Argentines and Spaniards are facing a dilemma as their teams meet in the World Cup final.

It's unclear how much, if at all, smoke from Canadian wildfires will affect the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain on Sunday.

To get in the spirit for the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, The Associated Press has made a themed playlist.

The World Cup has been a bonanza for beer in the United States.

New York City FC wants to bring Christian Pulisic to Major League Soccer, but AC Milan isn't interested in selling him.

With the sun obstructed by haze, Spain’s players practiced ahead of the World Cup final outside in northern New Jersey while air conditions are hazardous because of smoke from Canadian wildfires.

Lionel Messi has a message for Argentina’s detractors: “Nothing was handed to us.”.

England hired a German coach to end 60 years of hurt but will exit the World Cup in the most English of ways.

England desperately wanted to protect its lead as time was winding down in the World Cup semifinals.

The World Cup final is set for Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, featuring a clash between Argentina and Spain.

Lionel Messi delivered for his teammates.

Lionel Messi delivered for his teammates.

Kylian Mbappé had France poised for another run to the World Cup final with a team that seemingly had the offensive firepower to solve Spain’s stout defense.

Defending champion Argentina rallied to beat England 2-1 and reach the World Cup final.

World Cup star Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes has returned to action in the Champions League and captained Shamrock Rovers into the second qualifying round.

How does England coach Thomas Tuchel handle the pressure of a run to the semifinals of the World Cup.

Kylian Mbappé won’t get a third consecutive trip to the World Cup final and remains tied for first with Argentina superstar Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot four years after he won it.

It’s England vs.

Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the penalty spot after a heady play by teenager Lamine Yamal, Pedro Porro added another goal and Spain advanced to its first World Cup final since winning in 2010 with a 2-0 victory over France.

Jerry Jones finally made it to the World Cup at the home of his Dallas Cowboys.

China has reported its export picked up pace in June, jumping 27% from a year earlier thanks to strong demand from the boom in artificial intelligence.

A Jay-Z concert at Yankee Stadium was delayed for hours after hundreds of fans without tickets tried to push their way into the show, forcing the iconic New York City stadium to temporarily close entrances before the rapper could take the stage after midnight.

Former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is facing backlash for comments about France's World Cup team ahead of their semifinal match.

The death of South Africa soccer player Jayden Adams is under investigation by police.

Lionel Messi's World Cup scoring streak ended against Switzerland on Saturday, but he still made an impact with an assist in Argentina's 3-1 victory.

Julián Alvarez has sent Argentina into the World Cup semifinals with a stunning long-range strike in extra time against Switzerland.

Erling Haaland’s day ended earlier than many expected.

Lionel Messi and Argentina are playing for a World Cup semifinal spot in Kansas City, Missouri, and Jason Sudeikis is paying attention.

Jude Bellingham scored in extra time to lift England past Norway 2-1 and into the World Cup semifinals for the first time since 2018.

Carla Gregory is battling the heat while watching the World Cup quarterfinal between England and Norway in Miami Gardens.

John Stones has returned to England’s starting lineup for its World Cup quarterfinal against Norway.

Germany’s soccer federation says it has held talks with Jurgen Klopp and both sides are confident he will take over as national team coach after the country’s disappointing exit from the World Cup.

South Africa midfielder Jayden Adams has died.

FIFA is selling pieces of the World Cup final field for $450 each.

Unai Simón's impressive World Cup scoreless streak has ended.

Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute off a rebound yielded by backup Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens, and Spain advanced to the World Cup semifinals with a 2-1 victory.

World Cup ticket resale prices dropped for quarterfinal matches following the elimination of co-hosts United States and Mexico, and FIFA has nearly 1,200 seats on sale for the final at $7,380.

Portugal has announced Jorge Jesus as its new coach following its disappointing run at the World Cup.

Ashleigh Hallam teaches English at her local library in Indiana.

Kylian Mbappé shook off a missed penalty kick to score his eighth goal of the World Cup, helping France to beat Morocco 2-0 and reach the semifinals for the third time in a row.

