The 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached its knockout business end, with the field now trimmed to 16 teams and the tournament’s quarterfinal picture beginning to take shape as the Round of 16 continues across venues in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The tournament began with a record 48 teams split into 12 groups, later narrowed to 32 nations advancing through the group stage before the single-elimination Round of 32 further reduced the field to 16. That round produced several surprises, most notably the elimination of Germany at the hands of Paraguay and an early exit for the Netherlands, results that reshaped expectations heading into the tournament’s second knockout round.

Two of the four quarterfinal matchups are now confirmed. France booked its place in the last eight with a 1-0 win over Paraguay in Philadelphia, a result built around a penalty conversion from Kylian Mbappe, who continues to lead the tournament’s Golden Boot conversation. France will face Morocco, which advanced with a commanding 3-0 win over co-host Canada in Houston. The victory made Morocco the first African nation to reach back-to-back World Cup quarterfinals, continuing the momentum the team built during a memorable run to the semifinals in 2022. Canada’s elimination also made it the first of the tournament’s three co-host nations to be knocked out of contention, a distinction determined largely by the structure of the bracket rather than any single result. Morocco and France are scheduled to meet in the quarterfinals on Thursday, July 9, at Boston Stadium.

The tournament’s other confirmed quarterfinal matchup pits Norway against England, a meeting set for Saturday, July 11. Norway advanced with a stunning 2-1 upset over five-time champion Brazil in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with forward Erling Haaland scoring both of Norway’s goals to send Brazil home in its earliest World Cup exit since 1990. England, meanwhile, survived a chaotic Round of 16 clash with co-host Mexico at Estadio Azteca, winning 3-2 in a match that included two red cards and two penalties before England held on to advance to the quarterfinals for a third consecutive tournament.

The remaining half of the bracket is still being finalized, with four Round of 16 matches left to determine the tournament’s final two quarterfinal pairings. Portugal is set to face Spain, while the United States takes on Belgium, both matches scheduled for Monday, July 6. Portugal advanced to this stage with a 2-1 win over Croatia, while Spain cruised past Austria 3-0 in its own Round of 32 fixture. The United States, the tournament’s remaining co-host still alive in the competition, advanced past Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in extra time despite playing a portion of the match with a numerical disadvantage after forward Folarin Balogun was shown a red card, a decision that was later overturned by FIFA ahead of the Belgium match. Belgium reached this stage by overcoming Senegal 3-2 in a come-from-behind victory.

The winners of the Portugal-Spain and United States-Belgium matches will meet in the quarterfinals on Friday, July 10, at Los Angeles Stadium.

Two additional Round of 16 matches are scheduled for Tuesday, July 7. Argentina, the tournament’s defending champion, will face Egypt at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in a highly anticipated matchup between Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah. Argentina reached this stage after needing extra time to eliminate tournament debutant Cape Verde, ultimately advancing 3-2 on the strength of a late own goal from the Cape Verdean defense. Egypt reached the Round of 16 for the first time in 92 years on the back of a penalty shootout win over Australia, a result that included a successful Panenka-style conversion from Salah.

Also on July 7, Switzerland will face Colombia, with both nations having advanced through their respective Round of 32 matchups. Switzerland eliminated Algeria to reach this stage, while Colombia edged past Ghana 1-0. The winners of the Argentina-Egypt and Switzerland-Colombia matches will meet in the quarterfinals on Saturday, July 11, at Kansas City Stadium.

With those results, the tournament’s quarterfinal schedule is nearly set. Morocco and France will open the round on July 9 in Boston, followed by the winners of Portugal-Spain and USA-Belgium meeting on July 10 in Los Angeles. On July 11, Norway will face England, while the winners of Argentina-Egypt and Switzerland-Colombia complete the round on the same day in Kansas City.

