The latest from the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada. All times are Eastern:
12:01 p.m.
Today’s World Cup action is underway in Atlanta, with defending champion Argentina facing Egypt in a round of 16 game. The winner faces Switzerland or Colombia in the quarterfinals. Argentina star Lionel Messi enters the contest with seven goals, which is tied for the tournament lead with France’s Kylian Mbappé and Norway’s Erling Haaland.
11:50 a.m.
Colombian fans in yellow are vastly outnumbering Swiss fans in the BC Place Stadium precinct, ahead of today’s match. Thousands of Colombian fans have gathered outside their team’s hotel in downtown Vancouver ahead of the round-of16 showdown. Swiss supporters have made Vancouver their de facto home base, with their team playing their third consecutive match in the city.
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11 a.m.
Julian Alvarez returns to Argentina’s starting lineup for its World Cup round-of-16 match against Egypt, which gets underway in one hour in Atlanta. Lionel Scaloni also brings Nicolas Tagliafico and Leandro Paredes into the defending champions’ lineup, while Egypt benches Omar Marmoush and starts Haissem Hassan. Argentina is chasing a second straight World Cup title, while Egypt is playing in the round of 16 for the first time.
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9:10 a.m.
Canada’s role in the 2026 World Cup comes to an end today as Vancouver’s BC Place hosts a match between Switzerland and Colombia. Switzerland advanced by winning its group before eliminating Algeria, while Colombia is chasing its first World Cup quarterfinal since 2014 after edging Ghana in the round of 32. The day’s other knockout match has Lionel Messi and defending champion Argentina facing Mohamed Salah and Egypt in Atlanta. The winners will meet Saturday in Kansas City.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi, centre, celebrates after the World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
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9 a.m.
French prosecutors have opened an investigation after a Paraguayan senator racially abused Kylian Mbappé following France’s World Cup win over Paraguay. The Paris prosecutor’s office says the probe was launched after France’s soccer federation filed a complaint over Celeste Amarilla’s posts on X. Mbappé called Amarilla a “despicable woman,” while the Paraguayan government condemned her comments and said they do not represent the country or its people.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 7, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
