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Good morning football fans. It’s Friday, July. 10 - UEFA will try to block Russia’s return to football competitions, the FBI is investigating Argentina’s FA, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.
KEY FIXTURES
2026 World Cup quarter-finals: Spain vs Belgium, Friday 10, 15:00 ET / 20:00 BST. Spain are the only team yet to concede a goal at this tournament, and they have now kept a record six straight clean sheets at the World Cup. Meanwhile, Belgium are now unbeaten in 18 games and have kept an impressive goal average at this tournament above 2.5 per game. Norway vs England, Saturday 11, 17:00 ET / 22:00 BST. England have been eliminated from five of their last six World Cup knockout round matches against European opposition, while Norway have failed to win any of their six World Cup games against fellow European opposition. Harry Kane has scored 11 goals in his last 12 knockout stage matches at major tournaments, and Erling Haaland is just as dangerous, having scored in each of his last 14 competitive games for Norway (27 goals in total during that period). Argentina vs Switzerland, Saturday 11, 21:00 ET / 02:00 BST (Sun 12). Despite playing out a goalless draw with Colombia, Switzerland have scored nine goals in four games before that, averaging 2.25 goals per game. Argentina, too, have been scoring a lot of late, netting exactly three goals in each of their last three matches, though they have conceded five goals already at this tournament. See the World Cup bracket here.
Results…
World Cup quarter-finals: France vs Morocco (Live Result)
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TOP TALKING POINTS
Nation Return Blocked
UEFA is preparing to block Russia’s return to international football following the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) provisional lifting of the country’s suspension, The Guardian reports. Sources at several national associations say that many of Uefa’s member associations are against the idea of Russia returning to European football, which would block Russia’s ability to qualify for the World Cup through European qualifying pathways. Russian clubs and the national team have been banned from Uefa and Fifa events since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Fifa, on the other hand, is discussing potentially lifting the ban on all Russian teams after the IOC urged all sports to end war-related sanctions. In February, Fifa president Gianni Infantino said that “we have to” look at restoring Russian teams as “this ban has not achieved anything, it has just created more frustration.” Football’s world governing body already agreed to allow Russia’s under-15 boys’ team to compete at a youth World Cup in October this year.
While Uefa also tried to bring back Russian youth teams in 2023, it abandoned the plans following backlash. Uefa’s president Aleksander Ceferin is seeking re-election next year, so it’s unlikely that he will go against his electorate’s sentiment, Matt Hughes at The Guardian says.
Referees Under Fire
FIFA chief referee officer Pierluigi Collina has defended the neutrality of World Cup officials following allegations of bias toward Argentina. Collina, who refereed Brazil’s 2-0 win over Germany in the 2002 World Cup final, said that, while constructive debate around decisions is welcome, “nobody can question the integrity of the Fifa World Cup match officials.”
Collina’s comments come after the Egyptian FA asked Fifa to kick the officials in charge of their World Cup round of 16 defeat out of the tournament. They believe referee Francois Letexier showed “double standards,” enabling Argentina to overcome a two-goal deficit to win 3-2. Egypt manager Hossam Hassan speculated that “perhaps they wanted to keep the world champion in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running.”
“Nobody can claim that Fifa refereeing can be influenced by anyone, not even by the Fifa president (Gianni Infantino),” Collina said. “Nobody can question the integrity of the Fifa World Cup match officials. When this happens, it may provoke reactions that lead to threats against them and their families. This is not right.”
FBI Investigates Argentine FA
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the Argentine Football Association (AFA) for alleged money laundering in the United States, according to Argentinian outlet La Nacion. Specifically, the FBI is investigating how the AFA moved more than $300m to banks and companies in the U.S., and whether these funds were used to conceal potentially illicit funds and their purpose.
The investigations, which began preliminarily in 2025, focus on Florida-based TourProdEnter LLC, which allegedly acted as a collection agent for AFA sponsorship. La Nacion claims the company handled at least $260m connected to AFA revenues, but only a small part can be clearly tied to operating expenses. Another $57m was reportedly distributed to various people without clear explanations, including a $340,000 payment to a “spiritual guide” who travelled with the national team to major tournaments.
