The USA doesn't enter the knockout stage coming off a positive result, but I'm unfazed. We didn't see the Americans' go-to lineup in that game, and I'm looking at the round-of-32 matchup on Wednesday night positively.

Spain is in search of its first World Cup knockout-round win since the 2010 final in Thursday's round-of-32 clash with Austria.

They may have booked a round-of-32 tie vs. Austria as group winners, but Spain's performances raised doubts about the team and coach Luis de la Fuente.

Spain's injury-hit Nico Williams admitted ‌on social media that his latest setback, one that threatens his World Cup involvement, was one of the worst days of his life, but teammate Marcos Llorente said on Monday the winger's smile has already returned thanks to the ​squad's support.

World football shows no mercy on this 1 July 2026. International front pages are bowing to France’s masterclass at the World Cup, while on the domestic front, the Spanish national team fine-tunes its machinery and Barça grabs all the headlines with a historic day of boardroom moves and departures.