Beyond the sporting drama, this year’s tournament has continued to draw record global attention as the first World Cup jointly hosted by three nations and the first to feature the expanded 48-team format. The larger field has produced a total of 104 matches across 16 host cities spanning the United States, Canada and Mexico, a significant increase from the 64-match format used in previous 32-team tournaments. With Canada, Mexico and now potentially other co-hosts eliminated at various stages, the United States remains the last of the three hosts still alive in the competition heading into Monday’s match against Belgium.

Looking further ahead, the semifinal round is scheduled to follow the conclusion of the quarterfinals, with the tournament’s final set for July 19. As the bracket continues to take shape, storylines abound heading into the coming week, from Messi’s continued pursuit of a strong tournament with Argentina to Haaland’s push to add to his tournament-leading goal tally with Norway, alongside England’s bid to advance further than the team has in decades and the co-host United States’ attempt to extend its own historic run on home soil.

Fans looking to follow the remaining schedule can expect matches to continue nearly daily through the coming week as the field narrows from the current 16 teams down to the final four semifinalists, with official broadcast details for each remaining match available through FOX, FOX One, Telemundo and other regional broadcast partners covering the tournament across its host countries.

World Cup 2026 Bracket — Quarterfinals & Remaining Schedule

Confirmed Quarterfinals:

• Morocco vs. France — Thursday, July 9, Boston Stadium
• Morocco beat Canada 3-0 (first African team to reach back-to-back World Cup quarterfinals)
• France beat Paraguay 1-0 (Mbappé penalty)
• Norway vs. England — Saturday, July 11, Miami
• Norway stunned Brazil 2-1 (Haaland brace; Brazil’s earliest exit since 1990)
• England beat Mexico 3-2 at the Azteca (two red cards, two penalties)

Remaining Round of 16 (still to be played):

• Portugal vs. Spain — Monday, July 6
• Portugal beat Croatia 2-1; Spain beat Austria 3-0
• USA vs. Belgium — Monday, July 6
• USA beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 (AET); Belgium beat Senegal 3-2
• Argentina vs. Egypt — Tuesday, July 7, Atlanta (Messi vs. Salah)
• Argentina beat Cape Verde 3-2 (AET, own goal winner); Egypt beat Australia on penalties
• Switzerland vs. Colombia — Tuesday, July 7
• Switzerland beat Algeria; Colombia beat Ghana 1-0

Resulting Quarterfinals from those matches:

• Winner (Portugal/Spain) vs. Winner (USA/Belgium) — Friday, July 10, Los Angeles Stadium
• Winner (Argentina/Egypt) vs. Winner (Switzerland/Colombia) — Saturday, July 11, Kansas City Stadium

Key context:

• Field started at 48 teams → 32 after groups → 16 now in Round of 16
• Canada was the first co-host eliminated; USA is the only co-host still alive
• Semifinals follow the quarterfinals, with the final set for July 19
• Tournament format: first-ever 48-team World Cup, first jointly hosted by three countries (US, Canada, Mexico), 104 total matches

The proposals include a huge shop alongside a drive-through Starbucks and a DIY store

Developers have unveiled plans for a new Tesco in a Wiltshire town – and in a description more reminiscent of one of the county’s grand country estates, claiming it will be built in a ‘parkland setting’.

Should it receive planning permission, the Tesco would be surrounded by natural lakes, trees, and other landscaped features – a vision that English gardener Capability Brown would have applauded.

Robert Cort Properties is seeking to build a Tesco superstore, alongside a drive-through Starbucks and a DIY store, on land on the outskirts of the Devizes urban area, within the parish of Bishops Cannings.

The 7.4-hectare site sits next to a plot earmarked by Aldi for a new store. Its development partner, PRZM Real Estate, has already lodged a planning application for a £10m, 1,800 square metre store, along with a drive-through coffee shop, on the stretch of land running alongside the A361 London Road.

Also nearby is the former Cannings Hill filling station. Despite no longer operating as a fuel retailer, the site currently houses a car dealership, motor workshop, and hand car wash.

