France face Philly furnace as World Cup last 16 gets under way

Los Angeles: France are bracing for furnace-like temperatures when they face Paraguay in Philadelphia in the World Cup's last 16 on Saturday as co-hosts Canada prepare for a daunting date with African giants Morocco in Houston.

With a brutal heatwave roasting swathes of the United States as it celebrates July 4th, Les Bleus take on Paraguay at Lincoln Financial Field against a backdrop of extreme heat warnings.

Temperatures in the Pennsylvania metropolis touched 38 degrees Celsius (101 Fahrenheit) on Friday, and the US National Weather Service are warning of more of the same on Saturday when the game kicks off at 5:00pm local time. sweetbonanza-app.com

France coach Didier Deschamps said his team will be prepared for the conditions.

"It is something we need to take into account, but I think every team has prepared for it. It can have an impact on all the teams," said Deschamps.

الأخبارتكريم شركاء النجاح في صيف الرياضة للجميع 2025كرم الاتحاد القطري للرياضة للجميع، تحت مظلة وزارة الرياضة والشباب، شركاء النجاح ضمن فعاليات برنامج صيف الرياضة للجميع 2026»، من خلال الحفل الختامي الذي أقيم ظهر أمس الأربعاء بصا...فتح →

"This will be our fifth game at the tournament and that will have an impact as well, but I am not fixated on the heat."

France have been the outstanding team of the tournament so far, producing a series of scintillating attacking displays to surge into the last 16, scoring 13 goals in four games.

France will likely be without midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, however, ruled out with a thigh injury, according to reports. His place should be taken by Manu Kone.

Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro said the South Americans were more concerned by the "storm" of France's multi-pronged attack than the weather.

"France are like an electrical storm. We need to be aware that the storm is coming and try to be prepared for the lightning bolts," Alfaro said.

"We are used to the heat, and of course we have to suffer with it. You would never play a World Cup game at 5:00 pm in Paraguay, and if we did we might lose, but it's like when you go to Quito (to play Ecuador), and you have to be ready for the altitude."

Paraguay demonstrated in their victory over Germany in the last 32 that they are likely to present a rugged challenge to French hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.

France forward Bradley Barcola is fully expecting the South Americans to bring a physical approach to Saturday's game.

"It's a team that defends a lot. They're going to dish out a lot of knocks," Barcola said.

"But they are also a footballing team. We saw that against Germany."

In Saturday's early last-16 game, Canada are chasing what would be a massive upset when they take on 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco in Houston.

The Canadians are riding high after beating South Africa in Los Angeles on Sunday to advance to the last 16.

But Canada coach Jesse Marsch says beating a side of the calibre of Morocco will require a whole new level.

"Morocco is a team that has literally zero weaknesses," Marsch said Friday.

"We have to try to be good at the things that we care about and that we are good at.

"We're going to need to handle the difficulty of what Morocco is going to throw at us at every moment, and make sure that we are understanding exactly who we are, how we want to play, who we want to be, and that we execute that at the highest level."

Morocco fought their way into Saturday's last 16 with a gruelling victory over the Netherlands, winning on penalties after extra-time.

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi said the victory over the Dutch was already in the rear-view mirror as the Atlas Lions aim to keep moving through the tournament, where a possible quarter-final date with France awaits them.

"We have a lot of respect for (Canada), they have quality," Ouahbi said.

"The level we showed in these last games will not be enough. This is the most difficult game, because it is the next one."

"We already played against the Netherlands, it's in the past. If we have to play another match, that will be the hardest one."

In a boost for early departees Germany, Jurgen Klopp said Saturday he was recharged and "ready" for what he said would be "intensive discussions" over becoming the country's new coach following Julian Nagelsmann's resignation.

