Onto the knockout round: 4 takeaways from the FIFA World Cup so far
The anxieties before the World Cup were many. But with the knockout round set to begin Sunday, it's fair to say: The North American World Cup has been a thrill.

Pochettino was the biggest name the U.S. men's soccer team had ever hired. His rebuild was bumpy at times — but now, with the U.S. headed to the World Cup knockout stage, the players are all in.
The anxieties before the World Cup were many. But with the knockout round set to begin Sunday, it's fair to say: The North American World Cup has been a thrill.
Fiston Mayele was also on target in a dramatic second-half comeback as Congo joined Cape Verde as another surprise qualifier for the round of 32.
“I think sports is an amazing thing, and it has the effect of changing the psychology of the entire city,” the Pennsylvania governor and potential 2028 candidate said.
English revelers turned Manhattan into West Britain on Saturday, packing local pubs to celebrate a 2-0 World Cup victory over Panama.
The US conducted a fresh round of attacks on multiple targets in Iran, while the Islamic Republic launched strikes against eight key American military infrastructure sites in the Middle East, as both sides accused each other of violating a ceasefire that underpins peace talks.
It’s been more than two weeks since the World Cup started, and Leon Goretzka still is getting familiar with the landscape. A hilarious video emerged Saturday afternoon of Germany’s midfielder accidentally walking onto the wrong bus. Goretzka was spotted accidentally walking into the Ecuador team bus instead of the Germany team bus. As Goretzka entered...
Despite a contract extension last month that would’ve kept Steve Clark as Scotland’s head soccer coach through the 2030 World Cup, he resigned.