Gilberto Mora will make history just by stepping on the pitch for Mexico’s round of 32 match against Ecuador on Tuesday at Mexico City Stadium. The 17-year-old will become the second-youngest player ever to start in a World Cup knockout stage match, behind Brazil legend Pelé. Pelé still holds the record as the youngest player to start in a World Cup knockout stage match at 17 years and 239 days old; Mora is 17 years and 259 days. Mora has appeared in two matches for Mexico this tournament, coming on as a substitute in El Tri’s group-stage opener and starting in its group-stage finale. He is both the youngest player to start and sub on for Mexico at a World Cup match. Mexico Teenager Gilberto Mora Makes History With Start vs. Ecuador
The knockout round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup rolls on, and Wednesday will see three more teams advance and three more teams exit the tournament after the round of 32. In the opening game, contending England will hope to end the Cinderella run of the DR Congo when the teams face off in Atlanta. The second game takes us to Vancouver, Canada, where Belgium and Senegal are both coming off five-goal blowout wins in their respective group stage finales. Finally, co-hosts the United States will return to action at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium and look for just its second ever knockout when it hosts a Bosnia and Herzegovina team that will be a challenge with its youthful roster. Here is everything you need to know for Wednesday at the World Cup. When: Wednesday, July 1, 12 p.m. ET Where: Atlanta TV: FOX Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One Wednesday’s slate of World Cup round of 32 knockout games begins at Atlanta Stadium where contenders England take on one of the tournament’s fairytale stories in the DR Congo. England entered the World Cup as one of the teams with a realistic chance of winning the title. Thus far, it’s been decent but hasn’t played like a superpower along the lines of France, Spain or Argentina. The Three Lions were at their best in the second half of their opening 4-2 win over Croatia. After that, it was pedestrian efforts in a 0-0 draw with Ghana followed by a 2-0 win over Panama where the English needed 62 minutes before getting on the board. England has plenty of firepower offensively with one of the game’s best center forwards in Harry Kane, a deep selection of wing options that includes Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham in the middle. The biggest concern for England’s starting lineup is at right back, as both Reece James and Jarell Quansah are sidelined due to injuries. That leaves Djed Spence likely to slide over the right side in the starting XI. The question for head coach Thomas Tuchel is whether he can get his team playing with intensity from the opening whistle. That was not the case in the last two games, when England was also heavily favored. DR Congo is enjoying a lot of support from neutral fans in the United States as the country participates in its first World Cup since 1974. The Leopards secured a surprising knockout berth as one of the best third-placed teams after holding Portugal to a draw and staging a thrilling 3-1 comeback victory over Uzbekistan. The team’s only defeat came in a 1-0 loss to Colombia. Sébastien Desabre’s squad will be highly motivated for this game, as the team boasts significant Premier League experience. This includes Newcastle United attacker Yoane Wissa, who has been the team’s star thus far at the World Cup with three goals in the group stage. DR Congo is expected to bring a highly physical but disciplined approach to this game. The team will sit deep in a compact formation, most likely the 5-3-2 it used against Portugal, and look to break out quickly on counterattacks. England is the heavy favorite, but games like this can be tricky as England is under enormous pressure to advance, while the DR Congo likely sees this game as a massive opportunity with nothing to lose. Player To Watch The Real Madrid playmaker was the Man of the Match in the 2-0 win over Panama on Saturday while playing in a deeper role. With Declan Rice expected to return to the starting XI, Bellingham’s role will shift to focus on breaking down DR Congo’s low block. He will be looking to find pockets of space to open the game up for Kane, or the winger on either side. With Kane likely to be heavily guarded, Bellingham will also serve as a secondary scoring threat for England. When: Wednesday, July 1, 4 p.m. ET Where: Vancouver TV: FS1 Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One Wednesday’s second game takes us to Vancouver Stadium in Canada, with Belgium and Senegal in what will be the first-ever competitive meeting between the two teams. Both Belgium and Senegal enter this game with similar group stage patterns. Both teams were underwhelming in the two opening games but then secured a spot in the knockouts with a blowout win in the finale against the weakest team in the group. For Senegal, it was never going to be an easy path after getting drawn into a group with France and Norway. As expected, Senegal lost to France, 3-1, and then to Norway, 3-2, when, like most teams, it was unable to stop two of the best players in the world in Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. But with eight third-place teams advancing to the knockouts, the door for Senegal was still open if it could beat Iraq, which it did, 5-0. For Belgium, the group stage was more disappointing because the Red Devils were never an underdog. Following a lackluster beginning of the tournament in a 1-1 draw with Egypt followed by a 0-0 draw with Iran, Rudi Garcia’s team finally was able to play up to