The 2026 FIFA World Cup is drawing to a close ― and HuffPost continues to live-blog every twist and turn as the final looms at New York/New Jersey Stadium on Sunday.Even before a ball was kicked, the 23rd edition of the tournament was engulfed in controversy: from Iran’s tough journey to the competition amid Donald Trump’s war, to the president’s close relationship with FIFA’s Peace Prize-awarding President Gianni Infantino. That’s not to mention Trump’s travel bans keeping some fans and officials out and the fury over soaring ticket prices. Once the soccer actually began, much of the concern was eased — at least for a short while. But the introduction of hydration breaks, seen as a vehicle for TV advertising, prompted booing from fans and questions about the fundamentals of the game being undermined. And Trump’s intervention in an effort to get a red card reversed for U.S. forward Folarin Balogun, which was fruitless, as the Americans were soundly defeated by Belgium, will likely leave a stain on this World Cup.Check out the full games schedule on the FIFA website.Follow along with our coverage below:Headliner Named For Star-Studded World Cup Closing CeremonyPost Malone has been tapped to headline the World Cup closing ceremony, joining the likes of actor Tom Cruise and streamer IShowSpeed for a star-studded affair ahead of Sunday’s final match.The Grammy-nominated music star — known for hits like “Sunflower” and “Rockstar” — is set to be the main draw of the show, which will begin at 1:30 p.m. ET prior to kickoff between Spain and Argentina.“At a time when sport, culture and global attention converge, Post Malone will deliver a performance designed to celebrate the tournament’s journey and ignite the atmosphere before the world’s attention turns to the two finalists,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino in a press release on Wednesday. In addition to Post’s performance, Cruise will make “special appearance” during the show, according to FIFA. Speed, who has used his massive internet status to champion the beautiful game in recent years, will help make up the rest of a star-studded lineup along with the Pussycats Dolls’ Nicole Scherzinger, Laura Pausini and Robbie Williams.Jennifer Hudson is scheduled to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” prior to Sunday’s final, as well.Later, several stars will take the stage for a 20-minute halftime show, curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, that will include Shakira, Burna Boy, Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus.Beloved characters from The Muppets and Sesame Street are also set to appear.Latest Live UpdatesArgentine Golfer Responds To Jeers At British Open In A Very World Cup WaySOUTHPORT, England (AP) — The only Argentine golfer in the British Open field was playfully jeered by some spectators on the first tee Thursday, the morning after his national soccer team’s epic comeback win over England at the World Cup.Mateo Pulcini delivered an amusing response a few hours later.After holing a 40-foot putt for birdie on the 18th green at Royal Birkdale, the 25-year-old amateur cupped both of his ears in a gesture to spectators that mimicked the celebration his countryman, Enzo Fernandez, produced after scoring Argentina’s 85th-minute equalizing goal on Wednesday. Argentina went on to win 2-1 in the semifinals.“I was pretty excited and that came to my mind,” he said, “and I did it.”Pulcini stressed there were only “a few boos” on the first tee and that it was just a bit of fun.“People are being great. Fans are being spectacular. They were cheering for me as well,” he said.Asked what felt better — his putt on the 18th or seeing Fernandez’s goal — Pulcini said: “Enzo’s goal, for sure.”Pulcini is making his debut at the British Open after qualifying by winning the Latin American Amateur Championship in a playoff in Peru.He shot 5-over 75 on Thursday.___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golfArgentinian Mateo Pulcini rolls one in and gets an applause.Commentator on the English crowd:"They haven't quite worked out where he's from." pic.twitter.com/qXVSdN3Oar— Brendan Porath (@BrendanPorath) July 16, 2026'These Are New Yorkers': Mamdani Attends World Cup Watch Party At City's Largest JailNEW YORK (AP) — New York City’s official World Cup guide lists no less than 100 free places to take in soccer’s biggest tournament on big screens. One place that isn’t listed? The city’s notorious Rikers Island jail complex, better known for its overcrowding and violence than for hosting social events.But more than 100 inmates were rewarded with a special viewing of the World Cup semifinal match Wednesday between England and Argentina because of their model behavior behind bars.The inmates, dressed in tan uniforms, took seats at tables facing a large projection screen set up in a gymnasium. The jail has hosted about 90 such watch parties since the tournament kicked off last month, with about 4,500 of the roughly 6,600 inmates incarcerated on the 400-acre island participating, correction officials said.