Soccer Land

  The Asian Football Confederation followed UEFA and CONCACAF in saying no to Gianni's private investment plan.

UEFA is very unhappy with FIFA's plan to sell stakes to private investors.   CONCACAF is non too happy about it either.

At Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina:  Son Heung-min of the Los Angeles Football Club scored twice (20', 23') while Philip Zinckernalgel of the Chicago Fire (42') and Evander of FC Cincinnati (58') each scored once as the MLS All-Stars defeated the Liga MX All-Stars 4-3 in Wednesday's Major League Soccer All-Star Game. Luis Rey of Chivas of Guadalajara (9'), Solomon Rondon of Pachuca (55'), and Jose Paradela of Cruz Azul (90'+1) delivered the goals for the Mexican All-Stars.

  The Azzurri has missed out on the last three World Cups.

If France fails to qualify for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, will he do some head-butts?  

At Providence Park, Portland, Oregon:   In his final game in a Portland Timbers uniform, Felipe Mora scored twice (56', 67') as the Timbers came from behind to upend visiting 10-man Real Salt Lake 2-1. Juan Manuel Sanabria scored for RSL in the 18th minute. The guests were reduced to ten minutes as Morgan Guilavogui was given a red card in the 34th minute. The Timbers, with two wins and a draw under interim head coach Jack Cassidy, will host the Seattle Sounders this coming Saturday at 7:30 PM Pacific Time on Apple TV and Fox Sports One (FOX Deportes in Spanish).  The local radio broadcast is on KSRX 1080 AM and 105.1 FM.

Providence Park, Portland, Oregon:    In Friday NWSL action, Renee Lyles (21') and Jessie Fleming (53') each scored once as the Portland Thorns, reduced to ten women after Jayden Perry was ejected in the 73rd minute, remained undefeated at home with a 2-2 draw against Gotham FC. Midge Purce (2') and Sam Kerr (62') each tallied once for the defending NWSL champions. The Thorns will try to get their act together on the road when they visit the Utah Royals on Sunday, August 2 at 4:00 PM Pacific Time on Victory+.

At Providence Park, Portland, Oregon:  Kevin Kelsy (66') and Felipe Mora (90'+2) each scored once as the Portland Timbers came back from two one-goal deficits to gain a 2-2 Major League Soccer home draw with FC Dallas. Patrickson Delgado (45'+1) and Petar Musa (88') provided the scoring for the Hoops. The Timbers, with a win and a draw under interim head coach Jack Cassidy, will host Real Salt Lake this coming Saturday at 7:30 PM Pacific Time (Apple TV/KRSK Radio 105.1 FM).

The Portland Timbers have hired Marti Cifuentes as their new head coach .   The Spaniard had coached Leicester City in the English Football League Championship before his dismissal this past January.   Marti had previously coached with success in Sweden's Hammarby IF, leading that club into a Swedish Cup final and European qualification.  

At MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey:  Ferran Torres scored the only goal of the match in the 106th minute on Sunday as Spain  battled up Lionel Messi and defeated Argentina 1-0 in overtime for their first FIFA World Cup championship since 2010 (when they defeated the Netherlands, also in overtime, in Johannesburg, South Africa). The Argentinians were down to ten men after Enzo Fernandez was ejected in the 93rd minute after picking up a second yellow card. La Rosa's Rodri was named the Golden Ball winner as best overall player of the tournament.   France's Kylian Mbappe won the Golden Boot as the leading goal scorer.   Spain's Unai Simon posted a record seven shutouts.   

At Centennial Stadium, Centennial, Colorado:  Janine Sonis (45'+8) and Natalie Means (86') each scored once on Saturday as the Denver Summit came from behind to defeat the visiting Portland Thorns in NWSL action. Sophie Wilson scored the Thorns' lone goal in the 25th minute on a successful penalty kick. The Thorns will try to get their act together at home against Gotham FC this coming Friday at 7:00 PM Pacific Time on Prime Video.

At Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida:  In Saturday's third-place playoff in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Bukayo Saka produced a hat trick (37', 45'+1' PK-87') while Declan Rice (3'), Ezri Konsa (18'), and Jude Bellingham (90'+8) each contributed a goal as England held off France 6-4. Kylian Mbappe scored twice (48', 66') for Les Bleus while Bradley Barcola (54') and Ousmane Dembele (90'+6) each tallied once. In Sunday's Final, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Spain will take on defending champion Argentina, with the match set for 12:00 Noon Pacific Time on FOX.