its potential in a 5-1 blowout win over New Zealand, the lowest-ranked team at the World Cup in the FIFA World Rankings. The Red Devils lineup should have few surprises. Kevin De Bruyne remains the creative heartbeat in midfield, and he is flanked by top wingers in Manchester City’s Jérémy Doku and Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard. The biggest question for Garcia is at center forward, as Charles De Ketelaere started two of the group stage games and Romelu Lukaku has started once. Neither player was particularly convincing. For Senegal, head coach Pape Thiaw relies heavily on his team’s athleticism in the attack. Crystal Palace’s Ismaïla Sarr scored three goals in the group stage, Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye made a big impact against Iraq, and veteran captain Sadio Mané remains the heart of the team despite not scoring in the group stage. The big concern for Senegal is that star goalkeeper Edouard Mendy will miss the game due to a knee injury. Le Havre goalkeeper Mory Diaw is expected to start in his place. Belgium is the favorite in this game based on its talent, experience and recent form (the Red Devils have not lost in 16 games). But Senegal is capable of pulling off an upset and, as we have seen, this tournament has not been kind to favored European teams. Player To Watch The Villarreal midfielder was excellent in the 5-0 win over Iraq. After subbing into the game in the 56th minute, Gueye had two goals and an assist to complete the rout, which was needed in the goal differential tiebreaker. That effort off the bench will likely see Gueye return to the team’s starting lineup, but only now should he be extremely confident of his form. When: Wednesday, July 1, 8 p.m. ET Where: San Francisco Bay Area TV: FOX Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One Wednesday’s nightcap will see co-hosts the United States return to the field to take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 in what should be an electric pro-USA crowd at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. After earning six points from its group stage with wins over Paraguay and Australia along with a loss to Türkiye, many will view the U.S. team as favorites in this game. But historical factors tell a different story for Mauricio Pochettino’s team. Starting with the 1990 World Cup, the U.S. national team’s record against European teams in this tournament is abysmal. With the loss to Türkiye last week, the USA has now faced European teams 21 times in the World Cup. During that span, the team has won just once, in the 3-2 win over Portugal in its 2002 opener. Meanwhile, the team has drawn seven times while having lost 13 times. On the issue of knockouts, since 1990, the U.S. team has won just one World Cup knockout while having lost five. The good news for Pochettino’s team is that its entire starting lineup from the 4-1 win over Paraguay is now healthy and ready for selection. That includes Christian Pulisic, who missed the win over Australia due to a calf injury, as well as Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, Antonee Robinson and Chris Richards, who did not play against Türkiye to avoid the risk of a yellow card suspension for this game. Offensively, the keys for the U.S. team involve winger Christian Pulisic and his ability to dribble at opponents to open space for his teammates. Meanwhile, Folarin Balogun was very dangerous in the first two games. If teammates can get him the ball, he is a lethal finisher. The midfield trio of Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman will look to control possession and dictate the tempo. Bosnia and Herzegovina will not be an easy test for the U.S. team, by any stretch. Sergej Barbarez’s team boasts a nicely blended roster that includes experience and youthful energy. Both were on display in the team’s 3-1 win over Qatar to clinch the team’s spot in the knockouts. Salzburg left midfielder Kerim Alajbegovic, 18, was the best player on the field in that game and his highlight came in scoring the opening goal. Ermin Mahmic, 21, was also important off the bench when he scored the final goal. Then there is PSV Eindhoven winger Esmir Bajraktarević, 21, who will be getting a lot of attention in this game given that he was born and raised in Wisconsin. He began his professional career with the New England Revolution and played for years with the U.S. youth national teams before switching to Bosnia and Herzegovina (where his parents were born) in 2024. On the other side of the age equation, the team’s all-time leading scorer in Edin Dzeko remains key to Bosnia’s offense. In the win over Qatar, Dezko was very active as his header forced Qatar’s own goal in the 34th minute. Then just before halftime, he nearly scored when his shot smashed off the post. This should be an emotional game with both teams looking to win what would be a historically important victory for their national team programs. The U.S. team wants to notch a win that would inspire a new generation of fans to fall in love with the sport and the team. Bosnia and Herzegovina is looking to win its first ever World Cup knockout game with a roster that consists of many exciting young players. Player To Watch The Juventus midfielder is extremely important to the U.S. team. When he plays well, the team plays well. When he doesn’t, the team struggles. He is a unique and special player when he is in good form. He can play a variety of positions, often shifting during a single game. He can dribble, and can pass, and he can use his size to his advantage. In the early parts of this tournament, McKennie was at his best and there should be no reason to expect anything else in this game.