“Programs like this equal safety in our jail,” said Stanley Richards, the city’s correction commissioner and a former Rikers inmate. “What we say to them is that your humanity is seen, heard and valued.”Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who briefly stopped by, added: “The World Cup has been a magical moment for the entire city. These are New Yorkers, and they will be New Yorkers when they get out of Rikers.”The scene Wednesday was in sharp contrast to complaints about Rikers Island that have been so bad in recent years that a federal judge appointed an outside manager to help improve the facility.On Tuesday, that federal overseer, former Vermont Department of Corrections head Nicholas Deml, submitted a plan for reforms that underscored the continued dysfunction at the facility, which opened in 1935.The report described one instance when inspectors arrived at a housing unit to find it filled with smoke from fires set by prisoners, blaring alarms and people pounding on their cell doors. In another incident, prisoners streamed through an unsecured door and brawled after a guard abandoned his post.“Violence remains pervasive, basic correctional practices remain unreliable, and unconstitutional conditions persist,” the report said.Mamdani has vowed to honor a 2019 city law mandating the closure of Rikers, but also conceded the 2027 deadline is likely unrealistic after years of delays.With his white shirt sleeves rolled up, the Democrat went table-by-table chatting up inmates.One told the mayor he expected Argentina to prevail over England and go on to face Spain, which had defeated France the day earlier.“You never know,” said Mamdani, a professed Morocco fan.At another table, an inmate told the mayor he was going home later in the day. “That’s amazing,” Mamdani said, patting his back.The jailhouse crowd erupted in a mix of groans and cheers as England struck first with a goal early in the second half.Ralph Veal was among the minority of England fans who raised his arms in celebration. The 53-year-old Mount Vernon resident, who has been incarcerated since November, said the watch party made him reflect on how he might better approach life after jail.“I could be doing this with my family, you know?” he said. “My son, he’s a big soccer fan, so this would be great for me and him to have that relationship and that bond.”Others simply relished the chance for a rare treat: a freshly catered meal of salad, salmon, penne alla vodka and chicken parmesan, along with Snapple drinks.“I’ve been locked up 21 months,” said Thomas McCoy, 52, of Brooklyn. “It’s been a long time since I had real food like that.”When the final whistle blew and Argentina earned a spot against Spain in the final Sunday, Victor Caldas was overcome with emotions.The 39-year-old, who has been incarcerated for four months, has been rooting for Argentina since his home country of Ecuador was knocked out of the tournament.“It reminds me of when I was a kid, playing soccer. It’s all about love. Soccer brings a lot of love,” he said, still staring at the final score as others started cleaning up the gym.“It don’t matter from where you are in the world, you know. It’s about bonding with another culture, other people.”Rain Expected To Dissipate Wildfire Smoke In NYC Area Ahead Of World Cup FinalNEW YORK, July 16 (Reuters) - Smoke from Canadian wildfires has blanketed much of the northeastern United States, triggering health alerts, but a cold front expected on the weekend will help dissipate the dangerous haze in time for Sunday’s World Cup final in the New York area.More than 80,000 people are expected to attend the World Cup final between holders Argentina and European champions Spain at the open-air New York-New Jersey stadium while another 50,000 are expected to watch the game from Central Park in Manhattan.New York City began feeling the effects of the wildfires this week and local authorities issued an alert, urging residents to reduce strenuous outdoor activity and take extra breaks if they are outside.On Thursday the air quality in New Jersey, the site of the stadium, was rated as ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ by several air quality measurement platforms.“The areas where the smoke is the densest can actually cause respiratory problems. So those who may be a little bit more sensitive or may have respiratory issues may want to stay inside for as long as possible,” AccuWeather meteorologist Alex DaSilva told Reuters in an interview.