Good morning football fans. It’s Friday, July. 17 - The World Cup final, England manager Thomas Tuchel is set to remain in his position, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.
Editor’s Note: We’re giving our team a well-earned break for the World Cup final. As such, this will be the last edition of Route One until Wednesday, July 22.
In the meantime, enjoy the World Cup final with your friends and family. It’s been a rollercoaster of a tournament, and we thank you for tuning into Route One each day throughout.
TOP TALKING POINTS
World Cup Final
The 2026 World Cup final takes place on Sunday (July 19), with Spain vs Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Kick off is at 15:00 ET (20:00 BST), with the closing ceremony starting 90 minutes before the first whistle. This is the first World Cup final in history to feature the reigning European and Copa America champions.
According to Opta’s prediction model, Spain are 56% favourites to win the final, while a popular prediction market projects the 2010 winners to have a slightly higher chance, at 58%. Luis de la Fuente’s side have conceded just one goal at the tournament, and their semi-final win over France extended their unbeaten run to 37 matches in all competitions, tying Italy for the longest unbeaten run by a men’s national team in history.
Meanwhile, this will be Argentina’s seventh World Cup final in history, the outright second most of any side after Germany (8). The reigning champions avoided facing an opponent in the top 15 of the Fifa world ranking until facing England (ranked fourth) in the semi-finals, though they boast a 13-match winning streak in all competitions, with their last defeat coming back in September 2025.
As it stands, Lionel Messi leads the race for the Golden Boot — see team and player stats here. He has scored eight goals, joint-top with Kylian Mbappe, but has one more assist than the Frenchman, with four in total. Mbappe can overtake Messi, as can Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane (both on six goals), in the World Cup’s third-place match between France and England on Saturday (July 18). Goals scored at the third-place play-off count toward the race for the Golden Boot — see every player to have won the trophy after scoring in the third-place play-off here.
England’s Inquest Begins
Thomas Tuchel retains the backing of the English FA to remain as the national team head coach and is expected to lead the team to the 2028 European Championship, according to multiple credible sources. Tuchel signed a contract extension in February, having taken charge in January 2025 on an initial 18-month contract.
Following England’s exit to Argentina (1-2) in the World Cup semi-final, Tuchel took full responsibility for the loss, but argued that he did not instruct his players to abandon their more attacking style. Captain Harry Kane later insisted that his manager’s instructions were to keep pushing forward after Anthony Gordon’s opening goal. Nevertheless, a number of England’s key players were reportedly left frustrated with how the team approached the final stages of the game.
While Tuchel retains the backing of the FA, the governing body will conduct a full review of England’s World Cup campaign. FA insiders have told The Times of London that they are sympathetic to Tuchel’s argument that at no point did he ask his players to sit back, and that he introduced additional defenders because he felt his side were incapable of retaining possession. "We needed to get back on the ball otherwise you cannot break the pressure and you cannot get the momentum back,” Tuchel told reporters after claiming it wasn’t his plan to drop deeper. “It may not be in our DNA… to control the game and ball.”
Club Seeks Compensation
Premier League side Leeds United have begun legal action against Leicester City after being denied automatic promotion in 2023-24, when the now League One side broke financial rules. That season, Leicester won the Championship title and finished two places above Leeds, who subsequently lost in the play-off final. In the 2025-26 Championship season, Leicester were docked six points for breaching profit and sustainability rules (PSR) during the three-year period ending in 2023-24.
The report, originally published in The Athletic, claims that a statement of claim has been served against Leicester, outlining the reasons for action. Leeds are said to have included specific losses while also requesting an assessment of damages. A hearing is expected to take place next summer.
Leeds have been spurred on by Burnley’s successful case against Everton, after they were awarded £35m for the Toffees breaching PSR in 2021-22, although Everton have appealed the ruling. Everton remained in the Premier League that season after finishing four points above relegated Burnley.
POLL
Should FIFA abolish the World Cup third-place play-off?
ON THE BALL
Europe
> A peak audience of 24 million people tuned in to watch England's defeat by Argentina in the World Cup semi-final, making it the most-watched live television event in the past five years in the UK (More) | ITV and BBC are reportedly planning to screen the World Cup half-time show in full on Sunday (More)
> Harry Kane, who is now England’s most capped outfield player in history, said it’s “too early” to discuss whether it is his final World Cup campaign (More) | Jude Bellingham has played down his heated discussion with Lionel Messi which was viral on social media (More)
> Germany’s Bundesliga is moving its domestic English-language rights from ESPN to USA Network and Fandango for $100m over five years (More)
> Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon has announced his retirement after 25 years and 682 appearances (More)
Americas
> The shirt worn by Brazil great Pele when he scored twice in the 1958 World Cup final has sold for $4.9m at auction (More)
> United States President Donald Trump will attend the 2026 World Cup final, the White House confirmed (More) | New York and New Jersey have issued an air quality health alert ahead of the final, a result of wildfire smoke (More) | FIFA will hand out sanctions to players and coaches who have been critical of officials at the World Cup after the tournament finishes (More)
> Four MLS fixtures from Matchday 16 conclude shortly after publication (Live Results); see the Conference Standings (More)
> Gotham FC vs Washington Spirit, which ended 1-0, drew a record crowd for a women’s sporting event in New York City, with 42,000 tickets sold (More); see NWSL Standings (More)
> Canada Soccer will launch the inaugural edition of the W Canadian Championship this summer, a new national domestic cup competition (More)
ROUTERS’ VOICE
Yesterday’s Poll: Who do you think will win the World Cup final?
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 ⬜️ 🇪🇸 Spain (72%)
🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🇦🇷 Argentina (28%)
Your punditry takes:
🇪🇸 D.B: “All the best managers in the world are from Spain because their football IQ is way ahead of every other country right now. And this Spanish team, despite not being in great form or full of many stars, has been putting that football IQ on show.”
🇪🇸 J.R.K: “I think it’s going to be very difficult for Argentina to score, considering the fact that Spain has only given up one goal in the entire tournament.”
🇦🇷 T.G: “I’m learning NOT to bet against Messi and co. Nobody puts their heart and soul into winning like this team. They want it more!”
🇦🇷 W.B: “There’s a reason Argentina has now reached three of the last four World Cup finals… Messi… and the reason they will be lifting the World Cup for a fourth time in their history… Messi!”
EXTRA TIME
Updated Premier League pre-season friendly fixtures.
World Cup demand pushes price of private jet charters up 30%.
Meet the World Cup superfans who follow their nations everywhere.
How a sculptor created the World Cup trophy.
Football Power list: who really runs the world’s game?
California favourites cash in on World Cup visitors.
What does it take to score a goal in a World Cup final? (interactive guide)
FC Augsburg’s early contender for kit of the season.
GAME FACE ON
Question: Lionel Messi is set to join which only other player in history to have played in three men’s World Cup finals?
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.
[England] were more afraid to drop out of the tournament than having the excitement and hunger to win it.
Answer
Cafu (1994, 1998, 2002). While Pele won three World Cups, he didn’t feature in the 1962 final due to injury.