With 48 teams competing and a grueling path through the knockout stage, reaching the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be an accomplishment in itself. Only four nations will survive the tournament’s first 100 matches and earn a spot in the final four, putting themselves within two victories of lifting the most coveted trophy in sports. Let’s take a full look at the latest odds to reach the semifinals at FanDuel Sportsbook as of June 30. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. To Reach Semifinals France: -340 (bet $10 to win $12.94 total)Argentina: -170 (bet $10 to win $15.88 total)Spain: +130 (bet $10 to win $23 total)England: +150 (bet $10 to win $25 total)Brazil: +165 (bet $10 to win $26.50 total)Portugal: +300 (bet $10 to win $40 total)Morocco: +350 (bet $10 to win $45 total)Colombia: +400 (bet $10 to win $50 total)Norway: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)USA: +480 (bet $10 to win $58 total)Belgium: +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total)Switzerland: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)Mexico: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)Senegal: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)Canada: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)Egypt: +1700 (bet $10 to win $180 total)Croatia: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)Ecuador: +1900 (bet $10 to win $200 total)Paraguay: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total) Here’s what to know about this oddsboard: The Top 10: Argentina, France, Spain, England, and Brazil — all considered powerhouse countries — stand at the top of the board, with each nation listed at +165 or better to reach the semifinals. But right after that group? A trio of contenders, in Portugal, Morocco and the USA. The Americans have never made it to the semifinals of the World Cup, and Morocco is looking to repeat its run from 2022. The Favorite: On Tuesday, France beat Sweden 3-0, dominating with 25 total shots, 12 shots on target and an expected goal of 3.17. With the win, Les Bleus advanced to the Round of 16 and will face Paraguay on July 4th. As a result of the win, France surged from -170 all the way to -340 and is now heavily favored to reach the semifinals.
On July 19, after 103 matches have been played, only two teams will remain standing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Those two nations, each chasing soccer immortality, will meet at New York New Jersey Stadium in what is expected to be one of the biggest sporting events ever held in the United States. So which countries are most likely to make it all the way to the title game? Now that the group stage is over, let’s take a look at the latest odds to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at FanDuel Sportsbook as of June 30. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. To Reach World Cup Final France: -105 (bet $10 to win $19.52 total)Argentina: +170 (bet $10 to win $27 total)England: +330 (bet $10 to win $43 total)Spain: +360 (bet $10 to win $46 total)Brazil: +390 (bet $10 to win $49 total)Portugal: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total)Morocco: +950 (bet $10 to win $105 total)Norway: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)Colombia: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)USA: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)Mexico: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)Belgium: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)Switzerland: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total) Here’s what to know about this oddsboard. Long Shot History: While no true long shot has ever won the World Cup, Croatia was one of the biggest long shots ever to reach a World Cup final, entering the 2018 tournament at 30-1 odds. While the Croatians ultimately fell to France in the final, they still rewarded bettors with a massive payout in this market after their stunning run to the championship. The Favorites: France and Argentina are the two favorites to reach the final. Oddsmakers view the two powerhouses as the most likely finalists, with many expecting at least one, and potentially both, to play for the trophy on July 19. France rose after sweeping its first three games of the tournament and clinching Group I. Now, after its dominating win over Sweden in the Round of 32, Les Bleus has jumped from +130 to -105, going under even money for the first time since the tournament began. Meanwhile, after winning Group J and drawing the easier side of the bracket, Argentina jumped up the board. If the odds hold true, we would get a rematch of the iconic 2022 World Cup final, a game many consider to be the greatest World Cup match of all time. Biggest Riser: On Monday, Morocco defeated one of the World Cup favorites, in a dramatic penalty shootout win over the Netherlands. As a result, the Atlas Lions have surged up the oddsboard from +2200 to +950 to make the final.
The Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani will skip his scheduled pitching start Wednesday against the Athletics to get some extra rest, manager Dave Roberts said. The Dodgers are in the midst of playing 13 games in 13 days, and Roberts wanted to make sure that the Japanese sensation got a break. Ohtani is slated to pitch in San Diego on Friday. “If there’s any opportunity to give him some extra rest, we’re going to try to take advantage of it,” Roberts said. “So pushing him to Friday allows us to have him still take two starts before the break and get on two division opponents. In that vein, there’s just no downside. This made too much sense.” Ohtani is 8-2 with a 1.58 ERA in 13 starts this season. The four-time MVP has 82 strikeouts and 24 walks in 79 2/3 innings this season. Roberts indicated that Ohtani will be the Dodgers designated hitter for the series finale against the A’s on Wednesday. “It’s mostly schedule-driven,” Roberts said. “We talked to Shohei and he was agreeing to whatever we felt, knowing it’s best for him. There’s no downside with him losing starts, get more rest. That was the whole driver.” Roberts said the Dodgers will go with a bullpen game in Ohtani’s absence on Wednesday. Reporting by the Associated Press.
The start time for the round of 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador has been delayed to 10 p.m. ET due to thunderstorms in Mexico City. A hydration break will be held in each half of Tuesday night’s match, despite the change to the start time. The match was scheduled to kick off at 9 p.m. ET at Mexico City Stadium. However, heavy rain and active lightning warnings in the area forced the start time to get pushed back, according to FOX Sports’ Rebecca Lowe. Officials announced the delay at Mexico City Stadium approximately an hour before the scheduled 9 p.m. ET kickoff. The duration of the postponement is set to be an hour as officials wait for the lightning to pass. Updates will follow as the weather develops. The winner of this matchup will advance to the Round of 16 to face either England or DR Congo.
We’ve reached the win-or-go-home stage of the 2026 World Cup. Let’s check out the odds at FanDuel Sportsbook for each Round of 32 game as of June 30. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. SUNDAY, JUNE 28 South Africa 0, CANADA 1 MONDAY, JUNE 29 BRAZIL 2, Japan 1 Germany 1, PARAGUAY 1 (4–3 PENS) Netherlands 1, MOROCCO 1 (3-2 PENS) TUESDAY, JUNE 30 Ivory Coast 1, NORWAY 2 France 3, Sweden 1 Mexico vs. Ecuador To Advance: MEX -182, ECU +146Moneyline: MEX +120, Draw +185, ECU +300 WEDNESDAY, JULY 1 England vs. DR Congo To Advance: ENG -850, DRC +550Moneyline: ENG -380, Draw +440, DRC +1300 Belgium vs. Senegal To Advance: BEL -178, SEN +144Moneyline: BEL +115, Draw +210, SEN +260 United States vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina To Advance: USA -750, BIH +490Moneyline: USA -280, Draw +400, BIH +800 THURSDAY, JULY 2 Spain vs. Austria To Advance: ESP -950, AUT +600Moneyline: ESP -340, Draw +420, AUT +1000 Croatia vs. Portugal To Advance: PRT -290, CRO +225Moneyline: PRT -130, Draw +260, CRO +400 Switzerland vs. Algeria To Advance: SUI -205, ALG +164Moneyline: SUI +105, Draw +220, ALG +300 FRIDAY, JULY 3 Australia vs. Egypt To Advance: EGY -142, AUS +116Moneyline: EGY +150, Draw +185, AUS +240 Argentina vs. Cape Verde To Advance: ARG -2000, CPV +1100Moneyline: ARG -700, Draw +650, CPV +1900 Ghana vs. Colombia To Advance: COL -550, GHA +370Moneyline: COL -200, Draw +290, GHA +650
Brendan Sorsby is moving on to 2027. The NFL sent a memo to all 32 teams on Tuesday informing them that Sorsby, a quarterback whose college career ended when the NCAA banished him for gambling activity that included wagers on his own team while on the roster at Indiana in 2022 and betting on pro sports, will not seek legal action against the NFL after the league denied his petition to enter the supplemental draft. “I accept 100% responsibility for my actions,” Sorsby posted on Instagram on Tuesday evening. “I did not have control of my gambling problem and it took getting caught to realize that, but it was truly the best thing that could have happened to me.” Sorsby, who moved from Indiana to Cincinnati to Texas Tech before revelations about an extensive gambling problem surfaced, tried to enter the draft just three days before the scheduled deadline. The league, which hasn’t held a supplemental draft since 2023 and hasn’t had a player selected in it since 2019, denied the petition. “The issues presented by your Petition are too significant, and too closely tied to the League’s core integrity interests, to permit meaningful review within the timeline presented,” NFL attorney Lawrence P. Ferazani Jr. wrote in a letter to Sorsby last week. The 22-year-old Sorsby, who cannot play in the Canadian Football League in 2026, is now considered “draft-eligible” for the 2027 NFL draft. Sorsby will not be eligible to sign an NFL contract until the draft’s conclusion. The NFL has no plans to discipline Sorsby for any currently known prior misconduct but holds the right to investigate Sorsby. The league can also take Sorsby’s college misconduct into account should it find cause to discipline Sorsby in the future. Sorsby’s decision to not challenge the NFL in court leaves him with 10 months on his hands to prepare. Sorsby had planned to play at Texas Tech this year before the NCAA declared him ineligible for making thousands of bets on sporting events worth at least $90,000 during his college career. Those included at least 40 bets on Indiana while he was a freshman there in 2022, though none on the games in which he played for the Hoosiers that season. “I am fully committed to being the best version of myself that I can be while getting ready for the 2027 draft,” Sorsby wrote. “God makes no mistakes and I look forward to seeing the good that is to come from this.” Reporting by the Associated Press.
The United States is through to the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after winning Group D. Following victories over Paraguay and Australia to clinch the group, Mauricio Pochettino rested several key starters in the final group-stage match. With a heavily rotated lineup, the USA closed out the group stage with a 3-2 loss against Türkiye, giving up a stoppage time goal (90’+8′) to Kaan Ayhan. Luckily for the Americans, the game had zero implications on its seeding or tournament path. The U.S. will now face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on July 1 at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. The matchup became official on Thursday after Bosnia and Herzegovina advanced as one of the tournament’s best third-place teams. With the showdown now set, FanDuel Sportsbook has released the betting odds for the Round of 32 matchup. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Moneyline USA: -270 (bet $10 to win $13.70 total)Bosnia and Herzegovina: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total)Draw: +380 (bet $10 to win $48 total) To Advance USA: -600 (bet $10 to win $11.67 total)Bosnia and Herzegovina: +410 (bet $10 to win $51 total) The United States winning Group D marks just the third time in history that the Americans have finished atop their group at a men’s World Cup. The U.S. previously accomplished the feat in 1930, finishing ahead of Paraguay and Belgium, and again in 2010, when it barely topped England for first place because of goals scored. If the USA continues to advance, it will play the Round of 16 at Seattle Stadium, the quarterfinals at Los Angeles Stadium, the semifinals at Dallas Stadium and a potential final at New York New Jersey stadium. So when will the USA be eliminated? Or, after its great start to the tournament, can it win the whole thing? Let’s take a look at the updated odds for the United States’ stage of elimination at FanDuel Sportsbook as of June 30. Team USA — Stage of elimination odds Round of 16: +145 (bet $10 to win $24.50 total)Quarterfinals: +220 (bet $10 to win $32 total)Round of 32: +390 (bet $10 to win $49 total)Semifinals: +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total)Runner-up: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)Outright winner: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total) For the past few weeks, the United States had been projected to exit in the Round of 32. But after winning Group D, the Americans are now expected to be eliminated in the Round of 16. That would mean winning their first knockout-stage matches before falling in their second match. How would that result stack up against previous results? Well, at the 2022 World Cup, the USA made it to the Round of 16, which was viewed as a stellar accomplishment. In 2018, the USA did not qualify for the World Cup, and in 2014 and 2010, the U.S. also made it to the Round of 16. Their best result this century occurred in 2002, when the Americans made it all the way to the quarterfinals before being eliminated.
The start time for the Round of 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador has been delayed due to thunderstorms in Mexico City. The match was scheduled to kick off at 9 p.m. ET at Mexico City Stadium. However, heavy rain and active lightning warnings in the area forced the start time to get pushed back, according to FOX Sports’ Rebecca Lowe. Officials announced the delay at Mexico City Stadium approximately an hour before the scheduled 9 p.m. ET kickoff. The exact duration of the postponement remains unknown, as officials must wait for the lightning to pass before clearing the match to begin. Updates will follow as the weather develops. The winner of this matchup will advance to the Round of 16 to face either England or DR Congo.