أكد فلاح حيدر سليمان الحيدر، المشرف العام السابق على كرة القدم في النادي العربي، أن رحيل صاحب السمو الأمير الوالد الشيخ حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني، رحمه الله، يمثل خسارة كبيرة لدولة قطر وللأمتين العربية والإسلامية، لما تركه من إرث وطني وإنساني سيبقى راسخًا في ذاكرة الأجيال، مشيرًا إلى أن الأمير الوالد كان قائدًا استثنائيًا استطاع برؤيته الثاقبة أن ينقل قطر إلى مرحلة تاريخية جديدة من التنمية والريادة.
وقال الحيدر إن الأمير الوالد آمن بقدرات أبناء الوطن، واستثمر في الإنسان قبل العمران، فأسس دولة المؤسسات، وأطلق مشاريع تنموية عملاقة جعلت من قطر نموذجًا عالميًا في التطور والازدهار، حتى أصبحت تحظى بمكانة مرموقة على مختلف المستويات الإقليمية والدولية.
وأضاف أن الإنجازات التي تحققت في عهده لم تقتصر على الاقتصاد أو البنية التحتية فحسب، بل شملت مختلف القطاعات، وفي مقدمتها الرياضة، التي حظيت بدعم غير مسبوق، حتى أصبحت قطر عاصمة للرياضة العالمية، تستضيف أكبر البطولات والأحداث الدولية، وهو ما توج بتنظيم بطولة كأس العالم 2022، التي شكلت مصدر فخر لكل عربي.
وأشار إلى أن الأمير الوالد كان يؤمن بأن الرياضة رسالة حضارية وجسر للتواصل بين الشعوب، ولذلك وفر كل الإمكانات لبناء بنية رياضية متطورة، وإعداد أجيال قادرة على المنافسة ورفع اسم قطر في المحافل الدولية،
وأوضح الحيدر أن مواقف الأمير الوالد تجاه قضايا أمته ستظل خالدة في الذاكرة، فقد عُرف بحكمته، وبعد نظره، ودعمه للحق، وسعيه الدائم إلى ترسيخ الحوار وتعزيز الأمن والاستقرار، وهو ما أكسبه احترامًا واسعًا ومحبة صادقة في قلوب الشعوب.
وفي ختام تصريحه، رفع فلاح الحيدر أصدق آيات العزاء إلى مقام حضرة صاحب السمو الشيخ تميم بن حمد آل ثاني أمير البلاد المفدى، حفظه الله، وإلى الأسرة الحاكمة الكريمة والشعب القطري، داعيًا الله عز وجل أن يتغمد الأمير الوالد بواسع رحمته، وأن يجزيه خير الجزاء على ما قدمه لوطنه وأمته،

Stourbridge, United Kingdom: As England gears up for the World Cup semi-final Wednesday, there will be one name on everyone's lips: Jude Bellingham, the star midfielder who powered the Three Lions through to the marquee clash against Argentina.

In packed stadiums in North America and pubs back home, people belt out the Beatles' "Hey Jude" and don t-shirts with slogans like "Bend it like Bellingham" -- a play on the iconic 2000s film "Bend it like Beckham".

But nowhere is the 23-year-old midfielder more feted than his hometown of Stourbridge, a quiet market town in central England, west of Birmingham.

Wheeling his bike past the town's shopping centre, retiree Keith Hall blows a kiss towards a superhero comic-style mural of Bellingham.

"He's a local lad," Hall told AFP, adding Bellingham "keeps in touch with his roots" despite now playing for Real Madrid.

Bellingham launched his football career playing for the Stourbridge Juniors, before joining Birmingham City's youth side and becoming the club's youngest first-team player.

"It doesn't surprise me that he's become an international sensation because he's the coolest man currently living," gushed grocery store worker Sam Holden, 21.

"Harry Kane obviously can kind of save us in our time of need, but Jude Bellingham can just take us to the heights that England absolutely are capable of reaching."

A regional railway company is offering passengers named "Jude" free travel in Stourbridge this week.

"We look forward to inviting Judes from across the region for a free ride on the Stourbridge Shuttle," said Jonny Wiseman from the West Midlands Railway.

The fever has spread beyond the area, known as Black Country, with a railway station in southeast London briefly renamed to "Jude Bellingham" station.

'King Jude'

In a pub in the village of Hagley near Stourbridge, Vienna Letts recalls the incredible atmosphere when Bellingham and England take to the field.

"Hagley is quite a niche, quiet community normally, but it's like we've all come into one space to just support Jude," said Letts.

"No one would have thought that a boy from Stourbridge could be the top scorer and England could be in the semifinals."

After two stunning goals against Norway on Saturday that fired England into the semis, Bellingham is tied with team captain Kane on six goals in the tournament.

A local shop displays a portrait of Bellingham in its window, and during an interview, a man walks past yelling "hail king Jude!"

In Birmingham, a mural has popped up showing the 23-year-old and teammate and fellow local Morgan Rogers eating local delicacy battered chips -- dipped in an orange batter and deep-fried.

"He's like a hero for other local people, local children, knowing (if) you work hard, you can meet your dreams," said Harpreet Basin, a 40-year-old teacher, visiting the mural.

Back in Stourbridge, tanning salon manager Jessica said she'd been hearing chants of "Hey Jude" around town during the World Cup.

"My children, they've now learned what that song is from it being sung at the football matches," said Jessica. "They (go) round the house singing it as well."

Bellingham appeared moved to tears after the England versus Norway game, when even football legend David Beckham joined the huge crowds serenading him with "Hey Jude" on Saturday in the Miami Stadium.

Los Angeles, United States: Portugal battled into the last 16 of the World Cup with a drama-filled 2-1 victory over Croatia on Thursday to set up a titanic showdown with European champions Spain.

In another nerve-shredding World Cup classic, Goncalo Ramos headed Portugal into the lead in the fourth minute of stoppage time before Croatia saw a last-gasp equaliser agonisingly ruled out for offside in Toronto.

Portugal's 41-year-old superstar captain Cristiano Ronaldo had helped haul his team back into the contest, burying a 68th-minute penalty to cancel out Croatia's 53rd-minute opener from Ivan Perisic.

