landen Roupp (5-8) permitted six runs and walked six in 2 2/3 innings.
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Mets 3, Blue Jays 0
Nolan McLean struck out seven in six scoreless innings and visiting New York defeated Toronto to split the first two of a three-game series.
McLean (5-5) allowed five hits and two walks, while Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens provided support with solo home runs. Former Blue Jay Bo Bichette went 1-for-4 for the Mets and made some excellent defensive plays at third base.
Toronto starter Kevin Gausman (4-7) completed six innings, allowing one run on five hits. Luis Urias had two singles and a walk.
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Cardinals 5, Braves 3
Matthew Liberatore threw five strong innings and Nathan Church ended a long homerless streak to lead St. Louis over host Atlanta.
Liberatore (4-5) allowed one run on one hit and four walks, striking out nine, to earn his first victory since May 31. Church blasted a three-run homer to cap a four-run rally in the fourth inning when the Cardinals took the lead. It was Church’s sixth home run but first since April 26.
Ozzie Albies drove in two runs for the Braves. Martin Perez (5-6) yielded four runs on five hits in five innings.
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Brewers 7, Reds 2
Jake Bauers and Jackson Chourio homered and Brandon Sproat pitched effectively into the sixth inning as Milwaukee defeated visiting Cincinnati.
The Brewers have won six straight against the Reds, including all five games this season. Bauers and Sal Frelick each had three hits to pace Milwaukee’s 14-hit attack.
The Brewers gained control with four runs in the fourth off Rhett Lowder (3-6), opening the inning with five consecutive singles en route to a 5-1 lead. Sproat (3-4) allowed two runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings.
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Rays 10, Royals 4
Junior Caminero homered in his fifth consecutive game, a three-run shot to highlight Tampa Bay’s six-run third inning, and the Rays won their sixth straight game, beating host Kansas City.
Ryan Vilade also homered and Griffin Jax (4-5) allowed three runs and struck out five over six innings to win his third straight start for the Rays. Caminero has clubbed eight of his 23 home runs in the past seven games.
Bobby Witt Jr. socked a two-run homer in the third and an eighth-inning solo shot as part of a three-hit night for the Royals, who have lost five of six.
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Astros 6, Twins 4
Yordan Alvarez capped a six-run fourth inning with his third grand slam of the season as Houston rallied past visiting Minnesota.
Alvarez tied the franchise record with his seventh career grand slam, joining Alex Bregman, Carlos Lee and Jose Altuve. It was his 26th home run of the season. The Astros evened the three-game series at one win apiece behind Alvarez and a resilient effort from Mike Burrows (4-8), who overcame a ragged first inning to go five frames of four-run ball.
Twins starter Joe Ryan (5-5) permitted six runs on six hits in four innings. Ryan Kreidler hit a two-run single, and Kody Clemens produced two hits and two runs.
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Marlins 14, Rockies 3
Javier Sanoja, Joe Mack and Owen Caissie each hit a home run in Miami’s blowout win over Colorado in Denver.
Sanoja hit a three-run shot in the third, extending the Marlins’ lead to 5-1. Mack’s two-run blast in the seventh and Caissie’s three-run homer in the eighth were late highlights from a huge offensive game for the Marlins, who have won six of their past seven.
Eury Perez (4-6) earned the win in his second start since returning from the injured list. Perez struck out eight in 5 1/3 innings, allowing just one run on two hits and four walks. Mickey Moniak homered for the Rockies. Tanner Gordon was tagged for five runs in five innings.
