Sports
Argentina survive Cape Verde upset bid with 2 extra-time goals
July 3, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S.; Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates after Lisandro Martinez scores their second goal. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Argentina scored yet another vital World Cup goal with the help of a hand, but this one was completely legal.
In the 111th minute, Cristian Romero headed Lionel Messi’s corner kick off the hand of Cape Verde defender Diney Borges, redirecting it inside the far post to complete a 3-2 victory in extra time of the round of 32 for the defending champions in an all-time great World Cup match Friday in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Messi added his 20th career World Cup goal and tournament-leading seventh early in the contest, and Lisandro Martinez scored early in extra time to give the Argentines a 2-1 advantage.
Cape Verde, the smallest nation ever to reach the World Cup knockout round, answered those first two goals. Deroy Duarte’s 59th-minute leveler was well-deserved after his side’s bright start to the second half. Sidny Lopes Cabral’s world-class strike stunned the crowd and evened it at 2-all in the 103rd minute.
But 40 years and 11 days after Diego Maradona’s famous “Hand of God” goal — which would have certainly been ruled out in the modern era of VAR — the manual intervention this time around was above board because it came from a defender.
The advantage law allows a referee to ignore a foul — including a handball — by a defensive team if it benefits the attack. Had Borges’ handball prevented Romero’s header from going across the goal line, it likely would’ve resulted in an Argentina penalty kick.
Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez made two crucial late interventions, including a denial of another attempt from Cabral, to set up a round of 16 meeting with Egypt in Atlanta on Tuesday.
The match was easily Argentina’s most difficult of the tournament, and will leave Cape Verde as one of the competition’s feel-good stories.
While they become the seventh African side to be eliminated from the competition, they earned worldwide respect with a performance that also included draws against two other World Cup-winning nations, Spain and Uruguay.
After leading 1-0 late in the first half through Messi’s 29th-minute contribution, Argentina regained their lead two minutes into extra time.
Messi struck a corner kick to the near post, where Alexis Mac Allister met it with a flick-on header.
From there the ball bounded across the goalmouth before Lisandro Martinez reached it on the far side of the penalty area, took a touch forward and then powered a left-footed strike seemingly through Vozinha into the roof of his net.
Improbably, Cape Verde leveled again through Lopes Cabral’s world-class strike.
With Mac Allister defending, Lopes Cabral took a pass at the left edge of the box, cut past Mac Allister and then bent a looping strike well beyond the reach of the goalkeeper into the top right corner.
Vozinha, 40, was credited with eight saves after making seven in the tournament-opening scoreless draw with Spain.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: England-Mexico start time Sunday moving due to storm risk
June 30, 2026; Mexico City, Mexico; Mexico’s Julian Quinones is thrown in the air in celebration by teammates after the match as Mexico qualify for the round of 16 stage of the World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Eloisa Sanchez-Reuters via Imagn Images The start time for the World Cup round of 16 match between England and host Mexico on Sunday is likely to move up to avoid inclement weather, according to multiple reports on Friday.
The kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. local time in Mexico City, 1 a.m. in the United Kingdom. FIFA has discussed moving up the kickoff six hours to 12 p.m. at Azteca Stadium, which would be 7 p.m. in the UK and 2 p.m. Eastern time, per the reports.
Mexico’s 2-0 victory over Ecuador in the round of 32 on Tuesday in Mexico City was delayed due to rain.
France’s group-stage match with Iraq on June 22 was paused under tournament safety rules when lightning strikes are detected within eight miles of the stadium, resulting in an automatic 30-minute delay to play.
England defeated the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2-1 on Wednesday in Atlanta to advance to the round of 16.
Fans of the Three Lions in Great Britain probably would prefer the earlier start time. Licensing laws were relaxed to allow pubs in the United Kingdom to stay open until 5 a.m. local time.
