There is just one week to go until the winner of the World Cup is crowned, and it has been a memorable tournament, not least due to the extraordinary intervention by Donald Trump this week that shocked the football world. Lucy Hough speaks to global sports business correspondent Matt Hughes

• 4-1 defeat to Belgium averaged 33 million viewers on Fox

• Mexico v England neared 45 million across platforms

The US men’s national team officially broke the record for ⁠most-watched soccer telecast in US history twice in a row.

As disappointing as ⁠Monday’s 4-1 last-16 loss to Belgium was for fans, the pregame excitement helped attract 33.086 million ⁠viewers, according to Nielsen Media research. The audience peaked at 41.033 million during the ⁠9.15-9.30pm eastern time window.

After a fun World Cup with a dismal end, the US enters the 2030 cycle with numerous avenues to rebuild the squad

After an exciting home World Cup run ended with a disappointing thud in the last 16, there are massive questions lingering around the US men’s national team program. Mauricio Pochettino’s contract is up and US Soccer has made an extension offer, but both parties are taking some time. Matt Crocker’s abrupt exit as sporting director to take a similar job with Saudi Arabia before the World Cup begs more queries about the direction of the sport in this country. And while most of the 2026 squad’s core still projects to contend for 2030, four years is a long time.

From now, each year offers a major tournament. This is what the US should hope to clarify at every step of the way.

The crossover in the American sports calendar has made for a compelling collision of cultures, from Scots in Boston to a new English folk hero in Atlanta

First they sang for Harry Kane. Then they sang for Michael Harris II.

The Atlanta Braves center-fielder is not someone many Major League Baseball fans would consider a household name. A local kid made good, he has established himself as an above-average, everyday outfielder and at age 25 is enjoying a career-best season, but his face doesn’t dominate billboards and ads in the way of Shohei Ohtani or Aaron Judge.

‘Violent disorder’ in London in the aftermath of France’s win over Morocco as Spain and Belgium build up towards quarter-final showdown

A 17-year-old girl fell off a truck and died while celebrating France’s World Cup quarter final win over Morocco, emergency services said Friday.

Celebrations erupted across France after the 2-0 win in the United States with hundreds dancing in the streets of Paris, watched by thousands of police on security duties.