Saturday brings one last chance to watch Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé represent their countries. Also, we point to some ideas to improve the World Cup next time around.
Saturday's match is unique among all 104 matches in the 2026 World Cup. The teams involved have been eliminated and can't advance, but they're playing all the same.
But, unlike other third-place matches in the past, this is the first to feature two top-five teams, and in an alternate universe, France-England might have been an engaging final. There is still a Golden Boot race on the line, with Kylian Mbappé definitely in contention, and Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Ousmane Dembélé all just a hat trick away from making things interesting.
4 pm CT. Soccer's better than no soccer.
Round of 32
Sunday, June 28
Canada 1, South Africa 0
Monday, June 29
Brazil 2, Japan 1
Paraguay 1(4), Germany 1(3)
Morocco 1(3), Netherlands 1(2)
Tuesday, June 30
Norway 2, Côte d'Ivoire1
France 3, Sweden 0
Mexico 2, Ecuador 0
Wednesday, July 1
England 2, DR Congo 1
Belgium 3, Senegal 2
United States2, Bosnia and Herzegovina 0
Thursday, July 2
Spain 3, Austria 0
Portugal 2, Croatia 1
Switzerland 2, Algeria 0
Friday, July 3
Argentina 3, Cabo Verde 2
Colombia 1, Ghana 0
Egypt 1(4), Australia 1(2)
Round of 16
Saturday, July 4
Morocco 3, Canada 0
France 1, Paraguay 0
Sunday, July 5
Norway 2, Brazil 1
England 3, Mexico 2
Monday, July 6
Spain 1, Portugal 0
Belgium 4, United States 1
Tuesday, July 7
Argentina 3, Egypt 2
Switzerland 0(4), Colombia 0(3)
Quarterfinals
Thursday, July 9
France 2, Morocco 0
Friday, July 10
Spain 2, Belgium 1
Saturday, July 11
England 2, Norway 1
Argentina 3, Switzerland 1
Semifinals
Tuesday, July 14
Spain 2, France0
Wednesday, July 15
Argentina 2, England 1
Third-place match
Saturday, July 18
France vs. England, 4 pm, Miami Gardens, Fla.
Final
Sunday, July 19
Spain vs. Argentina, 2 pm, East Rutherford, N.J.
Where to watch
Since you might be making it a day with Austin FC via the open practice, you may want to take in Inn Cahoots as it winds down.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
Austin FC can't win Copa Tejas on Saturday night, but can certainly lose it facing FC Dallas in Frisco. We talk about outperforming one's xG, a new goalkeeper, and playoff hopes with a Toros expert.
Next Eleven is an Austin FC program created to use the power of soccer to encourage development in young people. Ilie Sánchez and Jorge Alastuey spoke to students Wednesday as club ambassadors.
Facundo Torres has been performing at close to the level you'd expect a designated player to be performing at. But for a good stretch of the season, he was (perplexingly) not.
Austin FC interim head coach Davy Arnaud insists his team is playing the same way each match. But Sunday's win over Vancouver required some unusual grit and timely goals.
Saturday's match is unique among all 104 matches in the 2026 World Cup. The teams involved have been eliminated and can't advance, but they're playing all the same.
But, unlike other third-place matches in the past, this is the first to feature two top-five teams, and in an alternate universe, France-England might have been an engaging final. There is still a Golden Boot race on the line, with Kylian Mbappé definitely in contention, and Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Ousmane Dembélé all just a hat trick away from making things interesting.
4 pm CT. Soccer's better than no soccer.
Round of 32
Sunday, June 28
Monday, June 29
Tuesday, June 30
Wednesday, July 1
Thursday, July 2
Friday, July 3
Round of 16
Saturday, July 4
Sunday, July 5
Monday, July 6
Tuesday, July 7
Quarterfinals
Thursday, July 9
Friday, July 10
Saturday, July 11
Semifinals
Tuesday, July 14
Wednesday, July 15
Third-place match
Saturday, July 18
Final
Sunday, July 19
Where to watch
Since you might be making it a day with Austin FC via the open practice, you may want to take in Inn Cahoots as it winds down.
What to read
Ryan Rosenblatt has some really interesting ideas for improving the World Cup.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
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