Sports
Thomas Tuchel proud of England’s fight in comeback defeat of DR Congo
July 1, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.; England’s Harry Kane celebrates after the match. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images For England manager Thomas Tuchel, the stress of a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo in the World Cup round of 32 on Wednesday was actually the best part.
Harry Kane scored the 12th and 13th goals of his World Cup career in the 75th and 86th minutes to lift the Three Lions through to the round of 16. But the German manager, who brought experience from stops at Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain to his first international job, left Atlanta most pleased with his squad’s temperament after a poor start and the increasingly exceptional play from Congolese goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.
“Things stayed difficult but this team today did not accept a defeat as an outcome,” Tuchel said. “They just didn’t accept it, and that makes me very proud because they did what was necessary.
“The going got tough, and they showed up, and we got a deserved win, even if it was a late one.”
What Tuchel describes is a trait of most championship-winning teams. It’s also one that often hasn’t been true of the Three Lions, who are seeking their first major tournament title since winning the 1966 World Cup as hosts.
England improved to 2-17-5 in World Cup matches after conceding first. The other victory? None other than their 4-2 triumph over West Germany in extra time in the 1966 final.
And while it took until the late stages to reverse the outcome, Tuchel insisted he did not see a squad wilting under the legacy of previous disappointments amid high English expectations.
“I did not see any of that today and it would be so easy to see it,” Tuchel said. “It would be so easy to give in, and it would be so easy to accept that narrative. I didn’t see any of that, and that is a very, very good sign.”
It will get tougher in the round of 16 against Mexico in Mexico City on Sunday. The short turnaround won’t give England time to acclimate to the altitude above 7,000 feet. And Mexico have been among the tournament’s very best teams, posting a perfect 4-0-0 record and outscoring opponents 8-0.
The setting will also be the same as arguably the most infamous moment in English national team history: Argentine Diego Maradona’s famous and controversial “hand of god” goal against England in a 1986 quarterfinal.
“More and more obstacles will maybe come, but we are ready for that,” Tuchel said. “We need it. Maybe we have the ideal platform now to genuinely believe that we are ready for that.”
As for Kane, his fourth and fifth goals of the tournament pulled him into a third-place tie with Norway’s Erling Haaland for the tournament lead, one behind Argentina’s Lionel Messi and France’s Kylian Mbappe.
It’s a rarity to see so many stars producing big numbers in a big tournament, and doing it in considerably different ways. But Tuchel sees one similarity.
“They’re all sharks,” he said. “If they smell blood, they come and score.”
–Ian Nicholas Quillen, 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