England defender Jarell Quansah has been given a two-match suspension for his red card offense against Mexico in the World Cup round of 16.

U.S. star Christian Pulisic fractured his right leg during the Americans’ World Cup loss to Belgium and will be sidelined for several weeks.

Game balls for World Cup matches have become stars in their own right during the tournament.

Egypt's national soccer team has made history by reaching the World Cup knockout stages for the first time.

Lionel Messi let the tears flow at the final whistle, succumbing to emotion after Argentina conjured up an incredible two-goal comeback to beat Egypt 3-2 and advance to the World Cup quarterfinals.

The U.S. men's national soccer team remains stagnant despite growth in American soccer.

Folarin Balogun’s presence on the field for the United States against Belgium had a seismic impact on the world of soccer, but he ultimately played a forgettable role in the Americans’ 4-1 loss in the World Cup round of 16.

The United States’ hopes for a deep World Cup run at home ended when Charles De Ketelaere scored twice and assisted on another goal, helping Belgium expose the Americans’ defensive liabilities in a 4-1 win Monday night that earned a quarterfinal berth.

France star Kylian Mbappé condemned a Paraguayan senator over racist remarks she posted on social media after France defeated Paraguay in the round of 16 of the World Cup.

Mikel Merino scored in the first minute of second-half stoppage time, and Spain beat Portugal 1-0 to end the World Cup career of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

The relationship between Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been long in the making and is now at the center of one of the great World Cup controversies.

FIFA’s stunning decision to lift the suspension of a star U.S. player riled the host country's World Cup opponent, Belgium.

President Donald Trump is taking credit for getting FIFA to review a red card issued at the World Cup against the United States’ star forward but says he did not demand an outcome.

The Belgian soccer federation is demanding an explanation from FIFA about a decision to let U.

Flavio Cobolli and Jasmine Paolini both reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals on a big day for Italy at the grass-court Grand Slam.

With the integrity of FIFA and the World Cup under attack from European soccer leaders, FIFA President Gianni Infantino acknowledged taking a call from President Donald Trump before U.S. forward Folarin Balogun was cleared to play against Belgium later Monday.

Jude Bellingham scored two goals 98 seconds apart, Harry Kane converted a penalty when England was down to 10 men, and the Three Lions handed Mexico its first World Cup loss at Estadio Azteca, a wild 3-2 victory to reach the quarterfinals.

Erling Haaland headed in the go-ahead goal in the 79th minute and scored again before the end of regulation time, carrying Norway into the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time with a 2-1 win over Brazil that showcased the young striker on soccer’s biggest stage.

Dozens of Mexican fans gathered outside the England squad’s hotel with loudspeakers, horns and fireworks in the early hours of Sunday morning, aiming to disrupt players' sleep before their World Cup round-of-16 match against Mexico.

England has unpleasant memories of Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

Kylian Mbappé of France has scored his 19th career World Cup goal.

Reed Hoffmann, a freelance photographer for The Associated Press, captures unique moments at the World Cup.

Cape Verde’s World Cup team walked into its Miami hotel after getting eliminated from the tournament, almost in disbelief at the scene in the lobby.

Azzedine Ounahi scored twice to lead Morocco to a 3-0 win over Canada in the World Cup round of 16 Saturday to make the country the first African nation to reach the quarterfinals more than once.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan has waved a Palestinian flag on the pitch after his team's victory over Australia in the World Cup.

Jhon Arias scored in the opening minutes for Colombia, and Los Cafeteros held on the rest of the way for a 1-0 win over Ghana and a spot in the round of 16 of the World Cup.

Vozinha's dream was for his mother to see him play at the World Cup, and he achieved that and more.

Lionel Messi and Argentina beat Cape Verde 3-2 on Friday and advanced to the World Cup Round of 16 in a thrilling match in which the tiny island nation challenged the reigning champion until the final minutes of extra time.

United States forward Folarin Balogun says he respectfully disagrees with his red card in the 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the World Cup.