Ronaldo later joined frenzied celebrations after Ramos glanced home a sensational header deep into injury time to give Portugal the lead.

The journey continues!

Cristiano Ronaldo inspired #Portugal to a 2-1 comeback victory over #Croatia, sending the 2016 European champions into the FIFA World Cup Round of 16, where they will face Spain in a highly anticipated Iberian showdown.#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/Jwzf2La22f

— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) July 3, 2026

But Ronaldo and his Portugal team-mates were left stunned when Josko Gvardiol prodded home an apparent equaliser in stoppage time.

Yet there was one final twist when the goal was chalked off for offside after a lengthy VAR review to the disbelief of Croatia's players and their large contingent of fans at Toronto's BMO Field.

After the final whistle, an emotional Ronaldo held up and pulled on a Portugal shirt bearing the number 21, a tribute to late team-mate Diogo Jota, the Liverpool star who tragically died in a car crash almost a year to the day from Thursday's win, on July 3 last year.

"We knew it before the game. It was a special moment. We speak today, our group, about that, the coincidence of life, it's unbelievable," Ronaldo said afterwards of the tribute to Jota.

"I was amazed because the situation of today. It means a lot to us, not only because we won the game, but the also the way we won the game. It was a difficult game, we knew it."

The result ensures that Ronaldo's incredible World Cup career will be extended for at least one more match when the Portuguese face Iberian rivals Spain in the last 16 in Dallas on Monday.

Ronaldo's second-half penalty made him the oldest man to score in a World Cup knockout match. The goal was also first time Ronaldo had scored in a World Cup game in his glittering career.

Spain romp past Austria

Spain had advanced to that meeting with a scintillating 3-0 win over Austria in Los Angeles earlier Friday that confirmed their status as one of the favourites for the title.

Two goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and a Pedro Porro header sealed victory for the Spaniards, who produced their most complete performance of the tournament to advance to the next round.

Spain opened their World Cup campaign with a faltering 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, but have subsequently built momentum with each match.

With Spanish movie stars Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem in the 70,492 crowd at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium, Spain were always in control against a limited Austrian side who failed to register a shot on goal.

Oyarzabal fired Spain into the lead in the 36th minute, sweeping in a low finish to crown a slick passing move, and more deft inter-play set up Porro to head home the second in the 66th minute.

Real Sociedad striker Oyarzabal grabbed his second as he coolly tucked away a low finish from Marc Cucurella's pinpoint cross.

"We played a magnificent match. I am happy because, in every aspect, we came close to perfection," said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente.

"Every match from now on will be more complicated. Every match will be a bit more demanding. We are moving into a more critical phase" of the World Cup, he added.

De la Fuente said his Spain side can still get better "in every area."

"That is our spirit -- the belief that we haven't hit our ceiling yet. We need to improve naturally. We are ambitious," he said.

The late match on Thursday will see Algeria take on Switzerland, attempting to avoid becoming the latest African team to fall by the wayside in the knockout rounds following the demise of Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal. Only Morocco have gone through to the last 16.

Algeria have never won a World Cup knockout game in four previous trips to the tournament.

Saudi Arabia’s state-backed ROSHN Group is seeking investors for the Aramco Stadium, one of the venues planned for the 2034 World Cup.

Three sources told Reuters that the Public Investment Fund-owned developer is exploring an investment deal to release capital for other projects under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 programme.

ROSHN have appointed JPMorgan to oversee the equity fundraising process, two of the sources said. PIF and ROSHN have also begun testing investor interest in the stadium.

The 47,000-capacity stadium is under construction in Al Khobar and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. It is scheduled to host its first match in January.

ROSHN own and developed the venue, while the state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco will operate it under a 25-year concession.

The proposed transaction could use a lease-and-leaseback structure similar to deals previously completed for Aramco’s pipeline assets.

Under that model, ROSHN would establish a company controlling the stadium’s leasehold and sell part of it to outside investors.

The investors would provide capital upfront and receive a share of Aramco’s long-term lease payments. ROSHN could then redirect the released funds towards its other developments.

The fundraising effort comes as Saudi Arabia seeks more private investment for the infrastructure required to host the FIFA World Cup.

The kingdom plans to build or renovate 15 stadiums across five cities, alongside 132 training grounds. The 2034 tournament will also be the first expanded 48-team World Cup staged by a single host country.

However, lower-than-expected oil revenues and heavy spending on large development projects have placed pressure on government finances.

Saudi Arabia seeks private capital and asset sales to address delays in Vision 2030 projects. Moreover, the search for Aramco Stadium investors follows reports of tighter spending across the Saudi Pro League.

KingFut reported this week that Saudi clubs were preparing for possible contractual disputes over player wages after substantial budget reductions.

Club officials are said to fear that previously agreed contracts could exceed their revised financial allocations, potentially leading players to pursue claims over unpaid salaries or breached agreements.

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