Last month, fast food giant McDonald’s announced its intention to build a drive-through restaurant on the site.

While Robert Cort Properties is headquartered in Reading, its managing director Jonathan Skull is no stranger to Devizes, having previously played cricket for the town. He also has family ties to Marlborough.

He told an online public meeting on Thursday: “I feel it could be a lovely plot that the community could benefit from.”

He revealed that his company had previously sought planning permission to construct a business park on the former MoD land, situated a mile and a half east of Devizes town centre.

Having been turned down by Wiltshire Council, the firm secured approval at a 2024 planning appeal. However, with little demand for a business park, the company has shifted its focus to retail, with the hope that the employment opportunities generated by the scheme will strengthen its planning case.

He said the development would provide a significant boost to the local economy, creating jobs and apprenticeships in the process. “A lot of young people, especially, are struggling to find jobs,” he said.

Architect Robert O’Reilly acknowledged the proposed site was just 400 metres from the boundary of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape.

“We want to integrate a strong parkland look, with lakes and trees,” he said. “It won’t be boring grey boxes in a boring grey landscape.”

He also assured those present that sufficient parking would be provided to ensure shoppers did not spill over into surrounding residential streets.

Transport consultant Paul Greatwood argued that the new development was unlikely to generate additional traffic. On the contrary, he suggested it would allow residents in the rapidly-growing eastern part of the town to carry out their shopping without having to navigate through the town centre.

Lee Nicoll, from the property acquisition team at Tesco, confirmed the retailer had been “actively looking for a site for a large store” in Devizes for some time. He explained that at 40,000 sq ft, or 1,800 sq m, the supermarket would be “slightly larger than Marlborough, slightly smaller than Calne, and around a third of the size of the Trowbridge supermarket.

“The store will have a new look and feel. It will look really fresh,” he said.

Customers could anticipate fresh produce, an in-store bakery, a health and beauty section, clothing, and cash machines. Both click and collect, and home delivery services will be available.

What it won’t feature is a filling station. Approximately 75 to 80 new jobs would be created. The trading hours are expected to be 7am to 11pm.

Mr Greatwood indicated there would probably be four HGV deliveries daily, with one fresh produce delivery in the morning.

Devizes currently has a town centre Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s, as well as an edge-of-town Lidl. However, Mr Nicholl commented: “We’re confident there’s a place for us. We want to be in Devizes and believe the public will enjoy our products.”

He noted that the local economy in Devizes was losing £4m annually to Tesco at Trowbridge. The proposed store would retain more revenue within the local economy, he added.

The developers were questioned about whether there would be a coordinated approach to the area’s future development. “We’ve reached out,” said Mr Skull.

“The Aldi application and this one are likely to be considered together by Wiltshire Council, who will want us to take a holistic approach to deliver something that is right for the community.”

The partnership will be seeking public feedback until July 21. A planning application is set to be submitted to Wiltshire Council in September, with a decision anticipated in early 2026, paving the way for construction to commence in 2027.

A public consultation event will take place in person at Devizes Corn Exchange on Tuesday, July 7, running from 1pm until 7.30pm.

WASHINGTON — Anthony Davis has yet to play a single game for the Washington Wizards, but the 10-time All-Star has already become one of the most talked-about names of the NBA offseason, with multiple teams reportedly circling the veteran big man even as Washington insists it has no intention of trading him.

The Wizards acquired Davis from the Dallas Mavericks in an eight-player trade at the deadline in February, a deal that also brought guards Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum to Washington in exchange for forward Khris Middleton, guard AJ Johnson, guard Malaki Branham, center Marvin Bagley III and a package of draft picks. Davis never suited up for the Wizards last season, and questions about his long-term future in Washington have persisted throughout the summer as the team works to build around its young core.