At the time of writing, the U.S. Department of Justice has not publicly commented on the reports, and the AFA has not been charged with any wrongdoing. The scale of this case — spanning multiple jurisdictions and financial systems — can take years to resolve.
POLL
Is this the best World Cup you can remember?
ON THE BALL
Europe
> Premier League clubs are returning for pre-season this month; see every pre-season fixture scheduled (More) | UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has suggested that he will grant England a Bank Holiday if the country wins the 2026 World Cup (More) | Fifa has banned England defender Jarell Quansah for two matches after his red card against Mexico (More) | Jordan Henderson has not been ruled out of participating for England at the World Cup despite breaking his arm (More)
> Manchester United have confirmed the location of their new 100,000 seater stadium, which will sit 350m north-west of the existing Old Trafford Stadium (More) | Manchester City have confirmed Enzo Maresca’s coaching staff, with former player Willy Caballero as first-team coach (More)
> European player unions from 17 nations have withdrawn their support for a lawsuit against Fifa’s transfer regulations (More)
> Rafa Benitez, who was in charge of Liverpool’s 2005 Champions League win, is open to becoming Scotland’s next national team manager (More)
Americas
> France have advanced to the 2026 World Cup semi-final following a 2-0 win over Morocco; they will face Spain or Belgium in the semi-final (More)
> Justin Bieber will join Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and others in co-headlining the 2026 World Cup final half-time show, which will last 11 minutes (More) | England’s round of 16 win over Mexico has become the most-watched football match in U.S. history, with a combined viewership of 44 million across Fox and Telemundo (More)
> The USMNT earned U.S. Soccer $16m in prize money from Fifa for making the round of 16 (More) | U.S. Soccer has hired Steve Cherundolo as the head coach of the Under-23 men’s national team that will compete at the 2028 Summer Olympics (More)
> Mexico have appointed Rafael Marquez as head coach to succeed Javier Aguirre following the co-hosts’ elimination from the World Cup (More)
> NWSL leaders San Diego Wave will face ninth-placed Angel City on Saturday (July 11); see all upcoming NWSL fixtures (More) and standings (More)
Rest of the World
> Egypt have extended the contract of national team head coach Hossam Hassan after Egypt’s successful World Cup run (More)
ROUTERS’ VOICE
Yesterday’s Poll: Who do you think will win the 2026 World Cup?
This poll was asked before France vs Morocco.
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 ⬜️ 🇫🇷 France (50%)
🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🇲🇦 Morocco (2%)
🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🇪🇸 Spain (10%)
🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🇧🇪 Belgium (1%)
🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🇳🇴 Norway (8%)
🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🏴 England (17%)
🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🇦🇷 Argentina (11%)
🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🇨🇭 Switzerland (1%)
Your punditry takes:
🇫🇷 G.M: “They’re the most complete team. Between the elite talent throughout the squad, outstanding form throughout the tournament, and experience on this stage, I don’t see them being beaten.”
🇦🇷 T.R: “Any team which commits to running around the pitch to give their star player the best chance of impacting games has a chance. Let alone if that star player is the GOAT!”
🏴 J.C: “As the inventors of the Beautiful game, it is long overdue that football is coming home.”
🇪🇸 D.R: “Spain, like their people, are all about walking, conversing, sitting, playing, and seeing the good in the day and then Bang, you see the Flamenco dancer stomp, move, and strike. Don't underestimate this team, they may look like they are just moving around the field and not doing much, but they are calculating the entire time.”
EXTRA TIME
Every transfer in Europe’s top five leagues.
Inside the fitness demand on World Cup referees. (data)
Does going first or second in a shootout actually matter?
… and is there such a thing as ‘the perfect penalty’ in football?
How Norway made football fun for kids without a league or trophies.
… and Erling Haaland’s Norway vs Brazil vlog.
World Cup losses will continue until America fixes its youth soccer system. (op-ed)
GAME FACE ON
Question: Which nation has featured in men’s World Cup quarter-finals 14 times, the second-highest total after Brazil’s 15?
Scroll below for the answer.
Daily Wordle: Guess the football-related word, from player names to classic phrases, in six tries or fewer. Play it here.
I dreamed that I scored a bicycle kick in the World Cup final.
Answer
Germany.
