Just days before the final moments of the 2026 World Cup, the FIFA President managed to plant a controversial seed: the possibility of expanding the 100th anniversary World Cup in 2030 to 64 teams, instead of stopping at the record-breaking 48. A tournament that hasn't even ended is already being discussed for nearly doubling its size compared to the standard that existed from 1998 to 2022.

Vietnam football hot news on July 16: Vietnam national team aims for friendly with Myanmar; Tickets for two home matches on sale.

The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) has released the ticket prices for their home matches in the group stage of the 2026 AFF Cup. Notably, the game hosting Vietnam carries a higher price tag compared to the clash with Cambodia.

On July 16, Beijing time, the World Cup final lineup was officially set. Spain and Argentina advanced to the final after eliminating France and England respectively. With Spain and Argentina meeting in the final, the African island nation of Cape Verde, with a population of 540,000, once again sparked heated discussions among fans. They are the only team in this World Cup that remained unbeaten within 90 minutes against both the eventual champion and runner-up.

On July 16, Lakers reporter Jovan Buha revealed on his latest podcast that insiders acknowledge the team is currently entering a strategic hibernation phase. Buha mentioned asking several insiders, who confirmed this outlook. Objectively, the Lakers do not expect to return to title contention within the next two to three years.

In the second semifinal of the World Cup, which concluded on July 16 Beijing time, England squandered a promising lead. After scoring first, they conceded two goals in a row and were overturned by defending champions Argentina, missing their chance to reach the final for the first time in 60 years. What makes the situation both ironic and amusing is that after the match, two Premier League powerhouses, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, posted official messages congratulating their respective players—Emiliano Martínez and Cristian Romero—on making it to the World Cup final.

On July 16, Beijing time, the 2026 WNBA All-Star draft concluded today, with Hall of Famer Teresa Weatherspoon praising her team's competitive edge. She and fellow Hall of Famer Cynthia Cooper were invited to serve as general managers, each building their own All-Star rosters. Cooper, a two-time WNBA regular-season MVP, delivered a brief jab at her opponent.

In the second World Cup semifinal concluded on July 16, Beijing time, defending champions Argentina came from behind to beat England 2-1, reaching the final for the second consecutive time. After the match, Argentine players made a bold statement on the pitch. They displayed a white banner with black lettering that read "Las Malvinas (the Falkland Islands) are Argentine."

On July 16, Beijing time, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame formally released the list of presenters. The induction ceremony for the 2026 class will be held on August 16, Beijing time, at the Springfield Symphony Hall in Massachusetts, known as the "birthplace of basketball." It is expected that more than 50 Hall of Fame members will attend the event.

In the second World Cup semifinal on July 16, Beijing time, England let a good situation slip away. After taking the lead, they allowed defending champions Argentina to score twice in a comeback, failing to reach the final for the first time in 60 years. After the match, England manager Tuchel responded to criticism of his "conservative substitutions."