Those questions intensified after the Golden State Warriors emerged as a serious suitor, driven in part by a desire to reunite Davis with LeBron James, his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate and the player with whom he won an NBA championship in 2021. According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, the Warriors explored the possibility of trading for Davis as part of a broader offseason plan that also included pursuing James in free agency. ESPN’s Shams Charania later reported that Golden State’s roster ambitions extended beyond James alone, describing the team’s larger vision. “The Warriors going into free agency dreamt up a grand plan of Draymond, Steph, LeBron,” Charania said, adding that the franchise viewed pairing James with Davis as a potentially decisive move in its pursuit of the four-time MVP.

Any Golden State package for Davis would likely have required including forward Jimmy Butler to satisfy salary-matching rules, a complication that several reports suggested made the scenario unlikely to materialize. Both Butler and his longtime agent, Bernie Lee, have indicated that the Warriors have consistently communicated their desire to keep Butler with the organization as he continues recovering from a torn ACL, according to multiple outlets covering the situation.

Skepticism about the Warriors-Davis rumors grew further after ESPN’s Brian Windhorst suggested the speculation may have been driven more by negotiating leverage than genuine trade interest. Windhorst indicated that people around the league increasingly viewed the situation as a tactic benefiting multiple parties, saying it could ultimately lead to new contracts for several of the players involved rather than an actual trade. His comments came shortly after Golden State forward Draymond Green declined his $27.6 million player option, a move that added financial flexibility for the Warriors as they explored their options across free agency and the trade market.

Washington, for its part, has been unambiguous in shutting down the speculation. According to ESPN’s Marc Spears, a source told the network that the Wizards have no interest in trading Davis and are not entertaining offers involving him. Spears also reported that an unnamed NBA team executive described Wizards general manager Will Dawkins as a strong admirer of Davis’ game and presence within the organization. Dawkins himself addressed the rumors directly following the conclusion of the 2026 NBA Draft, telling ESPN that the team’s stance on Davis remains straightforward. “With AD again, he wants to be here and we want him here,” Dawkins said, adding that further conversations about his long-term future would take place in mid-August once contract extension eligibility rules allow for formal talks.

That timeline matters significantly for both sides. Davis has one guaranteed season remaining on his current contract, worth $58.5 million for 2026-27, along with a $62.8 million player option for the following season. Beginning August 6, he becomes eligible for a four-year contract extension worth up to $275 million, a detail that has shaped much of the speculation about his future. Should he be traded before then, that extension eligibility resets, a factor that complicates any team’s motivation to pursue a deal in the near term.

Despite Washington’s public stance, additional trade proposals have continued to surface. One report floated by Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor detailed a Warriors framework built around Jimmy Butler, in which Washington would receive Butler’s expiring $56.8 million contract, along with two future first-round picks and four first-round pick swaps in exchange for Davis. Separately, NBA reporter Sam Quinn proposed a hypothetical package involving the Cleveland Cavaliers, in which Cleveland would send center Jarrett Allen, guard Max Strus, guard Dennis Schroder and a first-round pick to Washington for Davis, tying into broader rumors linking Davis to a possible reunion scenario involving James in Cleveland rather than Golden State.

The Wizards’ broader offseason moves have added context to their stance on Davis. Washington used the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft to select forward AJ Dybantsa out of BYU and signed guard Trae Young to a four-year, $212 million contract extension shortly afterward. Those moves, combined with a young core that includes Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly and Kyshawn George, suggest a franchise focused on methodical, long-term development rather than pursuing immediate results through a marquee veteran. Washington finished with a 50-196 record over the past three seasons, a stretch that has shaped the front office’s current approach to roster building.

Davis’ injury history remains a relevant factor in any evaluation of his trade value. Over the past five seasons, he has appeared in just 243 of a possible 410 regular-season games, a durability concern that Washington and any potential trade partner would need to weigh carefully. When healthy last season with Dallas, Davis averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game across 20 appearances, shooting 50.6 percent from the field, numbers that continue to make him an attractive target for teams seeking immediate frontcourt production.

