Seven teams already in the knockout stage, and the tournament has only just got rolling

The 2026 World Cup across the US, Canada, and Mexico has found its rhythm, and seven teams have already secured a spot in the knockout stage before the final round. Host Mexico was first with two wins - 2:0 against South Africa and 1:0 over South Korea. Joining them were the USA (4:1 over Paraguay, 2:0 over Australia), Germany, France with Mbappé in form, Colombia, and Norway, back at the World Cup after 28 years and tearing it up right away - 4:1 over Iraq, 3:2 over Senegal. And above them all so far is Messi's Argentina, with Messi at 38 racking up five goals and reminding everyone that age is a number, not a verdict.

Brazil cruised through the derby, Morocco with a comeback, Neymar in tears

In Group C, Brazil convincingly beat Scotland 3:0 and sealed first place, while Morocco in a wild match overcame Haiti 4:2 and also went through. But the story of the night wasn't the result but Neymar's return to the big stage - after years of battling injuries, the Brazilian didn't hide his tears. „I went through a huge fight to reach this moment", he said. It's easy to mock the emotions of a well-paid star, but a man who has come back from surgery three times knows what a return like this costs.

Mourinho clearing house at Real: Camavinga on the list, but won't hear of leaving

While some play the World Cup, others are already shaping the next season. Real Madrid's new coach, José Mourinho, has already told several players he's not counting on them - among them Eduardo Camavinga. The Frenchman, however, won't even hear of a transfer and insists on staying. That's where the eternal Balkan - and not only Balkan - story begins: the coach wants to clear house, the player wants to stay, and the club between them counts the millions. Mourinho rarely loses such duels - but Camavinga isn't a player you easily ship out.

Bosnia and Herzegovina advanced, and one kid broke Mbappé's record

The Balkans has its own reason to celebrate: Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Qatar 3:1 in the last round of Group B and reached the knockout stage. The win was overshadowed only by an incident with Edin Džeko, but the number that stuck is another one - the youngest scorer, a Bosnian boy wonder, broke the record for the youngest goalscorer at a World Cup, a record held by none other than Mbappé. From a region whose young people flee abroad, news like this is worth double. The only question is whether domestic football will keep talent like this, or send it off again come morning.

Trump will hand over the trophy - FIFA breaks its own protocol

And while the pitch decides who's the best, off it the question of who'll be in the frame is already being decided. According to reports, US President Donald Trump will attend the final on July 19 at MetLife and will hand the trophy directly to the winning captain - a move with which FIFA breaks its own ceremonial protocol. Sport and politics have long slept in the same bed, but rarely this openly. Who will be holding the trophy in the end - the captain, or the man who wants every camera on him?