At Lumen Field, Seattle:  With goals from Kevin Kelsy (19', 63'), Kamal Miller (56'), Cole Bassett (60'), and Alexander Aravena (90'+8), the Portland Timbers ran roughshod over the Seattle Sounders 5-1 in Major League Soccer (and Cascadia Cup) action as both teams returned to play following MLS' World Cup break. A tremendous debut for Portland interim head coach Jack Cassidy. Hassani Dawson scored the lone Seattle goal in the 87th minute. The Timbers will try to keep their new-found momentum going as they host FC Dallas this coming Wednesday at 7:30 PM Pacific Time (Apple TV/KRSK Radio, 105.1 FM).  

At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta:  Enzo Fernandez (85') and Lautaro Martinez (90'+2) provided the scoring, with Lionel Messi assisting on both goals on Tuesday as Argentina defeated England 2-1 in FIFA World Cup semifinal action. Anthony Gordon scored for the Three Lions in the 55th minute. La Albiceleste , or The Selection, will take on Spain in Sunday's Championship Match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey at 12:00 Noon Pacific Time on FOX. As for England, they will take on France in the Third-Place playoff on Saturday at 2:00 PM Pacific Time at Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami Gardens, Florida, also on FOX.

At AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas:  Mikal Oyarzabal (PK-22') and Pedro Porro (58') each scored once on Tuesday as Spain blanked France 2-0 in semifinal-round action in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Goalkeeper Unai Simon became the first man to post six shutouts in a single World Cup. The Red Ones (or La Roja ) will face the winner of the Argentina-England semifinal in Sunday's World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (12:00 Noon Pacific Time on FOX)

  At Lumen Field, Seattle:  Ryanne Brown (8') and Maddie Mercado (43') each delivered a goal on Sunday as the Seattle Reign blanked the visiting Portland Thorns 2-0 in NWSL action. The Thorns will try to right their ship this coming Sunday at 1:00 PM Pacific Time in Centennial, Colorado against the expansion Denver Summit on CBS (and Paramount+).

  Two games were contested on Saturday as the FIFA World Cup's quarterfinal round concluded. At Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida:  Jude Bellingham scored twice (45'+2, 93') as England defeated Norway 2-1 in overtime to advance to their first World Cup semifinal round since 1990. Andreas Schjelderup scored for the Norwegians in the 36th minute. At Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri: Who needs Leo the Lion? Alexis Mac Allister (10'), Julian Alvarez (110'), and Lautaro Martinez (120'+1) each scored a goal as Argentina held off ten-man Switzerland 3-1. Dan Ndoye scored for the Swiss in the 67th minute. In a rematch of the classic 1986 quarterfinal that saw Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal, England will battle Argentina this coming Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (12:00 Noon Pacific Time on FOX.

At SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California:  Fabian Ruiz (30') and Mikel Merino (88') delivered the goals on Friday as Spain eliminated Belgium 2-1 in a FIFA World Cup quarterfinal match. Charles De Ketelaere, who helped Belgium shoot down Team USA by scoring twice on Monday, provided the Red Devils' lone goal in the 41st minute. The Red One will take on France in a semifinal round match this coming Tuesday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas at 12:00 Noon Pacific Time on FOX.

At Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts:   Kylian Mbappe (60') and Ousmane Dembele (66') each tallied a second-half goal on Thursday as France blanked Morocco 2-0 in the opening game of the quarterfinal round of the FIFA World Cup. Les Bleus will take on the winner of Friday's Spain-Belgium match in a semifinal contest, taking place this coming Tuesday at 12:00 Pacific Time at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (FOX).

The 2026 FIFA World Cup's Round of 16 concludes on Tuesday with two games.  At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta:  With goals from Cristian Romero (79'), Lionel Messi (83'), and Enzo Fernandez (90'+2), Argentina overcame a two-goal deficit to knock out Egypt 3-2. Yasser Ibrahim (15') and Mostafa Zico (67') provided the scoring for the Pharaoahs.  At BC Place, Vancouver, British Columbia:   After 120 minutes of scoreless soccer, Granit Xhaka, Zeki Amdouni, Cedric Itten, and Ruben Vargas converted their penalty kicks as Switzerland defeated Colombia 4-3 in the PK shootout. Switzerland will take on Argentina in Saturday's quarterfinal-round match at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri at 6:00 PM Pacific Time on FOX.

