Multiple StubHub customers, including Dallas-area fan Benjamin Carlson, have had their World Cup tickets canceled just before matches despite purchasing them months in advance.

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.

Almost two decades ago, photographer Joan Monfort didn’t think much of his photo shoot of a teenage Lionel Messi bathing a cute baby boy in a plastic bathtub.

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.

More than 100 inmates at the sprawling Rikers Island correctional facility gathered in a gymnasium at the complex’s main intake center to watch Wednesday’s semifinal match between England and Argentina.

Dennis Hetu of Katy, Texas, filed complaints with the Texas Attorney General and plans to contact the FTC after StubHub canceled his $15,000-$20,000 World Cup ticket purchase for a Houston match.

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.

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.

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.

Norway and England both had South Florida heat to worry about in their World Cup quarterfinal clash in Miami Gardens.

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.

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

Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute on 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.

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.

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.

As FIFA draws fans from around the world to Houston, many international visitors are spending America’s 250th Independence Day experiencing an American Fourth of July for the very first time at the City of Houston’s Freedom Over Texas celebration.

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

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.

If you’re planning to visit downtown Houston on Saturday morning, be prepared for traffic delays as several streets will be closed for two World Cup Fan Walks.

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.

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.

The Texas Attorney General is investigating StubHub after widespread reports of last-minute cancellations of purchased 2026 FIFA World Cup tickets, leaving fans without tickets or viable replacements.

Houston Dynamo’s General Manager and President of Soccer was Canada’s goalkeeper for 22 years.

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.

Houston’s Fourth of July weekend forecast brings classic July weather: muggy mornings, hot afternoons and a few hit-or-miss storms. Rain chances stay low, but not zero, while the tropics remain quiet with no development expected over the next seven days.

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.

The FIFA World Cup has boosted Houston's dating scene, with 74% of singles reporting increased dating or hookup activity since the tournament began.

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.

More soccer fans have contacted 2 Helps You, saying they purchased World Cup tickets through StubHub, only to have them canceled before their game.

Here's a step-by-step on how to access FIFA Tickets from second party vendors.

Houston’s Fourth of July weekend forecast brings classic July weather: muggy mornings, hot afternoons and a few hit-or-miss storms. Rain chances stay low, but not zero, while the tropics remain quiet with no development expected over the next seven days.

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.

A 15-year-old European girl visiting Houston for the World Cup was allegedly lured online by an adult to travel to Illinois.

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.

When Morocco advanced to the Round of 32 in the FIFA World Cup 2026, Madiha Bekkali knew she wanted her son to see them play in person and bought tickets to the game in Guadalajara, Mexico, against the Netherlands.

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.

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.

In a story published June 30, 2026, about the Iran soccer team leaving the World Cup, The Associated Press erroneously reported the name of the school hit by a missile strike in Iran as Minab.

Thanks to a high-pressure system, we’re tracking dry skies and feels-like temps between 104°-107°

Another World Cup, another early exit.

Thanks to a high-pressure system, we’re tracking dry skies and feels-like temps between 104°-107°

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.

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.

The FIFA World Cup knockout stage arrives in Houston on Monday as Brazil and Japan square off in a highly anticipated Round of 32 match at Houston Stadium, the FIFA name for NRG Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon.

The World Cup knockout stage is set, and some teams might feel like they've drawn the short straw.

Austria and Algeria played to a thrilling 3-3 draw Saturday night in what amounted to a win-win result in their World Cup group-stage finale, allowing both to advance to the knockout round while eliminating Iran from the tournament.

Iran has been eliminated from the World Cup, narrowly failing to advance past the group stage in a politically charged tournament where the team played its matches amid tight restrictions imposed by the United States.

Congo has advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time by rallying to a 3-1 win against Uzbekistan.

Lionel Messi has become the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup games while extending his all-time scoring record with his 19th goal in Argentina’s group stage finale against Jordan.

All of the matchups have been set for the World Cup's round of 32 with the knockout stage getting underway Sunday when Canada plays South Africa in Southern California.

Thanks to a high-pressure system, we’re tracking dry skies and feels-like temps between 104°-107°

Cape Verde completed an improbable run through the group stage with a third straight World Cup draw to become the smallest country to earn a spot in the knockout round following a 0-0 result against Saudi Arabia.

Houston has just one week of FIFA action left in town, ending on Independence Day, and it all kicks off with one of the tournament’s biggest matchups: Brazil vs. Japan.

A Toronto teacher refused to give up after her World Cup tickets were canceled just days before kickoff, then she connected with 2 Helps You who delivered in the 11th hour

France forward Ousmane Dembélé scored a first-half hat trick, including one off a feed from Kylian Mbappé, to help his team beat Norway 4-1 at the World Cup.