For now, Washington appears content to let the speculation play out without making a move, betting that Davis’ value could climb further if he performs well to open next season. Whether that patience holds through the coming months, particularly once his extension eligibility opens in August, remains one of the more closely watched storylines as the NBA heads toward the start of training camps later this year.

Two of the biggest fuel providers in the Channel Islands have said pump prices are steadily falling.

Both Rubis and ATF Fuels said recent drops in wholesale costs were now filtering through to local forecourts in Guernsey and Jersey.

The price of petrol and diesel reached an Iran war peak in May, before starting to fall.

A spokesperson for Rubis said if wholesale prices continued to fall it expected “to see further reductions passed on over time”.

In the last fortnight, global oil prices have returned to levels not seen since before the Iran war.

The RAC also reported the fastest monthly fall in diesel prices since 2000 in June with the cost falling by 17p a litre.

Petrol prices have also fallen, although with a more modest drop than diesel.

In an online post, external, the Jersey Consumer Council welcomed a reduction in prices but encouraged islanders to “shop around”.

It also told islanders not to expect prices to drop as quickly as they had risen.

“When wholesale prices rise, retailers typically pass these increases on swiftly. In contrast, when wholesale costs fall, reductions at the pump tend to happen more gradually”.

“This is partly due to consumer behaviour, as drivers are more likely to actively compare prices when costs are rising than when they are falling” it said.

The fall in prices comes after one Jersey politician proposed reducing fuel duty for three months to help islanders with the cost of living.

Shares of Shakti Pumps rose more than 8% on Monday after the company announced it had received an order worth nearly Rs 354 crore to supply 15,000 solar photovoltaic water pumping systems from the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL).

Shakti Pumps shares jumped as much as 8.3% to Rs 621.9 on the NSE in Monday morning trade after the company announced a new order win.

In an exchange filing released on Saturday, Shakti Pumps stated that it has received the Letter of Empanelment from MSEDCL for 15,000 off-grid solar photovoltaic water pumping systems (SPWPS) for the entire state of Maharashtra under Magel Tyala Saur Krushi Pump Yojana.

The total value of the 15,000 pumps said to be delivered as part of the contract was estimated at around Rs 353.89 crore, including GST. The domestic order, which includes the design, manufacturing, supply, transport, installation, testing and commissioning of the off-grid solar photovoltaic water pumping systems, is expected to be executed within 60 days from the issuance of the work order/NTP, the company said.

The Magel Tyala Saur Krushi Pump Yojana was announced by the Maharashtra government in 2024. It aims to provide 10 lakh agriculture solar pumps for new connections to the farmers. With the deployment of the scheme, the state government expects more than 10 lakh acres of land to come under irrigation.

Also read: Bonus issue alert! Last day to buy this Ashish Kacholia-backed multibagger stock for 5:1 bonus reward. Do you own?

Shakti Pumps share price

With today’s gains, Shakti Pumps shares are on track to post their sharpest single-day rise of the year.
The stock has gained around 4% over the past week and more than 13% in the last month. However, it remains down over 17% so far in 2026 and has declined 35% over the past year. Despite the recent weakness, Shakti Pumps has delivered multibagger returns of 523% over the last three years and 373% over the past five years.After hitting a 52-week high of Rs 979 apiece in July last year, the stock sharply tumbled over 53% in eight months to hit a 52-week low of Rs 456.35 apiece in March this year. The stock has so far recovered 36% since then. The company currently has a market capitalisation of nearly Rs 7,606 crore.

Also read: A pail of water may unleash India’s Rs 20 lakh crore opportunity

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Shares of Diamond Power Infrastructure jumped 10% to its day’s high of Rs 218 crore on BSE after the company received a Rs 435 crore order for Hyderabad data centre projects.

According to a filing with the exchange, the company received a supply order valued at Rs 435.71 crore (exclusive of GST) for High Tension (HT) and Low Tension (LT) power cables for the 310 MW HYD22 to HYD26 Data Center Projects at Hyderabad.