FIFA might also move the kickoff time for Brazil’s round of 16 match with Norway at 4 p.m. Eastern on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J., to avoid a potential overlap with the match in Mexico City.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Flyers sign Ducks center Leo Carlsson to $90 million offer sheet
May 6, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (91) scores a goal against Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (79) during the third period of game two of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Flyers announced Friday they have signed Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlson to a five-year, $90 million offer sheet that makes him the league’s highest-paid player.
Carlsson will make $18 million in average annual salary, bettering Minnesota Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov, who last September signed an eight-year, $136 million contract extension paying him an average of $17 million beginning next season. Kaprizov’s deal, the richest in league history, provides the forward the highest average annual salary since the NHL’s salary cap era began in 2005.
The Ducks have seven days to decide whether to match the Flyers’ offer. If they choose to let the 21-year-old Carlsson leave, then they will receive one Philadelphia first-round pick in each of the next four seasons as compensation.
Carlsson was the second overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft. The Karlstad, Sweden, native went straight to the NHL and has produced 61 goals and 80 assists over 201 regular-season games for the Ducks.
He had 67 points (29 goals, 38 assists) with a plus-4 rating in 70 regular-season games last season. During the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, Carlson contributed four goals and seven assists in 12 games.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Egypt top Australia on penalty kicks, advance to round of 16
July 3, 2026; Arlington, Texas, U.S.; Egypt’s Emam Ashour celebrates scoring their first goal with Egypt’s Omar Marmoush. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images Egypt converted all four of their penalty kicks to win a shootout with Australia 4-2 following a 1-1 draw, securing their first World Cup knockout-round victory on Friday in Arlington, Texas.
Mahmoud Saber, Ramy Rabia, Mohamed Salah and Hossam Abdelmaguid all deposited their attempts in the net past Mathew Ryan, who did not appear in this World Cup before subbing on for Patrick Beach late in extra time as a penalty-kick specialist.
Harry Souttar had the first try for Australia and cleared his shot into the stands. Jackson Irvine and Awer Mabil got their shots past Egypt keeper Mostafa Shoubir before Salah made a quick sprint at his ball and scored center-net while Ryan dove to his left.
Australia sent 18-year-old Colorado Rapids defender Lucas Herrington on for the fourth round, and his shot found the crossbar. That left Abdelmaguid to finish off Egypt’s deserved victory as Ryan guessed the wrong way again.
Emam Ashour got Egypt on the board in the 13th minute. The Pharaohs will face either Argentina or Cape Verde in the round of 16 on Tuesday in Atlanta.
Australia, who were also looking for their first-ever knockout triumph, failed to score a regulation goal in their final three matches of the tournament after opening with a 2-0 win over Turkey. Their lone tally Friday came on an own goal by Mohamed Hany.
During second-half stoppage, Beach parried Egypt’s best look over the bar, preventing Rabia’s point-blank header from becoming the game-winner. The 30 minutes of extra time, much like regulation, saw Egypt have far more of the ball and the chances as the Socceroos defended corner after corner.
A creative free kick was the precursor to Ashour’s goal. Salah flicked it back to Ashour for a running start, but his attempt was blocked by a defender. The ball stayed in the area and Ashour floated into good position while Egypt worked the ball the other way to Karim Hafez.
When Hafez uncorked a cross to the far side, Ashour was there to elevate for a strong header that split Beach and the post.
Hany — who needed treatment on his knee during the first half — was at the center of a scary moment in the early minutes of the second. After an aerial collision with Connor Metcalfe near the Egypt net, Hany fell in a heap and teammates immediately called for assistance. Trainers prepared a stretcher, but after Hany stood up and was given a concussion check, he was allowed to stay in the game.
The tying own goal came about five minutes later at 55 minutes, when Hany’s header could not direct a curling free kick from Aiden O’Neill away from net.
–Field Level Media
Reports: England-Mexico start time Sunday moving due to storm risk
Flyers sign Ducks center Leo Carlsson to $90 million offer sheet
