The 2026 World Cup has entered a crucial phase, delivering extraordinary drama both on and off the pitch. Based on supercomputer analysis, Argentina and England are highly likely to set up a prestigious semifinal encounter. Argentina is predicted to overcome Switzerland in the upcoming quarterfinal match, although challenges remain following the absence of Swiss star Johan Manzambi due to injury.
On the other hand, England received a significant boost with the return of their key trio, Declan Rice, Marc Guehi, and Reece James, from injury recovery. The presence of these key players bolsters the Three Lions' confidence to defeat Norway, while smoothing their path to the final four.
The individual competition is equally fierce, especially in the race for the Golden Boot. The traditional eight-goal benchmark that usually guarantees the award is now under threat of being surpassed by four prolific world strikers: Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane. Each player still has the opportunity to add to their goal tally in the remaining matches of the tournament.
Meanwhile, the quarterfinal drama also brought sorrow for Belgium. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had to end his tournament run early due to injury, which led to a dramatic 2-1 defeat against Spain. The winning goal for Spain was scored by Mikel Merino, who once again became the hero for his team after previously finding the back of the net against Portugal.
Outside the main tournament, Vietnamese football is showing positive trends during their training camp in South Korea, with the return of Do Duy Manh to the field. However, unpleasant news emerged for coach Park Hang-seo, who was summoned to testify at the South Korean National Assembly regarding national team performance, adding to a long list of managerial turbulence that has already cost 14 coaches their jobs post-World Cup 2026.