The World Cup match between Mexico and England on Sunday will remain at the original scheduled time despite concerns about a potential afternoon thunderstorm.

FIFA's high-tech ball is responsible for one of the most dramatic climaxes to a World Cup match ever.

LeBron James is at the center of NBA attention despite a wave of trades.

A dog walker in Buenos Aires has turned a pack of 13 pups into local celebrities by dressing them in Argentina jerseys.

Lionel Messi has scored again, making Friday’s contest against Cape Verde the record-extending eighth consecutive World Cup match in which Argentina’s captain has delivered at least one goal.

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia says he was not criticizing African soccer when describing “those teams” who lose their tactical shape following his side’s improbable comeback victory over Senegal at the World Cup.

Goncalo Ramos headed in the stoppage-time winner as Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in a wild finish that also included a Croatian goal disallowed for offside just before the final whistle in a World Cup round of 32 match.

The United States has World Cup fever.

International soccer fans came to cheer the competing World Cup teams.

John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” has become the unofficial anthem of the U.S. men’s national soccer team at the World Cup, with players and fans singing it together after victories.

A Massachusetts city home to one of the nation’s largest Cape Verdean communities will impose a nighttime curfew ahead of Cape Verde’s World Cup match against Argentina.

The head of the FBI’s Chicago field office is abruptly leaving his position.

Malik Tillman is soft-spoken off the field with his interviews often given at a volume just above a whisper.

New polling from Ipsos Sports, provided exclusively to The Associated Press, shows that the World Cup has excited soccer fans and piqued many Americans’ interest, even as the sport continues to face an uphill climb to reach mainstream popularity in the United States.

Folarin Balogun scored his third goal of the World Cup before being sent off with a red card in the second half, and Malik Tillman converted on a free kick to give the 10-man United States squad a 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina to advance to the round of 16.

The New York Police Department is bracing for a slew of massive Independence Day celebrations along with a World Cup match this weekend, scrambling thousands of officers on land, sea and air to handle security measures as an intense heat wave bears down on the region.

Harry Kane scored two second-half goals to help England rally for a 2-1 victory over Congo and a spot in the round of 16 at the World Cup.

World Cup players have been warned about a new rule that results in a red card for anyone covering their mouth when verbally confronting another player.

Mexican health authorities report that four people died during celebrations in downtown Mexico City.

Ecuador’s Piero Hincapié has become the second player to be issued a red card at the World Cup under FIFA’s new rule that calls for a player to be sent off for covering their mouth during a confrontational exchange with an opponent.

Before moving his attention to the knockout round of the World Cup, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino had to resolve one issue from the group stage.

Kylian Mbappé put France ahead with a brilliant crossover step in the 45th minute and added a second-half goal to break a World Cup knockout round scoring record, and Les Bleus beat Sweden 3-0 to set up a round of 16 match against Paraguay.

France forward Kylian Mbappé scored his 17th and 18th goals at the World Cup, moving one behind Lionel Messi on the tournament’s all-time list and tying him with the Argentina great in the race for the Golden Boot at this year's tournament with six apiece.

The World Cup is in the lose-and-go-home stage of the tournament and the pressure keeps rising with every minute of every match.

The U.S. team spent Monday like millions of other interested followers of the World Cup.

Erling Haaland scored the deciding goal in the 86th minute and Norway won a knockout game at the World Cup for the first time, advancing to the round of 16 with a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast.

Another World Cup, another early exit.

Sportsbook operators are seeing record betting on this year's World Cup.

José Canale scored on the first sudden-death penalty kick, Orlando Gill made two key saves in the shootout, and Paraguay beat Germany 4-3 on penalties to earn the biggest upset of the 2026 World Cup.

U.S. captain Tim Ream says his teammates all recognize the golden opportunity in front of them to make their nation’s best World Cup run in their home tournament over the following days.

Gabriel Martinelli scored the winning goal late injury time to give five-time champion Brazil a 2-1 win over Japan in the round of 32 at the World Cup.