Football stories the mainstream media ignores.
worldcup
Belgium's 4-1 win sent the USA out, completing a historic elimination of all three co-hosts and leaving Pochettino's future wide open.
From Mbappé's Cameroonian roots to Bouaddi's switch to Morocco, France's quarter-final carries decades of shared football history.
France beat Paraguay to reach the quarter-finals, but a senator's racist attack on Mbappé dominated the aftermath, not the football.
15 of 26 Cape Verde players were born outside the islands. Netherlands gave six — including both who scored vs Argentina. The full origin list.
Nyland played 4 games for Sevilla this season. Aursnes retired and came back. Berg beats Man City and Inter for Bodo/Glimt. Norway's first QF is no accident.
Norway beat Brazil. England won at the Azteca with ten men. Haaland has seven. Tuchel can join Lippi and Del Bosque. Miami, July 11. Everything is at stake.
Bellingham scored twice in 98 seconds. Quansah sent off at 54 minutes. England played with ten men at the Azteca for 40 minutes and won 3-2. The record is gone.
Nigeria debuted in 1994 ranked 5th globally. Okocha was benched. Maradona's last World Cup game was against them. They were two minutes from the quarter-finals.
FIFA introduced ball recovery time in 2022. It explains Spain, Bouaddi and Haaland at the 2026 World Cup better than any conventional stat.
Spain broke Brazil 33-game world record. Zero conceded at this World Cup. Now Portugal, Ronaldo, Dallas on Monday. The full story and R16 preview.
France beat Morocco in the 2022 semi-final. A 2026 QF rematch brings Olise vs Diaz's Real Madrid role and Bouaddi facing the country he chose not to represent.
England have never beaten Brazil at a World Cup. Ancelotti is 2-0 against Tuchel in UCL knockouts. Neymar is on the bench. The quarter-final is building.
Ancelotti beat Tuchel at Chelsea in 2022 and Bayern in 2024. UCL knockout head-to-head: 0-2 to Tuchel. A Brazil vs England quarter-final could be next.
Austria are in the Round of 32 for the first time since 1982. Spain haven't conceded at this World Cup. July 2, SoFi Stadium. Here is how Austria win.
Norway last appeared at a World Cup in 1998. Haaland was not yet born. 28 years, six missed cycles, and the dark horses are finally back in 2026.
4 goals in 2 matches. Second in the Golden Boot race behind Messi. Norway face Ivory Coast on June 30. Haaland's first World Cup is already historic.
Minus 3 in qualifying. Five goals conceded in 18 games. Beat Germany 2-1. Now Mexico at altitude. Ecuador's dark horse story is far from over.
Ecuador started qualifying minus three. Five goals conceded in 18 games. The Byron Castillo case and defensive record that defied the punishment — explained.
France. Netherlands. Germany. Belgium. Croatia. Every World Cup since 2002, Europe eliminates Brazil. They identified the pattern. Then hired Ancelotti.
Minus 3 before kick-off. Best defence in South America. Two CBs from the same UCL final. Ecuador are the dark horse nobody is watching.