India captain Shreyas Iyer has insisted he is ready to embrace the challenges of leading the national T20I side, saying he always believed the opportunity would come after consistent performances for both his IPL franchise and the country. Iyer, who was appointed India’s new T20I captain in place of Suryakumar Yadav, endured a difficult start to his tenure as India suffered a 2-0 series defeat to Ireland in Belfast. However, ahead of the five-match T20I series against England, the skipper remains focused on learning from the experience while building a fresh identity for the team. “Honestly speaking, it’s not outlandish. I was expecting it at some point of time. I have done brilliant in the previous IPL tournaments, whenever I have represented the country. So, it did not come to me as a surprise. But, at the same time, I feel it’s a great opportunity for me to learn from everyone around who has been part of the T20 World Cup-winning squad, the team management, support staff and also a few individuals who have played,” Iyer told BCCI.TV. The 31-year-old admitted that captaining India is the fulfilment of a childhood dream and described the responsibility as one of the proudest moments of his career. “As a kid, you always dreamt of playing for the Indian team. Now, you get the opportunity to lead the Indian team. I think it’s an icing on the cake. It means a world,” he said. Reflecting on the journey that earned him the leadership role, Iyer credited the support system around him while acknowledging the hard work behind his rise. “It’s definitely the result of hard work that you have put in and the support you have received from fans, family and friends. It’s hard to explain the feelings in words.” Iyer also outlined the aggressive brand of cricket he wants his team to play, saying he hopes to instil a fearless mindset that puts opponents under pressure from the moment India steps onto the field. “I just like to be menacing to the opponents. I want to have that aggressive, fearless approach when I step on the field. I want my troops to rally around that mindset where the opponents are a bit intimidated by our personality and appearance on the field. It’s like a war for me when I step on the field. I want to win every match and that’s the mindset I want to imbibe in each and every individual. “Relentless, ruthless and determined. No pressure, but at the same time, it’s going to be challenging. All I want to do is embrace the challenge. I want it to be challenging, because I thrive under pressure,” he said. Speaking about head coach Gautam Gambhir‘s message to the squad, Iyer revealed that the team is treating this phase as the beginning of a new chapter despite India’s recent T20 World Cup triumph. “Gauti bhai mentioned in one of his interviews that we were world champions. This is a new paragraph which starts altogether where I am the leader of the team and we are starting from zero again.” The captain also reflected on India’s disappointing tour of Ireland, admitting the results fell short of expectations but insisting the series offered valuable lessons, especially for players experiencing English and Irish conditions for the first time. “Definitely not the start we wanted, but a lot to learn coming into new conditions. Majority of players playing first time in England and Ireland as well, so it’s a learning curve for them as well. Also we have to build that camaraderie where each and everyone starts supporting and trusting each other again.” India’s batting struggled throughout the Ireland series, with the top order failing to provide solid starts in either match. However, the bowling attack showed encouraging signs, particularly through debutant Prince Yadav, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh. With England presenting a significantly tougher challenge, Iyer will now look to register his first series win as India’s T20I captain while implementing the fearless and relentless brand of cricket he believes can take the team forward.
MEXICO CITY — The 40-year wait is over. Mexicans had learned to live with defeats in the knockout stages of the World Cup. On seven occasions, El Tri fans were left heartbroken at this stage.
Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scored within a nine-minute span in the first half and Mexico defeated Ecuador 2-0 on Tuesday night to break a four-decade drought in the knockout stage and progress to the round of 16.
Quiñones opened the scoring in the 22nd minute and Jiménez added a goal in the 31st for the Mexicans, who had not won a knockout-stage match since defeating Bulgaria in the round of 16 when they hosted the tournament in 1986. Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was one of the starting midfielders in that team in ’86.
“It means a lot to me because I am one of those who could not progress in the knockout stage,” Aguirre said. “We are in the round of 16 and it is happening a great connection with the fans. We are like a family. It is spectacular.”
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Mexico lost seven consecutive times at that same stage from 1994 to 2018 and didn’t advance past the group stage in 2022.
Aguirre, who returned as Mexico’s head coach in August of 2024, was an assistant in 1994 and was the coach in 2002 and 2010.
“We will be on high alert from here until Sunday. We will try to have the players recover from this and we will see if we are able to win again,” Aguirre said.
For Quiñones, it was a third goal in the tournament and he is now El Tri’s second-highest scorer in World Cup history behind Luis “Matador” Hernández and Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, who scored four each.
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Quiñones, who was the scoring leader in the Saudi Pro League last season, has become the spark in the attack that Mexico lacked in previous World Cups.
“I am just happy with the result, that is all that matters now,” said Quiñones, who is playing in his first World Cup with Mexico.
The 29-year-old forward arrived in the country from Colombia at age 17 and became a naturalized citizen in 2023.
“Life is about struggle and fight until you get what you want,” he said, “and I am taking full advantage of the opportunity that I got.”
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Jiménez scored his second goal of the tournament and has 47 with the national team to break a tie with Jared Borgetti. He is five away from tying “Chicharito” Hernández as the all-time leading scorer for Mexico.
Mexico will play another home match Sunday against the winner of Wednesday’s match between England and Congo.
