Analysis

The narrative is centered around one particular player, but Monday's Round of 16 game will need to be a team effort from the USMNT

The U.S. have their star striker back, and head into a fixture against top European opposition in a far better place than many might have imagined.

American soccer's top stars found out about Sunday's news the same way everyone else did, and now they're looking forward to benefitting from it in their Round of 16 match.

England may have only pulled off a great escape against DR Congo moments before, but Thomas Tuchel couldn't help but almost immediately turn his attention to his team's Mission: Impossible in Mexico. "I'm just coming from this match, and still trying to enjoy it," the German told reporters after a late double from Harry Kane earned the Three Lions a dramatic 2-1 win in Atlanta.

Replacing Folarin Balogun is not just about finding goals. It's about finding the right tactical fit for a USMNT attack built on runs, pressure, and chaos.

On a 250th Fourth of July, Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT have become America's team, turning a World Cup run into a celebration of American soccer.

Thomas Tuchel has some big decisions to make in his England side as they head into their round of 16 game with Mexico in Mexico City. England may be the higher-ranked side, here, but they're not clear favourites. The Azetca - as it is usually known - is a truly horrible place for visiting teams. Mexico have lost just two competitive games there ever. The altitude, the heat, the humidity, the tens of thousands of passionate home fans: everything seems to be going against England here.

There will be some added intrigue for Arsenal fans during Brazil's clash with Norway in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup. While much of the focus will undoubtedly be on superstar attackers Vinicius Jr and Erling Haaland before kick-off on Sunday, one significant subplot is the battle between present and potentially future Gunners midfielders.

The striker will miss the upcoming clash with Belgium, but that doesn't mean he will let his emotions get in the way of what his team is building

The second-smallest nation to ever qualify for the World Cup overcame the one percent chance of making it out of the group stage and their fans are starting to dream.

GOAL is putting on the perfect festival of soccer for the World Cup, and Week 1 is rife with ideal programming to highlight the beautiful game

GOAL spoke to the Tillman family about their rollercoaster summer, the nerves that come with a World Cup and a mother's love for her two little boys.

"Football's coming home again, with Tommy Tuchel" were the words that rang around the exterior of Atlanta Stadium as tens of thousands of fans walked out into the Georgia heat following England's 2-1 win over DR Congo. The mood was jubilant. Everyone was happy. England won, DR Congo lost. England are now four victories away from ending 60 years of hurt and winning a long-coveted World Cup.

The USMNT's quietest star delivered the loudest moment of their Round of 32 win - and proved his breakout has been years in the making

Harry Kane delivered in an England shirt in a massive way against DR Congo on Wednesday, but the Three Lions will have to be much better in order to make a deep run at the 2026 World Cup. Right now, they are nowhere near the levels required to beat the very best teams.

The red card given to Folarin Balogun could have ended the USMNT's run in the World Cup, but the Americans' dream continues as they refused to cave in.

The USMNT are at a point when football really starts to matter, and they will have to be at their best against a tough Bosnia and Herzegovina side.

Another summer, another Chelsea move for a high-potential, young star. This one, though, might just be different. The Blues sprung into life to hijack Inter's move for Atalanta prospect Marco Palestra, who has become the first signing of the Xabi Alonso era in a deal worth a cool €55 million (£47m/$62m).

When Portugal play Croatia on Thursday, Cristiano Ronaldo will attempt to do something he's never managed before: score a goal in the knockout stage of the World Cup. The Portuguese is one of the finest forwards the game has ever seen and, against Uzbekistan last week, became the first man to score in six different editions of the game's most prestigious tournament, which is testament to his remarkable longevity and work ethic.

There's no more room for error for the USMNT and, despite that fact, the general feeling around camp is a sense of calm.

It hasn't always been pretty, but England have achieved their aim of winning their World Cup group to set up a favourable last-32 tie. They will face DR Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday after eventually seeing off Panama last time out, but form and fitness mean Thomas Tuchel's team selection is far from certain as the knockout stage gets underway.

After mixing things up to close the group phase of this tournament, there's no room for error now. Here is who GOAL thinks should start.

EXCLUSIVE: GOAL sat down with the American goalkeeper to discuss the memories he wants to make and why now isn't the time to think about making them

Jude Bellingham had a pretty good excuse to cut his interview with ITV off slightly early. There he was, on the pitch in New Jersey, waxing lyrical about Harry Kane's impact for England when, in the background, voices started to swell up from one end of the stadium, signing 'Hey Jude' in unison.

Signing a striker was a top priority for Chelsea in this summer transfer window. Catarina Macario left the club in March before Sam Kerr departed at the end of the season, leaving the Blues with Mayra Ramirez, who played just one minute of football last term, and Aggie Beever-Jones, for whom an update on her future, as her contract approaches its expiry, still hasn't been announced. But with Chelsea's top three targets now committed elsewhere, what is next for the club in their search for a top centre-forward?

EXCLUSIVE: GOAL sat down with the 21-year-old rising star to discuss his big moment, how he got there, and the responsibility he feels to chase more

Just three games into the 2026 World Cup, England find themselves shorn of all three of their named options at right-back, making what was once an abundant area of the pitch for the Three Lions a real problem position at the worst possible time. Reece James, Tino Livramento and Jarell Quansah are all out injured, and Thomas Tuchel is now under significant scrutiny for some bizarre selection calls.

The Golden Boot may not always lead to team success, but the race for the individual award this summer might be one of the most compelling in recent memory

There are very few players left who play like the 25-year-old, and Pochettino has given him a role that lets him attack without fear