Latin America Sports Daily for Monday, July 6, 2026

Haaland breaks Brazil — Neymar walks away as Norway win 2-1 in New Jersey

Result

The unthinkable happened at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Brazil — the Seleção, record five-time world champions — lost 2-1 to Norway in the round of 16, sunk by a double from Erling Haaland. The Manchester City striker’s header on 79 minutes and a ferocious left-foot strike on 90 condemned Brazil to their worst World Cup finish since Italia 1990.

It was a night of squandered chances for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Brazil had a first-half penalty to take the lead, but goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland saved Bruno Guimarães’s effort, and substitute Endrick also wasted a clear one-on-one after the break. Neymar’s stoppage-time penalty made it 2-1, but it came far too late.

Then came the epilogue nobody in Brazil wanted. Neymar, the Seleção’s all-time top scorer, announced his retirement from the national team after the defeat — telling broadcaster GeTV that he began his story at this same New Jersey stadium and was ending it there.

The bigger picture stings even more for a footballing superpower: Brazil’s last world title remains Korea-Japan 2002. Norway — who have never lost to Brazil — advance to a first-ever quarter-final, on Saturday in Miami.

England 3-2 Mexico: El Tri’s ‘quinto partido’ curse survives a furious Azteca fightback

World Cup

Hours after Brazil fell, the co-hosts followed. England beat Mexico 3-2 at the Estadio Azteca to reach the quarter-finals, and Mexico lost a World Cup match at their iconic Mexico City home for the first time in history.

Two nightmare minutes decided it: Jude Bellingham scored twice in 120 seconds with near-identical headers, before Julián Quiñones volleyed one back from a corner on 42 minutes. Quiñones is the Colombian-born forward who has become El Tri’s talisman this tournament.

The second half was chaos. England’s Jarell Quansah was sent off after a VAR review for a heavy challenge on Jesús Gallardo, yet Harry Kane’s penalty still made it 3-1 — before another VAR intervention let Raúl Jiménez convert from the spot for 3-2 and set up a frantic finish.

For Mexican fans the pain is generational: the curse of the ‘quinto partido’ — never reaching a fifth match since 1986 — goes on. England now meet Norway on Saturday 11 July in Miami.

Tuesday is South America’s day of reckoning: Argentina face Egypt, Colombia meet Switzerland

Preview

The region’s two survivors both play on Tuesday. Argentina, the holders, face Egypt in the round of 16 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta at 12pm ET — the first meeting between the nations in World Cup history.

Lionel Messi, 38 and at what he has suggested is his final World Cup, is the tournament’s outstanding player: seven goals and the Golden Boot lead. But there are warning signs — the Albiceleste needed extra time and a 111th-minute own goal to squeeze past Cape Verde 3-2 in Miami, and Mohamed Salah’s Egypt are unbeaten in the tournament.

Then it is Colombia’s turn: Switzerland v Colombia at BC Place in Vancouver, 4pm ET. Néstor Lorenzo’s side reached this stage by beating Ghana 1-0 through a Jhon Arias goal, and they remain unbeaten having conceded just once all tournament.

The stakes could hardly be neater. Colombia’s only previous quarter-final came in 1990 — and the winner in Vancouver meets the winner of Argentina v Egypt, raising the prospect of an all-South American quarter-final in Kansas City.

Today’s menu: an Iberian derby in Texas, then the last host stands in Seattle

Preview

Monday brings the final two round-of-16 ties before the South Americans take the stage. Spain face Portugal at 3pm ET at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, before Belgium meet the USA at 8pm ET at Lumen Field in Seattle.

The Iberian derby carries direct consequences for the hosts. The Spain–Portugal winner plays the USA–Belgium winner in Friday’s quarter-final at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, at 3pm ET.

For neutral readers, the sub-plot is survival: with Mexico’s exit, another of the three co-hosts has departed and only one remains in the race. Spain, meanwhile, arrive as the side that won their group and beat Uruguay 1-0 along the way — a scalp Latin American fans remember all too well.

After the storm: Bielsa’s Uruguay exit and Paraguay’s proud farewell frame a hard week for the region

Feature

The World Cup has been brutal on South America beyond Sunday’s headlines. Marcelo Bielsa ended his era as Uruguay coach after La Celeste’s shock group-stage exit, fronting a ninety-minute press conference at the Uruguayan FA where he took full responsibility. Uruguay finished with just two points as the worst third-placed side in a group containing Spain, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde.

The Argentine, famous worldwide as ‘El Loco’, did not soften the blow. “Siento que hemos decepcionado a los aficionados”, he said — a frank admission that Uruguay had let their supporters down, and his departure leaves the job vacant and Uruguayan football facing a rebuild.

Paraguay, by contrast, leave with heads high. The Albirroja shocked Germany in the round of 32 before falling 1-0 to France in Philadelphia on Saturday, undone only by Kylian Mbappé’s 70th-minute penalty, with goalkeeper Orlando Gill making four saves.

Add Ecuador — who upset Germany 2-1 in the group stage before losing 2-0 to Mexico in the round of 32 — and the ledger is stark: from six South American qualifiers plus Mexico, only Argentina and Colombia remain.

More: Egypt news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

Which Latin American teams are still alive in the World Cup?

Just two: Argentina and Colombia, and both play on Tuesday 7 July. Argentina face Egypt at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta at 12pm ET, while Colombia meet Switzerland at BC Place in Vancouver at 4pm ET.

If both win, they would meet each other — that quarter-final is set for Saturday 11 July at 9pm ET at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

How were Brazil and Mexico knocked out?

Brazil lost 2-1 to Norway at MetLife Stadium, with Erling Haaland scoring twice late on; Bruno Guimarães had a first-half penalty saved by Ørjan Nyland and Neymar’s stoppage-time penalty was mere consolation.

Mexico fell 3-2 to England at the Estadio Azteca — Bellingham scoring twice and Kane once, with Quiñones and Jiménez replying for Javier Aguirre’s side.

What World Cup matches are on today, Monday 6 July?

Two round-of-16 ties: Spain v Portugal at 3pm ET at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and Belgium v USA at 8pm ET at Lumen Field in Seattle.

Both matches are live on FOX in the United States, and across much of South America the tournament airs via DSports — available through DAZN in Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.