Playing at the iconic Azteca Stadium, the Mexican squad boasts an undefeated record across 10 World Cup matches. Mexico has just two official losses at the venue — the last being a World Cup qualifying defeat to Honduras on Sept. 6, 2013.
With the win, Mexico extended its unbeaten run to 12 games, dating back to a friendly loss against Paraguay in November.
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Mexico also became the first CONCACAF side to eliminate a team from CONMEBOL in a World Cup knockout match. Teams from South America won the previous five meetings.
The match started one hour after the original scheduled time due to a thunderstorm.
It was the second match of the tournament delayed by weather. A storm during the France-Iraq match at Philadelphia on June 22 caused a 2-hour, 11-minute suspension at the end of the first half.
The extra motivation of facing England for Aaron Wan-Bissaka
In alternate universe, Aaron Wan-Bissaka would be a World Cup player for England. Today, he lines up against the country he was born in.
The West Ham defender was called up to the England squad by Gareth Southgate in 2019, but had to withdraw through injury and never featured again, choosing to switch his allegiance to DR Congo in 2025.
DR Congo manager Sebastien Desabre says this connection acts as extra motivation for Wan-Bissaka.
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Desabre said: “We have some Premier League players who are familiar, some of them were even born in England and that is always a source of motivation.
“But the number one source of motivation is to play against a serious opponent like England or any other top five in the world. It is hard to find anything more motivating than that.”
(AP)
Will Castle1 July 2026 12:06
Why DR Congo will be no pushovers as World Cup finally gets serious for England
As Thomas Tuchel got to Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, he couldn’t stop smiling.
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“I just love it,” the England manager said, talking about knockout football. “It just gives an extra edge. I love these situations, and I feel it is a privilege.”
It is precisely that attitude, and how it has translated into multiple cup runs and three trophies, that was intended to finally give England an edge in tournaments. Tuchel was appointed because of his success in knockout competition, and now here he and his team are primed.
Miguel Delaney1 July 2026 11:54
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England’s DR Congo test – and why the World Cup’s new order have stunned European giants
On the latest episode of Copa Independent, Kieran Jackson in Santa Clara and Miguel Delaney in Atlanta preview England’s last-32 clash against DR Congo – a team that should not be underestimated.
Which way will Thomas Tuchel go with his wingers and full-backs? What and who do the Three Lions need to be wary of? And what lessons can England take from other giant-killings so far in the knockout stage?
Will Castle1 July 2026 11:52
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A rare injury boost?
Alas, some good news on the England injury front!
After being rested as a precaution against Panama, key midfielder Declan Rice is back in contention.
“I’m good, genuinely, I’m good,” he said. “I know there’s been one (concern) over my hamstring, which has been an issue, but that’s not a problem because I’m still here training, I’m playing. I’m fine.
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“I got a dead calf in the last minute of the Ghana game. The guy whacked me and it literally blew up for like three days, so that was just unlucky. It wasn’t actually a calf problem.
“I’m managing myself really well. I feel good, fit and strong. It’s the World Cup and missing out the other day (isn’t a problem).
“We have a squad of 26 who are unbelievable and can play. Kobbie (Mainoo) can play, Jordan (Henderson) can play. Morgan (Rogers) came in and Jude (Bellingham) played as the number eight.
“If it means that sometimes I have to miss out because we have other players who can play against a certain opposition, I’m fine with that, as long as we keep going and winning matches.”
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Declan Rice says he is fit to face DR Congo (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Wire)
Will Castle1 July 2026 11:42
What Thomas Tuchel said on England’s injury crisis
Thomas Tuchel has assured Reece James and Jarell Quansah shouldn’t be sidelined for much longer should England progress tonight – but trusts the alternatives he has at his disposal.
“They are getting close,” the England boss said. “They are getting closer and closer. I saw them on the pitch.
“In the nature of their injury, Jarell is a little bit ahead of Reecey. But the race was close even to make it into the match squad this time, so we need to make sure that we have more matches.
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“That is the main focus, and then they will be available very soon.”
On his defensive options, he said: “First of all, I trust my players. I’ve seen them since weeks, I picked them and that’s what football is all about. You have injuries.
“It’s not worth to be too long upset about it and focus on the problem. Find the solution, this is team sport.
“We would love to have Reece with us, we would love to have Jarell with us, but they’re injured at the moment so other players will step up and we will push this over the line tomorrow as a team no matter what happens.”