Two more Round of 16 games are set for Monday in the FIFA World Cup.   At AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas:  Mikel Merino scored at the death (90'+1) as Spain defeated Portugal 1-0, ending Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career. At Lumen Field, Seattle:  Charles De Ketelaere scored twice (9', 33'), Hans Vanaken once (57'), and Romelu Lukaku once (90'+3) as Belgium ended the United States' World Cup run 4-1. Malik Tillman scored the lone American goal in the 31st minute. Spain will take on Belgium at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California this coming Friday at 12:00 Noon Pacific Time on FOX.

At Providence Park, Portland, Oregon:   In their first NWSL match following their World Cup break, the Portland Thorns , with goals from Jayden Perry (13'), Pietra Tordin (36'), Reilyn Turner (41'), and Sophie Wilson (82'), made mince meat out of visiting Racing Louisville 4-0.  The Thorns will next take on the Seattle Reign at 1:00 PM Pacific Time on ESPN this coming Sunday.

Sunday saw two more FIFA World Cup Round of 16 games. At MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey:  Erling Haaland scored twice (79', 90') as Norway advanced to their first-ever World Cup quarterfinal by shocking Brazil 2-1.   At Azteca Stadium, Mexico:  Jude Belllingham scored twice (36', 38') while Harry Kane converted a penalty kick in the 60th minute as England stunned hosts Mexico 3-2.  Norway and England will face each other in a quarterfinal match this coming Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida (2:00 PM Pacific Time, FOX)  

Two games were contested on Saturday as the FIFA World Cup's Round of 16 commenced.  At NRG Stadium, Houston:  Azzedine Ounahi scored twice (50', 82') as Morocco ended Canada's World Cup run 3-0.  At Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia:   Kylian Mbappe converted a penalty kick in the 70th minute as France outlasted Paraguay 1-0.  France will take on Morocco in a quarterfinal contest this coming Thursday at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts (1:00 PM Pacific Time, FOX)

  The FIFA World Cup's Round of 32 concluded on Friday with three games. At AT&T Stadium, Arington, Texas: After a 1-1 draw through regulation, followed by 30 scoreless overtime minutes, Mahmoud Saber, Ramy Rabia, Mohamed Salah, and Hossam Abdelmaguid converted their spot kicks as Egypt took the penalty-kick shootout with Australia 4-2. At Hard Rock Stadium Miami Gardens, Florida: Dinety Borges' own goal in the 111th minute enabled Argentina to escape scrappy Cape Verde 3-2 in overtime.   Lionel Messi (29') and Lisandra Martinez (92') scored for the defending World Cup champions. Deroy Duarte (59') and Siney Lopes Cabral tallied for the Blue Sharks. At Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri: Jhon Arias scored the only goal of the match in the 14th minute as Colombia eliminated Ghana 1-0.

Three more FIFA World Cup Round of 32 teams were played on Thursday.   At SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California:   Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice (36', 89') as Spain ran rings around Austria 3-0. At BMO Field, Toronto:  Cristiano Ronaldo (PK-68') and Goncalo Ramos (90'+4) each scored once as Portugal came from behind to overcome Croatia 2-1. At BC Place, Vancouver, British Columbia:  Breel Embolo (10') and Dan Ndoye (46') each tallied once as Switzerland blanked Algeria 2-0.  

Three more Round of 32 games in the FIFA World Cup were played on Wednesday.  At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta:   Harry Kane scored twice (75', 86') as England came from behind to upend the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2-1. At Lumen Field, Seattle:   Youri Tielemans scored twice (89', PK-120'+5) to go with Romelu Lukaku's tally in the 86th minute as Belgium came back from two goals down to upend Senegal 3-2.  At Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California:   Malik Tillman scored with a direct free kick in the 82nd minute as the United States defeat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 for their first World Cup knockout round victory since 2002, when they defeated Mexico.   The Americans finish the game with ten men after Folarin Balogun (who scored in the 45th minute) was ejected via a red card in the 64th minute. Goalkeeper Matt Freese saved three shots for the shutout.   For Team USA, it is a Round of 16 contest with Belgium, this ...