What is a World Cup if not a collection of stories to remember? The making of fairy tales, the emergence of the unlikeliest heroes, and the crushing weight of the harshest realities, all mixed into one cauldron, brewing stories to be remembered for a lifetime.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said at the World Cup on Monday that the suffering of the Palestinian people was a "shame on the world" as he called on football to do more to come to their aid.

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni said sides should be given more rest in the final stages of the World Cup as the defending champions face a gruelling schedule in the knockout phases.

France striker Kylian Mbappe hit back at a Paraguayan senator, describing her as a "despicable woman" on Monday after she launched a racist attack on him following Paraguay's elimination from the World Cup.

Belgium did not spend the night trying to revisit those debates. They simply demonstrated that while power can influence headlines, it cannot guarantee outcomes.

“Like I said, I think there was always a justice somewhere in life and the fact that something can happen like that, you can put it all you want, but we don't think that was fair,” Raskin told reporters.

A 2-1 defeat to Norway in the World Cup last-16, inspired by two clinical strikes from Erling Haaland, has ensured that the five-time champions will wait at least 28 years for a sixth crown.

The game had been overshadowed by FIFA's reprieve for US forward Folarin Balogun after a red card in his previous match, but he was unable to make an impact as the Belgians ran out easy winners in Seattle.

"For me, Lamine has played one of the most important matches of his life," de la Fuente said. "Beyond whether he was brilliant or not, for me it has been one of the matches that will help him grow the most."

Cristiano Ronaldo spent more than two decades deciding matches, dragging teams through difficult moments and defying time itself to remain among soccer's elite even past his Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus prime.

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup ended with a Spanish sting in the tail, courtesy of Mikel Merino's last-gasp winner that earned a 1-0 round-of-16 win on Monday, but he was unwilling to make a hasty call on his international future.

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez said he was leaving his role after Spain beat his side 1-0 in the World Cup last 16 on Monday, calling the defeat the end of a cycle for the team.

Much like seafaring 8th-century Norse warriors who raided and conquered across continents, this modern-day Viking delivered two clinical blows late in the game to alter his nation's football history

Substitute Mikel Merino scored a late winner to put Spain in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory over Portugal and end Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career on Monday.

They say it is difficult to breathe at 7,350 feet. England climbed higher on the night. By the final whistle, they were on cloud nine, having left the football world breathless.

Lionel Messi looked to the sky, fists clenched, as Argentina’s Round of 32 clash against Cape Verde in Miami on Saturday came to an end. There had been tears in his eyes just a few minutes earlier. Messi’s reaction was not merely one of relief washing over him but that of a survivor emerging from great turmoil. The Blue Sharks had awakened a fear Argentina did not know still existed within them.

President Donald Trump confirmed Monday he asked FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to review the "horrible" decision to hand a red card to star US striker Folarin Balogun, but said he did not request it be overturned.

France and Morocco head into their quarterfinal meeting having provided very different answers.

‘We will remember those who stood by us when the night was hardest,’ embassy’s message says

Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal will be facing another tough test when they take on in-form Spain in a blockbuster Round of 16 clash of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Dallas Stadium tonight.