“It’s going to rain a lot on Saturday, so that should dissipate a lot of the smoke.“Sunday morning, I think we’re going to be seeing a cold front come through the area and it should kick out any remaining smoke that we’re seeing.”New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on Thursday the smoke was creating unhealthy air conditions across the state.“Smoke from the Canadian wildfires will continue to blanket New York today. Air quality is expected to worsen, with very unhealthy conditions affecting much of the state,” Hochul said. “Stay indoors if you can.”Wildfire smoke from northern Canada has been a common summer occurrence across wide swaths of the United States in recent years.DaSilva said while spectators should try to limit their outdoor activities as much as possible on the day before the final, any risk would be lower by the time the match kicks off at 1500 Eastern time (1900 GMT) on Sunday.“We are going to be seeing some of that smoke moving out of the area as we go into the weekend,” he added. (Reporting by Amy Tennery; Writing by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Pritha Sarkar)Spanish F1 Star's Big Focus On Race Weekend? Get Home In Time For World Cup FinalFRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium, July 16 (Reuters) - Fernando Alonso’s main focus for the Belgian Grand Prix weekend will be making sure he gets home in time to watch Spain play Argentina in the World Cup final on Sunday.The Spanish driver’s Aston Martin team have been Formula One backmarkers this season, struggling to finish races and scoring just one point from nine rounds.Belgium, the last race before Aston Martin introduce a major chassis upgrade with an improved engine still to come, could mark a low point before things start to improve.In 2010, the last time a Formula One race coincided with soccer’s biggest match, Alonso was at Ferrari and fighting for wins.Spain, now the European champions, won that World Cup in South Africa and are chasing their second crown against the holders.“It will be different. As we don’t expect much this weekend,” two-time world champion Alonso told reporters at Spa-Francorchamps.“The main focus on Sunday will be to get home and watch the match, to be honest.”The final is scheduled for 9 p.m. European time (1900 GMT) with the Formula One race starting at 3 p.m. local time (1300 GMT).“It’s going to be tricky because we are flying back home,” said Alonso.“So maybe again on Sunday the second half will be probably the moment that I will watch the game. And the first half, just miss it.”Argentine Franco Colapinto, who races for Renault-owned Alpine, and Spaniard Carlos Sainz at Williams will face similar problems.“I’m definitely going to be much more nervous about the match than the race,” said Colapinto.“Yesterday (the semi-final against England) we had a lot of fun, a lot of suffering. But if you don’t suffer a bit, you’re not Argentinian.“It was one of those matches that, you are really nervous, but then you celebrate a lot. So it was a long night, but very fun.”(Reporting by Alan Baldwin; Editing by Toby Davis)Women's Soccer Match Draws Record NYC Crowd Ahead Of Nearby World Cup FinalNEW YORK, July 15 (Reuters) - Gotham FC welcomed back striker Sam Kerr and secured a 1-0 win over Washington Spirit in front of a record crowd for a women’s sporting event in New York City on Wednesday, as the women’s game kept the ball rolling in America’s summer of soccer.The league said more than 42,000 tickets were sold for the match at the home of Major League Baseball’s New York Mets, with fans turning up to Citi Field despite a thick layer of smoke that hung in the air from Ontario wildfires.That mark surpassed the more than 28,000 fans who watched U.S. tennis player Coco Gauff’s victory in the 2023 U.S. Open women’s singles final.The huge turnout was an encouraging sign for Gotham and comes days after they announced they would relocate from their suburban New Jersey stadium to Etihad Park in Queens - across the street from Citi Field - beginning in 2028, a move that is expected to make the team accessible to more fans.“We know that with investment, if you build it, they will come. And this is a proof point for that,” NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman told reporters.“My favorite thing about tonight is that it isn’t transactional. It’s not a one and done. This is the beginning of a new relationship for this team in Queens.