Spain win World Cup in triumph of football over Argentine thuggery

• The Athletic has released a curated collection of 22 remarkable photographs capturing the key emotional and athletic highlights of the 2026 World Cup. • Featured images include Ferran Torres' winning goal, a dispute involving the Norwegian team, and the performance of Lamine Yamal and Spain at the $5 billion SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

• Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time to secure their second World Cup title. • The match took place on Sunday, with fans in a Mediterranean Spanish city cheering for both teams.

• The author describes their journey of developing a passion for soccer while following the 104 games of the 2026 World Cup. • Key highlights included Spain's 1-0 victory over Argentina via a Ferran Torres extra-time goal and the disappointing performance of the Mexican national team.

• Spain won the 2026 World Cup trophy, capping off a tournament described as one of the best in history. • The competition spanned three continents and 16 host cities, featuring 104 matches and a total of 308 goals scored.

• At age 39, golfer Dan Fox secured his first major title by winning the 154th Open Championship held at Royal Birkdale. • Fox's victory is highlighted as a remarkable achievement given his late start as a professional compared to younger "phenom" players like Tom Kim.

• Chelsea have agreed to a club-record £117m deal to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa. • Other major Premier League moves include Manchester City signing Elliot Anderson for £116m and Tottenham spending a club-record £100m on Sandro Tonali.

• PV Sindhu defeated Akane Yamaguchi in the final of the Japan Open 2026 to secure the women's singles title. • This victory marks Sindhu's first BWF Super 750 crown and her most significant title since winning the World Championships in 2019.

• PV Sindhu advanced to the Japan Open 2026 final after defeating her rival Chen Yufei in a match that ended 21-19, 15-10. • The victory is significant as it marks Sindhu's first tournament final since 2024 and breaks a five-game losing streak against the Chinese opponent.

• PV Sindhu has made history by becoming the first Indian badminton player to win the Japan Open title. • The victory serves as a major career milestone, setting new records for Indian sports and enhancing the country's presence in international badminton.

• China's men's national team failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, despite the tournament expanding its field to 48 teams. • FIFA is now considering a further expansion to 64 teams for the 2030 tournament to increase the likelihood of China's participation.

• India is preparing to host the World Badminton Championships with high hopes for success on home soil. • Star player P.V. Sindhu is expected to lead the charge following a return to top form, supported by a strong contingent of doubles pairs.

• PV Sindhu became the first Indian woman to reach the final of the Japan Open 2026 after winning her semi-final match on Saturday. • The victory occurred when reigning Olympic champion Chen Yufei was forced to retire midway through the second game due to a hamstring injury.