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Will Castle1 July 2026 11:30
England’s route to the final
This is currently what England’s most likely route to the final looks like, based off form and Fifa ranking:
1 July: England v DR Congo | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
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5 July: England vs Mexico | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
11 July: England vs Brazil | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
15 July: England vs Argentina | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
19 July: England vs Spain | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
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Will Castle1 July 2026 11:18
World Cup managers dropping like flies
As the dust settles on the first casualties of the World Cup knockout stage, news is filtering through of manager after manager stepping down.
Ronald Koeman left the Netherlands after their shootout defeat to Morocco, and Ecuador’s Sebastian Beccacece has just confirmed he is leaving his post after defeat to Mexico – just a few days after it seemed he saved his job by stunning Germany.
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Marcelo Bielsa, meanwhile, has also departed Uruguay as he bid a “very painful” goodbye in a press conference that last an hour and 40 minutes.
They join the likes of Scotland’s Steve Clarke and South Korea’s Hong Myung-bo in resigning, with the latter leaving his job shrouded in national disgrace. Departures don’t get much more brutal than that.
(Reuters)
Will Castle1 July 2026 11:06
Who will play right-back for England?
The 27th man in the squad now has a path to playing in the World Cup, though the Chelsea defender even admitted after joining the group in Kansas City that his role is a right-sided centre-back under Tuchel.
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That’s not to say he cannot fill in at right-back, but should Tuchel shift Konsa, then Chalobah could slot in if problems emerge at centre-back.
Chalobah has mostly played at centre-back, or right side of a three with his club, though he did feature at right-back in a 3-1 loss to Leeds.
(Getty)
Will Castle1 July 2026 10:54
Who will play right-back for England?
Predominantly a centre-back, the Aston Villa defender is favoured by Tuchel for his ability to perform in multiple positions.
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He’s filled in at right-back for England before and has the pace to cover against any potential counter-attacking threats.
Points against him moving across are that Tuchel may be reluctant to disrupt the centre of his defence. Konsa has been a permanent centre-back through group stage.
The decision may come down to whether Tuchel trusts his other options to perform as strongly.
(Getty)
Will Castle1 July 2026 10:42
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Who will play right-back for England?
With Jarell Quansah and Reece James both out, let’s take a look at three potential solutions to Thomas Tuchel’s right-back injury crisis:
Tottenham defender Spence was selected for the England squad due to his versatility across the backline and that has already been proven across England’s group fixtures.
Against Croatia, he came on midway through the second half as a replacement for Jude Bellingham but slotted in at right-back with James pushed up to defensive midfield. Spence performed solidly and combined beautifully with Bukayo Saka on the right wing as the Three Lions pushed for a fourth goal.
In the match against Ghana, Spence was handed a starting berth but at left-back replacing Nico O’Reilly. Though he held his own for the majority of the game, England looked more threatening once O’Reilly replaced him which is perhaps a sign that Spence is more effective in his natural position on the right.
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And that’s where he returned when brought on for the injured Quansah against Panama, indicating that Tuchel likely sees him as next in line to start in the position.
Djed Spence could get the nod to play at right-back (Getty)
In the knockout stages of a major tournament, there is a genuine risk of elimination irrespective of the opposition.
Germany’s elimination at the hands of Paraguay – a team that started the World Cup losing 4-1 to Mauricio Pochettino’s USA – proves that point well.
England’s next opponents, DR Congo, finished their group in third place, beating Uzbekistan, drawing to Portugal and losing to Colombia, but how do they play and what challenges might they pose against head coach Thomas Tuchel’s men?
DR Congo face England on Wednesday (17:00 BST), live on BBC One and iPlayer.
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Throughout the tournament so far, they have set up in a 5-3-2 formation, a shape that has been consistent both on and off the ball.
Their average possession so far sits at 38.8% which pales in comparison to England’s 65.7% – second only to Spain (70.3%). This suggests that DR Congo are a stubborn defence-first team looking to spring counter-attacks on their opposition.
And while this is mostly true, they are surprisingly front-footed in how they defend.
This could change against England, but against both Portugal and Columbia, opponents that dominated the ball, DR Congo pressed high against them from goal-kick situations.
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From their defensive block, they look to hold their line higher than you would expect from a team with 38% possession, not dropping into their own box as often.
There is also a tendency for their players to apply pressure, particularly to the player on the ball, and nearby team-mates around the ball.
All of these decisions, although more proactive than simply camping in their own box, are quirks England could look to exploit.
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