“And we know that there’s an entire fan base here that is going to be really hungry to enjoy the best soccer in the world.”The enthusiasm for soccer in the U.S. has contributed to the record numbers attending the expanded men’s World Cup, as excitement builds ahead of Sunday’s final between Argentina and Spain in nearby East Rutherford, New Jersey.FULL CIRCLEAustralian Kerr’s highly anticipated return to the North American league from Chelsea is expected to bolster an already formidable attack for two-time champions Gotham.The only goal of the game came from Rose Lavelle, a women’s World Cup winner with the U.S. in 2019, after she slipped the ball through defender Tara Rudd’s legs before launching it over the outstretched arms of Washington goalkeeper Sandy MacIver in the 37th minute.The crowd turned up the volume a notch when Kerr came off the bench in the 64th minute, as the Australian striker took the pitch after her return from a decorated spell in England’s WSL.Longtime fans had a sense of deja vu seeing Kerr back in Gotham blue as she played for the team from 2015 to 2017, back when they called the 5,000-capacity Yurcak Field home.“In many ways this is like a full circle moment with Sam Kerr coming here and being able to experience this on her first night,” said Berman.“Playing for the new Gotham, (in) what is so different from the reality that was the NWSL.”(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Peter Rutherford)Canadian Wildfire Smoke Casts A Cloud Ahead Of World Cup Final In New JerseyToronto’s air quality ranked the worst among major cities globally on Wednesday as wildfire smoke from northwestern Ontario blackened skies and spread into the northeastern United States, prompting health warnings and calls for residents to limit outdoor activities.Wildfires are raging through sparsely populated areas hundreds of miles from Toronto and sending smoke over a wide area, although they are not directly threatening cities.Environment Canada reported an Air Quality Health Index reading of 10+, classified as “very high risk,” for Toronto, while forecasts suggested hazardous conditions could persist through Thursday night.New York City began feeling the effects days before neighboring New Jersey is scheduled to host the World Cup final on Sunday. Local authorities issued an alert as air quality reached an unhealthy level and urged residents to reduce strenuous outdoor activity and take extra breaks if they are outside on Wednesday and Thursday.The National Weather Service said smoke could linger into the end of the week.“We probably haven’t seen the worst of it yet for New York City. We probably haven’t seen the worst of it yet for the Great Lakes and upstate and New England yet either,” said Dan Westervelt, Lamont associate research professor at Columbia University.IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company, ranked Toronto as having the worst air quality across the globe, surpassing Kinshasa and Delhi. New York ranked No. 5.Fires trapped two small groups of children from Minnesota who were in the Canadian wilderness on a camping trip organized by the YMCA, a worldwide Christian youth association, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported on Wednesday, citing a YMCA official. One of the groups was evacuated by helicopter in coordination with the Canadian military, the newspaper said.“Both groups have been rescued and are on their way back home to safety,” Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said on X.Wildfire smoke from northern Canada has been a common summer occurrence across wide swaths of the United States in recent years.A video that went viral on social media showed a Canadian National train surrounded by fire near Armstrong, Ontario. Canadian National employees in the area and residents of Armstrong were evacuated on Monday night, the railroad operator said in a statement. It suspended rail operations near Armstrong, more than 500 kilometers (310 miles) north of Toronto, as a precaution due to the wildfires.The City of Toronto canceled the FIFA Fan Festival and the England-Argentina World Cup watch party at Nathan Phillips Square because of poor air quality.In the New York City area, more than 80,000 people are expected to attend the World Cup final at an open-air stadium in New Jersey on Sunday. Another 50,000 plan to watch the game from Central Park in Manhattan, where skies appeared hazy.New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on social media that smoke and haze from Canadian wildfires were creating unhealthy air conditions across the state and encouraged people, especially those with health conditions, to exercise caution.The Government of Canada has said wildfire season began more slowly in 2026 than in 2023 or 2025 — the two worst seasons for wildfires — but warned that fires were likely, due to warmer-than-usual temperatures across the country.Some 835 active fires were burning in the country on Wednesday and 112 were considered out of control, according to the government. So far, 1.9 million hectares (4.7 million acres) have burned. Most of the fires were in the central provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario.Greg Evans, professor of chemical engineering and applied chemistry at the University of Toronto, said Toronto had been simultaneously hit with severe heat and wildfire smoke.