The project is to be executed by L&T, Sterling & Wilson, and Blue Star. According to the filing, the total project cost includes packing & forwarding and freight & transit insurance, but excludes GST. Price is on a variation basis per the IEEMA PV formula, using April 2026 IEEMA indices as the base.

The scope covers the supply of approximately 21.35 lakh meters (over 2,100 km) of cables, with deliveries commencing from the first week of August 2026 and completing in a staggered manner by March 2027.

The filing with the exchange stated this is among the largest single cable supply orders in India’s data center segment and reinforces the Company’s position as a preferred supplier of power cables for mission-critical digital infrastructure.

The order was received in the ordinary course of business and at arm’s length and the transaction does not fall within related party transactions.
“Data centers are emerging as one of the most significant demand drivers for the Indian cable industry. This order for the 310 MW Hyderabad campus validates our manufacturing capability, quality systems and delivery reliability for mission-critical infrastructure. This is among the largest Data Center orders for Power Cables in the Country. We look forward to executing it to the highest standards within the committed timeline.” Says Umesh Chayya, Senior Vice President – Sales & Marketing.Diamond Power Infrastructure is an integrated manufacturer of power transmission equipment, offering LV, MV, HV and EHV power cables, control and instrumentation cables, fire-resistant and flame-retardant cables, solar DC and EV charging cables, and conductors, serving sectors including power, infrastructure, oil & gas, renewables, real estate and data centers.

In the last one year, the shares went up 56.56% and in the last two years, they went up 72.77%. In the last three months and six months, the shares of Diamond Power Infrastructure were up 69.04% and 53.32% respectively.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

The temporary organization behind the Department of Government Efficiency reached its scheduled termination date Saturday, July 4, 2026.

President Donald Trump’s executive order last year creating the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization set a July 4, 2026, termination date for that temporary organization.

“A smaller Government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy, will be the perfect gift to America on the 250th Anniversary of The Declaration of Independence,” Trump said when he announced the initiative.

DOGE claims it saved $215 billion, including by slashing duplicative software licenses, canceling diversity, equity and inclusion grants and terminating leases for underused office space. The figure has been disputed, and DOGE’s public receipts do not fully document the headline savings claim. The webpage showing DOGE’s savings listed $215 billion in estimated savings as of Sunday.

ELON MUSK LOSES TRILLIONAIRE STATUS AFTER TECH SELL-OFF ERASES BILLIONS FROM FORTUNE

Billionaire tech executive Elon Musk, who led DOGE’s cost-cutting efforts when Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, stepped down from the department in May of last year.

“The final step of @DOGE is to delete itself,” Musk said in December 2024.

DOGE initially aimed to save $2 trillion in government cuts before reducing its goal to $1 trillion.

In its final social media post, DOGE said: “While the formal mission of DOGE has come to an end, the mission to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse will continue.”

“Good stewardship of taxpayer dollars and accountable government are not temporary initiatives,” the July 4 X post reads. “We hope those principles endure long into America’s next 250 years. It has been our greatest honor to serve the American people. Happy 4th!”

The White House praised the administration’s efforts to cut government spending through DOGE.

“President Trump was given a clear mandate to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse from the federal government,” White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said in a statement to Politico. “He has made significant progress in making the federal government more efficient to better serve the American taxpayer.”

No final DOGE review is expected, according to Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought.

NUMBERS SHOW HOW MUCH TRUMP HAS SLASHED GOVERNMENT WORKFORCE

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“We have no plans to do kind of a closing DOGE report,” Vought said at a hearing on Tuesday. “We’re always happy to give you our assessment of that work. I think it made some really important strides.”

The White House budget proposal released in April asked for $35 million for the U.S. DOGE Service. But Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, pointed out that DOGE “was pretty much eliminated.”

DOGE Service acting Administrator Amy Gleason has also taken on a new role, leading a health technology office at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Healthcare Dive reported last month.