France coach Didier Deschamps said he had experienced a "truly wonderful adventure" with his players as he bid farewell to the job on Saturday after 14 highly successful years in charge.
It was supposed to be the World Cup weighed down by problems: sky-high prices, geopolitical tension, the shadow of conflict and the threat of brutal summer heat across the three host nations.
England beat France 6-4 in a high-scoring World Cup romp on Saturday to seal third place as Kylian Mbappe became the competition's all-time leading scorer with 22 goals.
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Thomas Tuchel said England had taken their first step in closing the gap on the top football nations after edging a 10-goal thriller against France to finish third at the 2026 tournament.
July 18, 2026
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NBA star Victor Wembanyama is set to make his return to the French national team for the first time since the 2024 Olympics, the French Basketball Federation (FFBB) announced on Saturday.
July 18, 2026
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Iran's supreme leader vowed to teach the United States "unforgettable lessons" on Saturday, as Washington reported its first military deaths since renewing its hostilities with the Islamic republic.
July 18, 2026
Debutant wing Jaco Williams scored a try and created another as South Africa thumped Wales 43-0 on Saturday to reclaim first place in the Nations Championship southern hemisphere standings.
July 18, 2026
French teenage prodigy Paul Seixas underlined his potential with a third place finish on the 14th stage of the Tour de France on Saturday, which moved him up to fourth overall.
July 18, 2026
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Lewis Hamilton thanked his Ferrari crew for their rapid work on his badly-damaged car on Saturday after he bounced back to qualify sixth for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix.
July 18, 2026
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New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani is in talks over whether to try to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an upcoming UN summit, he said in an interview published Saturday -- prompting a sharp rebuke from Netanyahu's camp.
Ryan Fox matched the record low score at a major of 62 to move into a share of the British Open lead on Saturday as Rory McIlroy launched a scathing attack on Bryson DeChambeau's antics after receiving a two-shot penalty.
Kimi Antonelli aims to start fast and have fun on Sunday as he bids to convert his sixth pole position of the season into victory at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Argentina and Spain fine-tuned preparations for Sunday's World Cup final in New Jersey as a persistent, choking smog blanketed the eastern United States.
July 18, 2026
Sports
Rory McIlroy said Bryson DeChambeau tried to hold the British Open "hostage" and was begging for attention after the American reacted angrily to being given a two-shot penalty.
July 18, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Injury-prone Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova said on Saturday she would miss "a few weeks" of competition after undergoing "a small surgery".
Heavy, acrid smoke blanketed the eastern United States on Saturday, marring preparations for the weekend's highly awaited World Cup final to be held in an open stadium in New Jersey.
Tadej Pogacar won an "unforgettable" mountainous 14th stage of the Tour de France amidst huge crowds in the Vosges on Saturday to extend his lead over Jonas Vingegaard to four and a half minutes.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli roared to pole position for Mercedes on Saturday when he beat Red Bull's four-time champion Max Verstappen in the final seconds of Belgian Grand Prix qualifying.
July 18, 2026
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