“I expect that this will occur more frequently over the coming decades so cities and residents need to prepare for this in the future,” he said.Paula Oreskovich, a Toronto resident, said she noticed the haze and smell of smoke when she stepped outside in the morning. She said the poor air quality was concerning, particularly as wildfire smoke has become a recurring feature of recent summers.“I think you have to be silly if you’re not going to be concerned about climate change. It’s definitely here, it’s definitely happening, and it’s happening globally,” Oreskovich said.World Cup's Oldest Player Announces RetirementScotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon announced his retirement on Thursday, hanging up his gloves after a career spanning more than two decades.The 43-year-old made 682 appearances for boyhood club Heart of Midlothian, Cowdenbeath, Sunderland and Celtic and won 84 caps for Scotland.“I’ve never wanted it to end, but end it must. I have lived my dreams and for that I am so thankful,” Gordon said in a video announcing his decision on social media.He was part of Scotland’s squad for the 2026 World Cup and was the oldest player at the tournament, although he did not play in any matches, acting as backup to Angus Gunn.A product of the Hearts’ youth academy, Gordon made his senior debut while on loan at Cowdenbeath in 2001 before breaking into Hearts’ first team the following season.In 2007, he joined Premier League side Sunderland for a reported 9 million pounds ($12.16 million), a British record fee for a goalkeeper at the time. Injuries hampered his spell at the Stadium of Light, as he made 95 appearances over five years.Gordon returned to Scotland with Celtic in 2014. During six trophy-laden seasons in Glasgow, he won five Scottish Premiership titles, two Scottish Cups and five League Cups before rejoining Hearts in 2020.British Government Urges FIFA To Investigate Argentina Over Political Banner At World CupThe British government on Thursday urged FIFA to investigate Argentina’s team after players posed with a banner claiming sovereignty over the contested Falkland Islands.Argentina beat England 2-1 in a World Cup semifinal on Wednesday in Atlanta.During post-match celebrations, Argentine players held a banner handed over by fans in the stands, reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” — “The Malvinas are Argentine.”Read more here:The World Cup Dream Final Is SetThe best offense. The best defense.The World Cup final is set, and fittingly, a clash of styles awaits. Lionel Messi — the most prolific goal scorer in the tournament’s history — and defending champion Argentina will take on Spain’s defensive juggernaut on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey.Spain beat France in one semifinal on Tuesday; Argentina, the comeback king of this tournament, rallied to beat England 2-1 in the other semifinal on Wednesday.Read more here:Argentine Players Spark Controversy With Taunting Political Banner After England World Cup WinArgentina players held up a political banner declaring “Las Malvinas Son Argentinas” (“The Falklands are Argentine”) after their 2-1 World Cup semi-final victory over England on Wednesday, in apparent contravention of FIFA rules.FIFA’s Stadium Code of Conduct bans “banners, flags, flyers, apparel and other paraphernalia that are of a political, offensive, and/or discriminatory nature” inside stadiums.World soccer’s ruling body did not immediately reply to a request for comment.The question of sovereignty over the islands in the South Atlantic known to the British as the Falklands and the Argentines as the Malvinas has been a long-running sore in relations between the countries.They fought a short conflict over the islands in 1982, in which 649 Argentine soldiers and 255 British combatants died. Britain ultimately won and the vast majority of residents of the islands have said they wish to remain part of Britain.But Argentina has long claimed it inherited the islands from Spain after its independence in 1816 and that Britain took control in 1833 through an illegal colonial act.Lisandro Martinez and Giovani Lo Celso held up the banner, grinning, and waved to fans in the stands. It was unclear where the banner had come from.It is not the first time the question of political banners has come up during the World Cup. Last month in Los Angeles, Iranian Americans waved pre-revolutionary flags that are symbols of protest against the Tehran government when Iran played. Those matches proceeded without incident.See All Updates