Norway's national team striker Erling Haaland has acknowledged that the Vikings face slim chances of defeating Brazil in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup. Norway advanced to the knockout stage after beating Ivory Coast 2-1 in the Round of 32 on June 30. Their Round of 16 opponent is five-time World Cup champion Brazil, who defeated Japan 2-1 in their recent match. Haaland, who has already scored four goals in this World Cup, admitted that Norway has little chance of beating Brazil but pledged the team would give their maximum effort. "We have slim odds of knocking them out. Playing Brazil in the Round of 16 is something we must face," Haaland said. "We're heading into the Round of 16 where there will be many excellent teams, and it won't be easy. It will be difficult to advance. I'm not sure if we can do it. We've prepared well and we continue to prepare excellently."

Florian Wirtz, Germany's playmaker, posted a message after the German national team crashed out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a penalty shootout loss to Paraguay.

Germany was eliminated in the round of 32 after losing 3-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in regular time. This marks the first-ever World Cup penalty shootout loss in the German team's history.

Wirtz posted on Instagram saying the team needs time to process the disappointment. His message stated: "It really hurts. Our World Cup is over, and right now it's incredibly hard to find the right words. We came here with a great dream and gave everything as a team, but in the end it wasn't enough. Thanks to all the fans for your support and encouragement—both those who traveled to the stadium to cheer us on and everyone following from home. We felt your support every step of the way. I'm proud to have represented this country and this team. We'll need time to come to terms with this disappointment, but we'll be back. Thank you all."

Norway head coach Staale Solbakken acknowledged facing a formidable opponent, expressing sympathy for Ivory Coast, while coach Emarks Faye believes his players gained invaluable experience in the 2026 World Cup Round of 32 match. Norway edged out Ivory Coast 2-1, with goals from Antonio Nusa in the 39th minute and Erling Haaland in the 86th minute, while Ahmad Diallo scored for Ivory Coast in the 74th minute. This marks Norway's first World Cup knockout victory in the nation's history, advancing them to the Round of 16 where they will face Brazil on July 5. Solbakken stated: "We faced an excellent team with many strong players. The game went back and forth with possibilities everywhere. Though this was a deserved victory, I sympathize with them. It's hard to find the right words." Faye commented: "It's truly disappointing. We managed to equalize, which was the hardest thing to do. Every player gave their all until the final second. This was everyone's first World Cup. I believe the players learned a lot. Now we'll work to come back stronger in the future."

Bordeaux, the former Ligue 1 champion, faces a deeper fall after being banned from all national competitions and must compete in the regional league next season. The French club has endured prolonged financial troubles. In 2024, management requested to end the club's professional status, forcing relegation to Championnat National 1 (the semi-professional fourth tier). However, after two seasons in this league, Bordeaux's finances have not recovered. France's national football management authority (DNCG), which oversees club financial compliance, has now imposed new sanctions. The DNCG stated that Bordeaux must raise 9 million euros to balance its budget for the past season and secure funding for the next season. The club failed to meet this requirement and received the punishment. As a result, Bordeaux has been demoted to Régional 1 (the sixth-tier regional league), a step below semi-professional football. The club has announced it has filed an appeal. Bordeaux previously won the French top-flight title six times, most recently in the 2008-09 season, and developed renowned players including Zinedine Zidane, Alain Giresse, Christophe Dugarry, and Bixente Lizarazu.

Ivory Coast mounted a strong comeback attempt after falling behind, but Erling Haaland's decisive late-game finish sealed their elimination from the 2026 World Cup Round of 32 on July 1 at AT&T Stadium in Texas, USA.

Ivory Coast, coached by Emerse Fae and fielding a 4-1-4-1 formation, dominated possession in the first half with multiple chances to breach Norway's defense. However, Antonio Nusa capitalized on a rare opening in the 39th minute to give Norway a 1-0 lead.

Ivory Coast intensified their offensive efforts in the second half, and Ahmad Diallo equalized from close range in the 74th minute to make it 1-1. The momentum shifted dramatically when Erling Haaland fired home in the 86th minute to restore Norway's advantage at 2-1, marking his 60th goal in 53 matches for his country. Norway narrowly held on to advance to the Round of 16, where they will face Brazil on July 6 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA.

Tottenham Hotspur has completed the signing of midfielder Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United for £85 million, according to BBC reports. The Premier League club has acquired the midfielder from their London rivals in a substantial transfer deal as they aggressively strengthen their squad ahead of next season.

Spurs, who narrowly avoided relegation last season, are undergoing a major recruitment drive. The club previously spent £52 million to acquire defender Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton, another Premier League club.

Beyond the Fernandes deal, Spurs have also secured three free agents: goalkeeper Martin Dubravka from Burnley, left-back Andy Robertson from Liverpool, and defender Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth.

With West Ham relegated to the Championship for next season, there is significant risk of player departures from the club. Fernandes had previously been linked with Manchester United, another Premier League side, but the Red Devils were unwilling to match the fee Spurs agreed to pay.

On the same day, Spurs confirmed they have extended Czech goalkeeper prospect Antonín Kinský's contract by an additional five years, despite his recent arrival at the club in 2025.