World Cup 2026: This is how the quarterfinals turned out

A crazy game in Miami

England and France had a ten-goal match at the Miami Stadium. The “Three Lions” won 6-4 and took third place in the 2026 Soccer World Cup. The French team finished in fourth position.

Two totally different times

In the first half, England completely dominated. They went into the break with a 4-0 lead thanks to goals from Declan Rice (3′), Ezri Konsa (18′) and a double from Bukayo Saka (37′ and 46′).

France reacted in the complement. Kylian Mbappé scored a double (48′ and 58′) and Bradley Barcola added another goal in the 54th minute. Didier Deschamps’ team came dangerously close to a tie.

The closure was electric

Bukayo Saka made it 5-3 with a penalty in the 87th minute, completing his hat trick. France scored with Ousmane Dembélé in the 96th minute, but Jude Bellingham, who had come on as a substitute, made it 6-4 in the 98th minute.

Mbappé makes history

With his two goals, Kylian Mbappé reached 10 goals in the tournament and 22 in World Cups. He is provisionally placed as the competition’s all-time top scorer, waiting for what Lionel Messi does in the final.

Young footballers promote the UNICEF campaign

On World Youth Skills Day, Gilberto Mora and Valentina Murrieta joined UNICEF Mexico’s #UnGolPorLaChildren campaign. The objective: to make visible the conditions experienced by millions of girls, boys and adolescents in contexts of deprivation, lack of access to water and humanitarian crises.

Mora, a 17-year-old midfielder from Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, was recently called up to the Mexican Senior National Team and participated in the Gold Cup. Murrieta, a U-17 goalkeeper born in Alvarado, Veracruz, saved three penalties against Italy in the Women’s World Cup, an achievement that took Mexico to the semifinals.

The campaign spreads a central message: “The most urgent game is not played on the field.” UNICEF highlighted that both athletes, being teenagers, use their voices to promote the well-being and protection of other minors.

#UnGolPorLaInfancia seeks to convert the passion for soccer into social mobilization. Monthly donations go to protection, nutrition, water access and emergency care programs in Mexico and other regions with humanitarian crises. The initiative brings together footballers, teams and content creators to support children in vulnerable situations.

Martinez’s injury before the World Cup

The goalkeeper of the Argentine National Team, Emiliano Martínez, revealed that he arrived at the 2026 World Cup with a fracture in the ring finger of his right hand. Despite the recommendation of specialists, he decided not to have surgery so as not to miss the World Cup.

“It still hurts every day, I knew it was going to hurt, I avoided the operation, all the hand specialists I looked for, they all told me that I had to have surgery. The group stage affected me, but today I no longer think, since Egypt, I honestly feel much better,” Martínez declared.

The Aston Villa goalkeeper explained that the pain was constant and uncomfortable. Two days before the start of the tournament, he said that “he seemed handicapped.” However, he preferred to be available for Argentina, which is seeking the two-time world championship, something that has not happened since 1962.

In this World Cup, Martínez has had a less leading role than in Qatar 2022. He himself values it: “It doesn’t affect me at all, I never want to be the leading role, I think in the Copa América it was my turn once, but now, England attacked us a lot and we got ahead with the pressure. I never seek to be the protagonist.”

The Albiceleste is 90 minutes away from making history. Martínez’s decision to play injured reflects his commitment to the team.